lamentable state of things. The difficulty has been created by
the inevitable imperfection of all things with which man's freewill is
concerned. For God clearly intended that His Church should be one;
and that it should work upon the world with the irresistible force of
an united Kingdom. And inasmuch as we find, in our own days, that this
intention has been frustrated, there can be no doubt but that it is
our duty to do what we can to bring back the conditions of our life
here into conformity with it. For Christian people cannot be content
with a state of things which they find to be plainly contrary to God's
intention. Consequently, in considering this question, it seems that
the right course to take is to give prominence to the bonds of union
which still exist between the different bodies of Christians in this
country; and instead of magnifying the causes and extent of disunion,
to endeavour to draw men closer together.

Now it is clear from Holy Scripture, that the Church of Christ
consists of those who have been made subjects of "The Kingdom of
Heaven;" and we have already seen that our Lord explained that the
form of admission into His Kingdom would be by Holy Baptism.
Therefore, with respect to so-called Dissenters, we conclude, that all
have been brought into the Church or Kingdom of Christ in this land,
who have used the means which He ordained for that purpose, namely,
Holy Baptism. And the names assumed by those who separate themselves
from their brethren cannot destroy the effects of this great
Sacrament. It appears also that they have become in some degree
partakers with their brethren of those bonds of union mentioned by S.
Paul, "One Body; one Spirit; one Hope; one Lord; one Faith; one
Baptism; one God" (Ephes. iv. 4-6). Though, unhappily, their
appreciation of some of these bonds of union is slight; and they are
deprived (either by their deliberate will, or, more commonly, by the
accidents of their birth) of the many privileges which they might
enjoy, through communion with their brethren in the Ordinances of
religion and in the common service of our Lord Jesus Christ[18].

At the same time, it ought to be clearly understood, that we have no
certain warrant of Holy Scripture for more than this. For, as there is
no example in the Bible of any one professing faith in Christ, and yet
holding back from being baptized into the Name of the Trinity, it is
not possible to describe the position of the unbaptize