Memoirs of William Miller - Sylvester Bliss

“With regard to the association of the church,
her practice has varied in different ages, according
to the circumstances in which she has been placed.
When all thought alike, or understood the Bible
alike, there was no necessity for an expression of
opinion respecting its meaning. But when heresy
crept in, it was necessary to guard the meaning of
Scripture, by expressing, in plain and unequivocal
language, our understanding of it. It is because the
early Christians did this that we are enabled to
ascertain the understanding which the primitive
church had of the faith once delivered to the saints.
When this has not been done, the history of the
church shows that error has spread with the
greatest rapidity. For instance, Theodore Parker,
among the Unitarians, celebrated for his
transcendentalism, takes ground that his brethren
have not the right to disfellowship him on account
of his constructions of Scripture; and, as they have
heretofore denied the right of the church to express
its belief, they must, on their own ground,
fellowship him with all his infidel sentiments; for
the dispute between them respects only
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