IRENIC MOVEMENTS 135 



ship and love which would make the anion 

 a blessing did not then exist. 



In conclusion tins able writer lays down 

 the following principles : — 



1. All who profess the true religion in 

 its essential characteristics belong to the 

 Church catholic, and ought to be so re- 

 garded by all who believe that Christ is 

 one and his religion one. 



2. Concurrence in some outward form 

 of Christianity is not essential to Christian 

 union, or to the communion of saints. 



3. Yet everything that tends to divide 

 the body of Christ or its members from 

 each other is sinful. 



4. The day is coming, and is not far dis- 

 tant, when the people of God will be so 

 united both in form and spirit that they 

 will feel that they are one body in Christ, 

 and every one members one of another. 



5. A formal coalition of all sects into one 

 body under one name would not neces- 

 sarily be Christian union. 



6. The spirit of sectarism must first be 

 slain, and the spirit of charity become tri- 

 umphant in every part of the Church. 



7. Attempts to break down the barriers 

 which now divide Christians before such 



