LETTER I. LOVE AND UNION. Variety in Unity needed in the Church-Cudworth-Love the basis of Union-Dwellers in God and in Ism-Union' Sectional-Diversity seeks Unity-Centripetal thought-currents-Men wonder at one another, but no matter if they dwell in Love-Going inside-No Pandora's Box to be feared-Where harm is-The two Shipmasters-Unmoor thy craft. DEAR BROTHER, When we joyously tread the cool forest in the heat of summer, how interesting the thought, that no conceivable search among its countless leaves, were adequate to the discovery of two, exactly alike. Yet, is their unity of aspect unbroken, while they seem sweetly to enjoy the common breeze of heaven, and harmoniously to murmur their Maker's praise together. So wonderful and beneficent is the law of variety in the natural world. Why should it be less so in the moral? And why then should it be remarkable that you and I differ in opinion, seeing that we come within its ample sweep. Certainly our difference will be the less regretted, provided we put on fervent charity, practically to illustrate, in the moral world also, this beneficent law of variety in unity; a thing which is more needed in the present age, than all the sharp "points," on which so many souls hang impaled! "In faith and hope the world will disagree, "To see brethren dwell together in unity," is always "good and pleasant." But at no other time so good and so pleasant, as when it exists in spite of wide disparities of belief. Then is religion decked in her best robe, exalted above all that is earthly, and set off against a back ground of heavenly sky. And hence, though we do not thank God that we differ, I think we may thank him that our differences may be turned to so good an account; that they afford us opportunity to illustrate the supremacy of Love. And as Cudworth said before the British House of Commons, "let us express this sweet harmonious affection in these jarring times; that so, if possible, we may tune the world into better music. Especially in matters of religion let us strive with all meekness to instruct and convince one another. Let us endeavor to promote the gospel of peace, the dove-like gospel, with the dove-like spirit." And how do these words of the old prelate come down to us, bearing still the charm of his heart; as if the words of love, like love itself, were imperishable. Love is, indeed, "the sweet harmony of souls." Its fervent words are precious, and he who drops them upon the currents of the world, is its benefactor. So also is he who takes them up and hands them down to posterity. Love is the essence of the universe. "God is Love; and he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God and God in him." Those therefore who "dwell in God," must, as they dwell in love, dwell harmoniously together. In spite of all, there must be union between them; and because union, communion. Not so, those who dwell in ism merely. With them union is sectional. They know no spirit more Catholic than that which makes fellowship between men of the same faith. And this is the calamity of the ages. Its spirit finds various development; then, in whips, chains, and faggots; now, in reproach, shame and casting "out of the synagogue." Happy will it be, when all the members of the church, whatever their favorite isms, shall no longer dwell in them, but only in God; then, and not till then, will she present the pleasing and sublime spectacle of "brethren dwelling together in unity." But it is true, after all, that in theology diversity seeks unity. Though the Christian world, in days of ignorance so stumble along its mazy ways, as to provoke the smile or taunt of skepticism and infi delity, still let no one despair; for there is a divine spirit brooding upon the chaos of conflicting opinions, and a law of tendency pervading it, which shall at length reduce it to order. In the moral world, all things are, upon the whole, centripetal to a perfect truth, and shall at length reach it; all men, though after many irregular wanderings, shall, at length, find the clue to the concentric labyrinth in which it is hidden. Towards that truth, the great currents of human thought are ever tending. Like a river seeking the sea, they may have many windings among mountains, and eddyings among rocks; like Israel in the desert, they may move very circuitously. But their general course is the same; and he who boldly commits himself to them, though sometime strangely carried backwards, and furiously dashed about, shall at length reach the haven of quiet, -the central rest of truth-loving spirits. And, thence arrived, I think, brother, that even we shall agree at last. And what if we shall then find that our present conflicts of opinion, incidental to the infancy of our being, were, under the great Providence, but the excitements of mind necessary to our Christian growth! "I am a wonder unto many." So exclaimed the Psalmist. But in that, he was hardly peculiar. For who is there much known, or having much character, that is not wondered at by more or less of his neigh bors, not to say by "strangers and foreigners," for what they deem his singularities? Where can you find two persons so alike, that the one is not, in some respects, a wonder to the other, that there is not a mutual wondering between them? So it is between you and me. You wonder that I am a Universalist, and I wonder that you are not one, even as I wonder that I was not one earlier. But no matter, so long as we dwell in love. For as we have seen they who dwell in love dwell in God, and are united by a spiritual bond which no wonderment can sever. But my heart grows warm, and I fear I am detaining you too long upon the threshold. Let us go inside; nor fear to lift curtains, open doors, and pull drawers. We are not heathen, treading the enchanted grounds of mythology, that we should fear a Pandora's Box; but we are Christians, treading the terra firma of theology, where no hidden mystery can be dangerous to the discoverer. Harm, never in the way of sincere truth-seekers, delights to infest the mouldy seats and musty lounges of those, who, too indolent or too timid to advance, try to content themselves with their present attainment, or even with their hereditary theological possession. These two classes of persons are like two shipmasters; the one of whom, through dread of labor or fear of storms, or lack of hope, never weighs |