12 CHURCH UNITY 



ORGANIC UNITY INTENDED BY OUR LORD 



In the first place, organic unity was con- 

 templated by our Lord himself as head of 

 the Church. Although he was pre-emi- 

 nently a teacher, he was also an organizer. 

 He instituted a church as well as pro- 

 claimed a gospel. And he gave to that 

 church apostles, sacraments, scriptures, 

 doctrines, all of which are strictly ecclesi- 

 astical elements, appertaining only to a 

 Church visible. As far as was practicable 

 during his own lifetime, he thus organized 

 his spiritual kingdom ; and after ascending 

 into heaven he completed the organization, 

 by conferring upon it apostles, prophets, 

 evangelists, pastors, and doctors, for the 

 edifying of his body in the unity of his 

 faith and of his knowledge. This was the 

 one visible Church as organized by Christ 

 himself ; and it is inconceivable, that he 

 ever intended it should he broken into 

 jarring sects, calling themselves His 

 Church, excommunicating one another, 

 denying each other's ministry and sacra- 

 ments and having no more inter-communion 

 than the Jews and Samaritans. To imagine 

 Him, in his last great intercession on the 



