Newspaper Page Text
130
(Driguinl. ‘”
For the Christian Index.
Cos amino will) your own heart upon your bed mill tie Mill.—
Psalm i : 4.
Christian. Come heart, the business of the
J.y is over, and the hour of slpop is come; before
we yield to the claims of nature, let 11s reason
together about your thoughts and motives, your
desires and operations. Let us calmly and hon
estly review your course since I professed to be
newly created, and since this day set in.
Heart. The hour is now too late, you are
Wearied with the burdens of the day, and it is
re ro : .cossary that you immediately compose
V irjs;f to sleep, than to interrupt the hours of
rep -’ .i in useless talking. Other people arc not
so concerned about their heart’s doings, and why
should you be so particular about yours ?
Christian. —Perverse heart! You would have
me to feel no concern about your wickedness
end folly. If I were to do as you wish, I should
he ruined; for a close inspection of all yourdoings
is essential to my well being. lam charged by
iny master to keep you with ail diligence. And
ehnll I not do it ?
Heart. —What is your complaint against me ?
Christian. —When 1 first obtained a hope of
the forgiveness of my sins, and the promise of
everlasting life, it was a bright and joyous day.
No dark clouds then obscured my sky. No start
ling dreams disturbed my nightly repose. Joy
nnd happiness appeared before me. The service
of God was delightful, and communion with
brethren was sweet. 1 dreamed not then of the
sorrows nnd conflicts which you would cause
me; but 1 (lettered myself tiiat all my trouble
was over, and my joy only begun. Put all this
I soon discovered was a delusion of yours.—
Evil thoughts began to arise, and fears to in
crease upon me. My enemies beset mo all
around, nnd nono were so envious as you. My
!■ e waxed cold, my duties became burdensome,
nr.d sin soon hegnn to exercise dominion over
mo. How little have 1 advanced in piety nnd
knowledge! llow often have 1 failed to perform
all my duties! And bow often have I sinned
nnd repented, and sinned again! Isl attempt to
count them up, they aro more than can lv num
bered. Qmy heart! What will become of mo
since you are so perverse ? Suroly without the
sovereign mercy of God I should have been
ruined before now. All my sorrows and trials
uro caused by yon, net ono has come upon
me, but what you have been the cause.
Heart. —Why am I charged so heavily ? Am
1 the worst heart in all the world? Are not
many of your misfortunes owing to a want of
iho mercy of God tow ards you; or to the wiek
clncssof men nnd the wiles of the Devil, in which
I have had no concern? Can 1 prevent evil
thoughts atiJ evil temptations from presenting
themselves to me ? Your flesh is a lump of cor
ruption, do not evils arise llmnce in which 1 have
no accountability ? And shall it be expected
that you should have no trouble, since Abraham,
nnd David, and Paul and others had theirs?—
Wlmt have I done therefore ? Have I robbed
tile poor of their portion, or clieate j any man out
of his rights? Have 1 compelled you to go into
ahe company of the wicked? Have I caused
you to blasphemo God's name, or to reject tho
mercy ho oilers ? Specify your charges and
let mo answer them.
Christian. —O wicked and perverse heart,
thoro is no such thing as knowing you perfectly.
You are a futhomless deep; yet 1 know some
thing of your wickedness and hypocrisy. You
demand a specification of my charges against you.
Ui* 1 ,
good thoughts at all? Have Ino pious desires,y
no Holy aspirations? Where are all my anxie
ties for the advancement of the Redeemer s
kingdom? Where all my acts of bcnewdence,
my prayers for the heathen, my exhortations and
warnings ? What is to be said of fby joys and
hopes? What will you say of rny love for the
brethren ; nnd my earnest solicitude for the wel
fare of sinners ? Once I was wicked I confess,
but now I am changed, I am now so reformed,
that there is not a bettor heart than I am in all
the world.
Christian. —N<* heart, these wicked deeds aro
not the devil’s, they are yours. 4he devil tempt
ed, and you yielded to his wishes. They are
your own voluntary nets; therefore excuse not
yourself, and ns to your, good thoughts, and
holy aspirations, these aro not the nativo growth;
they are plants of heavenly origin and divine
culture. Your hopes and joys are not produced
by inward impulses of your own, but by tho
promptings of the Holy .Spirit. You are not en
titled to any of tho honor, but it is all of grace,
fire grace. “Create in me a clean heart O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.”
J. M. W.
For the Christian Index.
Dear Brother Dagg,—\ propose to bo one of
fifty who will give ten dollars lor tho purpose of
sustaining a Missionary in the field now occu
pied by brother Kynls; or, I will be one of one’
hundred who will give five dollars for the same
object. STERLING EVANS.
■ • -*>- •
For the Christian Index.
SEC RE T SOCIE TIE S .
Dear brother Vagg, — I have read and ponder
ed the remarks of “Observer,” in a late Chris
tian Index, relative tomembersof churches join
ing various Secret Societies amongst us; nnd as
I am dissentient from most of ihc opinions ad
vanced; and your paper seeming to be, now, open
to a free interchange of thought upon that sub
ject, allow me, if you please, a place in its col
umns, that I, too, may “shew mine opinion.”
It is lamentably true, that the harmony and
pence, of many of our churches have been marred
by members joining those Societies referred to,
reckless of the opinions and feelings of many of
their pious nnd experienced brethren; and such
a coutse of conduct, I think, is justly reprehensi.
hie. I am one of those “weak brethren,” if
your renders please, who believe it wrong for
Christians to unite with any such secret oath,
bound Societies, (for Secret Societies they arc,
to some extent at least, and admitted to he such
by most of their members,) composed as they are
of such heterogeneous materials—men of all
kinds of faith nnd character, and men of no faith
nor character. Masons and Odd Follows, it is
true, reject n'licists from their fellowship, but
they receive others, between whose creeds, as to
their practical effects upon the conduct of men, 1
can see no difference. The Sons nf Temper
nnee, however, (according to Mr. White, and
Rev. EzraS. Ely, of the National Division, in
their “vindication” of that order,) receive to their
fond, fraternal embrace of “Love Parity
Fidelity,” even the impious
tile light of a self-evident truth, shuts liis eves
and boldly Jerries the existence of a God. Are
sHcli/chnracters as these, and many others that
might be mentioned, fit companions nnd friends
for the children of God ? Verily, 1 think they
uro not, and shall endeavor to show that the Holy
Spirit taught that they were not.
Though adverse to some of tlie views of your
correspondent, I agree with him in this, that,
“amidst these conflicting opinions it becomes all
to inquire for tho palh of truth ;” and that “tnero
are two ways to prove, from the Uiblo, that nil
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
The apostle Paul enjoins his Corinthian breth
ren, and of course all Christians, be une
qually yoked together with unbeli* but to
“conic out from amonfr tttffftr,'’ on nr<
conformed to tins world.” And die
question, “Know ye not that the fr> cn ( p!iip of the
world,” (the very ildfl3_-S£ught byjh— e w ho join
those secular, mercenary, and selfish secret so
cieties,) “is enmity with God? 1 ‘hosoever,
therefore, will be the friend of the v orld is the
enemy of God.” Now I seriously os the intel
ligent, pious reader, if he sees no e pressed or
implied prohibition in these quotatii us, to join
ing, or forming intimate associations w ;h the un
godly, in any enterprize not absolutely necessa
ry ? Drs. Scott, Henry and Adam Gark bear
me out in the opinion, that they require
tion of the children of God, from unbelieving and
wicked persons ; except so far as tnay,bajlcccs
! sary to fulfill the the relative, social political
and commercial relations of life, what
the learned and pious Dr. Scott says, it his com
ment upon the passage quoted from Jimes 4: 4,
“To live in friendship with the worlj denotes
that a man is carnally minded, at ermity with
God, unregenerate, unpardoned, ana unrecon
ciled ; whatever his notions, conviction, or pro
fessions, have been or are. This nlist be the
; case, till Satan, ‘the god and princeqgtfiis world*
is‘dethroned ;’ and mankind in
true Christians. The servants of God are indeed
friends to tiie world, or to men in general ; and
desirous in every [lawful and prudent] way, of
doing them good, far beyond what any other per
sons are : but they cannot possess the friendship
of the world in any lteusure, without acting
contrary to the spirit nnd rules of their profes
sion.” The reason why believers aro required
to separate themselves from any intimate asso
ciation with ungodly rren, seems very obvious,
—“least they be led away by the error of the
wicked,” as thousands are, and “fall from their
steadfastness” in the faith and obedience of the
gospel. Such associations as wo are considering,
are by no means promotive of a growth in grace,”
but tend rather to retard it, in my hupiide opin
ion, and to draw off” the affections from the
“church of the living God, which is the pillar
and ground of the truth.” Painful evidences of
this are hut too common amongst us: some pro
for a separation from the church rntherthan from
their idolized Societies; whilst others join the
enemies of the church in censuring het for faults,
supposed or real, ami exalt those mere human
Societies us far more meritorious and l*ney,olent.
Such conduct us this is ns unnatural and wicked,
as for a child to unite with some wicked ecigli.
bor, or enemy, to chastise his mother for u real
or supposed neglect of some duty, instead of
meekly expostulating with ami inciting ler to
greater faithfulness. In the “Introductory Ms
say” to the late edition of the “Church.Mem rs’
Guide,” (recommc'nded nnd sold by the ‘ a
cm Baptist Publication Society,”) u niton by the
Rev. Hubbard Winslow, A. M. I fimlltlie fol
j lowing excellent remarks in reforenti tu ti.is
| very subject: , AH’ l “* o^Amafhs
jin c j • n\\d’ <” n
i labors from tljo church. and join himself to the
worldly and wicked in die professed work of re
forming mankind.”
Again, “No Society can be good,
which docs net increase raiher than diminish tho
strength of our a’tachmem to the elfireh. Let
this test be applied to all reformatofy Societies
of human invention.”
And again lie remarks,'“ln tins age of nu
merous nnd imposing associations, making strong
and bold claims upon us, we need be doubly
guarded lest any of tltcm be suffered to divide
our affections with the* church. Better, a thou
sand times, that all other associations sl'ouUk
aamtlorcd l-t ih i| lm .1 Jj .wrv ”” Jk 1)6
For the Christian Index.
A PROPOSITION.
I have the aaowa of i4fs hretlien wbp propose
Jobe units of a company of one hlrhdred, in
Georgia, each of whom shall subsrfibe, in aid
of the Southern Baptist Publication Society,
sloo—to be paid in five equal annual instal
ments—the first instalment to become due Janu
ary Ist 1651. To these, three other names are
added, making one twentieth of the number.
In furtlijprance of this plan, another gentleman,
not a church member, (making a sixth name)
lias proposed to lie one of ten, in Hancock Cos.,
who will subscribe sloo—each payable on the
same terms. ■ ‘■ •
The consumation of this plan, would be an ex
ample, set by the friends of the‘Society in Geor
gia, which coulti not fail to hase a good elTect on
onr brethren of sister Stales. The consumation
of the plan for Hancock Cos., could not fail of its
effect on sister counties. Perhaps it would he a
guaranty ot the success of Ihe whole plan. \VI in |
will respond to these propositions, by sending me
their names? We wait to see, sincerely pray
ing that God may give the heart, where he has
given the ability, to respond.
D. (i. DANIEL!,,
Agent S. B. I’. S., far Ga.
Atlanta, Aug. 7th, 1850
ipn nsr
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 1050.
try* No. IV 7 of Sigma’s “’Letters to an Infi
del Friend,” has been unavoidably crowded out.
fo'iTn*d .
A pair of silver.framed spectacles, nearly
new, were found in the Chapel of Mercer Uni
versity at the close of the late Commencement
exercises. The owner can get them by apply
ing to the F.ditor, and describing them.
ASSOCIATIONS.
The time for the annual meeting of the Associ
ations in our State, is at hand. ‘l’hc series be
gins in August, and continues almost through the
Fall months. In nil parts of the State, churches
are beginning to prepare their letters, elect their
delegates, and collect money for the printing
of minutes, if not fur other purposes. In the
neighborhoods where the Associations arc to
hold their sessions, special efforts arc made to
provide ample accommodation for the visitors,
and all look forward with pleasure to the ap.
proaching meetings; some in anticipation of a
feast of spiritual things, others to enjoy the visits
of friends.
As ‘‘the Association” is not an essential Tea
turo in church organization, according to the
views of Baptists, it is well to consider what is
the use of this appendage. It is not a little re
markable, that Baptist churches, in all parts of
the world, witlt so few exceptions, keep up Assn
rtiortal organizations, and yet the independence
jr.ijl tnttiJOD stimuli ott ,\<[ st:.\\ tt‘poiojJ\.>
we except the Congregationalists; and even they,
we believe, do not fully recognise the independ
ence of their churches. A Baptist Association
is not a court of appeals like the/IV sbvterv
of the Presbyterians, or the Conference of the
Methodists. Hence, there is nothing for it to do
byway of discipline. Each church is rrspon
siblc immediately to the Great Head, for the dis
cipline of its members, and this responsibility it
cannot transfer to others.
Is there then nothing-for the Association to do?
Or is its work merely nominal ? In some cases,
( 11 ,s 1° he feared, that this organization is useless,
so far as it does good by bringing broth
to engage in the wor
; . ’ ‘I I
over the churches which is far better than the
authoritative decrees of councils and ecclesias
tical courts.
Most of the Associations in our State have for
years been improving in efficiency; ahd some
of those that have been doing comparatively
nothing, are becoming aroused to the importance
of action. We hope the approaching meetings
will give an impulse to the cause of Christian
eflbrt, that will be felt by every member of our
wide spread denomination.
n A PTISTS* IN* GEORG IA,
According to the Minutes of the
there are 57 Baptist Associations in Georgia,
1,132 churches, and 77,809 members. The
number of persons baptized in 1819 was 4,837.
For the Christian Index.
COI.rO RTAGE.
Tlie Executive Committee of the Georgia
Baptist Convention have instructed their (’hair
man to make known through the Index, to the
Baptist Churches in the State, the action of the
last Convention on the subject of Col portage, and
to request all the Churches that may approve
of said action, to send up contributions to aid in
this great work, to their next Association, or to
. the Convention. Jtis hoped that a work of so
: much importance, by which so much good may
I be done afTTi small an expense, w ill not be per
! mitted to languish for the want of the co-opera
! lien of any church. Brethren C. M. Irwin, N.
G. Foster anJ W. Stokes, all of Madison, are
the Committee appointed by the Convention, to
conduct this department of labor in the State of
Georgia.
B. M. SANDERS, Ch. Ex. Com.
Plan of Colportage adopted by the Baptist
Convention for the State of Georgia, at their late
session at Marietta.
1. That this Convention now enter upon the
i business of establishing a system of Colportage,
I for the State, in connection with the Southern
I Baptist Publication Society.
2. That a Committee of three bo appointed,
i whose duty it shall be: Ist. To cal! the atten
tion of the Churches and Associations to the sub
ject, a rid endeavor to secure funds for the object.
i 2i. To select suitable menus Colporteurs, fix
their rate ol compensation, assign their fields of
labor, and recommend them to the Board of the
! Southern Baptist Publication Society for appoint
ment, and to superintend the general interest of
the onterprize.
U. That the Colporteurs so commissioned,
: shall be subject to such regulations and instruc
tions, approved by the Committee, as shall be
given to them by the Board of liio Southern
Baptist Publication Society.
4. That the Colporteurs shall report quarterly
to the Board of the Publication Society, and an
i nually to the Committee.
5. That the Committee shall Report annually
to the < ‘onvention.
0. That the books, now the property of the
Convention, be placed et the disposal of the Com
mittee, and that they he directed to solicit any
books, suitable to the object, belonging to Asso
ciations in the State.
7. That such additional books, needful for the
, work, shall be ordered by the Committee from
•*’ - 11 - • p.ii,!i,u.iirto si™ : ->.!.r
-tit Atmi'i in pun—jjuij.nuis f uam_2—mii_
i may agree upon wiih said Society.
8. That n subscription Lc now taken for this
! object—to be placid in the hands ot the Treas
urer of the Convention, subject to the order of
the Committee.
■ Heligiims SaMigenre.
RE VIVA I, IN FA V E’CTE COUNTY.
Brother \V. J. Stephens, of Monroe county,
gives the follow ing account of a meeting at An
j tioeh, in Fayette county.
“The general meeting: of the third
the Flint River Association, met oil ,
In sere 111- Sabbath in
:i <-i,;i Ti li. I'.l ■- C
Tm^n^^nristTan
REVIVAL/lN RANDOLPH COUNTY.
Dear Brother Dagg. —l have just closed a
very interesting meeting at Shiloh Church,
Randolph county. The meeting lasted nine
days. I can truly say, the spirit of the Lord
was with his church the w hole time. There
was no noise hut weeping, and great solem
nity pervaded tiie congregation. I baptized
thirty-six who professed faith in Jesus, end
; received nine by letter. This church has been
! in a.revived state for some lime. There liavo
been, including the ‘aiigjre, sixty members
fifMed to her in the last three months* There
is a fine Sabbath SiSirSl connected with the
j Church, u of the causes
good
| ly number of the were
the subjects of God’s The
j W’ork appears to he very exUBaHTE. and l think,
from its character, will continue in tho congre
gation for some time. I had the assistance of
brother \V. L. Crawford three days, and the help
ol the Lord all the time.
Yours truly, TIIOS. MUSE.
For the Christian Index.
Forsyth, Aug. 6, 1850.
Dear Brother Dagg, — We last Friday closed
a meeting in connection with Hopewell Church,
Jasper county. The meeting wms one of unu
sual interest. Many professed hope in Christ.
Twelve were added to the church by baptism,
and five by letter. We expect a number of
others soon. The brethren Clark and White
were with us the larger portion of the time.—
Brethren Byars, Bledsoe, and J. M. Carter, were
with us part of the time. Brother Malone, a
licensed preacher belonging to the church, ren
; dered importont assistance. This church ha/
thus received valuable accessions. She feels
much strengthened. Pray for us at Hopewell.
W. D. ATKINSON.
BAPTISM OF A JEW.
On Sunday, July 21st, the Broadway Baptist
Church was densely crowded to witness the bap
tism of John Griffith, a converted Jew, bye the
pastor ol the church, the Rev. Dr. Dowling.—
j Previous to going down into the water, this in
teresting Christian Israelite gave a succinct ac
-1 count oi’ his caily history, and conversion to the
faith of Jesus, the Mcsssiah. His views of sal
val on by grace, and of justification by faiili i r
the atonement and righteousness olour Lord/
susChrist, were peculiarly evangelical mid cltA
The piety, humility^and pathos that pervadeu
his address, gained liTm'an'etfffllnce to the liegrti,
of his hearers, and brought tears to many oflbeir
eye. Mr. Griffith, who has enjoyed the advan
tages of the German Universities, and is a gen
tleman of finished education and fluent address,
is now engaged as a missionary and agent in the
service of the American Society for Meliorating
the Condition of the Jews. May his life be as
long and useful, and his death be as peaceful
and happy, as that of the late venerable and be
loved father in Israel, Joseph Samuel C. F.
i Frey.— N. Y, Recorder.
DR. JUDSDN.
Dr. Judson, as we learn by a letter from Mr.
April 20, embarked for the isle of
the eighth of that month, in
ol po'iiTfw".k Aristide Marie, nccompanied*j(j|
Mr. Ranney. Hu was so far reduced
ii us iippi. hcnsi.ms were entertained qUM ‘>v
In I -re lie e ,!d get out of the ri
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