Newspaper Page Text
JOSEPH S. BAKER— Editor.
VOL. XIV.
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in the year), will be famished to each sub
scriber at $2 50 cents, in advance; or $3
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*” ISvory Ministers
Are particularly agents,)
\vm [Jro-'-urc *rft'.rjltri*tR ,k Ve copies of
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Compensation for his trouble.
Letters on business, or communications
intist be addressed to the Editor, post
fluid. *
Advertisements maybe inserted on usu
al terms, at tile discretion of the Editor.
For the Christian Index.
Desultory Thoughts—so- 1.
“ Train up a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart
Iron it.”— Solomon, the IFise.
•‘Suffer litilo children to come unto me,
and forbid them not; lor of such is the
kingdom of Heaven.”— Jesus of Naza
reth.
Tile indifference which most parents
manifest in relation to the true interests and
welfare of the children which God lias giv
en them, is matter of surprise and regret.
It seems to be forgotten that children, as
■well as patents, ate placed in this world for
great and important purposes, and that
those purposes will be fulfilled well or bad
ly, according as the infant mind is bent and
diieeted. It will not be denied that parents
are, in a great degree, responsible for the
present and future comli ion of their chil
dren, and ihui their training and proper in
struction is a delightful, anil, in some re
spects, a fearful task. It tills the heart
with joy to see the young and yielding af
fections ami passi ms take the proper beat,
and tix themselves on objects and thoughts
that will yield a lasting, eternal reward ;
while, on the other hand, it grieves us to
sue the more dangerous passions and vi
cious propensities take possession of the
young heart, and poison its fountains of
thought and action. Which of these
courses the child may take, depends upon
the earn or neglect of the parents.
The first and greatest object of all learn
ing should be God. The noblest anil
“*“> duioaiuo our til d
liren are the power, wisdom, arid goodness
of their Creator anil Preserver. Their
minds are as capable of comprehending
these simple, yet sublime teachings, as an;
other kinds; and the impressions, when
properly stamped upon the memory a|id af
fections, will be as lasting as life, and their
consequences will continue through eterni
ty. l.et the infant mind be fed upon hea
venly manna, and the years of manhood
will afterquids surely present an intellect
sound and strong in the knowledge anil
fove tff God. The daily care and watch
ful providence of our heavenly Father, the
important means to be used for his glory
and the prosperity of his cause, the proper
legprd of the holy • Sabbath, the useful and
sublime lessons, and precepts of the Bible,
—-all “should be kept before the minds of
and urged upon their attention.
occasions every day present
theinseTvesT'on wmcli rhese lessons may be
imparted: every blessing,every evil, every
mark of good fortune, every stroke of ad
versity, and every occurrence iu life, offer
some useful hints of the goodness or justice
of divine ptovidence, and should be improv
ed to the benefit of observing childhood.
The welfare of our children is a great in
ducement, and spur to all the duties of
Christianity, and especially family devotion.
The reading of valuable portions of the Bi
ble, the singing of praises to God, the morn
ing and evening prayer, sink deep into
their minds, and help to fix them upon
heavenly scetifes and eternal existence.
** All die duties of teligion,” says Dr.
Dwight, “ are eminently solemn and ven
erable in the eyes of children. But none
will so strongly prove the sincerity of the
parent, none so powerfully awaken the
reverence of the child, none so happily re
commend the instructions he receives, as
family devotions ; peculiarly those in which
petitions for the children occupy a distin
guished place.” Then, Christian parents,
yoHr devotions at home should be constant
rffttl fervent; and yi tir care of the chil dr-n,
which God has kindly given you, should/
be patient, persevering and unteniilted.
Pray for them, both privately and when
they are present, and pray for yourselves,
that you may have patience, inclination and
wisdom, to guide them in useful ways
through life, and instruct them in the way
to heaven. ‘ ,
The subject is one of the greatest mo
ment, and we would that we had the pow
er of attracting to it the attention of all
those to whom God has entrusted the care
and guidance of children. Proper atten
tion ‘ tikis one matter would do much, ve
THE CHIWM INDEX.
ry much, to spread happiness, prosperity
and religion throughout the land, and to
build up iu purity and strength the temple
of Christianity. It is hoped that these few
unconnected thoughts will sink into the
hearts of those parents who may see them,
ami cause litem to investigate the subject
attentively. wiili an eye to their own hap
piness and that of their tender offspring.
I lie Bible, with a limited share of reason,
and a faithful, praying heart, is all That is
necessary to teach us the important duties
we owe our children.
S.
For the Christian Index.
Hew Ytitr's Day Trayer.
Dear Bro- Baker, —1 present you with
anew year’s day prayer, which originally,
was not designed to see day-light, hut an
after thought has suggested that it might
do some good to come out of the closft,
therefore 1 present it in the following order.
Ist. Thanksgiving. I thank’ God that .
be has kept me, 10, these 60 years lit such
a manner, that not only life has been pre
served, but a bone of me has never been
btoken. And moreover during that time
lie has given me a good hope through
grace, enabling me to rely on my blessed
Saviour for tilings he lias done, and is still
doing forme, I mean I.is passed atonement
and also his present intercession.
2nd. Proper. I pray that my Almigh
ty Father during this I con
tinue,) would give one to watch over my
spirit anil words and actiqns for amend
ment. r ***** • And that He by his
good spirit, would work mightily in my
heart lor sanctification. * * * Anil
that 1 maybe kept in peace, with the church
es and mankind generally who surround
me, * * * *
Secular .dffuirs, I beg my Heavenly
Father for his interposition, so far that if
promptness anil punctuality cannot be had,
that yet satisfaction may be so given that
my Christian character may not be tarnish
ed.
Political. Ami lastly, which perhaps
should have been “first of all,” I pray
God’s special blessing upon out chief mag
on rare “and all Ins subsidiaries, that we may
live mi mmoi~v.t-.T r— —.... i i-.i *
as a uiiif among the nations of the Earth.—
Amen.
AN OLD DISCIPLE.
January Bth, 1816.
For the Christian Index.
Gratitude.
Gratitude, like the early crocus, springs
up amid the frosts and snows of a wintry
irrotigion. As soon as the heart is
little softened by the bland influences of the
sun of righteousness, this lately plant of
paradise is seen peering, with its petals wet
with the tears of contrition, where the most
observant could but now have discovered no
trace of Jlrulv pious feeling. But not like
the crocus does it fade away in its early
bloom ; but endures through all the eftan
ges of life, ami sheds around an odour so
delirious that'all who come within its at
mosphere are siruck w : ih its rich perfume.
In the spring time of ckifolian experience,
when a thousand holy affections are spring
ing into existence, and filling the atmos
phere, as it were, with their delightful
odours, Gratitude is distinguished among
them all, and unites a fragrance peculiarly
its own. And when high summer’s sun
careers in the heavens, and the soul reach
es its fell maturity, this heavenly plant ap
pears in full vigor ; and, covered o’er with
fruits of righteousness, leturns a rich har
vest sometimes sixty, sometimes an hun
dred fold. Nor does it cease to shed its
delightful influences, when humanity sinks
beneath the weigiit of declining years,
gut as the soul repines for immortality,
does it yield a larger anil yet a still larger
revenue of grateful praise to the great Au
thor of its being; and beyond the grave
swells symphonious the sublime chorus of
redemption, causing heaven’s high arches
to echo back tides of immortal haynony to
them that hath loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood.
MARCUS :
For the Christian Index. >•’
llawhtnsvillk, Jan. 1, 1845.
Dear Bro. Baker, —Bro. A. T. Holmes
was called, by the Baptist church at this
place, to preach for it during the year just
past; and it has seen proper to call another
to its pastoral care for the ensuing year.
As brother Holmes very justly has charac
ter with the denomination, to which lie is
attached, wherever he is known, the fact
of liis having been once called and superse
ded, and the further fact of his living in a
convenient distance of this place, may opc-
-c, | /n v r t-'M isrsy-■ycKr.iA.
mi; the ¥
i*i.\ rePlS*ffflip Iff’ ff v *
rate prejudicially to
ed have been appointed a
church to explain.
The church considers it an actjfl
to brother Holmes to make this eftß
The only objection that was urgcotM
bretber Holmes, in
was the fact of bis havioß
school; and therefore could
care niton the church whichH ‘
brethren thought
ilia! upon *
revivals, the
i ices \\ hen it
upon
was dosiiojdf)
power to y ’
by o.iiy
few IW'IIJ in ■
lb I.lies Ujf*
."U . the I %
for the s dovjr
ehur.-'i, byflj.
It v. d'S;7 f
been until wr \
mi'dit, in
depended, although it wa^^R|B
objection at the time.
This church adopted the
shire—or, a* they are more cotnij
known, the Florida Articles of Fail!
which brother Holmes is opposed. ,■
however, could not, and ought not, to 1
had much influence, for two reasons : ]
1. Because brother Holmes hail
called once, notwithstanding the Article
Faith; and
2. Because the church is now
self upon tii is very subject—
ing whether there
against the A.tii^tf
l!i oilier 11 “lyfSjj
opinion of Ins
ever they m.ii *f
propel liosiliol jßi
deemed it our iAs
’The churi litT :
a very large iiKJ
sisters, love hr All
and ns a minis®*
grieve them more
lion of their church slnPl|f ‘■
the least degree in lht*Atght
Please publish this and oblige, <Bj
•—T ■ - JLT .i /Ti ii ii i 1 . -
P. E. LiJtfE, ■
A. R. KELLA.M, ‘ ( r j|
JAS. C \RIJT’HTR^^g|
.Unit-nee
itv ii i:Mynj
It is the I
membtn of
them-elvcs a/jHj
of (fed. EiH|
and there is
them, their
|r?TMiaile l.hmiiCT’
once on fee S g? L
business croiuW%xs
mneli as ean ic.isßLjJ
Odicis must have a f ‘
better one, too, than
4he seven ; and then they
while eating it; and must dine so
that they arein no condition to gfi out an’
listen even to the moil eloquent and itJ
pressive sermon, much less to an ordimtrl
disSobrse, iiowever impirrtant the subjeeJ
Now the staying at I feme for such JV
aone is a very great.foiiit. ‘The
exptciedADjpreaCh twice, every
hut of wliat possible ailvantage can
those of his people who are at
their beds digesting their
often happen dial Ins
nuclei! as lo require
order to. de
either.
leren e j- h
if liie £JH
the t>U. ■ i
th it te; ‘ i
op;.’ /. “i. Hjtg
ed t -fM
.
t.’.'V.i
“|
tiieinH M
are n\ fe’
those wimNjfe
garil to
Judge! The
who slay at hum
dined ‘to do as tin
can the children ‘• ‘ : '’ J|
recaul m the 8 JM ‘'!■
..fehe- ■>;
.’ it ;*•••;.<* f ‘ r’-h’Wg
s iluiv.
punctual m ~ , • .
i . lint <j arc m Jinl'M
cloud v.uy v, ,
out /or r;u , , fR
would „ ; le,J ’
ness au j ‘ ,lum 1 “ bllrii "3
day. | Pi'gnh
hour fu I 15,
likely-v, Mi.
rn ... jfij ; ‘‘
■ . .fef.
r ••/C. |
h.fl . &
a •
the church dour are
in stormy weather,
reside three or four miles
sometimes thought, more
B great fault —a fault which it
difficult to offer an ex-
Hhe day ol
Religious Herald.
of the S.ntlh
g:: Mt-sioa
JV the
SV ii v.
hi cuti'Mi
5-a Yr'ud, a
- Ml.
kCi ii
[ 1 ivn,
SfllUll
ifMF’ ivy
Mr \W- .. t. u ‘.en and
[fekJ'jjpthron. whose
spHsmiing, til litem emi
.Much lime has l> cm
■pi-oitsumcd in corresponding
and waiting lot their
The Board are now hap
■ state that they have secured for the
B partially anil temporarily, the ser
■ifßav. .1. B. Taylor. They have
Hil it wisest to defer a permanent up
■icnt until the meeting of theConvett
flli June next.
H; Bfiartl, though unable, for so long a
■to secure the set vices ol a suitable
Bwtf,, were not unmindful of the great
Bffifflfift' 1 filled to their hands. At an
China as a field
g N .animtUn: was ap
fiutrnt mission
iy
Mr'y.-itli I>i* •i! i
--Vve.-;, on tins
ul ple'N ,
b:m bl ’ “
SSiv expected
smm as
JEXo.n-i ol the
Hr i""’*,-
ts , W c'l'asnre, our
u es in ('lima
W- ni:llllantioii lias yet
1 a Jvisuu^ido so iVv the China
whose patronage
East. Bin. Shuck is
fcwin thifei; oiled
MWlai'tory arraugi
|khiis m t hul l.
Hfcihonbi tlie-e
3 .mr Board,
Dafv i 1’ die mi
jgKii.d o;ie:i at
f|, ill, a most
fltllV ll ‘CMI
f jW” South and
jfljfoe I o - Xli
Haa tin en, learn
eiilei pilse,
to the plans and pros-
Wf!v\ Board, search outsuitable inis-
HPies, and secure effective agents for the
of money.
■r-'. the foreign mission enterprize the
H'-/ rd will need men. It cannot be suc
|F/ssfully prosecuted without missionaries ;
(and in the present condition of the church
/ es, without agents lor the collection ol funds,
die Board would seriously direct the atten-
of their brethren to this subject, 11
that we should efficiently en
voidn lie has, some ivline,
to pn■Semite__lL t Jj. it m• ’.D~-
Ljrudmns, young minis
seriously to u.-
l lim t 1 >
l only
t:
[a -in iy
!• In:: >rn -
S- T< ■x /
ff m
fs : i.. i ■
MjJtf pi
“Ration.
of the Foreign Mis-
HRk determined lo arrange
( \iu: of the missionaries aliea
as earls’ as lie: mouth of A
tvil! cn ii.U: I'm ni lo n mur-nee
I.Jk ‘ asr;'u>’ ej"'n ‘he iieid oi
:oi is, te'loru ihe close o(
art! now unending llie
\ Medical College <il this ciiv,
■, a of scoring some general
Hoi’ the science of medicine.
/e of use to them in the Ireal-
Hhuon cases ol disease. At Inc
tlicv will [trollahl V VI-
ere ihey have
lAe'J’C I e0,..-’ .11
tic:;.’
pL,;
fX .. **'''*
mIL; i , 1 1 and 1 j
IP.'’ O’ ‘
semi-civilized, but wlio, in respect to spir
itual things, are shrouded in darkness. —
They will need more than ordinary discre
tion. humility, and self-denial. Will rot
the churches bear them on their hearts be
fore the throne of grace l eNN **T.
Wlmportance of
y The following extracts from Aboei’s
in Cltinat’ ipay be read with
profit by the friends of Missions:
**T.
“But the subject of the greatest interest,
connected with this scene of exertion, is
the conversion of China unto him from
whom site has revolted. Here is an object
indeed, whose magnitude beggars descrip
tion. The salvation of a whole empire—
the most important empire upon earth, it
self moie extensive than all Europe, and
containing at leastone-thiid of earth’s entire
population. Look where we may, beneath
the wide expanse of the heavens, wo can
find no distinct enterprise so laudable, so
imperious, so inconceivable in il9 results,
as the conversion of China.
The real condition of her hundreds of
millions is but little understood.* With
all her empty boast of pertection, and the
vapidjeulogisins oi lier ignorant panegy rists,
there is probably no other space upon earth
so filled with wretchedness as China. Her
mild patriarchal government, is a system of
injustice and oppression. From the ‘Dra
gon throne,’ to the lowest menial iu author
ity, sell-aggrandizement is the reigning
passion, extortion anil cruelty the means of
its gratification. Her plebeian happiness
is the combined result of poverty, viitual
slavery, and vice. Those who have had
the best opportunities of judging, give the
most painful description of the indigence
and depravity of the populace, The mid
dling class, or those who enjoy a compe
tence, is a small minoiity, and they 100 are
often dealt with, without justice or mercy,
and if capable, are quite as unjust as mer-
ciless. Even the appearance of happiness
which captivates the stranger, must be mere
show, lor, consisting as it doea in earthly
possessions, there is vory vety little iu the
laws, or their corrupt administration, lo
give it basis oi perpetuity.
It is true their literature is extensive: hut.
how far it is calculated to elevate their char
acter or meliorate their condition, may be |
determined by the fact, that scarcely a sub
ject of which they treat is understood,
while the most important truths, the only
ones which-can improve the moral charac
ter of man, are totally unknown.
‘Thus the conversion p! China, with all
iiio uidTTiii^i. 1 atictjiiai. t itjioii efinsliriiilj ,
becomes an object of woihlly’ philanthropy,
as well as of Christian benevolence. None
whose heart is not adamant, can gaze upon
this scene of distress without emotion.
But how infinitely vast—bow worthy of
all sacrifice, all hazard, all experiment
does the moral elevation of this nation ap
pear, when viewed in its connection with
the Redeemer’s glory. Here is a triumph
and a trophy for His victorious grace —a
gem, the purest and brightest which earth
can offer to deck His mediatorial crown !
With the eye of this gracious Being upon
us, and his heart upon the salvation ol
those who have been promised him as his
inheritance, what can express our gratitude,
evince our discipleship, or display our -lfo
gianco anil love, if the conversion of China
he not in our prayers and plans, and ut-
most endeavors.
For the present accomplishment of this
undertaking, much, very much, may be
done
“Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,
Relics on that alone ;
Laughs at impossibilities,
And says it shall be done.”
Missionaiies should be sent foitb to eve
rv accessible place in iiio empire, and to
every mart of her commerce in the circiim
jitMJmSC-tiS.—The coasts should be invaded,
and the seaports entered, as they have been,
anil still are, by the undaunted genius ol
commerce. Every opening should be
searched out—every tenable post occupied
every lawful engagement subordinated
every passport possessed. Others have en
tered, and gained their respective objects.
Pagans, Jews, Mahounnetans, Catholics,
nominal Protestants—all have penetrated
but those who were alone capable oi beuo
fitting the nation, and the only ones com
manded to hazard their lives in the at
tempt.”
Report of a Committee <f the Rappahan
nock dissociation on Foreign Missions.
Since the last meeting of this Associa
tion, events have transpired peculiarly in
teresting to American Zion, and more es
pecially 5 to that section of it, in whose hon
or or dishonor we feel ourselves most deep
ly involved. .
The question of Slavery, which has lor
years imbittered the feelings, and disturbed
ihe harmony ol the South and North, has
led to a division of the Baptist Missionary
Society of the Uniled States. We are,
therefore, now, not one gigantic Society
for Foreign Missionary operations, extend
ing from Nova Scotia to Mexico, and from
the Lake of the Woods to the Gulf of I‘ior
ida, containing little less than three millions
of square miles; an extent very undesira
ble for one Missionary Society to occupy ;
*The most authentic census, taken in
iHtekD , ‘ y***"•oi th rCli
of ui ii
hundred and sixty millions-
Publisher— BENJ. BRANTLY.
an extent which would always preclude a
very large portion of our most pious and
benevolent members from attending the
meetings of the Society, and participating
in their toils and In their rewards, in their
sorrows and in their joys. For in addi*
tion to the hazards connecf, ( ‘, j~ Jong
journeys, the time and expmifSUK.'ed
in attainting sue h meetings, etn&Rmllgford
ed by very few. “And to limit the surface
over which one Sodiety should extend, on
ly by the limits of this vast empire, would
be an extent much forger than could be
well supplied with Missionary intelligence,
and beyond the power of one Society to
inspire it with a M issionary spirit. These
ought to be important considerations', in
connection with a cause with which every
Christian should identify himself.
A Southern and a Northern Convention
will in future lead on the Baptists of the
United Slates, in the great enterprise of
Christian missions ; and though many pi
ous minds were much distressed at the idea
of a division, yonr committee rejoice in the
assurance that He, whose cause we are en*
deavoring lo promote, has his way in the
whirlwind anil in the storm, anil is con
stantly rendering those occurrences in the
administration of Ins government in the
physical and the moral world, conducive to
the prosperity of his cause, which seem to
man lo portend tire most calamitous results.
To what parts of the world our Mission
ary efforts may be directed in future lime,
will be necessaty to decide. We look at
Asia; including China, and long to send
them the bread of tife. Our eye then sur
veys neglected Africa, and we adopt the
words of the Prophet Jeremiah, when ho
beheld the sin and misery of his beloved
nation : “ Mine eye uffectelh mine heart.”
Central America and South America seem
t.) claim from us the same benevolence
which Hiitish Christians are bestowing on
the papal continental nations of Europe.
And
‘•Shame should cover us ungrateful,”
after having driven them from their hunting
grounds, and from their noble rivers, teem
ing with fish of every fin, weie wfc to ne
glect the Indian tribes. But let our philan
thropy go forth in whatever direction it
may, we shall see the fields white to the
harvest, and as the whitening gram belore
the reaper, so all nations will do homage
to that Christian charity, which shed* a
broad the light of the Gospel of Christa
mong those who dwell in the valley ol the
shadow of death.
j Wherever our Missionary labors may .
he directed, it will be of the greatest impor
tance that h o keep our minds steadily fix
ed upon three things: Ist. We cannot rea
sonably expect much success, except a lib
eral portion of the wealth of the Church
he consecrated to the cause of God. 2nd.
The earnest and confiding prayer of the
Church intimately connected with the ful
filment of the promise: *•/ shall give
thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and
the uttermost parts of the earth for thy
possession.” The promise is introduced
by: “Jlsk of me!” 3rd. Our best inten
tions may be followed by our most zealous
efforts, hut the accompanying power of the
Holy Spirit is essential to success.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
It seems very natural to suppose, that
every one who has the spirit of Christ,
should take pleasuie in contributing to the
fund, from which the Missionaries of the
Church draw their necessary support. —
This is a feeling which we should loudly
cherish; for to lake pleasure in doing good
is to establish it as a habit. The rich aud
the poor should be encouraged to feel an
equal interest in raising funds so s the cause
of truth and holiness, and to bear their
parts in doing this great work as the Lord
hath blessed them. Until the poor man’s
cent is placed by the side ul the rich
man’s dollar, and each is lound encouraging
the other to take his part in the burinc#* ?**
the Missions, as capabilities amt opportuni
ties are afforded, the Church will not come
up in its beauty, and in its strength, to tins
verv important work. An enlightened pie
ty is the consummation ofehrislianity ; and
its offering, like the widow’s two mites, ren
dered to Christ, with a heart heating truo
to him, will receive higher commendation,
and be of more worth in the estimation of
God than the riches of many wicked.
PRAYER.
The same scripture which informs us,
that to Him shall be given of the gold of
Sheba, says, likewise, Prayer also shall be
made for Him continually. And Christ
himself has left us this most encouraging
lesson, given to the Church in its very in
fancy, in compliance with the request,—
teach us to prop! Set;/, thy kingdom come
—was the answer.
So far as your committee has obtained
information, there is ground for lamenta
tion, that ihe periodical meetings oi the
Churches for prayer, on beliall of Missions,
are attended by very few persons ; that the
character of the prayers put up, indicate but
little knowledge of the condition of the be
nighted nations of the world, anda still less
degree of that aident feeling which should
till every bosom with holy desire tor the
banishment of moral evil f. om the earth, and
for the undisputed reign of Christ over the
heart of every man. And we mention with
the deepest regret, that it is believed, while
many of the members of our Churches sel
dom attend those meetings, there are some
•I who never attend them at all. And some
JjJhnrclies neglect such meetings altogether.
NO. 5