The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 344

subjects, so should H be the great concern of the Clmrch and of every Christian to remove the barriers which separate those for whom Christ died. The national Church, for example, should be as wide and comprehensive as possible. Sects must of necessity have narrow and restricted boundaries; for their raison d'etre is almost invariably to be found, not in the propagation of error, but in the assertion of soJJle forgotten or neglected truth, which they have made their peculiwm, and treat as if it were the sum total of revelation to the neglect of the "proportion of faith." But why should we multiply our tests and articles of membership ? The Apostles' Creed was thought to embody everything of necessity to salvation in the first age of the Church; and when at a later period truth had become mixed with error, the Nicene symbol was still the only test of the Christian layman. Why should it not be a sufficient test of Catholicity now? Why must we refine and define, and so make intercommunion almost impossible ? "Must it be Calvin, and not Christ? Must it be Atho.ua.sian Creeds, Or holy water, books, and beads? Must struggling souls remain content With councils and decrees of Trent ? " It is partly because we have built Ramo.ha round our Zion that Olll' schisms are so many. We have insisted on forcing our shibboleths on those who could not receive them, forgetting that, however true any dogma may be in itself, still, if it is not of necessity to be believed, and we make it an essential part of our system of doctrine, it may straightway become a source of discord and division. There are many such barriers and obstacles of our own creation-sometimes in the shape of practical abuses-which require to be removed, and no Christian should be " exempt" from the work of " building silver bridges for flying enemies and golden bridges for returning friends." VI. THAT, INSTEAD OF RAISING BARRIERS BETWEEN BRETHREN, WB SHOULD STRENGTHEN OUR DEFENCES AGAINST THE COMMON ENEMY. The stones and timber of Ramah, Asa used to build Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah. Thereby the road to J erusulem was left open to friends, whilst these two fortresses commanded it against foes. Against Baa.she., if he would wage war against his kinsmen ; against the Assyrian at a later date (Isa. x. 28, 29). And is there no lesson for Christians here? Too often they are fighting amongst themselves about the "infinitely little'' -about the date of Easter, about unleavened bread, about the "five points," about lights and vestments, about wafer bread, or about unfermented wine in the Holy Communion-while the enemy is marshalling his forces. Intemperance, sensuality, devilry in every form, are destroying the Church's children by thousands, and her watchmen the while are fencing with each other. The siege of Jerusalem (Jos., Bell. Jud. v. 1) is reproduced amongst ourselves. The enemy is thundering atom gates, and the Church is paralyzed by factions. We keep raising barricades in the streets of Zion whilst hostile legions are swarming on the adjoining heights. We have our Geba, our Mizpah to build, and we perversely build Ramo.he instead. VII. THAT A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND. First Samaria, then Jerusalem fell before the enemy. Christianity is now comparatively powerless for aggre~sive purposes; indeed, it hardly keeps pace with the population; and its enemies are asking how much longer it can stand on its defence. Divide et impera, thu~ have many empires fallen. True, the Catholio Chw·ch cannot perish, but national Ch_urches have fallen again and again. There has been some talk amongst the Brahmms of sending a mission to England. And we may see in France, in Germany, a foreshadowing of what is in store for us here. "The class which has recently attained supreme political power is alienated from Christianity in its present forms." Are the Church and the sects nlike to be broken up one by one 'l Or shall we lay aside our '' fratricidal dissensions," and combine against the legion of foes-Atheism, Agnosticism, Socialism, and the rest ? Of one thing we may be sure, that as long as our " 1?-nhappy divisions " last we shall never win Englt\nd, much Iese the worlcl, for Christ. •  350 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [oH. XV, 1-24,