Real independency is not of God, but always and everywhere against Him. It is to make the members of the same body say to each other, "We have no need of you," and to deny the unity of the Spirit which should pervade the body. The more we lament and refuse the sectarianism which exists, the more we are compelled, and shall rejoice, to own the body of Christ wherever possible. And this circle of fellowship, which is not "the body," furnishes us with the means of owning this in a truthful and holy way, so far as the state of ruin in which the Church exists permits it to be done. With love to all Christ's own- with an open door for the reception of all according to the conditions of truth and holiness-such a circle is not sectarian, but a protest against it, while the meeting that refuses connection with it is sectarian.

And this is what is meant by the "ground" of the one body. It is as different as possible from any claim to be the one body, and does not in the least imply any sectarian conditions of intelligence in order to communion. The maintenance of a common discipline is in no wise sectarian, but part (an essential part) of that communion itself:absolutely, if the holiness of God be the same thing wherever it is found, and not a thing for the "two or three" anywhere to trifle with as they list.

Independency, in setting aside the practical unity of the Church of God, sets aside a main guard of holiness itself. It makes this no object of common care; it does not seek common exercise about it. It releases from the sense of responsibility as to the House of God:it is my own house, and I keep it clean after my own fashion! And this laxity as to the people of God at large (so consoling to the unexercised conscience, and with a great charm to multitudes to-day) naturally has the effect of lowering one's estimate of holiness, and so prevents my own house being kept really clean.

One's voice may be little heard in a day like this; but I would do what I can to press upon the people of the Lord, first of all, their Master's claim. I press that this independency-little as one may imagine it, little as one may care to entertain it even as a question-means ultimately shipwreck to the truth of Christ, because it means independency of Him. One may find in it plenty of associates, for it makes little demand on one, and gives the kind of liberty which is so coveted to-day. The authority of Christ is riot in it. It may support itself by the help of names in repute as Christians, and be in honor. It cannot have the commendation which Philadelphia, spite of its "little power," finds from her gracious Lord:"Thou hast kept my Word, and hast not denied my name."

(Words in Season, 1896, pp. 53, 54.)