Newspaper Page Text
34
(Druiiiml
v..* •
For the Christian Index.
THE EVANGELISTS IIARJIOMZKD IN THEIR AC
COUNT OF CHRIST S ur.SI ItKl'.t'TlO.N.
§4. The Grief (f the Disciples. —A T ision oj
Angels.
Alter the women liad fully satisfied themselves
that tho body was not in the sepulchre, they pro
bably delayed a considerable time expecting
that some messenger from Joseph would he sent
to inform them whither the body had been car
ried. No conjecture as to the cause of its ab
sence could have appeared to them so probable
as that which seems to have possessed the mind
of Mary Magdalene, namely, that the gardener
had removed it. Joint xx. 15. Hut the gar
dener would not have done this, without the
authority of Joseph: and as their intended em
balming of the body was not only known to Jo
seph, but also approved by him; it was rational
for them to expect that he would send someone
to direct them to the place to w hich he had
caused it to be removed. After much time had
been spent and no messenger arrived, they at
length determined that Mary Magdalene should
return home and acquaint the disciples who
were there with their perplexity, and solicit
their aid in finding the body. Mary Magdalene
was quick in executing the task assigned to her.
“She runneth, and comctli to Simon l’cter, and
to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith
unto them, They have taken away the Lord out
of the sepulchre, and we know not where they
have laid him.” John xx. 2. Whether she
hnd left Peter here in the morning, or whether
ho had since arrived on a viri;. to John, between
whom and himself there seems to have subsisted
n special attachment, (John xviii. 10. 21. Acts
iii. 1.) we need not attempt to determine. Pro
bably Clcopasnlso was present and soon after set
out to tho eastern house to meet tho fellow dis
ciple who was to accompany him to limmaus.
Peter and John ran to the sepulchre; and not
being stopt in their way by the women, who had
no additional intelligence to communicate, they
entered to examine for themselves, and found all
things just as the women through Mary Magda
lene their messenger had reported. “So they
ran both together, and the other disciple did out
run Peter and came first to the sepulchre. And
ho stooping down ami looking in, saw the linen
clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then comctli
Simon Peter following him, and went into the
sepulchre, and seetli the linen clothes lie; and
the napkin, that was about his head not. lying
with the linen clothes, hut wrapped together in a
place by itself. Then went in that other disci
ple which came first to the sepulchre, and lie
enw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the
scriptures, that he must rise again from tlicdead.”
John xx. 4—9. They now, probably, entered
into conversation with the women, in which
Peter was the chief speaker and if the thought qf
• mui trfnrieu mt? m;ini orJoTin, It
was kept to himself. Peter engaged to go to
the disciples at the eastern house, and if any in
formation could he obtained, to communicate it
to the women, who were to continue waiting in
the garden. “Then the disciples went again unto
their own home;” Gr. to themselves, to their
oten homes. John xx. 10. Probably they sop.
■ rated, Peter going to the eastern house to fulfil
his engagement, and John returning to the west
ern, to comfort his adopted mother. It is likely
that Mary Magdalene had remained during his
absence, and soon after his return set out to rejoin
her companions in the garden.
Now followed nil interval of anxious suspense.
Peter had acquainted the disciples at tho eastern
house, but they had no information to send back
to relievo the women in the garden, nor could
they obtain any from Joseph or Nicodemus
whom they probably consulted in the city. Now
“they mourned and wept.” Mark xvi. 10.
Thus the morning passed away, and, by the ‘
wisdom of Divine Providence, the long continued
and undissembled sorrow of the disciples, at tho j
loss of tho master’s body, furnished decisive
proof that they had not stolen it away. In the
menu time their enemies knew the fact of his i
resurrection, from the testimony of tho guards, I
end had framed the falsehood concerning the
•tealing of the body, and possessed every advan
tage for apprehending the disciples, had they been
inclined to inves gate the truth of this accusa
tion.
Disheartened with the delay, it is probable that
some of the women returned from the garden to j
the city. Those who remained went again to
the sepulchre, except Mary Magdalene; who j
was, by some circumstance separated from the ‘
rest. She participated keenly in the grief which
was common to all the disciples, who were af
flicted, first, because their Lord had been taken
from them, and, secondly, because the poor rc- !
lief of doing honor to his dead body was denied
them. We find her a few minutes afterwards,
weeping alone at the grave; John 20. 15, and
it is probable that, at this time, she sought a pri- :
vatc place to weep, where she might pour her
sorrows into the bosom of God. No belter pre
paration can be imagined for the high honor soon
to be conferred upon her, of being tho first who
saw her risen Lord. Mark xvi. 9. The wo- 1
men approached and began to descend into the ‘
sepulchre, probably with Joanna at their head
“and behold two men stood by them in shining
garments. And as they were afraid, and bowed
down their faces to the earth, they said unto them,
Why seek ye the living among the dead ? lie
is not here, but is risen: remember how he ‘
spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, say
ing, The ben of man must be delivered into the ‘
hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the
third day rise again.” Luke xxiv. 5—7. One ;
angel was doubtless the speaker on this occasion, |
and he seems to have been the same that Lad j
rolled the stone from the door of the sepulchre. 1
Matt, xxviii. 4, 5. The other from his situation
in the interior of the sepulchre was probably
seen by Joanna only, who was foremost in the
desccni: and as Luke is the only Evangelist
. who mentions Joanna by name, he is the only
one who states that there were two angels : and
this he does without saying that the women saw
both of them ; whereas Mark says expressly;
“They sine a young man sifting on the right side,
clothed in a long white garment.” Chap, xvi.
5. The angels were probably sitting at first,
hut rose up, as it was natural they should do
when they began to address the women, ami
I point them to the place where tho Lord had
lain. The women having received a charge to
go quickly and tell his disciples, fled with haste
through the gate that led to the eastern house
where the disciples were assembled. Mary the
wife of Cleopas and Salome followed them
i through the gate, and then paused, leaving the
I younger women to proceed to the eastern house,
, and, concluding after a few moments, to return
I to their own home, which was much nearer, and
| where they could communicate the intelligence
j to John and the mother of the Lord, and any
| other disciples who might chance to be there.
L,
I'or the Christian Index.
NO. 2.
! The Substance or two Discourses on Pre
, DESTINATION, AND ON RECEIVING THE GRACE
or God in vain, preached at. several. Camp
| grounds in the State of Georgia, in 1819, by
Russell Reneau. Oxford, Ga. — Office of the
Southern Family Journal., 1849.
Our author has formally declared war against
j Calvinism, and in effect, announced that he has
not only drawn his sword but thrown the scab
bard away. The war, under his direction, is to
j he of the most sanguinary character. Nothing
! short ofcomplete extermination will satisfy him.
| “Wo have determination that if it (Calvinism)
’ lives any longer than we do, that it shall not be
our fault.” No quarter is to he granted—per
| Imps none is lo ho asked. Conscious of his
j strength, he may he confident that he will occupy
the victorious position of Sampson when in tri
umph lie sung : “With the jaw of an us§ have T
slain a thousand men;” or perhaps, like the same
Sampson in adversity, he anticipates that, by a
mighty eflort of strength, ho will rejoice to over
whelm, in one common destruction, both himself
and his enemies. However this may be, we con
fess it shocks us to hear such a blood-thirsty do-
S termination announced. There are to be grant
j ed no terms of honorable capitulation—the forces
1 of Calvinism are not to lie cheered with the hope
that, if it como to tho worst, they can save their
lives by surrendering at discretion. Entreat as
I piteously as they may for mercy, it is in no case to
! be granted them. The life-blood of otic or both, it
is sternly decided, must water the ground ! Is not
| this tho nineteenth century? Has not the savage
i ferocity of war been mitigated by the spirit of
J the Gospel, and by the humanizing influences of
jw> , ~
j for his own sake, will reconsider this determina
j tion. It may make Calvinism desperate. Ifhc
j Inis no bowels of mercy, and no respect for “the
j spirit of the age,”—if none of the softer or the
J nobler motives can influence him, then let prtt
dunce, and sound policy, cause him to haul down
1 hat blood-red flag. If lie has unrelentingly de
j termined that the forces of Calvinism shall, in no
j case, be prisoners on parole, let them have tho
J consolation to know that they shall he prisoners
j of some sort, or they will sell their lives as dear
j ly ns possible.
Lut, after all, we arc more than half inclined to ■
think that the danger to Calvinism from him has
ils existence only in our author’s harmless self. 1
complacency? That he considers himself a war- 1
rior of no inferior stamp —destined to achieve vic
tories which no polemical hero before him (ho
tacitly acknowledges,) has been adequate to, is
abundantly evident not only from this, hut from
other passages of his production ; hut we see no
reason why any body else should labor under the
same delusion—surely there is none to ho found
in the performance before us. It is no uncom- I
mon thing for men to “think of themselves more |
highly than they ought to think.” Where they ■
are composed of materials suitable fir the pur
pose, and placed in a favorable position, a very
little encouragement makes them in fancy swell
out beyond all reasonable proportions ; and there
is no conception of themselves too exalted for
tin to entertain. Herod, while listening to the
adulation of his courtiers, fancied himself a God, [
and a wise King of Maccdon, aware of this pro
pensity of poor human nature, enjoined it upon ■
one of his household to repeat to him daily, “Re
member, O King, that thou art mortal!” We !
are not quite sure that a monitor of the same kind
would not be of service to our author?
Notwithstanding, however, he broadly inti- i
mates that he has much confidence in his sue- ;
eess, his language would seem to imply that he
has some apprehension that he may after all fail !
in his superhuman enterprise. “If it lives any
longer than we do, it shall not be our fault.” I
lie will at least make n conscientious use of the
strength lie possesses. He feels that a solemn
responsibility rests upon him in the premises— i
that much lias been given him, and therefore
much will be required of him. The blood of all
the controversialists flows through his veins—
the strength of all the champions of Arminian- ;
ism nerves his arm—“his height is six cubits i
and a span,” (1 Sam. 17: 4,) and lie is com- j
mended to use his resources for the annihilation
of Calvinism. Will lie come up to his responsi- j
bilities? If he fills it. shall not hr his fault !
Rut suppose Calvinism should not bo aeconnno- ;
dating enough to die when he attacks it, how will j
ho infallibly know that he has acquitted himself
as in duty bound ? We fancy that we see him
now harassed by the most painful uncertainty, j
Some months ago he made his first attack, and !
discharged at his enemy seventy.two paragraphs, j
(all numbered oft,) and since then silence has
reigned over the field of operations. If lie fan-
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
cicslhat this silence is catised by his complete
success, and that Calvinism lies among the slain,
. it becomes our painful office to inform him that
it is not dead but sleepeth, and that we are the
only one of its friends that seem to have been
awakened by the noise of the attack ! Hut then
what becomes of his conscientious determination
so to act as to avoid blame ? Could lie not have
hurled one paragraph more? Did lie have no
other shot to fire ? Perhaps another shot, more
1 uckv than tho rest, might have reached his ene
my’s heart and freed the world from bondage.
Why then did lie not discharge it ?Alf he did
all that he could, what becomes of his Mentations
profession of strength? Verily there if'ems to he
an antagonism here—. Strength vs. Conscience.
His exalted conceptions of himself, or his con
science, one or the other, must give way. Our
author’s estimate of his powers must be lowered,
in the present aspect of the case, or (his con
| science remaining lively) he must be in the most
painful state of uncertainty as to w 1 tether he is
to he any longer responsible for the existence of
Calvinism. Verily, Atlas requires mi ch strength
to sustain the weight of tiie world !
“I am determined that if it survifts my at
tacks!’’— Surely Mr. Reneau’s perception of
the ludicrous must bo defective ? Calvinism has
j never heard of him before, and if its advocates
ever think of him hereafter it will never be in
a connection flattering to his vanity !
We confidently believe that no publication in
the language,*of the same length, contains as
great an amount of bitterness and as many ex
amples of misrepresentation as that upon which
we are animadverting. The author seems to
have written with the feelings of the man who,
having the most self-satisfying confidence in his
own prowess, and having ostentatiously called
upon llio whole world to witness the ease with
which he would demolish his antagonist, is made
conscious at last of a disgraceful failure, and
vents his impotent rage by abusive epithets at a
respectful distance. Like tho Mexican Chief,
who soothed the mortification of repulse by pro
nouncing tho American General so ignorant of
military science as not to know when he was de
feated—or, more properly, like the blustering
quarrelsome urchin, who said if lie could not
chastise the larger boy he could nuke faces at
him.
The following examples of his style and spirit,
under appropriate heads, are given, not because
they are tho worst of their kind, because
they are shorter, and can be more easily extract
ed :
His Courtesy and Liberality.— “ Tut in or
dor to carry out their Galvinistic sclcmo this
talk Ac., has been made a part of their-isionary
scheme and theories ;” —“To exhibit still further
the mad scheme of tlris system,” &0., p. 10.
“No man that prefers the truth lo his oivn pro.
judiccs, it would seem to us, could dodit that
Jesus, did intend, on this occasion, to teich that
his disciples might lose their religion.” ‘Calvin
ists holding on to their error with a zeal worthy
j of a better cause.”—“lf we wore to adtiit this
i i.j.p.au-,,;.,.’’ |i. id. “No man esh mis-
I take here provided his prejudices have noVilir.ded
j bun and so wholly perverted his undcniandiiig
I that nothing could instruct him.” p. 21. “s there
j u man on this Camp-Ground stupid enough to be
j licvesuch to be the true meaning of these axis of
I Holy Writ ? Lvery one who lias sense tnough
! to know the road to mill, knows better.” p. 23,
| “Wc feel that enough has been said tosatisfy
1 every honest enquirer afler truth, that itis pos
| siblo for a man to receive the grace ofGod in
vain ami thus perish everlastingly.” p. 23.
j “Do Calvinists think the world dull enougl to bc
! lieve that such argument makes out ttitir doc
| trine ?” p. 27.
’ ,Ils Candor.— “lt is palpable that Cal hiists 1
j Lciltl that God s elect are ordained to everlasting !
life without any regard to their Christian
ter.” p. 14.
lits Dogmatism. —“ This is indeed a vow con
venient. method of proving an unscriptur I doc- j
trine.” p. 0. “It we believe no more cone Tiring I
predestination than tho Bible teaches, ve will j
never believe the Galvinistic notion on th t sub
ject.” p. 11. “Neither these” (pnssn, os of:
scripture) “nor any others prove anythin) at all
in their favor.” p. 27.
llts Refinement.—“lfa poor reprobate were ;
j to commit such crimes, eternal damnation in
i Hell -fire would he tho consequence, hut jet one !
i of these predestinated pets commit tlierrl, and |
they w ill have the headache or some other pun
ishment, and then bask in heaven’s sinilesivorld j
without end,” p. 15.
Any where else than in a sermon, this ivould ;
be called slang. Other examples undeil this
head wo deem it proper to suppress, as they are
too gross to meet the eye of our lady readers.
His Deference to the Bible.— Convince us
that Christianity tolerates such tilings, and we
will plead its cause no more - ” p. 15.
Finally, in the way of extracts: “We fear
our Galvinistic friends will not easily forgive us
for our frank dealing with their favorite doc
trines.” p. 17. “If our Galvinistic brethren !
feel hurt, they may rest assured that we deliver |
these sentiments out of no unkind feelings. Itis I
because we thus believe that we tints preach.” !
p. 12. We hope, that, after this, none of our
Galvinistic readers will be so unreasonable as to !
continue dissatisfied. True, our author says
that they are “silly” and “dull” and “stupid”
and “prejudiced” and “dishonest” and “with. I
out sense enough to know tiie road to mill,” but
“it is because lie thus believes that lie thus”
writes. Lot us therefore be grateful for his
tenderness, and repress our complainings.
CALVIN.
.♦. ►
For the Christian Index.
TWiIN TY- SI “ICON D FEIIR UAR V.
This day was celebrated in our village as the
Anniversary of the Phi-Delta Society. A pro
cession of the regular and honorary members !
was formed at the Hall and marched thence to
the College Chapel, whore on Address was de
livered by Mr. W. L. Kilpatrick. The orator I
spoke in very earnest terms of the necessity of !
the Moral Element to a vigorous and healthful
Literature. He illustrated this by reference to
the ancient classical learning, as handed down to j
us—furnishing models of eloquence, of poetry, j
of wit, and of solid wisdom, but deformed by an
impure mythology. The excesses in France
occasioned by a literature which denounced
Christianity furnished another striking example.
An appeal to the members of the society, urging
the cultivation of moral purity together with in
tellectual refinement, closed an address truthful
in sentiment and appropriate to the day.
The audience were indebted to an Amateur
Band of young men for some very well executed
music. A.
For the Christian Index.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
I left West Florida on the 29th ult. for the
West: and as my horse bore me away, my
mind swiftly scanned over the great religious
destitution I was leaving behind. Whether 1
j should find a more deplorable one, and one less
i likely to he supplied, was a question I could not
solve. But as fair experiment had clearly de
! monstrated that a support in Florida was im
practicable, 1 felt it my duty to leave.
Here 1 would courteously invite the attention
of ministers to West Florida. Jackson County
particularly is a desirable section, and is. inhabi
ted by hospitable people. A minister who has
4 number of hands, could cheaply procure a
valuable settlement in that county —lands arid
society are both good. And the advantage
would he, that he would have a field for minis-
I tcrial labors adjacent, in which he could profita
| bly devote all his time: and 1 know of no other
i means of supplying that large destitution. And I
i take pleasure in saying, that according to. the
! people’s ability, their hospitality is rarely ex
celled. Long shall I remember their kindness
to me —especially that of my almost adopted
mother C., and many others. *
* * I spent the first Sabbath inst. with bro.
and sister B. of Conecuh county, Ala., (there
I being no meeting which I could attend.) These,
brother Editor, arc what wo call “wholc soul-hap
: lists.” 1 desired an acquaintance with brother
TANARUS, the moderator of the Bethlehem Association
but was denied the privilege for Want of oppor
tunity. All speak of him as being a good man,
an encomium which, when 1 leave this world, I
bad rather would follow me, tiian that of having
been the greatest monarch or chieftain that ever
lived.
On Tuesday following I passed through Pino
Jackson on the Tombigby River. That place,
j Old St. Stephens and others, though once flour
j ishing arc now in a decaying condition, and ai
j most uninhabited. As I passed by, lonely feel
j ings imperceptibly came over me, J presume it
j will wound the feelings of no one to say, that
j they more resemble habitations for the owl of the
| oak and the wild beast of the fores!, than for hu
man beings.
I put up fora night with Mr ; and was
grieved at the profanity and wickedness of his
family. 1 thought with myself, can this be a
Christian? But conversation soon revealed the
fact that he was a Univcrsalist! The conduct
ofthe children was no longer a mystery, lie
believed nil would be saved after they should
i have remained in boll to “pay the utmost farth
ing? That poor man seemed to have no notion
iol the plan of salvation. O what fatal delusions
i are prevalently extant even in our own country.
Upon inquiry I learned that there is no preach
ing by missionary baptists in Washington coun
ty, Ala. 1 was told by some that such was their
desire to hear preaching by our ministers, that
they would go any reasonable distance to their
meetings. 1 was alsoinformed that the wickedness
of many of the people is excessive; especially
that of uVunkt mess, fighting, swearing, &c.—
Could not liie BethleJ'em Association in Ala., do
something for the relief of their neighbors? The
liberality, now exercised, of that large, wealthy
and intelligent body of christiiius, is well worthy
of imitation. But could they not, without in
jury to themselves, send a missionary to Wash
ington county? That it would be productive of
good 1 have no doubt.
I put up with the hospitable Mr. A. of Ellis
villa, Miss., on Friday night before the second
Sabbath, where I remained until Monday morn
ing; during which time I preached twice, aud
delivered a temperance lecture. On Friday
night a Methodist Minister also called in. J
found him both sensible and intelligent—though
much reserved in conversation—a trait I ad
mire. During our stay together our conversa
tion was mostly upon religious topics. As is
commonly the case, he could not divine the con
sjstency of our “restricted communion.” A
brief abstract of our conversation upon it is here
given.
Why is it sir, that you baptists restrict your
communion exclusively to your own people?
We feel that truth and consistency demand it,
But wherein does your cors'stcncy consist?
1 will endeavor to show you, although to you
it may not be intelligible. You admit that bap- I
tisin is the acknowledged prerequisite to the
Lord’s Table by all evangelical denominations.
Certainly.
Well then, you would not admit persons to
the Lord’s Table who you did not believe had
been baptized.
No.
I bis, then, is precisely the position of bap
tists. They conscientiously do not believe
sprinkling to be baptism; and therefore, cannot
admit pedo baptists to the Lord’s Table, because
they do not consider them baptized. Thus you
see that baptists practice consistently with their
faith. [Here a short pause ensued.]
M oil, but if we have not fellowship for each
other on earth, how can we have it in heaven?
1 hat, my dear brother, is quite another matter.
For you, 1 have both Christian and ministerial
fellowship. To those, especially the former,
baptism is not essential; but it is positively
essential to church fellowship: and further, 1 as
sure you that it is not for want of brotherly love
that we do not admit you to our communion, but
purely from the fact that we do not conceive
that you have submitted to the ordinances of
: Christ; and, therefore, our object is to honor
and protect the Lord’s Table.
I bad not understood it in that light before:
and if that is the baptists’ faith, they are right!
So say many of the intelligent of yourdenomi-
I nation.
If circumstances of interest should occur, you
may bear from me again. E. V.
THE IHE EX,
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28,1850.
SOLTH N BAPTIST PUBLICATION’ SOCIETY.
It is delightful to see the Christian turning
I every improvement in the arts and sciences, to
the promotion of the kingdom of Christ. The
ministers of Satan are ever diligent in convert
ing every work ot God and man, so far as they
have power, into instruments of sin. Can the
! servants of Christ sit quietly by, and witness this
usurpation without resisting it ? Can they re
frain from laying counter-plots for the defeat of
I Satan’s kingdom and the triumph of the Son of
; God? In the history of the printing press, we
see a striking illustration of the contest between
these two great powers of darkness and light
i We look with pain at the tremendous power
which tlie press is exerting in support of error
and vice; but before we have thought much on
the melancholy scene, our attention is arrested
I by a torrent of bibles and tracts, flowing noise
! lcssly, but rapidly, over every portion of our
wide extended country. Who would not rejoice
iat such a sight? Who would not lend his money,
his time, his talents, his influence, to render this
current so strong as to sweep away every strong
hold of sin, and, every refuge of lies in the world.
It is hardly necessary to attempt to show the
importance of having a good and extensive reli
; gious literature. It is certain that the thirst for
I knowledge is too great, to permit the people to
| sit down quietly in a state of ignorance. If
| wholesome reading is not furnished them, they
will seek that which is pernicious. The only
way to prevent the press from being an instru
ment of wickedness, is to make it an instrument
|of righteousness. It is with pleasure then that
j we observe the various organizations which have
j been formed to give our people suitable religious
reading. W e love the American Tract Society.
There is hardly a spot of ground in the Union,
on which its colporteurs have not trod, in their
holy missions. Many of the flock of Christ, in
every section of the country, have been fed from
| its rjcli stores of spiritual food. Many of the
; redeemed in heaven, are praising God that he
I put it into the hearts of his people, to form the
American Tract Society. We love the Ameri
can Baptist Publication Society. It has done
i not a little, in furnishing our Denomination with
useful books and tracts. It has fostered a spirit
of reading among us; it has encouraged our
brethren, to use the pen in behalf of the truth; it
has aided in the spread of Baptist doctrines and
Baptist usages.
But both the American Tract Society and
American Baptist Publication Society together,
have not completed the work of supplying our
people with the necessary religious books. The
j former is too circumscribed, by the very natureof
its constitution, to tell the whole truth. It is ac
tively, eloquently, and successfully preaching
to every creature to believe in Jesus Christ; but
it dares not teach the next duly of the great com
mission. We must look to other sources to sup
ply this deficiency. The American Baptist
Publication Society is free from this restriction,
j It is at liberty to say to the delinquent believer;
; “Why tarriest thou, arise and be baptized.”
i There are, however, many services which it is
unable to render to the whole family of American
Baptists. The household is too large, (here is
too much diversity of thought and character
among tiie members, to allow it to perform its
duties faithfully to every part. Ilencc has arisen
the necessity of an organization peculiarly adapt
ed to Southern Baptists; and hence our Southern
Baptist Publication Society.
It appears then, that the Society has before
it a field of usefulness, almost entirely unoccu- ‘
pied by any other organization. How important
is its mission ! How great is its work ! How
heavy is the claim which it has upon all the
Denomination in the South ! We can scarcely
conceive of the amount of good that might be ac
complished by means of this agency, Its pritna- j
rv object is, tlie publication of religious books, j
adapted to the wants of Southern Baptists. In
doing this, it will bo putting powerful weapons
into tiie hands of Christian soldiers. Already
has it done something towards impressing upon
our members, the “ Advantages of Sabbath 1
School Instruction, ” and by its “ Cards, ” !
aided in imparling this instruction. Even now,
it is defending the peculiarities of the denomina- |
lion, especially the practice, so odious in the
sight of many, of “Restricted Communion;” j
and, both to Christians and to sinners, it is point
ing out “The Wav of Salvation.” Is not j
this work, worthy of the co-operation of every I
Baptist ?
And while the Society is aiding in the diffusion
of religious knowledge, it is doing another good
work, by encouraging those who have the proper
talents to become authors; and thus increasin'*
their sphere of usefulness, ten or a hundred fold.
Let the Society have the means, and it will go j
on in this useful work. Our brethren %ill be ‘
called on, to put forth their most vigorous mental j
efforts; and their thoughts will be stereotyped j
for the benefit of generations yet unborn. Other
Mallarys, Taylors, Tuppers, and Howells, will be
found, who will load the press with the most
precious treasures of religious truth.
But it is not the intention of this Society, to
limit its influence, by the works which come
from its own press. Its aim is, to give every !
facility in its power, to the circulation of good
books, in all parts of the South. “ Thus, instead
of being the rival of all similar institutions, it
designs to be their ally. When it has passed its
years of tender infancy, it will be able to send
out its colporteurs far and near, loaded not only
with its own works, but with the choicest vol
umes of the best religious presses in the world.
Let us glance at one more benefit which may
arise from this Society. It may serve as a moral
cord, to bind together the members of our de
nomination in different parts of the field. It ia
no easy matter to make Baptists pull together.
We have no synods, conferences, conventions or
bishops, to give the word of command. Moral
power alone can be successfully used upon us.
1 he voice of the press has a greater power over
! us > than the voice of popes and emperors. In
proportion as we read and investigate the truth
for ourselves, we shall be brought to think alike.
If the shelves of the Society contributed large
ly to the formation of our libraries; or if all of
the denomination could be induced to read the
Society s books, there would be far greater unitv
of sentiment among us. This would be a unity,
more desirable and more glorious than that of
which the Roman church boasts so proudly. Is
it not right for us, to labor to bring about a com- 1
plctc uniformity of sentiment among Christians?
Let us then, encourage in every way, in our power,
the publication and circulation of books which
teach the truth, and which are written in a style
; ihat may impress the truth upon the minds of the
readers. Thus shall we be advancingihe Re
deemer’s kingdom, and preparing for the glorious
! millenial morn.
OCT We have been requested by Rev. Win.
Moseley to copy from the American Whig, a
long article relative to a difficulty between him
self and Uni, 11. Miller. Were we to comply
with this request, we should probably be com
pelled to open our columns to the opposite parly,
and tints become involved in a controversy which
would have but little bearing on those interests
which it is the design of our paper to promote.
At present, therefore, we must, with all due re-
I spec! to our correspondent, lay the communica
tion on the table, until further developments con
vince us that the cause o! religion demands its
! publication.
fc5”“A Chapter on Inconsistences,” and “Uni
versalism,” will appear next week.
(fcj”Rev. C. W. Stevens has removed to Ma
-1 rietta, Georgia, and has accepted the pastoral
charge of the .Marietta Baptist Church.
j
(Ry'Rev. W. I). Atkinson has removed to For
syth, Georgia, to take the pastoral charge of the
Baptist Church in that place.
G CORGI aTeg ISL A TIRE.
W e learn that the House of Representatives
i resumed their business, on the 20tli inst., after
an interruption of several days during which
they were unable to obtain a quorum. It is not
our business as a religious journal, to express
an opinion as to the party which is to blame, for
1 this unfortunate state ot things. The Democrats
think the Whigs arc responsible for this waste
of time and money, since it was on account of
the withdrawal of the Whigs, that the House was
left without a quorum. The Whigs justify
themselves on the ground, that the other party
had disregarded their rights, and left them only
this mode of vindicating their claims. It is deep
ly to bo regretted, that while the operations of
our general government at Washington, are
dogged by sectional disputes, our State Legisla
ture docs not exhibit that harmony which would
command the respect of the world.
NOTICES OF PUBLICATIONS.
The Southern Baptist, — This well conducted
weekly newspaper has recently undergone a
great improvement in its mechanical execution.
It is now issued front a steam press, the first, as
we understand, that has ever been used in.
Charleston. Our brethren in South Carolina
have reason to be proud of their paper. It may
be sometime before we can follow the example of
our neighbor. It is true, our village can boast of
a large steam engine, but it will not reach out
its iron arm in aid of the Index, until we have a
few more names on our subscription list.
‘lke Christian Review. — The January number
of this quarterly periodical arrived last week.
Mo have read two or three of its articles with*
much pleasure. If these may be taken as a
specimen, from which to judge,of the character
of the work, we feel persuaded that it will not
disappoint the high expectations which were
formed in the public mind, when its late Pro
spectus was issued.
The following Table of Contents will dcuht
less excite in the minds of some, a desire to
possess the work.
Art. 1. Noel on Baptism.
Art. 2. Origin and Political Life of the En
glish Race.
Art. !). The History of the Pulpit.
Art. 4. Reforms and Reformers.
Art. 5. Bowen’s Lectures.
Art. 0. Paul at Athens: The Religion and
Philosophy of the Greeks.
Art. 7. Nineveh and its Remains.
Art. 8. M illiarr.s’ .Miscellanies.,
Art. 9. Editonal Address.
Art. 10. Notices of New Publications.
Art. 11. Intelligence..
Southern Baptist Review. —The following no
tice of this Review appeared in the last BilTlical
Recorder. We hope Brother Meredith will?
meet with suclt encouragement as will enable him
to place the Review upon a permanent footing.
It is well known to most of our readers that
the publication of this work, during the past year,
was altogether a matter of experiment. Under
such circumstances we did not consider our.
selves at liberty to incur much pecuniary r.
sponsibility in the premises. The work has ac
cordingly not been issued in as good season, nor
in as good style, as we could have wished. Still
we regard the experiment as having succeeded
nearly equal to our expectations. Wehaveob
tained the consent of some half dozen of our be; *
Southern writers to appear as regular contribu
tors to the work; and shall probably obtain a
few more. These, with such editorial aid as we
shall have, will afTord a sufficient guarantee for
the literary part of the undertaking. All
[February