Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. A Young Schoolmaster?The supposed want of Unity in the Protestant Churches? Wherein True Unity consists?Many Local Churches and one Church of Christ ?Division Is often a Sign of Life, and Unity of Death?Divisions in the Church of Rome?Similar to those among Protestants?Matters of Faith and Discipline ?The aamc Objection urged by Heathens against Christianity?Great Dlveraitlea in the Church of Bome?Various Modes of answering the Objection as to want of Unity. Within a few miles of my parish was a young man, who ‘ kept a school and found in that way a very respectable livelihood. His character stood very high as a moral, religious, pious man, very sincerely attached to the Church of Rome, and very observant of all her ordinances. He was, on that account, patronized by all the priests of his church in the neighborhood, as a fitting instructor for the children of the more respectable and wealthy of their congregations, and in consequence of this he was eagerly sought by many, who induced him, after his school hours were over, to visit their families, and impart private instruction to their children. He was thus engaged every evening among the families in the surrounding parishes. A private communication was one day made to me, to the effect, that this young man’s mind had lately become very much impressed with religion?that there was an unusual and intense earnestness about him?that he had undoubtedly been reading the Holy Scriptures?that he seemed drawn toward certain religious Protestants with an apparent desire for religious information?that he was known to spend hours at night upon his knees in prayer?that something seemed to press upon his mind, for that his lively spirit was gone and he was thoughtful and moody; and in fine it was .suggested to …
