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PHfEMlX
AWB'IJYBIANg’ A®¥§€ATE
Hfi ■
CHEROKEE NATION, PROPRIETOR. EDITED BY ELIJAH
LICKS.
rot. v.
KEW ECESOTA, CHEROKEE JVAT10HT, SATURDAY, ' MAY
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chased with his blood.”*
confined acceptation, it means
gregation of professing Christians,
meeting for worship in one place;
hence wo read of the church at Rome,
Colosse, Philippi, See. These arc the
only two senses in which the word is
ever employed by the sacred writers;
consequently all provincial and nation
al churches, or in other words to call
the people of a province or nation a
church of Christ, is a most gross per
version of the term, and rendering the
kingdom of Jesus more a matter oi'goo-
grnphy than of religion. The sacred
writers, when speaking of the Chris
tians of a whole province, never employ i
the term in the singular number; but,
with great precision oflanquage, speak
of the churches of Galatia, Syria, Ma
cedonia, Asia, &e.
A church of Christ, then, in the lat
ter or more usual acceptation of the
term, means “a number of professing
Christians, united to each other by
their • own voluntary consent, having
thlrir pn*per officers, meeting in one
place for the observance of religious
ordinances, and who are independent
of all other control than the authority of
! Christ expressed in his word.” This
| company of professing Christians may
it obviously incumbeut on the • [ )e f ew 01 . many in number, rich or poor
era of , any community, whether i j n their circumstances, and may meet
r sacred, to acquaint themsehes I pjthcr in a moan or magnificent build-
sconstitution and design; without | j„ g) nr in no building at all. These
hey can neither adequately enjoy ' things are purely adventitious; for pro-
ivilqgco, nor properly discharge , v j dcd they answer to the above defini-
kties which their membership tion, thev avo still, to all intent and
with it. Such persons aie held p nr p G c;o a church of Christ.
’ I. The members of the church
should be such as make a credible pro-
pr: Cession of their faith in Christ; or in
other words, such as appear to be re-
3o in the system of divine trut.i,! generated by the Spiritof God, to have
ire pn.'L of greater and less ini- believed in the 1 ord Jesus for salva-
e; and the man who would put tion, and todiave submitted themselves
nciples of cliurch government, j n their conduct to the authority of his
level with the doctrine ot the i W ord. r p 0 these the Head of the church
ient, and representa beliel in the . b as united the privileges of his king-
as no less essential to salvation j dom . they alone can enjoy its blessihgs
reliance urmn the latter, betrays I and perform its duties: and to such the
nta' le ignorance of both. Still, j Epistles are uniformly addressed, Ro
lf, although tiie hand is of less I mans i. 7. Cor, i. 2. £<.c. If these
[uence to vitality than the head | passages ore read, it will be found that
heart, is it of no value? illj the members of the first churches are
lie reckless of his members, jtaot merely admonished to bo saints, but
he can lose them and yet live? I a!C eddressed as such; which is a cir-
ause church gover nment i3_ rw ! cumstonco of great weight in detevmin-
In its more gulating the fellowship of the saints,
ans a con- The civH power, cr the power of the
the Presbyterian, or tht government ofj WAR OPPOSED
power, (f the power ot tne ( the churches by the authority of* their
magistrate, when employed to regulate ' assembled
ill rt r% /Tin • t.n rtf ill rt t- C 1 . u.nl 1(1 ! 4 1‘fi/lfl
pastors and elderB. No
the affairs of the clVirch of Christ, is [trace of any foreign control over a
manifestly out of plice. It is as mush | church of Christ can be found in the
at a man’s own option, so far as human : New Testament, except such as was
authority is concerned, to say with
whom he will associate in matters of re
ligion, as it is in those of philosophy,
learning, or pecuniary help, to decide
who sfiall be his fellows.
IV. A church of christ has it? scrip
tural officers. Ilcfre two questions
arise:—First, How many k’lids of offi
cers does the New Testament mention ?
exercised by the apostles as the repre
sentative? of .Jesus Christ.
VI . Such a church is bound by the
authority of Christ, in their associated
capacity, to observe all the institutes,
to obey all the commands, and to cher
ish all the dispositions which relate to
their social union, in the time, oreei,
and manner, in which they are enjein-
TO
VINE LAW.
THE DU
R«IiI«I©U§.
he Mature of a chris-
han CHURCH.
art Edi'ors: IVmit me to pro
file readers of the “World” the
]g interesting piece on the no-
iffl Christian OLiirc/i, writ^gn jiv pm^nr officers, meeting
Ja mbs. -
ail can find place for the whole
iis week, please insert it; if not,
it to suit your own conven-
A, BAPTIST.
on
Secondly, How are they to.be chosen ? I ed by Christ Jesus. They a v e tu as-
As to the kinds of office bearers in the j seinhle in public oij the tin t day of the
primitive churches, there can be nei-1 week for prayer, praise, heaving the
thcr doubt nor difficulty with any one | Scriptures read and expound) d. celc-
who will impartially consult the word j brating 1 ho Lord’s Supper, ar.d e'xer-
of God. With all that simplicity which | cieir.g mutual affection They me al-
characterizes the works of God, which j so bound by divine authority to maintain
neither disfigures his productions with j the purity of the church, by receiving
what is cxcrescnt, nor incumbers them j only such as &i c evidence of true
iby feeling than by principle; a
iquito insufficient, as a bond of
ins connexion.
It admitted that as in the human
with what is unnecessary, he has insti-
tuted*but t\fo kinds of permanent offi
cers in his church, bishops and dea
cons; the former to attend to its spirit
ual affairs, and the latter to direct its
temporal concerns. That there were
but two, is evident, because wc have
no information concerning the choice,
qualifications, or duties of Buy other.—
The bishops of the primitive churches
correspond exactly to the pastors of
modern ones. That bishop, elder, and
gator, are only different terms for the
same office, is evident from Acts xx.
17, compared with the 28; Tims i. 5.
7, and 1st Peter v. 1, 2. “They are
called bishops, which signifies over
seers, because they overlook the spir
itual concerns, and watch for the souls
of their brethren,” Acts xx. 28, 1st
Tim. iii. 1. Pastors or shepherds, be
cause they feed the flock of God with
truth, Ephes. iv. 11, Rulers, because
they guide the church Heb. xiii, 7.
“Elders, because of their age, or of
their possessing those qualities which
age supposes,” Tit. i. 5. “Ministers
because they are the servants of Christ
and the gospel,” Ephes. vi. 21.
The Deacon is appointed to receive
and distribute the funds of the church,
especially those which ave raised for the
relief of the poor. All other kinds of
officors’tnan these two are the inven
tions of men, and not the appointment
of Christ; and which by intending to
faith, and by excluding from their com
munion nil those whose fixes are oppi s-
ed to the doctrine which is according
to ge.dJincs*. They are to five in the
exercise of mutual submission and
•brotherly l<#ve, and ever to crnsidei
themselves amenable t«> the tribunal of
Again ll,o law of God forbid, ,h<r
• W «° one precept ilt
the dialogue says, in express teW
ihou shall not make war; yet mark
tne spirit ot the whole code. * What i*
it but the purest lovc?- su j,* d (o ££
in sweetos concord all the members of
the human family? How entirely op
posite is the spirit of war! Moreover,
.hese statutes of the lord do severally
5 V- bi" a11 ll - e fiCfuliar ieatuies of
; icnjiuy war. And as they forbid
111. so wiciieo feelings and those horrid
ac a ia (.etui., which constitute war,
ihev of course iorhid war itself For
l.'.esc constituent parts make up the
uh° a. Jin 11 wo, for a moment, r lae6
the law of God and the law of war side
uy pu.e, that we may see their contra-
nc.yf Jehovah ?ny«, “Thou shalt'
have uo other gods before me”—Thou
slia.t not male • unto the anv i/rnven im--
,, rr , , «uy graven im
age -ihou shalt not bow down thyself
unto thorn nor servo them.” War
tramples these commandments in the
dust. It teaches soldiers to regard
and obey their officers, rather than the
Christ, for their conduct in their church j V^i° C,,t f ;' e General says.
:i.. ( " march, or fight, and God says
<krt C' 1 l .i
caj acity.
Such is a very concise view of the
nature of a Christian church.
Ilcucc what might be termed (he
gen-.*xfi'tjrinciples of tiie Nciv Testament
*c l, on the Sabbath; does not the
command of the former prevail? War
leads - . ..
the
up honor, and lame
ticcs not a fexv to
k.s men to seek “military glory as
' fiealcst of ail glories.” L sets
idols—it en
dow n” to these
on the this topic, are the all-sufficiency
and exclusive authority of the Scriptures phantoms and worship them. Its lead-
as a rule of,faith ar.d practice in mat- ing principle, often, is that “covetoug-
ters of religion—the consequent denial ' ness which is idolatry.” It teaches
Of the vigil of legisfat'i-en r, d <:■. _ U-si- men to forget God am! not worship him
aatical convention to impose any right , at all. Jt learns them also to “take
lAiciavniis, obsei x cilice-, , uitn c. a- l,,s name in vain,” in the perjuries of*
tions of the word of God, upon ourbe- broken treaties; in the oaths andcurs-
liofor pi act ice—the unlimited and inn- ', os, and blasphemies which rings through
licnable right of every man to expound its camp. And oh, what^coutenlpt
the word of G-. d foi* himself, and to does it pc
wovshin his Maker in that place and ■ j nR the whole community to
e kSabbaih; in liccne-
mner which he deems to be most fuim (he day ;”in ks drifiof troops
I need
iment to spiritual and eternal life j j n , v the question npon projier subjects
itb in Christ, will any one nban- j of fellowship. But who is to judge in add splondor to the kingdom of Jesus,
isa-vain and profitless subject i {tliia case? It is generally thought the j have corrupted its simplicity, destroyed
/'I l. — — Mrt n/lik fMl' ilHPt f T I 1 P lit. 1. ___ 1.. . 1 rt rt 11 I hnrvil /.mi 0:1 1 4 f rt n IF in
its spirituality, and caused it to sym
bolize with tho kingdoms of this
world.
On tho mode of electing them to
their office the Scripture ia sufficiently
( explicit, to justify the practice of those
ix'er God has made the subject cfj church; for although no instance can
kd truth, should be guarded i be brought from the New Testament
fcount, from being considered as ‘ : n which any one of the primitive
fivoloua to deserve our atten- [ ohurclies can be proved to have ex-
i erci&cd this power, yet, as it is a yol-
|will probably be contended by j Ultaiy BOC ioty, founded on the principle iujuaill . vuu
in apology for their neglect Q fmutual affection it seems reasonable j dc ^ ominatio J n9 w J ho app eal to the suf-
le New Testament has laid down thatlho church should judge ^ , the f s cfthe peo , lle . if the Acta of
[cific form of church government,, existence of those qualifications which j tlu f ^ ppost i es be stu dicd with care, a
latxyhcn we are left w ithout a are necessary to tho enjoymeut of com- [ book which geomg given UB mo ro ..for
munion. Tho very act of obtruding regulation of ecclesiastical prac-
upon them any one without their own ■ ■ ■« < ^ -
consent, whether by a minister or by
elders, is destructive of one purpose of
Christian association—i. e. the fellow
ship of the brethren. Nor is the power
of searching the heart requisite lor
_ 1 j those who exercise tho right of admit-
It might be presumed a priori, t ing others, since we are to judge of
matter of such moment would each other by outward conduct.
II. This company of professing
Christiuns must meet in one place for
tho observance of religious institutes.
A society that cannot associate—an as
sembly that cannot assemble, are per
l it is useless to inquire if we are
[ing his directions. If by this it
juit to say, that the Lord Jesus
ias left us no appostolic precept
pie, which is either directory
f practice, or obligatory upon our
Mice, in the formation of Chris-
«ieties, nothing can be more erro
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fled so unsettled, und we have
tlook into the Word of God, to
groundless is the assertion,
lie that we shall search'the New
nent in vain for pithcr precedent
ictice, which will support all the
i of our jchurches, any otherwise
these usages are deduced from
irit and beaming of general prin-
These alone are laid down by
ostles, but still with sufficient
[fin to enable us to determine
i«r the Episcopal, the Presbytevi-
[ Independent form of church gov-
bo most consonant with the
nd will of Christ.
N is a Christian church ?
1 word church signifies an n3scm-
I In the New Testament, it iuva-
v.nth obligations to religious husbands and falhers from their weep-
ohservanees not enjoined ■ y Chnut.-- i„ g families, while entices children to
These a e general principles which disobey v.arehts and even break their
should lead the thinking Christian to hearts by the exchange of home for
separate from all national establishments “the tented field.” And what is its
of religion whatever. ' j bearing ^ on the precept, “Thou shalt
It is not enough to ph?nd the author- ■ n< t kill :” j.rt the miitions which it
ity of example, or of mere feeling, as a has slain outright answer. Let tho
reason for any religious service. These millions destroyed by its intemperance
are insufficient pilots on tho tiouMod nnd other vices, by its diseases and
ocean of theological opinion, where hardships answer. let the millions
winds, and
feet solecisms. When, therefore, a
church becomes too large to communi
cate at one table, nnd divides to cat tho
Lord’s supper in tw-o distinct places of
worship, there are two churches, and
no longer one only.
11,1. These persons must be formed
into a society upon the principle of mu
tual voluntary consent. They are not
to be associntod by act of civil govern
ment, by ecclesiastical decree, by min-
istoHal authority, or by any other |>ow-
or than that of their owp constrained
choice. ; Thev arc to givo themselves
first to the L ; >fd, andtheri to each otli-
upplics to peveona, net to places.' first Jo the L^rfd, and the
n? not the building in which the c r . .No authority, wh'afovcr, of an
>ly is convened, but the ass^nftily
It has an enlarged, and also a
[confined, signification inthe word
R In some place® d * s cmplny-
rompreheud tho aggtogate of bc-
*of every age and natiort; hencp
"A of the “general assembly ana
‘ofthe first born,” and of the
iwhich “Christ, loved, and put
er, .j(,
earthly nature, is to constrain them to
unite themselves in fellowship, nor to
releptfor thorn nny'ptn'ticular company
of believers with whhm they shall as
sociate. All is to be the result of their
own selection. Parochial limits, ec-
'cjeastiqal divisiens of country, together
with all the commands : .of tho minister
ial authority, htvo hothieg to do iq rc-
tices, than the revelation of the
ological opinions, wo shall find that no
thing was done in the primitive church
es w ithout the co-operation cf the mem
bers ; no, not even when the apostle Hieni-
selves were present. Eyen the eleotion
of a nexv apostle was made by brethren
and not by tho ministers exclusively.*
The deacons wero chosen by the same
persons. | Tho decrees of the council
at Jerusalem w’ere passed also by them,
and went forthwith their name? From
hence we infer, that although no case
occurs in the inspired history, where
it is mentioned that a church olected its
pastor, yet it so entirely accords with
the practice of the church in other re
spects, that an exception in this partic-
lur would have been a singular anomaly
which nothing could justity but the
iluiucst and most express provision^—
The decisions of reason harmonize on
this subject, with the testimony of reve
lation; for, if we have an undoubted
right to choose our own lawyer or phy
sician. how much more so, to elect the
man to whom we shall intrust the care
of our caul.
A Christian church with its office
to gill-
igm
..une !
V.
opposing currents, storrr;'
concealed rocks, endanger the
of tho voyager to eternity t
pass is the word of God; v.-us >
he tho cioersmati at tho helm,
the ve.iSoj by the diiection ‘
die, anrt that mariner is sm
for the consequencec, who is t
ant or too indolent to ex
course.
Away with that moroid insensibility
which exclaims, “It is of no conse
quence to what church or denomination
a man belongs, provided he be a Chris
tian.” Such a ft[ irit is' a conspiracy
gainst the throne of truth, and is the
first step towards a complete abandon
ment of the importance of right senti
ments. Admitting that error is to be
measured by a graduate scale, who
will undertake to fix upon the point
where harmless mistakes eitd and mis
chievous ones begin Every thing re
lating to religion is of consequence
In the templo of truth not only the
foundation is to bo valued ard defend
ed, but every point and every pinna
cle.
It does not ncoossanly follow that an
inquiry into the grounds of our con
duct should imbitter.our tomper. The
mi *t of passion obscures the splondor
of truth, as much as foes do tho eftnl-
bearers, is complete within itself, for i genco of theonlar orb. l et us contend
„ . ** earnestly for right principles, but let it
bo in the exercise of right feelings.—
Let us hold the truth in love. Then
do our sentiments apdear to tho great
est advantage, and like gems set in
gold, when they are supported by a
spirit of Christian charity.
Church member's guide.
the observance of divino ordinances,
and tho cvcrcisc of discipline; and is
subject to no authority or tribunal on
earth. This is tho Congjogational or
Independent form of chareh govern
ment, and it is thus denominated, to
distinguish it from tho Episcopal, or
;tbc government of a bishop., and from
answer, wlntu its ravages have stript
'J the means vf subsistence, anil tho
iniite.as wli m it hath made widow*
• e,u i j hans, and brought down to an
untimely g avo. And while it thu*
''rills’, men, women and children, if
also violates the seventh command-
nn.rit in the gross impurities of it*
camp, and in its horrid brutality at 1 ho
sacking of towns. Nor dies war re-»
gard at all the statute; “Thou shalt
steal.” It marches boldly into citie3,
and thrust its long arms round all it
finds. What it cannot carry away, fa
burns to the grrund. In a single night*
its strips thousands of food and iaiment,
and home. It moves with hur
ried ctop from one scene of piling*
to anrther. It lays waste countries.
It plunders nations. It is the prince of
thieves and robbers. It riots in its
ill-gotten gains. It brings spoils from
every land to adorn the capitals of its
chief favorites. Nor does war spare
the two remaining precepts of the ten.
It teaches falsehood and deception as
a science. It slanders crowned head*
and cabinets, and loves to injure the
good name of nations. And to gratify
its covetous oye, it lays a giant hand
on whatever fulls in its way. Thus tho
monster war lifts up his horrid facd
against the heavens in defiance, march
es boldly through tho length nnd breadth
of tho enrth, and wantonly tramples on
each and every precept of tho moral
law. And does not this high standard
of duty forbid it, by thus forbidding the
whole amount of evil deeds?—yes, for
bid it, ever, moro plainly than if it had
simply »aid, Thou shalt not make War I
Ifnlc’s Address-