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Ett’LftUSTICIL DEPARTIEST.
Ordination.
Tiie folio'a ing is ilio Circular Letter of
the Dover Assoeialion, Va., lor 181-1. —As
the subject is ono incalculable intpor
lancc, we give the let er entiie :
Dear Brethren —ln obedience lo an or
der passed at our last associalional meeting,
wo address you this year on the subject of
Premature Ordination. The order doc#
not require an investigation into the *• di-!
vino right” of ordination, nor does it enjoin
on us to show with whom the power to or
dain is lodged ; (whether with the people
or the bishops,) but it simply dir cts us to
set forth the evils which are likely to suc
ceed prematura ordination.
The Church, by her united suffrages,
calls a brother to ordination—that is, she
Huiicaics the desire that lie be publielv re
cognized a minister of Christ. Her custom
is to invite a council of ordained ministers,
who, having examined the candidate, are
by imposition of liundsattd prayer to wel
come him into the sacred office. These
ceremonies arc known among Baptists by
the term ordination. Experience has
shown tliiil this practice may be abused, so
as to become hurtful to the progress of god
liness. The danger lies in idling apart to
the work those who have neither ability
nor sufficient discretion for the solemn trust
committed to their care. Our design, in
this Circular, is to advise the Churches
against haste in a matter ol so much impor
tance to the interests of “Zion.”
The subject naturally suggests two in
terrogatories: First, what constitutes Pie
mature Ordination ! and secondly, what
evils arise from it? To these questions,
brethren, your attention is most earnestly
solicited.
The word Premature gives consequence
to the first inquiry ; which, when prefixed,
as in this instance, to ordination, means or
dination before the proper time. If Church
es • id Pastors would nonce c.ucfullv tilt
portrait of a good bishop, as sketched by
the Aposilo Paul, in the third chapter of
bis first letter to Timothy, cautionary Cir
culars on this subject would be needless.
Taking that cliapter ns *llio guide of our
judgments, tve proceed to oiler sonic re
flection* on the subject under considera
tion.
The hare da,ire to be ordained, should j
have no weight with the Church from j
■whom ordination tliev be sought, lor a man
may honestly llo.iiic the ministry, and yet,
on the score of talent, bn wholly unequal to
its inquisitions ; or Ins desire on the sub
ject may grow out of mistaken views of its
responsibilities ; or lastly, it may be the j
•offspring ul'ini proper motives, lie should, j
therefore, be required to present substantia! |
reasons for wishing to assume an office for I
which more matured examination might
prove hint unlit, Such reasons as would
satisfy the brethren that bo is truly convert
ed, feels il bis imperious duly to prunnlt the j
gospel, an I moreover, that be lias a correct j
conception of the nature of the pastoral vo-j
■cation.
Nor does Church destitution justify a I
speedy call to ordination. This, however, i
tint tnooOrn bruit roostrfeie I all onanswer- (
.able argmyent in favor ol the practice we j
now oppose. The ('liurcb reasons thus!
Wo mini have a pastor —there is no one to
break to us the bread of life ; necessity com
pels us to ordain, and if it be impracticable
In obtain a man who c-n officiate acceptably
in the pulpit, why u mist set apart some
brother to administer the fiord's supper, if
.nothing more, Helote these arguments can ;
possibly have any loiee, it must first be
kilo.\n irti// the destitution exists. It may i
be the effect ol an unwillingness to support i
a compcienl minister; should this be made |
to appear, the reasoning has no weight |
Hot suppose the Church to be, in truth, too \
poor to supply herself permanently, aid!
might general iy he calloil in from neighbor-!
ing Chinches to meet occasional exigencies. |
Should this be feasible, the argument to or-1
daiti im-ieiy to servo at communion seasons’
is exploded.
To ordain a brother of doubtful reputa- [
lion, would ,bo highly improper. By this j
it is not pretended that a disorderly, or even !
a licentious life before convention, is to he |
an insuperable barrier to ordination, (for]
this would have debaried from it the Apos-!
tin Paul,) hot it is mean! that the conduct ol j
tile individual applying ought so far to have
undergone a change lor the teller, as to at-1
tract the notice ol’ the community in which j
he resides. 1T lie be still regaided <ts ills-j
courteous, covetous, intemperate, haughty,
or petulant, his ordination should ho post- i
pound till time and Ins changed behavior j
shall have turned public sentiment in his fa
vor. Such trails of character are incom
patible with th. divine calling of a minister,
and if the suspicions ol the public continue
long in force against him after lie has pro
fessed Christianity, they prove, presump
tively at least, that his heart is not yet right.
To delay the matter till his neighbors shall;
have reason to be heller satisfied, Would be;
to attain to what the Apostle considers an
essential prerequisite—viz: “a good re
port of them which are without.”
\ separation to the office before gifts,
indicating usefulness in teaohmg, have been
clear!// developed, would be decidedly pre
mature. A discriminating mind, settled
ness of purpose on the side of truth, pros- ■
pectivc wisdom, and readiness of commit- j
nic.iliun, a:c elements of pastoral character,’
comprised, Jouh'lcss, in the phrase, “apt
to leaoh.” Destitute of these, hinv shall a
man guard “the Church of Clod?” how
counsid erting brethren and decide impar
tially between them♦ He must he able by
prudence ami moral influence to rule the
Church as a judicious father would Ins
household. Other reasons might he pie
s.unted in illustration of this first branch of
the subject, hut lest we should become te
dious, these must suffice.
Lot us now at.end to the second division!
of ilia subject, and point out some of the
mils resulting from premature ordination.
And. in the first place, we state, that it.*
tendency is to reflect discredit an the mini*
! trij as a body. Professing to derive its
authority from Cod, the pastoral olfir.e is
regaided as the most solemn atid important
! trust ever confided to man. It can be kept
in good repute only by the influence ol nio- j
ral power. Neither birth, nor wealth, nor’
| education, nor all these combined, can save;
| it from reproach, if piety and Christian tie-’
! coruin lie wanting. And what seems ,
i misfortune in the case, is the fact, that men !
j are pionc to judge of the entire ministry by ;
j the misconduct of a tew, and not uufre-l
quemly by that of alt individual. 1 bis
I method of induction may bold in physics,
j while it would he unsafe in morals; never
‘ theless, seeing the world will reason after
j their own wny*cti this point, let us, if pos
sible, avoid the stigma which hasty ordina
j lions seem to threaten. The judgment of
| the irreligious is simply this: Here, say
1 they, is a man of doubtful standing, coun
I t nanced by Ins denomination as a teacher,
| of righteousness ; either those who txdain-
I eil him were themselves ignorant of the
j suitable pro-requisites to the office, or they
j were indifferent: in either view of the case
they stand stigmatized bv their own con
duct. Ami, as tliocoinmunivy generally do
not know, nor rare to inquire, by whom, or
: whose authority, or under what circumstan
ces, the ordination look place, it is easy to
| see, that the blame will as likely be cast
i on the whole ministry, as on the officiating
! presbytery. ‘1 bus, by imprudently excit
i mg prejudices against preachers of the gos
pel, the truth will lie retarded in its pro
; gress. The world must repose conlidei.ee
j in the moral characters of llio.se who teach
j the way lo heaven, nr the New Testament
i ministry will not exhibit, unmarred, the
i picture so beautifully drawn by Isaiah:
. ” flow beautiful upon the mountains arc
’ the feet of him that bringcili good tidings,
j that published! peace ; that bringeih good
j tidings of good, that published! salvation;
that saitli unto Zion, tliv Hod rrigucth.”
Premature ordination mag weaken Chris
tian attachment. A brother legally set
i ap.irl to the work is, ia one sense, made
I equal with other ministers, and he may
’ think himself so iu every sense. Enter
| taming a high opinion of bis abilities, lie
I will want lo officiate on important occa
sions.and if he bu overlooked, will feel ng-
I grieved. Hut it might he unwise, if not an
; outrage on the good taste and infel igence
jol the audience, to indulge hi* vanity. A
! refusal, however, would ho succeeded bv
, complaints ol disrespect, slights, and rude
; treatment; rhese being listened to by some
who ate always ready to sympathize with
the coiiipluincr, and lake sides against his
supposed oppressors, would have a tenden
cy to alienate fellowship. All such heart
j burnings an l bickerings would be forestall
; eil by a refusal to ordain, except iu cases
1 where the pre-requisites to ordination ap
! pear unquestionable.
A third evil tesulting from prflmalttrb or
dination, (mill it is a mot pernicious one,)
is the opportunitij it affords some men to
tamper with Churches. He who i* impa
tient to he ordained, will also he solicitous
to extend his liilluenec. Hence, il unpopu
lar for want ol suitable qualifications, or on
account of charactoi istical delects, schemes
will bo invented, expeiinienls tried, and
cimipnmusi imtd,* a, ;ci(n favor with tile
public; yet, by this inauamvering both
doctrine tuul precept may be jeoparded.
While in this way his designs may he ef
fected with a certain class, tlio more intelli
gent will stand aloof, and the truly pious,
like the ancient Israelite*, will hang their
livrp* on the willows, and weep when they
remember Zion. A Church under the
guidance t\f such a shepherd, must be inef
ficient, if she he not, in llie end, dcplpiing
ly scattered; whereas, if the pastor would
resign iu favor of a more worthy man, slut
might prosper and become useful. It eau
not have escaped your recollections, breth
ren, that ’Churches in our own Slate, favor
ably located lo exert a salutary influence,
have dwindh and to a very lyvv in number, ami
become entirely useless, through the inju
dicious or immoral management of their
pastors. The only way to prevent a state
ol things so calamitous to the peace and
prosperity of Churches, is to act with much
caution in the matter of ordination.
Again : imprudently to ordain tends to
make the ministerial office a sinecure
—that is, it confers the title in many cases
where there is little ot no labor performed
in the way of preaching or pastoral duties.
Now, the object id ordination should he to
give a man tin oversight of some Church,
or to authorize him to preach and adminis
ter the ordinances as an evangelist. Uis
Ins certificate that he lias tire approbation
ol his brethren for what lie is doing, and is
acknowledged by them nmiuisicr ul Christ. :
Christ never intended that a man should J
hold the title without corresponding labor, i
This labor, too, in to be perpetual, unless j
infirmity or old age renders long service j
impossible. There is no such thing in the
economy of Jisus Christ, as an ex-minis
ter. We do not read that the Apostles ev
er retired from the office until released by
death ; nor docs the commission give the
least intimation that a man may assume the
title, and work in the Lord's vineyard as
circumstances, or a freak of his nature, may
prompt. No ! tile command is, “Cos
leach; In, lam with you id ways. He in
stant in season and out of season.” Bui
who does not know dial there are manv
ministers in our denomination who do not
preach mote than ooce ui twice a mouth !
It may he said they have no charges, bill
this vciy fact shows that they ought not to
have been ordained. Whenever a minis-
Icr is without a charge, or place in which
lie may preach, one of three tilings is cer
tain—either he is too indolent to labor, is
not Content with a model ate salary, or he
is disqualified for the trust confided to him.
Before we ordain, therefore, we should
have some assurance that the brother is
willing to consecrate himself to the work,
and continue therein till God shall give hint
■ an honorable dismission.
| Lastly, premature ordination encourages
imposters. Their credentials, signed by
brethren of acknowledged reputation, will
. for a hmg time assist Uietr hypocrisy. By
i these they will have ettsv across to the ere
j dulily of the people; especially, if they be
gilted in speech, and possess an ordinary
share of adroitness. Suspicions vltill b" e
dissipated, and reports silenced by tbeover
. faithful parchment. The almost insur
mountable difficulties which precede the
detection of imposters, have long since be
i conic items of painful history. In b neigh
boring Association, an individual lias been
i preaching, who, for.the last seven vears,
was suspected of gross immorality ; but it
| “' aS onlv the other day that Ins dark deeds
could be fully exposed]. Had ordination
been withheld, lie might long ere this have
been silenced.
Dear brethren, we have given a synopti
cal view of premature ordination, and di
rected your minds Ic, its evil results. Is it
not apparent, from what lias now been said,
that Churches in this age of error and su
perficial faith, ought tobe cautious? Think
but ol the tnischiif which an imprude it,
not to say a bad mail, may bring on the
cause of Cluist. And vvliat will not /re do
to carry out his nelarious schemes, whose
heart is “ in the gall of bitterness and the
bond of iniquity.” We, your represent- j
lives in council assembled, would not only I
advise, but entreat you to guard against irn-1
posters. We beg you also to act prudent
ly in regard to those wlwse piety you do
’ not doubt, and whose motives you have!
reason to believe are self-disinterested and
pure. Let it be the care ol all to try and
increase the mural power of t!io*e who are!
•• to labor in word and dffeirine.” - Whwsd
a brother shall be recommended for ordina* j
lion, judge ol his ease in view of a future!
stale. Ask yourselves, have we the pin- i
per testimonials, justifying ns to set apart
lo the sacred ministry this brother? lFiU\
this act, or will it not, advance the cause i
of our blessed Saviour J
“ Brethren, tins grace of our Lord Jesus!
Christ be with your spirits I” Amen 1
j
For the Christian Index.
Dear Pro. —ln answer to the query off
your out respondent “Deacon,” i would re-!
ply that it is right, according to Baptist i
usage, for a member of one church, acting.
as Moderator for another, to give, when|
necessary, the casting vole. I understand|
that the practice prevails in many ofinirj
churches of unquestionable standing. ll,i
therefore, Baptist usage makes a thing;
right, then this is right. But Pmptist :
usage doe# not always imply correct usage, i
Accenting to the former, it is right to close j
the sanctuary during three Sabbaths of the j
month—observing only one Lord’s day outj
ol every lour; it is right I’ora minister to i
have tlm spiritual oversight of a cliurclM,
Irom ‘JO lo 30 miles distant from Ins rest*’
deuce, many of whom lie sees but half a,
dozen times in the course of the year, thea-j
only fora, short fiine. This is Uaptsl
usage. But no one will contend that iliis j
is the best.
Should bro. Deaton, inquire whether;
Baptist usage, iu the instance in question, is j
pioper, I must express a negative opinion. !
I am inclined to the opinion, because,
Ist. Siicli usage givt slo one, not a mem- ’
her of the body, that power and auih >i ily,,
which strictly belongs to those who consti
tute the members.
2nd. It invests ono individual with, tin
inlltionco which docs not comport with the;
principles of Baptist organization. By this:
I usage, a until may have as many votes as
! lie supplies chinches ; whereas the geni
| tts’of our church government prescribes
| for every member one vote in one church.
It is-into that Pastor ol a church, is in
virtue of his office, the Moderator of the
church. But i have been accustomed to
restrict this rule to thus:! cases where the
Pastor was a member ol’ the church to
whom he preached. If it be said that the ‘1
moderator necessarily dt cities in a tic vote, j;
this will be admitted. At the same tune.i
it must be contended that a moderator j
should he a member of t!ie body over which .
lie presides, hi my judgment, the more
supply of a church is ineligible to the of
fice of Moderator. lie may he invited lo
express an opinion, to advise, or to recoin-) !
nieinl, just ns u e invite visiters to partici
pate i:i our Associational deliberations,
without permitting tliom to vote.
Deacon argues, that a Baptist church be- j
ing an independent body has a right to de
pute others to act for her in specified cases. I
■ This, as you have aiteady remarked, bro. I
i Editor, will not be doubted. But It is not,
! always right lor a church to do that which
! she has a right to do. For the reasons al-I
ready mentioned, we think that it is not ,
tight, under ordinary circumstances, for a !
church to clothe a member of another body !
with all the privileges with whiihshe in-!
I vests her own members.
It, as Deacon aaserts, the preacher of a
church is necessarily, in any important |
! sense a member of that cliurch, then there
I can be no doubt of his right. Deacon’s i
| conclusion follow s inevitably. But is not
j such an assertion rather a begging of the I
question ? Does it not take for granted j
| what must be proved? For my part I cau-i
i not see in what sensp, a member of one 1
I religious society, is a member of another to ,
1 which he has been elected, neither by the :
members of that society, nor by any action 1
ol his own. Until this can bo shown, I’
think the conclusion of Deacon is inadmis-j
sible. But in this matter, bro. editoi, 1
am, I confess, in the situation of Deaeon—
having need of instruction from those bet
ter acquainted with church government.—
1 think, the author of “Essay” on strict
Communion,” >•> well qualified to express
an opinion ci > .• point.
THEOPHILUS.
Augusta, March 22 1815.
j We should be happy to have the author
of that Essay give his views on the subject
through our columns', if his arduous duties
svill permit him to do so. We know him
lobe a good disciplinarian. Ed.
| We have taken out a communication on
! tile license system, after our paper was
sent to press, to make room lor the follow
ing very impoitaut proposition, submitted
by a and benevolent brothel. It
requires a speedy response.
, For the Christian Index.
In Additional Theological Professor in the
Mercer University.
Pro. Baker, and Brethren of Georgia.
The wants of our churches, and ol Zion
let large, imperiously demand an enlarge
ment of our Theological department at
J’onlield. It was a matter of d>-tp regret to
otiany, that the Board at its last session
were not able to appoint an additional
Professor. The condition of our finances,
‘m view of weighty obligations already m
. ciiired, was regarded by judicious brethren
ia; a sound plea for further delay.- To all
Whose intimately acquainted with the finan
cial affairs of the Institution, tins delay
ijmight be considered as al least prudent,
jjr.nd certainly necessary, it no additional aid
L ‘iuU! be secured iu a seasonable lime. It
[ is known that large amounts of the old sub-
Hactntigii have been lost in, consequence ol
nbe disastrous change in the tunes. It is
I also known ifi.Sa considerable portion of
‘'Brother Mercer’s legacy, with some other
smaller amounts, are at present unavailable,
being in the form, of Kail Koad Stock, which
; yields no dividend. Tne Tiusiets have
1 lately contracted for the eroejton of a Uliap
id ; the Faculty are earnestly begging,
amhuol without reason) for some moder
ite appropriations to improve the Library
mil apparatus. These things duly estima
t'd, m connexion with the amount pledged
or the support of our present officers, and
he gtcal difficulty apprehended til seem
ing at present much increase to our endow
ment, w ill satisfy must, that the Trustees
acted under the influence of common piu
doitee, if not of a strong and adventurous
faith, .
j Still some immediate action seems ue
j ccssary to increase the advantages of our
: Institution, particularly in the Theological
; Branch. The increasing difficulties be*
! tween the North and South (though they
l are greatly tobe deplored) furnish an addi
! itoual and weighty reason for rearing up
[ amongst us a liist rale Seminary, which
(will bo more acceptable to our Southern
[brethren, than any vyjijch'exist at the North.
| At Fcnli. 1,1 we have a good foundation laid,
! and the superstructure could be carried np
•to a good degree of completeness with
1 greater ease than at any other Southern
! point. Solomon says, there is a time lor
j all filings—amongst many things specified,
lie reminds us that tlieie is “a lime lo build
i up.” Now it appears to me. is tire tune to
! hinld. The hard times like S mhail ti the
; Horonile, and covetousness like Tolnali
! the Ammonite, seem to lo bid the piogies#
l of the work ; but are there no believing.
Tlkt.il, learl ss Neheiinahs amongsi us
who are ready to say, ‘•come and tel us
build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we
be no more a i eprmtch.”
But, 1 did not lake up my pen to write a
sermon, but to call the attention of my
brethren, in a brief maimer, to what ap
peals to lire a practicable plan lor sectirilTg
at once an additional Theological Professor
iu our University,
Let fifteen individuals become responsi
ble lor five years, (should fife be spared,)
dor SIOO each annually. A lew might Itei
table lo advance the whole amount them
selves; others might secure the aid ol some
liberal brethren, or the Churches, Death,
and other unforeseen providences, anight
now and then make a gap in the ranks, but
jihis could easily be tilled. Tins arrange-
Sunt, of course, would be but a temporary
lexpedient, but it would give time to secure,
by proper means, the remanent endow
ment of the Professorship—and, if need
ful, of an additional Professorship still.
Such is the importance of sound theological
instruction lo our rising ministry, turd to
the in lelligence and tnOtnl power ol flic
.Torches —and, of course, ta the success
lif all our enlarged benevolent operations —
that, if for a season it might be necessary to
divert a portion of our contributions, which
have hitherto been appropriated to other
irbjects, front their usual channels, in order
in sustain another Professor in our Institu
tion, sound wisdom would sanction such a
cause. But we trust this would not be
necessary to accomplish the object propo
sed. Who. then, will come forward and
aid in earn ing out the plan suggested, or
I propose at once a more judicious and prac
ticable arrangement ? i ran think of no
; better plan under all the circumstances,
j The Tieasurer of the University may
! pul me down for SIOO n year for live years,
should 1 live so long. 1 know <>f another
worthy brother whir will give the same
amount. There are several now- present to
nn mind who, I am confident, will readily
respond to the proposition now made; and
stuely there are willing-hearted Baptists
! enough, amongst the sixty thousand of
Georgia, to pledge the necessary amount
! before the next annual session of the Con
tention.
j Any who may feel inclined to unite* in
* ibis plan, would confer a favor by forward
ing their hum -s, as soon as convenient, to
! the subscribe!, or to the Editor of the In
dex. (J. D. MALLAKY.
For the Christian Index.
Mr. .Editor —At the request of some who
are, and others who expect soon to be, sub
scribers to your paper, I make the follow
ing inquiries of yon. It is requested that
you will either answer them yourself, or,
if you have not leisure to do so, will pte
vail on the Professor of Theology at Mer
cer University’, to give the desired informa
tion.
1. With respect to the present (Sabbath,
what is the reason usually assigned for
keeping the first rather than the seventh
day ? It is known why this is done, (viz,)
on account of the resurrection ol the Sa
viour, but what specific reason or command
is reletred to as requiring it ?
2. It is said that the Saviour “ rose the
third day.” Please inform us how this
computation is made according to Jewish
lime—also trout this, on what dav was he
placed in the sepulchre ?
3. When was the first day first observ
ed ? Is it conceived, from the incidents
mentioned in Scripture, t .at the apostles
observed this immediately after the death oi
Christ ?
By answering the above inquiries, pro- j
: pounded purely for the purpose of gaining-,
information, you will ob.tge several.
KEKAU. !
We have already more queries on hand ;
; titan we could answer in six mouths, were’
Iwe to attempt to answer them. The sub
jects involved in ike above queries were
i discussed at great length by one of our cur-
I respondents not many mouths since. Our|
; columns are open to the Prof, of Theology
and others.
For the Christian Index.
Penpikld, March 31st, 1845.
Dear Bro. Baker —Allow me, through 1
j the index, to acknowledge the teeeipt ol j
J the monies contributed by the brethren in ‘
Augusta, for the Baptist Church in New
I Orleans.
W. 11. Turpin, $55 00 ; D. B. Plumb.
3 00; J. W. Wtiiiiock, 2 no, W. 11.
Stark, 3 00; ‘J bos. \V Freeman, 500 ;
j U. 11. Hickman, 2 oO ; 12. Ahis.in, 1 00 ;
j Cash, 50 cents ; Mary A. Brandy, 5 00;
A. Ada-n*, 2( 0; .\i. Al. Dye, l ftO; J.
‘Aldrich, J 00; Nancy Barr tt, l 00, Alary
-VJ. Knight, 2 00; VV. 1). Bionmc, 1 00;
Mr. Parish, 250 ; A.,n E. Ja< k ? on, 2 00;
J. A. Barnes, jr., 2 00; Jackson F. Tur
pin. 3 00; N. B. Moore, ."> 00; W. J.
Haul, 3 00 ; J. liresllain, 3 00; P. Rubin*
son, 500 ; Tito#. Boms, l (!0 ; .Mr, Tin
ner, 200 ; L. T. Fhopp, 1 lit); Charles 15.
Dill, 3 00 ; Frcdr rick Wimloek, 3 Oil;
.Mis. U rightnian, 2 uO; Mrs. Chambers,
1 00 ; J. A. Barm s, t-r , 5 00 ; Mrs. Hatch.
- I 00, John .Viiiiedge, 5 00; D. Bunch,
jl 00; Fosier Blmtget, 5 00; Win. T.
| Branlly, 5 00; Elizabeth AL Turpin 500;
Mis. AL B. Frazer, 2 00; Mis, Alims, 100;
Jesse F. Turpin, 2 00.
I I trust the brethren of G.-orgia, and i
| the Bouth generally, w ill take an enlara
I view oi tins important field of missionary
Hafior. It is the great Metropo ,sos tin-
Southern Baptists must send and
| sustain the gospel there. A house of w or*
siiij)—mu ii a* ilic iu jm riuuce t 4 Uu* city,
i iiic honor <>t tiie tieiiomiiLiiion, and ihc
jciiws ol Ciiru'i demands—in a mitral pail
!of the city, i* indispensable to success.
j To accompli*!; ibis will n quire liberal eon
! Intuitions ol those to w bom me Cord lias
! committed large
! purpose, every one w ill ivy b/ him in
I store a* the Lord has prospered linn, it w ill
! not be long be! ue that city—that longneg
lected city—w iil be furnished w ifit a suit..*
| blu place of worship.
[ Yours, (Sir,,
RUSSEL HOLMAN.
Two Estrunes Amongst Ministers.
The loljowing ts extracted from the last)
Circular of ilte Bethel Association, t>. (J.,
which written liy brother John Davis : i
“ 1 here aie two other classes < I deceiv-j
era, very common in our age, which we |
must uoi pass over; who, although they !
quarrel with, or shun each other, are of kin- i
ilrcd spirits. The one gloties in literary j
attainments, to the rejection of the'agency I
of the divine spirit in preaching. Having j
stpdieti. Hebrew, Greek, ami Theology, at |
some insulation, they ate wont to monopo-1
lizo live pulpit, amt hold such as cannot;
read Greek jn derision. Much ever mani-i
.lest more solicitude for the praise of their j
sermons, than t e salvation of souls.—The
oilier class neither understand Hebrew.!
Greek, nor the English languages, and seem
to have a contempt against the gift*of;
tongues, having neither wisdom from above ,
not Irom books; yet, possessing inventive;
imaginations which they pr, tend or suppose [
to he a .-pnit of inspiration. Like the false
prophets we read of in Jer. xxiii. Hi,j
•• The// speak a vision of their own heart,
and not out if the mouth of the Lord f yet
they say, “ The Lo/d saith.” They are !
notorious lor allegorizing or spiritualizing !
every passage and word found in the
scriptures, wilhouliegard to any oilier rules
of interpretation. One of these spintuali
zers, a-few years since, when attempting
to spiritualize the history of Joseph, made
Pharaoh to mean God the Father, Joseph
the Son, m! Potiphar’s wife the sinful liu-i
! inanity . Vnother, having taken the uyrd !
i grace me is text, made the letters of the j
jw r.i the heads or divisions, and each letter
■; distinctively to have some wondrous spirit-
I mil meaning. These pretenders seem to
j glory m their want of learning, and to seek
the glory of men, by their pr tensions tp a j
new revelation Irom God, as inspired apos
tles.
“Now these two classes of deceivers are
full brothers in a kindred spirit, although
they would have people to think they are
not akin to each other; all are preaching to
get a great name—all arc blind leaders ol
i the blind. But whether they be strangers
j or akin, deceivers ot*deceived, neitherclass
! is related to the apostle Paul, who said, 1
j “ f l pet pleased men. ] should not be the
‘servant of Christ.” —Gnl. i. 10.
The following arc some of the const*
cjuences of the absurb and destructive sya
tem of tight lacing : shortness of breath,
; cough, and pain in the side, head ache,
■ eruptions on the face, swelled ankles, of
fensive breath, red noses and death.
‘PEN FIELD.
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1845.
Our Guests.
Oil last Lord’s day, our citizens had the!
pleasure ol listening to discourses from
Rev. Win. B. Johnson, D. D., of S. Can *
iina, and Rev. R. Holman, who is endea
voring io collect funds to aid itr building up
the Baptist cause in N. Orleans.—'Their
ministrations, we have reason to believe (
were not in vain. There was, in the close
of the services, a manifestation of a pleasing
state ol things in the congregation. We!
forbear to say more at present, as appearan4|
ces are often deceitful, and our most san*
gninc expectations are as often disappoints
ed.
We learn that lumber Ilohnan
purposes visiting Cra'vfordville, Potvellon,
Alilledgeville, and brother Mallary’s region i
after which, he will probably pass through
the Kehoboih, Flint. Western and Colum
bus Associations. We commend him td\
the kind attentions of our brethren, tvitli
whom he may meet in the progress of
bis journey.
Health of Pcnfidd.
As inqniries have been made from a dis
tance. relative to the health of Penfield, we
think proper to sfate that we know of v.n
sickness in our town, except in the family
of our publisher, brother Brnnlly ; and we
learn that the two sick in Lis family are
convalescent. H'e have had no sickness
that ha been local in its character. TANARUS; ere
ha* Eeu npieli less sickness in ottr own
tlian in the surrounding country, and wo
are this moment informed by a physician,
that serious cases in the surrounding coun
try arc becoming rare, lie knows of none
such at present. Friend* who have chil
dren here, have no cause for any unusual
apprehension on their .Ma-mint. They are
doing well in body, and, we have reason to
hope, some of them are also improving in
tileii xpiiilual affection*.
A Rrqucst.
We lake the liberty to r< quest, in behalf
of tiie institutions located line, tl at special
pmyei for the outpouring of ihe spirit rtp
i i':r m be offered by ofrr Christian readers
; . ami that where it is practicable, as
tr, our villages and tonus and popului •
neighborhoods, a pray er meeting he held
for this special purpose, for at least four
eoiisertnive Sabbaths. The Saviour en
courages us to unite i:r our Mippliiations
for blessing* and to repeat onr reques's un*
til wo receive answers in mercy.
Brothrr Roberts’ Article.
We publish this week anoflier artic'lfl
Irotn the pen o| our esteemed brother Ko
be ns. We regret that lie roniiiiees to ap
ply to those who differ from him harsh and
degrading epithet*. A? we shall this vves-k
send (ini paper ..-> i rof rtf (/'subscri
bers, we deem it no e.-.*,uy to repeat, that
we by no means give onr sanction to all
dial his article contains. Some brethren
have con| laiueil nl tis for admitting the ar
ticles previously published. To such we
would >a\. we think it Witter to extend the
freedom of the press > littic too far than re
strict i-. unduly. We have actually lost
subscribers fix publishing certain articles,
ami*lost some for declining to publish oth
ers ! So that we arc certain to lose, wheth
er we publish all that is sent us or not !
1* not that a hard case? We look to our
true friends to make up to ns these losses.
Home Mission Society.
W e have received another eoramanica
lion front brother B. M. Hill, Correspond
ieg Secretary of the A. B. 11. M. S., which
shall appear in onr next number. It should
have appeared in the present number, but
ciicumstai ces would notallow us time to
prepare the remarks with which we deem it
necessary to accompany the communica
tion. We will state, however, that broth
er Hill thinks the tablet ve published*
few weeks since, calculated to make a false
and injurious impression; ami, while he
does not question the eorrcctnessxif our ta
bles, so far as we proceeded with them, lie
represents that the non-slaveholding Slates
have contributed more to the Society than
the slaveholding. We will oniy add, that
unlike an office! of another Society, (who
f‘ r the present shall be nameless,) he write*
with urbanity and a Christian spirit.
As several have complained that their
papers have been discontinued without an
ortler to do so, we assure such that the fault
is not nttrs. We never direct a paper to be
stopped without an order to do so, or with
out giving previous notice of oar intention
to do so. From the complaints, which at
various times reach as, it would seem that
we are expected to perform the duties of
every office in our establishment, which
! has some Bor 10 hands constantly em
; ployed in it! If we could fulfil these ex*
! pectations, we should be a piotegee indeed
! —one of the most extraordinary men of
I this or any other age—but such we are not.
, Need our readers be informed of that !!■