d with any
certainty of assurance. The offer of salvation through Jesus Christ is
thus briefly stated, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved" (S. Mark xvi. 16); that is, he will be placed in a state of
present salvation by being admitted into "The Kingdom of Heaven." But
the case of any one believing and not being baptized is not
contemplated.

In the next place, still confining our thoughts to our own country, we
shall do well to consider that the greater number of those who have
separated themselves from us have done so with the hope of thereby
doing God service; or else under the idea that the separation is of
small importance, being more a matter of personal choice than of
principle. They have forgotten or have been ignorant of the prayer of
the Lord Jesus--"That they all may be one; that the world may believe
that Thou hast sent Me" (S. John xvii. 21)--forewarning us that the
result of divisions would be the spoiling of His work for the saving
of the world. And, at the same time, it is right that we should also
call to mind that in many instances in the past history of the Church
in this land, those who have professed to hold the position of loyal
subjects of "The Kingdom of Heaven" have seemed to be equally careless
of this inevitable loss through the separation of their brethren.

With these considerations in our minds, if we now go on to test our
opinions by the sure warrant of Holy Scripture, fearlessly taking our
stand upon its distinct teaching, we shall see how important it is
that both so-called Church-people and so-called Dissenters should be
induced to study carefully what is recorded therein about "The Kingdom
of Heaven," or Church of Christ. For, on the one hand, we shall find
that Holy Scripture clearly teaches that the Church is a spiritual
Kingdom, and that the only way to receive the benefits of membership
is by being led and sanctified by the Holy Ghost. And, on the other
hand, we shall see that Holy Scripture makes it equally clear that our
Lord described His Church as being a real Kingdom, though a spiritual
one; and that this Kingdom was established with distinct laws and
ordinances, by His directions, and under the guidance of the Holy
Ghost. And consequently, if, on the one hand, any are content with the
name of Church-people without seeking to advance in the spiritual
life, they are clearly acting as the Jews, who trusted to being able
to say, "We have Abraham to our father" (S.