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CHAPTER XVII..

Other Christian Sects.

Baptists.

OF Baptists there are several varieties—including the Congregational Baptists, the Union Baptists, the Particular Baptists, and the General Baptists.

Their creed is substantially the same as that of the Church of England touching the doctrines of modern Christianity, excepting that, like all Dissenters, they do not believe in the Apostolic Succession of the Church Clergy. In its own body it is, however, distinguished by all shades of belief upon disputed doctrines, like those of predestination and election—some holding the sufficiency of the atonement for all men, and others salvation for an elect number only. The particular tenet for which the Baptists are distinguished, however, is their opposition to infant baptism, and the baptism by immersion of adults. They regard baptism as an ordinance, the validity of which depends on an intelligent faith on the part of the recipient. They believe that none but believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can be baptized, and that it must be accompanied by a moral and spiritual change; and, as respects the mode, they hold that only immersion in water is baptism. The Baptists are also divided among themselves regarding communion-one portion throwing open the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and membership to conscientious Pædo-Baptists (ie., those who advocate infant baptism), and the other declining to admit any but Baptists. The Baptists, amongst the religions of the world, number no less than 2,439,000 members.

The Congregationalists or Independents

Form another large subdivision of modern Christians, who dissent from the doctrines of the Established Church. They number 1,445,000 members. Like the Baptists, they deny the spiritual authority of the Church, and hold that every Church is possessed of the power of self-government under its exalted head, Jesus Christ.

Doctrinally, the early Independents adhered in substance to the evangelical doctrines of the Reformers and the Thirtynine Articles, but modern Congregationalists, whilst declining subscription to these Articles, and frankly tolerant of very considerable diversities of opinion, profess to be of one mind in regard to the cardinal truths of Christianity.

Their Declaration of Faith, as set out in the Congregational Year Book, sets forth certain Principles of Religion, which are substantially the same as those of the Church's Articles touching doctrines. They adhere to the inspiration of the Scriptures, and believe in one God, revealed in the Bible as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit coequal; also in the Fall of Man; in original sin and natural depravity; "that God before the foundation of the world designed to redeem fallen man;" in Salvation through Christ; His divinity and atonement for our sins; in justification by faith, not works; in election; in a holy life and good works as the necessary effect of a true faith; in the life-long process of "sanctification of true Christians," and their immediate reception at death into the presence of Christ, freed from all remains of evil; also in Baptism and the Lord's Supper; and, finally, in the second coming of Christ, the judgment of the whole human race according to their works, the resurrection of the "bodies of the dead," and the division of the whole human race into the righteous and the wicked-the one to be rewarded with "life everlasting," and the other relegated to "everlasting punishment."

The Methodists

Form a numerous and influential body amongst the modern Christians, and are said to number 4,400,000. They also are split up into smaller subdivisions, who rejoice in the following titles:-The Wesleyan Methodists, the Primitive Methodists, the United Free Church Methodists, the New Connexion Methodists, the Congregational Methodists, the Independent Methodists, and the Welsh Calvinistic Methodists.

The doctrines professed are similar to those of the Church of England, "their great distinguishing doctrine being the universality and freedom of the atonement; hence they reject the Calvinistic doctrine of predestination (which they conceive to be incompatible with the former); but while they maintain the freedom of the will and the responsibility of man, they also maintain his total fall in Adam, and his utter inability to recover himself."

They also maintain the perfectability of Christians, or rather the possibility of their entire sanctification as a privilege to be enjoyed in this life. "The Wesleyan Methodists in their religious services use more or less the English liturgy; the morning service being read in many of their chapels, and the sacramental offices being required in all." The Methodists also claim the right of self-government and decline to recognise any Divine authority in the Church of England.

The Society of Friends

Is another subdivision of modern Christians, and numbers 200,000 members. The Quakers agree in the main with the doctrines of orthodox Christianity, their difference being more in the spirit than in the letter of their faith.

Their creed differs little from that contained in the Apostles' creed. They adhere to the doctrine of the Trinity; the atonement by Christ for sin; the resur

rection from the dead; the doctrine of final and eternal judgment; the inspiration of the Scriptures; the natural depravity of man consequent on the fall of Adam; his inability to raise himself except by the influence of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ; and other characteristic doctrines of Christian orthodoxy, excepting that they reject the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The Society of Friends has avoided any literal definition of its creed, but bases it on the words of Scripture. It has not escaped the schisms which have sundered all other Christian sects, that of the Hicksites in America being the principal offshoot from the main body.

Although the Society of Friends lays the same stress upon the necessity of believing in the doctrines of orthodox Christianity on the part of those who wish to be saved, they have distinguished themselves above all other Christians by insisting on the necessity of following out, in daily life, the practical teachings of Christ-those teachings, in fact, which, in the first part of this work, I have endeavoured to show, are the only vital portions of Christian teachings, and the one thing needful for salvation, and so expressed by Christ himself. Although, however, they have not neglected the vital teachings, they have always shown their preference for the doctrinal teachings as a sine quâ non to salvation by expelling from their body all who declined to accept these doctrinal teachings.

They believe that it is the Holy Spirit, or the indwelling Christ, that alone maketh wise unto salvation, illumining the mind with true and spiritual knowledge of God; hence they do not accept paid and specially trained ministers, nor set forms of worship, but they meet together in silence until one of them believes himself inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak.

They believe that they need not perform any symbolical rites, in order to have communion with Christ, but that they can have daily communion with him, through the

Holy Spirit, and through the obedience of faith. They ignore the religious observances of days and times, with the exception of the Sabbath.

They believe in the necessity of obeying Christ's injunction not to take oaths, and they endeavour to live closely to his teachings, at peace with one another, discountenancing war, slavery, and ill-will. They are also distinguished by a peculiarity of dress, and by their discouragement of all frivolous amusements, and a cultivation of gravity and seriousness of demeanour. Almsgiving and good works also form a distinguishing characteristic of the Quakers; in short-but for their narrow-minded adherence to doctrinal teachings of no vital importance, and directly provocative of uncharitable feelings between man and man -they may be said to live truly Christian lives, benevolence exemplified by beneficence.

The Plymouth Brethren

Also claim to be Christians, but believe that the true Church consists of themselves and other "chosen ones" in the various Christian Churches. They hold strictly Calvinistic opinions-original sin and predestination, the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice, the merit of his obedience, the power of his intercession, and the gracious operations of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. They practice the baptism of adults without regard to previous infant baptism, and acknowledge the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, but reject confirmation and all ecclesiastical organisation.

The Universalists,

A sect which exists largely in America, and numbers in all 656,000 members.

They consider themselves Christians, but reject the doctrine of eternal perdition, believing that evil will be ultimately eradicated from the world, and that all erring

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