lished he does hold; and, as every one who has heard it knows, taught constantly by word of mouth. Nay, the holding the contrary view, namely a special unity in this dispensation by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, was the very ground of the charges against brethren, and made the plea for accusing them of denying life and glory, to Old Testament saints. But further, as to these second and third paragraphs, they entirely avoid the question. No one says they deny the unity of the Church, if it be meant of all saints, from beginning to end, in a glorious and heavenly state at the close of all things. But there is not a word in the second which would not be satisfied by this truth. The point in question, of the unity of the body by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, now, is entirely avoided. And so it is in the third: strange as such an assertion may seem to a simple hearted saint. It is then changed into “unity of the saints upon earth;” not the body. But it will be said, but it is added as baptized into one body. So it is. But what body is this ? On earth is not added here. And the unity of the body here is not mentioned nor spoken of. There is the unity of the saints on earth, (not as a body.) Perhaps, (as stated by Mr. N.), unity in faith, doctrine, manners, in independent Churches, all alike, but all independent.[1]
The body into which they were baptized, is, as far as any one can tell here, the general universal assembly of all that surround Jesus eternally. Of this we all own they are. But the unity of the body, as by one Spirit sent down from heaven, after the exaltation of Christ, is entirely avoided here. Now that is the whole practical question. I may add that Mr. N. teaches, or did teach,
- ↑ “Separate one from another―all equal, all alike; connected by no visible bond, neither revolving round any common centre. They were independent one of another;” but not independent of Him who invisibly walked amongst them, and who was able to preserve the likeness to Himself, and to one another, which His grace had given then; to keep them what He had made them alike in faith, manners, and testimony.” And again, “in faith, doctrines, manners, were emphatically one.”
