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JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor. VOLUME XII. TEEMS PER ANNUM. SET- The Christian Index, published on Friday in each week, (except two in the year), will be furnished to each subscriber at 82 50 cents, in advance; or 83 if not paid within the year. iCr* Post-Masters, where the Index is taken, are re |uestcd to forward remittances for subscribers at their respective offices, according to a decision of the Post-Master General as to their right to do so. All pa trons and agents are requested to notice this. Every Agent (and all Baptist Ministers are particularly solicited to become agents) who procure and pay for live copies of the JmLejc, ahalL.be en til led to a sixth, as a com pensation for his trouble. Letters on business, or communications, must be addressed to the Editor, post paid. Advertisements may be inserted on usual terms, at the discretion of the Editor. BIBLE SOCIETY DEPARTMENT. Pennsylvania. State Convention—Depository of Bibles in Philadelp.'iia—The IVinebrcnarians. Woodstown, N. J., Nov. 14, 1843. Dear Brother —From Philadelphia I pro ceeded to Ilollisdaysburg, where the State Convention inet. The meeting was a de lightful one, and possessed peculiar inter est. The Baptists in Pennsylvania have done less to evangelize their own Slate, than lias been done in any of the other ohlei States of the Union: hut they are now redeeming their character, and making no ble and successful efforts for the benefit of their own commonwealth. The employ ment of Brother Shadrnch, to act as Sec retary and Agent in visiting the churches and associations in the Stale, was a wise measure, and it lies been attended with the most beneficial results. The plan of rais ing a penny a week from all the members ot the churches has very generally been carried into effect. Every church that re ceives aid from the Convention a contribu tion of a penny a week is required from each member, which has a tendency to bring up the churches to a sense of duty, with regard to sustaining the cause of Christ among themselves. The Conven tion employed last year twenty-eight mis sionaries, whose labors were abundantly blessed, for the salvation of precious souls. - iii;; last year, were converted to God, thro’ liieir instrumentality, baptized, and added to the churches. New churches have been planted, and old and feeble churches have been revived and strengthened. At the Philadelphia Association, and at the State (Convention, successful efforts were made to increase the funds for missionary pur poses in the State ; and if the Board of the (Convention can employ, the present year, one or two efficient agents to visit the chur ches in all parts of the Slate, and endeavor to bring them up to the help of the Lord, an incalculable amount of good may be ac complished. In the Slate of Pennsylvania there are thirty tlrftusand families without the Bible; many of these families are Ger mans. The Board of the State Convention ouoln to have a plentiful supply of Bibles in Deposit, in Philadelphia, lor the sup ply of their missionaries, for distribution among the people of the Stale, wherever they travel, from the A. and F. 8.5., both in the German and English languages. I am sure that the managers of our Bible Society would willingly co-operate with the Board of the State (Convention, to aid in circulating the word of life among the des titute in the important Slate of Pennsylva nia. I had ihc pleasure of attending the an nual meeting of the Eldership of the Church of (lod, for that is the name by which they designate themselves ; usually, how ■ever, they are called IVintbrenarians , from Mr. Winebrenner, the founder of the sect. 1 he meeting was held in Shippcnsburg, on the 6th instant. Perhaps not less than one hundred delegates were present, who ap peared to conduct the business for which they met with much propriety.. They kind ly invited me to a seat with them, and to take part in their deliberations. The min isters and other brethren with whom I be came acquainted, appeared to be men of good common sense, and true religion. In their doctrinal views, they are considered evangelical; and in promoting the cause of Christ, they evince great energy of pur pose. They adopt a business-like, practi cal course, in carrying into effect what they believe to be calculated to promote the advancement of Christ’s kingdom, and the salvation of sinners. I delivered an ad dress on the Bible cause on the evening of the first day’s meeting. The meeting house, which is large, was filled to ovei” flowing. The people were very attentive. The subject was new to many of them ; but all of them appeared to listen to the truth with the most intense interest. A collection was made in behalf of the A. and F. R. S. of *2l 02. I think the min isters and churches connected with this body will become warm and efficient sup porters of our noble Institution. Their in terests are identified with our own in this good cause. They are Baptists, and as a matter of course, they wish the Scriptures faithfully and completely translated, with- i out mutilation or disguise. I have not been able to ascertain, exactly, the hum- i ber of their churches. I suppose there i cannot be far from 300. They are spread over a large portion of the States of Penn sylvania, Ohio, and Indiantia. Thrv have l THE CHRISTIAN INDEX. one church in Baltimore and one in Phila delphia. m With regard to church government, their usages are not decidedly fixed. They have adopted the scriptural plan of the indepen dence of the churches—but they have adopted the uoscriptural plan of having lay elders; that is, of elders bv offiee, who are not preachers. No# the New Testament knows nothing about eldeis by office, who do not preach the gospel. Some of their ministeis with whom I conversed, are con vinced of this, and wish this part of their system abolished. At present they have adopted some peculiarities, which being uoscriptural, ought to he given up; for ex ample, they have #l some instances ad nul led to the Lord’s Supper individuals that were not baptized. But they have adopt ed one principle, which if carried into ef fect, will coircct all these evils—that the Bible, and the Bible alone, is the only rule of faith and practice. If this principle be honestly carried into full effect by the dis ciples of Jesus, after a careful and pray erful investigation of the Sacred Scriptures, it will root out Romanism, Puseyism, and every other ism contrary to sound doctrine and apostolic practice. The aim ol all good men should be, to abandon the traditions of men, and come to up to the standard of primitive Christianity. Our grand inquiry should he, what did the apostles otdain ? What did they teach? What was the ap proved practice of the churches, while un der the guidance of these inspired men, who in their teaching were infallibly di rected and guided by the Holy Spirit, so that they could “say nothing against the truth, but for the truth?” The only ef fectual way to produce unity among the churches of the saints, which is an object ot the gieatost importance, is for us to be ot one mind with God, of one mind with Christ, an t then we must of necessity be of one mind with each other. It is not the duty oi the interest of any man, of any Church, to be in error; it is the duty and the interest of every man, and of ev ery Church, to hold the truth, and nothing but the truih, as it is in Jesus , and to dis card Irom their system every thing incon sistent with the revealed will of Cod.— Several of the Winebrennrians have invited me to communicate my views, in their re ligious paper, on the subject of lay elders. I intend to do so. ing. At the close of the meeting, when I addressed them on the Bible cause, they sting u chorus, which was often repeated, and one of the sisters jumped and leaped, and whirled around, with uplifted hands, and shouted with great power and dexteri ty. The Winebrenarians, though they need instruction, like Apoflos, in the way of God more perfectly, are likely to become a useful and efficient body in the cause of Christ. in so far as 1 was able to judge, from the brief acquaintance I had with them, my mind was very favorably impressed res pecting them. 1 pray God that they may be led into all truth, possess the Spirit of Christ, and be enabled to follow bis divine example ! Yours, very respecifully, A. Maclay. HUME JUSSION DEPAimiFW. For the Index. Texas. From Fee. II iUiarn \l. Tryon, If’ashing lon, Texas. “Our congregations begin to assume the same aspect they wore previous to our last Mexican difficulties, and in some of them there is manifest seriousness upon the sub ject of religion. i J recently visited and preached at Egypt, on the Colorado, where I learned that I was the second Baptist minister who had been heard there. Some thirty miles above that place 1 passed Eagle Lake. Brother Mercer inlorined rnc that not long since, when on a tour in that neighborhood, in company with a minister, to ascertain what materials could be collected for a Baptist j Church, they found a lone family near the lake—the father, mother, and two of the children ol which indulged a hope in Christ. I’hey had heard no preaching for many months, and had no Bible; but they had obtained one Testament, and this they had cut from the binding, and divided between them as personal properly, thus allowing them all to read as opportunity presented, and by exchanging with each other, enjoy ed the privilege of reading all that precious book. From thus reading the New Testa ment, without note or comment, they were brought to the knowledge of the truth, as it is in Christ, and were desirous of fol lowing him down into the baptismal waters. Die relation of their experience of grace i was very satisfactory to the brethren.” ; Besides meeting his regular appoint- i ments, brother T. has visited other conn- i ties. In Fayette county he attended a Bap- i tist camp meeting. In the church and con- ! gregation he saw the widows, parents, I brothers and sisters of many of Capt. Daw- ‘ son’s company, all of whom, with but a single exception, were killed or taken pris oners during the late Mexican invasion, un- < der General Troll. A multitude of per- i sons from great distances were present, and I many who had been several years in Tex- t as, then heard, for the first time since their t immigration, the preaching of the gospel. Much good resulted from the meeting. Sickness and death have prevailed in s some parts of the field cultivated by broth- I FOR THE BAPTIST THE STATE OF GEORGIA. PENFIELD, GA., JANUARY 5, 1844. er TANARUS., and several members of the church es under his care have fallen victims, of whose death he speaks in affecting terms. Some communications, previously sent by him, have failed to reach us, and as those expected some time since from other missionaries, have not come to hand, there is, probably, some irregularity or bad man agement of the mails in that quarter, which we regret, as it deprives us of the privilege of publishing correspondence which, thus far, has always proved interesting. NEW HAMPSHIRE ANNUAL REPORT. The following extract from the Report of the New Hampshire Baptist* Convention, is worthy of a^arefill readjust and the serious considtraiion of all Chris tians : HOME MISSIONS. ‘•The American Baptist Home Mission Society designates another portion oi the field before us, and refers more particularly to the “Great Vailv,” Texas, and the pos sessions on the North. The labors of this Society will undoubtedly have a great bear ing on the destinies of our country, and the souls of our fellow men. The very great importance of having the United Slates thoroughly evangelized is manifest on ac count of iis piesent and prospective influ ence, the perpetuity of our government, and the highest interests, temporal and eter nal, of the millions that are to inhabit our extended territories. Lord Brougham was correct when he said in tiie British Pailia rnent, “ that whatever of freedom England enjoyed, under her present institutions, she was indebted tor it to the influence of the Puritans. They were the men who with stood the onsets of tyranny. They were the men fit to be the guardians of liberty, because they were men of God. Muster ed on the high places of the field, they car ried their Bibles in their knapsacks. They were men of conscience and prayer.”— And we need such men in the Great West —men of their patriotism, piety and virtue. To secure such, we must have the means of instruction—missionaries—Bibles—Sab bath schools, and pastors. And who is to afford this supply—where shall we look for help? We must do it—the Churches at the East, or it will not be done. Be done —to be sure it will be done—missionaries and means will be furnished ; and the onlyf question is, shall it be done by Protestants] ■it 1- a of 111, .Ui.C- Htlitfi<uu.*ty,vn fs stituiions, and Hie population of the West,] bo evangelical or Papal ? The designs and plans of the Pope hav<> been divulged—we know them, llis Ho liness has already parcelled out our coun try into diocesscs and bishoprics; and he is continually pouring upon us his priests and his money. It is but a short time since he sent over ten thousand dollatsTto be spent in the single territory of lowtfT to fasten upon its new settlers the religion and institutions of Rome. It is time the alarm was sounded—an invasion by a foreign power should be proclaimed, until its echo is heard from every hill top and through every vale. In a number of the Jlnnalsof the Propagation of the Faith, is found a statement of the disbursements to the miss ion ol the New World, as this country is called in Rome. Here are the items, show ing to what persons and place this money is appropriated—the sum total of which is one hundred and forty-one thousand four hundred and fifty-four dollars ! ‘Thus are our civil and religious institutions invaded —a foreign power, hostile to all we hold dear, is pouring its immense treasures into our country, to plant the foot ol the Ileast upon our soil. What, then, is the duly ol Protestants ? Shall we lay still, and let the enemy pos sess the land ? Shall we withhold the means until it is too late ?” We repeat the question, “ What, then, is the duty of Protestants ? And add, What, especially, is the duty of Baptists ? Let Baptists ponder this subject seriously, and act wisely. Bent. M. Hiu, Cor. Sec. Lord Russell’s lust words. “ I have now done with this world ; I am going to a better. 1 forgive all the world, and, I thank God, I die in charity with all men ; and I wish all sincere Prot estants may love one another, and not make room for Papery by their animosi ties.” In the paper he delivered to the sheriffs as his last declaration, he says : “For Popery, I look on it as a bloody and idolatrous religion, and therefore thought myself bound, in my station, to do all I could against it. I never thought of acting against it basely or inhumanly, but what could consist with the Christian religion and Ihe laws and liberties of this kingdom. / did believe, and do still, that Popery is breaking in upon the nation, and that those that advance it will slop at nothing to carry their designs. lam heartily sor ry that so many Protestants give their help ing hand to it, hut I hope that God will pre serve the Protestant religion, and this na tion, though I am afraid it will fall under very great trials and very sharp sufferings.” * Beheaded for high treason in the leign of Charles 11., on corrupt and perjured ev idence. The offence for which he incurred the displeasure of the King, was opposi tion to the succession of the Catholic Duke of York. Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own undert.iand mg. . . —For the Christian Index. To the Ministry. So. J. . A everend brethren, — Books nuistiieces kfnly t° a great extent, be your compan ions. Those which treat ofliteralure, sci ence, and the arts, are not. unimportant to yiotir profession. The works of the best Writers on all the topics embraced in llieen | tire system of Theology, should be familiar ito vou ; perhaps they are so already. The ir-0.-; diligent study of your authors, guided ?7* uise discretion, is requisite to prepare IW®'’ f> perform effectually the duties of your office. Let the Bible, however, be your chief book, your daily, your hourly instruc ted” From its rich pnges confirm your faith, animate your hope, and direct your life.— Receive nothing into your system which is not there clearly taught, and exclude noth ing that is plainly inculcated. Be prepared to preach its doctrines in their true charac- ter, in all their relations, and hearings, with clearness and perspicuity. And while you do this neglect not the facts of the Bible.— The minds of many of your hearers may not be sufficiently strong to comprehend even those doctrines which are comparative ly plain, they may want the discipline re quisite to appreciate argument; but facts will cling to them with a tenacity which can never be shaken. “ Facts, ignited by the eloquence of pungent feeling, is the liotest fire a guilty conscience can endure on this side its final doom. It was this thatsleteo typed damnation on the stubborn monarch’s soul, when Daniel interpieted the words ol warning, on that night Belshazzar died.— This it was which awoke the earthquake throbs of remorse under Peter’s preaching, and led thousands to cry out, what shall we do ? It was the plain statement of facts, without embellishments to encumber them or fears to blunt their edge, that thrilled the pompous court of Agrippa, and made Felix tremble on his throne.” Study, therefore, beloved brethren, if you please, literature, the sciences, and arts; study theology; study human nature; but htuuy the tiible ; and es pecially “ to show yourselves approved unto God, workmen that need not be asham ed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”— Nor is it enough that you pursue a general course. You must elaborate every particu lar subject you attempt to illustrate. Ido not intend by this remark to intimate that you ought, even occasionally, to write your discourses. Much have been said both in favor and against this practice, and, in my opinion, to iiule purpose. Let every man adopt that course which to him may appear best. We should not require any of our Davids to light in the armour of Saul. It is veiy evident, however, that the delivery ol Written discourses, on ordinary occasions, is not the most acceptable or successful method of preaching ; and, aside from this fact, the physical labor of such preparations would be utterly insupportable. Ido not bold it necessary to carry always with you into the pulpit even “ a brief,” or a manu script of any kind. Your subjects, never theless, must be thoroughly digested, or you cannot yourself understand them, mueh less can you impart their instruction to oth- crs. If there is ambiguity in the mind of the ‘{tere will be slill more in that of the hearers c The trumpet will give an uncertain soui.d, and no man will prepare himself for the battle. Your labor will be fruitless. Becollect, also, that to success in study, uni-emitted industry, and settled habits of application are essential. With --Skc-e, I trust, you commenced your profes sional life ; for well am I assured that, if neglected at that period, on any account whatever, they are alterwards exceedingly difficult to be acquired. All these consid erations, my brethren, I persuade myself you must fully appreciate. To secure the success of your ministry, which you certainly most earnestly desire, allow me to remind you that much prayer and care, with some knowledge of the peo ple you address, will be requisite in the se lection and managemunt of your subjects, and in the manner of their presentation. We have reason to thank God that he lias made us responsible only for our fideli ty, and not for the success of our exertions. Paul may plant, and Apollos water, hut God gWeth the increase. To him, therefore, let us look, after careful labor and daily pray er, to succeed our faithful eflbris. In the selection of your subjects have re ference always to the mental, moral, and religions character and wants of your hear ers. If you fail in this particular, you will most surely find that you have toiled in vain You may address a man a thousand times, but unless you speak of topics which Intelest him, in a style and manner which be is prepared to appreciate, Ilia heart will remain unmoved. The importance of at temion to these matters is so palpable that no illustration is necessary. In the management of your subjects seek to be simple, uaiural, and evangelicnL— Never lose sight of the cross. There take your permanent position. “ Touched by the cross we live, or more than die.” In presenting truth let your manner ac cord with the plain, affectionate, humble spirit of the Gospel. This alone befits an ambassador of the Redeemer sent on an er rand of mercy to guilty men, and it will not fail to open a way for truth to the inner chamber of the soul. • all pomp and ceremony, learned parade, “ attitude and stare, and start theatric,” is, and ever must be, supremely repulsive. “It is my per fect scorn,” 1 loathe it in my soul, as I do all affectation. For such defects as these, no piety, no learning, amiability of character, no private or public virtue, can atone, “ Simple, grave, sincere, In doctrine uncorrupt, in language plain, And plain in mannei ; much impressed Himself, as conscious of his awful charge, And anxious, mainly, that the flock he feeds May feel it too; affectionate in look, And tender in address, as well becomes A messenger of grace to guilty men.” Such, beloved hreihien, as drawn by the hand of a master, should be ihe manner of every minister. These consideralions,sill ier me again to remind you, are of the ut most consequence to success in the sacred office. And than this, what higher or pu rer motive can influence the bosom of hu man beings ? The souls of the congregated muliitudes you daily see belbre you are in imminent danger of eternal death. He whose sighs on Olivet, whose pangs on Calvary, best speak their priceless worth, saith that they may be lost. And should one of these ru ined beings, amid his tossings in the pit of dark despair, utter forth thy name as one who might have plucked him from destruc tion; O ! if glorified spirits can weep, would there not be a burst of tears from your ‘I </'>' jitttbl it llil, rr *y*. . al 3 I “ named the name of Christ,” how prone . are they to wander, to fold theii arms to . getlicr in sleep, and “pierce themselves through with many sorrows !” Then, my reverend and beloved brethren , “ Up, blow thy trumpet! Sound the loud alarm To those who sleep in Zion. Boldly warn To ’scape their condemnation o’er whose head Age after age of misery hath rolled ; Who, from their prison home, lookup and see Heaven’s golden gate, and to its Watchmen ery What of the night ? While the dread an swer falls, With fearful echo, down the unfathomed depths, Eternity.” With sentiments of profound regard, I am, in Christ Jesus, your brother, SENEX. For the Christian Index. Harris Cos., Ga., Dec. 7lh, 1843. Pro. Baker —When I last wrote to you, my principal object was to elicit an explan ation of what I believed to be a glaring in consistency. Your notes on that article seem to render it necessary for me to reply. You have done but little towards removing the difficulty. Your reply to the 3rd que ry 1 believed to be true ; 1 merely inserted it to show the contrast between that and your reply to query 4th. If “ God from all eternity decreed all things that come to pass, means as well as ends, circumstances minute as well as im portant, and all in the order ol their occur rence,” and there is a “ definite number of both the elect and non-elect, which can nei ther be increased nor diminished,” conse quently none but the elect can go to Hea ven, and none but the non-elect to hell. To which class do this “ great multitude of heathens” belong who are now in hell, but might have been in heaven ? They cer tainly belong to one or the other. If they are of the non-elect, how is it possible that they could have gone to heaven ? Or if they were of the elect, how did they get to hell without breaking the deeiee ? If this is not a palpable and irreconcileable discre pancy, it must be the master mystery in the Universe. But instead of solving the difficulty, you refer to the sayings of an in spired apostle. Had Paul been required to explain this seeming discrepancy do you suppose he would have referred to some former writer ? Solomon (for instance) who at one time said, •• answer not a fool according to his folly,” and at another “an swer a fool according to his folly,” and plead that h had ji good a right to be in Puhlisher— BENJ. BRANTLY. NUMBER L consistent as Solomon, or would he have given the desired explanation ? I think he would have done the latter. This If certainly a very easy way to slide out of an unaccountable difficulty. You say, “ We. cannot expect any to receive our saying that will not receive the Saviour’s.” I was not apprised before that your sayings were equal to the Saviour’s, or I would not have presumed to question the propriety of any thing you said or wrote. I do not expect ministers or editors io ft concile “ the different declarations of God’s word,” but I think it is their duty to recon cile their own declarations. “ That men are left free to choose either good or evil the Scriptures abundantly teach”— Sound to the core. But how does this com port with the doctrine ofimmutable decrees? 1 believe that the Almighty has immu tably decreed many things, such as the cre ation of the world, our Saviour’s advent inlc/ the world, &c. But Ido not believe that He has unconditionally decreed the eternal damnation of any of his creatures. Yoif sav that I misapply the passage in relation to infants. I made no particular application’ of it at all, only to show that the Saviour made no such distinctions between infants as some of our modern wise-acres have done. 1 did not even intimate “ that the kingdom of heaven is composed of just such in every respect as the Savior took in his arms,” and know not how it could be con strued in that way True, you admit ted that all who die in infancy are saved ;■ hut you did not admit that non-elect infants could die in an infantile state. You hope that I have not adopted the doctrine of universal salvation, and wish me to inform’ you what Ido believe. Now I hope that I am as far from adopting or believing that pernicious and unscriptural doctrine as any one, the redoubtable Editor of the Index not excepted. And I will tell you some tilings that I believe, though I have not space to tell yon all. I believe that the Bible is a revelation of the truth as it is in Jesus, and’ worthy of all acceptation. I believe that ,t*l- out exercises his soverignty over voluntary beings in such a way as not to compel them in their moral actions The simile you have given in relation to the legislator, criminal and judge, appears (to me) to be very imperfect! Accord ing to the Caloinian System, the legislator should decree what the criminal sW do and exercise an absolute control over his mind and actions, and all his (the criminal’s) misdeeds must be the necessary resiilt of a compelling power from-the legislator, tip on whom then is his destruction to be charg ed? upon his crimes as the proximate cause, or upon the legislator as the primary and efficient cause ? Candour would compel me to answer, upon the legislator. Far be it from me “to question’ the truth of wha( God affirms, or to array onb declaration of his against another,” for I believe his de-’ clarations all harmonize, had we the capac ity to understand them correctly.’ Prophecy has been much relied on by the advocates of unconditional predestina tion to support that doctrine. Prophecy’ from its etymology simply signifies fore telling. I admit that in the Bible it some times means more. Some of the prophe-’ cies which seem to contain most of the lan guage of authority and execution ;'never-’ tireless appear to depend greatly upon the conduct of voluntary agenis, whether they will or will not he fulfilled. God promised Abraham that his seed should posset the land of Canaan forever. Was not that x/„ ditional ? Do they now possess it ? And’ why do they not? Because they trans- gressed the law, &c. A prophet was sent to Hezekiah to “say unto him set thine house in order for thou slialt die and nos live.” Did he die at that time? Witness • also the famous prophecy which Jonah was commanded to pronounce against the gieat city, “ Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Was Nineveh overthrown in forty days? Not so. The inhab ■ itants repented of their iniquities in sack cloth and ashes, and the Lord turned away his anger and did not destroy them, which displeased Jonah, he was so tenacious of his honor that he prefered that more than’ six score thousand persons should have beeti cut off and sent to hell rather than his've racity as a man of truth should How much like him are some of our mod ern prophets, who would send unborn mil lions to bell by an eternal, unconditional de cree, raiher than their favorite creed should be thought defective. Yours truly, J. B. tfXTCHELL. P. S. I do not expect to maintain a controversy with an editor, the contest is too unequal. Please to publish the above in the Index and it is highly probable that I shall (rouble you no more in tide way. J. R. W. -