principles of Christianity," we find in the first place that
Christendom has not yet defined what the fundamental and nonsectarian
principles of Christianity are. To determine these,
therefore, would be the first thing necessary; and this would require
the united action of all Christian denominations, through their
representatives. But so widely do the denominational lines of
Christendom diverge, that any agreement of view, even upon
fundamental principles, is impossible. How, for example, would
Protestants and Catholics be able to agree upon the fundamental
principles of Christianity, when they are in dispute over the very
source from which these principles are drawn? Catholics regard the
Protestant Bible as a sectarian book, and vice versa.
The ten commandments, constituting the foundation of all
Christian morality, cannot be overlooked in considering the
fundamental principles of Christianity; yet the difference between
Protestants and Catholics with respect to the decalogue is
irreconcilable. Nor is the difficulty lessened if we confine ourselves
to Protestants alone, for the abolition of the precepts