A Good Basis, Why Not Adhere to It?
The recent Triennial Convention of Congregationalists in Syracuse, N. Y., proposed the following for a basis of union of the “evangelical” Protestant churches, the head of the committee who prepared it being, we believe, Dr. William Hayes Ward, editor of the Independent:— “1. The acceptance of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, inspired by the Holy Ghost, to be the only authoritative revelation of God to man. “2. Discipleship of Jesus Christ, the divine Saviour and Teacher of the world. “3. The church of Christ, which is his body, whose great mission it is to preach his Gospel to the world. “4. Liberty of conscience in the interpretation of the Scriptures and their administration of the church.” Now this is good, but will Congregationalists accept of it themselves, say, for instance, the first and fourth, on the great and worldwide agitated question,—the Sabbath? Will they accept of the Sabbath of the Bible? If not, why not? And will they grant liberty of conscience to their persecuted brethren of the seventh day who hold to the first proposition? If not, why not? The Scriptures should be our standard whether others accept them or not. The only true basis of Christian union is the true basis of union with Christ. He places it on the acceptance of his word.