“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called. Upon those to whom he wrote to surrender themselves fully to the claims of this exalted constitution. Such is the idea of the Church, which is “the body of Christ, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.” And now at length, passing from doctrine to practice, the Apostle calls
The human world is reconciled first with God, and then with itself, by entering with living consciousness into the ground of its own life as revealed in his person. “In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth anything, not uncircumcision, but a new creature.” “Those who were far off, are made nigh by his blood.” “He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us making in himself of twain one new man.” In him, all spiritual antagonism among men is subverted. Christianity is the universal solvent, in with all opposites are required to give up their previous affinities, no matter how old and stubborn, and flow together in a new combination, pervaded with harmony only and light at every point. Reference is had in this representation primarily to the old division of Jew and Gentile but in its true spirit and sense, it is plainly as comprehensive as humanity itself, and looks therefore directly to every other distinction of the same sort, that ever has been or ever shall be known in the world.
In the preceding part of the epistle, Christ is exhibited as the end of all separations and strife to them that believe, and the author of a new spiritual creation, in which all former distinctions were to be regarded as swallowed up and abolished forever. The picture is intended to enforce the great duty of charity and peace, among those who bear the Christian name. In the whole world, we find nothing so resplendently beautiful and glorious, under any other form. This is the image of the CHURCH, as delineated by the hand of the inspired Apostle. 4-6.–There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling one Lord, one faith, one baptism one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Of the Reformed Protestant Dutch and German ReformedĬhurches, at Harrisburg, Pa., August 8th, 1844.
No change is made in the sermon as originally written only, as a support to some of its positions, a few notes are added, serving mainly to show the ground occupied by Calvin and the Reformed Church generally in the Sixteenth Century.Ī sermon delivered at the opening of the Triennial Convention It was gratifying to receive from the leading brethren of the Dutch Church in particular explicit testimonies in its favor, as a seasonable vindication of important truth in opposition to those loose views of the Church which have become so common. This approval too was in no respect ambiguous or uncertain as along with the public vote of the Convention recommending its publication in the Weekly Messenger and Christian Intelligencer, the most decided expressions of satisfaction with it were given inĪ more private way. In this view, its approval by so respectable a body as the Triennial Convention at Harrisburg, is entitled to attention. A false tendency prevails on this subject in a large section of the Protestant world, to which the views presented in the sermon are directly opposed. Of all themes, the most momentous at this time is the true idea of the Church. The sermon derives some importance, both from its subject and its occasion. In those circumstances, it seems proper to republish it, that it may be tried on its own merits. Some who gave but little heed to it when it appeared in this way, have come to take more interest in it since. An additional reason for publishing the sermon is found in the fact, that some doubt has been raised latterly with regard to its theological soundness whilst at the same time copies of it have become hard to find, published as it was originally only in newspaper form. There is a sufficient affinity between the two publications in their general spirit and scope, to justify their being connected in this way. The following sermon is added to the translation of Professor Schaf’s work at the request of the author himself, in place of the very long extract from it in the German edition of which notice is taken in a note on page 170 and in compliance at the same time with a desire of the same sort expressed by others.
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