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subject, it may be in order to lay down his laconic question and answer to this very matter under consideration. He asks, then, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?" Here, then, could we be permitted to look behind the screen, at the propelling power put into motion by men and parties in the church, or at the machinery that operates with its spur wheels and running gear, we would soon see how far a necessity goes for purging and purifying the church of the Redeemer of its errors and corruptions. I do not deny that God does exercise a moral government in the church, but that government is one so ordered in wisdom as to preclude the possibility of an error in its administration or in its results; but it is not in confusions and strife, for God's government is like himself, of order, as he is of love; and when, therefore, there are seen contentions and strifes in the church, the God of this world, and not the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has gotten by some means among the people, and sown these tares therein. O! that "God's people were wise," that they would deny themselves of every temper that brings contentions and divisions. There can be no good reason shown why any body of Christians should be divided, unless for prudential and beneficial purposes, and those for the interests of all concerned, founded all in Christian love. As an Apostle expresses, "Let all things be done in charity."
The church is represented in Scripture as the family of God. All who are spiritual members of it are his dear children by adoption, as well as by redemption. It seems clear, then, that they constitute his family on earth, as the angels arc of his family in bliss. Can there be shown, then, why the same affection and interest in
