^^^9*^' ^O ^Cp<=.- c^°.<. : **.>* .-ij^;'. ^.J' /^jfe\ %.<^* .-i^^/ii". ^-^^ >^ 0... -^^ ^V" . *' ^^ o, ^'TVi' A ■*. rt^ . o « . . '^rt .v^" . t ' v-o^ 0^ .i:,:^'* ^ v-^' ^-o^S^' \J' :'iM£'' \/^ '"^^^'^ '^■^ ■>^ *' 0^ f"^^^' "bV •<^r^J^^ '-^0' s E n m: o isr NON-ESSENSIiLISl AND THE WAR, S.E-V-. -v^- ^^- 3vioo:k.e;- ** a^HKMlE DISCUSSED : Tiie Non-E3.entiaUsm of the American Cliurch the Cause of our present National Calamity. CHICAGO: J. yr. DEAN. BOOK AND JOB PRINTEK. 94 DBARBORN 8TRBBT. 1863. .3 'Mg3 West. Res. Htofc. Boo. -^ 554 ii: T^ jm: o IV lOI-ESSENTIALISM AND THE ¥AR, "Behold how great a matter a littj.e fire kindleth." James iii : 5. High perched in the scale of thought is this apothegm : Mighty remits follow from small beginnings. The principle, when apj^lied to matter, takes on its sublimity knd grandeur : the grains of sand and drops of water suddenly mature before the eye into revolving planets and rolling oceans. When applied to vice, it takes on the dark drapery of woe : tippling and petty theft, with the lapse of time, culminate in all the horrors of the drunkard's death and the felon's cell. When applied to religious ti-uth, it takes on the un- stained garb of loyjilty : strict obedience in small things, with the lapse of time, ends in a perfect embodiment of truth and an eternal weight of glory. When applied to error, it takes on the satanic garb of treason: the slight departure from the edicts of a king, with the lapse of time, culminates in all the horrors of war and anl'rchy. "Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth." Subject of discussion.— The Non-essentialism of the American Church a prolific source of our present national calamity. In elucidating this we will define Non-essentialism, show its nature and expose its practical workings. I. We are to define Non-essentidlism. This we may not be able to do, to meet satisfactorily the views of all ; for, evidently, some mean indefinitely more or less in the use of the term than others. But, as we are not in search of the degree to which either a good or a bad thing may be carried, this places no obstacle in our way. It is the real princi2')le involved in the %cord itself for which we search, and that belongs in this part of our discussion. This principle we shall define to be, the assumed liberty of departing from the written Word of God. Or, in other words, that God has given to men discretionary/ power, or right to change His edicts, and substitute for them what thei/ may judge or conjecture to be their spirit. Or, still further, by the sa,me principle, that men have a right to modify and change the written edicts of the King in Zion to so comport with the convenience and wishes of men as to prevent all discord and secure harmony upon their own plan ; that is, a harmony in which every one does as he pleases, and in which no two really be- lieve and practice alike. Xow, radicalism is directly the opposite of all this. It is adhere- ing strictly to the decree of the King as delivered. Radicalism, then, means right, truth, fidelity and loyalty. Non-essentialism is compromise, expediency, selfishness and treason. Radicalism and conservatism are the same in politics as radicalism and non-essen- tialism are in religion. Says an able political writer, "Radicalism in American politics means truth, courage, right, freedom, progress and reform ; while conservatism means cowardice, compromise, ex- pediency, deception and retrogression." Lest we be thought too mild in our definition of the word, allow us to say, that in respect to its nature the same state of heart that would add to, or take from, or modify, the Word of God, would only need an increase in degree to take God from His throne. For it is an undeniable truth, that wrong doing in what is called small things, is prospectively wrong doing in large things. Indeed all rebellion is but to level our artillery at the throne and the power that reigns. A single torch applied to our prairie grass is, prospectively, one mighty flame, sweeping the whole section and lighting up the whole heavens. Yea, a single spark thrown into a magazine is, prospectively, the destruction of a whole fort and the death of thousands. So a penny theft fostered in childhood may ripen into highway robbery and wholesale pluiuler. II. The nature of non-essentialism. • This will appear in its true character and m.ake its due impression if we observe, 1. That it reflects uj)on t\\Q wisdom of God. When men assume, for sectarian purposes, or any other cause, that any part of the laws, and rules, and regulations of the church, or, indeed, any pari of the entire Bil)le, spoken by the King in Zion is non-csseutial, he prac- tically reflects upon the wisdom of God. In fact, he charges God with making unwise anO utxnecessary demands upon His subjects ; and, that He did not see as far into the necessities of the mysterious future as some of His knowing subjects. 2. It also reflects upon the goodness of God. Man, regarding the edict of heaven non-essential in its mode, or form, or order of observance, changes it for his greater convenience and comfort. Now, assuming that this changed mode, form, or order is right, and will answer all the ends of Christianity, just as well as the more cross-bearing, uncomfortable and stringent one, proclaimed by the Head of the Church, it is clear that God was wanting, either in xcisdom, to know what would be for the greatest benefit to His church, or deficient in goodness, to do it. 3. It, moreover, reflects upon the authority of God. All liber- ties taken with the edicts of a King undeniably question his right to reign. And whether we literally set aside a positive decree, or modify and change it, the nature of the action is the same. Though a smaller tire in the beginning, it is of no less result in its tendency and endings. And as non-essentialism questions God's authority to reign as He decrees, so it need not be changed in nature, but progress in degree, to question His authority to reign at all. A very small fire "in the rear"' in God's empire, if suflered to effect its natural result, will produce universal anarchy and burn down His throne. This principle cannot be overlooked. Go to the head of the mighty Mississippi. Is not that little rill, rising from an obscure spring, of the same genus as that vast river which pours its massive and resistless current into the ocean ? Is not the m^n who steals a penny on the same stream, though not far advance