PUBLISHER'S ADVERTISEMENT. THERE can be little difference of opinion in respect to the importance and desirableness of union among all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. But in regard to the mode by which this union can best be effected, there are wide diversities of sentiment. Various writers have suggested plans, of the practicability of which they are themselves exceedingly sanguine; but no plan seems yet to have so far commended itself to the confidence of Christians as to encourage any considerable number to agree to subject it to the test of experiment. The author of the following Treatise has ventured forward with his opinion, and now solicits for it the consideration of the candid and reflecting. The Publishers of the American edition, not fully coinciding with him in some of his positions, submitted the work to a clerical friend, by whom a few notes have been in serted in the margin, mostly in the shape of interrogations, simply for the purpose of inducing the reader to pause and consider whether the Author's views are really sound and scriptural. No alteration has been made in the text, except in one instance, where a quotation from Scripture was corrected to make it conform to the received version. Whatever may be thought of the Author's theory, every reader will allow that he conducts the discussion in his usual masterly style, with a temper truly amiable, and fitted, as a sweet exemplification of his principles, to promote the end which he appears most fervently to desire. Boston, June, 1838. PREFACE. PERHAPS there is no denomination of Protestant Christians whose religious opinions are now precisely what they were fifty years ago. Retaining the same general platform of evangelical truth, and adhering, for the most part, as closely as ever to the letter of our distinctive tenets, certain modifications of particular points of doctrine have yet insensibly taken place, eminently favorable, as far as they go, to our closer approximation, and visible union. Owing however to the operation of other and hostile causes, it is lamentably obvious that such approximation has not occurred. The Christian Church is still "a house divided against itself." There, where we might have looked for the sepulchre of all the evil passions, we find their rendezvous and their home.* Political governments, it is said, are, for the present, tired of war; but that divine institution which should have been known as the peacemaker of the world, and which ought to have exhibited a model of holy unanimity, even if all the world were in arms, gives signs of continuing to distinguish itself by conflict if all the world were at peace. Even the subterranean fires of the earth are said to be burning out and expiring; but the devouring flames of ecclesiastical strife seem fed from an inexhaustible source, and show little direct indication of abating their volcanic activity. Well would it be for mankind if the fearful effects they produce were no more injurious than those of the lava from the crater. But while this only spreads a local alarm, and suspends the affairs of a town, these are retarding the movements of our political government, agitating the heart of the nation, making the very foundations of society vibrate, and shedding a pernicious in * Rather too strongly expressed. ED. |
