UNANIMITY OF RELIGIOUS TEACHING. I To THE EDITOR OF THE
" SPECTATOR...1 Sin,—Kindly allow me a few words in answer to your corre- spondent "E. B. H.," who seems to forget that real unanimity of opinion among earnest religious teachers in any Christian Church is unattainable. Is the counterfeit of it a thing to be desired ? And, for the Church of England—which of its three great sections could it afford to lose ? Do we not see that the faithful representation by each of its own view of truth, is bringing about a unity far more real than that of mere unanimity of opinion ?
This is felt so strongly by many, that they find their faith strengthened, their hope widened, and their charity enlarged by the very differences, which to others are only stumbling-blocks. There are harmonies as well as discords in varying notes. Jeremy Taylor held that the Apostles' Creed should form a sufficient bond of union for any Church. St. Paul sums up the matter thus :—" No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost"—(1 Cor. xii., 3.) Thus he lays the foundation ; and immediately after he tells of the " diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit," and the "differences of administrations, but the same Lord," and the " diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." As for science, it rests on a totally different foundation.
We cannot have mathematical accuracy in religions truth. Science appeals to the senses and the intellect, and tells us of the works of God. Religion appeals to the spirit, and tells us of God himself. Scientific knowledge lies within our grasp. Religious truth, on the contrary, is revealed to the spirit, whispered from above by a living teacher. Could we have absolute certainty as to religious truth, faith would die, and faith may be better for us than knowledge.
Again, if perfect unanimity could be found in any Church, we might have faith in one Church ; but what we want, and are, I venture to believe, on the road to find, is a far better thing,— faith in Christ, the Head of the Churches.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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