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JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor.
VOLUME XII.
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■n Mill I mm. n M T-iirT r-urortr. ~ i
Church Discipline. %
A GENERAL VIEW OK TIIE SUBJECT.
The term discipline is often used in a
sense far too limited, and, indeed, in one too
remote from its primitive signification. It
primarily denotes instruction. In this sense
it is used, in the only passage in which we
remember to have met with it in our present
version of the Hihle. I'his occurs in Joh
30. 10, where Elitm, one of Job’s counsel
lors, sneaking of the Lord’s dealings with
the righteous, says, “He opeticth also their
ear to discipline:” that is, evidently, to in
struction: for lie proceeds to shew that il
tliev act in accordance with die discipline
leceived and obev find, they shall he pros
pered, but if they disregard that discipline
and disobey him, lie adds, “they shull die
without knowledge.” The term is de
rived from the same root with disciple.—V
The latter term, it is generally known, sig-(
iii'ies a learner or pupil. Tuns we read ol_
the disciples or pupils of Mocraics, Plato,
Zeno, Ac. the disciples or pupils ofCliri.sl,
die disciples of Campbell, Miller, Smith,
die disciples of dilferent schools, as
<il the new and old, modern and ancient
schools.
All lexicographers agree in representing
that the primary meaning ot the term dis
cipline involves the idea ul instruction. It
is used in a secondary sense lot a rule ol
action; in a third sense, lot the systematic
acting out of a tuie; and in :t fourth sense,
lor chastisement, or the infliction of punish
ment for the violation or disregard of a rule.
There are other senses in which it is used.
Thus Sliakespear uses it to express a mili
tary regulation; Rogers, to denote a stale
of subjection; and W'llklus applies u to any
tiling taught, as an art or science- Each of
these, however, should be borne distinctly
la remembrance, as they are all involved in
the idea of church discipline, and we must
understand the true nature ol discipline be
fore we can exercise it aright.
The discipline of a chinch, then, pro
perly consists: Ist, in instruction; 2d, In
wise regulations; 3d, In a regular anil sys
tematic acting out of the duties of religion,
as tliev are laid down in the rules of God’s
woid; 4tlt, In promptly restiaiuiug the
wayward, reproving the erring, and exclu
ding the incorrigible offender; or, m other
words, in a judicious exercise of the correc
tive power with which it is vested.
To restrict one’s ideas to the arraigning,
trying and censuring offenders, is a very
palpable error, and one th t imperiously
calls for correction; for the evils that result
from it are great ami interminable. And
yet il is an error that is very prevalent in
our churches. How often do we hear the
remark, “.We have no case of discipline
in our church,” or “we have no case re
quiring discipline.'” We very well know
what is meant by such expressions; but this
only serves to evince the prevalence of the
error. If it were a rare tiling to restrict
the use of the term to the dealing with of
fenders, we should not be able to under
stand a brother so readily, when he affirmed
that there was no ease of discipline in 1 1 is
church. “No case of discipline!” we would
be ready to exclaim; “what! no ease of in
struction, no rules, no practice of the pre
cepts of the gospel! Why how do you
manage to get along in your church?” The
other expression would equally surprise us.
No case requiring discipline! Indeed! all
so wise as not to require instruction; so en
dowed with an instinctive sense of what is
just and right and honorable, as not to re
quire rules! so perfect, as to have no need
for the further practice of godliness! Ily
what wonderful process, we would be apt
to inquire, have they been brought to this
most enviable state of perfection?
Tlie prevalence of this ertor in rsfcrencc
to church discipline, is the more remarka
ble, as all seem to lie fully aware of the ex
tent of the term, wheri reference is made to
military or discipline; or the disci
pline of any combination of men formed
merely for worldly purposes. In such
cases, the idea of punishment, instead of
being the first, is generally the last thing
that occurs to the mind. Were one to
speak to us of a well disciplined army, we
would be much more apt to form an idea of
a band of soldiers duly marlialed in rank
and file, attending to instructions, shoulder
ing arms, marching attd wheeling according
to ord?r, than of one or more soldiers arres
ted, placed undergtiard, or set astride of a
wooden horse. And so, also, were mention
made of a well disciplined school, we
would be much less likely to think of a
parcel of well flogged pupils, than of a
group of boys or girls assembling punctual-
I}"> arranging themselves in their several
places orderly, applying themselves dili
gemly to their studies, and quietly, cheer
iully and regularly attending to the various
exercises otwtlie school. But why should
oiu ideas of discipline be more restricted
when the term is applied to the army of the
Lord of the school of Christ?
The etror of restricting, within too nar
row limits, our ideas of church discipline,
leads us to rely lor eflecton causes that are
inadequate for their ptoduetion. They in
duce an over-estimate of some of the means
used in pieserving discipline, and an under
estimate ol otliers. We vainly imagine,
that a church may he kept in good order,
and in a healthy condition, by promptitude
in bringing offenders to account, and a strict
application of the censures of the church.
All disorder is ascribed to remissiiess in
Iheso particulars. The church which ex
cludes the greatest number of offenders, in
the jshi.'rtcst space of time, is, not imfre
queiitly, considered the best disciplined.—
But cnrrecliot;, without instruction, never
reformed a man or’ saved a soul. We whol
ly mistake the case, ascribe effects to other
than the true causes, and, like theempyric,
administer our remedies most injudiciously.
It is not surprising that we more frequently
kill than cure; more frequently produce
than remove disorders.
Every attempt to preserve a church in
order, by the exercise of penal power alone,
must and will prove abortive. To suc
ceed, in such attempts,(we must resort to in
struction; and ibis must be repeated fre
quently, “line upon line and precept upon
precept;” we must have’rules by which to
be governed, and these must be made
■known and explained; our church members
must be exercised in acting out the practi
cal precepts of the gospel, and this should
he done daily. Let these tilings be done,
and we shall seldom have need to resort to
is generally railed discipline results, in
reality, from the want of due discipline.—
It is with churches as with schools and ar
mies; in those that are best disciplined,
there will be the least need to inflict pun
ishment. Hence; the necessity for a fre
quent recourse to church censures, affords
inlallible evidence that there is something
radically defective in our system of disci
pline.
But we shall proceed to notice mofe
minutely, the several tilings which we
have represented as necessary to the prop
er discipline of a church, with the view of
pointing out some additional errors that re
quire eorrreetion.
1. Ok Instruction. —The .prevalence of
disoider in our churches, and the conse
quent number ol exclusions that are annu
ally reported to our associations, are ascrib
ablc, in a great degree, to a defect in our
system of instruction. Our system is de
fective in respect both to the frequency and
the nature of the Distinctions given. Usu
ally our churches assemble to receive in
struction hut once a mouth,* and rarely is
there., a majority of the litcmbers of a large
church present at any of its regular meet
ings. A large pioportimi of our members
do not meet their regular instructors more
than two or three limes in the course of a
year. Wliat proficiency could we expect
our children to make in learning, if we only
sent them to school as often as our church
.members attend on their pastors to receive
iitstinotion, and if, when sent, they only re
mained an hour ortwo in the exercises of the
schoolroom? In all probability, they would
just learn enough to make them appear wise
tit their own estimation, and ignoramuses
in the estimation of others. It is just so
with many of our church members, who
meet their spiritual instructors, at most, but
twelve times a year. They obtain just
enough knowledge of spiritual things, to
make them imagine that they are compe
tent to teacli their teachers, and fully quali
fied to sit as censors on the conduct of—the
Deity himself.
It may be that some of our members at
tend preaching more frequently than we
have represented, but if so, it is not at their
own church, and, perhaps, not even at the
church of one of their own faith and order.
The instruction given on such occasions,
admitting it to be good, profits but little.—
They do not fuel at home. They are not
in a proper frame to receive instruction.—
They do not consider the instruction given
as designed for them. A something whis
pers, that is not’for von; it is for those witii
whom you have met; and they very read
ily give the truth a passport to seek a lodg
ing place in other heads and hearts than
theirs.
But much of the instruction given, when
we attend at other places of worship than
our own, is not salutary. It is often con
tradictory to what we have previously been
taught. Our pastor teaches us, that we
ought, in all things, to-observe the pattern
given us in God’s won!, obey every pre
cept, and be careful neither to add to nor
take from the word of God. Another teach
es, that a strict conformity to the institutions
of the gospel is not necessary ; that some
precepts may be safely neglected; that
signs may be omitted, oi varied at pleasure,
provided we have the tiling signified ; that
we may advance ahead ol Heaven, and add
to die signs given , may appoint liolv days,
holy feasts, and other equally unauthorised
rites. One teaches, to avoid theatrical en
'* The churches in our large towns and
cities are an exception to this remark,
but even in such churches, die attendance of
our members is very irregular.
FOR THE BAPTIST CONVENTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
PEN FI ELD, GA., FEBRUARY 16, 1844
tertniumcnls, as fostering vice; another
commends the nr, as favorable to both men
tal and moral improvement* One condemns
dancing and other festival parties ; another
applauds them, as affording wholesome re
creation and innocent amusement.’ One
assures ns, that “ bodily exercise pro file lb
little;” another makes it the very soul and
substance of religion. One tells us, “with
out faith it is impossible to please God;”
another depreciates faith and exalts works
in its place. How can it be expected that
we can grow in grace, or advance in spiiit
ual knowledge, under such a system of in
struction ? The word of God, and right
reason, alike teach us the danger of multi
plying to ourselves teachers, to gratify our
itching ears. The one directly condemns
it, (2 Tim. 4. 3,) and bids us, “take heed
therefore, bow ye hear;’,’ (Lu. 18. 18.) the
other, reason, leads us to confine our chil
dren, as far as practicable, to one school,
and to the teaching of the same instructors.
A frequent change of spiritual teachers, is
not less pernicious than a frequent change
oi literary or classical teachers. The one
deranges the head; the other deranges both
the head and heart.
Unpopular as the sentiment maybe, we
cannot but express the firm conviction of
our mind, that under our present system,
witli preaching hut once a month, or twice
at most, our chinches never can he wpII dis
ciplined. T!ie lessons taught one month,
are forgotten before the next rolls round.—
Before there can be any improvement in
tliis matter, our churches must adopt the
practice of assembling on every Lord’s day,
and as often on oilier days, as their situation
and circumstances may permit* They
must make provisions for the stated minis
trations of the word, and require of their
members a regular attendance, not only at
their climcli conl’etenees, bill at their meet
ings for religious instruction.
But frequency of meeting is not all that
is requisite. Attention must lie paid to the
nature of the instruction given. There is
more nutriment in an ounce of some articles
of diet, than there is in inanv pounds of oth
er articles. Some food gives stability to
the frame, some relaxes, and some inflates
it, some strengthens and some enervates it.
The same (lillercnces are observable in the
pallida of die mind. There is more instruc
tion to be derived from the short sentences
of some men, than from the lengthy dis
courses, or ponderous tomes of others. But
again, food, in order to be fitted for the pur
poses which it is designed to subserve in
the animal economy, requires, generally, to
be submitted to some preparatory process ;
and so it is with spiritual fouil. Tiutli must
be properly prepsiefl; it must, be .well di
gested and arranged, judiciously seasoned
and oppoituncly served up, in order to in
sure a salutary efleet on the mind. It is
therefore necessary, net only that churches
secure the services of men competent to in
struct them, but dial they relieve them from
those cares which preclude their paying
due attention to studies appropriate to the
gospel ministry. We are aware that there
are some; —that there are many, who do noi
think that till! minister lias need to be daily
brooding over bis books. Suppose we ad
mit this, what does it argue ? All will al
low, we presume, that it is necessary he
should thoroughly study the hihle, treasure
up its life giving maxims, reflect upon
them, and upon their use and applicability
to himself and others around him—that lie
should scan well bis own heart, review and
carefully note the operations of the spirit
within himself. Now the question to lie
decided is, where can these necessary tilings
be best done ? On one’s feet at the plough
tail ? or on one’s knees in the closet ? If
in the latter situation, then, we must un
loose the hands of our ministers, and allow
them a sufficiency to employ others to at
tend to their secular interests, while they,
as directed to do, in the word ol God, “give
themselves continually to prayer and to the
ministry of the wont.” (Acts 0. 4,) —
(Tun. 4. 15.)
But once more, the instruction given
should not only lie sound and wholesome,
but should bo suited to the necessities of the
people. Strong meats should be given on
ly to the strong. To babes and invalids,
we must administer milk and broths. But
to acquaint himself properly with the wants
and capacities of bis people, the pastor must
visit them at their homes, and must have
time to commune with them freely oil their
spiritual state. And; as every changing
inooit, and indeed every passing day, wit
nesses changes strange and great, iii.men as
well as in things, these visits should be re
peated frequently. But how can a man
perform this necessary work, who lias to
labor at a worldly calling to secure daily
bread for himself, and, perhaps, (or a numer
ous and a helpless progeny?
How wonderfully and how wisely lias
God linked together the various duties that
devolve upon us, as in Mahers of the body of
Christ! and how inseparably has lie con
nected them with our true interests, even
on earth ! Our own happiness, our good
name and prosperity depend, in no incon
siderable degree, on the preservation ol’ilue
discipline in our respective churches ; and
this again depends upon our frequenting
regularly the house of God, providing for
out selves the means of instruction, and lib
erally sustaining, with our temporal tilings,
those who minister to us in spiritual tilings.
Beloved brethren, there must he a change
in our system—wo must assemble more
frequently for religious worship, must he
more careful to procure competent im-truc
ters, must contribute more liberally for
tlici. support, or we must continue lobe,
wliai many ol our churches now are—a bye
wotj and a proverb among the sons of men,
and a. reproach to the cause of Christ.—
Miu-'t fight has been diffused through our
churches on this, as well as on other sub
jects, Let us walk according to the light
which lias been kindly given. We must
relopn, or we cannot reasonably expect that
thciLord will long withhold the tokens of
-his displeasure. The time of threshing is
at Hind, and if we do not arise and thresh,
at the call ol God, we may expect ourselves
to be laid oil the floor and threshed. Our
enemies are numerous—God will never
wait! for a flail.
For the Christian Index.
. of ii Country Schoolmaster.
No. 5.
Lecture; rentl before, the. Haledgh
Mechanic’s Association, on their Uh An
niversary. By in/liam //’. Holden,
r y
Lsq.
Buell is the title of a performance which
the writer of this article has received, and
a brief notice of which shall form the sub
ject of this essay. If it is true that ‘‘Com
ing events cast their shadows before them,”
we may safely conclude, that, from the fre
quency of Society mootings and the ex
cellency of the many discourses delivered
before them, the’ state of Society is destin
ed to he the subject of many improvements.
Os all people who deserve to he encourag
ed and advanced in their labors, the Me
chanic—the daily laborer—must certainly
he ranked among the first; and the Lecture
before us, for its, manly vindication of the
character of those to whose benefit it is de
voted, for its clear and practical views of one
of the greatest and most useful callings in |
life, and for the noble tone of patriotism
which breaths in every page, is inferior to
none.
The Lecturer commences with the char
acter of the piescnt age, which lie remarks,
is eminently practical and energetic. In
every department of knowledge, and in nil
avenues, which lead to wealth and honor
and happiness, lights of experience are
pouring in upon the darkness of conjecture;
falsehood is bowing beneath the sceptre
and the diadem of truth; and men are be
ginning to understand, more fully and pro
perly, their responsibilities, absolute and
relative, and to appreciate the powers, the
hopes and the destinies of the race. At no
period, perhaps, in the history of the world,
have the sciences been so intensely studied
and so widely disseminated as at the pre
sent. And if wliat we have been accus
tomed to denominate antiquity he nothing
more than the infancy of mankind, then in
deed do u’e live in the vigor and in the fill
ings of time, when law and order and civil
ization, refined and purified hv the tires ol a
generous freedom, and mellowed by the
hand of Christianity, throw their broad
Shields at once over the richest and the
poorest, giving no greater protection to the
prince, amid the pomp anil the garniture of
distinction, than they do to the mechanic
and the atiizait, amid their perplexities,
their toils and their labors. The sceptre
of those who were once mighty to oppress
the nations lias been broken like an unteiii
peretl spear; anil the systems ol the dark
ages, which rose slowly, hut eflectually, in
the midst of blood and carnage and disor
der, have been torn and scattered to the
winds of desolation. The transcendent el
oquence of Martin Luther, and the progress
of liberal opinions, roused mankind to a
knowledge of their rights; and the stateli
ness and the grandeur of feudal ceremo
nial, and the excitement and renown of till
and tournament, repose in death amid the
chambers of the mighty past.
Air. 11. says truly, that the benefits con
ferred upon man by the votaries of art and
science, are almost incalculable. They
have not only gratified his physical wants,
hut opened new fields—boundless and over
eiiduriiig fields—over which his mental fa
culties may linger, arid perpetually gather
the elements of freshness and delight.—
They have done more than this; they have
changed his ideas of human, greatness. —
Fortified by the principles of a sound and
practical philosophy, and sensible of his
tremendous responsibilities as a citizen of
two worlds, the possessor of high intelli
gence now weighs every tiling in the scales
of justice and of virtue, and estimates hu
man greatness only by the amount of per
manent and substantial benefit it may have
contributed to confer upon .mankind—
Thus estimated how little is Napoleon, and
how great are Walt and Fulton!
As late as the seventeenth century, but
little progress had been made in practical
philosophy. The doctrines of Aristotle
had obtained absolute sway for two thou
sand veals, and were every w’licre regard-’
od, tip to that period, with profound res
pect. They taught men to believe ill mat-
ter, form and privation as the origin ul all
things ; that the heavens were self-existent
and incorruptible; and that all the stars
were whirled round the earth in solid orbs.
This system of philosophy was purely ab
stract, and the disciples of Aristotle, in ex
tending and refilling it, plunged into deeper
and stronger meShes of doubt am! difficulty
than any in which he had been entangled.
But doubt is the parent of knowledge. As
the years rolled onward, mighty champions
sprang upon the theatre of the world, to
contend for the prevalence of truth and ra
tional philosophy. The revival of learn
ing, the power of the press, and the refor
mation, diffused living and broad streams of
light upon the minds of men ; and the im
provements of Gilbert, Kepler, ahd Galileo
were but preludes to the important nmi use
ful discoveries of Bacon, who, rising in the
seventeenth ccntuty above all the great
teacher's of mankind, established a system
of philosophy purely experimental—a sys
tem which has superseded all the senseless
jargon and wild conjectures of the dark ages
of the world. The result of Bacon’s dis
coveries has been the study of nature in a
pure and separate form—a strict and severe
combination of experience with calculation
and reasoning.
’The Lecturer notices the advantages
which the mechanics of iliis country pos
sess over those of Germany and other parts
of Europe, where, after their tciqn of ap
prenticeship.has expired, they are compell
ed to wander over the neighboring coun
tries lor a cerlaitt number of years before
they can setup awmk-shop for themselves.
Here, the road to honor is as open to the
son of the mechanic as to the soil of the
I Senator ; and it is the peculiar glory of .this
country that its social and political institu
tions are so ordered and regulated as to de
velope and give scope to genius and talent
wherever they exist. The names of many
great men are given, who have been famous
for their devotion to the progress of art and
science ; much sound advice is given the
laborer with regard to the management of
his pecuniary affairs; hut there is only
room lor the following paragraph, which is
worthy of being recorded upon the tablets
of every heart:
“ Alan is naturally an active, a laborious
being, and if lie is not constantly employed
in some useful vocation, lie will overleap
the hounds of prudence and integrity, and
commit outrages fatal to the repose and
well-being of Society. Idleness is the pro
lific parent of vice and immorality. Dis
grace— individual and national—attends her
sluggish and pestilential footsteps, and want
and woe anil agony unspeakable tire writ
ten in hunting letters on her brow.”
• Beech Spring.
For the Christian Index.
Heur Bro. Baker, —I would not accuse
you of designedly misrepresenting me, iu
your remarks on niy communication in (he
last Index, under the caption of “ The
Baptism of John.”
I tun not so much inflated with pride or
vanity, as to he ignorant of iny want of per
spicuity in writing, or'eloculion iu express
ing my ideas ill any and evety way, 1
know, and acknowledge to the world, that
lam a poor novice. I therefore acknowl
edge, at the outset, that you have misunder
stood me, and consequently misrepresent
iiic, in several pntticulars ; because I have
not been able to express myself sufficiently
plain to he understood.
1. You have misunderstood me in sup
posing that i intended to convey* an allusion,
that the Baptists were the only denomina
tion of Christians that contended “for the
identity of John's baptism and the Christian
ordinance of baptism.” Truly, l address
ed mvself to Baptists, hut 1 neither accused
or excused my l’usdobaptist brethren ; nei
ther did 1 say any thing, or think any thing,
about them, until 1 included them in my
closing address. But in my humble opiir-’
ion, if I may be allowed to express an opin
ion in reference to my Pcrdobaptist breth
ren, it is no evidence of the fact, because
some of them believe it, for they believe
that sprinkling is baptism, and if that is not
a gross absurdity, I know not wliat reliance
we can have oil words as being sigiis of our
ideas, for we have haplo or baptizo to.ex
press the one, and raino or rantizo to ex
press the other, and so far as 1 know, (but
I know but little) no person has ever con
tended for the synonymy ol’lhose-terms.
2. You have misjudged my information,
when you supposed me to ho ignorant that
. Baptists, and lY.jdobeptists, difl'er in opin
ion with regard to the're-baptism of John’s
1 disciples. I happened to know that fact,
- at least so far as reference is had to - Bap
tists, for you will please to remember that
lam a Baptist myself. But lam as much
obliged to mv brother, as I would h ;ve
PriiEisHEit—BEN.l. BUANTLY.
NUMBER 7.
been, though 1 had been ignorant of the
fact: Ido not feci the least hurl with him
for airogating to himself, the privilege of
’instructing me ; for, though I happened to
he informed on that subject, I am very ie
noiant on many others.
3. As “ peculiarly unfortunate,” as my
reference to Grammar may have been for
me, I did not say, neither have T ever
thought of saying, that the personal pro
noun “tney, reierred “to the nearest per
son or thing, in the sentence or paiagraph,”
as our brother lias errotiiously represented
me and Murray to have said. I said, and
still say, and believe that our brother will
say so too, that “ we believe, that all ad
■irib that the personal pronoun “ 11/ry in
the sentence, has inference to those disci
ples, whom Paul was addressing and who
heard this.” I then quoted Murray to sav
that “ the demonstrative adjective pionouns
arc those which precisely point out the sub
ject to which they relate:” and that “ this
refers to the nenrest person or thing, and
that to the most distantand that this in
dicates the latter or last mentioned, that the
former or first mentioned :” and concluded
by saving, “ Therefore, according to the
most simple rules of Grammar, this in the
sentence, must refer to what Paul had just
said, or the writer wpuld have stfiil that and
not this:” meaning, that “ this,” refered,
not only “ to the doctrine” which Paul
said “ John taught,” as our brother has
said, But to Paul’s whole conversation, iu
reference to John, his baptism, Ac. Ac.
t. I deem my learned and much esteem
ed brother, as “ peculiarly unfortunate,” iu
his reference to A polios, as he did me, in
my reference to Murray’s Giaiiniuir. lie
says, “ iu the ease of A polios, who was
also John’s disciple, nothing was said of
his rebaptism. We are only told that the
apostle taught him the way of the Lord
more thoroughly.” Acts 18. 20.
If von will hear with ihp, niy deal reail
j or, I will give you a short history of A pol
ios in Scripture language. Acts xviii. 24
anil 25. “ And a certain Jew named ‘.pol
ios, horn at Alexandria, an eloquent man,
and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephe
sus. This man was instructed in the way
of the Lord ; and being fervent in Spirit, he
spake and taught diligently the things of
the Lord, knowing only the baptism of
John.” Bear in mindj my candid reader,
that he was “ mighty in the scriptures,”
and “ was instructed in the way of the
Lord and was “ fervent in Spirit,” and
•• spake and taught diligently the things of
the Lord,” and l will ask you, where was
his defect? 1 think, it you answer in can
dour, I shall hear you say, that his defect
was in baptism. He knew only the bap
tism of John. And when “he began to
speak boldly in the synagogue,” knowing
only the baptism of John, Aquiluand l*ris
celki “ took him unto them, and expound
ed unto him the way of God more perfect
ly.” I ask, and leave it for my candid
reader to answer, after considering his wis
dom and learning, what could two poor un
learned persons have taught him, but that
the “baptism of Joint,” was not the bap
tism recognised at that day, amongst the
apostles and more immediate followers of
the Lord Jesus Christ? But lam fain to
acknowledge, my dear brother, that you
have given me a nut which is too hard for
me to crack, in your last requisition. You
say “admitting them (John’s disciples) to
have been rc-baptizid, it is necessary to
prove, that their former baptism was duly
administered by a properly authorized ad
ministrator.” 1 believe, to prove that would
require something, of greater authenticity
than the scriptures themselves, or, in other
words, it would bo to prove that the scrip
tures arc true ami mean what thev say, for
it is said in the scriptures, or expressed in
a manner not to be misunderstood by any,
that they were baptized “unto John’s bap
tism.” See Acts xix. 3.
5. I dill not intend to be undeistood, in
•reference to prejudice, as my brother seems
t(> have understood me. I feel to be as lib
eral in allowing my brethren, of all denom
inations, to en joy their own opinions, un
less I can convince them by fair argument,
as any man living : neither would I apply
the epithet prejudice, to any, merely be
cause they differed from me in opinion;
but 1 am well aware, from the experience
1 have had in the world, that prejudice will
apply to the whole hitman family, myself
not excepted, and is the governing principle
of many of our actions. This is a fact, in
reference to myself-—I acknowledge it with
shame and sorrow for my weakness. I,
’ thcrefote, intended the application to be
general, not personal. You need not have
told t.ne, my beloved brother, that you wrote
in h/is(e, and I feat under some excitement,
though, f pray that 1 may be mistaken in
that particular, for 1 know, I would no soon
er intentionally wound your feelings, than