Newspaper Page Text
138
A * I
(Dnpal.
” for theC**?' 18 ® UA°X
true religion.
The condition of that m® ho
claims of religion, tstru ypi ‘ nt wor w, j
should seek the best t ungs destitute i
2*--**r ‘ IU
real value. Oh that men were wtse.
they would consider their latter end .
l L.„tin is as worthless ns no religion,
thev would consider incn
F.l religion i. worlhl...
, „ wiib the .ddiltooJ ad™*'i
I, bj X.in S i.. r— • “* ■ r.’X;
it effectually prevents him from se(i"v
which is true. Os all the deluded travelers to e -
less misery, there is none for whomourpUj
more demanded, than for him, who n the mu
Confidently believes h.msell to he
of rum s way, ®\_n e i, ot d him, just ready to
of rum s way, tyhold him, just ready to
at the gate of heav
call out, “Lord, Lord
ing to urge his claims tCbe admitted within those
gates, which inflexible justice and almighty pow
er bar against him forever. Do we shed tears
of pity for him ? Let them flow—let them flow
freely: but let us not forget to impure whether
such tears are not due for ourselves. Is our
hope of future bliss better founded than his?
Are we really in the way of life, or are we per
ishing in the some fatal delusion? To afford
some assistance in this most important examina
tion, the following remarks on the evidences of
genuine Christian experience, are presented for
consideration.
We have also another object in view in offering
those remarks. We are much mistaken, if all
the mischief which has been effected by opposing
the sublime truths of the gospel, great ns it lias
been, be at all comparable with that which iias
been caused by inculcating erroneous notions
concerning experimental religion. 11 lien poor
creatures are drilled through a course of ngitu
ling exercises, and and are lit length called upon
to believe, assuredly, that tho strong workings
of natural feelings and passions, urc tho power.
ful, gracious operations of the Holy Spirit; and
nro instructed to regard every rising salutary
doubt that would tend to free them from tho fatnl
delusion, as the heinous sin of unbelief; we view
-the spectacle with horror; and we would use
every means that might tend to break their
fetters, or to preserve others from the fatal snare.
IVe hope that an attempt to delineate the distin
guishing features of tho real Christian will bo
useful to this end; and we pray that the Lord
may bless it with success.
That religion . wjtirh has God for its omhor,
and which iendjjpjhfl.iy|R consist* /majjgii
formily to tho ,s ’
frrn l ' l "‘ ‘* j
Bjgrm: — ->.- ■ im■ . tVinmali y
fie tuAivVU'tew ol \\tc ut'intV, uit\ wWU I
uHAIr oxercisps. An n\\ t\\© protons oi llie Holy
Spirit, it exists ns an esscntiul element, and so
far as it is discovered, serves to distinguish with
certainty, the genuine graces from their counter,
foils.
Conviction of sin may he regarded as genuine,
only when it is produced by love to the God of
holiness. It then consists in a sense of the sin
fulness and hatefulness of sin, and in a heart,
loathing of it, and of ourselves on account of
if. If tho subject of this conviction be under
an apprehension of divine wrath, he will be
led to account this wrath, even though he him
soli is its object, ns hut the just expression of
God's hatred of sin; and lie will vindicate, and
even seek to vindicate, the sentence of his con
demning judge. If, on the contrary, lie he freed
from tins awful apprehension, and have a hope
of mercy, he will be brought by this convic.
ibn to such a sense of his unworthiness of nil
God’s mercies, as will make him ever lie low,
very low before God, and readily and heartily
ascribe all the blessings he receives to unmerited
grace.
J lie spirituality of conviction is not to be de
termined by the pain of mind which may be felt.
A dread of eternal misery is enough to produce
pain o’ mind, where there is no proper sense of
•in as its just cause. Cain had an intolerable
apprehension of the punishment of his trans
gression. Judas, in deep distress, acknowledged
before the accomplices of his crime, that he had
sinned against innocent blood; but this conviction
only hurried him with agony of mind, through a
miserable death, to bis own place. Simon the
sorcerer, while in the gall of bitterness and in the
bond of iniquity, had such convictions os led him
to desire one of Cod’s servants to pray for him.
In like manner, many other sinners have been
convinced that sin is nti object of God's utter
abhorrence; and that they must be under bis
sore displeasure to all eternity, if his wrath
cannot, by some means, he appeosed. But in all
conviction in wjtich the divine displeasure man
ifested against sin, does not obtain a cordial
approbation, the heart possesses no love to God.
In the exercise of faith, we inay discover love
animating and actuating it, as the soul does the
body, and thereby distinguishing the dead faith
of unregenerate men, and the faith of devils,
from the genuine faith of God’s elect.
The true believer receives the word of God, as
indeed the word of God. He receives it not onlv
ns true, but as good; and therefore, both believes
and loves it. llis faith rests on the divine testi
mony, works by love, and purifies the heart.
The word ol God which he both believes and j
lores, includes both the law and the gospel. In
the conviction of sin before described, be has a
believing reception of the law as holy, just, and i
good; and lies before God with his mouth stopped,
having no defence to make, no extenuating plea i
to offer. But as the law is not the ministration ;
eflife, these actings of faith on the law of God as i
7 par t of’ the divine revelation, have not the
promise of justification ; this promiae
STST. hearty reception of the testimony that
God has given of Ids Son. Christ is declared to
b Tthc only name under heavc*iven among men,
Iw, L ... 1. * Th. belies,
other salvation. It is, moreover, declared, that
God ‘‘has given us eternal life; andth.slfeu
| L Son-” and .bat “the Son ha, power over all
\ Zh that he Should nice eternal life tons many as
VZ jvenhm.” By *hi* testimony
u is well assured that salvation is a
‘-o „ !L „-,r.ot God through Christ: yet not
gift a free gift of God through Christ: yet not
free in such a sense that Jimpemtent unrege -
r l sinners, may, as such, claim its h nefi
a their pleasure; but free, bec.usa.God be
stows it freely, without money and wit flu t pne .
Having been cast low before G °i by
viCion of sin, he now raises Ins tbe on y
hope of salvation, and keeps U
lhe P sovereign mercy of God throngh\fchr,at.
“The Lord hath mercy on whom he
merey” is the creed which hts heart
and ot^iroycs^omU^gjj^Uama^P^hL
Wt anxious prayer. W
A error exists with respect to faith,
that it consists in a persuasion of being a Chris
lian. There are those who hate the truth as it is
in Jesus, whose minds are full of bitterness
ngainst the glorious sovereignty of God’s grace;
but who, nevertheless, believe themselves to be
Christians, and fortify themselves in this false
hood, and cling to it as tho only safety of their
souls. “They have not received the love of the
truth that they might be saved, wherefore God hath
sent them strong delusion that they should believe
a lie.”
Tlint persons may possess genuine faith, who
ore in the wrong on somo points of doctrine, must
not be denied by any who pray, “Lord I believe,
help thou mine unbelief.” Bui God’s people are
chosen to salvation, through sanctification of the
spirit and belief of the truth. It is therefore not
a light matter, whether we believe truth or error;
but one which involves our eternal salvation,
lie who seeks not after a dear and consistent
view of divine truth, or who dislikes it when it
is fairly presented to his mind, cannot he u lover
of the truth, and, therefore, cannot be a Chris
tian.
It is much to be feared that thcro arc many
who have had distress of mind, arising from
consciousness of sin, and having sought relief,
have found it by sad mistake, in something short
of the genuine gospel of Christ. Nono receive
tho word in a good and honest heart, nut those
who also understand it. ( Compare Luke 8, 15,
with Matthew 12. 23.) In the stony ground
hearers tlie unchanged heart, still stone within,
is covered with a surface ol natural allections,
which, like a little depth of earth, receives the
seed ol tho word, and a sudden growth of joy
arises, that is mistaken for the joy ol genuine
faith. In Christian experience, there is
for sin, followed by relief fITUB ilu_i
vavion, wUVv UifHO iiwTngV
tn t'i' order, ore found in nil the eountorleits
well which Satan most successfully deceives
I 1,18 dt hided followers. Only when these cfleets
are produced by divine truth, understood and
received into the heart, can the experience ho
pronounced Evangelical. j,
lo BE CONCLUDED JS OUR NEXT,
For the Christian Index.
LETTER TO AN INI-IDEL FRIEND.
LETTER V.
My Dear Friend.— In your lust letter, you say
many things against the Bible, and write as if it
was given to prove tho existence of God. “The
Bilde is not intended to prove, hut to reveal God.”
Hudson. All the visible works of creation
prove his existence, his omnipotence, and his
omniscience, but revelation unfolds his moral
attributes in bolder anil more impressive lan
guage, than creation or providence dors, and all
the moral instincts of the human family corres
pond with its sentiments, and strengthen the
chain of testimony bearing upon its divine ori
°' 11 ’ le Utkle has laws which criticism can
not reach, nor inero human understanding un
fold.”—Hudson. While it is the oldest,° it is
also llio purest book that has descended through
the lapse of ages. Atheists have mocked h,
pagans havo burned it, infidels have ridiculed it,
and scoffed amd jested over its sacred pages, and
yes it lives; still it is read by millions; still it
exerts an influence over the world that is line
quailed by any other book, ancient or modern;
and still it comforts and purifies families, com
munities, and nations, with its holy peaceful
teachings.
Every tiling that has any bearing upon the
subject convinces me of its divine origin. It lias
the strongest External evidences, and “the exter
nal may again be divided into direct and collat
eral. The direct evidences are such as arise
from tho nature, consistency, and probability of
the facts; and from the simplicity, uniformity,
competency, and fidelity of the testimonies by
which they are supported. The collateral evi
deuces arc those which arise from the concurrent
testimonies of heathen writers, or others which
corroborate the history of Christianity, and estab
lish its lending facts. The internal evidences
arise either from the conformity oftlie announce
mentsof revelation to the known character of
God, from their aptitude to the frame and cir
cumstnnces of man, or from those convictions ini
pressed upon the mind by the agency of the
Divine Spirit.”—Dick.
Among profane historians, who furnish strong
! external evidences of its truth, I need only
mention Tacitus, Pliny, and Josephus. Speak
mg of Christians, Tacitus says, “the author of
this name was Christ, who, in the reign of Tibe.
riits, was brought to punishment by Pontius
Pilate, the procurator.” Pliny saysofthe prim.
Hive Christians, “they were wont, on a stated day,
to meet together before it was light, and to sing
a hymn to Christ as to a God alternately; and
to oblige themselves by'a
not to do anything that was ill,
Me of Christianity was then so J*
says, the heathen temples “were*
saken.” Josephus, also says, *!*)■ ;
about this time, Jesus, a wise manJH
ful to call him a man, for he was AjK
derful works, a teacher of such m| “
the truth with pleasure. He ‘
Ih —r ’ *• ;■;?■. “ and I,in,
III". H, WBB (ihe) chrm. A W,h,a
at the suggestion otthe pnnc.ple ,
nonrtpmned hirn to the cross, tho.H - , ’
at the suggestion otthe principle ,lre W p i]ate
had condemned him to the cross, tho W\V “ ’
peared to them nltve again the Hurt™
divine prophets had foretold M -jR “ JJj
* nd wonderful things^oncer*ng#>
the.tribe of Christians, so ttoU;
Xl “ d ?-” T !”/#hin,
m ,„ y h.r i*.r iie .
great and prom.nent truths N
ductions ofanctent t.me mnbrM
attestation of .Is veradjl jn
j testimony, and as of
theso
consiilerntions in your mind, and give them n
fair investigation. ;Wl other f ne.tionsof human
and temporal interest are hut ’rtvs, bit floating
atoms com pan™ with tiie tru'h of vie Bilde.
Tlionoti I <Jan only glance at these important
subjects, f urge you as a frienl to red Leslie's
Short Method with Deists, Ptc/ion on Infidelity,
and similar works. Truly you:s, I
fG.MA.
For the Christian Index.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Dear bro. Dagg, —l have recently fen sever
al articles in the Index, respecting thspropriety
of church members connecting thernjives with
Secret Societies. It is no part of myurpose to
make a reply, but lo suggest to tho gjd breth
ren, that nothing is to be gained by tlogitation
of tho question. But on the contrtv, it will
serve to distract our membership, by wing dis.
cord and prejudice, where nothing sa> brotlier
ly love and afleetion ought to be ctvated.—
There nre many very pious and vid Die inems
nearly all our churches counted with
some Society, who have not hcrettte been
stumbling blocks, and I trust never til bewbj,
the enlightened and unprejudiced. Lntm, i
beg them most earnestly, as they Jove pros
pnrily of Zion, and the harmony anTic
to desist from the work they liavl- takcnl Imnd.
/ - G ’
For the ChrUtian/ndex.
COLLEGIATE El/UCATIO?
Madison, Gn , Aug. 17, 00,
Dear Bro. Dagg. —lt ifflords me gre ins
ure to snv, 1 hat the Baptist College at t place
resumed its duties, on the 12th inst>, A r the i
care of Geo. Y. BrownC President, f*'! t corps |
of teachers.
Legislature of Georgia, in the y
and, so fur as 1 know, is the only cliartid flap.
ti' st Cu,lo b rc ‘bo Slate. The presentjospcct
of success is most encouraging. You ladies
are coming in from all tho adjacent tyitry,
nml, to day we learn there aro One liW, and pu
pils, mostly young ladies who liaveftaehed
themselves to the several classes in the,liege,
and who design, many of them, to grade.
1 lie Hoard of Trustees have deterted to
have Commencement day after
i’ii ihc Ist Thursday in July. TrywOfl
j going forward with their now Col\\ftWJ
| wl ':b “ ill be of brick 50 feet wide,
long, with two stories of
and inline proportions, having suitably 0 *
for each department of learning. ?
When tho members of the ohurclfSt^dace
conceived the notion of a Baptist Colk’g.it was
m view to the denominational wants if astern
and Middle Georgia. They could ftaiy see,
that Madison was a good and healthff! Jeation,
and no school in many contiguous coirflis that
was marked ns a Baptist School. . V saw
with great satisfaction the flourisliiusstfools at
LaGrange, Columbus, and Talbottorjjn'.ler the
control of enterprizing Baptists; and le y were
encouraged to believe, that a Bapt College
could succeed at Madison, and thus faiho school
has gone fur beyond all calculation.
In conversing with many <■ , e yotlt* ladies
who have come here, I am still the jbre con
vinced that a better location could not V bad in
all Georgia. Heretofore our people li.y> been
impelled to the west, with the prospecto a now
country, fertile lands, and enterprizing opula
tion. In this delusion they have been < hided,
for each year develops the truth that our lands
aro yet productive; equal, if not far supJor, lo
any in Georgia; that we have enterprise enough
to build railroads plank roads, water, aid steam
factories, telegraphic lightning rods, sclools and
colleges.
Our I own has a Board of Commisioncrs
who have determined to be co-workeh in this
good wort. They have pledged themsilvtes, of.
ficia/ly, anJ personally, to keep off all gatrtblers,
so that the schools will not bo annoyed t)y that
pestiferous tribe. The Sons of ‘
have done much good to tho town andcounlry.— ,
lo see 15 Sahbath School teachers, and pu
pils, each Sabbath morning, would warjh the
licart of any Christian, and excite the kindliest
feelings of every good citizen.
The Trustees of this Institution are all prac.
ticaldo men, and will try, in the first place, to
keep out of debt, and at the same time, to have
fine and spacious buildings, and superior teach.
crs - . /
Tho 1 liilosophical, and chemical apptn*^U^t
which is now attached to the fnstitutkjfl
bought, under an order of the Board of TJ
I'.v th.’ Resident of the College, and is 1,-irnß
very superior: this, will, extra-sizo
and full maps will offer facilities tothe stuß
Tho Professor of is per*
’
IN D EX.
HjLare perform each expert-
1 •
ba*T thought fit to write yqu the above, be
cans#H cannot remain in a village, and witness
laudable Baptist doings, without penning them
down as 1 pass along over th<? etiulft-ry. Who
will not be pleased to Ijear that the Baptists of
Georgia have a with bright and
brightening prospects? and will not many be
Oyilling to assist in endowing tliis Institution, so
that amid prosperous or adverse times; it may
stand and furnish the means of perpetual instrufc
lion? FARMER.]
,
For the Christian Index.
Aug. 20th, 1850,
D'rnr bro. Dagg, —Since my last communica
tion, I have received two more aid
of our Publication Society. A gentleman, not
a church member, proposes to be one often in
Burke county, who will subscribe SIOO each,
‘livable as before stated. Another gentleman,
who's also not a church member, proposes that
his wife :>na!i be one ofAen in Elfingliffln county,
who shall subscribe SIOO on the same terms.—
Surely when those who are not church members
come forward so readily and liberally, those who
arc church members will not stand back. One
additional name has been given for Hancock,
making two ol ilie ten for that county. Who
will next respond to this good cause ?
My dear brethren, it is true, your substance is
needed in furtherance of this enterprise, but I
beg that we may also have your prayers for God’s
blessing or. it.
Yours in Christ Jesus,
I). G. DANIEL!,, Agent,
S. B. I>. S for (Ja.
For the Christian Index.
Dear Brother Dagg, —Please publish in the
Index the following, as received in money and
subscriptions, for the Southern Baptist Publica
tion Society :
DOOLY*
T. C. Cone $ r> 00
William Bridges, 1 py
Rev, Larkin Joiner, X 00
Tully Williamson,.. 0 10 on
Thomas Whitsett, cash, 10 00
J. M. 11 ightower,. . .* ~q 0y
Mrs. S. C. Shine, cash, 00
T. 11. Dawson, Esq., ■ i oy
Harvey, 1 oo
Y\ TROUP VILLE.
Richard Scrugg, cash, 5 00
J. O. Gold wire, cash, 1 oy
Ezekiel Donnard, cash 3 00
J. J. Gohlwire, cash 5 yy
Miss 11, O. Goldwire, cash 5 yy
Miss S. J, Ooldwire, cash 5 yy
CEDAR CREEK.
A. W. Milner, cash,... f,O
Miss A. M. Smith, cash,...; 1 (JO
tA.YNAIIASSEK.
J. I). Stapleton, o yy
Duvenport, jr., i jjUO
.... 100
Sterling Evans, easuwTT 0 00
,\lr*. Frances Evans, cash 50
f. W. Gregorw/. 1 00
G, W. Stnpkjon 1 00
Cullen Roba/ts, 1 00
Solomon. ILfi reJI, cash, 50
Harrell, cash, 25
,Myss WE. Walton, cash 1 00
Way a 00
J. J.VNelson, cash 3 yy
W/JSkelion, 3 00
Roberts, cash, I 00
Montgomery, cash, ] 00
cash 1 00
1 yj
SPRING CREEK.
C. H. Noblin 1 00
M. Noblin 1 yy
G. A. Terrell, cash,. ,S. 1 00
1). VV. ‘l’uylor, cash 1 00
A*Friend, cash, 50
Richard Rolin, cash, 20
J. 11. Taylor, 1 yy
J. W. Brown, cash, 1 00
Hugh T.awson. 10 00
M. Marshall, cash 25
R. M. Cox, cash 05
Eason Smith 50
Mark I lolton, cash, Oyt
11. Shepherd, cash 1 (to
William Johnson, cash 50
11.0. 1! >lton, cash, 50
D. (’. Adams, cash, 05
William Cox, cash, 25
Mrs. Charity Kendrick, 5 00
Mrs. J. M. Brown 1 00
Thomas Dollar, cash, 10
Dr. E. Kendrick 5 oi)
D. B. Smoll, 3 00
Mrs. Elizabeth Tucker, 1 00
H. C. lIORNADY, Agent.
Aug. 3rd, ISSO.
For the Christian Index.
CGI. PORTAGE.
Fho Executive Committee of the Georgia
[Saptist Convention lia've instructed their Chair,
man to make known through the Index, to the
Baptist Churches in the State, the action of the
last Convention on the subject of Colportnge, 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. It is hoped that a work of so
much importance, by which so much good may
be done at so small an expense, will not be per
tnitteil to languish for the want of the co opera
lion of any church. Brethren C. M. Irwin, N.
G. hosier and VV. 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 Col portage adopted by the Baptist
Convention for the State of Georgia, at their late
session at Marietta.
1. ‘Chat this Convention now enter upon the
of establishing a system of Col portage,
in connection with the Southern
■plication SooietJp -4
fca Committee of three be appointed,
bo :Ist. To call the alien,
fi'ches and Associati !■> the.sub-
Bor tosecure fut 1 ;■ r the object.
I labor, and recommend them to the Board of the
j Southern Baptist Publication Society forappoint-
I ment, and to superintend the general interest of
kthe enterprize.
f 3. 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 the Southern
Baptist Publication Society.
4. That the Colporteurs shall report quarterly
Ito the Board the Publication Society, and an
-1 Dually to the Committee.
5. That 4lie,Committee shall Report annually
to the Convention.
That the .books, now the property of the
Convention, be placed at the disposal of the Com
mittee, and that they he directed to soHfTl 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
the Southern BaptisyPublication Society, under
such arrangemgav/ot pledging any funds of the
Convention given any other object, as they
may agree upon wfihjtaid Society.
8. be now taken for this
object— to in the hands of the Treas
urer of'thc Convention, subject to the order of
- the CpmmimA t
WMM SMSES*
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 1850.
SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS,
When we compare the number of Baptists in
our State, with the total amount which they con
tribute for the spread of the gospel, it is evident
that the proportion of their income which they
are devoting to the service of God, is lamentably
small. We do not, as a Denomination, give as
much for this, the best of objects, os we do for
the support of our civil government. It is true
that we are compelled to give to the latter, while
il is left to our discretion to decide what we will
do lor the former. But does this fact justify us
in withholding from our Lord? If God, by his
providence, invites us to give ten dollars for reli
gions purposes, while our country demands five
dollars fir the support of government, shall we
be content to put one dollar in bis treasury, while
we pay the government its full demands?
We have only to look at the calls of Providence
to satisfy ourselves, that the great mass of our
biethren are not responding to them promptly and
fully. In our own State, how many families are
there without the Bible? How many communi
ties that do not hear the gospel preached once a
month? How many churches are there that
meet only once or twice a month, when they
ought to meet every Lord’s day? Listen to the
calls fur ministerial labor which come from our
south-western States and territories. Look what
a great work is yet to be dono in Mexico and
South America. Or, if you please, turn to Eu
rope, w here God is overturning tile kingdoms of
the world to make way for the establishment of
his own kingdom; or to Asia, wjuw* ‘Ve fulJs,
are while, r.-nriy fhr I lio ban icii,
where our own ltowen_i_s left way
into the heart of the country, accompanied by a
solitary colored man. But we need not enume
rate the m my calls which God is making upon
the liberality of his people. Ho must bn very
ignorant of the present state of the world, who
has not learned, that the harvest is great, and the
laborers are few.
We cannot say then, that God has no use for
our money, or that our present contributions are
sufficient to meet the wants of his cause. It is
true that lie could, if he saw fit, procure by mir
aclo, spiritual food for the milions-of souls who
are starving for want of the bread of life. But
he has made it our duty to preach the gospel to
ever}’ creature, and until this work is accomplish
ed, he has a lien upon our whole property forthe
purpose ofcarrying out this object. Every con
sideration of duty and gratitude, demands of us a
prompt and cheerful surrender of all that God
claims at our hands. If upon an honest and ptay
erful examination of our duty in this respect it,
appears that one-tenth of our income ought to be
consecrated to tho support of the gospel, let us not
withhold this amount because God does not speak
in the same authoritative tone, as that which
comes from the rulers of the land. If the cir
cumstances of any of us suggest, that a larger
proportion should be set apart for religious pur
poses, then let us not attempt to rob God, by de
voting any part of tin t which he claims as his
own, to our own selfish purposes.
PAYING PASTORS.
By special request, we copy from the South
Western Baptist, the following letter of brother
Battle, and the accompanying editorial remarks
of brother Chambliss. Tho subject is one of vi
tal importance topur churches, and yet it is very
imperfectly understood, and still more imperfect
ly practised. Wetsay it is of vital importance, be
cause the spiritual condition of a church must he
very seriously impaired when it fails to pay its
just debts. What church would expect to obtain
a blessing from God, when it refused to pay the
carpenter who had built a house of worship for
its necomm idation ? But are not the services
of the pastor as valuable as those of the rarpen
ter; and can the one be left unrewarded with
any less impropriety than the oilier? Many of
our churches have yet to learn, that the salary of
their pastors is a just debt, and not a charitable
contribution.
The question as to tho best mode of raising
the pastor’s salary, is one which admits of con
siderable discussion. An article in the last num
ber of tho Christian Review, enumerates the dif
ferent method's which have been devised to ac
complish the end, and gives a preference to a
plan substantially the same as that adopted by
tho Eufaula church. There can be no question
that tho scriptures require each member to give
as God hath prospered tiim. Any plan that will
be likely to secure the most perfect proportion
between a man’s prosperity, and bis contribution,
must be the best plan.
We commend the following letter to the spo
Lcb 1 attenti’XD gfour churches. If there is any
! one practice that deserves reprobation, unmeas
ured and unqualified il is that to which our broth
er refers, the practice of withholding the hire of
the minister. Perhaps this may not be suffL
ciently common among the churches to dese'rve
the name of a practice,—wo hopa-ou/ But it
must not be denied, that it does frequently occur,
that ministers fail to receive the salaries which
have been promised, for which they labored, on
which they depended for the support of their
families, and in view of which they contracted
liabilities which this failure renders them una
ble to meet. It is bad enough, in all conscience
when one man becomes dishonest, and refuses to
pay his just debts—and he a man of the world;
but when a whole Christian church does so, we
know not in what language to express our loath
ing, our regret. As to the best pjan of-raising
the salaries of the pastorate,-that is a question
which we shall not refer to hesf —albeit, we
think that of the Eufaula church equit
able and certain of sin
cerely trust, foxf* honor
cause of trutirand l| ; ‘
; churchesjfrrll remember that a joint
of binds them severally and indu
vhkiSlTy, just as much in ecclesiastical, as in
matters of the world, and that church members
can no more be honest in not paying church
dc.l#3, than-individual debts. Tbityure as just
in We one case as in the other:
Dear Brother Chambliss :
I have frequently read in our papers of
churches failing to pay up their Preachers, ac
cording to contract. Now, this is a most shame
ful thing !—Can such churches, or such individ
ual members be honest? 1 think not. Religion I
had thought made us so. I would suggest that all
the churches adopt the plan of our church, to wit r
the pro-rata plan. That every member make
up in bis mind, whet he is worth, in money,
above his debts, and return the same to the Dea
cons—nothing less than his worth, but over if he
chooses. The deacon or deacons make the cal
culation, and collect the amounts and pay the
debts, and so the preacher gets his money.
This system is udopted in ull the deficiencies of
subscriptions. We adopt it only on such debts
ns neccessaril v accrue, in keeping up a church.
For all other objects, members do as they please
—give, or not give. We think a member who
refuses to comply with such a requisition, is un
fit for church fellowship. Dear Brother, I have
written this hoping it might do some good—
might wipe th : s non-payment stain from our de
nomination—please publish it. We have noth
ing to do witn other denominations.
Fraternally,
CULLEN BATTLE,
Eufaula, Ala. Aug. sth, 1850.
PRAYER AND FORGIVENESS.
Two weeks ago we published a poetical con
tribution from R. F., with the title-“I must not
pray.” This week we publish another from
“Ex.,” in wliichf the doctrine of “R. F.” is dis
puted. .May not the difficulty be practically
solved, by an immediate compliance with the
whole of Paul’s direction, to “prav, lifting up
holy hands, without wrath?” He who postpones
neither prayer nor forgiveness, appears to us to
takejjie *af* and the right way**
v Tiio reference to Mutt. 11 :* 25, is printed ac
cord ing to copy. Ve styipose “Fix.” incant
fttnrk 11 : 25.
0-5”Wc are infornw^flraTlilr. Jesse Stevens
was killed oil Saturday afternoon, about fivo
miles from this place. After a fall of rain du
ring tho proutding part of the dj^ - , a strong wind
from tlio north west arose in the afternoon. The
deceased was riding with another man in a bug
gy, when a branch, torn from its tree by the vio
lence of the wind, fell on his head, and instantly
deprived him of life. The other person, and tho
horse, were unhurt. It is said that the two per
sons had exchanged seats in tho buggy, a few
moments before the fatal blow came.
We iiave not heard of any other loss of life
resulting from the wind; but many trees were
prostrated, some of them on the campus of the
University. Some slight injury was also done
to the cupola of the chapel.
IRpligioits UntHligenre.
LETTER FROM MRS. JUDSON.
The following interesting letter has been fur
nished us for publication. It was addressed by
Mrs. Judson to the children of Dr. Judson, now
residing in Worcester, in this State, and was
written on the afflictive occasion of his late em
barkation for the isle of Bourbon, with a view of
regaining his health. The letter affords a touch
ing example of affection, and of true missionary
devotion.— Watchman Sf Reflector.
Maulmain, April 11. 1850.
My very dear Children, —I have painful news
to tell you—news that 1 am sure will make your
hearts ache; but l hope our heavenly Father will
help you to bear it. Your dear papa is very, very
ill indeed: so much so that the t est judges fear
he will never be any better. He began to tail
about five months ago, and has declined so gradu
ally that we were not fully aware of his danger
until lately but within a few weeks those who
love him have become very much alarmed. In
January we went down to Mergui by the steam
er, and when we returned, thought he was a lit
tle better; but lie soon failed again. We next
spent a month at Amherst, but he received little
if any benefit. Next, the doctors pronounced
our house (the one you used to live in,) unhealthy
and we removed to another. But all was of no
use. Your dear papa continued to fail, till sud
denly, one evening, his muscular strength gave
way, and be was prostrated on the bed, unable
to help himself. This occurred about two weeks
ago. The doctor now became alarmed, and said
the only hope for him was in a long voyage.—
It was very hard to think of such a thing in his
reduced state, particularly as I could not go with
him; hut after we had wept and prayed over it
one day and night, we concluded that it was our
duty to use the only means which God had left
us, however painful. We immediately engaged
his passage aboard a French barque bound for
the island of Bourbon; but before it sailed he
bad become so very low that no one thought it
right for him to go alone. They therefore call
ed a meeting of the mission, and appointed Mr.
Ilanney. It was a great relief to me, for he is a
verv kind man, and loves your dear papa very
much, and he will do every tiling that can be
done for his comfort. The officers of the vessel
too, seemed greatly interested for him, as did
every one else. He was carried on board a week
ago yesterday, in a litter, and placed on a nice,
easy cot, made purposely for him. I stayed on
[*gust