82 CHURCH UNITY 



in the Church, somewhat independently 

 of Scripture. Of course, if there is com- 

 mitted to us any definite polity prescribed 

 in perpetuity, with the seal of divine au- 

 thority upon it, then we must maintain 

 that polity at whatever cost. We must 

 cling to it ourselves ; we must fight for it 

 against those trying to subvert it. Any 

 church, any sect supposing itself in pos- 

 session of a divinely ordained form of 

 church building, cannot do otherwise than 

 maintain such, though it should seem to 

 work, though it should confessedly and 

 certainly work divisively in Christendom. 

 Upon that theoiy we should have to say, 

 " God's will be done," though the results 

 at present, to all human appearance, are 

 the reverse of helpful to the progress of 

 Iris kingdom. He knows best, and who 

 are we that our finite judgments should pre- 

 sume to dictate to infinite wisdom? If 

 your polity can be shown to be divinely 

 legitimate, you, of course, have the power 

 of the keys ; and you have no option but 

 to assert and maintain that power against 

 all comers. Here is the heart of our 

 difficulty. 



For my part I deny, root and branch, the 



