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50
(Drijiuul.
For the Christian Index.
REVIEW OF ROBINSON ON BAPTJZO.
NUMBER 111.
We set out with Dr. Robinson's unqualified
confession that Baptize in Classic Greek wnteis, |
“means every where to immerse. 1 ’ In our e.xam
ination oftlie Hellenistic writings, we have seen |
uo sufficient reason lor supposing that the word |
has undergone any change of signification.— •
Weconjo now therefore to the Doctor’s second
consideration 1 .
“b) In Acts 2: 41, three thousand persons j
•re said to have been baptized in Jerusalem tip ;
pareotly in one day at the season of I’cntocost in
June; and in Acts 4: 4, the same rite is neces
sarily implied in regard to five thoitsund more.
Against the idea of full immersion in these eases
there lies a difficulty, apparently insuperable, in
the scarcity of Water. There is in summer no
running stream in the vicinity of Jerusalem, !
except the mere rill of Siloam a few rods in .
length; and the city is and was supplied with
vralci” from its cisterns, and public reservoirs;
sco Bib. Res. in Palest. 1 p. 479—510. From
neither of these sources could a supply have
been well obtained for the immersion of ROOD
persons. Tho same scarcity of water forbade
the use of private baths ns a general custom;
and thus also further precludas the idea of bathin'*
in the passages referred to in letter a.”
“Oil! that mine adversary bad written a
book!” And the wish is gratified. Dr. 11. has
written a large work entitled “Biblicnl lie
•earchcs in Palestine,” in which lie has given
tolerably full accounts of the topography of Je
rusalem. Without going to other authors for
information we shall in the main rely upon Dr.
Robinson’s own statements, and let Edward
Robinson, author of the Biblical Researches,
reply to the argument of Edward Robinson,
author oftlie Lexicon oftlie New Testament.
“Jerusalem lies in the midst of a rocky lime
•tone region, throughout which fountains nnd
wells are comparatively rare. In the City it.
self, little if any living water is known; aiid in
its immediate vicinity are only the three small
fountains along tho lower part of the Valley
of Jehoshaphat. Yrl with nil these, disndvant
ages of its position, the Holy City would up
pear always to have had a full supply of water (or
its inhabitants, both in ancient an I in modern
times. In tho numerous sieges to which in ull
ages it has been exposed, wo no where read of
any want of water within the city; while the
besiegers have often suffered severely, and havo
been compelled to bring water from a great His.
lance. During the siege by Titus, when the
Jews, pressed with famine, had recourse to the
most horrible expedients, ami l lion sands daily
died of hunger, there is no him that thirst was
added to their other sufferings. Thus in every
age the truth of Strabo’s brief description lias
been manifest: Jerusalem, a rocky well enclosed
fortress; within well-watered , without wholly dr a. ”
Bib. Res. 1, 479. J
Here, not thinking of “the rile of baptism,”
Dr. 11. assures us that in all ages the Holy City
had a full supply of water for its inhabitants. I* ,
it not remembered that tho law ot Moses pro. j
I I
scribed very many observances which required
an ample supply of water, and thal the super
slitious traditions of the Elders increased the
necesssity for an abundance of water, and yet
Jerusalem ha 1 that abundant supply. In the
•hort description of Strabo, (worth a volume)
tho city was “within well-watered.” It is will
known that during the siege by Titus, great
numbers of the inhabitants of the country, bavins
gone up from all partsof Palestine, to attend the
Feast of the Passover, vere shut up within the
city by the unexpected appearance of the Ro
man army. The number thus Included within
tho walls, is estimated by Josephus nt more than
two millions and a half, though the ordinary
population was probably not a tenth part of that
number. Vet with so immense a multitude,
thus unexpectedly crowded together, and con
fined for tho six months of tho siege, the most
extraordinary demand thus produced did not
exhaust the ordinary supply of water. The suf
ferings of the people on account of famine, and
pestilence, were most distressing. Eleven hun
dred thousand men perished, hut no one suffered
for want of water. The siogo extended too, j
from March to October during tho hot and dry
months of summer, w hen, if ever, there would
have been a scarcity. Surely in view of all
these circumstances, it will not do to rest nn
argument against immersion on the alleged want
of the element of water.
Dr. Robinson, in his Biblical Researches,
having assured us that Jerusalem always had a
a full supply of water for its inhabitants, address
os himself with commendable zeal to the enqui
ry, how this supply was obtained and preserved?
His answer is contained in “an account of the
Cisterns, Reservoirs, and Fountains ” in and
•round the city.
“Cisterns. —The main dependence of Jerusa
lem, for water at tlie present day is on its cis
terns; and this lias probably always been the
case. 1 have already spoken of the immense
citterns, now and anciently within the area of the
temple{ supplied partly from min Water and part-
If by the aqueduct. These of thcmse/rcs, incase
of a siege, tem/d furnish a tolerable supply.
But in addition to these, almost every private
house in Jerusalem, of any size, is understood to
have at least one or more cisterns, excavated in
the soft limestone rock on which the city is built.
The house of Mr. Lantteau in which we resided,
had no less than four cisteYns; and ns tlieso are
but a specimen of the manner in • which all the
better class of houses are supplied, 1 subjoin here
the dimensions:
Length. Breadth. Depth.
15 leet, 8 feet, 12 feet,
II 8 “ 4 “ 15 “
111 10 “ 10 1 j
IV 30 “ 30 2O “
•This last is enormously large, and the numbers
given are the least estimate.” lhb. Res. 1, 483.
And this i* but a specimen ! Now this speci
men gives us a supply 0 more than one hundred
and fifty thousand gallons of water. “All the
Utter class of houses” are as bountifully sup
plied, and “almost every private bouse in Jeru.
•alem” lms .similar, cisterns. Surely, surely |
than could be no difficulty in getting water 1
tnotigh ti immerse the 3000 converts on the day
of Pi-ntec .si, or the 5000 more on the other occa- ;
j aiotiS. Joseph of Arimalhea w-as a rich man;
| his house was well supplied with cisterns; nnd
he who gave up hi* tomb in the stone for tho ;
burial of the Saviour, would gladly have given
op the water of ono c! his cisterns, if need were,
Cur the burial in water of tho Saviour’s disciples.
Let tho Good Lord oftlie harvest give us three
! thousand precious converts, and only the supply ;
of water, contained on the premises of ihe Pido
baptist missionary in Jerusalem, and there will
bo no serious difficulty about the immersion. 1
“Reset; Vents. — The same causes which led i
the inhabitants of Judea to excavate cisterns,
induced them also to build, in and around most ,
of their cities, large open reservoirs for more
public use. These reservoirs we learned to con
sider as one of the least doubtful vestiges of an
tiquity in nil Palestine; for among the present
race of inhabitants such works are utterly un
known. With such reservoirs Jerusalem was
abundantly supplied; to say nothing of the im
mense Pool* of Solomon beyond Bethlehem, i
which no doubt were constructed for the benefit
iof the Holy City.” Dib. Res. 1, 481).
Dr. R<> jinson describes the reservoirs in nnd
about Jerusalem. The upper Pouf was 316 feet
long, 2IS feet wide at one end, and 200 at the
Other, and 18 feet deep. The lower Pool was
502 feet long, 245 feet wide at one end and 275
at the other, and from 35 to 42 feet deep. Be
| sides these aro described several oilier pools erf
different sizes, some w ithin and some without the
city. However neglected, or dilapidated now,
these reservoirs were doubtless well preserved
when Jerusalem was a populous, flourishing and
wealthy Metropolis. In ti.nt nge, certainly, as
Dr. R. remarks, “Jerusalem had a full supply
of water for its inhabitants,” und in their mind
tho religious uses of water were not the least
important.
, “Fountains. —The only sources, or rather
receptacles of living water now accessible al
Jerusalem are three in number. They are all
situated without the present walls, in arid along
tho deep Vulley of Jehoshaphat.” Bib. Res. \, ‘
4 00.
’I hr sc fountains arc designated by Professor
Robinson ns the Well of jNrhemtah or Jot, tho
Fountain of Ihe Virgin, nnd Siloam. In connrx. j
ion with all these fountains are additional reser
voirs, of greater or less capacity, ami we have
no intimation from Dr. R. or any ono else that
these fountains be came dry in the summer. It is
only said that the first two cense to run, nn event
not unfrequent indeed in limestone countries
during a severe drought. It would bp tedious
and unprofitable to go into any discussion upon 1
this point, and wo will limit our remarks to the
stream of Siloam, which Dr. R. says is in sum
mer “a mere iill u few rods in length.” his
perhaps impossible ut the present day, by nn
J examination of tho giounds at Jerusalem, to tell
j what was their physical aspect in tho time of
! tho Apostles. Time, barbarism, misrule und
j desolation nflect tho external features of a coun
try not less than tho moral condition of a people.
: Tho present appearnuoo of Siloam is tliqs de-
scribed. “Tlio water flow s out of a small nrti.
fioiul basin under a clitl", tho entrance to which
I excavated in tho form ot an arch und is imme
diately received into a large reservoir, fifty feet
in length by eighteen in width and nineteen
! in depth. From this reservoir the witter passes
j through n channel cut in tho rock, which is
j covered for a short distance; but subsequently
1 it opens nnd discloses a lively copious stream,
which is conducted into an enclosed garden
| planted with fig trees. It is uftcrwnrds suhdi
vided nnd seems to ho exhausted in irrigatin'* a
a number of gardens.” Kitto Cyclopedia ar- {
I tide Siloam and Biblical Researches 1, .197. ‘
Surely this statement itself does not present “a
difficulty apparently insuperable” to the immer
sion oftlie Pentecost converts nor of those whom
j ihe Lnd daily- added to the church. Tho reser
voirs, nnd tho lively copious stream issuing from
it, give us water enough, and some to spare too,
for the irrigation of the gardens. The testimony
of Josephus is of value. “Siloam is iho name of
a fountain which hath sweet w ater in it, and
this in great plenty also.” Jew. War. Book 5 :
L L Wo remember that John baptized in
Elion because there w-as much pnl/a ndata
water there; and Josephus tells us that Siloam
also had much water pollen. During tho siege, :
likewise Josephus says, that Siloam and the
other fountains gave forth such a great quantity
j of water as was sufficient not only for drink for
the Romans and their cattle, but also for water
ing their gardens. V. 9. 4. Whatever then
he the length of
‘•Sileu's brook that flowed
Fast by the oracle of God.”
there nerd be no question that it could und did i
furnish a supply of water too abundant to present !
any difficulty as to tho immersion oftlie Peine-
cost converts.
Without stopping to consider further any of
the other sources or receptacles of water in the
Holy City, wo will call the attention oflho reader, I
only to the supply of the Temple. In its imme.
u.ato vicinity is tho largo reservoir generally
supposed to be the Poo! ofßethesda, though Dr.
R. is of a dilfercnt opinion. The reservoir is
360 feet long, 130 aide and 75 feet deep, “be.
sides the rubbish which has been accumulating
in it for ages. ’ Dr. Robinson measured 100
feet further through an arch connected with the
main reservoir, which, says he, “gives to the
whole work a length of at least 480 feet, equal
to nearly one half the whole breadth ol the en
closure of the inosk; and (ho adds) how much
more, we do not know.” The Mock referred to
is built upon the ancient site of the temple.—
Says Dr. R. “We heard much of the largo reser
voirs or cisterns which are said to exist under
the surface of the Haram and which have been
often mentioned by travelers. The Muslim wor
ship, with its many ablutions, requires an abundant
supply of water in or near the mosks; and tho
construction of cisterns was here almost a matter
of course. The ancient subterranean vaults in
this quarter, appear to have been in part used
for tins purpose. These cisterns are filled, as
in the private houses of the ciljr, partly by rain-
THE CHfISTIAN INDEX.
water from the roofs of the bui'u&Vknd partly i
also by the aqueduct which bruigs Water from {
Solomon’s Pools, dec, ” Other subterranean j
vaults arc described, and others still, to which |
access was denied, are mentioned :ty Dr. R. and j
what i3 worthy of notice is -tho* *iste!ice of a !
fountain under the Grand Musk itself (the an
cient Temple) from w hich Water ‘ are obtained :
for the purpose of bathing, and ;be Mobamtnedan
ceremonies of ablution. Now with these facts, !
compare the language of Strabo quoted before;
compare too the disci iption of tie Temple by
Tacitus, “A perennial spring 'sudalwd the place j
wilh water. Subterraneous cavaajw were scoop
eJ under the rock. ‘I he w-as saved j
in pools and cisterns.” Hist. lrk 5. But the
language of A ristteas is more full “the supply of
water (in the temple) was unfailii(g. in as much !
as there, was an abundant natural fountain flow,
ing in llic interior, and reservoir* of admirublc i
construction under ground, extending five sia- j
dia (1000 yards) around the temple, with pipes
and conduits unknown to al! ekeept those to
whom the service was intrusted, 1 by w hich the
water was brought to various parip of the temple
and again conducted off.” This ageount, says
Dr. R. is doubtless exaggerated; we
have no evidence that it is,) yefrbe udiniis that
there may be a hidden channel to carry off the
water to the valley below. Bib. Res. 1. 512.
Whether the fouutain'be natural?, or artificial,
deriving ;ts waters Irom some sprigg without the
| cily by means of a skilfully concealed aqueduct,
is an interesting question, but does not nflect the
fact which now concerns us, viz : the actual sup
ply of water. We close the testimony hv a
! single quotation from Dr. Oliii’s travels. In
reference to the Mosk, he says, “'Every body at
Jerusalem speaks of these riseijoiqs ns well
known, and the few travelers who have been
j allowed to explore this holy ground, and especi
ally the extensive substructions beneath, confirm
iho current opinion. 77ie ablutions of the Mo. \
ham merlon worship, no less than lltc demands of
the ancient temple, sen-ire, render large supplies
of water indispensable.” Vol. 11. )78.
U e know that these details are tedious, but
tho insinuation of “uu apparently insuperable
difficulty” in immersing the ancient disciples,
seemed to justify on attempt to show that the
difficulty is not real. Two millions and a half
of people are unexpectedly shut the city
walls anda large besieging army*cnfnmp around;
and during all the horrors of a six qionths siege,
the common supply ol the place js sufficient and
all have water enough for all purposes.
“The ancient temple service ” required large ‘
quantities of water, and the temple afforded
water rnotigli. The laws of Moses enforced a
multitude of ablutions, and “divers washings,” j
nnd Jerusalem utFjrdcd water enough. Time
passes on, the Providonco of God fulfils his do- 1
crees, and the Jewish religion becomes a byword
Tho Saviour’s words come to pass; of tho great
buildings of iho teinplo “not one stono is left
upon nn other” and upon ilm wm'ii.. -’ oin ( |u-
Holy of Holies once stood, rises if* magnificent
Mosk of the Arabian impostor. [The rites of
Moses are substituted bv those ofiMoliarmr.ed.
“The Muslim worship with its maty ablutions”
is introduced, and there is water encfigli. Ablu
tion for substantial umleanness (says Kitto)
answers to the Moslem I’ltash immersion in which
the causes of defilement greatly exceed those of
tho Mosaical law,” vet for every ablution and
immersion of the Mohammedan there is wuter
. enough. But when water is riqaired lor the
| immersion of Christian disciples ths-supply fails;
the cisterns shrink; iho reservoirs tontraet their
ample dimensions; tho fountain* sHusc to flow
and Siloam dwindles into a more r tl. VVlmt is
the cause of this wonderful change? Gentle
reader, the supply of water now hi s some hear
ing on “the rite of baptism.” Jews Romans and
Mohammedans can be abundantly applied with
water for ablutions, immersions, Mid all other
uses, but the poor Christian has tin supplies cut
off. In view of nil the facts, wide i Dr. Robin
son lias recorded in his Biblical Re irarchcs, ive
cannot see that the “scarcity of tv a er” at Jeru
salem was so great as to present difficulty at
all in immersing the 3000 on tho Jay of Pente
cost, and the 5000 more who believed during the
following months of summer. Ajpltc usus lo
quondi gives no trace of any other meaning than
! immerse, so the circumstances of the Pentecost
baptism require no other meaning.
MATHETES.
For the Chris'ian lude*
TIIF/DUTY OF CHURCHES TOWARDS
TIIEIII .MEMBERS.—No. 1.
The above is a subject on which I havo spent
considerable thought,and invariably arrive at the
conclusion that churches arc very deficient in
this matter.
Let us in tlie first place, give a passing notice
! lo the prevailing conduct of Churches towards
their members. During the summer and fall
seasons, great but spasmodic exertions aro made 1
to increase the membership of the churches, !
many are admitted into the fold ol Christ
some who are prepared to follow their lender
through evil us well as good report, who aro
taught by tho Spirit to linger about tho “cross,”
through the dark and trying scenes of Spiritual
declension—others ore admitted,''who sow the
seeds of discord and strife in the >£>use of God,
and keep the church in continual confusion until
tho next annual return of spiritual influences.
But to return a little, the churches upon the
reception of the members into their community,
oense their efibrts for their spiritual advance
ment, and probably pay no more attention to
them, until arraigned for some violation of church
discipline, and thus one after another is arraigned
and excluded until the church stamps where she
formerly did, except a great and irrepurnblo
loss of influence. In view of such a lamentuble
slate of things, the question the mind:
What can be done to remedy
plain, that while churches sliouhl use every
necessary means to influence properly prepared
persons to join the church, tlial they should also
use some infans to instruct them in relation to ‘
the duties that are imposed upon them by the i
new relations which they sustain. It is a gross
sin which cannot remain unpunished, to receive j
a person into the clturcfij and then not-exhort’*
him with meekness to the discharge of those ‘
duties which are essential even to membership j
itself. Probably in three-fourths of the cases
of young persons joining the church, they have !
reason for coming to the conclusion, that the j
church cares but little about their spiritual in- j
terests, they neglect to attend to the house of
God, then they leave off their duty of prayer, !
and the older members of the church watch their j
movements and comment on their follies and
immoralities, probably without a single loving
and prayerful effort to reclaim them. Above j
every other consideration, young converts should
be warned of the advantages which the adver
sary of souls will take of their buoyant feelings
by tolling them, that the danger is over, that they
may cease their prayers and toils, and be waft
ed on the unruffled bosom of peaceful waters to
the haven of rest. And when once influenced
to cense praying, none but omniscience can tell
where the awful scene will end. I never see
; young converts join the church but I have in
describable emotions. I look upon their smiting
countenances indicative of peaceful and buoyant
souls and then think how soon a “storm,” nmy
; “come down upon the laltr,” and obscure every
star of hope that shone so brilliantly but a little
before. And if 1 can say but one word, I want
. that to bo : Do not neglect to pray. Secret pray.
I er is the fountain of Christian happiness, the
! secret ol perseverance and a haltn for every
: wounded heart. MONROE.
-—> — -O • ♦♦♦►
For the Christian Index.
SOUL-PROSPERITY.—NO. IF.
The foundation of Soul-Prosperity laid in It-gemrutioii.
“Even a thy rout prospurutli.”—3 Julia 2.
The foundation of Soul prosperity is laid in
that gracious and wonderful work wrought by
the Spirit of Gad which we call r generation.—
This work evinces itself in sincere repentance
for sin, humble and cordial reliance upon tire
Lord Jesus Christ, and true love for the charac
ter, laws, nod service of Jehovah. Before this,
j all is disorder and ruin iti the soul. It is an ut
j ter stranger to true prosperity. A blinded mind,
! a rebellious will, affections alienated from God
und holiness, arc the occupants of the bosom.—
j There are no holy desires, no spi itual joys, no
j principles in excroiso that rightly control the
j faculties, anJ press them on in the pursuit of
heavenly objects. Previous to this mighty
clinnge, men are the children of disobedience,
and the children of wrath; the prince of the pow.
cr of the air reigns in them and over them with
malignant and despotic sway. Nothing does the
|>uro and all-reaching eye of Jehovah discern in
their natures upon which it cun rest with com
placent love. Some may possess and exhibit
many pleasant and amiable virtues, and on this
| account they nmy verily think, anti others may
f Ctirnjnr to ntd iFid deception, that their condition
1 is sound and their prospects fair; but so long as
j they rrfuso to relinquish their sins and take the
1 oath of allegiance to heaven at tho feet of the
j crucified Redeemer, what nro they still but utnin-
I rebels, supremely swayed by the central
! mind, which is onmity against G *1? There is
no true prosperity here.
Some may lean upon their clear, orthodox,
comprehensive, speculative convictions of truth;
hut if they progress no further in their attain
ments, their notions will prove as empty and
profitless as the creed of the unclean spirit which
; cried out, “1 know thee who thou nit, the Holy
one of God.” Some under the awakening pow.
er ol truth may be shaken bv many alarms and
heart-tremblings; for this we are often thankful,
hoping that it may end in permanent good; but
if this distress does not lead its subjects to the
cross of Christ, nnd terminate in that peace and
hope which are scaled to the bosom liv its iufi.
nite virtues, we are yet to make a further search
for the elements of soul-prosperity. Some lancy
that they nro in a prosperous road, because with
a strong persuasion of the truth of the gospel,
and the necessity of religion they resolve upon
repentance at some future day. This they deem
a most praise-worthy resolve, almost equal to
one-half of the religion which they need. Filled
with such a noble purpose, how can we insist
(they are ready to say) on their utter destitution?
How can wo strike so severely at their cherished
hopes, and hurl our uncharitable rebukes at
their self-complacent resolves? Deluded ones!
Tbo thing of which they boast goes far to reveal
j the depth of their wretchedness; for with some
just views of the claims of heaven, and what is
absolutely needful to their eternal peace, they
write down the purposo of futuro amendment,
the true import Os which is this— for a white
longer sin is to be loved, the devil served, the Gorl
of heaven insulted, and the interests of the immor-
Ijl soul hung up in fearful jeopardy ! Are these
1 will-he christiaus the truly prosperous in soul ?
L>ut it may be that others think us prosperous.
This is enough for many. Fond of flattery, or
j too busy, or too indolent, to look thoroughly into
j ‘heir own cases, they bow with deference to the
j decisions of their fellow men, and chant, and
chant again these charitable decisions to their
own unsuspecting bosoms. Here again is a
false standard, the soul may bo fearfully bank
: rupt, whilst others may deem it rich and increas
ed in goods.
There must be a deep, and thorough, and
. adtcal chan D e in our moral natures. This
change takes place in regeneration; and in re
generation, as already intimated, is sown the
precious seed of soul-prosperity. This work
performed, anew era dawns upon the condition
and prospects of the soul. It is now in Christ
Jesus, nnd is anew creature. Old things huve
passed away, and behold ! all tilings have be
come new. I iie soul has passed from death to
life; Satan is dethroned, the Saviour is elevated !
to supreme dominion in the bosom; his laws are
put into the mind and written in the heart. The i
ejes of the understanding are open to the sweet
perception of divine truth; the wit!, once rebell
ious, now submits to its rightful Lord, and the
affections begin to act in delightful ’harmony with
j ll,e nature of Jehovah. Sin is hated, and hoii- :
ness is loved; all the powers begin to return to !
their proper sphere, responding to the voice of j
j right reason and to the voice of God, proposing j
to themselves high nnd heavenly c-nds, and
‘ yielding themselves up with a consent more or
less complete to the impulse of heavenly mo
-1 lives. That sweet, celestial music of the facul- ‘
lies which moved on so harmoniously in Adam’s
breast, but was broken and ruined by the fall,
strikts up again its notes in the bosom, not in*
deed in a |>erfi ct strain, yet in humble imitation
; of the primeval song, giving pledges of improv
iiig melody through future years, and of perfect
harmony to be regained in the mansions of the
blessed. Hero then is the beginning of soul
prosperity.
For the Christian Index.
HELP IS NEEDED.
“From the limited means at our disposal for
carrying on this work, we have not been enabled
to increase the number of laborers, and have been
compelled, as a measure of necessary precau
tion, to inform our only remaining missionary,
brother Ry a Is, that without an increase of means,
we cannot continue him longer than the present
■ year.”:—Extract Fora Report of Exec. Corn. Ga.
Bap. Convention for last year.
Brethren in Georgia: You see from the above
j that help is needed to sustain that faithful old
missionary. Brother Byals, in the truly destitute
field he has been cultivating, almost singlchand
ed, for years. lam persuaded you only need to
have this fact called to your notice to incite vou
to furnish the means at the approaching session
of our Convention at Perry. Yet I may bo at
liberty to remind you that we are paying thou
sands of dollars annually for Domestic ard For
! eign Missions,and for Publication purposes—and
tltat we have accumulated a Fund of upwards of
$150,000 for Educational purposes. This is all
well. And l would that we could do tenfold as
! much. But shall w c do these things, and then
suffer the hands of our only missionary to hang
j down and his heart to faint, for want of that aid
without which he cannot prosecute his work?
It may be answered, that the Associations are
prosecuting the work of Domestic Missions, and
have thereby relieved the Convention of thisser
vice. It is admitted that some of our Associa
] tions are doing nobly in this department of chris
tian dibit. But it is likewise true, that the field
occupied by Brother Ryais, (comprising portions
J of Irwin, Appling and Ware counties,) is not
within the scope of the operations of any of our
Associations. And if lie be forced, for want of
support, to retire from it, it is not at all probable
that it will soon bo occupied again. Shall our
aged and faithful Missionary go upon his last
tour and tell “the poor saints’’ in that region,
that their more favored brethren in Georgia have
forgotten to send him tho means of sustenance,
; and that he can see their faces no more? Shall
1 he rt'port to those anxious sinners, over whom ho
| has so often wept, that lie must leave them to per-
I t-sh in their sins? Brethren, it ought not to be
j so ■ 1 P rn )’ that you may say, “it shall not be
so,” and that you will forward such contributions
for this object to Perry, ns will evince that you
care for your neighbors at home, ns well as for
the heathen abroad. J. [] (j
For the Clirif-tinn Index.
SINFUL AMUSEMENTS.
As Circuses and other shows of a like discripi
tion, have, within the last few years, been
making rather frequent trips through this part of j
; the country, nnd unfortunately are visited by :
members ol the church and professed followers j
of the living God, it is getting time for the vigi
lant nnd enterprising Christian to tako an open
and decided stand in destroying the influence
of that vice which gathers its votaries by coming
among U3 robed in beauty and with fluttering
promises of innocent pleasure. It may then no”
be unnecessary for an humble pen of morality, !
influenced by philanthropic motives und earn- i
estly solicitous for tho welfare of tho church, to j
repel as far as he is able, the insinuations of this
vice, by the homo thrust of a few practical, com- !
inonsense arguments.
I'irst then, the character of the performers. }
Is there any rational man who .expects to find 1
honorable, liighminded, Christian men, engaged
in the the exercises of the circus? Doe” any
ono expect to hear from the lips of the clown, a
dissertation upon morals, or any cxhortation’io
piety? Are we willing for our sons and daugh
ters to mingle with the showmen. No ! we ‘re
gard them even before we see them, as a band
of lawless desperadoes, regardless of the duties
they owe to their fellow man and tTieir accounts
bilitv ofGod—who can deny liiis—who docs not i
know it? Then why is it that we regard them i
with so much suspicion? Arc we naturally
thus suspicious ot the character of our fellow
creatures? Do we expect to find in the acquaint
| anco of every man whose name is posted on
our doors, an enemy to society and an advocate
of vice? No certainly not, then, these positions
being admitted, it is evident, bevnnd cavil, that we
believe their avocation is “mealum in sc,” sub
versive of morals, and irreligious in the highest
degree—why should we suspicion their charac
ters in a higher degree than the generality of
out fellow beings, if our belief has not, from past
observation, ripened into conviction, that their
vocation is subversive ol their best interests, and
(so far its influence extends) the interests of
society. Then admitting that I have substanti- i
ated the foregoing positions, which are independ
ant of my own feeble arguments, plainly seen to I
exist, the only question left us to determine, is,
whether or not it is the duty or the privilege of
the Christian to encourage vice, to countenance 1
a calling in which he believes none but the most
suspicious will engage and whose very atmos- I
pbere is laden with the malaria ot vice. Is this
the manner in which the Saviour of mankind has
comrtiauded its to ‘‘avoid the appearance of evil,’’ ,
. ■ ■■ i-XL-.
te listen with pleasure, to the comic songs that
are sang for our amusement, to listen to the
lawless maledictions of the showmen, upon their
own undying souls—to watch a clown who cornea
out, bearing the image of Heaven’s High King,
i t 0 ,ncrease “e hilarity of his congregation, by a
1 practical proof that he is an experienced fool—
to hear the songs and watch the dance of tho
showmen, in the close of their performances,
I When lhe y are P io ‘ed black, representing tho
i nc 6 roe *> and attempting to ape the silliness of that
I u,l!ettered tribe. [ s this “avoiding the appear
ance of evil?” Withhold your patronage, and
you do that much to stay their progress, give
them your patronage, and you virtually tell
them, “go on, you are doing right, you are in a
good work, and shall have iny prayer on vour
labors.” CHEHAW.
or the Christian Index.
THE PRAYER OF FAITH.
, INCIDENT l.\ KEAL J.IFE.
Many years ago in a form house in western
; Virginia a young girl lay apparently dying,
ihe cold, clammy sweat, the fixed eye, the
laborious breathing, all gave fearlul ifiatio
that the hour of dissolution was fast approaching.
1 lie mother hung over her, with such feelings
as none can realize, but a Christian parent, who
sees her darling child about to be carried to the
tomb, without a ray of hope. Must ourdaughter
die? said she to the father, who paced the room
in anguish. “She cannot live beyond the ebbing
of the lido;” was the reply. “Oh that God
would grant us one sign by which we might
have hope in her death.” But I fear she will
never speak again.” So saying he left the room.
Walking to some distance from the house,
lie entered a little thicket and there poured out
his soul unto God. As Abraham prayed for
Ishmael so did lie pray for his beloved daughter.
Meanwhile the mother watched beside tho bed.
Once and again she wiped away the death dew,
adjusted the pillows, bathed tho throbbing tem
ples, and performed all those little offices which
affection dictates. After some time, having
walked to tho door to catch tho cool evening
breeze, she espied her husband crossing (he
yard, with an agility of motion, and animation of
countenance that attracted her attention. She
| advanced to meet him, when he clasped her in
his arms, and exclaimed, “Our child will live.”
Startled, she drew back and scanned his court
tenance narrowly. “Our child will live,” he
repealed. “1 have asked of God that she might
live, and become a follower the blessed Saviour,
and I knous he has heard me.” “But my dear
hasband she cannot live, she has every appear
ance of death.” “With God, my dear wife, all
things are possible.” Thus conversing, they
entered the sick room together. There lay Ilia
unconscious sufferer. Tho evening breezetfliftT”
cd the clustering curls from off the cold damp
forehead, the glassy eye exhibited no sign of
returning consciousness, and the labored breath
ing still seemed to indicate that the lungp had
well nigh ceased to play. But again the father
said, “I knots she will live, and yet more, she
will live to obtain a hope in Jesus Christ.
All night the weary watchers kept their accus
tomed vigil, without any apparent cliango
Towards morning, however, the sufTeref slept,
and before noon, the crisis had passed. Slowly
j l,ut surely, the disease was removed, and tho
j maiden once more walked among the living.
The prediction of the father was still further
fulfilled, for not long after, she made a profession
of religion, which she adorned by a godly walk
and conversation until she had nearly attained
the age of fourscore. The difficult and self,
denying duties of a preacher’s wife she perform
ild faithfully, for many years. Os these duties,
the preacher’s wives of the present day can
scarcely form any idea. Having raised a largo
family of children, she was permitted to see
them all professed followers of Christ. Some
have joined her in the glorious abode of sainted
spirits, and some are standing as watchmen on
the walls of Zion; or ns pillars in the church.
watting until they too shall be told that their
work is done.
1 iiis narrative is attested by a living witness,
an aged relative of tho parties.
S. S. T.
For the Christian Index.
PROFANE SWEARING.
1. Is it pretty? My feelings revolt at the ex
ceeding uncouthness of the inquiry—l disdsin to
offer a reply.
2. Is it gentlemanly? What peculiar or no—
mental qualities docs it possess? To be a g<*-
tlemnn, is to be a man of “good breeding;” i*tw
be civil, and well behaved. Can this nice eulob
gy, in truth, be appropriately tendered to thA
profane swearer? No, no, no.
3. Does it imply veracity ? The very foet that’
a man confirms his assertions with his profane
oaths, argues the direct reverse—it does trguep
on his part, a that hie
words are not fully accredited; and, therefore,
as he conceives, they should be recommended, by
his oaths. Asa general rule, the words of pro
fane swearers are the last to be safely relied on.
4. Is it profitable? Neither have the Scrip
tures, Arts, nor Sciences demonstrated the fact-
History does not tell us so. The experience of
every man of sound sense and common observa
tion fells us so. Were we to ransack
vast vocabulary in search of profits arising from
it, our world of labor would be vain—a single in
stance of fairly acquired profits obtained by it,
could not be found.
5. Is it innocent? If so, why not teach it to
our children from their cradles? Why not make
it a branch of study in our elementary schools?
Why not recommend the practice of it to the la
dies generally, as an innocent thing? Why not
practice it in open courts, as well is in the pes
tiferous “doggeries.” In like manner, why not
practice it in our churches, pulpits, and even id
proyer? Say, why not? Surely it is lawful for
good people to use innocent things. Moreover,
reader, if you allow it to be innocent, why msy
[March