Newspaper Page Text
18
Cfrt Christian
JOSEPH WALKER, Editor.
Printed at the Georgia Telegraph Office.
Macon, Wednesday, Feb’ry 4,1857.
Spurgeon of England.
How suddenly are some persons brought
before the public to obtain a world-wide cele
brity, while thousands of others of enlarged
capacities, thorough scholarship, felicitous
utterance, and unblemished morals, never be
come known beyond the narrow limits of
their own parochial, or professional circles!
Once in the course of a century, a genius is
introduced by an unseen usher, who instant
ly begins to play an important part, in the
drama of human affairs. It maybe a New
ton, a Washington, a Luther, or a Whitfield.
Much pertaining unto him, whether of ment
al or physical structure, is possessed in com
mon with liis cotemporaries. He has the same
corporeal organization, is similar in form and
appearance, speaks the same language, was
educated at the same colleges, or has had
even ftwer advantages for intellectual devel
opment, than were enjoyed by many of his
juniors ; yet still, he takes his position far in
advance of his fellows—demands universal
deference and acceptance, and promptly re
ceives them. No one disputes his claim.
None ventures to compete for the enthusias
tic laudations of admiring multitudes. It is
not our prerogative to explain why the things
done or spoken by some persons are so much
more forcible and effective, than the very
same things would be if done or spoken by
some other persons. This is a great problem
to be solved only, iffat all, by the wisest philo
sophers. We may speculate and theorize up
on it till we suppose ourselves to have detect
ed the secret of the orator’s power over his
auditors, or have been led to think him in
nothing superior to many who have educed
less popular eclat—and yet, the spontaneous
verdict of extollingassemblies will overwhelm
and set aside our best conclusions. The ma
gic touch of genius—especially when felt
through the medium of eloquent oratory —is
irresistible ; and promiscuous masses of so
ciety, of all grades of intellect, of variant de
grees of education, and of diverse tastes and
habits, yield to it a willing and unanimous
homage.
Mr. Spurgeon is yet a very young man—
apparently a precocious divine—but no min
ister, so far as we know, has obtained greater
fame as a pulpit orator in so brief a period of
time, or been honored with the conversion of
more souls, as the manifest fruit of his labors.
It was not strange, therefore, that public cu
rosity should have been intensely excited—
... have analysed his sermons,
tin- Iris wonderful pow
by Iris voice, and the man
li'PF his delivery —and that a few should
Bare attempted to detract both from the me
rit of his sermons and his reputation as a
speaker. That his fine voice would be uni
versally acceptable to any audience in any
part of the world—and that a chaste, dignifi
ed, vivacious enunciation greatly predisposes
his hearers to give attention to the words
spoken, are facts which no sane man would
think of calling in question. There may also
be something in the character of an English
audience that is more easily impressed by the
outspoken directness, the unique boldness,
and the extemporaneous rapidity of his deli
very, than there is in the character of an
American audience. And this, we are inclin
ed to think, will be found to be tru \ should
Mr. Spurgeon visit this country. The Eng
lish have for centimes been held under the
yoke of written, and poorly read sermons.
There was nothing in the manner of utterance
to wake up the sleepers, or to startle the
conscience, or to elicit admiration. The ever
lasting manuscript, the measured, humdrum
articulation, and the stereotyped Episcopal
customs, have chilled and frozen up the hearts
of the people. When, therefore, a speaker
came upon the stage whose matter and man
ner could break the ice, and induce a flow of
religions emotions, they received him with
open arms, heard him with open ears, and
loved him with warm and bounding hearts.
In America, however, such preaching has not
been so uncommon, and if Mr. Spurgeon had
made his debut in this country, his fame
might not —so soon at least—-havej*eached
its present height, But, bating all reasona
ble criticisms, Mr. Spurgeon must be a supe
rior young man, and our object in penning
these lines is to defend him against some of
his reviewers. It may be true —as it was both
of Whitfield and Christmas Evant—that, if
we had not previously heard of Mr. Spurgeon,
and were to judge him by a cursory reading
of his reported sermons, we sholild wonder at
the general favor with which he has been re
( i\ ed, as well as the encomiums lavished up
on him wherever he went. N o stenographer,
however expert iu jotting dowe words and
sentences, can do justice to an ardent orator.
If exact, he will also report quaint phrases,
collatteral remarks, or episodes, which in the
spoken sermon were proper and effective for
good, but in the printed report they seem
tame and forceless. We shall be greatly sur
prised if—in the judgment of careful readers
and discriminating thinkers—Mr. Spurgeon’s
reported sermons do not indicate him as a
sound Gospel minister, and an orator of rare
power.
We have read some six or seven of these
sermons with profit and delight. They are
vastly superior to the printed sermons of
Whitfield, and appeared to us to be just such
discourses as the churches of the nineteenth
century need. They are calvinistic as to doc
trine—unmixed with even a shadow of hete
rodoxy—and evolve just such principles as
have for centuries been dear to Presbyterian,
or Baptist hearts. Let the critic search them
thoroughly, and if he is himself sound in the
faith which was once delivered unto the saints,
he will find nothing of which he may reason
ably complain. We have found the themes
. discussed clearly stated, and aptly illustrated
—not, perhaps, in strict accordance with theo
, logical or scholastic rules—what does a genius
. care for rules—but with that tact and spirit
■ which sends pure Gospel truth tight to the
sinner’s heart. This we call preaching. Had
, Mr. Spurgeon studied the science of homile
tics under the best masters to be found in the
best theological seminaries, he could not, by
. his directness of address, the earnestness of
his manner, the simplicity of his matter, or
. the fervor and strength of his emotions, have
adapted himself more fortunately to the va
, ried capacities and necessities of his large and
mixed congregations, than he seems to have
. done, if we judge by his reported sermons,
and the great fairvp winch has followed him
wherever he has preached in the British em
i Pire-
We contend, therefore, that—aside from
the man—these sermons have merit. They
are sound in doctrine. They are adapted to
the popular capacity. Hence the common
people hear them gladly. They are the plain
statements of holy writ, unfolding to man his
lost condition —his utter depravity and ruin
liis duty—the danger of procrastination—and
mercifully pointing out to him the only way
of escape. We like such sermons, and wish
that the churches could have them more fre
quently.
It is said, nidi (‘over, that Mr. Spurgeon is
a consistent Baptist, acting on the principles
of strict communion. That is, communion at
the Lord’s table as practised only by baptized
believers. This is the kind of Baptists that
England has long ago needed, and the kind
which America tnay yet need. We rejoice
that brother Spurgeon has been thus given to
the churches.
Denominational Schools.
Georgia Baptists have some reason to be
proud of their schools. They have many in
the state of large and increasing influence ;
eminently deserving, and properly claiming,
the patronage of the denomination and the
public. A number of these are, and have
been recently’ advertised in the columns of
the Index.
First, of course, and above all others is:
MERCER UNIVERSITY.
Its location in a beautiful, moral village ;
away from all the temptations of towns, is
favorable. No “ licensed retail” sign boards
are displayed in Uenfield. By the act of In
corporation, any holder forfeits his
title, by allowing ardent spirits to be sold on
his premises. Greensboro is seven miles dis
tant—a walk rather long to be taken by stu
dents for the purpose of securing an intoxi
cating beverage. The citizens are nearly’ all
members of Baptist churches—intelligent and
moral. No location could be more favorable
to study than the classic groves of Penfield.
The educational advantages and appliances,
are very complete. A good Library, Appa
ratus, Buildings, and a Faculty, composed of
six men iu the vigor of life, of whom as scho
lars, educai.u-s, and Christian gentlemen, the
denomination an i the country may well be
proud.
Then at Cave Spring, in one of the most
healthy and charming valleys of upper Geor
gia, is the.
IIEARN MALE SCHOOL.
This school is under the patronage of the
Georgia Baptist Convention, and has an en
dowment of $12,000. Its principal the Itev.
J. S. Ingraham, is well known in the state
as a classical teacher, and Christian gentle
man. He was graduated at Rome Universi
ty, and has devoted his life to teaching. The
school is admirably adapted to prepare stu
dents for college and is thus a feeder of Mer
cer University.
The Cherokee Baptist College, at Cass
ville is yet young, and struggling with the
usual difficulties ; but it is located in a coun
try abounding in pupils, and we trust its use
fulness will equal the Mesires of its friends.
The Rev. Thomas Rambaut, formerly pas
tor in Savannah, is the Chairman of the Fac
ulty. He is a good scholar, and doubtless
discharges his duties efficiently. ***
MARSHALL college
Stands in the heathful and moral city of Grif
fin. The College is under the patronage of
the Flint River Association, and has a small
endowment. The Building is a two stoiy
brick edifice, and presents a somewhat com
manding appearance. The officers are, Mr.
Brown, and that veteran among Georgia tea
chers, the Rev. J. W. Attaway.
BROWNWOOD INSTITUTE,
N ear LaGrange, though not strictly a deno
minational school, yet is sufficiently so to be
classed in the enumeration. It is the Insti
tution over which that distinguished teacher
and former president of Mercer University
the Rev. Otis Smith so long presided, and
which has more recently had for its president
S. S. Sherman, one of the first scholars in the
South. It is at present under the control of
Messrs. Wooten and Cox, as principals and
proprietors. They r have called to their assis
tance, as members of the Faculty, Vincent F.
Sanford, A. B. and the Rev. Wm. M. Cun
ningham. For particulars, reference may be
had to the advertisment in another column.
At another time we -shall pay our respects
to the sisterhood of Female Colleges and
Seminaries. *
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
A Record of Crime.
The lines hereunto appended, w T e have
transcribed from the back of a one dollar
bank note, on the Central Bank of Alabama,
No. 3003, Letter 8., Ist Sept., 1855. We
give this description before we send it out
again, that it may be recognized and preach
as it wanders about on its pecuniary mission.
We omit the unfortunate yoimg man’s signa
ture, to [spare the feelings of surviving rela
tives who might perchance see this article.
The record is in these words:
“Montgomery, 20th Feb., 1856.”
“ But a few years ago I had the love and
confidence of a father, who now slumbers in
the ground, who left me a large fortune. I
w T as raised in the country but then moved to
town. I associated with dissipated young
men and w’as soon in difficulty, imitated in
obscene and shocking places, their deeds, and
there is nothing left me now, but human
wretchedness and black foreboding of future
woe and misery. I am bathed in my own
gore and AvalloAving in the awful pool of de
bauchery, ruin and disgrace. Yet for all these
do I repent or change, but I am irrecovera
bly lost, and with this my last dollar,
ed as it is iu gaming , goes my last hope. FrflU
well those pleasant scenes of boy-hood!—
Welcome the scaffold, and arch-demons.
Fellow man, bew'are.”
The blanks denote the position of his name
which is given in full except the middle which
is represented by a single letter. The itali
cised •words are his own, as found in the orig
inal. What a warning to yoimg men !
USP’ We invite careful attention to the
card of Teasdale & Ilolsman, Commission
Merchants of St. Louis, Mo., in another col
umn of this paper. We have been personal
ly acquainted with those gentlemen for sev
eral years, and therefore, we know them to
be reliable. Any business, in their line, which
persons in Georgia, Alabama, .Mississippi,
Louisiana, Florida, or Tennessee, may wish
to have transacted, would be attended to
with dispatch and punctuality. It would be
to the interest of Railroad contractors and
Steamboat captains to give them a call, as
they may happen to spend a few days in St.
Louis.
Favors from Public Men.
We hereby tender our acknowledgment to
the Hon. Howell Cobb, for the Report of the*
Secretary of the Treasury on the state of the
finances, for the year ending June 30th, 1856.
Our thanks are also tendered to the lion.
A. G. Brown, of Miss., for a copy of his speech
on the Slavery question.
Record.
The Ministers of the Ebenezer Baptist As
sociation inform us that that body convened
at Lawrens Hill Church, on the 18th, 19th
and 20tli‘of October, 1856. In the absence
of brothefr L. Solomon, brother W. R.
preachenthe introductory sermon. Brother
H. Bunn was elected Moderator, and brother
Home, Clerk. By the report of the Commit
tee on deceased ministers, it appears that two
had been called home from their earthly la
bors. Brother G. R. McCall wrote the cir
cular letter—subject: Hope.
We transfer to our columns tne following
interesting proceedings: •
“21. Committee on Publications Report
as follows: We, the Committee on Publica
tions, beg leave to make the following re
port : We recommend the members of the
Churches composing the Association, to a
more careful and prayerful reading of the
Book of God ; and next to the Bible, we re
commend every member of our Churches to
subscribe for and read the Christian Index,
the Tennessee Baptist, the Home and For
eign Journal, and the Commission; all of
which we respectfully submit.
D. SHINE, Chairman.
22. Brother McCall offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously adopted :
Resolved , That this Association support a
native Indian Missionary, among the Creek
Indians, so soon as a sufficient amount of funds
can he raised.
23. Brother Messer offered the following
resolution, which was unanimously passed:
Resolved , That this Association* mourn the
absence of our former Moderator, Brother C.
A. Tharp, who for so many successive years
has presided over us with Christian meekness
and ability, and while we sympathize with
him in his affliction, and believe they will
work for him “ a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory,” yet we pray that he
may be spared for the good of Zion for years
to come.
24. Resolved , That we appoint a Commit
tee, known as the Indian Mission Committee,
for the purpose of carrying out the Resolu
tion referring toTndion Missions. Commit
® : Brethren Bunn, McCall and G. Walker.”
Resolutions.
December Term, 1856.
The Baptist CJiurch of Christ, in Cassvifle, Ga.
Whereas, Elder John Craw'ford has resign
edpthe Pastorate of this Church, and whereas
the said Elder Crawford has faithfully dis
charged the duties of Pastor of this Church,
for about twenty-one years in regular succes
sion, to the satisfaction of its members, xvith
out fee or reward (temporally to a great ex
tent.) Aiubwhereas from his prudence, wis
dom and good management in the administra
tion of Gospel discipline, she has steered clear
of all serious difficulties during his pastoral
connection with her,
Therefore Resolved by this Church, that as
a token of gratitude, respect and love, for our
venerable brother and pastor, we hereby ten
der to him our best wishes and prayers for
his temporal prosperity, and particularly for
his spiritual happiness in this vale of tears. —
And when done with the turmoils of life, that
he may hear the welcome plaudit, “ Come ye
blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom,
prepared for you from the foundation of the
world.”
Moved by Elder W. H. Robert that the
above be recorded on our Church book, a
copy be handed to Elder Crawford, and a
copy be sent to the Christian Index, for pub
> lication.
W. H. ROBERT, Mod. pro. tern.
T. A. Sullivan, Cl’k.
) +
Notes on the New Testament,
PRACTICAL AND EXPLANATORY,
[ BY ADIEL SHERWOOD.
We have examined this work with some
. care, and a high degree of interest. We
. hesitate not to say that it would he a valua
ble accession to any minister’s Library. And
to those ministers whose duties require them
to travel from home, this book, if put in their
[ saddle-bags, would often, at their stopping
i places, supply the place of a large library. A
small pocket Testament with this volume as
* a safe expositor, would furnish all the aids
; necessary for the preparation of sound Gospel
sermons. It is the multum in parvo —the con
, densed thoughts of the best thinkers, ranging
i through the history of the Christian Church
from our Lord’s advent to the present time.
We like it all the better on account of the
author’s hold rejection of those human adden
. da which obscure our common version, and
. the correct rendering of words and phrases
which have either never been translated, or
have become obsolete by the progress and ex
pansion of the English language.
We subjoin the modest, but noteworthy
preface to the Gospel according to Matthew:
“ The title of the Evangelists, the writers
of the four Gospels, #latthew, Mark, Luke,
and John, in the Greek, is simply by or ac
cording to Matthew; and so of the others.
Saint is a prefix of a later age than the sth
century. Saint Matthew is as unauthorized
by the original as would he the prophecy by
Saint Isaiali or Saint Malachi, and as unscrip
tural. The old Italic version, whence sprung;
the vulgate, lias simply, Evangel imn secundum
Mattheum—the Gospel accordingtoMatthew.
This was the case for over four hundred years.
Most translators into modern languages first
applied the word holy to the Gospel; after
wards the adjective is applied to the writer
—Saint or holy Matthew.”
This is making havoc of the Saints —not
those made by the Holy Spirit, but by the
Catholics and hyper-Episcopalians. AYe now
give Dr. Slew wood’s rendering of certain
words and sentences which have for centuries
been allowed to shock the common sense of
tlie English reader, simply because he could
see no sense in them:
Baptize: “The word baptisein , both in
sacred authors and in classical, signifies to dip ,
to plunge , to immersed
Repent: “This word signifies to look back
upon a life of misdoing with sorrow.”
A Candle : “ Lamps were used, but not
causes in Judea. Hence, also, Lamp-stand ,
instead of candle-stick.”
Preaching : “Proclaiming, announcing the
I Lj£J ) P i : oae h of the M essiah.”
U Raca: This “is a Syriac word, used con
temptuously of one we dislike, meaning sense
less fellow, vain person.”
Do you to wit : “ Make known, disclose,
narrate what was before unknown and hid
den. The word which we use here is now
obsolete and hardly understood.”
Anathema-Maraxatha : Let him be ac
cursed ; our Lord cometli.”
Beasts: In Rev. 4 : 6 —“ Living creatures.”
After Easter : “ After the Passover, for
Easter has no more business in the text than
Magog ; hence it is a corruption and a gross
one. The old Saxons had a festival in honor
of Easter a heathen God, observed about the
time of the Passover: so in the Liturgy or
service books it is called Easter instead of the
Passover. The translators follow the Liturgy
instead of the Greek text.”
Pascha : “ The Greek word, most wicked
ly, has been rendered Easter, Acts 12: 4—lie
cause there was a feast called Easter.”
At the close of the book there is a Glossary
of words, and a synoptical history of transla
tions, dating from the Syriac version of the
New Testament, which, as some suppose, was
made in the first century, down to our pres
ent translation, which was made by authority
of King James, and was completed iu 1611,
by 47 Episcopalian translators. This history
shows that there have been some seventeen
revisions or translations of parts of the Scrip
tures before the version by King Janies’ au
thority was reached. So that, after all, re
vision is no very new thing under the sun.
Finally, Dr. Sherwood deserves well of the
public for this labor of love, and we rejoice
that God spared his life tv> complete it. AYe
hope that ministers generally will buy it. A
few copies are for sale at our office. Price
$3.
Rev. Hillman Williams.
This minister has accepted a call from the
first Baptist Church in Atlanta, and has, we
learn, already entered upon the duties of the
pastorate. Brother Williams is a graduate
of Mercer University and a very amiable and
pious preacher. May happiness and success
attend him in his new and important field of
labor. *
Itev. Thornton A. Miller, of Indianapolis,
has been appointed the corresponding secre
tary of the Education Committee of the New
School General Assembly, located in New
York.
AVe regret to hear that Proff’. P. H. Mell,
recently met with an accident which prevent
ed his presence with the Faculty at the open
ing of the Georgia University.
Judge David AY. Nowlin, was ordained to
the Baptist ministry at Zion church, Mont
gomery County, Mobile.
The Norfolk Herald announces the death
of William Maxwell, L. L. distinguish
ed citizen of Virginia, and a Impious member
of the Presbyterian church.
For the Index.
Pay your Minister.
1. You should pay your Minister becauee the
Lord hath said, with special reference to him ,
! “ The laborer is worthy of his hire.’' —lt is true,
if he is a Minister of God, He has called him
and sent him to preach the gospel, and he is
accountable to God, for the manner in which
he performs this great duty ; but he is sent
to minister to you in holy things, to read and
study the scriptures, to pray, and preach to
you the unsearchable riches of Christ. Now
the same authority that appointed him to la
-1 bor in this way, for your benefit, has required
that you should pay him. “For the Lord
has ordained that they who preach the gospel
shall live of the gospel.” “ And let him that
is taught in the word communicate to him
that teachethU —Ist Cor. ix, 14 : Gal. vi, 6.
2. You should pay your Minister, because he
is worthy of your support. —It is reasonable to
suppose that however diffident and unworthy
he may feel, you a man of God,
and a good Minister of Cfirfst, worth more to
you, to your family, to the church, and to the
whole community in which you live, than the
most important officer of State. How valua
ble his example ! His counsels and instruc
tions how appropriate, timely, and important!
Then having such a minister, ought you not
to pay him ? Consider what would be the
state of society destitute of a minister of the
gospel ?
Your minister may be in possession of more
property than yourself, is no good
reason why you should not pay him, accord
* ing to your ability. His position in society
“may require more to make him extensively
useful; he is the minister, not only of the
poor, but of the more wealthy, ot the high, as
well as the low, and must in a degree accom
modate himself to all, that by all means he
may he instrumental in saving some. If he
has honestly acquired his wealth, this does
not interfere with your duty to pay him.—
You never think of urging as a reason against
paying your just debts to others than minis
ters, that they are wealthier than yourself.—
, Then will you degrade your minister, by pla
cing him beneath all others in this respect ?
3. You should pay your Minister liberally —
AVhile the Lord claims it as a debt due his
servant, tye has been pleased to leave you to
confer it as a gift at your own pleasure, or in
other words to tax yourself. This being the
case, you should be the more careful not to
rob God in your offerings, hut he liberal in
paying your minister.
4. Yom should pay your Minister punctually.
A minister should be a punctual man. He
cannot he so in meeting liis contracts, and
paying liis debts, unless his beavers are punc
tual in paying him. The debt to the minister
or pastor should he the first paid. All other
debts are collectable by law, but this is a mo
ral obligation, left to your moral sense, not to
he forced out of you by a legal process; this
is the strongest reason why it should be
promptly discharged, not waiting to be dunn
ed by the Deacon or Collector, hut meeting
it cheerfully with a ready mind. Reader, ex
amine this matter and see if you have done
your duty to your minister, in paying him his
just dues. ‘ JUSTICE.
—
For the Index.
How do you Like it now?
Like what? says brother Jones, or brother
Johnson, or brother Some-body-else. Why,
the Christian Index, of course. Oh, I like it
very well. I think it has greatly improved
since its removal to Macon, and I am gratified
to see such a long list of receipts in late num
bers. AVell, brother Jones, is your name on
that list ? No, indeed, answers brother Jones;
I paid up before the paper foft Penfield. I’m
glad to hear it, my brother. Brother John
son, and brother Some-body-else and brother
Eveiy-body-else are pleased too.
Now, Brethren, if we are all pleased, just
let us all pay up, and let us all determine that
its subscription list shall at least he doubled
by the next Convention, and then avc shall all
be better pleased still. Surely every patron
can got one additional subscriber. Many can
secure five—ten—tiventy. Make the trial, at
any rate. And then let none aylio are in ar
rears wait for his account, or for an agent.—
Pay up, “ rough at a venture !” If you over
pay, it will be passed to your credit. Come,
Brethren, let us all give “a long pull, a strong
pull, and a pull altogether” for our own Chris
tian Index, and thus place it in a position of
eminence and usefulness, such as it has never
occupied before.
J. 11. CAMPBELL.
For the Index.
A Weighty Responsibility.
The plan working well —Encouraging words —
More help needed.
Upon the writer has been devolved the re
sponsibility of sole Agent for Foreign Missions
in Georgia. He has resigned all pastoral
charge, and resolved to devote his best ener
gies to the promotion of this blessed cause. —
liis plan for raising ten thousand dollars annu
ally, has been submitted through tMHndex.
From Augusta, Madison, Savannah and Col
umbus he has received Avords of encourage
ment, which assure him that pious and liberal i
hearts sympathize deeply with our devoted j
Missionaries, and with the perishing heathen j
for Avhose salvation they are laboring. Dur- 1
ing the last Conventional year, avc raised in
this State, for this cause, only about SSOOO. —
This year, closing the 15th of April, Ave hope j
to reach at least $7,000.
AA T ith a membership of nearly one hundred j
thousand, Avhose taxable property amounts to
about seventy jive millions, can Ave not afford
ten thousand annually for this object? Breth
ren don’t Avait for a visit, or even an appeak
i by letter, from the Agent. Act for yourselves
; upon the plan he has proposed, or adopt one
of your oavii, and thus impart confidence to
| your Board and aid in sending “glad tidings”
i to the ends of the earth!
J. 11. CAMPBELL.
For the Index.
Theological Schools.
i I low is it that Ave liaA’e so few theological
| students at Penfield ? I hear of no special
1 prejudice against the school or place : yet avc
are all disappointed in the number of young
ministers.
Perhaps the requirements are too high for
entrance, -or the course of education so thor
ough or protracted, that the means and cir
cumstances of many preclude their attempts
to acquire an education. Perhaps if a mere
English course, of only a year or tAVO, Avere
prescribed, some avlio are now deterred Avould
he encouraged to acquire some knowledge, if
it Avere but a meagre share: some in middle
life might be inclined €b avail” themselves of
such advantages. Or, could not some intel
ligent Minister, say in each Association, be in
duced to instruct such of his brethren as
would attend ? Almost any Church would
furnish board for such, and they might sup
ply churches on the Sabbath. I know it is
said, “ a little learning is a dangerous thing,
but the use of books, some elementary truths,
the evidences of Christianity, etc., etc., might
be pretty thoroughly learned in one year;
then the student might go on alone, and ac
quire much useful knowledge. One years’ in
struction AA'ould greatly aid a mind thirsting
for information.
Many that Avould study know not how to
begin, and might be attracted by such an un
pretending plan of education as this.
Churches are famishing for the bread ot”
life, and many waste places are desolate. The
churches may be to blame in not calling out
the gifts Avithin their bounds, that their “pro
fiting may appear to all.” If the Apostles
Avere directed to “ ordain elders in every
church,” is it not implied that their talents
had been called into use at previous meetings ?
Present your members for ordination say the
Apostles ; but if the gifts had not been previ
ously called forth in prayer, in exhortation,
and in expounding the word, hoAV’ awkward
Avould have been their condition ! It is clear,
the early churches had called out their gifts;
hence Avere prepared to set the most suitable
ones before the Presbytery. It is clear too
that every church that lives in obedience to
the Master’s directions, contains gifts, Avhicli,
with proper training and exercise, would be
useful in building up the interests of Zion.
Let every Church put into exercise an an
cient practice of testing the talents she pos
sesses—of urging all its members to pray, ex
hort and expound, in order “to purchase to
themselves a good degree and great boldness
in the faith.” This is the old-fashioned plan
of theological schools, and of testing gifts.
” IOTA.
For the Index.
A New Column.
Mr. Editor :—We need anew column in
our ecclesiastical statistics. For Avhat ? To
record the number of families that have uni
formly morning and evening prayers. Ido
not propose it in the hope that it AA'ill be soon
adopted in the proceedings of religious bodies;
but it may serve as a gentle hint on this sub
ject, so A'ital to the prosperity of the churches
and interests of religion.
It is evident that many families neglect
this Scriptural duty. Some ignore it altogeth
er and call for the proof that it is enjoined by
the Bible; but more make the apology of
want of talent to perform it and enumerate the
impediments in the way. But conscience is
not quieted, and frequently suggests that
dreadful threatening, “ I AA’ill pour out my
fury upon the heathen and families that call
not upon my name.”
There are children of professing Christians
that never heard the Aoice of family prayer
at home ! Will these prayerless families es
cape ? It is vain to expect it. If it is proper
to ascertain lioav many families read the Bible
through during the year, so of those that ob
serve and practice family prayer. Brethren,
avc have neglected this duty too much and
too long. Let us begin this ucav year, 1857,
and practice every Bible injunction. Then
may avc expect revivals of religion, flourishing
churches, and the conversion of our children.
_ SENIOR.
For he Index.
An Unlucky Year.
To several classes of persons, I have no
doubt the year 1857 Avill prove quite an un
lucky year.
1. Those who have debts due, Avliich they
ought to pay, and have means to pay, yet re
fuse or fail to pay them when they ought, will
find this year an unlucky one to them.
2. Those AA’ho go in debt for property at
the present high prices, and depend upon the
high prices being maintained, and also depend
upon success in their undertakings, will many
of them find this year to be an unlucky one
for them.
3. Those avlio engage in reckless specula
tions in land, cotton, or any thingelse, will
find this an unlucky year for them.
4. Those planters avlio depend upon mak
| ing cotton at high prices to purchase corn,
i meal, &c., will find this to be an unlucky year
! for them.
5. Those Avho attempt to live aboAe their
means, Avill find this to be a \ r ery unlucky
I year for them.
i 6. Those AA’ho owe the printer, and do not
pay him, will find it an unlucky year for
| them. MONITOR.
JANUARY, 1857.