IT may be said that union is a desirable thing if the parties uniting are in perfect agreement scripturally; but without that it is like marriage without love. In other words, it is a thing of policy. “I hate policy in Church Courts,” says McCheyne of Dundee; and from all appearance it was policy that dictated the recent union of some of the Churches in Scotland which had been diametrically opposed as to their
principles. A significant point is brought out in Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” in regard to motive. It will be remembered, that, after the martyrdom of Faithful, Christian got another companion, Hopeful. On their journey they came across four pilgrims whose names were—Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr. Money-love, Mr. Save-all, and Mr. By-ends. Their Christianity consisted in worldly motives—such as, say, a minister preaching a good sermon in order to get a call from a rich congregation, or act similarly in order to get a rich wife and so on. Everybody will remember Christian’s beautiful answer to this religion which staggered the so-called pilgrims. Here is one sentence: “For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it is; how much more is it abominable to make of Him and religion a stalking-horse to get and enjoy the world!” The Pharisees, Judas and Simon the magician were of this religion. But it should be remembered that the true Church of Christ has not always been outwardly one body—or exactly agreeing in all doctrine but their Christian union was not affected. Here is a case in point. In the Highlands two ministers (it is mentioned, as far as I remember in Dr. Kennedy’s book “The Apostle of the North”) resided in the same parish though belonging to different denominations.
One of them was called out to visit a sick person, but the minister on entering at the doorstep suddenly turned back and would not enter the house. The people were so offended, they at once sent for the other minister, who on arriving turned back at the doorstep as did the other—the same passage of Scripture prevented both from entering. The two ministers afterwards likened themselves to two thatchers on each side of a house. Is not this a sample of perfect union in the Truth, although not outwardly?—J. Ross.
Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.—John Bunyan.