25. ON CHRISTIAN UNITY
We read much in the New Testament about Christian unity. The strength and
beauty of the church consists in the oneness between Christ and his people.
How powerful were the pleadings of our great Advocate for the unity of his
redeemed people "Holy Father, keep through your own name, those whom you
have given me, that they may be one, as we are;" "that they all may be one;
as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us:
that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you
gave me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one: I in
them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in unity; and that the
world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved
me."
Paul also dwells much on this important subject, "By one Spirit are we all
baptized into one body—and have all been made to drink into one spirit." "Be
perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind." "I beseech you, brethren, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you: but that you be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and in the same judgment." "Now the God of
patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another,
according to Christ Jesus; that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
From our Lord's intercessory prayer, we learn that all who are the subjects
of grace, are the gift of the Father to the Son; that to such the Son gives
eternal life; that the beginning of this eternal life is to know the only
true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent; that this knowledge is imparted
by Jesus Christ through the teaching of the Spirit of truth, the Comforter;
that this knowledge is of a sanctifying nature; that it leads to a
separation from the world, and a union to each other; that these happy souls
are kept from the evil that is in the world, and preserved unto eternal
glory.
Hence, all strife, divisions, and contentions, disfigure the beauty and
tarnish the glory of the church of God. Paul sharply reproves the Corinthian
church for their lack of unity: "You are yet carnal: for whereas there is
among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk
as men?" While to the Ephesian converts he gives this beautiful exhortation:
"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of
the vocation with which you are called, with all lowliness and meekness,
with patience, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, even
as you are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith; one
baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and
in you all."
It may be asked, "Is it possible that all who profess to believe in the
truths of the Bible, will ever be brought to see everything in the same
light, and to follow, in every minute particular, the same track of thinking
and acting?" This unity may, and ought to be maintained, in the grand
essentials of the Gospel. And a beautiful union of faith and practice, of
sentiment and feeling, does exist among real Christians of all
denominations, however they may differ about the terms and explications of
some abstruse doctrines, or respecting the outward forms and modes of church
government: "for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power?" "It is
not food and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy
Spirit." When these holy characters freely unbosom their hearts to each
other, and discourse together on experimental and practical subjects, they
find themselves standing on one common ground—connected by one common
tie—united in one common cause—and drinking into one and the self-same
spirit.
They all mourn over, and are deeply humbled, on account of the corruption of
their nature and the sin of their lives. They all feel the plague of their
own hearts, and so groan, being burdened. They all are conscious of their
utter inability to save themselves. They all know that they are naturally
without strength. They are all enabled, through grace, to look unto Jesus,
the eternal Son of God, as their only Savior, whose blood cleanses them from
all sin; whose merits, received and applied by faith, form their only
justifying righteousness; whose intercession for them prevails with God;
whose promised gift, the Spirit of truth, dwells in their hearts, causing
them to cry with filial love and confidence, Abba, Father.
They all know and feel that they thus become the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus; and, enjoying the presence and grace of their heavenly Father
through the Son of his love, they are all enabled to resist the devil, to
crucify the flesh, to renounce the world, and gradually to perfect holiness
in the fear of God.
They all confess how low their highest efforts fall beneath the elevated
standard of Gospel holiness; yet, forgetting the things which are behind,
they press forward towards those things which are before, and long for that
happy period, when, having laid down their bodies of sin and death, they
shall shine in spotless purity in the courts above.
With these feelings and impressions, they all confess themselves to be
pilgrims and strangers upon earth. Their hearts are set upon things above.
They sympathize with each other's sorrows, and gladden with each other's
joy. They love to bear each other's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ.
As they all believe in the glorious doctrine of the Trinity in Unity, and in
the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ, so they unitedly confess
themselves to be sinners saved by grace through faith in a crucified
Redeemer, and ascribe all their salvation, from first to last, to the free,
unmerited mercy of God in Christ. Thus, while they acknowledge the justice
of that sentence which condemns them, as sinners, to everlasting misery,
they extol the vastness of that love which so freely saves them from the
wrath to come. With these holy views of the truth, they can each say from
the heart,
"My power is lost—the fault is wholly mine;
Yet bid me live—the glory shall be thine."
Now, if every faithful follower of Jesus can subscribe to these common
points of Christian doctrine and experience, what is it that divides and
separates the true family of Christ? Is it not the remaining corruption of
our nature, the remaining darkness of our mind, and the subtle enemy of our
souls? These are the foes which disturb the peace of the Church, and destroy
much of her purity and spiritual prosperity.
Oh! that the Holy Spirit may purge away this old leaven of malice and
wickedness, and fill us with sincerity and truth; that we may become a new
lump; be all new creatures in Christ Jesus; shine as lights in the world;
and so advance that kingdom of holiness upon earth, which is criminally
impeded in its progress, and marred in its beauty, by the disfiguring
contentions, strifes, and divisions of those who call themselves the
followers of the Lamb.
In the 'revelation of mercy', as in the visible works of creation, there are
mysteries which our finite minds cannot fathom; for what is man that he
should be wise as his Maker? And yet how many dare to reject the oracles of
God, because they cannot comprehend their elevated truths, or square their
seemingly discordant statements with their preconceived systematic opinions.
The word of God is "as a city which is at unity with itself." All is plain
and clear to the divine Mind, who sees the end from the beginning, and who
knows the infinitely varied movements of his own vast design. We see but a
small part of his ways. Many a wheel enters into those darknesses of his
impenetrable counsel, which we cannot trace. But still it is moving onward
in direct progression towards that glorious period, when the whole
stupendous work of mercy shall be displayed to the Church triumphant in
heaven, and call forth her eternal songs of praise. There, in that bright
world, those saints of God who differed here below respecting some
mysterious points of deep concealment, will see with one vision.
The darkness being gone, the veil being withdrawn, and the truth standing
fully revealed to their enraptured souls in all its beauty, symmetry, and
perfection, they will then utter no jarring sentiment; feel no uncharitable
emotion; experience no shyness of approach; but, wrapped in holy admiration
and humble reverence before the throne of God, every feeling will be love,
and every view of the truth in perfect accordance with the mind and will of
their Creator. There, with one heart and mouth, they will glorify God and
the Lamb, join in the same song, delight in the same work; being, in every
sense, one in the presence of Him who, when upon earth, interceded for his
people: "The glory which you gave me, I have given them, that they may be
one, even as we are One. I in them, and you in me, that they may be made
perfect in unity." Well, then, might the apostle say to the Corinthians,
when lamenting their unhappy dissensions, "Are you not carnal and walk as
men;" as people unconverted, as men destitute of the Spirit of Christ?
While we remain in the body, differences of opinion on points confessedly
mysterious must be expected; but may not this be designed by Infinite
Wisdom, for the exercise of charity and patience towards each other,
provided the great essentials of genuine Christianity are maintained and
practically believed?
This incapacity of our minds to grasp the mighty design of everlasting love
towards creatures helpless in themselves, and unable to come to God, (John
vi, 44,) and yet chargeable with the guilt of not coming to him, (John v,
40,) should teach us humility and entire dependence on the Spirit of truth,
to direct us aright in the way of life and salvation.
The more we know ourselves, the more we shall learn to renounce our own
reasonings, and to follow simply the direction of that blessed word which is
given us to be a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path. Jesus said,
"I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life." "Walk while you have the light, lest
darkness come upon you: for he that walks in darkness, knows not where he
goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may be the
children of light."
"Merciful Lord, be pleased to, 'cast your bright beams of light upon your
church,' that all your people, being enlightened by the doctrines of your
word, may so walk in the light of your truth, that at length they may attain
to everlasting life. Preserve me, your unworthy servant, from that
unhallowed curiosity which would presumptuously pry into those deep things
around which you have thrown an impenetrable veil. Give me a mind
enlightened to discover the truth as it is in Jesus; and a heart to love and
practice the truth, as it is revealed to my soul in the fullness of
Christian charity, enable me to say, 'grace be with all those who love our
Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;' and to call every one a brother who bears
your holy image, takes up his cross, and follows you."
Sweet is the joy of those possessed,
Who know and love the Lord;
No guilty fears disturb their rest,
While leaning on his word.
Amid the ruffling scenes of life,
They trust a covenant God;
While all the angry sons of strife
Despise his chastening rod.
Jesus to them his peace imparts,
To them his presence gives;
He dwells by faith in all their hearts,
And all their needs relieves.
Thus, holy Lord, may I be blessed
With graces from above;
Until peace and joy reign in my breast,
The fruit of dying love.