Untitled article by M.

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 2, 1860

WALK WORTHY OF GOD, NO. 2.

By M.

Eph. iv, 3-6. New Trans. "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one immersion, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in you all." How keep the unity or oneness of the Spirit? Not by envying and strife, for "where these are, there is confusion and every evil work." Neither by always yielding to surrounding circumstances and associations, may we seek the sweet "fruit of the Spirit, peace," and its twin sister unity. "Seek no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness;" join not with "the children of disobedience in indecency, nor foolish talking, nor reproachful jesting, which are not becoming." "Come out from among them and be separate." What then is the way to secure it? Seek purity first. "First pure, then peaceable." First see that the heart, the fountain of thoughts, words and deeds, is ever welling forth streams of crystal clearness, of spotless purity. Then mayest thou find spiritual union, or the union of the Spirit, among the gentle and the pure. May we then exclude ourselves entirely from the erring and

degraded? To do this "we must needs go out of the world." Rather let us "do good to all as we have opportunity," meanwhile selecting for counselors and bosom friends, those who daily sitting at the feet of Jesus, learn of him.

Why seek to be thus united? 1st. Because "there is one body," and only one. Yet as our body though but one, has many members, such as hands, feet &c, so also Christ has but one body, which body is also composed of many members. "Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular." And "Christ is the head of the body, the church." Then let there be no schism (or division margin) in the body, but let "the members have the same care one for another." "Then if one member suffers all will suffer (or sympathise) with it; if one member is honored all the members will rejoice with it. "As the eye may not say to the hand, or the head to the foot, we have no need of thee," so may not one member of Christ's body say to another, we have no need of thee. "For God (who is all-wise) has set the members in the body as it has please him."

2nd. "There is one Spirit," and only one from God. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth which Jesus prayed the Father to send to his followers as a comforter, leader and guide when he their beloved teacher and leader should go to share his Father's home in glory. They having believed that through Christ they were to have eternal life were "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise which was given as an earnest of their inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession." Now an earnest being a sum of money advanced as a pledge or security in a contract, well represents one office of the Holy Spirit. Man, having by sin lost his right to life eternal and to the inheritance given him at the first, was miserable indeed. God pitied him and sent his Son to buy both back from Satan. He came and paid the price, even his own precious blood; but the time had not come for him to take sole possession. And although the condition of those who received him as a Saviour was bettered greatly yet still they were in bondage. Jesus having paid the price leaves them. How shall they be assured that he will return "to destroy him who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage?" He promises to come; and then to seal or make the promise sure to them he sends the holy Comforter to remain with them till his return. He gives that as an earnest or pledge of his return to raise the dead and bestow immortality. This earnest causes Paul to confidently exclaim, "If the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he who raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken (or make alive) your mortal bodies because of his Spirit (margin) that dwelleth in you." As man gives but one earnest, so the promises of God need but one. If all are led by this one Spirit all will be united, and united in the truth; for he is the "Spirit of truth," and "the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God" and reveals them unto us.

From whence come the many spirits that are consulted at the present day? From whence come the dark and blighting clouds of error? From whence sectarian divisions, the bosom companion of error? We have found that God sends but one Spirit; and that is truth and promotes unity. The next in power is Satan. His is the work the dreadful work of sowing error and discord. Let us dear brethren and sisters beware of his stealthy steppings. Let us by pressing together form a solid phalanx, beseeching those who best understand his devices to move forward and form the outmost rank on each side, while we by our kind words and helping hands, do what we can to encourage and sustain them. M.