The Unity of the Church Essential to the Conversion of the World: A Sermon, Preached Before the Directors and Friends of the London Missionary Society, During Their Anniversary in May, 1846, in the Church of St. Mary, Spital Square, London

In Short

This work is a transcription of a sermon delivered in London in May 1846, addressing the directors and supporters of the London Missionary Society. It serves as both a theological argument and a missionary report, contending that the internal discord of the Christian Church is the primary barrier to the conversion of the world. By linking the internal health of the faith to its external efficacy, the text offers a snapshot of Victorian religious priorities, balancing earnest spiritual appeals with a detailed, triumphalist account of missionary expansion across the globe.

The Story

The narrative begins with a deep meditation on the final acts of Jesus Christ, specifically the prayer recorded in the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John. The speaker frames this prayer—"that they all may be one"—as the dying wish of a Savior, a testament of love that remains the central directive for the modern Church. He argues that this unity is not merely a theoretical ideal but a practical necessity; the world will only recognize the divine mission of Christ when his followers transcend their sectarian barriers and present a unified front.

The argument then pivots from the theological to the societal. The speaker acknowledges that the world is currently a place of suffering, inequality, and moral darkness. He asserts that the Church, if it were truly united, could address these global woes by acting as a single, cohesive force for peace and reform. He clarifies that this unity does not require the suppression of individual conscience or the adoption of a singular, monolithic name, but rather a shared heart—a collective focus on the core tenets of faith, such as the atonement, rather than the secondary matters that foster bitterness and pride.

From this spiritual foundation, the sermon shifts to the concrete progress of the London Missionary Society. The speaker provides a sweeping retrospective of the organization’s work, contrasting the skepticism and indifference that greeted early missionaries with the tangible results observed in the mid-1840s. He recounts the difficult struggle to gain entry into India, the battle against the institution of slavery in the West Indies, and the surprising opening of China. He frames these milestones not as the result of human ingenuity, but as the direct outcome of divine providence working through the faithful.

The final arc of the message acknowledges the significant challenges that remain. He does not shy away from the darker realities of the missionary experience, citing the expulsion of workers from Madagascar, the suppression of missions in Siberia, and the political interference of colonial powers in Tahiti. He presents these setbacks as proof that the "powers of darkness" are organized and active, necessitating a similar level of discipline and cooperation within the Church. The message concludes on a note of urgent anticipation, insisting that once the Church fully embraces its inherent unity, the final barriers to global evangelism will collapse, ushering in a predicted era of universal peace and spiritual restoration.

How It Unfolds

The Mediator’s Prayer The speaker anchors his entire argument in the high-priestly prayer of Christ, establishing the unity of believers as the essential prerequisite for all subsequent missionary success. He emphasizes that this was not a casual request, but a solemn, final petition made as the shadow of the cross loomed.

Defining the Church He moves to define the "Church" not by denominational badges like Episcopacy or Methodism, but by the shared experience of faith and reliance on the atonement. This section serves to strip away sectarian identity in favor of a broader, more inclusive definition of the body of believers.

The Means of Union The argument addresses how this unity might be cultivated, dismissing institutional coercion in favor of personal humility and active cooperation. He urges his audience to look past their own traditions to recognize the "excellence" in others, suggesting that shared labor in missionary projects acts as a natural binder for disparate groups.

A Global Audit The final section transforms into a historical account of the London Missionary Society’s reach. By contrasting the early, desperate obstacles of colonial prejudice with the contemporary successes in China and the Pacific, he provides a clear, data-driven defense for the necessity of continued financial and spiritual support.

The People

The central figure is Jesus Christ, who appears here not merely as a historical savior, but as an active, interceding presence whose primary desire—the unity of his people—remains unfulfilled. His role is to provide the mandate for the entire movement.

The missionaries serve as the human agents of this vision, characterized as pioneers who faced extreme adversity, including the threats of imprisonment and death. The speaker highlights figures like Robert Moffat, who challenged the colonial belief that the "Hottentot" was beneath the reach of the Gospel, and the martyrs in Madagascar who gave their lives for their beliefs. These figures move from being figures of derision to symbols of global impact.

The oppressors—slaveholders, cynical colonial administrators, and rival sectarian zealots—stand in the way. Their opposition is characterized by a "spirit of strife" that mirrors the internal division of the Church. By the end, they are portrayed as losing their influence, pushed back by the steady, persistent work of the missionaries. The final group is the "world" or the "heathen," who are not seen as adversaries but as the subjects of the Church's failed or successful duty. Their ultimate state—whether enlightened or neglected—depends entirely on the success of the internal unity of the Church.

In Its Own Voice

"He sees that church divided, torn, distracted, alienations and strifes prevailing, whilst the world’s millions are waiting, uninstructed, unenlightened, unblest."

The speaker describes the current, fractured state of the Church as the primary reason for the slow progress of the Christian message to the rest of the globe.

"The moral condition of the heathen is better understood to-day, by the children in our schools, than it was by the enlightened classes of society fifty years ago."

This claim highlights the impact of the missionary movement on the general knowledge of the British public during the mid-nineteenth century.

What It's Really About

The central argument is that organizational or spiritual division is not merely a nuisance, but a moral failing that actively hinders the welfare of the human race. The text poses a fundamental question: if the Church claims to serve a universal God, why is it so obsessed with its own internal boundaries? It explores the tension between denominational identity and the pursuit of a global objective. By linking the "conversion of the world" to "Christian unity," the author elevates the importance of ecumenical cooperation. The book is effectively an argument for the efficiency and necessity of working together, framing human prejudice as the singular obstacle to a promised, harmonious future.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of Victorian religious thought or the mechanics of 19th-century missionary movements will find this a particularly revealing document. It captures the specific language, fervor, and colonial-era assumptions of the mid-1800s with remarkable clarity. You will encounter a worldview that is, by turns, deeply compassionate toward the "poor and oppressed" and unapologetically confident in the superiority of its own faith.

The experience of reading it is similar to stepping into a mid-Victorian pulpit; the prose is formal, rhythmic, and heavy with biblical allusion, designed to sway the emotions as much as the intellect. Modern readers may find the colonial attitudes toward "heathen" nations jarring, as the text reflects the era's tendency to view non-Western cultures through a lens of extreme condescension, even while advocating for their inclusion in the faith. Despite these period-specific prejudices, the book remains a fascinating meditation on the perennial challenge of reconciling diverse opinions within a large organization. It stays with you as a reminder of how institutional, long-standing goals—such as unity—are often held hostage by the very people who claim to believe in them. It is an honest, if occasionally challenging, look at how human pride often stalls the progress of larger, more noble objectives.