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JOSEPH S^BAKETl —Editor.
VOL.-XII.
&LRXS P'JSR ANNUM.
Tiie Christian Index, published
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fonfessians or Doelaralious of Faith:
The Dutp of Churches to make a public
Declaration of their Faith considered
and maintained.
Section 4.— Some objections noticed
and answered.—After what lias been
said, it may appear unnecessary to notice
the objections which haye been u.ged a
gamst confessions of faith.* We shall,
however, proceed .to answer some ol those
which are most frequently urged, not with
the view of sustaining the duty in question,
hut with the view ol tearing down the Aim
sty shelters which an opposing spirit has
reared, to shield itself from tiie shafts of
truth. We will first, however, notice an
objection dial may he. urged to the particu
lar position which we have taken in the
discussion of the subject before us. Some
may urge, that as there is to bo found no
positive precept or express exemplar in the
word of God for confessions of ‘faith, (lie
course in question should be considered on
the ground of expediency, and not as a dit
ty. We answer,
1. That a positive precept is not twees- 1
sary to impose a duty. There is, as has
been justly observed by another writer, a j
dilferenee between a positive obligatiotvi
sind amm ai duty. The one rests upon a j
positive precept, the other .upon general |
principles, established in the word otUod.Y
However necessary, therefore, a positive
precept is to establish a positive institution,
—-o i" 1 , i T.i r.n rtr *tm 11, t ‘\tk t : Tt-Bnim ■tn-rwwrv
to impose a duty. That a positive precept
is not necessary for the tatter purpose, is
apparent from die portion of scripture up
on which we have commented in paragrajfft
V. Were the ease, different from what it
is, what an endless number, of volumes
must have been written to teach us our du
ly. The long life of a Methuselah would
not be sufficient to enable one to acquaint
himself with the thousandth part of those
precepts which it. would have been neces
sary to have given, and consequently it
would be insufficient to acquaint him with
the thousandth part of his duty. Tifcre is
no positive precept to interfere, shoull we
see an individual, wittingly or unwittingly,
about to ad min utter a deadly potion to anoth
er, yet whn is there that would not feel it
an imperious duly to interfere in such a
case.
2. With regard to the absence of ail ex
emplar in the word of God, we have a few
observations to make:
1. The Christian church, in die days of
the apostles, was hot split tip into sects, us
in the present day, and, therefore, there
was not the same'necessity lor confessions
of faith, or a declaration of the views of
different churches. Individual members
inay have departed from ‘the faith, but we
read of no church that withdrew and estab
lished a different creed.
2. The churches were theifreceiviiig di
rect communication from heaven, through
inspired, men, and this would tend to su
percede the necessity of a confession cf
. faith.
3. The peculiar tenets of the Christian
church were generally known, not only to
its friends, hut also to its (ires. peculiar,
tenets ofdifFereut branches of the church,
in the present day, are not generally
known.
4. It appears from Acts xix. .1 —0, and
other portions of scripture, tliai'disctples
were not received into fellowship without
a strict scrutiny into their faith and prac
tice.
5. When a church, or churches, were in
doubt concerning any particular matter,
they did call a council to-consider theinat
tei, and the result of their deliberation was
made known, by a public, declaration of
their views, as appears from Acts xv 5,
&c. This we consider an example in
point.
6. But the want of an example cannot
invalidate a general principle. Were it ne
cessary to connect onti or more examples
with every general principle, we might,
with hutch propriety, adopt the language
of an evangelist, and say, “I suppose that
even the world itself could not contain the
books that should be written.” (Jno. xxi.
• 25.)
If, then, the general principles establish
ed in the sacred volume, require the course
to be pursued, which we have advocated,
it would avail nothing to plead the want of
*A man may speak with propreity of a
positive obligation to perform moral duties;
for there are positive precepts to do the
whole will of God, and the will of God is
revealed in part in the general principles to
tfhich allusion has been made.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX,
an example. That they do require this, it
has been our endeavor to show. Wheth
er we have succeeded or nut, we leave the
reader to decide. Wte request, however,
before he forms a decision, that he would
recall to mind the principles upon which
our arguments have been based.
Objections. to conlessions of faith, when
not based upon something worse, are, lor
lliu most part, founded . :: :. misapprehen
sion of the object ot such confessions.—
They are generally represented idPtjeing
set up as a rule of oar faith and practice.
Btu ihi* is false. IT IS SI.MPLY A DEC
LARATION OF OUR.VIEWS, RELA
TIVE TO WHAT IS ‘TAUGHT AND
REQUIRED IN OUR RULE OF
FAUYi AND PRACTICE—IN THE
WORD OF GOO. Note it. It is a de
claration of views already entertained , and,
therefore, not a rule by which our views
ate to be formed. •
Let us examine this matter a little more
thoroughly. Suppose an individual is ar
raigned before a church, which has a writ
ten statement of its views, fur heresy—
say, for instance, for denying tin: divinity
ot the Saviour. Would the church refer to
its confession, think you, and *eay, you
must lie in an error, lor see, the divinity*of
the Saviour is assn, ted in our confession?
Surely there is none so simple as to believe
titis—none that can suppose that the church
would do otherwise, titan refer to the por
tion of God’s word in which the divinity
ol the Saviour was taught, and those in
which they were instructed to avoid or re
ject those who denied it. To their con
fession of faith, it is tine, they might turn
—but for what? Not to convict him of his
lietcsy, but to show mat they had ever re
cognized litis doctrine-us taught—where?—
In their cunlession ol taiih? No: but in
that which they had acknowledged, in that
confession., to be the rulq of their faith—in
the word of God. The individual would
thus be divested of the excuse, that he uas
ignorant of their views, and knew not that
they esteemed the gospel as their rule of
| laitlt, rr litis doctrine as otic that was taught
S in the gospel.
j Every’church, it will bs granted, has, or
ought to h ive, ccitaiu and definite views
1 relative to,what the gospel requires them to
\ beli vo and uo—for they arc required to lie
! well established i;i the faith. Will any
one pretend that the simply recording of
-----W
----their nature, or their operations? Suppose,
fol instance, that there arc two churches
which hold piecis-ly the same views.—
The views of the one recorded, but jin:
views of the oilier are not—tout is to say,
the one has a confession of faith, the oth
er has not. .Suppose an individual, in tiic
’one, is arraigned for- certain errors in doc
trine,’ or in practice, and an individual, in
the other, is arraigned for the same errors,
under the same ctretnnstances—Would the
result be likely to differ? We think not.
Wherein, then, there would be evil in re
cordiiiir the views oi a chinch, we cannot
discover: but we can see wherein good
might result. In the one case, the offen
der would have reason to know, from the
first, what would bn the consequences of
embracing error. In the miter case, the
individual would not. In the one case, a
nother individual might bu'snved from em
bracing error, at least from advocating it—
in the other there would he nothing to de
ter from such a course.
Os all tyrannical governments, it has of
ten been truly said, the most oppressive is
that in which the- will of the monarch is
the law of the land. On the contrary, in
every mild government, there is a written
law, by which its subjects arc governed.
The remark is ns true, when it refers to
ecclesiastical governments, as when it re
fers to truth t - unchangeable in
its n:itdte|-as unchangeable as the throne
ol thcopteriiahMll'iten a church lias no
one can never know
with views or what courses
of conduct will meet with approbation, or
what with censure, or whether the views it
approves to-day, it Will not condemn to
morrow. We have known churches to
excommunicate individuals at one time, for
doing that which they had warmly recom
mended ayupMher time. In both cases
they professed 4o be governed by their
views of lhe gqßpf-1 requirements! Surely
a written expression of the view sos a
church, il it dm no other good, would save
it from.such inconsistency.
For the Christian Index.
Ail Essay on llte Christian Religion.
Sec. Vll. — Advantages of Christianity —
Xatiouul.
When we contrast the superstition, igno
rance and indolence which characterize
some nations, with the wisdom, genius and
industry that arc found in others, we are
led to inquire into the causes that have pro
duced such “vast differences-in the condition
and character of the human family ; and if
we pursue the inquiry’ far enough, we shall
generally find that it is the hand of Chris
tianity that confers happiness and ease and
fortune-and honor on
chains of idolatry have fettered others in ig
norance, and covered them with misery and
shame. Where is there a nation on earth,
that receives the Christian Religion in its
purity, that is not blessed with happy peo
ple, ftee governments, noble institutions,
wise legislators, and an abundance of the
FOR THE. BAPTIST CONVENTION OT THE STATE OF GEORGIA?
PENFIELD, GA., MAY 24, 1844.
comforts and luxuries of life ? And where
is there a nation or a people oivlhc globe,
blinded by the false philusophy of idolatry,
that is not poor, degraded and ignorant; de
prived of the means of gaining knowledge,
stript of every thing necessary to render ex
istence comfortable and happy, and bowed
beneath the yokes of oppression and lyran
uy ?
Christianity, bv teaching men their ori
gin, their history, their dependence upon a
Superior power, and the obligations they
are under tifGod and to their fellow-men,
points out to them the necessity ofitnprove
.pieut, the blessings offteedorn, the benefits
of industry, and the glory and the grandeur
ol national prosperity. These tilings stim
ulate the mental and physical powers of the
mass to action, and the inventions and dis
coveries of one age are made.the subjects of
improvement in the next. The mind still
rises and expands, grasping new theories;
discovering new truths, and making new
improvements; ever strengthening its fac
ulties by exercise—looking farther into'the
vast store-hpuse of its own powers, and
drawing out its forces anti applying them
to fresh and more glorious achievements.
Every new discovery and invention, and
every improvement on old ones, discovers
some new ptoof of the wisdom and good
ness of God, and gives the mind larger and
more exalted ideas of the character and ben
efits of pure. Christianity; points to it os
the great soiuee from which every real bles
sing flows, and begets in the soul a true,
genuine spirit of devotion. Hence the
march of improvement is ever onward, and
with it advances national prosperity as well
as individual happiness.
To show most clearly the advantages of
Christian nations, their history should be
studied, arid they should he contrasted with
ilia wretchedness, poverty and ignorance of
Pagans; Here nothing is known of man ;
no correct ideas are entertained of the char
acter of his Creator; nothing is desired
save the gratification of animal life ; no
dreams are entertained of the immortality
or.frp j-jy'il:.and joq preparations are made
for present or future happiness. There is
no march of improvement; the clouds of
ignorance are never dispersed by the rays
of knowledge;; and their conditions grow
worse as time advances. liow thankful
should Americans be, that the Religion of
Christ in its purity, is among theiji ! That
the foundation of their government, laws,
anil institutions, was laid with an eye single
to its advancement!
Sec. Vlll.— Advantages of Christianity—
. Social and Domestic.
We conic now to notice some of the so
cial and domestic advantages of Christiani
ty ; and what, I would ask, would be the
condition ofcoinuiuniii.esand families, with
out the mellowing hand of religion to refine,
and purify the hearts of their members ?
What would become of all that now renders
our social and domestic circles so agreeable
and contented, so lovely and beloved ? Hoiv
could societies and families exist ? (These
things are ably handled by lion. D. Web
ster in liis late speech on the “Girard Will
Case.”) Lei those who constantly nreel
in peace, security and harmony around the
social hoard and the domestic hearth, and
around-the altar of Divine Worship, an
swer these important questions. Look tit
the societies, or the absence, rather, of all
society, in ‘ those countries in which the
Christian Religion is not received; there is
no firmness of government, no equality of
law, uo division of labor, no inaiks of kind
ness for the stranger, nor sympathy for hu
man suffering. There are no assemblages
for quiet, social intercourse, no greetings of
friendship, no distributions of charily, no
displays of benevolence. Frequently, eacli
individual is his own law-maker and his
own avenger; rents iris own tent and the
stranger dare not approach it without Iris
consent; raises his children in the same
habits of vice and infamy that characterize
liis own life. Females are often compelled
to labor for the support of the males, who
spend their lime in idleness and dcbauclte
ry; children are sold as slaves (or the sake
of filthy gain, or put to death to please their
senseless idols ! How different from this
picture are communities-and*familtes in a
land of Christianity: there neat and com
fortable habitations receive together in
friendship and love, kindrd, friends, neigh
bors, and the passing stranger; fields and
meadows-.bloom and ripen with rich stores
of the earth’s production—the reward of
happy industry ; institutions, benevolent
and literary, are found every where for the
benefit of all classes aud conditions ; popu
lous cities, lovely villages, beautiful edifices,
lowering monuments erected to preserve
the memory of the wise and good, content
ed, cheerful families, and happy, prosper
ous people, ate found in the Christian land,
and found only there. It is this Religion
that knits the chords- of sweetness, benevo
lem:*md -love around the hearts Jl husband
and ADe, parents and children, brothers and
sisters ; and gives them that virtue, purity
of heart, and Christian feeling, which ena
ble them’ to exist ami dwell together in de
light..
Sec. ?X. — Advantages ot’ Christianity—
. Individual.
Every individual in a laud of pureChris
tiandy, whether he has Religion shed a
broajd in his heart or not, is blessed with
peetpiar advantages—such as are not felt,
t'.ar,Mldml, even dreamed of, by those who
ard chained down in ignorance and degra
dation by idolatrous worship. lie has a
knowledge of man, of himself, of Nature,
anti of tiie laws, by which the Great Crea
tor governs Iris works. Search, out the
most ignorant individual in a Christian land,
and the wisest Pagan Philosopher or the
most skillful Magician of Oriental supersti
tion, place them in the same spot, and mark
the difference with which they contemplate
dip objeejs which Nature picsonls to their
view. The former sees beauty and harmo
ny in every thing around hint; tiie latter
finds nothing but disordcp ami confusion;
the onJgkzes in wonder and love upon the
wisdom ind power of God, as displayed in
the host )>f flaming orbs rolling majestically
but silently onward through tiie clear blue
sky ; the other trembles with awe and fear
as lie timidly glances at what lie believes to
be the governors rtf man’s destiny ; the be
liever Philosophy beholds ev
ery wiiere the regular, sublime, eloquent
moniiqipts of God’s power and goodness,
tiie Heathen sage views nothing bin the ir
regular, confused, silent productions of
chance.
But il is the Christian—the humble fol
lower of .Christ, he who has liis love a
bountiing in his soul and who leans upon
Him for guidance and protection, that is
blessed with superlative advantages ; ail
vantage's far baVoml the conception of those
who have noj/soughl Him.as theSaviourof
their souls,/ lie it is that appeats in the
image of,lris M'jkwr I-llmt, mU -wryrk
ings of ’Divine Providence in every thing
around him ; that braves the storms of scorn
and persecution with true inagnimily ; that
looks beyond the transitory things of Time,
and fixes his hopes upon the rewards that
await him in Eternity. Go to the poorest
offcast as he grapples with Death upon his
miserable bed of straw, and,-if he be a true
follower of the Redeemer, maik his calm
ness, It is resignation, his joy. Ask him if
his friends have all forsaken him, and left
him to die alone ! Perhaps liis voice is al
ready gone, hut his eyes, his whole appear
ance answers— No; I have a Friend who
has not forsaken me yet;—He supports me
in tliiUmy last hour of earthly sorrows, and
will seon lake me to Himself in Heaven!
Tills ■j-this is an advantage ; one which the
Christian -Religion—and nothing but the
Christian Religion—can confer upon man!
HER MON.
For the Christian Index.
My Neighbor.
Dear bro. linker —lt is most foreign from
my mind, to wish, to elicit controversy,
Irotn yourself, or any other person, and, as
I am going to offer something that differs
Irom what 1 believe to he the popular opin
ion ol men, I wisli you to give it a careful
perusal; and il you believe it to tie errone
ous, and if it will give you any unnecessa
ry trouble to correct its errors, by a kind
and fatherly response to it, please to throw
it under the table amongst the balance of the
rubbish.
A ccriain'lawyer, tempting the Lord Je
sus, asked him, “ which is the great com
mandment in the law ?”
Jesus said unto him, “ Thou shalt love
the thy God with all thy heart, and
with ail tiiy soul; and with all thy mind.
This Is the first and great ‘commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself. Oil these
two commandments hang all the law ami
the prophets.”
A question.naturally arises iii the inquir
ing mind, not always because it is willing
to justify itself either, but because it honest
ly wishes to obey the commandments of’
God—who is my neighbor ? We turn to
the lexicon of our language, anil we find it
says he is one who lives near to us: a na
tion, bordering on our nation. We consult
our divines, and tiiey tell us that each mem
ber of the human family is intended to be
comprehended by God, in the term neigh
bor. We are not disposed, notv,*to enter
into a dispute with our lexicographer, with
rpgard to the definition ol the common term
neighbor, tTiough we believe'they have, in
many instances, affixed to words definitions
that are mdsuljstantfrom the original mean
ing of them, c. g. Some of them tell us,
that to baptize, means to christen, aud to
christen means to name &ur children, there
fore, to baptize is to name our children.—
Thus, to evade the true definitions of the
words, the meaning of which is of most im
portance to be known, they eringe behind
the screen of-uncertainly, lor no other rea
son that we know of, than lor fear their lex
icon will not be well received by a certain
class of men ; not remembering that hones
ty is the best policy. But, notwithstand
ing, in the acceptation of words, in the com
mon transactions of life, it makes tip differ
ence, provided the meaning is definite.—
Therefore, I am willing to call all those,
who live near me, my neighbors. But, with
regard to the tilings on which our eternal
interest and our eternal salvation rests, we
should he more particular to know what
idea God (not our lexicographers) intends
to convey to our minds by any particular
word in which lie may think proper to ex
press himself to us. Tlieiejbre, in tracing
out the definitions of, Scripture words, ot
phrases, we ihink we.are not always bound
to confine outselves to the common accep
tation of those words or phrases, or to the
definitions which are given of them by our
lexicographers, but should endeavor to ar
rive at the true Scripture definitions. II
an eirot may exist in the minds of the wise
and learned divines from generation to gen
eration, and j’et he perceived by the igno
rant, and by a novice and clodpole, 1 may
venture to assert, that the commandment of
God to “love thy neighbor as tins If”-lias
no allusion to the loving of all mankind. 1
support this opinion by the definition which
Christ himself gave of the term, to a cer
tain lawyer, who, being willing to justify
himself, said unto Jesus, And wlio is my
neighbor? Luke x.'B9.
Jesus answering, said, “ A certain man
went,down from Jerusalem to Jerico, anil
fell-among thieves, which stripped him of
his raiment, and wounded hirn, anil depart
ed, leaving hint half (load.”
You will here please to notice that this
is a very suitable representation of man in
tun elnlc.
“And by rhmec there came down a cei
tain priest (a holy man .of God) that way ;
and when he saw him, he passed by on the
oilier side. And likewise a Levite, (anoth
er man who was eligible to the holy offiep
of Priesthood) when he was at the place,
came and looked on him, and passed by on
the other side.”
“ But a certain Samaritan, as lie journi
ed, came where he was : and when he saw
him, ho had compassion on him, and went
to him, and hound up his wounds, pouring
in oil anil wine, ami set him on his own
beast, and brought him to an inn, and look
care of him,” paid his expenses, and pro
vided for liis futitle safety and comfort.
“Which now of these three, iliinkest
thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among
the thieves ?”
It is very evident, drat neither the priest
nor Levite, thong'll they were conspicuous
characters, and of a family of as much noto
riety, perhaps, as any belonging, at thatday,
to the Jewish nation, cf which nation he
was, were considered to be his neighbor. *
The answer which the Scriptures give to
tiie question, and to which every honest
heart, nietiiinks, will he ready to respond,
is, “he that showed mcrcjfcon him,” —the
Samaritan.
My readers all know that “ Samaritan”
means a citizen of Samaria. The City Sa
maria, was built by Omri, king of ten of the
tribes of Israel, on a hill which he bought
front Shcmer for two talents of silver. -The
.City was named alter the original owner of
the hill, Samaria, or in Hebrew, Shcineron,
and became, and remained to be, the Cap
ital of that kingdom of those fen tribes of
Israel, though it bad been twice beseiged
by Bur-lladad, king of Syria, till it was ta
ken by Shalmaneser, king t>f Assyria, after
4 siege of three years. See 1 Kings xvi.
83, 24 and 29, and 2 Kings xviii. 9 and 10.
We however notice, that the same name
(Samaria) had been applied to the hill, anil
adjacent country, previous to the building
and naming of the city by Omri, (See 1
Kings xiii 32) which country, is said by
our geographers, to be bounded on the
North by the plain of Esdrelon, in Galilee,
on the east by the Jordan, on the south by
a district of Judea, and oil the west by a
narrow strip of land, belonging also to Ju
dea, and dividing Samaria fiom the Sea—
the Mediterranean Sea.
We are not told, by our Lord, whether
this good Samaritan was from the city, or
merely from the country, of Samaria ; not
need we care to know, since we are well
informed that, literally speaking, the Jews
and Samaritans did not recognise each oth
er as neighbors, nor did they have any deal
ings, the one with the other. See John iv.
9. We might venture farther and say, that
the Jews riot only refused to neighbor with
Publisher —BENJ. BRANTLY
the Samaritans, but they cherished a malice
and a deadly -hatred against them, insomuch
that we hear them saying that the Lord Je
sus is a Samaritan, aud hath a devil, John
viii, 48. I conceive then, that the neigh
bor whom 1 am commanded to Jove as I
love myself, is he, who finding me stript,
and wounded, and dying, takes me up.
heals my wounds, saves my life, am) pro
vides for my future and everlasting safety
and happiness. Who is he but Jesus Ohrst
my. Lord !• KIDRONv
Thomson, May 10, 1844.
For the Christian Index, *
Sabbath Schools.
By establishing and encouraging Sabbath
Schools we may discharge, at once, a duty
,we owe to ourselves, to our children and to
our Cieator. JU is a cause in which till may
aid, and in aiding, each one may both re
ceive and impart a benefit; it is a.cause,
which, perhaps, more than all others im
plants principles of morality and virtue in
the hearts of the rising generation ; and
which has the approbation of Heaven and
enlarges the Kingdom ol the Redeemer.—
The hearts of children, on which virtuous
impressions can most easily be made, are
too often left uneultivaletf till tiie weeds of
vice have choked the belter growth. The
child loves virtue for .virtue’s sake; it is
pleased with her fair form and gentle dis
position ; and if rightly liaincd the same
love will characterize its riper years. But
neglect and had example never fail to prove
latal ; the heart of innocence soon becomes
warped Ironi its original, pure principles,
anil the man is, indeed, different from what
the hoy had been. By neglecting, there
fore, any thing that might preserve the pu
rity of childhood ; by allow mg our offspring
to spend the Sabbath in idle and dangerous
amusements, instead of teaching them a
knowledge: of Heaven, we otnit.n positive
duty enjoined upon us, anil do the greatest
injury to out ehildien. It is hoped that
j every Church which has not a Sabbath
I School connected with it will take this mat
tei iiito serious and prayerful consideiation.
We are too remiss in our ditties ! Has not
God given us the highest charge in our chil
dren, ami shall we not employ eveiy means
that can give them such principles and such
know ledge as will benefit them, both in
Time and in Eternity? We .shall not al
ways be with them, to instruct and guide
them, and it, therefore, becomes us to give
them every thing while young, that can
comfort and direet them when we are gone.
Let us establish Sabbath Schools ; let us
supply mir offspring at home with proper
reading for their leisure hours ; let us neg
lect nothing that can be of use to our chil
dren. S.
For the Christian Index.
’ Canton, Madison county. Miss. >
April 25,’ 1814. 5,
KXTRACT.
lira. Balter —l have nothing of very spe
cial interest to communicate. There seems
however, considerable religions excitement
in some place Here among the colored pop
ulation. At my second Sabbath meeting at
this place quite a number was teceivcd and
baptized—l 6 wore received and twelve of
them baptized. I learn that there are oth
ers who wish to unite with the church at
our next meeting.
In a country like onrs, where there arg
so many colored persons, such large num
bers on the same plantation, it is thought
best not to sulfcr the colored congregations
to be too large; it is a quite inconvenient
and not thought best to permit all or even
half on some plantations to go 6 or 8 miles
to church, and in view of these things I am
glad to see that many of the planters are
now employing Ministers to go.to their
houses and plantations to preach the gospel
to their servants. I have now, three such
appointments on Sabbath evenings’ after
Preaching to the whites, and geneiallv good
congregations of colored persons at the
churches where F preach. I tilist from the
spirit now manifested that all, or nearly so,
of our wealthy Farmers will adopt the
same commendable course and have preach
ing at their own quarters for their servants.
But what shall we do for ministers ? there
are but few, very few Baptist ministers in
this country, and they are not able to sup
ply the present growing demand for preach
ing. I have now 13 or 14 standing ap
pointments in the month. It is as much as
I can well attend to, and I’have calls to fill
others, statedly, but cannot fill them. Have
you surplus ministers, Laborers? Our por
tion of the vineyard is pleasant, and I am
inclined to the opinion, that it is as healthy
as any other portion of country of the same
latitude, from one end of our country to the
other. And I am prepared to say that I
have not known any portion of country
NO. 21.