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CHRISTIAN INDEX.
JOSEPH WALKER, Editor,
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Assistant.
TERESBAPH POWER PRESS.
-ME-A.OO3ST, C3--A.-
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1858.
Notice.
All communications intended for the INDEX or
its EDITOR, must be addressed simply “CHRIS
TIAN INDEX,” Macon, Ga.
The Sufficiency of the Gospel.
It should be prized as heaven’s great
est, best gift to man. All the gifts of God
are good. He is the father oflights from
whom cometh every good gift, and every
perfect gift.” The faculty of speech, the
power to think, the capacity for improve
ment —all the attributes of the mind and
functions of the body, as well as the provis
ions made to nourish animal life, are good
gifts from God: but these, necessary as
they undoubtedly are to our existence and
comfort on earth, are infinitely exceeded
in value by the Gospel. If Christianity
meets all the wants of the understanding
and the heart —establishes peace in the
world and good will among men, what
can be compared with it for excellency ?
Truly, is it recorded in Holy Writ, that
“Godliness is profitable for the life that
now is, and that which is to come.”
A Gospel church has a completeness in
her organization, which is better adapted
to the production of beneficial results,
than the most perfect human scheme for
reformation that the world has ever
known. In this age of expansive benevo
lence, various, and numerous are the asso
ciations formed for the amelioration of
man ; but truly excellent as some of these
prove to be for extensive good—they are
to an efficient Church of Christ, as a glim
mering taper would be to the sun shining
in his strength.
Let any one task his eulogistic powers
to the utmost in praise of earthly com
pacts, and still we may show him a more
excellent way. We may invite him “to
walk about Zion, and go round about her:
tell the towers thereof—mark well her
bulwarks, consider her palaces: that he
may tell it to the generation following”—
Let him look at the church as she ought
to be, and not as she too frequently is;
and then tell us if an organization can be
found under the azure heavens as salutary
in its tendencies as a pure, prosperous
Christian Church? She throws open her
temple gates to both sexes of all classes.
Her secret is the love of Christ in the
soul. Her regalia the ornament of a
meek and quiet spirit. She is a peace so
ciety, a temperance society, and a society
of disinterested benevolence. Her consti
tution and by-laws are the Divine Oracles.
Her laws are explicit, comprehensive
and spiritual. He who walks by the
light of their maxims will be a friend to
the friendless, a help to the needy, a father
to the orphan and the benefactor of his
kind. If the institutions, discipline, teach
ings and confrateniity of the church, do
not make him a good man, nothing else
will, and he is irrecoverably lost.
The Gospel as developed through the
pious acts of a pious church, has an invari.
able arid a progressive efficacy. It cannot
fail of the end for which it was designed.
We may not see its effects immediately,
but they will as certainly follow its pro
mulgation and the application of its prin
ciples, as does water the declination of the
hill-side. Too often are ministers inclined
to repine, and to suspect that “God has
forgotten to be gracious, because conver
sions occur only after long intervals—and
certainly such a state of things furnishes
cause for humility—but_even cold seasons
among Christians, and indifference on the
part of sinners, are not conclusive proofs
-fcfeflt'tfre Grospettias been ineffectual.
It has a double commission. It kills or
cures —is to be “a savor of life unto life,
or of death unto death.” Ministers should
not speculate as to present effects, but do
their duty, and leave results to God. If
they place full reliance on the divinity of
the Gospel—preach it and live it before
men, the purposes of God in making it the
instrument of salvation, will be accom
plished. ‘The foolishness of preaching
will save them that believe.”
What implicit confidence had the Apos
tle Paul in the ability of the Gospel to do
its own work. His highest expectation
when going to Rome, was, that he would
go “in the fulness of the blessing of the
Gospel of Christ.” He relied on a lucid
exhibition of the truths—the sens© of scrip
ture —the plain, uncompromising state
ments of the sacred writings, set forth in
language of fervent earnestness, to sub
jugate hearts to Jesus Christ, and en
courage the church.
All Christians, then,should be ambitious
to disseminate the Gospel. They should
ever strive to excel one anothea in dis
tributing the Scriptures. They have it
in their power to impart to their fellow
men, without the least detriment to them
selves, the best thing that God has ever
ordained for man in his fallen state.
They might distribute wealth, build or
phan asylums for the poor, endow colleges,
establish free schools —all these have their
uses and by proper management, may
be great blessings to the public; but
notwithstanding their utility, the Gospel
surpasses them all in imparting substantial
good..
It is plain from what has been said,
that in the Gospel of Christ, is the ground
of our hope. Every man hopes. He
hopes to succeed in business, for long life,
for happiness and a peaceful death. With
many, however, the basis of hope is fear
fully precarious. When examined, there
isleft no reason to hope beyond the grave.
The soul hopes for a happy life hereafter,
and it is the Gospel of Christ, and that
only, that can satisfy its ultimate desires.
The benefits arising from a belief in
Christ, are so many streams of fruition, re
freshing our spirits as they pass, but glid
ing onward to the boundless ocean o
6 •i tv ts that fathomless
perennial bliss. It is tnai i*
ocean whose limpid waters lave the shores
of time, that makes the believer esteem
the reproach of Christ to be greater rich
es than tlfe aggregate of temporal wealth.
A few thousands of years of happiness
would not suffice, if at their conclusion,
the soul were doomed to perpetual misery.
Promise it millions of ages of the most per
fect bliss that heaven can bestow, but with
the stipulation, that when these ages have
run their cycles its peace shall terminate,
and the soul could have no enjoyment
no, not for one instant. The bare suspi
cion that misery -would come at some
time —however remote —would change
heaven itself into a place ol unutterable
woe The saint asks for an abundant en
trance—not into a kingdom circumscribed
by hours—but into the everlasting king
dom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
This, and nothing less, the Gospel promi
ses to all believers.
Here is the anchor of the soul —the
hope of immortal joy! Lert us with
patience wait for it—enjoying each other’s
Christian society, but remembering that
holy intercourse here is a faint re
semblance of fellowship in heaven. It is
the prelude to that more perfect state of
glorious association iu the “spirit land.”
Would any one estimate, the delight of
the heavenly state ? Let him reflect that
there is no sin there, no sorrow, disquie
tude nor pain ; but that Christ fills it with
his ineffable glory.
Let this glorious Gospel be our support
under the varied circumstances of this
life.
Should sickness come, or misfortune, or
sore trials, in the Gospel is a cure for
every malady. Should the universe be
shaken and the sign of the son of man ap
pearin the clouds of heaven, still, the Gos
pel can allay all fear, even amid the agon
ies of expiring nature. And when the
last day shall be born, and Christ on the
throne of judgment, shall summon the na
tions into his presence —even then the
hope of the Christian will be in the Gos
pel of Christ. And while the ungodly
shall turn pale, under the action of their
fears, the redeemed of the Lord will as
cribe glory, and honor, and might, and
dominion to Christ and his Gospel for ever.
< OKI
Our Wants.
We want our list run up to 15,000
names during the year 1850. That is the
figure aimed at by the New York Exam
iner and the Tennessee Baptist, and our
wants are quite as great as theirs.
We want a good list to begin the year
1859 with. Names are coming every day,
but there is no end to our wants.
Then we w r ant delinquents to look at
those printed bills we sent them last week,
as Christmas presents, particularly, at the
figures that have the dollar mark before
them. They are so pretty !
Next, wc want them to send us bank
bills—not bogus ones—in return, with
postage stamps for the odd cents. We
waut stamps very greatly.
Finally, we want every minister, and
every church member, male and female,
to pray for, and work for the prosperity
of the Index.
What our wants may be next week,
there is no telling. Who can tell what a
week may bring forth ?
Neutrality.
Letters from all parts of the State, from
brethren who sympathize with one, or the
other, or neither, or both of the parties
at issue, approve our course in regard to
the Nashville difficulties. We have giv
en a few extracts in another column, and
might have given more of similar import.
COURTESY.
The employers of brother Odom—who,
we believe, is also operating for the Ame
rican Tract Society—will be pleased to
learn, that he is pi’osecuting his agency
with zeal and vigor. He was in our city
the other day fulfilling his part of the con
tract within the sound of our printing
press, and almost under the shadow of the
Baptist Book Store.
Our own Georgia. Agency.
We look forward with confidence to the
complete success of brother Hay good’s
agency for the Georgia Baptist Bible and
Colporteur Society. We know our bro
ther will be cordially received, and we
believe, liberally patronized. Brethren
generally—we have heard of no dissent—
highly approve of this appointment. —
While books, Bibles and approved traots
will be thus distributed, new subscribers
can be obtained for the Index, and old
accounts collected by the same agency.
Our brother has full authority to act for
the Index. Head his letter below :
TO THE BAPTISTS OF GEORGIA.
Dear Brethren : You have perhaps
learned, through the Christian Index, that
I have been appointed “ General Agent
and State Colporteur” for the Georgia
Baptist Bible Board and Colporteur So
ciety, located at Macon, Ga. Hence, I
can no longer say, “No ono hath hired
me.” I enter to-day upon my duties, for
said society. My trust for success is in
the Lord. My brother and sister, will
you help? The object of this society, is,
according to the first article of the Con
stitution, “To aid in the circulation of the
Holy Scriptures and other religious books
in our own and other lands.” I hope to
make an annual visit to every part of the
State. During this month, I expect to vis
it Newnan, LaGrange and the adjacent
churches and places. My plan is to go
into South Eastern Georgia, including Sa
vannah, during the first quarter of next
year. The second, to North Eastern Ga.
via Augusta, Athens, sec. The 3rd, North
Western or Cherokee, Georgia. And
lastly, the South Western part of the
State, including Columbus; varying this
plan only to visit Conventions, Associa
tions, &c. If I should fail to see you -when I
visit your section, send your contributions
to Rev. S. Boykin, Macon, Ga., or to me
at this place. More anon.
F. M. HAY"GOOD,
Atlanta, Ga., Dec. i, 1858. Agent.
Sad Intelligence.
The subjoined letter from Gen. Evans,
will fill many hearts with sorrow. But a
few weeks since we met our departed
brother at the Hephzibah Association. —
He was elected Moderator of the body,
and had prepared one of the best Oircu*
lar Letters that it has ever been our priv
ilege to bear read. The words, “He was
ready,” are as a sunbeam on his tomb:
Augusta, Dec. 3, 1858.
Dear Bro. Walker — express
the sorrow that I feel at the announce
ment of the death of Rev. Joseph Polhill,
of Burke co., who expired yesterday at
his residence at 8 o’clock, P. M.
His death was caused by a fall from an
upper floor of bis gin house thx-ee days be
fore.
How little did you or I expect this
when'we met him at the Hephzibah As
sociation, so joyous and so happy. But
he was ready.
Very respectfully,
GEO. W. EVANS.
QUERIES.
“Should hooks be disposed of by draw
ing for them as in lotteries, -would it be
considered as gambling” ?
By most persons it would, and ought
to be so regarded by professors of religion.
“What course of discipline should a
chnrch pursue towards one of its members
who neglects attending the Conference
meetings of his church, but otherwise.is
unexceptionable in his moral deportment?
The discipline might be varied accord
ing to circumstances. If the delinquent
is a brother, and has the health and op
portunity to attend, he should be expos
tulated with for his neglect of duty.—
Should this fail to produce a change in his
conduct, the church might call him to ac
count, and dispose of the matter as in
their wisdom seemed best.
Would it be unscriptural for our Pas
tors to administer the Sacrament, [Lord’s
Supper] by making only one prayer, im
ploring Divine blessings on both the bread
and wine at the same time ?
It would be an unusual course, and in
the account of the institution of the Lord’s
Supper, Matt. 26:26, 27. We read that
Our Lord blessed the bread, [many Greek
copieshave, gave thanks], and gavethanks
when he took the cup.
Would it he unscriptural for our Pas
tors in the absence of the Deacon, to call
on brethren of good standing, to hand the
elements around among the Communi
cants?
It would always be more in accordance
with church order and Baptist usage to
have the bread and wine carried round
by deacons, hut in instances when deacons
can not bo had, (which would occur but
seldom,) we do not see why unofficial
brethren might not lawfully perform the
service.
Dr. Baker’s New Work.
This work, by Rev. J. S. Baker, of
Florida, now passing through the press,
will, if we may judge by the following ex
tracts, be a rare and valuable contribu
tion to Baptist literature. See first some
specimens of Pedoboptist rebaptisms :
It is well known that the Protestant
Episcopal Church of the United States
re-baptizes all whom she receives into her
communion from other Protestant church
es. In the year 1836, a somewhat re
markable case of re-baptism occurred in
the State of Virginia- A Methodist cir
cuit-rider, in the district in which the pre
sent deponent then resided, united with
the Episcopal church. Baptism was ad
ministered anew to him on the morning
of the day on which he was received.—
After the conclusion of the services, it
was discovered that there had been an
omission to comply with some of the re
quisitions of the Rubric. This omission,
it was judged, rendered the morning’s
baptism canonically invalid. He was,
therefore, baptized again in thef afternoon,
by the regular successor, if not of the in
spired apostles, certainly of a long line,
of apostate, profligate, and licentious po
pes.
And now behold what the General Sy
nod of the Presbyterian church in the
IT. S. of North America was wont to do
in times gone by :
In 1814, the General Assembly decided
that baptism administered by LTnitarians
is invalid.
In 1845, they decided that baptism by
the Church of Rome was not to be receiv
ed as valid.
In 1790, they declared that “so long as
a body is by us recognised as a true church
are her ordinances to be deemed valid and
no longer.
In 1792, and again in 1800, they refus
ed to Yecognize Methodists as a true
church , and repudiated her ordination,
and consequently her baptism.
In 1858, an Odd School Presbytery in
Kentucky decided that baptism adminis
tered by Campbellites is invalid.
The Methodists have at times done
very nearly, if not precisely the same
thing, and in view of the above facts, our
author appeals thus:
I appeal to every candid reader to say
by what principle of equity can Baptists
be cqndemned for denying the validity of
infant sprinkling, when a large and res
pectable body of their Pedobaptist oppo
nents have publicly and repeatedly done
the same thing by their own acts.
Book Notices.
The New England Theocracy, is a
translation of a German book, by H. C.
Conant, and published by the enterpris
ing firm of Gould & Lincoln, Boston.
The book, as we learn from the preface
written by the great Neander, was under
taken at his request, by 11. F. Uhden,
though on a plan more comprehensive
than was first suggested.
Uhden begins with the Reformation
in England under Henry VIII, 1530 and
’4O, follows it on, under Edward Vl.
Bloody Mary, Queen Elizabeth „ and
James I, showiug the rise of Puritanism
and the persecutions kept up and increas
ing until the death of Elizabeth in 1603.
These being not diminished under her
successor, James I, caused numbers to
flee to Holland, from whence in 1620 the
first band emigrated to America.
By Theocracy, Uhden means a “State
church’’—a state which “was to unfold
within the church”—“a state which they
(the Puritans) could enjoy in common as
an ordinance of God.’’ With this indi-
nation, “it was resolved in the general
Court, at Boston, May 18, 1631, th# for
the future, no one shall be admitt(d to
the freedom of this body politic, unless
he be a member of some church, vithin
the limits of tile same.”
Every citizen was to be a nominal
Christian; the institutions were drawn
from the word of God ; all were tased to
support the ministry and religion; church
and state were thoroughly blended ; the
civil authorities had pojgttin church mat
ters, yet they tf%re their au
thority and regulations from the Word of
God. Hence the form of government—
Theocratic. Having fled from persecu
tors, the Pilgrim Fathers themselves per
secuted.
The first opposition to the Theocracy—
the church-state form—the interfering
with the spiritual—was made by Roger
Williams, 1631-’35, when he was banished.
The Baptists, as being unwilling to
adopt modes of worship and practice dif
ferent from those required by their con
science, were greatly persecuted. And
the Quakers, not only suffered persecu
tion, but many of them were put to death
for not submitting to the theocratic gov
ernment.
As may readily be supposed a thousand
difficulties arose, a thousand controver
sies sprang up; synods, assemblies, courts,
convocations, for scores of years, attemp
ted to reconcile of church
and state —the blending of civil and eccle
siastical power.
But in vain.
Platforms were created, covenants en
tered into, reforming synods convoked ;
but all could not reconcile differences of
creeds, practices, opinions and*.wishes.
As time advanced the Theoeratic form
of Government, was found more and more
impracticable, and in 1664 it was abroga
ted, and Congregationalism sprang up.
The book is mainly occupied with the
history of religious and church affairs un
der this unique state of government. A
great deal of history is given and much
information brought to light. B.
Wayland’s Sermons to the Churches.—
Sheldon, Blakeman & Cos., New York,
publishers.
These are discourses delivered on vari
ous occasions of interest.
Dr. Way land is most favorably known
as an able writer, an experienced instruc
tor and disciplinarian and a learned and
eloquent minister. This publication will
raise his reputation higher in the estima
tion of all lovers oS piety, sound reason
ing and beautiful rhetoric. It is obvious
iu these sermons ,ftiat his conscientious
object is, to be useful. He seems rather
to avoid a display of and is care
ful to be practical. The sermons are em
inently evangelical ; and, whilst based
upon revealed truth, display rare familiar
ity with men and secular institutions. —
The speaker brings elucidation of
his subjects profouiA and the
resources of a One
cannot fail to has studied
society as a philosopher, and seeks to re
form it as a Christian. He has found no
human catholicon for human ills, but
steadily points to the Bible as the refor
matory agent amongst men.
The church a society for the conversion
of the world; a consistent piety the
demand of the age; slavery to public
opinion ; prevalent prayer ; responsibility
for the moral condition of others, are
some of the themes which he discourses.
These are of general, indeed, universal
application; and his treatment makes
them interesting to all.
He deals in great truths : endeavors to
inculcate great principles, correct great
evils and bring about reformation in im
portant matters.
The spirit of the Gospel is his mentor.
Society, as it exists ia-the United States,
is that which he would reform and im
prove. And he teaches by the applica
tion of the rules and requirements of
Christianity, broad and general and intel
ligible as they are, to the condition of
American society. And he labors to
bring the mind and the conscience of the
churches up to the standard of Apostoli
cal simplicity and fidelity.
Laymen as well as ministers may gath
er useful hints from the sermon on The
Apostolic Ministry. The former may
learn that they are committed, by the
obligations of their discipleship to preach
the Gospel.
The style of these sermons cannot be
too highly commended. It combines
clearness, strength and beauty ; and some
passages are equal to the best specimens
of the age. B.
For the Index.
The Publication Society.
Bro. Walker —The appearance in the
Index of an article from my highly-esteem
ed Bro. D. E. Butler, recommending
Memphis as a suitable location for the
above society, has prompted me to give
my views briefly upon the subject. X
agree with him, that a change of place
should be made. Ido not concur with
him as to the place he recommends. I
agree with ycu, that that “place is objec
tionable on many accounts.” With a va
riation, as to the place, I adopt the lan
guage of Brother B. “ Reconstruct its
Board of management, and bring into its
control new men and measures, and lo
cate it at Macon, Ga.”
His further remarks will apply to Ma
con. “That is a fit city, in which to cre
ate a great and growing Baptist Publish
ing interest. It is in the heart of the
South,” and I would add, in the heart of
the Empire State of the South.
Its advantages, independent of those
which it indicates as pertaining to locali
ty, are so numerous ind obvious that I
shall not undertake to set them forth in
this short article.
With Brother B. I can safely say, that
these opinions are honestly entertained.
TULLY.
COMMUNICATIONS.
for the Index.
Solomon’s Great Bone-Breaker.
The visions of my mind and heart trou
bled me. I was grieved at the alienation
of affection which so much prevailed
amongst my brethren ; grieved that there
was so much bitterness of words, and bit
terness of pens in the land. And I cried
out, “is there no remedy ?” The visions
of my mind carried me along through
several and impressive scenes.
scene x.
I looked, and behold, to the eye and
ear of my mind a mighty Angel flew
through the heavens, and sounded aloud
his trump : and then he cried aloud, “at
tention, ye people of God! O hard of
heart, and stiff of neck, and bitter of
speech. Let me speak a word of heaven
ly counsel in your ears. Get, all of you,
and without delay, the Bone-Breaker, the
Great Bone-Breaker, SOLOMON’S
GREAT BONE-BREAKER. It is a
wonderful instrument. It will do you all
immense good. It was patented in hea
ven, described and set forth in the works
of Solomon the Wise, and is worthy of
universal use amongst all Baptists and all
men.”
SCENE 11.
I looked again in my contemplation,
and behold, a man in great wrath hasten
ing on to meet his enemy, and avenge a
grievous insult. He had a hard, knotty
bludgeon in his hand. “ I will teach the
miscreant, ’’ he exclaimed, “ I will obtain
satisfaction ; I will break his bones.” As
he was uttering these fiery words, he
waved the knotty bludgeon over his head.
Had Goliah met him even, he might have
.had some cause for dread. “ This blud
geon, I suppose, is the . Great Bone-
Breaker ?” “ No,’’ replied the Angel, for
he was still in sight and hearing ; “this
is not Solomon’s Bone Breaker. This
was patented in hell; the one I spoke of
was patented in heaven.”
And I looked again, and I saw a powerful
machine, It was grinding bones to pow
der. The people brought to it the bones
of oxen, and of horses, and of sheep, and
goats, yea, the bones of men gathered up
from ancient battle fields, and put them
into the machine, and it made them as fine
as the dust of the earth. And “the dust
of thejbones was then gathered up by the
hands of men, and scattered abroad upon
their gardens, and cultivated fields ; and
lo! it greatly enriched them ; it made
the’flowers, and the grass, and the grain
to grow with fresh strength and beauty.
“This truly,” said I, “this wonderful ma
chine is Solomon’s Great Bone Breaker.’’
“No,’’ said the Angel, “this is not Solo
mon’s Bono Breaker ; this was patented
on earth ; Solomon’s Bone Breaker, as I
said, was patented in heaven.” “ Show it
to me,’’ I exclaimed ; “what is it ? where
is it ?’’ “ I will show you,” said the An
gel, “by and by.”
SCENE 111.
And now behold (thus ran the visions
of my njind) a large gathering of Bap
tists. There were preaehers, editors, dea
cons and many others. In the judgment
of charity they were accounted lovers of
the Saviour, but they were in a tangle ;
wrinkles were on their brows, sharp words
fell from their tongues, and now and then
some bitter drops from their pens. “I
am for Paul, lam for Apollos, I am for
Cephas,’’ was too much the spirit of the
assembly. I thought myself one of the
company, and began to lift up my voice
to reprove them. “Stop,” said the angel,
at the same time pointing at me his sharp
blazing finger, which seemed to penetrate
my; very soul, “ stop, I say, and think
not, O complaining man, that thou art
less guilty than many of the rest.’’ I was
silent. And now the Angel lifted up his
voice and cried aloud, “Go, thou Great
Bone Breaker, go forth thou amongst
these people, and make them better, —
Spare not. Break their bones. Break
the bones of their pride, of their wrath,
of their ambition and selfishness. And
be sure and break the bones, (if you can)
of that container.” There was through
out the crowd the silence of death ; for
they heard the voice of the Angel, and
looked for some ponderous machine to
roll in amongst them in thunder and in
power, and crush them to atoms. But lo !
there glided along into the assembly, in
soft and gentle silence, an instrument no
wider nor longer than your two fingers.
But all saw it and felt it. It seemed as
soft as a tuft of down from an angel’s
wing. It smote gently every one in the
assembly. Though its strokes were soft
and almost noiseless, yet they were pow
erful, irresistible. Soon, in all parts of
the crowd, you could hear the cracking
of bones. Hard heads, stubborn backs,
flinty hearts, bony wills, sinewy passions,
O, how they did break and crumble, as
this wonderful instrument moved about
and smote one,* and another, and another.
It came to me. It touched my proud
back : the touch was like the dew, like
the soft stroke of charity, and yet it came
npon me with the power of a millstone.
My bones, my inmost soul melted, mt
was like a little child. The whole com
pany were like little children. “This,’’
said the Angel, “is Solomon’s Bone-
Breaker. But I will show you more of
its blessed fruits.”
SCENE IV.
Again, I looked round upon the assem
bly, and such sighing, and sobbing, and
weeping I never before heard. “O,” said
one, “I have gone very far in my rash and
uncharitable deeds, and speeches: I call
them all back: forgive me, then, patient
Lamb of God; forgive me, O forgive me,
ye saints of God.” “Ah brother,’’ said
one near, “I said many hard and grievous
things about you, because I verily thought
you were to be blamed I no doubt have
also'erred; lam glad that you see your er
ror ; I can forgive you from my heart: I
am glad that I See my own errors; Saviour
forgive me; my Brother forgive me, and all
ye that I may have in any wise grieved ”
[ And thus the oonfeesion and prayer went
round, and all were humble and all were
happy. “And now,” said they all, “let
us go out and dig a great pit.” And now
these humbled, broken-backed creatures
went to digging; and wonderfully did
they dig, for the breaking of their bones
made them expert and strong for this
work. “And now,” said they, “let us
roll all our strifes and contentions into
this deep pit.” And they rolled them in,
and they fell like lead to the bottom of
the pit. “And now let us bury them up.”
And they buried them up with thick
earth, and exclaimed, “there let them
sleep forever.” And all the people (about
a half million) cried aloud, “Amen.”—
And harps and tongues were heard in
heaven, crying, “Amen, and Amen ; and
let the name of the Lord be praised.’’
scene v.
“This Bone-Breaker,” I exclaimed,
“what is it ; what is it made of, that such
wonderful deeds should be done by it ?”
“Look yonder,” said the angel. I looked,
and before me was written on a high wall,
in letters of gold.
PROVERBS 25: 15.
A SORT TONGUE BUEAKETH THE BONE.
“This soft tongue,” said the angel, “is
Solomon’s Great Bone-Breaker. It was
patented in heaven ; Solomon spake of it
in the language of the Spirit. It is made
of Divine Love, Meekness, Gentleness,
Forbearance, and Wisdom. This is much
needed by Baptists in these days ; by all
people of God. It gives might to coun
sel, edge to truth, energy to reproof.
Parents be careful to get the instrument;
it will help you to conquer and mould
your wayward children; a soft longue
bveaketh the bone. Ministers, deacons,
brethren, when go up to associations and
Conventions, each one take with you
Solomon’s Bone-Breaker: a soft longue
breakelh the bone. Editors, in prosecuting
the duties of your responsible calling,
keep by you, for ready and constant use,
Solomon’s Bone-Breaker: a soft tongue [a
soft pen] breakelh the bone. And all ye
saints of God, as ye walk along through
this troublesome, provoking world to the
realms of peace above, carry with you
Solomon’s Great Bone-Breaker.”
AN UNWORTHY BAPTIST.
N. B. The above instrument can be
purchased in any quantity at Supplication
Retreat, in the valley of Humility, at the
foot of the bloody Cross, without money,
and without price.
Eor the Index.
Our Missionary Operations.
Dear Brethren, In the earlier part
of my life I was brought in contact very
frequently, with my Anti-missionary
brethren, and had many private con
troversies with them. I have always
been free to admit, that there are evils
connected with our system of mission
ary operations ; but we have been in
strumental in doing much good, de
fective as our plans are and have been.
Thousands, and tens of thousands, have
been biought to a saving knowledge
of divine truth, though the blessing of
Heaven on the labors of our mission
aries ; and the work of the Lord is still
prospering, to a greater or less extent,
in their hands. To exchange our pres
ent system for one untried, # would be
hazardous in the extreme We should
remember the anecdote of the man who
was well , wished to be better , took phy
sic and—DIED. Were we ill, but
found our health gradually improving
under a certain course of medical treat
ment, I question whether we would be
willing to exchange that course for an
untried one. But better, ten thousand
times better jeopardize our lives by un
tried experiments, than jeopardize the
souls of men.
There are some plausible theories
that prove when we attempt to re
duce them to practice, nnprolitable.—
So, I fear, it would prove with the the
ories of some of our good brethren, in
reference to our missionary operations.
They picture before their mind’s eye, in
glowing colors, all the supposed advan
tages of their proposed systems, hut
portray not one of the disadvantages
that may he connected with them.—
They are like Mr. Jefferson, who was
led to conclude, very philosophically,
from a process of reasoning, that a saw
mill would work to much greater ad
vantage on the summit of a mountain
than at its base, in consequence of a
diminution in the pressure of the at
mosphere, but overlooked, altogether,
the disadvantages connected with the
getting of logs up to his mill, until re
minded of it by the workman to whom
he proposed the erection of the mill.
It appears to me that we should not
thiuk of abandoning our present sys- j
tem, or of doing or saying ought that j
is calculated to impede its operations,
and lessen its influence for good, until
wo have got another and a better one
in active and successful operation.—
Imperfection is mingled with every
thing human. He that hopes to find
a system of operations, in any depart
ment of human labor, free from de
fects, is doomed to disappointment.
We may seek to correct or lessen the
evils connected with our present sys
tem of missionary operations ; but let
us not cast it from us as worthless,
until men shall be so filled with the in
fluences of the Holy Spirit, that they
shall run to and fro through the earth,
proclaiming the unsearchable riches of
grace through Christ Jesus, trusting
alone in Him who hears the young
ravens when they cry, to give them
their daily bread.
Were the expenditure of millions
upon millions to result in the salvation
of only a solitary soul, think you we
would regret the expenditure, when we
beheld that soul basking in the sun
shine of eternal glory, and listened to
its rapturous anthems of praise to re
deeming love ? J. S. B.
Editor’s Position sustained by
PEDOBAFTISTS.
Dear Bro. Walker : I send you an ex
tract or two from a discourse delivered
by Thomas Smyth, D. D., of Charleston,
S. C., at Philadelphia, on the 23d anni
versary of the Am. S. S. Union, May 17,
1846, fully sustaining an important position
taken by you, in your recent notice of the
very valuable work of our venerable bro.
Dr. Dagg, on Church Order. As this
discourse has been published and wide
ly circulated by the A. S. S. U., we may
consider the views of Dr. Smyth as sanc
tioned by the different denominations
represented in the Board of Managers of
the Society.
In speaking of creeds, lie admits the
necessity of denominational creeds and
proceeds, “But whether this creed shall
aim at embodying all the truths of God
connected with the scheme of salvation, or
only a part, must depend in the first
place upon the state of the church and
the prevalence of certain errors ; and se
condly, upon the fact whether such a con
fession is designed as a bond of ministe
rial and office-bearing union, concord
and profession, or only as a terra of gen
eral Christian cotninuniou.’’
The small capitals in the foregoing are
mine; the italics are the authors. T
introduce this passage to show, that Pedo
baptists are free to admit an asssential
difference between “ ministerial and office
bearing union’’ and “general Christian
communion,” although some of our Bap
tist brethren seem disposed to ignore the
difference.
Again, the author says, “The determi
nation of what is essential doclrinally or
practically, does not decide what is essen
tial ecclesiastically. And lienee a church
may condemn or reject many things in the
ecclesiastical order of others and exclude
them from its ministerial and ecclesias
tical communion, while it gladly certi
lies that they hold the truth that is essen
tial to the system or to the enjoyment of
the gospel, and rejoices to welcome them
to a participation in its general Christian
communion. In other words, a man may
boa good theologian, and a good Chris
tian, and yet be a very defective Church
man ; since other things arc necessary to
TIIE ORGANIZATION OF A CIIURCII OF
ciirist than those truths which lie at the
foundation of the scheme of redemption,
and enjoyment of salvation. And hence,
what is essential to the claims of any
body as a true church of Christ, and to
the VALIDITY OF ITS ORDINANCES, is not
decided by the fact, that it holds those
truths which are essential to the attain
ment of salvation, but also by the facts
whether, in addition to these truths, it is
ORGANIZE ON SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES aild
whether its ordinances are scriptural,
and administered in a scriptural manner.’
The small capitals in the above arc
mine ; the italics arc only mine in part. —
If any comments on the above extracts
are necessary, I leave you to make them.
Ought we not to pity and fervently pray
for those brethren, who, though they
may have received the honorary titles of
I). I), or L. L. D., have not been taught
by the Spirit to extend their Christian
courtesy and fellowship to any but those
whom they invite to participate with
them in their official ministrations of the
word and ordinances of the gospel ?
.T. S. B.
For the Index.
Mercer University.
Its graduates. The supply of min
! isters of the Gospel. The graduates
, of Mercer are beginning to exert an
iniluence in the formation of public
opinion, and in morals and religion. —
i Most of them are moral men if not
| religious, baptist in sentiment if not so
| in reality, and their influence is being
felt in all parts of the State in propa
gating correct sentiments and whole
some morals. A few of our Alumni
are connected with the press. Would
that the number were greatly increas
ed, as the secular press is mostly under
the influence and control of our adver
saries. Though out of their province,
they hesitate not to assail our princi
ples and open their columns to our
enemies to pour their venom upon us.
Now as our graduates increase, the
number of Baptist editors will be in
creased, and the secular press will not
be opened all over the country, to the
slanders and misrepresentations of our
enemies.
As the people become generally edu
cated, they will appreciate an educated
ministry. As Baptists have grown in
wealth they have been profuse in ex
penditures for the education of their
children. AY hen they educate them in
the high schools and colleges of which
our country abounds, a want is created
for an educated ministry. How can
we do without it i In some congrega
tions there are twenty or more male
and female graduates, and as many
more who have received a liberal edu
cation. If our pulpit is tilled by an il
literate man, and the Methodist or
Presbyterian pulpit just across the
street is filled by an accomplished
scholar, can we retain our children in
our congregation ? Georgia Baptists,
you have created a demand for an edu
cated ministry. Every son and daugh
ter you educate increases the demand.
Can this demand be supplied by Mer
cer University? Not entirely, per
haps. To supply all the State with an
educated ministry is not the work of a
day but ot years. Some have spoken
contemptuously of Mercer Unversity’s
supplying the ministry of the denomi-