1.OATHOLICITY01' THE NEW CHURCH; AND BYll. 1IISU){ENTFRQ)! ALL OUR CHURCHES; A~D WHO FEEL IT TO BE A Rf:LIGIOUS DUTY TO REGARDAND TRF:AT AS BRETHRE:>I, ALL WHO HAVETIlE MASTER'S SPIRIT, AND HUMBLY STRIVE TO DO HIS WILL;TlIESK PAGES ARE AFFKCnO;';ATELY l~ocmU~D,BY .97/,(} stutMr. 4. PREFACE.SECTARIANISM: has been the bane of the Christian Church, al most from its commencement till the present hour. And although it is less virulent now than formerly, it still hovers around our ecclesiastical assemblics, eaus.ing its dark shadow to be seen and its malign influence to be folt in nearly all our churches. It is an evil tree, whose fruit is altogether eorrupt. And all who would honor the Master, should be eager to lay the axe to the root of this tree.I do not mean that Sects should cease to exist; or that Christ's followers should be all organized under onc name, or all profess the same creed, unless that creed be exLremely brief and simple. This is not to be expected-nor is it even desirable. Variety is observ able everywhere in the material universe. It is stamped on all things here below. 'We see it throughout the whole realm of na tnre; alike in the stars above and in the earth beneath; in beasts and birds, in forests and fields, in mountains and clouds, in fishes and flowers. 'Why, then, should there not be a similar vari ety in the moral univcrse ? 'Vhy shouhl not the Church of Christ present an example of variety in nnity, as conspicuous, at least, as the trees that adorn a landscape or the flowers that beautify a garden? Vhy should there not be. as much diversity among the follovers of the Lord Jesns-diversity in doctrine and ritual, as well as in kinu and degree of goodness-as there is among the members and organs of the human body? 'And why, with such diversity, may they not all be nnited to their true and living Head,-be bound as closely and lovingly to each other, and work as harmoniously together, as the 'arious bodily members? May wc not expecL that such will be the case, when the lif~ of Christ 5. 6 PREFlCE. sh:!ll descend into the churches with increascd powcr antI fulIlCSS, and His spirit begin to flood the hearts of His pcople ?The apostle, I think, justifies such expectation, whcn he sa)'s, that" tho body is not ono member, but many"; and that there onght to be "no schism in tho body, but the members should have thc same care one of another." A more beautiful illustration than this, of variety in unity, cannot be conceived. For what more various in form ami function, than the multitudinous parts of the human body? Yet how admirably are tbeyall combined in one, and with what perfect hannony do they work together, each rejoicing or suffering with all the rest! This illustrates Paul's idea of the church of Christ; for he adds: "Now ye arc the body of Christ, and mcmbers in particular." It is also Swcdenborg's oft repeated illustration of the Lord's kingdom in heaven as well as on earth. His whole doctrine concerning the "Grand Man," is but an amplification of the same idea.But to this enlarged and catholic "iew of the church, Sectarian ism is forever opposed. It. is unable to see how unity can co-exist with variety. It regards diversity as incompatible with harmony. In its own nature contracted and anti-Christian, it cannot admitthat there is any truth outside of its own formulas, or any good ness different from its own variety, or any church wider than its own communion. It makesits own creed the measure of all othe.., and approves or condemnsaecording as theysqua.re orfai! to square with this assumed standard. It neVer invites to independent and manly thought, or free and earnest inquiry; for it knows that va riets-some degree of doctrinal difference-must inevitably result from this. On the contrary, it seeks by "arious arts and endless machinery-by pains and penalties, church censures and with drawal of fellowship--to discourage and repress free thought, andcompel a dead uniformit). Sectarianism, therefore, isas unfriendlyto religious progress as it is to Christian union. Its spirit i the spirit of anti-Christ-not large, loving, generous, and all-embra cing, but narrow, ~elfish, conceited and unprogressive.What, then, is the remedy for this great evil? I know of nonebetter than the stC