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CD r t g t it a l.
[For the Chr Man Index.]
FAULTS OF THE BAPTISTS.
According to the New Testament the churches organized
by tho A|K>stloß observed the following rules:
1. All the members were believers.
2. They were immersed on a profession of faith.
3. Each church elected its own officers.
4. Each church was superintended by a plurality of bish
ops, all of whom were equal.
5. Eaoh church had a plurality of deacons who super
intended its secular affairs. (I udvanco thin as a postulate.)
0. The religious exerciseaof the church consisted in read
iug and expounding the scriptures, in exhortation, einging.
prayer, &o.
We flatter ourselves that Baptist churches arc scriptural,
but they are not in the last throe particulars.
1. Baptist churches have one pastor instead of several.—
Frequently one man is pastor of several churches at the same
(•me. Is this scriptural ? There is no evidence in the Now
Testament that one man was ever pastor of several church
es; or that any church had one pustor only. Wo always
road of the bishops of the churches, the elders of the church
es, never of the bishop, older, or pastor. There is a differ-j
c nco then between our churches and the primitive churches.
2. Our deacons do not superintend the secular affairs of
our churches. We appoint clerks, treasurers rmd special
committees to do what the deacons ought to do. On the
other hand we make them assist in the administration of the
Lord’s supper, which is an unscripturul t edition.
3. We have laid aside the primitive mode of religious ser
mco. Teaohers and exhorters ure gone. The ancient com
munity of labor and of toil is no where to he found. Our
preachers are philosophizers and declaim rs. Observe the
character of the next few sermons you hear. One is an in
genious and beautiful lecture on some philosophic—ndiirious
question, containing little of the Bible and less of Christ—a
wretched feast for a hungry soul. Another is a brilliant
t pocimm of orulory; the preacher is complimented in thr
concluding prayer, and fluttered perhaps liv norm of the hear
ers, but no one is made wiser or better. Tim simplicity of
gospel worship does not please us. We have itching cars
and have heaped to ourselves teaohers of a kind unknown to
the word of God. Instead oh the undericnl* pastors of the
primitive churches we give up all to the orator-priest who is
not a gospel teacher, nor u gospel ruler—Baptist churches
tiro not scriptural.
1 have conversed with numbers of hrethrofi on thse sub
jects. I hoy do not deny that our churches ure different
from the first churches, but some of them think wearejusti
itt making olwumu* i....... .y,, r ~ t— | „
times and manners since the days of the Apostle*. It has
boen thought that the Baptists ure governed by law, not by
expediency. Wo nrc now told however that wo Imve a right
to alter the primitive modal and to introduce such changes
us we deem best adapted to the circumstances of modern
limes. After all then it is only a question of expediency!
whether we be Episcopalians or Congregationalists; wheth
er our congregations bo superintended by un executive com
mittee of spiritual overseers or bv one man who is rather
the •ralor than the pastor of the church. It is a mark of the
man of sin that ho changes “times and laws.” I deny that
a church lias any power to alt.-r a single regulation ‘in,ro
iluced by tho apostles. Let the claimant of such power
point to that part of the Bible which justifies hisclaim. The
Methodists (for instance) have as much right to organize a
n Methodist government over the ohurohes as we have to or
ganize a Baptist one. Both are unsoripturul.
But if we have the power to adopt such regulations as we
choose, wo certainly in ay. return to the primitive customs.
J hi* experiment is worth making for the important reason
that the Mapt si plan is iita great measure n fdiiure.
1. It has failed to guard the doors of the church against
t.ie introduction of many unconverted men. What is tr
modern “revivalist ?” I'oo oficn n man wli® is not distin-l
f'uUhed for sound judgment, nor for learning, nor for piety *1
but who is rernarkulile for imagination, for fluency ofs na ecli !
and for a high opinion of him* d u What is the < v Clllmvn \\
got up by these men and called -(but falsely so)—a “rrvi-
V rl’ ‘f ,l l4 ' b,lt 100 commonl y fervid transient ebullition
of feeling which deceives preachers, churches, and sinners
i he preaches ransack heaven, earth, and hell, for impressive
and awful figures, and they think surely they are doim- God's
service, when they see tho congregation a fleeted. Tho!
brethren do not foci satisfied. but lln*y feel that too much cau !
tion might bo injurious. Sinners do not feet,sitbfl.d, but’
they are urged into the church and declare a falsehood bv!
theuct Ol baptism, viz: that they are dead to sin when they |
nre no.. And what is the result of the revival? The church 1
and the woild are actually hardened, and it requires it year’
and tuot) more, to recover from.the effects o’ unde./and’
filso religious excitement. Os those who were improper!, I
rough, into the church, the women being moral utid timid
lotam their membership and become unsanotifld mot hen: in*
Israel; iltt in u fall into immorality, or demand a dismission*
boCnusi they have n > religion. Then the next stop is into i,’
I icd o! stunt.lufidelity. You scarce can find a church hut’
Jnis timed out ton)’? of lids cl.iss.
2 tho Baptist p ar. has failed to make the liedv of profes
t;ors pious and intelligent ctiristiuns. Is the word of nrofes.
i-ors general.y cs good as their bond ? Can you trade with
hem without tew of being cheated ? Are they gentle ami
liberal r Da they i.ray in their families? Are limy humble
tnd spiritually iiuud.d ? Gan they defund, or even state the
tTa^!r^! L |. V K**^ 1 W'srv* Srjftlmi b) i apvdiion of bands will, failingan i
bii U 1.7 war.- not etc srmtn Tr; Ago* Is, teem c!v ,3”
S!fJ
principal doctrines and duties of the gospel ? Our method
of instruction makes no man wise.
3. The Baptist plan has failed to enforce the laws of Christ
in regard to discipline. We are growing worse as we grow
more numerous. There are at this moment numbers of
brethren who ought to be excluded from the churches for
the simple etn of strife. Christ has given us two laws, one in
Mutt. 5: 23, 24. “Ifyour brother lias ought against you, go
and be reconciled.” Tin'other is Malt. 18: 13. “Ifyour
.brother offend you. go and reprove him.” Let these two
laws he obeyed and there can be no strife in the church.—
The wranglers would soon be committed to the world,
where contention belongs. But these laws are not obeyed.;
Many scarcely know that they exist; few pretend to obey
them; they say what they please and do as they please, und
yet they remain in the church. Even ministers ure now;
preaching whose service is not acceptable to God because!
they are not at peace with their brethren. Jesus says, offer
not your gilt unless you ate at peace. In vain do you spread
forth your bands to that God whose laws you despise. All
your knowledge and eloquence and popularity can not save
you. God is judge und rut man und you also must give ac-,
icount lor disobedience.
4. The Baptist plan has failed to make good ministers.—
I urn to the 3J chapter of Ist Timothy. I lie inspired won!
,does nut say that a bishop ought to have these qualifications,
ibut lie must have them; mid it is the business ol the church
i<:s to sec that their bishops shall have them all in a reasonable’
degree. But at present if a man is a great talker this one
circumstance out weighs many defects of character. Yet
| in many instances this great talker is not even “apt to teach.”j
{Follow him through his course lot* years, and ascertain if
possible what church has grown intelligent, pious, substan {
tiat, under his ministry.
1 can not enumerate all the qualifications of ministers, but
will mention one as a striving proof that the Baptist system is
a failure. The word of God makes a bishop responsible for
pile conduct of his childr n. He must be “One that ruleth
| well his own fioute having his children in subjection with all
gravity.” 1 Tun. id: 4. “Having faithful children not ac
cused of riot nor unruly.” Titus 1: 0. This is the law, but!
ministers do not alwuys < bey it. On the contrary it is almost
a proverb tbut they have the worst sons in the country,, ln|
all such ca*es, no matter how learned, eloquent or great the!
minister may be, one of two things must be done or the church
is guilty—the minister must reclaim his ungodly family or
be deposed from the ministry. But Buplist churches eem!
to think 1 fiat u man is net accountable for the conduct of his
children. Behold the consequence. Our churches grow ir-!
religious and unhappy under the ministry of men who are,
condemned by the wofd of God and ought to be condemned
oy us. The Baptist plan is a failure.
-t OmthL.iie liuirufiiieau return primitive usages: to or
dam a plurality of bishops in every church ; lo m.'k
mg what it one: was a simple way of expounding the Bible, 1
and of talking about divine truth ? Would this remedy any!
of our present evils? Ido not answer these questions for!
the brethren; hut for myself, after years of investigation, I
should not feel opposed to the experiment. It would produce!
a great revolution in our religious affairs, I admit; but nt|
worst wo could oniy full to be good Christians, which wo nrej
How doing, and then we should he in the original pathway.!
however slowly we might proceed.
A MISSIONARY. {
[/ or the Christian Index.]
A V A lUCIOUSN ESS
Oh thou bare of life'! Thou destroyer of all that is pure 1
I and noble and holy between man and Ins fellow ? Thou that’
dost enter into the sweet cup of friendship and turn it to gull!
I Thou unclean spirit that dost enter the heart and dry tip the!
pure streams of benevolence, humility, filial ass chon, and!
till those ennobling qetUties which alone exalt the man above*
j the brute! I hou black demon that dost presumptuously!
islalk forth err: Ist the pure light of heaven and cast thy dark
’ ruantle over ih > sons and daughters of God ! Say, w fit thou*
not wing thy (“ght toother regions’ Wilt thou’ not’vacatc!
I I be hearts of those otherwise pure and take up thy abode in
! climes more congenial to thy nature! The apostle Paul 1
jsays, the love of money is the root of ait evil, it is not of
course our intention to attempt at length to illustrate the;
truth of this proposition ■ we introduce the following as be
! i:ig to the pou t.
| A number o’ years ago there resided in a populous and
wealthy neighborhood in Georgia an old physician who by
gr.nt skill aid neigy in (he prosecution of his prof, ssional
duties, was enabled .a-the course of a few years to amass a
very handsome- fortune. For five successive years tr. F.
t.ud met v’ ith i o pr.fi-ssicnn! competitor. But he was not
destined to continue his prosp -reus, huain.-ss v itliout a rival.
Tn.s fi3 found in tin person ol a young man, (Or. M.,1 who
|w.isjust returned from the medical College at Augusta, and’
How for the fii-u time coir.a.-.-nj.d the ; r.ictic* of nis proses-l
•sioii tn. Dr. 1. c i g.ln.rho'.!. i lie two physicians met,*
were introduced, uni appeared quite c.ipv.ited with vac!. 1
others conversation, ‘limy soon ii-terch.-ngcd visits and’
wore to all human appearin’ to. tr: the p..-; kind of terms.—
l‘l"“ Mate cf f ciing might haw I sen perpetual had not
the gentleman which stands at the h ad of this article inter-!
jfvred. As some dissatisfied persons I:ad long felt a-kind of’
restriction in l!“>ir ItbertLe or privil.ges iria.miud, as they!
were not able t j choose their u n p.ivsVan ; this r'estriJ |
J- ‘U they r. jw r. solved to throw off by j itro.oizmg Dr. M—l
i his is i:o sooner ddne than tk- cld and >cior begiiis'to ‘siimto’
a dtfferer.: tune.” “Op.-tart,” “quack,” “imposition.” &c., 1
are echoed throughout the ! ngth and breadth of the neigh
borhood. The malicious fonts reached too ytun • 1..5.-
Ician. He resolved to defend himself. They met*; blows*
wore exchanged ; of course the sympathies of the communi-l
ty turned in favor of the injured party. Dr. F. removed to
other parts and for three successive years J)r. M. remained
sole possessor of the field of his former competitor. At the
end of three years another physician located in the neigh
’ borhood and now those weapons which had been but so recent
ly used for the destruction of himself were taken up by Dr.
M. and with all the skill and prudence of which he was mas
ter brought to bear upon the reputation of his new rival.
O! mart how infinite are thy inconsistences! How great
the depravity of thy heart. R. B. J*.
[For the Christian Index ]
RAMBLING THOUGHTS FOR- RAMBLING READERS.
NrMBER XIV.
To what strange vicissitudes we are subjpct. In my last
| I spoke of rambling at the rate of 15, 20. 30 miles an ‘hour,
j;Since my return from this ramble, I have known what it is
jinottobe able to ramble in body (I was going to say) ns
i many steps in a whole day. For a considerable portion of sev
j ‘' rß ’ davs. a narrow room 20 feet square and a motionlesa
bed 7 feet by 4 were about the area of my wanderings.
j But sickness and confinement have their advantages. He
is u poor spiritual traveler who cannot, (by the grace of God,)
make such things minister to ihe happiness and speed of his
heavenly journey. I wonder why it is, brother editor, that
we do not derive much greater advantages than generally
j happens to us, from our various afflictions. They are a
i det T und blessed mine, and if we would delve at/hem as we
i should, what ingots, what pounds of bright gold should we
bring up from their dark caverns. Every pain is a lump of
j precious >re, if we could but know it, that if well broken
, and smelt--d would yield n good profit. What could we do,
uliat should we be, without pain anil disappointment?
Affliction teaches obedience, —“Before I was afflicted I
went astray, but now keep I thy law.” Affliction breaks
jiour wills, curbs our lusts, and teaches us our entire depend.
etice. Affliction endears to us the precious promises of God’s
. word, and brings us tolean with child like confidence on the
strong arm o! Jehovah. Affliction leads us to refleet upon
ijtlie bitter cause of all grief, sin, and renders dear to us the
; great antidote of sin and sorrow-—the atajemeiit of the Lord
I Jesus ( hrist. But for our sorrows h vLtjsuperficial would
j he our \ iews of the compassionate S.ivioffF who was perfect
i * and through sufferings, and Ly his many sorrows and tempta
n°" S “> S P re P ared t 0 become our merciful and faithful
High I’.-iest. Affliction makes us alive to the sorrows of oth
i|ers, enables us to enter into their complaints, bear tneir bur
j Jens, und soothe theirvanguish. Affliction is the motherof
[.patience, the grand-nwther of experience, and the great,
i, giund-:;.other of hope.\ Proof, “Tribulation ivorketh pa
tience, and patience cxpAience, and experience hope.” Af
fhction tries, purifies, am\gently exalts the Christian’s faith,
‘O-tLtiilg brings trlorV.to God honor to the
! ‘7 ,eVt ~ vrTv f l ®
i a ‘ u ? ,v 10 multitudes, shunned bv most, rough and
| prickly, like the points of broken glass, to all—and vet is
1 ‘-vorm much more than gold. F, j s affliction. “That live
ho , 0i > ,,ur L'th, being much more precious than of gold
; Unit p. risheth, thougn it he trird with fire, might be found
i U ' ,, ° P r ls e nnd honor and glory at the appearing cf Jesus
!/ ls one of the fruits of our Father’s faithfulness
! f 1 n *, r ‘ v * ,orn l^e Lord loveth he chasteneth : yes,
j kln ’ ,lo,s iiechasten, “for our profit, that we might fce
. partakers of his holiness.'’ Afflictions awaken in us many
; thoughts about our heavenly home, endears that home toou'r
p bosoms, and preflates us the more sweetly toenjov it everlast
i iug r ;• se, when it shall pF-ase God to remove us hence,
; :indg:vo us our inheritance amongst them that are sanctified.
I rorour afliiction which is but for a moment, worketh
[for us a for more exceeding Qn d eternal weight of glory.”
H, w wasteful then w e are. and improvident, not to m'ake n
I better use of our troubles. T ( hey lie all around us—close
|tothee\e lo the touch— nai*, theyare in our very limbs
I und vitals—a rich, though somewhat unsightly California—
.and vet how little gold we dig to what we might. In these
mines, rightly wrought, are an improved obedience, a deep
or j*y and a brighter faith— a stronger relish for prayer, for
ii . ; ru fo r C hrist lor heaven—bright gems to deck our
spirits here—to d-'ck our crow ns in glory—O let us fail to
work with new zeal, arid improve to the uttermost all nur
: faithly troubles.
[Far the Christian Index.]
RF.I uRT OF COMMITTEE ON DECEASED MINISTERS.
‘ T ’’ he Gl ' np ral meeting composiag tho 4th District of U
rum Ltver Association.
I A., .r f. oiTimittee in refurenoe to deceased ministers, Leg
leave to report, toat in the midst of those scenes of divers!-
ft o grief and sorrows we have been called to witness some
1 “ B, t-rending afflictions incident to our falLr, r.ico
[Mmtcoar last Genera! meeting a volume of grief has bear,
un in ‘.no bosotr. of < ur churches, and a volume of still
{deeper sensibilities unfolded in the hearts of two families of
lour ministering brethren: First, it pleased our Divine So-
I vereign to remove from our midst our beloved brother, Spr-r..
fjeer Mumper. ?he tun -h id strived when we should no
[i 10! - “ r * d . oßsed “ ‘ dl L> < labors, his counsels, and his smiles
!t a •’ ‘ ‘ { ' ! '' ?e Wc'Ssing. lie- has been removed Ly
~iti .. .w:-;.; God. Cm tliqpe riSections-vve .night stop arid
me —be, the certainty of l-i magnified felicity, must re-
Joi nv.-eour lacerated feelings to the idea of a short separa
. “*'*'*’ ReM f’lve. while our beloved bro. James
i : ,• : * nd s ‘'‘ ned >n tin midst of manhood. w ith more
tlum ordinary natural endowments, feeding the flock of God,
ii... .... /.ioi-1- ring comfort to his family and friends, at this
; moi. ‘ow crisis an All-wise sovereign has caused our
ron ~ .cnt\. prospects to rest in the shadow of death. Thus
; wu beholo two of tliose heavenly channels through which the
l.cheemg streams of consolation were turned into Zion, our
[July