Dwell Together In Unity

          Dwell Together In Unity

                                               Primitive Monitor-March 1887

HAVING WRITTEN to you on business, I desired to say that the Monitor is still a very welcome visitor in
my little family, and many others in the South, as well as elsewhere. Our correspondence has caused me to
have a peculiar love for you both. All of your writings are indeed comforting. You seem to speak the things
that become sound doctrine and are not "striving about words to no profit," but your desire seems to be to
work for peace. Dear Brethren, while you pursue this course I can bid you God-speed. I do not like to see
a spirit among God's children to try to tear down. O that envious, jealous spirit! that sometimes gets among
God's children. Brethren back-biting one another, talking about the brethren in the presence of the world,-
big "I" and little "you." Sometimes we can hear brethren saying, "I can not fellowship such a brother."-My
brother have you any fellowship for yourself? The hardest one I find to fellowship is myself.

"Of all the foes I meet

None so oft mislead my feet,

None betray me into sin,

Like the foe that is within."

Again we hear brethren saying, "I can not fellowship such a brother, because he does not understand the
Scriptures the way I do." Then are we not setting up ourselves as an infallible standard for all God's
children? Good brethren differ on many minor points which should not be a bar to fellowship at all. Many
conclude that there is a vast difference, but when they understand it they are together; it is a lack of
understanding. I have heard Primitive Baptists, North and South, and they all preach the same. They all
preach that God works all things after the counsel of his own will. None believe that any thing takes place
by chance, but that "God declared the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not
yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." None will deny his sovereignty as
an ALL POWERFUL God in heaven and earth, controlling it all, and working it all for the good of the
chosen. Brethren, we need not conclude that we see perfectly into the heights and depths of the profound
mystery of godliness, for we can only see in part and understand in part, looking through a glass darkly.
Brethren, you all know that the world, the flesh, and the devil, are arrayed against Zion. Then why do we
work for division? since we all have the same experience, all believe in election, salvation by grace, special
atonement, final preservation of God's children, that all the elect shall be brought in without the loss of one,
and the resurrection of the bodies of the saints, etc. All can agree on the vital principles, and separate on
some very simple question of minor importance. We should have a spirit of forbearance one toward
another, and if we are seeing so many faults, it is an evidence that we possess but very little love, for love
hides a multitude of faults. You never will hurt a brother while you love him as you ought. Love worketh no
ill to his neighbor. If God has so loved us, we ought also to love one another. Brethren who differ from me
on many minor points are dear and precious brethren to me. I am imperfect, and if any get so far as to say
that he knows he is right, he is to far for me. I only hope that I am right, and sometimes in viewing the great
depths of the "Mystery of godliness," and my great imperfections I conclude I know nothing and am afraid
to give a view on a single scripture. I know that eye cannot see, nor ear hear the deep things of God, but
God reveals them unto us, (if we are his children,) by his Spirit.

Then, brethren, let us all try to come together and be of one mind, if we have irregularities among us, which
are offensive to the brethren, put them away. Let us be followers of God as dear children, and walk in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace. David said, "Behold, how good and
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Then let love be without dissimulation. "Let brotherly
love continue." We may know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren. Then,
brethren, let me beseech you all to work for peace and the things wherewith you may edify. Let us not
write hard things about the good brethren. My desire, while I live, is to be at the feet of the brethren. I do
love the little Christians, those whose conversation is in heaven, telling of their hopes, fears, and conflicts of
life. May the God of love and peace take the entire charge of us, and lead us in a plain path, causing all jars
and schisms to cease in our midst, if according to his will, and may love glow in the hearts of all his children.
Pray for me, and pray for one another. A sinner saved by grace if saved at all.

LEE HANKS.