Saviour himself denounce certain individuals, who, whilst they were attentive to matters of less moment, neglected the "weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith"? Now, if some of the divine injunctions or truths are "more weighty," others must be less; and the position, that all the teachings or doctrines of the Augsburg Confession, or of other symbols, are of equal importance, is not only a psychological absurdity, but also contrary to the instructions of the Saviour himself. As to myself, should this be my last utterance touching this subject, I cheerfully testify that I feel happy in looking back on nearly fifty years of my life spent, not in building up the walls of sectarianism, but in laboring to promote the kingdom of Christ in the Lutheran Church, on the most Catholic or liberal principles,-building it up with constant recognition of the other evangelical denominations. I rejoice that my life and action have been in consonance with the Saviour's prayer: "Holy Father, keep through thine own name, those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are.”"Neither pray I for these alone, (not for the apostolic twelve alone, nor for the then existing body of believers alone;) but for them also who shall believe. in me through their word, that they may all be one, as Thou, Father, art in me and I in thee; that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me." And I confidentially anticipate the Master's approbation on my labors, in behalf of the object of his prayer, at the final day, however feeble they may have been. Absolute external union of denominations is not necessary to Christian union; but the Christianity of conflicting sects, of Paul, of Apollos, or of Cephas, of Luther, of Zwingli and Calvin, is certainly not the Christianity of the New Testament. Nothing will fully effect the desired apostolic unity short of such a voluntary stated union or intercourse between the different evangelical denominations or parts of the Church of Christ, as will imply and produce unity of spirit and mutual good will,—a union formed and sustained, not by amalgamation into one body, but by reciprocal ministerial recognition, by occasional sacramental communion, by regulations of non-interference in missionary operations, and by active co-operation in associations for objects of common interest, such as Bible Societies, and, to some extent, Tract Societies, Sunday School Unions, &c. This will involve and sustain the unity indicated by the Master; and these are the principles fostered by the ecclesiastical organism of our noble, apostolic General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in this country. These principles, if sincerely embraced, both in their positive and negative side, — both as to the cardinal doctrines the belief of which is required, and the nonessentials in regard to which liberty of difference is to be cordially and peaceably conceded,— will speedily unite into one confederation or advisory body all our different synods in the land. Happy will be the day when our synods of all nationalities, yet standing aloof from us, shall have learned to distinguish between the fundamentals of God's word, as set forth in the Augsburg Confession, and the nonfundamentals contained in this and in the other confessional books; and when grace shall have made them willing, whilst holding fast to the former, to co-operate harmoniously with those brethren who, though agreeing with them in these, yet differ from them in some points of minor importance. Then may we hope to see all our synods, the American, the German, the Swedish and Norwegian, harmoniously "working together for the furtherance of the Gospel" of Jesus Christ, and harmoniously associated in the General Synod; each District Synod retaining the immediate control of all its own affairs, and yet preventing interference, harmonizing their plans, and promoting efficiency in action by unity of counsel through the General Synod. Utinam Deus faxit! S. S. SCHMUCKER. TABLE OF CONTENTS. I. - Church of God in general. Church of the Re- deemer - Its comprehensiveness. II. — Its fundamental features enumerated. Nursery for III. Historic sketch from the Apostles till the reforma- tion of XVI. century. Fidelity of early church -Persecutions-Union of Church and State un- der Constantine-Rise of Popery-its corrup- IV. Sketch of the Reformation-Luther the subject as Distinguished as a pulpit orator, before he became the Reformer. of the Christian Church. Primitive unity - Prot- estant diversity. Origin of the Lutheran Church - binding on ministers for half a century-Major- ity of symbols rejected by different Lutheran countries. Augsburg Confession alone universal -Leading theologians. Seventeenth century— Eighteenth: Pietistic revivals-Early emigrants to America-Ministers-Swedish Lutherans in America. Overtures of the Episcopal Church for union between them and our early fathers. At-* tempts at union between the Lutheran and German Reformed churches in this country. Organization of General Synod in 1820 at Hagerstown. VII.-On Church Development - different principles and - Melanchthon's timid course at Augsburg, re- IX.-Defence of the General Synod's views of Government |