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 “Surely,
brethren, from my steadfast adherence to the Divine standard —
my absolute and entire rejection of human authority in matters
of religion — my professed and sincere willingness to walk in
all good understanding, communion, and fellowship with sincere,
humble Christian brethren who may not see with me in these
things — and, permit me to add, my sincere desire to unite
with you in carrying forward that blessed work in which you have
set out, and from which you take your name — you will do me
the justice to believe, that if I did not sincerely desire a
union with you, I would not have once and again made application
for that purpose. A union not merely nominal, but hearty and
confidential, founded upon certain and established principles;
and this, if I mistake not, is firmly laid on both sides.
Your
standard informs me of your views of truth and duty, and my
declarations give you precisely the same advantage. You are
willing to be tried in all matters by your standard, according
to your printed declaration: I am willing to be tried on
all matters by my standard. according to my written
declaration.
You
can labor under no difficulty about my teaching and practicing
whatever is expressly taught and enjoined in the Divine
standard, as generally defined in my “Declaration,” and
although I have not the same clearness about everything
contained in your standard, yet where I can not see, believing
you to be sincere and conscientious servants of the same great
and gracious Master who freely pardons his willing and obedient
servants their ten thousand talents of shortcomings, I am,
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therefore, through his grace, ready to
forbear with you; at the same time, hoping that you possess the
same gracious spirit, and therefore will not reject me for the
lack of those fifty forms which might probably bring me up to
your measure, and to which, if necessary, I also, through grace,
may yet attain, for I have not set myself down as perfect.
May
the Lord direct you in all things. Amen.” “Thomas Campbell.”
*****************************
With
this, we complete our republication of Thomas Campbell’s
historic “Appeal” to the Presbyterian Church to be allowed
to continue preaching from their pulpits. Presented in 1808 this
is one of the first papers to come from the Campbell’s
struggle for freedom to study God’s word, and to preach it,
unhampered by party creeds and restrictions. (Earlier portions
were reprinted in our past three issues, and are available upon
request.)
We
do not present this as some “holy relic” or creed for today;
but we recognize its historic significance, and its application
to some of today’s problems. Perhaps Campbell’s efforts to
maintain union while in search of Scriptural unity
extended beyond proper bounds — but even this failed to loosen
party —bound hearts.
Then,
as now, some would not even make an effort to understand issues
or one — another. In such a clime, Scriptural unity is
impossible.
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