Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor. VOL. XIII. TERMS —PER ANNUM. str The Christian Index, published on Friday in eaeh week, (except twoin the year), will be furnished to each subscribe/ at $2 50 cents, in advance; or S3 If not paid within the year. Post-Masters, where the Index is taken, are re quested 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 patrons ind agents are requested to notice this. Every Agent, (and all Baptist Ministers are particu larly solicited to become agents,) who procure and pay for live copies of the Index, shall be entitled to a sixth, as a compensation for his trouble. Letters on business, or communications, must be ad dressed to the Editor, ptw/^gid. Advertisements may blfTnserted on usual terms, at the discretion of the Editor. AN'ESSAY. In Defence of Strict Communion, by J. L. Daog, Professor of Theology, Mercer University, Da. Section 6. Why Strict Commmiion has Appeared Odious. The superstitious regard which the Christian sacra, ments have received, has tended greatly to increase the’ odium attached to the practice of strict communion. M hen baptism began to be regarded ns a saving ordi nance, its application to infants readily followed. To give to them this means of salvation, was benevolence ; to withhold it, cruelty. So the Lord’s Supper was re garded as a means of salvation ; tint), on this ground, a participation of it was esieemed an important spiritual benefit. Though in modern times the use of the Chris tian ceremonies is much belter understood, yet the an cient superstition is still found clinging lo the minds of i men. Without any Divine command for infant bap tism, many parents would fee! very unhappy’, if their children should die unbaptized; so that, where this practice prevails, we may trace remains of the cause from which it originated. In like manner, a too high estimate of the Lord’s Supper mav lie delected in the minds of those who, with Mr. Hall, consider it “a most important spiritual function.” To refer to its proper cause, the odium w hich adheres to the practice of strict communion, we need only notice the form w hich objections to it have assumed. How of ten have the Baptists been accused of shutting out from Heaven all except their own sect ! It is in vain that *h p y represtrat the Lord’ l ? Popper ns a mere ceremony, to boohserved I>y each particular Church, according to its interpretation of Christ’s law for the regulation of the ritual worship which He instituted. In vain they protest against the inferences drawn from their practice, I and declare their joyful hope of meeting multitudes at : the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, whom they do not feel authorized to invite to sit w ith them in their Church communion. These protestations pass for nothing j and the charge is reiterated, that they exclude all except themselves from Heaven. Hence, chiefly has arisen the odium with w hich the practice of strict communion has been loaded. Section 7. The Spirit With which Strict Communion should be Practised- To secure the best possible efli-cts from our obedience, it is necessary that it should he exact in its form, and that it should be rendered with a right spirit. The form or outward act is important; and even where errors respecting it arise front ignorance, much guilt may lie involved, and much mischief may ensue. Saul of Tarsus sinned in the outward act, when he per secuted the Church of Christ, though he verilv thought that he therein did God service. Neither the forgive ness which he afterwards obtained, nor the overruling Provideuce which brought good out of the evil, can fur nish any argument to extenuate the guilt of hit; conduct, or to disprove the mischievousness of its tendency. In the case of positive institutes, though the mischief from error through ignorance may he less, yet some evil must naturally result from disobedience, unless the wis dom of God has prescribed for our observance some thing that has in it no peculiar fitness or excellence. How far the ignorance, which mistakes and corrupts these institutes of icligion, is criminal, must depend on the clearness of the revelation in which they are enjoin ed, and the advantages which may be possessed for interpreting it. Where the mind from indolence, pride of opinion, or regard to human authority, abstains from effyrts to learn the Divine will, there must be guilt; and where, from these or other causes, convictions of duty are stifled, and disobedience persisted in, the guilt be comes highly aggravated. The spirit with which obedience is rendered to the commands of God, is of the highest importance. Where the form of obedience is neglected, the guilt is traceable to the temper of mind from which the neglect proceeds •nd a bad spirit loses not its guilt or its offensiveness to God, when it is covered over with the most exact obser vance of outward duties. In such cases, sacrifice is an abomination to God ; and his soul hates the new moons and the solemn feasts. Though Paedobaptism may lead to the corruption of Christianity, and may be part and pillar of Popery yet if the error be, in the language of Mr. Hall, “involun tary,” the guilt must be much less than that which at tends the most exact observance of the external rite bv one who obeys with sinful intentions. Hence, as Bap tists, wo ought to be careful, while we keep the ordi. nance of Baptism exactly ns Christ enjoined it, that wo place not our religion in the external rite, nor take occa THE CHRISTIAN INDEX. sion, from the superiority of our obedience in this par ticular, to think of ourselves in other respects more highly than we ought to think, or indulge in feelings to wards our Ptudobnptisl brethren which our great Master will npt approve, \ Mr. Half fpprgsents-TY as n pernicious effect of close communion, that if organizes a sect to maintain a single point of religion’.': Though ,we cannot admit of this charge* vvd maV derive from it a very admonition to preserve us from an improper sprmin our obedience. Churches, in their organization, wor ship hnd discipline, _should have respect to all the Di vine commands; and ought to guard, with cure, against an exclusive or disproportionate zeal for any one doc trine or precept. We should defend no single point with sectarian Jiqtuir.y. but jialtT/sy. if, to avoid maintain it, for the same reason every other may be abandoned. Place our landmark where we may, it will separate what it encloses from something that is a very little beyond the boundary; ami whenever we re fuse to draw n line between things that lie near to each other, wo decide to remove the landmark wholly. The individual Christian, who departs from the strict rule of duty in one point, that he may conform to the practice of others, and not appear to have a peculiar religion that maintains a little point of singularity, leaves the straight iine of duty ; and he will not rid himself of his singularity, until he mingles with the multitude who travel the broad road that leads lo death. So the Church which, that it may symbolize with some other Cliujejq.ucglpcts a single point of duty, that it may no ( seem to have been Ofganized for the maintenance o<_ that single point, begins a course which tends and the end of which cannot be seen. - V How may each disciple of Christ accomplish the greatest amount of good in the world ? He must do his whole duty with the right spirit. Jesus, though undefi lad and separate from sinners, received sinners and ate with them : so the disciples of Jesus should mingle free ly with mankind for the purpose of doing them good, whether in the labors or enjoyments of life. But though he may be accused ol singularity, he should not be conformed to the world, or polluted by his intercourse with it. He should lie forbearing and forgiving to wn ids all men ; and whatever their faults, should love them, and seek to do them good. Yet, he should guard his own purity with the utmost care, and keep his gar ments unspotted. How may a Church of Christ accomplish iW grelit ust amount ol good? VY f e have the same answer. Though it should be accused of being singular, schisr malic—though all the odium of close communion j should be heaped upon it—it should, in nothing, Sviate ; one jot or one tittle frf [ law of God in t!itff°%la tion of itself; but should S. oil kindness and love toward other Churches and toward all men. Those are the Churches which will be the glory of Christ: these arc the Churches which, though strict in their discipline, arc expansive in I he: r benevolence, and ever ready for the most enlarged spiritual communion of saints. This union of severity towards ourselves, with toler ance and kindness towards others, is never tQ ff' e spirit of the world, and is what the world cannot under stand. All the berevolence which abounded in the early Christians could not, while their holiness separated them from other men, save them from being regarded tts the enemies of mankind; yet, just such men were needed tosconverl the world. The practice of strict communion is hot a single de velopment of those principles which we have ascribed to primitive Christians. If attended with narrowness of spirit, bigotry, and mere sectarian zeal, it is then like the religion of ceremonies, in which the form of godli ness is found without the power. It is no wonder if, in such a case, bad effects follow. But let Churches, out of pure love lo Christ, keep all Ilis commandments with strictness, though the world and less obedient Christians may feel reproached by their example, and may re proach them in return; and let this strictness of obe dience be accompanied with all possible displays of the benevolence of Christ. Tile blessed effects which will follow, will serve to wipe away forever the reproach of close communion. [To be. Continued.'] . CONCLUSION OP Mr. MNNW’S ADDRESS. . The request of the Missionary Hoard. One other consideration lias greatly conduced to this decision. Our Missionary Hoard have requested us to go. VVe have always regarded that body as the agent of the churches. They are elected from the denomina tion at (urge, by delegates assembled from every part of our country, solely .for the consideration of this subject. To them it is committed in a special manner, to watch over the interests of Christ’s kingdom in foreign lands, and in behalf of the churches to do all in their power, that the last command of Christ may be fully obeyed. According to the best of their judgment, they are to se lect fields of labor, to commit there to the care and es forts of faithful men, and to informthe churches not on ly of their proceedings, but of the means necessarv most effectually to do the work assigned them. And every reasonable request for aid should be promptly and cheer fully afforded by those for whom they acK When we committed to them the care of this department, we cer tainly did not expect them to conduct its operations at their own expense; we virtually pledged to them all ne cessary means. JJesrdes, the church having thrown up on them the responsibility of this department, we, to no small extent, regard them as acliug by the authority of our Saviour, os well as by the appointment of their brethren. And their request for any amount of aid in men or money, necessary to give the gospel lo the per . idling, is urged upon us to the extent of our ability bv FOR THE BAPTIST COXVEN GEORGIA. PL AFIELD, ifcii 14-AMS. the command of ‘ -2—iWJi.*. l -- fringe our right of privaVt*A i "^ or 4'* cs this at all in judge of that necessity, XHgmenl ; f or u . e ourselves are To meet the heathen at tf|* € hf 'l )e - thejust day in peace to should add, that under p.t, b r of Go-1. To this thought we some such delegatiotwriW" ent circumstances we must act,.by Christ. We can do bu!F s, > or not ohe y ll)e - commission of field, merely us individu£ ule if effectually in the Such have beenxturj#: of our ol>ligalMMß||HK, s °f° ur relation to the Board, and have been them, We believe lily be cxpec^i^BPßPL t^e ' r department, as cquld reasona ciously selected;"and th!.| elds lhe y have occupied were judi meet the pressing wants f'be? have scarcely begun, yet, to onlv bv the assistaneew| ,lh,; ‘ vorltl - As they can proceed assistance have nevetTr* tfwrch, so theirdeques* lor that the work assigned thet^fc£j^’% eo^ * be actual necessities of i , ii- m in have ii'kfciA-qjjr prty ---t-- —ore S-f- iid HI” H ‘HIHH I >"t personal,atinliea ’ ael -rb.. ’"l special ciibns to tiigcrisis. .They uoflj^^Krffjftf they need not only money, but men; and that, upon prayerful reflection appear our duty, they wisl^^Af rsulm | service in the lureigu field. What could we say vVe had committed to them the responsibility of direcnT^Kj s business of winning souls from among the nations; hufl(>y have returned upon us the sol emn responsibility with them ; at the same , time they inform umay best aid in their object, Shall wc , V e progressed sufficiently farm converting the Cod? Never, never—so long as millions ol immorttilH^p^ (ll yet ignorant of the great sulva cioii. Shall wo sny|^Ri.] l() - Lord’s treasury is exhausted— that no talent of HiSWfcffimiains buried in our napkin—thut we have done all in ver ? Before God we dure not as sert this. I rue, much a parlol j a t it can now betaken, only, as by the drawing of bloqd.~jK|| ) it i 8 no t our oV vn ;it belongs lo the Lord; and by ,hisM |J;e we can render unto God thut What wekJ a t) 0) WB ought to in this case ; an^mncc^m^jj^cisirin. let think not That,„hVing learned our duty, wc are other wise than most cheerio!<•- tts performance. Never were we happier that at the preseltime. DUTY OF WHO STAY AT HOME. Having staled brieflyßßiossible a few thoughts respecting ourselves, allow me to c'slier a moment the question—What is the duly of thechurclM 0 ’ n this matter ? What, dear breth ren, is your duty ? • Jfcsjuonstfl . mutual and equal. ‘1 hat you will constaß'y remember us in your prayers, and thut you will, so i9Ss ciicumslunce? allow, afford us a comfortable support, doubt. This is understood. 1 he field is .divided. department, and you retain the other. We “ info thu well,” and-you “ hold the rope.’’ But there in this obligation, which may not be so generally o|ipWcpd(d, and which may be illustrated by the expression perform a labor comrnmpio himself and to him who remains above, the latter is c.hja ‘icd not merely to hold the rope Ibr the safety of the former, but to afford him such facilities, that he may most successfully(accomplish their common object, It is surely wrong to require linn in the well, because he already bus the most difficult depa/iment, also to work to disadvantage; unnecessarily to expend/E s strength and to impair his constitu tion. l T et, such has Hen the condition of missionaries. Their own maintenance ms been sufficient; but they have been compelled lo wo.ri o disadvantage. Often have they frittered away their streSgh and impaired their constitution for want of facilities, and esj dally for want of fellow-laborers, to accomplish that for whichlhey went forth. How often have you heard the agonizing fry of your brethren, assuring you that they were almost ex (ousted from over-exertion, and that the work all about them remained unaccomplished (orthe want oi necessary assistance; and imploring you, by all that was momentous for time'rnd for eternity, to send them help? This is what at times or iresses us. The thought that you may not perceive, or th< *jyou may not fully appreciate, this part ol the- home obligatic’,-—that we may be left at the bottom ol the well without the i7*!ilities of working to advantage, and that, consequently, all n r'trials mqy prove comparatively in vain—is painful beyom/xpression. A comfortable support is not the object of our Smjjlude; that we could more readily obtain at home. It is jfhjt w : may be enabled to accomplish the work, ?br which we rcinquish those many blessings which you retain. We have been reminded,this evening, of our solemn obliga tions to Christ and to his church for the results of our labor. To the sentiments advanced, we add our most hearty amen. We reflected upon them before our decision, and they have ap peared to us far more apiTfilng than all personal deprivations- Were it not written —l am with you alway, even unto the end of’ the world,’’ —-and, “My grace shall be sufficient for thee,” —those sentiments, so true und solemn, would dispel our ciery thought of entering the field of foreign missions. But judge, dear brethren, the extent of our sorrow, if to this and to all our otheqponrccs of solicitude, there be joined the puinful consciousness JthaLwe ire expected to “make brick without ‘Straw,”— held accountable for results which are u terly beyonoqur control f?jr_jiie want/jf your full co operation. VVe God will not be deceixgcjtve may he exceedingly unhappy even respecting this part of our responsibility. A tendr-r"conscience may so severely judge us, that eternity alone rntjr render clear to us the true cause of our failure. 1 know, dear brethren, that you now understand tts. I think I hear say—“that were indeed unjust, that ought never to be, the Hoard should afford you every facility.” But, alas, what can tho Board, do? Nothing but direct the means supplied by the churches. It is the church, through them, that must aflbrji these facilities; and each one in this assembly should feel hts personal responsibility to the mission ary. „ y The priiuHplc of consecration is one. But your greatest obligations are to Christ, our common Lord, and to His cause in the world. Christians generally have not clearly apprehended these ; at least, they have not done so in comparison with what they deem obligatory upon ’those who enter the foieign department. Christ gave His com mand to His disciplesjJs such. He taught them ail that they were not their own—(fat they were to enter tiny department of His vineyard, where, according to their talents, they might most effectually servo Him. However varied, then, may be the particular duties of Christians, the principle of consecration is one. In whatever department they may be, to the perform ance ofits duties they are to devote every ability of soul and body, of time and property. Every other one is as truly bound to live wholly for Christ and for His cause, ns is the foreign missionary,—to do as much and to suffer us much, up to the wants of the cause and to His capacity. And this considera tion is paramount to every other. The responsibilities of no particular department can require more; nor can the favora ble circumstances of ariy sphere allow less, .so long as millions of souls are in a perishing condition. It is in accordance -with that, under God, we become ministers or missionaries. Nor has any disciple of Christ a light lo devote .his tal ents to the calling of a lawyer, physician, merchant, mechanic, or farmer, upon any Other piiticiple. Nor, according to this, has any minister of the gospel a right to yield to the inducements pf a home settle ment, if his.nid is more needed übroad ; pro vided he is qualified for that sphere, or pro vided that by severe discipline he may ob tain Vhat qualification. It is not enough that he does good, he is obligated as a dis ciple of the most good in his power ; andvyit often depends as much up, .on the necessities of the yield, as upon the amount ef/labor performed. If a;iy se riousl* ” riU 'jit this, it is surely time for such implore the instruction aud direction ol God. In eternity they may learn that this is the very foundation of true submission to God. If such is the principle < f consecration, what, then, is the responsibility resting up on Christ’s disciples in this assembly ? Ministers of Christ must be Missionaries. Is it not the duty of some to enter per sonally into the foreign set vice ? 1 see be fore me many young men, who are the ministers oi Christ, and who are candidates for that sacred office. To voti, dear breth ren, do we most solemnly direct our ap peal this evening. It is to be the business of your lives to unfold to others this princi ple of consecration, to urge them to unlimit ed, fidelity to the Master. Can you con sistently or successfully do this, unless con scious that you are disposed lo practise ac cordingly ? You are not ignorant of what Christ requires, nor of the perishing condi tion of millions of your lellow-nien. Nor are you unaware of the luct already stated, iliat in New England and in many of the older States, ministers of the gospel are multiplied, until their usefulness is often seriously impaired. Why, then, spend your life in doing a work, which would he equally well and, perhaps, better performed without you? Why especially do this, when millions of men are left annually to perish in their sins, without the knowledge ol that salvation which it is your duty to preach? Are you sure that it is alone to glorify God, and that you are where you can do the most good? Have you a com fortable evidence'ilmt the Savior has made this your duty ? Will that evidence bear agitation f Has he never seriously im pressed you with the contrary ? and what have you done with those impressions? Do you here urge your love of the refilled and literary, your worldly relations and prospects, the great sacrifices required, and particularly your want of qualifications ? What missionary, whom you would re commend to this work, must not experience the same, or similar difficulties ? Tell us, dear brethren, can it be possible that he who upon earth”had not where to lay his head, and who in the garden and on Calva ry drank to the very dregs that most bitter of cups, to provide salvation for sinners, really approves your unanimous resolution to remain at home, while a world is perish ing in your hearing? Has lie appointed only here and there a solitary one, to preach his salvation to perishing millions; and has lie made it the duty of the mass of Ins ministers to remain with the few, where they arc more comfortable, but less needed? Did he die for America only, or was it for the world ? O, ye disciples of this cruci fied one, to whose gospel you are indebted for all that you are, and for all that you an ticipate, arise ; and look out upon this wide scene of desolation. With your own views of scripture truth, enter with these millions ol heathen the eternal world ; stand with them before the judgment seat, and hear and see for yourselves the result oi this neglect; then say, can you turn your backs upon such fields, and with a quiet conscience remain at home, where you rre of comparatively little service ? We solemnly urge upon your considera tion, that such multitudes are so i-nlertnv eternity every year ; and that it is in your power to guide many of them to the cross and to eternal life Ilis Churches are Ilis Stewards. But the great body of the church may not go to the heathen ; nor is it needed, if they will sacredly observe their obligations at home. To this class belongs the largest part of this assembly. In connexion with your labor? for America, you are to co-op erate with the Board to the extent of your ability, until Christ’s command is fully obeyed. Your bodies and minds, your time and attainments, all belong to Christ ; by them you obtain money, which is equal ly his. You arc Ins stewards, trading up on his capital, for the promotion of his in terests. Your powers and time must be diligently employed, or you will bury his talent in a napkin; you must live frugally, or he will charge you with having pervert ed his funds for your own indulgence; the remainder you must consecrate to his cause, so long as it is needed, or he will eventually condemn you for having lived unto yourselves, and not unto him. Is ii inquired, how far you should practically apply this principle ? We think, dear brethren, you an; best able to give the an swer. How fardo yowexpcc.t the mission ary practically to apply it ? There may at times be peculiar circumstances to modify the form of his sacrifices, and so far they must differ from your own. But, general ly, you ami he ure alike the servants of BRANTLY. Christ, Slid subject to ff,e same rules.. You can have no more right to live unto your selves and to your families, than he has to liie for himself and. for his family';, that is, neither has any such right. Why should not the American pastor, the lawyer, aiitj the physician—why should not the mer chanr, the mechanic, nn.d the farmer,’ live as entirely 1 for Christ antl'as sacredly obey his commands, as tire missionary ? Why should not’the sis-tets of the church liet'e'be as self-denying and as faith,ul to this cause, as their sisters in foreign lands ? Did they not alike come to the cross fyr \Y ere .they Tjot all parrdoned upon tl* same consideration * Is it not one yineyard, in to which they , were all received as- labor ers ? And are they not a(t to act'toprm one tioTy'Jur'o iff, f i a f | i( ef* .of the missionary, or of all Christians ? In it not emphatically said—“iVo man cento himself?” Weigh, my dear breth ren and sisters, the reasons why it is our duty to cuter upon this work. Do not the same reasons press your entire consecration to this cause ? Is there no language to yvu in the dreadful condition of so many mil lions of perishing ones ? Are you not a part of those disciples to whom the Savior commands—“ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel Vo every creature ?” Again, prayerfully, ponder the instruction of the Holy Spirit, in Rom. x. 11-15, and remember, that upon the amount of your co-operation will depend, under God,’ the number of those who personally enu r this field of labor, and the efficiency of their ef forts. Ihe fact that the missionary is thus dependent upon your aid, removes ever}’ doubt respecting the extent of your obliga tion compared w ith his. Again, the Board has informed us how we might bvsl ad this work ; aud have not you, too, heard its appeal ? Again and again have they told of the unoccupied fields, upon some of which the first kindly influence rs yet to he exerted ; while upon others the gospel has operated, until they arc already ripe for the harvest. If these considerations might justly move our decision, when surrounded with the rich enjoyments of this Christian land, ought they not alsodeeply affect vou: The position, dear brethren,'which you oc cupy, is most fearfully solemn. The vvorlcl is perishing in your hearing, and Christ requires you lo spare no labor or ex pense for its rescue. You stand in the ve ry passage-way to the heathen, thittufeh which the missionary can pass only by your aid. If you prove false to yotir trust, you will block up that way, (unless God in mercy to a fallen world removes you); ve ry few will pass it ; the heathen will con tinue to perish in their sins ; and you, who ran portray your feelings, when with them you stand at Christ’s judgment seat to an swer for the buried, or for the wasted tal ents of your Lord! Evasion.fallacious andfuti/e —its remedy. VVe know of but one way to evade these considerations. Young ministers do so, respecting their personal service, because there is no more money to support addi tional fields and laborers. Others do so re specting funds, because men are not wait ing to be sent forth, who are kept hack on ly by an exhausted treasury. But neither of these pretend that Christ’s command is obeyed, or that the work is done. They plead the unfaithfulness of each other, to excuse their own continued neglect of duty. However much this course may now evade the appeals of their brethren, and silence their own consciences, it will not obey Christ, nor save the world. It will not suppress the wailing of damned spirits for eternity; nor cause the arches of heaven to reverberate the songs of millions saved through their instrumentality. Brethren, believe us, or rather believe tire whole tenor of God s word—this may answer for time; but it will not suffice when he whodied for sinners, and who gave his commission to the church, “makelh inquisition forblood.” It will he no trifling matter, then, to find toe biood of souls upon their garments—to hear the unutterable, eternal anguish of ibo heathen charged to their neglect. Allow us to suggest a remedy for even this evasion. Let the Board select any and every man, whom they think best fitted for the work; and let them solemnly appeal to him, if he is willing to go on two condi tions first, that those who are best quali fied lo judge shall deem him fitted for tho sphere; and second, that the Board aw able to send him forth, with a reason*ys prospect, under the influence of Christian faith, afterwards to support him. Let them thus leave this responsibility where it belongs, at the door of each man’s heart, to decide the matter for himself, as he hopes in peace to meet his Master at the last day. Let them then record- every man’s’ liame who consents to go, and make this record known to the church, that its members may understand not only the wants of the world, but that men are waiting to enter upon thee service, who are prevented only by the want of means. In like manne> let them appeal to the church for funds. Every ono knows that in that treasury of God, there is enough and to spare, if its resources were drawn and applied to the right purpose. Long, long before the disciples bocome as their Lord, and have not where to lay their heads, will this, his treasury, afford ample means. I know not how we might dare to ask him for more, until at least the capital, now lying dead in the hands of his stew ards, is applied lo the work. Let, then, the Board, without reference to thenumber of men a! present waiting for this service. NO. ll