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The Christian Witness and Church Members' Magazine [ed. by J. Campbell. Afterw.] the Christian Witness and Congregational Magazine [ed. by J.
The Christian Witness and Church Members' Magazine the Christian Witness and Congregational Magazine ed by J - ed. by J. Campbell. Afterw. Author:John Campbell Title: The Christian Witness and Church Members' Magazine [ed. by J. Campbell. Afterw.] the Christian Witness and Congregational Magazine [ed. by J. Kennedy]. General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1869 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or miss... more »ing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS, AND CONGREGATIONAL MAGAZINE. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. -- FOUNDATION PRINCIPLES. Controversialists might often husband their strength and save their temper if they would honestly try to understand each other, and separate things that are essential to the principles for which they contend from things that are common to both sides, and perhaps indifferent to either. We are desirous, if possible, to save the discussion of the question of Church membership from getting into confusion through want of a clear apprehension of the real points at issue. Brethren, we are persuaded, often argue on opposite sides who are really agreed. Take the following colloquy -- not an imaginary one -- for illustration : " If a man came to me and said, ' I am a Christian,' I would admit him to fellowship." So said a most worthy brother. Take his words without explanation, and the Church door could not be thrown wider open. "But," said a friend, " would you not ask him a question to ascertain if he understood what it was to be a Christian?" "Oh! certainly." "And if you found, for example, that he denied the Godhead of our Saviour, would you admit him ? " " Certainly not." " Or if you knew him to be living a wicked life, would you admit him?" " Certainly not." And thus the Church door which seemed thrown wide open, with "whosoever will" written over it, is found after all guarded by a porter, who demands evidence as to a man's right and fitness to enter...« less