There is no half-way fellowship to which we can receive persons, and allow them all the privileges we enjoy, and they not in full fellowship. It is not a question about _our_ receiving a person, but the Lord receiving the person. The very _act_ in which the penitent sinner comes and is received by the Lord is baptism. When he comes in _full assurance of faith and penitence_, and is immersed into Christ, the Lord receives him. All we do in the matter is to execute the law of Christ. The entire matter of inquiry is about _how the Lord receives persons_. This is all we inquire about. When we turn aside from the way the Lord receives persons, and receive them in some other way, it is no difference what that other way is. It may be styled more _liberal_ than the way in which the Lord receives persons, but the Lord does not propose to present something more liberal than men; but he is a Law-giver, and lays down the law on which he will receive men, and if men desire him to receive them, they must come in the way laid down in _his law_. But if we only desire to be received by men, we can consult them and learn the terms on which they will receive us; but when we act thus we must not deceive ourselves, and think we are becoming servants of the Lord in so doing. We are simply becoming servants of men. NOT OF ONE CLASS. In what sense except an extremely _general one_ are the Romish, Episcopalian, Methodist and Presbyterian clergy of one class? Not that there is much fraternity, fellowship or agreement among them; nor even that there is any general sympathy, harmony or co-operation; nor that they are engaged in _one work_. They belong to separate kingdoms. In their official acts they never act together. If they act together at all, it is not officially, nor in any sense, only on certain occasions, to be friendly, courteous and polite toward each other, but with the distinct understanding that it is _not official_. Their actions are as distinct as those of a United States Congressman and a member of the British Parliament. They are both _officers of State_, and so far on _common ground_, and, as such, treat each other with respect and courtesy; but, in their official acts, they have no fellowship, and are not under the same government. In the same way the clergy of the different parties we have mentioned, in their official acts never act together, and have no fraternity. They are not acting under the same government, nor are they officers in the same kingdom. The official acts of one of them are not regarded by another at all.