{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_58072/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_58072","id":"gutenberg_58072","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/58072","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches","Category: Religion/Spirituality","Sermons, English -- 19th century"],"text":"Transcribed from the 1846 John Snow edition by David Price, email\nccx074@pglaf.org\n\n                   [Picture: Public domain book cover]\n\n\n\n\n\n                 THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH ESSENTIAL TO THE\n                         CONVERSION OF THE WORLD.\n\n\n                                A SERMON,\n                             PREACHED BEFORE\n                 THE DIRECTORS AND FRIENDS OF THE LONDON\n                           MISSIONARY SOCIETY,\n                                  DURING\n                            Their Anniversary\n                              IN MAY, 1846,\n                IN THE CHURCH OF ST.  MARY, SPITAL SQUARE,\n                                 LONDON,\n\n                                    BY\n                           J. H. GWYTHER, M.A.\n                         VICAR OF MADELEY, SALOP.\n\n                                * * * * *\n\n                                 LONDON:\n            JOHN SNOW, PATERNOSTER-ROW; THE SOCIETY\u2019S OFFICES,\n            BLOOMSBURY HOUSE, FINSBURY SQUARE.  GEO. M. SMITH,\n                            IRONBRIDGE, SALOP.\n\n                                  1846.\n\n                            _Price Sixpence_.\n\n\n\n\nSERMON.\n\n\n    \u201c_Neither pray I for these alone_, _but for all who shall believe in\n    me through their Word_: _that they all may be one_: _that the World\n    may believe that thou hast sent me_.\u201d\u2014JOHN xvii. 20, 21.\n\nThe last earthly act of one we love and honour, is often referred to with\ndeepest interest, and revolved with the most thoughtful attention.  It is\nthen that the dying Parent delivers his solemn counsels, and unbosoms his\nmost sacredly cherished feelings.  If ever the tenderest and earnest\nworkings of the heart are laid open, it is as the scene draws near and\nyet nearer to its close.\n\nAnd as our beloved SAVIOUR approached the termination of His earthly\nhistory, the strong commanding feelings of his soul were displayed, and\nthen especially he taught his disciples what sentiments he would have\nthem cultivate, and what objects he would have them propose; whilst by\nhis example, he taught them in _what spirit_, and by _what means_ to\n_seek those_ high and holy ends.\n\nIt was then, assembled with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane,\nthat He as the Great High Priest of Our Profession, breathed forth in\nearnest prayer, the words before us:\u2014\n\n     \u201cThe _last acts_ of the Great Mediator, were _acts of prayer_.\u201d\n\nHE prayed! that he might impress his people with the importance of\nprayer.  He made them _witnesses_ of his prayer, that when they hereafter\nmight follow him their divine intercessor, _by faith_, within the veil,\nthey might know for what ends, and in what spirit, his intercession is\ncarried on.  HIS LAST ACTS _were prayer_.  It was in _prayer_ that he\nclosed his last interview with his Apostles.  It was in this exercise\nthat he passed his hour of agony in the Garden; and when on the Cross,\nHis dying breath was spent in repeated and solemn application.\n\nOh! beloved brethren! \u2019twas a solemn scene;\u2014the adorable Mediator with\nthe shadows of death deepening around him, employed in earnest addresses\nto his FATHER.  The Garden\u2014the Judgment Seat\u2014the Scourge\u2014the Cross, were\nfull before him.  On what now is His spirit bent?  On what subjects does\nhe meditate?  His prayer will tell, and tell how fully his heart was\noccupied with the work of mercy\u2014the well-being of his church\u2014the honour\nof his Father\u2014the salvation of the world.  It was then he uttered the\nprayer in which he sought for his people, that they all may be one, that\nthe world may be converted to him.  He had _charged_ them \u201cto love one\nanother.\u201d  He had shown them that they were _virtually_ \u201call one:\u201d  By\nthe sacred supper, he had sought to cherish their love and union, and now\nby his example he taught them to make it the burden of their prayer.  And\neven still his heart longs for this!  He looks down from his exalted\nthrone, upon that church which he so much regards, and which he \u201chas\npurchased with his own blood;\u201d that church to which he has entrusted such\na high and glorious work; big with the richest blessings for a ruined and\nwretched world.  He sees that church divided, torn, distracted,\nalienations and strifes prevailing, whilst the world\u2019s millions are\nwaiting, _uninstructed_, _unenlightened_, _unblest_; and then, having\nconnected the conversion of the world with the unity of the church, he\nagain pours forth the intercession, \u201cFather, may they all be one, that\nthe world may believe that thou hast sent me.\u201d\n\nIn the endeavour to fulfil that duty, which the Directors of the London\nMissionary Society have assigned me, I feel I need your sympathy, and\nyour prayers.  I stand before you \u201cin weakness, and in fear, and in much\ntrembling.\u201d  From a sense of my own insufficiency to perform this duty\naright, as well as from the conviction that I may be standing in the room\nof some more qualified and acceptable advocate of the cause, I was\nnaturally reluctant to leave the quietude of a country village and place\nmyself in this public situation: on the other hand, believing that this\nwas a call from GOD, to bear my humble testimony to His truth in this\ngreat Metropolis, and that in endeavouring to do his will, we shall not\nfail of his grace; I have come beloved brethren, and would seek to offer\na few remarks upon the interesting subject now introduced to your notice.\nThe subject I am fully aware, is now one of those to which so much\nattention has been given of late years, that I cannot hope to present it\nmore clearly or forcibly than it has already been placed in your view:\nall I can attempt is to bring these things again to your remembrance, and\nagain to urge them upon the attentive consideration of the Christian\nChurch.\n\nIn doing so, I propose to consider three things\u2014\n\n  I.  The object, which in this Petition, the SAVIOUR seeks.\n\n  II.  The means by which it is to be promoted.\n\n  III.  The reasons why it should be most earnestly desired.\n\nWe must proceed to notice:\u2014\n\nI.\u2014_The object_, _which in this petition the Saviour seeks_.\n\nIt is the unity of all _believers_ upon Earth.  Not indeed that CHRIST is\nindifferent to the peace and love which ought to bind together _all\nmankind_ as one great family.  He purposes to secure _this_; but he seeks\nto bless His Church, that thro\u2019 it he may bless the world.  Yes! beloved\nbrethren,\u2014Men ought to \u201c_be one_\u201d in the bonds of love and kindness.  We\nare Brethren, all \u201cone man\u2019s sons,\u201d and where there is a man, there is\none who has a claim upon the thoughtfulness, the care, the kindness of\nhis fellow man; and in order to promote the general well-being of our\nspecies, we should be _as one_.  To us there cry the poor in their\ndestitution\u2014the ignorant in their darkness\u2014the oppressed in their\nwrongs\u2014the victims of war, murderous and impious war\u2014the slaves in the\nchains, which tyranny has thrown around their persons, or set on their\nintellect and conscience; _these_, and sufferers in every other form of\nwoe, appeal to _man_, the _family_, the _fraternity_ of man, for\nsympathy, pity, and relief.  They are Men; they are Brethren; and these\nare outrages against our common claims, which should rouse all that hear\nthe cry, to succour the suppliants.  We have all one FATHER, and happy\nwill be the time, when His divided and distracted household, shall again\n\u201clove as brethren;\u201d when the oppressor shall cease; when \u201cviolence shall\nnot be heard in our borders;\u201d when the clangor of war shall give place to\nthe melting sounds and celestial song of \u201cPeace on earth, and good will\ntowards men;\u201d when truth shall fill all intellects, and love reign in\nevery heart.  Bright!  Glorious Day!\u2014And shall this happy consummation\never bless this afflicted, burdened, groaning world?  It shall!  The\nGospel _purposes it_, and to secure its accomplishment, the Gospel is\ndaily putting forth its heavenly energy, and ere long, earth in love\nshall be the very emblem of the heaven of heavens.  The fierce passions\nof the human spirit shall be subdued.  \u201cThe wolf also shall dwell with\nthe lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid\u201d; \u201cthe cow and bear\nshall feed\u201d: \u201cthey shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain;\nfor the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters\ncover the sea.\u201d\u2014ISAIAH xi, 6\u20139.\n\nBut another work must precede this.  The Church must first be _made one\nitself_.  The universal harmony predicted, and eventually to be realized\nin the world, must first pervade the elements of CHRIST\u2019S Visible Church,\nand therefore as a means to that great end, even that the world may\nbelieve in, fully recognize, and submit to the authority of Him, whom GOD\nhas sent, the Redeemer here prays, that His disciples may \u201cbe one;\u201d\nimplying thereby that the unity of the Church, is the great pre-requisite\nfor the conversion of the world.\n\n1.\u2014_And who are His Church_, _His People_, _the subjects of this prayer_?\n\nNone but those who rest upon His atonement, and rely upon His grace, as\nthe one foundation of their hope for eternity.  It is not the bearing of\na Christian name; it is not an enrolment in any society, however\nscriptural in doctrine and apostolic in discipline that constitutes men\nChristians.  There may be loud profession\u2014an orthodox creed\u2014ceaseless\nactivity\u2014large sacrifices, without _faith_ in JESUS or _love_ to his\nname.  But _these_ are indispensible; without _them_ there is no interest\nor fellowship with CHRIST, and no part, or lot in His Church.  Without\n_faith_, there is no salvation; and \u201cif any man love not our LORD JESUS\nCHRIST he must be accursed.\u201d  The possessors of these alone, are the true\n\u201cliving stones built up a spiritual house.\u201d\n\nBut the Church includes _all who believe on the Son of God_, among\nwhatever community they may be found.  Each christian may _have_, and\nought to hold _dear_, his convictions, as to the truths the bible\nteaches, and the church principles which are there developed.\n\nThe Bible is ever to be his standard, and his conscience binds him to\nreceive _all_ that it teaches.  We plead for no latitudinarian\nindifference.  We have _our_ convictions, nor dare we yield them, unless\nGOD should, by His Spirit, afford us another view of truth; nor will any\ncandid christian, who differs from us, call for such a sacrifice.  We ask\nnot for such unwarranted concessions from any.  Nor dare we judge the\nLORD\u2019S servants; to their own Master they stand or fall.  To Him they are\namenable, and it cheers the spirit to think that our minor errors and\nimperfections hinder not Him from receiving any who rest on Him for\nmercy, and yield to Him their hearts.\n\n_All these are His people_\u2014they are parts of His universal Church; though\nsevered from each other, they are one with Him; members of His mystical\nbody; branches in Him the Living Vine!\n\nAnd where shall we seek them?  They are found adorning fellowships of\nvaried names, and each possessing features of peculiar beauty, and sacred\nexcellence.  We dare not say that a connexion with any system of itself\ncan make men Christians; nor of Episcopacy, Presbyterianism,\nCongregationalism, nor Methodism, that it is exclusively THE CHURCH OF\nGOD, so as to monopolize all sacred relations and existing piety.  But we\nbelieve that genuine disciples of CHRIST are to be found amongst them\nall.\n\nThe churches which have numbered among them a Fletcher, a Henry Martyn, a\nCary, a Williams, a Wesley; will furnish their portion towards the one\ngreat assembly, \u201cthe church of the first born written in heaven.\u201d\n\nThe genuine disciples of the SAVIOUR, are to be found in various ranks,\nand among different denominations of Christians; from these many have\nbeen gathered already, and swell the throng around the throne of GOD\nabove.  Even now the multitude collected from among them, is greater than\nany man can number; they have lost their party badges and sectarian\ntitles.  This is their only distinction, \u201cThey have washed their robes,\nand made them white in the blood of the Lamb,\u201d\u2014and they need no\nother\u2014this is their great _title_\u2014this secures them a happy, blissful\nplace before the throne of GOD and the Lamb; and they desire no more.\n\nAnd many yet are found _below_.  True our minds are distracted by the\ndiffering names and varied distinctions which exist among us.  But be of\ngood cheer, beloved brethren, upon a goodly company, though widely\nscattered, CHRIST looks down with joy, seeing in each of the throng, a\ntrophy of his love; a soul saved by his sacrifice, and transforming to\nhis image.\n\nThe SAVIOUR\u2019S prayer contemplated _all these_, and sought that they may\n_all be one_.  And indeed they so far are even now _one_.\n\nThere is a bond which binds them to each other, which no power can sever.\nIt is that spiritual tie which unites them to CHRIST; in Him they are all\none.  They were ONE in _ruin_\u2014in separation from GOD\u2014in captivity to\nSatan\u2014in exposure to eternal death.  They now are partakers in a common\nsalvation\u2014redeemed by the same blood\u2014renewed by the same Spirit\u2014relying\nupon one Saviour\u2014Children of one Parent, they form one holy family, and\nwill spend an eternity together in their \u201cFather\u2019s House.\u201d  Thus real,\nsubstantial, and indissoluble is their union.  They are one, as CHRIST is\nin the FATHER and the FATHER in Him.\n\nBut, alas! this ill accords with the aspect they present to the world,\nand the attitude in which they stand to each other; nor can the prayer of\nCHRIST be silent, until the _one-ness_ of his people shall be _felt_, and\ntheir union shall be manifest to all.\n\n2.\u2014Then we may further enquire\u2014_Wherein must such union consist_?  It is\nclear, not in the adoption of _one common name_; for such may be, and the\naim be entirely lost, and the object of the SAVIOUR unattained.\nSomething of this kind was realized in the dark ages.  The Church of Rome\nthen contained within itself well nigh all existing nominal Christianity.\nBut did this, think you, brethren, realize the prayer of our LORD?  _One_\nname embraced men of every varied creed, and covered every form of\nabomination.  A one-ness, where except for the title \u201cChristian,\u201d and for\nthe form of godliness, no religion seemed to exist; life and soul were\nlost, the frame-work alone remaining.  This one-ness was that of the\ntenants of the sepulchre and the grave yard, where the fellowship was\nthat of an universal corruption, and the calm was the stillness\u2014the\nsilence of death, only broken by here and there a mourner, weeping that\nthe dry bones were so many, and that they were so very dry.\n\nNo, this is not the peace we long for, and for which CHRIST prays.\nBetter, a thousand fold better, is our present state, than such an unity\nas that.  It is at least replete with _life_, though disfigured by\ndiversities.  We have spirit, and we have power; though that spirit is\ntoo frequently expended in strife, and that power in warfare.\n\nThe _first thing essential_ to the attainment of Christian Unity is, that\nChristians should be brought to _feel_ that real one-ness, which even now\nexists between them.\n\nThere is a principle which is inseparable from the existence of vital\ngodliness, and that is faith in CHRIST.  Now if all who look to the work\nof CHRIST for justification, and confide in the HOLY SPIRIT for\nsanctification, are really Christians, why should they not be felt to be\nsuch, and loved as brethren?  CHRIST loves them,\u2014let them love each\nother.  To all of them JESUS is precious; then let our hearts embrace\nwith ardour all \u201cwho love our LORD JESUS CHRIST, in sincerity;\u201d and if we\ncan do this, there will be but little difficulty in rendering that unity\nvisible.  How can it be concealed?  For where there is true love, there\nmust to some extent be friendly intercourse\u2014sympathy will be\nengendered\u2014in spite of existing distinctions, love will draw us together\ninto kindly greetings, and social fellowship.  Nor will there be wanting\nopportunities of co-operation in efforts to diffuse the Bible, extend the\nGospel, and convert immortal souls.\n\nAnd even where this may not be, there will be witnessed a cordial\ninterest in each other\u2019s labors of love; we shall rejoice when prosperity\nattends the work of others employed with us in the same holy enterprize,\nand mingle our tears with those which disappointments cause to flow from\nthe eyes of our beloved and devoted brethren; and only let this but be\nrealized, and all bitterness, and envy, and malice, will speedily\ndisappear.  If Christians differ in opinion, yet they will agree in\nheart; if they are constrained to exhibit their views strongly, they will\naim to do so with \u201cthe meekness of wisdom,\u201d and with the kindness of\ncharity.\n\nOh, for this consummation!  Believers, labour and pray for it\u2014sacrifice\nfor its attainment your party jealousies\u2014mortify carnal prejudices, and\ncrucify the spirit of bigotry; and thus hasten the accomplishment of the\nSAVIOUR\u2019S prayer, when we shall all be one\u2014_one_ in love\u2014_one_ in our\ngreat aim for reviving the church, and saving the world\u2014_one_ in fervent\nprayer\u2014and shall all value, more than any other title, the _one_ new name\ngiven to the disciples at Antioch.\n\nHaving considered somewhat at length _the object which in this_ petition\nof the SAVIOUR, he more _especially seeks_; namely, the unity of his\nDisciples; a one-ness in his Church; let us in the second place, advert\nto _the means by which it is to be promoted_.\n\nAnd here I need scarcely remark, that _coercion_ can do nothing: neither\necclesiastical canons, nor authoritative edicts, can sway the conscience,\nor influence the affections.  Nor can even much reliance he placed on\nmoral suasion, or controversial discussion.  We may acknowledge the\nimportance of the object, but be after all undecided as to the method of\nits attainment, or indifferent to its ultimate success.  The great means\nare with GOD; yet all of us can do something towards the promotion of\nChristian Union, and I would humbly suggest the following hints:\u2014\n\n1.\u2014_By personally cherishing_, _and prominently keeping in view those\ngreat truths upon which the Church of Christ has agreed_.\n\nFor after all, to use the admirable language of a Christian author upon\nthis subject; \u201cThe unity which the Church of CHRIST should maintain\nwithin, and promote without, even in our present circumstances exists,\nand that substantially, though imperfectly.  Its existence is proved by\nan identity of motives and aims; proved by that similarity of sentiment,\nwhich makes the Christian find a new brother in every converted man;\nproved by petitions and praises, like in matter and in manner, and\noffered to the same throne of grace; proved by the general correspondence\nof our forms of worship.  Were some enlightened heathen, such as Cicero,\nto rise up and come among us, he would perceive little difference among\nthe purest Christians, unless his attention were called to it by some\nformal partisan.  The grand and glorious features of the Christian faith,\nwould stand out before him in bright contrast with those of heathenism,\nif our paltry animosities did not obscure them.\u201d\n\nLet us then set before us, and steadfastly gaze upon the great\nsoul-elevating, and spirit-uniting doctrines of the Gospel.  The\natonement of CHRIST\u2014His perfect work\u2014finished redemption\u2014spotless\nrighteousness\u2014all prevailing intercession, and final conquest.  The work\nof the Spirit in the regeneration, sanctification, and perfection of\nbelievers.  These are the great master-truths; let them be to our souls,\nwhat they are to the Gospel, the Alpha and Omega, the foundation of all;\nand much will be done in enlarging our views, refining our judgments,\nbreaking down prejudice within, and concentrating our affections upon\npoints of general agreement.  In addition to this, let the mind of CHRIST\nbe ours.  His mind was absorbed with love to his FATHER, and compassion\nfor souls.  Cherish the same; let this predominant passion occupy and\ncontrol our spirits, and there will then be but little space found, and\nless taste felt for those trifles which distract, divide, and embitter.\n\n2.\u2014We may promote this Christian Unity further, _by seeking to form_,\n_and convey a right impression of our own excellence_, _in comparison\nwith the worth of others_ \u201c_who follow not with us_.\u201d\n\nWe are too prone to dwell with much of sectarian gratulation, upon the\npeculiar advantages of _our own_ communion, or the evidences of divine\nfavour we have been blessed with; to the disparagement of others, from\nwhom we differ.  That spirit, whilst it leads us to vain boasting, as\ninfallibly leads to a despising of our brethren.  Rather let as mourn\nover our own imperfections and short-comings; let us recall to mind how\nfeeble and often futile have been our efforts; how our piety has mingled\nwith much _of earthliness_, our love with much _of selfishness_, our zeal\nwith much _of partiality_, and our devotedness with much _of self\nexaltation_.\n\nOn the other hand, let us be willing not only to allow, but even to\nrejoice in the excellencies of others\u2014to ponder their worth and their\nworks\u2014to cast the sin-covering mantle of true christian charity over the\ninfirmities of our brethren, and to rejoice with them in their success,\nweep with them in their discouragements, and aid them in their necessity.\nThus we shall, as saith St. Paul, \u201clook not every man on his own things,\nbut every man also on the things of others.\u201d  Each preferring his brother\nin honour and in love.  The bonds of christian union will be\nstrengthened, and the dove-like spirit of peace condescend to dwell in\nthe hearts of christians, constraining even the world, as of old, to\nconfess\u2014\u201csee how these disciples love one another.\u201d\n\n3.\u2014_Christian Unity is to be promoted by co-operation in those wise\nschemes of christian effort_, _which may consistently embrace all who\nlove the Saviour_.\n\nCo-operation has ever been found very powerful in producing and\nsustaining unity.  In such christian efforts, there is a common object\nproposed; a measure of agreement in the means to be employed, in order to\nits attainment; a participation in responsibility; a sympathy in trials;\nan interest in success; all which bind kindred hearts; unite in holy\nbrotherhood those who share in the same common-wealth and privilege; and\nallay those feelings of envy and jealousy which have so fearfully\nagitated and divided the body of CHRIST.\n\nThanks be to GOD, we live in an age, when such efforts are put forth, in\nwhich we may conscientiously co-operate with our brethren, in the great\nand glorious designs they contemplate.  By so doing, we shall help much\nto complete the unity of the Church.\n\nYet, beloved brethren, why enumerate more means?  There is one influence,\nwhich adequately employed, would secure the whole.  What want we, but a\nlarge and universal effusion of the Holy Spirit?  Oh, yes! this would do\nit all.\n\nIt would fix our gaze upon ourselves, until we sank abased in the dust.\nIt would attract us all to the cross; that whilst drawn to one common\ncentre, all would be drawn closer to each other.  Such would appear the\ntranscendent glories of that object, that all others would in comparison\nlose their power to charm or interest us.  The ruin, guilt, danger,\nwants, and woes of a perishing world, would awaken our tenderest\ncompassion and ever watchful solicitude.\n\nEternity unveiled\u2014heaven in its peerless glories\u2014hell in its hopeless\ntorment, would so bring our spirits under the \u201cpowers of the world to\ncome;\u201d that we should be blind, and deaf to all things of inferior\nmoment.  Were this gracious influence but felt and cherished, all would\nindeed be one.  Divisions would be healed.  Stumbling blocks be removed.\nHearts joined to hearts.  Joys mingled with joys; and the blessed\nSAVIOUR\u2019S prayer, receive its full accomplishment, and His people be one,\neven as He and the FATHER are one.\n\nIt remains for me in the Third place, to direct your attention _to the\nreasons_, _why this Christian Unity should be so earnestly desired_.\n\nNow here we might, if it were necessary, advert to many and weighty\nreasons, for seeking to promote and increase this spirit in the church of\nCHRIST.  I shall only however, fix upon the two more immediately\nconnected with the text; the one _implied_, and the other _expressed_ by\nit.  The first is derived from _its being the great prevailing desire of\nour divine Redeemer_.  It rested much upon His heart, or he would not\nhave prayed so earnestly for it.  He was then going forth to gird himself\nfor His arduous undertaking.  He was about to engage in fierce conflict\nwith the powers of darkness.  He had before him the accomplishment of a\nglorious work\u2014the vindication of the divine honor\u2014the illustration of the\ndivine perfections!\u2014the recovery of a ruined and apostate race\u2014the\nestablishment of a kingdom, which eventually should be co-extensive with\nthe world.  In doing all this, he would have to pass through scenes of\nhumiliation, suffering, and death.  He would have to assert his victory\nover death and the grave, by raising himself, and \u201cspoiling\nprincipalities and powers, make a shew of them openly, triumphing over\nthem.\u201d  He would finally have to ascend up on high, \u201cleading captivity\ncaptive,\u201d to receive his reward, and claim his kingdom; to mark the\nsuccess of his cause, and the triumphs of his cross.  But he plainly\nforesaw how intimately that success, and these triumphs, were connected\nwith the unity of his disciples\u2014how preeminently their one-ness\nconstituted their strength\u2014of what vast importance to his ultimate\nconquest of the world, was the mutual agreement and brotherly love, which\nHis people should evince.  And so he interceded, with a spirit yearning\nfor the fulfilment, and deeply interested in the result, \u201cFATHER I pray\nthat they all may be one.\u201d\n\nAnd if this desire be so strong on the part of the Redeemer; if this\nunity be dear to him, should we not, His professing followers, esteem it\nas worthy of our regard?  Yea! as of the first moment?  Can we feel\nindifferent, when the honor of GOD, and the glory of JESUS are involved?\nCan we be _unconcerned_ spectators of the present divided and discordant\nspirit which prevails among us?\n\nNay, surely christians, your master longs for unity.  Lay aside every\nother consideration, and let his will be paramount, and your desire and\nprayer be \u201cthat they all may be one.\u201d\n\nThe other reason I would adduce for the cultivation of this spirit,\narises from the direct _influence such unity is to have upon the\nconversion of the world_, (as stated in my text,) \u201cI pray that they may\nall be one, (in order,) that (as a means to an end,) the world may\nbelieve that thou hast sent me.\u201d\n\nThe conclusion then, at which I would desire to arrive, is, that such\nunity is essential to the final triumph of the Gospel; that if we desire\nthe latter we must seek to promote the former; and in fact, that unless\nwe are willing to strive for\u2014sacrifice for\u2014pray for the spirit of unity;\nour efforts, zeal, and devotedness will be virtually defeated.\n\nAnd now look, beloved brethren, what is the state of the world in this\nthe nineteenth century?  Eighteen hundred years have rolled away, since\nthe command was given by the Great head of the church, the risen and\nascending SAVIOUR, \u201cgo ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to\nevery creature.\u201d  And still the Prince of darkness maintains his sway\namong the nations.  Idolatry and superstition, the chief pillars of his\nthrone, are resting in almost every land.  Darkness still covers the\nearth, and gross darkness, the people.  Out of 900 millions of immortal\nsouls, scarcely 300 millions are even nominally Christians.  To\nmultitudes the name of JESUS is a sound unknown; and the glad tidings of\nHis grace and salvation strange things.\n\nMy brethren, ought these things so to be?  Or would these things have so\nbeen, if the church of CHRIST had risen to her duty; in a word, had\ngreater union prevailed among her members?  She has had strength,\nresources, opportunities; she has not lacked zeal, intelligence, nor\nencouragement; but she has expended her strength, in that which profiteth\nnothing; her resources, in fostering intestine warfare; and perverted her\nopportunities, to promote sectarian dogmas, and anti-christian strife.\nWe are called bitterly to mourn these departures from the Spirit of\nCHRIST; and thus with shame, to confess that we are verily guilty\nconcerning our heathen brethren.  Upon the christian church, has been\nlaid the obligation to preach to them the Gospel; but alas! we have\nfearfully neglected our duty, or at least very inadequately performed it.\n\nBut see, my beloved brethren, what influence this christian unity would\nexert, and what consequences would follow from it in the conversion of\nthe world.  _For the church would then be a witness for the truths and\nexcellence of the glorious gospel_\u2014and how important is that!  It is in\n_the church_ that the men of the world study the gospel.  They care not\nto investigate its real nature, as revealed in the bible\u2014they care not to\nstudy its features, in the character of CHRIST\u2014they care not to attend to\nits delineation in the ordinance of preaching.  But they _can_ see it in\nprofessors\u2014and they will scrutinize their character, and keen sighted and\nvigilant are they in detecting evil, and discerning imperfections.  And\nhow invariably have the division, discord, and strifes of the church,\nlaid a stumbling block in the way of the enquirer\u2014strengthened the\nworldly in their prejudices against the truth, and confirmed the\nunbeliever in his incredulity and contempt.\n\nBut on the other hand; a church, _spiritual_, _zealous_, _devoted_, _one\nin love to each other_, in love to CHRIST and love to souls, would bear\nupon itself its own credentials.  The world convinced by such evidence,\nand impressed by such scenes, would acknowledge \u201cthat GOD was with us of\na truth,\u201d our religion would be honoured, and \u201cthe name of our LORD JESUS\nCHRIST glorified.\u201d\n\nAnd again\u2014_if such unity existed and prevailed_, _the whole undivided\nenergies and resources of the church_, _would be at liberty_, _and ready\nto be devoted to the extension of the gospel_, _and the salvation of the\nworld_.\n\nMuch strength is now lost in our conflicts with each other\u2014much\nsquandered upon vain and profitless discussion.  Let these hitherto\nmis-employed energies be called forth\u2014these perverted resources gathered\ninto the proper channels; and then may we not hope that the church of\nCHRIST would present an unbroken front to the powers of evil, and move on\none compact and irresistible host to secure the happy subjection of all\nthings to our Redeemer.\n\n_The cultivation of this spirit moreover_, _would place us in a state of\neminent preparedness for our glorious work_.  Our minds would no longer\nbe engaged in minor objects, but would constantly recognize the one great\nend\u2014the conversion of the world to CHRIST.  All occasions of envying,\nstrife, and division being removed; what agents would Christians be in\nthis holy enterprize?  Men baptized with pity for souls and love to\nJESUS\u2014burning with ardent zeal to make him known\u2014counting not their lives\ndear unto themselves, so that they may set forth the unsearchable riches\nof CHRIST.  And in answer to the united prayers of such an united people,\nCHRIST would send forth his Holy Spirit as it never yet has come.\n\nYes! beloved brethren! only let there be unity in the church, and scenes,\nof which Pentecost was but a type, an imperfect emblem, will presently\nappear.  Much has been done in preparing for the approaching harvest.\nThe seed is thickly sown, and is being sown still more thickly.  The\npreached word\u2014millions of bibles\u2014the hundreds of millions of tracts\u2014the\nlabors of Sunday schools, and the efforts of missionaries; all these have\nscattered wide the sacred gospel.\n\nAnd now what wait we for?  Oh! beloved! for the shower which these united\nprayers of the united church shall bring down; then, and not till then,\nnations will be converted to JESUS; the world will be brought to his feet\nbelieving; earth shall raise its triumphant song\u2014\u201cHallelujah for the LORD\nGOD omnipotent reigneth.  The kingdoms of this world, &c.\nHallelujah.\u201d\u2014The church _is one_.\u2014The world is CHRIST\u2019S.\n\nHaving already detained you so long, I feel reluctant to trespass upon\nyour patience further.  I must however not forget that my duty would be\nstill more imperfectly performed than it has been already, were I not to\nmake honourable mention of that great and noble society; the claims of\nwhich I would in conclusion urge upon you.\n\nI say _great and noble society_, for such verily it is; whether you\nregard the broad and catholic principle upon which it was originally\nfounded\u2014the eminent and pious who have adorned its ranks\u2014the devoted,\nself-denying, and exemplary men who have been its missionaries\u2014or the\nsignal success and peculiar blessing with which the \u201cGOD of all grace\u201d\nhas crowned its operations.\n\nThese are days in which missionary societies proceed with rapid strides;\nand it is interesting to a devout and enlightened mind, to review the\nhistory of such institutions; to trace them in the infancy of their\nexistence, the feebleness of their first efforts, the perils and danger\nattendant upon their course; and then to rejoice in every year of their\nadvancing strength and prosperity.\n\nIn the case before us, whether we consider the signs of the times when\nthe foundation of this society was laid, amidst the fall of thrones and\nthe convulsion of the civilized world; or the limited means and feeble\nagency, with which it commenced its efforts for the redemption of the\nnations; or the gigantic obstacles, both at home and abroad, which were\nthen presented to its progress; or whether we glance at the superhuman\nand glorious results, which in every sphere of its labours have rewarded\nits toils; reason, no less than piety, will give utterance to humility\nand praise in the poetic strains of inspiration, \u201cnot unto us O LORD, not\nunto us; but to thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth\u2019s\nsake.\u201d\n\nWe rejoice in the happy contrast presented to our view, between the state\nof things _now_, and that of _former days_.\n\nWhen this society commenced its benevolent career, there were many\nformidable obstacles with which the originators of such institutions had\nto contend.  Great ignorance and gross mis-conception prevailed as to the\nreal condition, social and moral, of Pagan nations.  The visitors of\nheathen countries had contented themselves with merely glancing at the\nsurface of society, even often purposely refraining from a detail of\nevils and enormities they could not have failed to have observed, whilst\nothers denied the vices they had no care to suppress, and the existence\nof miseries which their own interest or influence had served but to\naggravate.\n\nIt was indeed maintained that the negro race in general, the Hottentot in\nparticular, was the connecting link between the animal and human species,\nthough partaking far more largely of the attributes of the brute, than\nthe similitude of the man.\n\nBut on the other hand, the inhabitants of the east were glowingly\ndescribed as blest with civilization, and enlightened by science; and\nalthough the objects and forms of their worship were diversified, yet as\ntheir eulogists affirmed, their veneration for their gods was sincere and\nunbounded; while in social life, they were patterns of excellence\u2014kind in\ntheir tempers, and lovely in their manners\u2014living to make each other\nhappy, and dying in the assurance of paradise hereafter.  Such were the\npopular falsehoods to be combated and refuted, at the very outset of the\nmissionary enterprize.\n\nBut where are now the advocates of Paganism, and the apologists for\nIdolatry?  The moral condition of the heathen is better understood\nto-day, by the children in our schools, than it was by the enlightened\nclasses of society fifty years ago; and the necessity of the gospel to\nmeet the wants, and heal the sufferings of mankind, has become a familiar\nand undisputed truth.  And by whom have these idle tales and gross\nfabrications been exposed?  By the men of GOD, sent forth from our midst,\nwho have lived _with_ the heathen, and _for_ the heathen; from whose\nconcurrent testimony the church has learned, and the world has been\nconstrained to admit, that idolatry in all its varied forms, is an\nabominable thing; that its principles are founded on falsehood and\nabsurdity, and that its requirements are cruel and obscene.\n\nIn the early days of missionary efforts, the fields of labour were\nnecessarily few and contracted.  The wide and effectual doors opened to\nus were then closed, and for admission our revered forerunners entreated\nand pleaded in vain.\n\nTheir ardent zeal panted for access to the teeming and degraded\nmultitudes of India.  But by the merchant, the soldier, and the\nstatesman, the christian missionary was alike denounced and resisted.\nThe robber and the spoiler were found in the train of the British\nconqueror; but the minister of heavenly mercy might not set his foot upon\nthose distant shores.\n\nNow, thanks be to GOD, how altered is the scene; the legislature of our\ncountry has awarded religious freedom to India; and now the missionary\nmay go through the length and breadth of that mighty empire, testifying\nto the Mussulman and idolator \u201crepentance towards GOD, and faith towards\nour LORD JESUS CHRIST,\u201d unmolested by the natives, and befriended by his\ncountrymen.  If the early friends of missions excluded from the millions\nof India, turned their attention to the colonies of the west; there the\ncurse of slavery rested with all its unmitigated horrors.  And whilst\nchristian compassion wept over the lacerated body, or the more tortured\nspirit of the deeply injured negro; the stern voice of the oppressor\nforbade the application of the balm that might have soothed and healed\nhis bleeding heart.  In the judgment of the slave-holder to instruct the\nnegro in the mild principles of Christianity, was an offence not to be\nforgiven, an evil pregnant with every conceivable danger; and of all men,\nthe missionary was the man most to be dreaded and detested.  But the\nspirit of justice, philanthropy, and religion, maintained the hard fought\ncontest, till the spirit of oppression though unchanged, was compelled to\nyield; and amidst the scenes where Smith was martyred as the friend of\nthe slave\u2014where the sanctuaries of GOD were pillaged and destroyed\u2014where\nfaithful brethren were seized, imprisoned, and threatened with death,\n_there_ liberty has been proclaimed to the captive, and _there_ the\nglorious gospel of the blessed GOD has gladdened and governed the hearts\nof thousands.  In Southern Africa also where the arms of our country had\ntriumphed, British power was exerted for the support of slavery, and the\ndiscouragement of christian missions.  The feelings of the colonists in\ngeneral, were well expressed by the Dutch farmer, who in reply to the\nproposal of Robert Moffat to preach the gospel to his servants, exclaimed\nwith a voice of thunder!\u2014\u201cpreach to the Hottentots\u2014preach to the dogs.\u201d\nBut _now_, thanks be to the GOD of missions, the Hottentot is free; the\nCaffre is protected, and the wandering and hostile tribes of the desert\nenjoy the advantages of liberty, order, and peace; sanctified and\nenhanced by the blessings of religion.\n\nBut surpassing all other wonders of a gracious providence on behalf of\nmissions\u2014China, which from time immemorial barred her gates against the\nstranger; which ten years ago appeared equally impregnable for ages to\ncome.  _China itself is open_!  Opened to an extent far beyond our power\nof occupation.  Already the faithful evangelist proclaims the gospel of\nsalvation in her crowded cities, none making him afraid, and many giving\nwelcome to his message.\n\nOf the christian missionary then, so lately proscribed in the east and\nwest, excluded from the deserts of Africa and the cities of China, it may\nnow be said \u201cthe world is all before him where to choose, and providence\nhis guide.\u201d  Can we not trace the hand of GOD in all this, and say \u201cwhat\nhath GOD wrought.\u201d\n\nTo form a just estimate of the benefits that have directly resulted from\nthe missionary labors of this and other kindred societies, during the\nbrief period of their varied efforts, it is necessary that we should\nattentively consider the magnitude of our design\u2014the conversion of 600\nmillions of idolators to christianity\u2014a multitude diversified in habits,\nlanguage, and character\u2014the limited amount of agency that has yet been\nemployed\u2014the antiquity of the various systems of idolatry which prevail,\nin contrast with the novelty and strangeness of the gospel claims; and\nabove all, the perfect congeniality of heathenism, to the depraved\nprinciples and passions of the human nature, in opposition to the\nhumbling and sanctifying influence of Christianity.  These considerations\nare suggested, not for the purpose of alleviating disappointment and\nbespeaking forbearance to a narrative of failures; but rather to heighten\nour pleasure and enlarge our gratitude, that amidst obstacles so gigantic\nand with means so limited, we have in the short space of fifty years been\nfavored through the divine blessing, with success so varied and\nabundant\u2014success, both in character and amount, it may be confidently\naffirmed, greatly exceeding the largest expectations of the fathers of\nthe cause.\n\nThis society has laboured to bless suffering man amidst the different\nforms of his guilt and misery, in Asia, Africa, Polynesia, and the West\nIndies.  And in which of these wide fields of its mercy has it failed?\nIt has laboured for his happiness in relation to the life that now is, as\nwell as that which is to come, and in which of its designs of mercy has\nit not succeeded?  Behold the triumphs of christian missions in the\npeaceful villages and cultivated plains of Africa\u2014in the contentment and\nprosperity of the West Indian freed-man\u2014in the Polynesian savage,\ntransformed into the kind husband, the tender parent, and the happy man!\n\nWhat numerous evils have not been terminated, and what daring crimes have\nnot been prevented by the influence of missions?  How many a widow,\notherwise doomed to perish amidst the horrors of the burning pile, now\nlives!  How many an infant, destined to die by the hands of its mother,\nis now pressed to her bosom!  How many a victim, marked as a sacrifice to\nthe gods of his country, now trusts and adores the GOD of salvation!\nYes! we do rejoice in these supplementary advantages of christian\nmissions; but had our success been limited to these, we should have\ndeemed success itself a failure.  Our first, our noblest aim, is not to\ncivilize but to _evangelize_ the heathen; not only to raise the savage to\nthe dignity of man, but to raise man to fellowship with GOD.\n\nAnd in every scene of conflict with error and sin, the champions of the\ntruth have maintained a good fight, and have been heard exulting, \u201cnow\nthanks be to GOD who always causeth us to triumph in CHRIST, and maketh\nmanifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.\u201d  Theirs is no\nempty boast, as they indulge these joyous strains.  They point in\n_Africa_ to the wandering marauder, once more ferocious than the lion\nwhich prowls amidst her sandy deserts, now harmless and gentle as the\nlamb!  In _India_ to the Brahmin, once the object of idolatry, now of\nscorn; once caressed by friends and loved by kindred, now a solitary\noutcast; \u201cbut what things were gain to him, he has counted loss for\nCHRIST.\u201d\n\nIn the _Isles of the Pacific_ to the man, once both the destroyer and\nconsumer of his fellow man; but now the cannibal delights in peace, and\nbreathes the amenities of love.\n\nIn the _West Indies_ to redeemed multitudes, once in harder and viler\nbondage than their crudest oppressors could impose on their emaciated\nframe; but the SON OF GOD has made them free, and \u201cthey are free indeed.\u201d\n\nBut on the other hand this society has had to mingle her tears with her\npraises, and exhibits the trials as well as the triumphs of faith.\n\nFrom Madagascar the shepherds have indeed been driven, and their flocks\nscattered; they wander amid the wilderness as lambs among wolves, and\nmany have been offered as a sacrifice upon the altar of their faith.\n\nFrom the deserts of Siberia also, where for more than twenty years our\nfaithful brethren laboured with untiring zeal, to plant amid those snowy\nsolitudes the garden of the LORD\u2014they have been driven from their much\nloved toil.\n\nIn Tahiti also, where our fathers gathered their plenteous, yet long\ndelayed first-fruits, we have been called to reap the bitterest sorrow.\nThe envious eye and malignant spirit of popery could not tolerate that\nfair field of protestant faith and apostolic piety; and in the Government\nof France she found a mind sufficiently ungenerous, and a hand\nsufficiently oppressive, to effect the desolation of that lonely island.\nAlas! freedom bleeds, and injustice triumphs in Tahiti.  The people have\nfled from their homes to breathe the air of freedom in the fastnesses of\nthe mountains, and the christian queen is now a fugitive from her native\nisle.\n\nNor these things only.  Our success has provoked the zeal of our\nadversaries.  Idolatry, which once regarded our efforts with silent\nscorn, now feels our power, and arms itself for resistance.  Popery\ntracks the footsteps of the christian mission; not in Tahiti only, but in\nChina, India, Africa, the West Indies\u2014on every soil they tread.\n\nYes! beloved brethren, we must not dream of repose, or allow our past\nsuccess to lull us into security or indifference.\n\nThe hosts of earth and hell are opposed to us; they unite in strong\nphalanx against the LORD, and against His Anointed.  _Unity_ is their\nwatch-word, for _unity_ is their strength\u2014combination and co-operation\nare their principles.  Let us be taught by the enemy; let us put on the\nwhole armour of GOD, that we may be able to stand in the evil day; and\n_over all_, \u201cput on charity which is the very bond of perfection.\u201d\n\nRemember, beloved brethren, that in an united advance against the enemy,\nthe victory is sure.  The Captain of our Salvation is now gone forth\nconquering and to conquer.  To Him are given \u201cthe heathen for his\ninheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.\u201d\nAnd \u201cHe must reign until he shall have put all enemies under his feet.\u201d\nThe cause, the glorious cause is advancing!  Christians will you not help\nit?  The conflict has begun!  Christians will you not join it?  The final\ntriumph of Messiah is at hand; even now the angelic hosts are preparing\ntheir golden harps to celebrate with the rejoicing heaven and redeemed\nearth, the consummation so ardently anticipated by the Redeemer\u2014so long\ndesired by the church\u2014so cordially hailed in promise\u2014so fervently\nsupplicated in prayer; even the complete unity of the church, and by\nconsequence\n\n                   THE UNIVERSAL CONQUEST OF THE WORLD!\n\n                                * * * * *\n\n                                * * * * *\n\n                   Geo. M. Smith, Printer, Ironbridge.","title":"The Unity of the Church Essential to the Conversion of the World: A Sermon, Preached Before the Directors and Friends of the London Missionary Society, During Their Anniversary in May, 1846, in the Church of St. Mary, Spital Square, London","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":7792}