III. The reasons why it should be most earnestly desired.
We must proceed to notice:—
I.—The object, which in this petition the Saviour seeks.
It is the unity of all believers upon Earth. Not indeed that Christ is indifferent to the peace and love which ought to bind together all mankind as one great family. He purposes to secure this; but he seeks to bless His Church, that thro’ it he may bless the world. Yes! beloved brethren,—Men ought to “be one” in the bonds of love and kindness. We are Brethren, all “one man’s sons,” and where there is a man, there is one who has a claim upon the thoughtfulness, the care, the kindness of his fellow man; and in order to promote the general well-being of our species, we should be as one. To us there cry the poor in their destitution—the ignorant in their darkness—the oppressed in their wrongs—the victims of war, murderous and impious war—the slaves in the chains, which tyranny has thrown around their persons, or set on their intellect and conscience; these, and sufferers in every other form of woe, appeal to man, the family, the fraternity of man, for sympathy, pity, and relief. They are Men; they are Brethren; and these are outrages against our common claims, which should rouse all that hear the cry, to succour the suppliants. We have all one Father, and happy will be the time, when His divided and distracted household, shall again “love as brethren;” when the oppressor shall cease; when “violence shall not be heard in our borders;” when the clangor of war shall give place to the melting sounds and celestial song of “Peace on earth, and good will towards men;” when truth shall fill all intellects, and love reign in every heart. Bright! Glorious Day!—And shall this happy consummation ever bless this afflicted, burdened, groaning world? It shall! The Gospel purposes it, and to secure its accomplishment, the Gospel is daily putting forth its heavenly energy, and ere long, earth in love shall be the very emblem of the heaven of heavens. The fierce passions of the human spirit shall be subdued. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid”; “the cow and bear shall feed”: “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”—Isaiah xi, 6–9.
But another work must precede this. The Church must first be made one itself. The universal harmony predicted, and eventually to be realized in the world, must first pervade the elements of Christ’s Visible Church, and therefore as a means to that great end, even that the world may believe in, fully recognize, and submit to the authority of Him, whom God has sent, the Redeemer here prays, that His disciples may “be one;” implying thereby that the unity of the Church, is the great pre-requisite for the conversion of the world.
1.—And who are His Church, His People, the subjects of this prayer?
None but those who rest upon His atonement, and rely upon His grace, as the one foundation of their hope for eternity. It is not the bearing of a Christian name; it is not an enrolment in any society, however scriptural in doctrine and apostolic in discipline that constitutes men Christians. There may be loud profession—an orthodox creed—ceaseless activity—large sacrifices, without faith in Jesus or love to his name. But these are indispensible; without them there is no interest or fellowship with Christ, and no part, or lot in His Church. Without faith, there is no salvation; and “if any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ he must be accursed.” The possessors of these alone, are the true “living stones built up a spiritual house.”
But the Church includes all who believe on the Son of God, among whatever community they may be found. Each christian may have, and ought to hold dear, his convictions, as to the truths the bible teaches, and the church principles which are there developed.
The Bible is ever to be his standard, and his conscience binds him to receive all that it teaches. We plead for no latitudinarian indifference. We have our convictions, nor dare we yield them, unless God should, by His Spirit, afford us another view of truth; nor will any candid christian, who differs from us, call for such a sacrifice. We ask not for such unwarranted concessions from any. Nor dare we judge the Lord’s servants; to their own Master they stand or fall. To Him they are amenable, and it cheers the spirit to think that our minor errors and imperfections hinder not Him from receiving any who rest on Him for mercy, and yield to Him their hearts.
All these are His people—they are parts of His universal Church; though severed from each other, they are one with Him; members of His mystical body; branches in Him the Living Vine!