The Practical Church Member: being a Guide to the Principles and Practice of the Congregational Churches of New England. By John Mitchell [pp. 243-268]

Mitchell's Church Member.
intercourse! Henceforth may there be no other strife between us than who shall be most indulgent and respectful to
each other's peculiarities; who shall love one another, and our
common Master with the most fervent affection; and who
shall do most for the conversion of the world to God, and
thus " filling it with his glory!"
For ourselves, in fine, we are constrained to say, with emphasis, the longer we live, the deeper is our conviction, that,
if the Presbyterian Church desires to have a healthful and
solid growth, and: to accomplish the greatest amount of good
in our own body, and to all around her; her true policy is,
not to level the walls which divide her from other denominations; not to seek a rapid enlargement, by gaining numbers
at the expense of surrendering her peculiarities as a denomination. Our strength and glory, as a Church, consist in our
simple, pure, apostolical doctrine and government, accompanied by the Holy Spirit's awakening and sanctifying power.
The moment we give up these, we are like Sampson shorn
of his locks. The Philistines will be upon us, and will
prevail against us. All history bears witness, that when
Presbyterians degenerated into Arminianism, or Pelagianism,
and consented to exchange their government and discipline
for a more lax system, their glory departed. Their peace
was gone. They gained in numbers; but they lost in purity,
in harmony, and in strength. The true way for every denomination (and we should say the same if we were conscientious Congregationalists) is faithfully to hold fast and
maintain that system of truth and order which it verily believes to be founded in the word of God, without surrender or
compromise; to treat all denominations around it with respect
and kindness; to indulge in no exclusive claims, or denominational reproaches; to co-operate with others in enterprizes
of general Christian benevolence, as far as can be done without the sacrifice of a single principle; and to employ its
utmost strength in sustaining at home, and spreading as far
as possible abroad, that system of doctrine, worship, and discipline, which it believes to be scriptural. This is the true
way to peace, to harmony, to brotherly love, and to spiritual
strength. No denomination of Christians ever faithfully and
prayerfully pursued this course without being blessed of
God, and largely prospering. And were the Presbyterian
Church, from this hour, sacredly and strictly to adopt
this plan in conducting all her affairs; acting faithfully
in conformity with her own published principles; seek
1836.]
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