Newspaper Page Text
70
iPrupi'f. -
For the Christian Index.
SOUL-PROSPERITY. —NO. VII. •
4. A lively, well-establi.lied Hope an important pan cfSoul-
Prosperity. •
“ Etm as thy Soul-prosper fth* 3 John 2.
A gelid faith is the parent of nolid ponce nnd
consolation; anJ the fruit of those thing* is a
lively and well-established hopr. of everlasting
lile. Such a hope constitute* an important and
precious ingredient in true Soul Frosperity.
Hope has reference to our personal interest in
the rich‘and never-failing blessings proirtfsed to
the believer through Jesus Christ. Faith rests
upon the Saviour for eternal hope; Aipe content
plates this ‘eternal life as our own personal herit
age. Faith unites to Christ, and makes us the
children of Cod; by hope wccrtibruce the inher
itance o? God’s children as that which <■ may
call oar own. Faillt receives as infallibly true
all that God has said concerning the glorious des
tiny of the righteous; hope views with joy that
exalted destiny for ourselves, ns constitu
ting, in our humble pjypuasion more or less con
fident, a portion of God’s r ighteous ones. Faith
may he eailed a precious and heavenly vine
springing up from the spirit of GoJ as he trans
formsour unholy natures, and binding us <-:wcet-
Iy and strongly to Christ ns our eternal support,
and from him renching upward and binding us
to nn eternal inheritance with an indissoluble
grasp; hope springs from that heavenly vine in
blooms that look cheerfully on the divine reward
—the blooms of holy dosiro and joyful expecta
tion. What could mortals do bereft of hope?
With ref r nee to all the pursuits and intereslsof
time, it is a most needful and at the name time n
most powerful principle of action. Nor ispt less
so in the Christian’s bosom with reference to his
spiritual nnd eternal interests. Its influence
upon our hearts and lives will be proportioned to
the estimate wc place upon the objects which it
embraces, and llio degree of confidence we en.
tertain ns to the attainment of these objects.—
How glorious arc the objects embraced by tho
Christian’s hope! It looks forward to “the re
demption of our body” from weukness corrup
tion and mortality. Kom. 8: 23, 24. It casts
forward its vision in joyful expectation to “the
glorious appearing of tbe great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2: 1!}. It fixes
its view uphn an immortal portion within the
veil.” Heb. 6 : 19. It is the “hope of eternal
life.” Titus I: 2. It cotnpusscs in its longing
anticipations “an inheritance incorruptible, uu
defiled nnd that fadeth not away, reserved in
hcavpn ” lor all the followers of the Lamb.
1 I’etcr 1: 3, 4. In Soul-chcering accents does
it whisper to tho bosoms of the saints, “Beloved
now are we tho sons of God; nnd it doth not yet
appear what we shall be; but we know that when
lie shall appear, we .shall he like him, for we shall
see him as ho is.” Sec 1 John 3: 2,3. Surely
these are inestimable, inconceivable, unutterable
tilings, yet these are the very things for which
the Saviour allows big humble believing follow,
ers to hope. When these exalted objects arc in
tensely surveyed and duly valued, and ut the
same time are embraced with a strong arid j
abiding expectation based upon an humble und j
living trust in the Saviour of sinners, as our ;
peculiar and personal inheritance, wo are in the j
possession of a hope that may he truly called a I
good one, 2 Thes. 2: 0; and lively, 1 Peter 1:3; j
nnd joyful, IJeb. 3: 0; nnd purifying, 1 John
3: 3; and saving, Rom. 8: 24; und a hope that
‘ tniltein ftwt cutiwxmeJ.** Ilont. 6l 5. Is tllClY*
not Soul Prospeiily here? and ean that soul bo
regarded ns truly prosperous that bus not attain
ed in sumo deg tec to this lively, stable, nnd re
juicing hope ?
From the conversation of many professed be
lirvers, we might sometimes be tempted to infer,
that they make iiulf of their religion and their
hope to consist in perpetual doubting. There
are multitudes, it is to lie feared, who seldom
rise higher in tiieir attainments than the senti
ments of the often quoted stanza,
“ ’Tis a point I long to know.
Oft it causes anxious thought;
“Do 1 love the l/ird or know',
Am I his, or am I not.”
Were (hey to detect any tiling in theif bosoms
more elevated than this, they would perhaps be
ready to regard it os the fruit of presumption, or
the temptation of the devil; and possibly an ex
prcssion of strong though meek and humble as
surance bv others, might excite in their bosoms
the fear that all was not exactly right. And
after all, perhaps as to themselves, their hope is
as strong as their faith in Christ, and their man- i
tier of living would justify, but ought they not, ;
by r the faithful discipline of their hearts, and by j
a holy anl active Christian life, to lay the foun
dation for abetter hope! May not Christians
arrive to a comfortable view of their acceptance
with God? Do not the scriptures lay down rules
for the prosecution of our religious life, obedi
ence to which would multiply our peace, and us a
consequcnoe improve our hope of heaven? “O
that thou hudst hearkened to my commandments!
then had thy peace been as a river, and thy right
eousness us the waves of the sea.” Isa. 48: 18.
We arc commanded to examine ourselves wheth
er we be in the faith; to show diligence to the
full assurance of hope. Criterions are laid down
by which to judge of our true condition; the
Spirit is given to the saints to bear wituess with
their spirits that they arc the children of God;
und scripture examples are placed beforo us to
show that a strong and lively hope is attainable.
Job did not think it presumption to say, “I know
that my Redeemer liveth;” nor Paul to say, “1
know in whom I have believed,—l therefore so
run not as uncertainly,—for me—to die is gain ”
Presumptuous hopes there sre,—false assurances
of iieavcn; but it will not be very difficult to
distinguish them from those lively hopes unto
which wo are begotten again by the resurrection
of Jcuiujhnst from the dead. The assurance
of the is spt t be bofatful, that of the
true cftri.tian is nieelt, and unostentatious; the
one will general!/ be found associated with a
badly regulated life; Hie other with a heavenly
deportment; tho one does not manifest a sanctify
ing power, constrains its possessor to
purity himself, even ns God is pure. Take care
qftliat confident assurance of heaven that some
times stalks abroad in company with a fitful,
feeble, ‘coldly obedient faith. Such a hope is
not highly to be praised. The full assurance
of hope must, rest upon the full assurance of
faith. Faith a*.>ve have seen, lies nt the i*unda
.lion. -Uy hs much as our hope stretches itself
out beyond our faitlHjy sy is it an unlu’w
ftfl, and unscrip!ueal'excrescencV li is like the
lining of a garment thotOringfpg beyond its ap
propriate boundary; like the tagged timbers of
a house that overhang the base in awkward
workmanship and dangerous proportion. Yet
there is such a tiling as abounding hope, because
there is such a thing as nn active, living faith,
and abounding consolation. Fuitfi settles Os on
the blood and righteousness of Christ, and gives
the heurl a repose; fuith seizes übe.word of
God, convAt%it.‘into heaving. rtaAna, nnd n-p
propriates it to the nourishment of the ’soul.—
Sorrow recedes;peaco spreads througl^h^
hosotfi; Joy begins its reign, and lifts up ifiohcSrt
in praise. What meaneth all this, the believer
is sooner or lutcr prepared to inquire? Why this
calmness, this strange relish for the truth of God,
this joy ful sinking into Jesus, this going forth of
sweet tiflection towards his dear people? It was
not always so: a change has seized the temper of
my mind. Is this religion? can it ho that lam
a child of God? Surely this must be the work
of God’s blessed spirit:—l fear, I tremble, and
yet 1 can but feel that I am iftt heir of heaven.
Abba, Father! Abba, Father I “Come and
hear, all t ya that fear God, will declare
what he hath done for my soul.” Ps. 00: 10.
AnJ now as faith rises in its triumph*; and j
presses its happy possessor on in the round of
self denial und holy obedience, the general tenor
und average of peace rises in the bosom, and hope
also rises in delightful unison, until ut last, in a
goodly measure, the petition of the apostle is ful
filed, “Now the God of hope, fill you with all
joy and peace in believing, thut ye may abound
in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Kom. 15: 13. This is Soul-Prosperity. O pre
cious, precious hope! Haw it elevates, nnd
comforts, nnd strengthens, and purities and saves!
It is ibo “helmet of solvation” in the day of
battle; it is “an anchor to the soul bollt sure nnd
steadfast, nnd which eniereth into that within tho
vail.” In weakness it imparts vigor, in sorrow
it breathes consolation, in conflict with hell it
imparts courage. Am I bereft of worldly treas
ures? Hope points me to my treasures in the
skies “whero moths do not corrupt, and thieves
cannot break through and steal.” Do earthly
triends wi.hdraw from me their sympathy, or
sink into tho tomb? My liopo reminds me of my
everlasting interest in that friend thut stickoth
closer than a brother, nnd of that close and in
dissoluble union which I shull realize with an- j
gelio hosts, and with the pure and noble and ■
perfected from every nation and kindred and
tongue. Do pain and sickness press upon tny
wearv frame, and must I soon fall into the dark
nnd loathsome embrace of corruption? Hopa
points me to the glory of the resurrection day,
when this weakness shull put on power, this cor.
ruption incorruption, this mortal immortality.
My Christian brother, bo it your constant en
deavor, nnd lot it be mine ulso, solo live, that wo
may daily rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
“Gird up tho loins of your mind, be sober nnd 1
hope y> tho end lor disgrace that is to be brought I
unto you ot the revelation of Jesus Christ.—.
1 Peter 1: 13.
“Haste ye on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith and winged by prayer,
Heaven's eternal day’s before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission;
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days;
Hope shall change to glad fiuitiou,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.”
For the Christian Index.
BOARD OF DOMESTIC MISStONS-SOUTH
EKN BAPTIST CONVENTION.
NUMBER IV.
Marion, Ala., April 8, ISSI.
In this closing appeul to the Baptist Churches
of the Southern Stutcs, in favor of enlarged Do
mestic Missionary operations, we request our
brethren to consider how such religious opera
tions are divided off territorially.
That religious denomination which first oh.
tains the supremacy in a particular tract of
country will hold its sway over that land for
centuries. Compare Mexico and Massachusetts.
The one wai colonized liy Roman Catholics,
and it is Catholic now. The other by Congre
gationalists, and it is Congregational now.—
Episcopacy cannot flourish in Scotland nor Pres:
byteriunism in England to this day. As tbo
Reformation left these opinions, so they continue.
But far back of the Reformation, in the year, 5A5,
when from'the Islarfd oflona, Columba brgnn to
send his Missionaries throughout Scotland, did
the religious character of that country begin to
bo formed in all its present distinctive features.
And in 000, when Augustine landed at Canter,
burg, the foundations of the present Church of
England were laid. For more than twelve
hundred years, have the seeds of Episcopacy and
Pfeshyterianism then sown, continued to repro
duce themselves.
To u very remarkable extent, religious prin
ciples, like seeds, become indigenous to a soil.
The soldier of the Cross, who lakes possession
of an unoccupied region of country in the name
of Jesus, and uplifts over it the banner of Im
manuel, holds it by ft more secure and pcrtnnnent
title, than he who seizes it by the sword, and
battles for it with “confused noise, and garments
rolled in blood.” He, who like the great Apos
tle, goes where Christ has not been named, and
builds, not upon another man’s foundations, who
sows the gospel in anew and spiritually uneul.
tivoted ’Country, moy expect that the fruitf his
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
I labor’s will be wide extended, and covermjj’
j wbojg surface of the region, he has acquired, at
| that the seed will rr produco itself longer tisatt
the oaksnd cypresses remain on the came epafk*
If Infidelity or Roman Catholicism are
led Xo take undisturbed possession ol these net
countries, they never can be rooted out. fj|| :
evangelical truth be planted there now, kuii
have the decided supremacy among the few
settlers now scattered over those extensive terri
lories, arid as the population increases, it witT
embrace sound religious principles, and the ef
fects will remain, g?neiation ufter generaqom
The future religious character of the wh(fce
length and breadth r>f countries which will dM
day, nnd ere very long, swarm with a population
of 109,0(10,000 of people, will in great measure
be determined within the next thirty or forty
years, nud that by Domestic Missionary opera
tions.
But let us look forward now beyond the cdr>
fines of the present world. If these newly sell
lied lands ean all be tuken possession of in tits
name of Jesus, by evangelical Christians, the#
as age jtfter age rolls on, it will send up to til
mansions*of eternal glory, from thousands oTotAj
tints*-of thousands of
made” while in the*blOoTiifTiT<* r T.:mipIHPW;
we conceive of a more exaljtd and animating
prospect, of a nobler enlerprizf?..
Permit us in conclusion to urge the attendance
of a full delegation at the next meeting of tike
Triennial Convention, in the city of Nashville,
Term., on the second Friday in May next.
The following aye pie lemusof membership as
prescribed by the Constitution : “An annual con
tribution of one hundred dollar? Iqj two yeafs
next preceding the Tqeeting, op'Skkt.eontrilmtion
ol two hundred dollars at any time within said !
, two years, shall entitle the contributor to one re- i
presentative; an annual contribution ot two hub- .
died dollars as aforesaid, shall entitle the eon- j
tributor to two representatives; and so fir euch j
additional one hundred dollars, on additional
representative shull bo ullowcd : provided, how- j
ever, that when application shall be made fortl|e !
first time by bodies or individuals to ho admitted
into the Convention, one delegate shall be allow,
ed for each one hundred dollars.” ,
R. HOLMAN, Cor. Sec.
For the Christian Index.
REVIEW OF ROBINSON ON BAPTIZO.
NUMBER IV.
~ In our previous numbers, we have been of
liged to dwell with some minuteness, and at con
siderable length upon the “considerations” urged
by Dr. Robinson, for departing from the univer
sal use of baptizo, when tho word is applied ko
“the rite of baptism.” The two remaining “con
siderations” will not occupy us much time. The
third is that in an old Latin version, of which no.
body know s the author, “the Greek verb Uaptf
io is uniformly given in the lutin form, and is
never translated by immergo, or any like word;
showing that there was something in the rite of
j baptism to which the latter did not correspond.”
The fact, staled in liw n bov qiio4
denied: tho lutin version transfers and does not i
translate baptizo. Tltc inference, deduced from
this fact, is altogether Most lan
guages contain words so nearly *\ nonimnus ns
to make a discrimination between them exceed
ingly difficult. More especially is this the case,
where the language is made up, in nny consid
erable degree, of words of foreign origin. Crit
ics are puzzled, for instance, to tell us the difler
enco between felicity and happiness, nnd most
men use them os convertible terms. Now what
, would be thought of un individual who should nr. ,
J gue that felicitas must mean something differ i
ent from happiness, because a certain author sh
translating a given lalin book always renders
tho wotd by felicity nnd not happiness? Nay,
w'e have u case perfectly in point in regard 7o
the very word baptize. George Campbell of
Aberdeen, a distinguished minister of the Pies
hyterinn Church in Scotland, has published n
version of the Gospels in which ho invariably
transfers the word baptise, while in his disserta
tions lie strenuously contends that it mrans im
merse and nothing else.
We noticed in our firs! article, an instance of
Dr. Robinson’s vagueness of speech. The “con
sideration” Under discussion affords nnotlier.jp
NVhot is that ‘'something in the rite of baptism”
to which (according to Dr. R’s inference) irk
mergo immerse does not correspond? We have i
no means of even guessing at its shadowy sem
blance; but wo may well judge of the weakness
oftlint cause which to subvert the well establish
ed meaning of a Greek word, depends upon an
undefined, and undcfinable imaginary “some
thing"!
The Latin language in its later pciioj received
many new words from the Greek. Several of
the cognates of Baptize were
their original meaning, such as BaptaeJmpHlP
haphia, bapta, baptisterim. In the absence Yj’
all proof, it will not do lor a Lexicographer J>
assert that in taking up its abode in the Lat*
language, baptize assumed a meaning it nevC
had in its original home; still less will it answer
from an assumed change of meaning in Latin t >’
argue for an interpretation in Greek which is
not sustained bv the use of that language. Yet
the inference of Dr. R., demands this in order
to be of any force.
We suggest, however, a reason why baptist
may have been preferred by the translator to
an original latin word. The Gospel was car
ried into Italy by Greeks and Hellenistic Chris
tians. The formula of baptism, to which they
had been accustomed, would not improbably be
used bythem, especially if the word bnpiiio had al
ready been mode familiar to Roman ours. Hence
this formula might retain the Greek word, latin
ized; and being appropriated to thorite of bap.
tism, tho word would be retained by the transla
tor. Very manifestly, the bare fact of baptiia
being used in latin affords no proof of its mean
ing. But whatever argument may be drawi^
. from the transfer makes as strongly against fir,
R’s. view as in favor ol il. For as live lati% ver
sion never translated baptizo by any word signi
fying t oponr, sprinkle, tcash, cleanse, or perform
•dilution, it might be just as well argued that
there was ‘•something in the rite of baptism to
which these words did not correspond.” If this
mode of arguing he allowed then, the latin ver
sion proves nothing, and we nre sent hack to the
Greek, which is the proper place for determining
the meaning ol a Greek word, and the testimony
of the Greek is “Baptize every where signifies
Jo'Sink, to immerse, to overwhelm.” -
j Dr. Robinson’s fourth and last consideration is
it ow before us.
“il) The baptismal fonts still found among
the ruins of the most ancient Greek churches in
Palestine, os at Tekoa and Gophnn, and going
bnck apparently to very early times, are not
large enough to admit of the baptism of adult
ipersons by immersion; and were obviously ne
'verintended for that use. See Bib. Res. in Pul.
I. IS j. 111. 98.”
Well: wonders never cease. An argument
against immersion drawn from a supposed fact, i
iu the Greek Church in opposition to all the’-!
teaching of history in relation to the practices of
- that (jl>uujhi. Among the Greeks, immersion,
1 * ’•*•* •’ ■b r observed
hut anew light has
Y ‘anted upon I)r. R. from the disinlmmcd
! Ymts of a couple of old churches. Well then let
i k look at these venerable monuments of antiqui
| as our author describes them.
fipeakingofTefta, he says “Near the middle
f the site are the ruins of a Greek church;
j mnng which arbsevcral fragments of columns, j
j nd a baptismal fun;. of rose.colored limestone |
: ‘t'fffiPß into .marble. Tito font is octagonal, i
ivc feet in diameter on the outside, four on the
nside, and three feet nine inches deep. There
Are many cisterns excavated in the rocks; and
Dot far off a living spiing, from which our
Arabs brought us fine water. The ruins of n
church lying n mile further South, as mentioned
>y Pococke, we did not see.”
We nre not informed whether the dimensions
ire given by actual measurement or only by es
imate. Rut whether this lont “were intended
or the immersion ofadults” or not, it is sufficient
y spacious for such a purpose, and only in case
a very large person would there he any in-
Convenience; end in no case would it be imprac
ticable. Aid even if there should lie n candi
date so gigantic as to render impossible his im
mersion in the font, there wero at hand tliii eis.
terns in the rock, and besides, a living spring
that would meet every emergency—to say noth
ing of Pococke’s church a mile off.
I Now for the font at Gophua. “Under the tree,
|a small enclosure contains nn altar, on which
‘mass is stiil sometimes celebrated; and also the
.ancient baptismal font of limestone, partly bur
rfein the ground. This latter measured five
fITI in diameter, three and a half feet high, and
two feet nine inches deep within; the inside
being cxcuvated in the form of across, with the
corners rounded.”
vv e arc not .nre that we understand the peeu
liut*shape of this font ns above described, but we
do know that innnv a baptist has been immersed
in a smaller supply of water than is given by
lijp fret in length and two feet nine inches deep.
rFwould require a very lurge candidate to pro
duce any inconvenience in a font of this size.—
But when we know of men who have been ini
mersed in a bathing tub, the font must be much
reduced in size before the impracticability of
immersion can he pretended.
Dr. Robinson has exhibited sufficient z"al in
attempting to show the impossibility of immer
sion. Full of his one idea, lie has forgqjten to
tell us for what purpose “these lonts were in
tended.” If not for immersion, then for what?
A small basin, nn ordinary pitcher, nay even a
common glass tumbler, now a days, answers the
purpose of the baptismal ablution, as performed
by our pedohnptist friends, either on adults or in
fants. Surely these old Greeks were not stupid
enough to construct fonts so large fur tho pur
pose of merely dipping the priest’s fingers in,
prior to the application of the sacred drops to the
forehead of the neophyte. Even if these fontsat
Ti kou nnd Gophna were too small to immerse
adults, no argument against immersion could be
drawn from their existence.- Church buildings
did not become common till the fifth century.—
Tokoa and Gophna were not places of much im
parlance nnd not likely to have buildings of this
kind until they became common. Before the
fifth century infant baptism had been generally
introduced, and Christianity nominally prevail
ed all through the regions of Palestine. There
were consequently but few adults to be baptized
nnd baptisteries would be sufficiently large if they
allowed the ready immersion of children. Bap
tism, it is true, was frequently delayed till the
reHTfre d of puberty, and ocea
sionb'ly an adult candidate) might be presented.
For these purpo'ses, the fonts described would be
sufficient, if baptism was immorsibfi; and if bap
tism'were nob immersion, it would bo impossible
to assign a reason for constructing fonts so largo,
merely for the sprinkling ceremony.
Besides, to draw against immer
sion, from the existehce of these fonts, Dr. Bob
inson must show Ist. that these churches were
built in the earliest ages of Christianity when
adult bnptism was most common, or rather when
infant baptism did not exist, 2nd. that the Greek
Church ever practiced any other baptism than
immersion, and 3rd. that these fonts alone were
used as places of baptism. To make a valid ar
gument against immersion Dr. R. must show all
these things, but neither of them con he proved.
We have now gone through Dr. R.’s “consid
erations.” The nature of the discussion has re
quirrd us to handle arguments, whose vagueness
and thinness made them almost intangible. We
have shown the fullacy of every argument of our
author and ilia! bo has fulled to establish any
meaning of baptizo different from the Classic in
| terpretntion winch (says he) “is every whore to
’ immerse. ” To this negative evidence, we wish
to add some positive testimony, and this we shall
reserve for another%nd ‘final number*
MATUETES.
For the Christian Index.
“What is the Almighty that we should serve him!” Job 21:15.
1. He is the God of the universe. He is su
preme in heaven and upon earth; them's none
like him. Ol his form we know nothing, but
his works which we see, attest his power, and
declare his glory. Ho rides upon the storm and
directs iiscour.se. he speaks and calms the raging
sens. At his Lidding the cheerful sun makes
haste to rise, “he leadethout his hosts and telleth
the s'ars bv number.” He sendelh the streams
Jt
into the valleys which run among the hills, they
give drink to ull -the heusts of tiie field. He
clothes the mountains with the verdant grass,
and the plains wave with the shining grain.—
bje gathers the clouds; the lightnings are his
ministers, and the thunder his voice, lie comps
down, the earth melts at his approach arid “quakes
under his feet.” At bis presence the mountains
’Smoke like a furnace, and all nature aeknowl,
’ edges his supremacy. Throughout the vast
universe there is but one creature that tauntingly
a.-ks: “What is the 1 Almighty that I should serve
llfllj?” uml * nini,, rttlu tll'lu'.R his
fery existence trom the God whom he thus in
sults. But not only is he the God of our dimi
nutive orb, he sways his sceptre over the unt< Id
millions of hraven. Throughout this vast do
main his presence is f< It and his supremacy ac
knowledged. The tallest arch-angel that shines
nnd sings around his throne compared to him is
! hut n drop in the bucket, or as tho small dust
| that cleaves to the balancp. Before him fall the
j sparkling crowns of the elders, and around him
float the songs that rise from a mill'on of hearts
and tongues. From his countenance beams the
light that upon the golden streets, and
which illuminates the Jasper walls of the New
Jerusalem, while in his hand ho poises the desti
ny ollhn most powerful war.ior that over waved
his banner or marshalled his hosts for the battle.
He speaks, and the dark regions of the lost sigh
in solemn cadence, nnd their wretched inmates
tremble at his voice as the fragile leaf shaken
by the rushing wind. He lifts the sword of his
justice, nnd earth and hell reel ns a drunken
man. Nnture sighs, anguish groans, nnd mercy
pleads, nnd yet incorrigible man breathes fmth
the dark and deep corruption of his heart.saving,
“Wlint isthe Almighty that I should serve him.”
2. Ho is tho Saviour and friend of sinners.
Though his voice can shake the earth, and his
burning eye flash ns the lightning amid the
lurid scenes of night, yet he can whisper to the
sinner that is ofn contrite heart and that trembles
at his word, in tones “soft as the breeze of sum
mer or gentle ns the lulling lute.” lie distils
his mercy upon the humble penitent sweetly ns
the dew upon Herman, nnd by the light of his
renoncilt and countenance, fills the soul with jov nnd
gladness. Vailing his glorious nnd terrible ir.oj.
estv in mortal robe, bespeaks in chepijngaccents
to the broken-hearted sittner, and inspires hope
in him who is ready to perish, breaks the fetters
of unbelief, anil sets the captive at liberty, lie
weeps at the grave of the ileml, comforts the dis
consolate, heals tho sick, am) preaches the gospel
|to the poor. Sor ow flies before him, wretched*
I ness vanishes ot his approach, and hypocrisy
| quails beneath the searching glance of his eve.
j Thousands crowd upon his footsteps who have
I tasted ol his goodness, nnd as they gaze upon
i his form, rend the air with the loud shouts of
j “Hosanna to the Son of David,” and yet a vile
| moth that speaks from the dust asks, “What is
i the Almighty that I should serve him?”
I Again, lie wrestles in the Garden of Geth.
■ semane. lie prays innd agonizes, ho groans and
j sweats until blood streams at every pore. The
| burning cup of wrath parches his soul nnd hln-ts
: him like a simoon, nil hell rises in arms against
| him, and heaven frowns in darkness upon him.
And now lie hangs ns u felon upon the cross,
| friends forsake, enemies deride, and S itan re.
I joiees against him. The sun hides his face, the
I earth gapes in Wonder, the graves are openi and,
| the dcud come forth and curiously enquire the
’ cause of their disquietude. The Temple, thn
i massy monument of the Jewish ritual is cleft
{ from top to bottom, the everlasting granite is rent
in pieces, and yet amid tho din nnd commotion
of the excited elements, a voice is heard feeble
ns the chirping of the grasshopper enquiring, j
“W'ltat is tho Almighty that I should serve him?”
But he descends to the tomb, the fire of his
eye is quenched, the pallid hue of death has
gathered upon his sacred brow, and its stillness !
is fixid in his pulseless heart. The setting sun j
casts his mellow beams upon his resting place, i
as if lingering to pay homage to honven’s eldest .
J born, while the stars, as if impatient of delay, j
! peep from their hiding places, and gaze in won. j
; der upon the “scene. The’heavy tramp of the [
’ sentinel soldier breaks the stillness of the place, !
1 at midnight, and frightens the bird from its perch. -
But the Jewish Sabbath is closed, and Plv sphor
! brings the bright and rosy morn. Angels roll 1
thn stone from the srpuloh'e, and the rising sun
! beholds him who was dead-bill is alive forever- 1
. more, nnd has the keys of death and hell. The
j ponderous and everlasting gates of tho New
: Jerusalem are thrown open to receive the heir of
heaven and earth, the angels shout his welcome
in immortal struius tjjat charm the heavenly hills,
and yet a voice urises feebly amid the heavenly
harmony, “What is the Almignty that 1 should
serve him?” and ilisthe voice of man.
3. He is the Comforter of his people and the
j Accuser of the sinner. He sppaks to the care
worn and weary pilgrims in the delightful ac- j
cents of the gospel! “Fear not little flock, for it \
is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.” He tells them of green pastures and j
living waters, of golden harps, kingly crowns, ;
and victorious pulms. Ho points them across
the sombre waste of ever blasted prospects, and j
disappointed hopes, to the mansions ad'bliss where
the wicked cease to trouble and the weary rest
j itt peace. He comes in the cheerless hour when
the heart recoils under the withering thought
that alf beneath th£ sun is vanity, and whispers
of a house hot made’ with hands eternal in the
heavens, and the poor tempest tossed Christian
smiles through his tears and reaps with delight—
like an enchanted being.
He also comes to the incorrigible and spell
bound sinner and at his bidding memory flies to
I). r post. Ho arrays before him his long cata
logue of crimes, and reminds him of judgment
to come. He also lifts the veil and bids him
look beyond to those scenes of perdition where
the wicked receive their everlasting portion,
until his countenance blanches in terror, he
trembles, his heart fails him for far and still ibe
cry comes up, “What is the Almighty that T
should serve him?” CONFIDENCE,
i Pineviile, April 3d, k 855.
THURSDAY, MAY 1, 1851.
(13® All arrearages are charged at
$2 50 per annum, or 5 cents per num
ber. For all payments in advance the
paper is furnished at. $2 00 per annum,
or 4 cents per‘number.
Report of llic Committee on Ulinite>
rial Education at tlie South.
During the session of tho Southern Baptfst
Convention at Charleston in May, 1549, the
brethren present held a meeting for the purpose
ol considering the expediency of uniting the
Baptists of the Southern States in the support of
one general Theological Seminary. A commit
tee was appointed to correspond with the Trus
tees of our Theological Seminaries, and to bring
about, if it be found practicable, n union of two
or more of those institutions. It was also made
their duty to propose either to those who hav<y
charge of our institutions of learning, to our
Conventions or Associations, any measures which
ufter mature consideration,they may believe cal*
culated to secure in the Southern States, a thor
ougli and useful training of our young men who
are entering the gospel ministry. We cheerfully
comply with the request of the Chairman to copy
from the Southern Baptist the following letter of
this Committee :
i To the Baptist Denomination in the South and
South West .-
Tlip Committee appointed hv lbt Convention
on Ministerial Education, held in Charleston, S.
C., in May. 1849, and charged with the conduct
ing of correspondence and the taking of such’
: other measures as they might deem necessary,
with n view to theestnhlishment of a Theological
Seminary for the Baptist Denomination, South,
deem it proper, as the time for the re assembling
ol the Biennial Convention is drawing near, and
! ns probuhly tr.e subject committed to them may
: engage the attention of the brethren who will
me> t on tliut occasion, to report in this public
; manner lln-ir notion in the premises.
At their earliest convenience they entered in.
to correspondence with tho conductors of the dis.
feteni Theological Schools und Theological De
partments to Colleges connected with the Denom
ination, urging upon their attention thn object
contemplated by the Convention, and soliciting’
their cooperation in its attainment. The're
sponses made they deem it unnecessary to sub
mil in detail. It may he sufficient to stale that
not one of them contained any thing to lead the
Committee to believe that the funds of these sev.
eral Institutions could bo united in any one of the
existing Institutions, or in the origination of a
! new one. And that while in most of the replica
there wits expressed a willingness to co-operute
j iu the establishment of one Institution of high or
| der, yet it was invariably connected with such
! conditions and reservations relating to their pe
culiar obligations nnd the interests of their aev.
oral schools, as to convince the Committee that
it Has not expedient for them to take any further
steps iu the business.
I hey have, therefore, only to refer tlie subject
hack to the denomination without proposing any
tiling fur their consideration or offering any plat*
tor their adoption. Ihe Committee mnv, how.
ever, fie permitted to say, that they deem the es
tablishment of a rheological School of high
grade by the Baptists of the South, to he of great
importance to the interests ol truth nnd the pros
perity of our churches, and that this conviction
receives strength from e'ery review which they
give to the matter.
Respectfully submitted,
A. M. Poindexter, Chairman.
The I rustees of Mercer University have ex
pressed their willingness to modify their plan of
1 lieological instruction, so as tu suit the wants of
undergraduates who do not contemplate a thor
onoh course; and to leave to the General Theo
logical Seminary the work of training for the
duties of the ministry, graduates and those qual
tfied to study with graduates. If, however, such,
a Seminary should not be established, our Trus
tees think, that they can furnish to graduates a*
well as undergraduates all the facilities which
they may desire for obtaining theological knowl
edge. They have already appointed two pro
fessors, and they are ready to appoint a third,
whenever his services are needed. All that is
wanted now to place our Theological Seminary
on a footing with the best Theological Seminaries
in the United States, is to have it filled with young
men properly qualified in mind and heart tor
enjoy its advantages.
Afflictive Calamity.
The Western Watchman announces the death
of Mrs. Boyakin, wile of Rev. \V. F. Boyakin,
Associate Editor of that paper. White Mr. 8.,
nnd most of the family were at Church cm Sab
bath evening, April 6, his wife, who had been ill
for some days, had lain down by a pallet near
the fire, and when site awoke, her garments were
in a light blaze and the house on fire. In the
agony and pain, she rushed to the yard when a
gentleman passing saw her situation, threw
around her his overcoat and smothered the
fiamra. The precipitate action of the neighbors
extinguished the fire in the house; the alarm
reached the meeting house, and her afflicted hus
band was called from the pulpit to witness the
dying agonies of his beloved companion. In the
most excruciating agony she lingered about 18
hours and expired, alter expressing her hope and
confidence in the Redeemer.
[May