UNITY THROUGH COMPROMISE.
By Editor
IN speaking of a union meeting in which certain truths of the word of God were ignored, a writer in the Good Way uses the following language, which, with the editor of that journal, we heartily indorse:— Just how this unity was obtained is quite clearly stated: "Ordinance and anti-ordinance were perfectly ignored." That is the doctrine upon which these two classes of people differ, and the practices which result from a belief of the doctrines set aside by the anti-ordinance faction were ignored as non-essential. Then the holy Sabbath, the baptism of water, the Lord's Supper, the essential character of the church of God, the resurrection, the second coming of Christ, and the general judgment, were treated as side issues, and with the contempt that parasites upon the great body of God's truth should be. It is alarming to behold to what extent this hateful blasphemy has obtained a following. There is no better sign of the degeneracy of the times than that men professing godliness will presume to divide between the doctrines and institutions of God, presuming to judge which are essential and which are non-essential. Unity purchased at so great a price is too dearly paid for; and, worse still, its true character proves not to be the unity of the Spirit, but the unity of compromise—a sham. The hand of fellowship and co-operation are effective of good or evil just in proportion as they harmonize, or do not harmonize, with the word of God. The ground and guide of our co-operation are clearly stated: "I beseech you . . . . that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." "Let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing." To speak the same thing, to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment, to walk by the same rule, and mind the same things, is "keeping the unity of the Spirit." But this same rule which is to govern the whole of our doctrine and conduct is nothing less than the whole written word of God. Then God says, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Again: "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine [the whole doctrine of Christ], receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed; for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds." "Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." "Withdraw yourselves from every brother [or everyone who is called a brother] that walketh disorderly." Now, within view of these words of unerring Inspiration, it will be hard for those who are spiritual, and conversant with the heretical course of Sam Murry and his clan, to believe that any man can be made one with him and his sort, in spirit, without first suffering the total loss of his doctrinal integrity and spiritual life. Besides this forfeiture of loyalty to the truth, and of the real unity of the Spirit, there are other inevitable and ruinous results from such a compromise as indicated in the report of the Hannibal meeting. When one agrees to ignore any part of God's truth upon any plea whatever, he puts himself upon the enemy's ground, and in harmony with his principles. He consents to fellowship that which God forbids. He backslides from God, becomes a full-fledged heretic and fanatic, a disgrace to humanity, a foul blot upon the fair page of the Christian religion. Such a course is a gross injustice to his brethren with whom he professes to be identified in the work, and upon whom he must depend for moral support and sympathy. Just in so far as his access and influence may obtain, he will work a grievous hardship upon the God-fearing, faithful, and toil-worn soldiers who have sacrificed all worldly gain and comforts for the truth. Where he compromises, they will be required to do the same, or else be refused a cordial welcome, hearty sympathy, and a respectful hearing. He forfeits the victory they gained by their sacrifice, toils, and care, to recover which they must fight the battles over again. Holiness, nor any work of God, cannot prosper under such a management. If a few are saved under the dictum of such a compromise, the professed holiness preacher will scarcely be out of town before these fanatics will be practicing their Jesuitism, "privately bringing in their damnable heresies," among the converts. This is their universal habit, and Hannibal will form no exception to this rule. Then they have the advantage of having been indorsed, fellowshiped, and introduced by the compromised method. They gain the ear of the young convert, ply him with their heresies and fanaticisms, and ruin him. The fact is, this whole system of compromise is of the devil; its results must revert back to him.