Newspaper Page Text
THECH®Arffll
MACON,GA.
Wednesday, Feb.
. Notice.
All communications intended for the I^EXot
its EDITOR, must be addressed simply CHKIo-
TIAN INDEX,” Macon, Ga.
Dr. Pierce’s Sermon.
After announcing his intention to “ war
close communion forever “ and
expressing the opinion that Paul en.
ioined against the establishment of ordeals
for church members and Christian com
munion,’’ Dr. Pierce illustrates as follows:
Thus, if a man of the most approved pi
’ ety that ever adorned a Christian, but
having been baptized by pouring in some
other Church, should, from any cause, de
sire to enter the Baptist Church, profess
ing to be well satisfied with his baptism,
and begging to be spared the necessity of
submitting to rebaptism, he could find no
mercy at their altar. If he got in at all,
it must be by letting his Baptist friends
judge him in meats and drinks; and this,
as it seems to me, right in the face of Paul’s
denunciation. “ Let no man judge you
in meat or in drink,” is an injunction of
solemn import, and must apply to all lite
ral ordinances as literal.
The above statements are made on the
presumption that the validity of baptism
depends on the satisfaction of the candi
date, that Baptist mercy consists in ad
mitting to membership persons who “were
baptized by pouringin some other church,’
and that the refusal to receive such into
Baptist churches on their previous sprink
ling or pouring, is “to judge them in
meats and drinks.”
Now, we might ask here, what have
“meats and drinks’’ to do with a discus
sion on Baptism? That “ meats and
drinks apply to all literal ordinances’’—
and therefore, baptism—may excite a
smile on the mind of the reader, but will
never be believed by a careful student of
the New Testament. We deny the ap
plication, and consider the reasoning of
Dr. Pierce from such a premise as neces
sarily inconclusive.
But who is to be the judge of valid bap
tism ? the church or the candidate apply
ing for membership? Dr. Pierce, says
the candidate. If he is “ well satisfed’’
with his previous “pouring” it would be
unmerciful in the Baptist church to reject
him.
This view would place the minister to
whom application is made for membership,
in the place of a scholar, instead of an in
structor. The applicant becomes the
teacher, and the minister the pupil!—The
person who was supposed to know the
least touching valid baptism, expounds
the law to him whom he would have to
be his pastor; instead of teaching what
the will of the Lord is, he must inquire
the will of the applicant , and conform his
action to it!! The commission therefore
ought to read, not, “go teach,” but go
and be taught ! The pastor who, by years
of hard study, has become a proficient in
theology, is to be overruled by the judg
ment of one who was deceived into the
belief that pouring is valid baptism, and
is still willing to confide in it as such !!
Thus the dogma is established that the
faith of the subject of baptism, will com
pensate for the want of scriptural require
ment. In fact that the faith of the sub
ject legalizes the rite.
But that the church and not the candi
date is to be the judge as to what is valid
baptism, is well understood by Baptists.
Their mode of procedure in such cases is
very simple. The applicant must be sat
isfied of his change of heart, and satisfy
the church by a relation of his penitential
and spiritual experience. This is all that
the church Requires. Not being respon
sible for the errors of Pedobaptists, she
does not inquire into those little baptis
mal affairs that transpired inside of Meth.
odist chapels. If Methodist Ministers
choose to remain in error, and teach oth
ers to do so, she can not help it, but be
cause “ the blind lead the blind’’ in such
matters, it is no reason that she should
fall with them into the ditch.
In passing, Dr. Pierce makes the follow
ing assertion :
There are many good souls in the Bap
tist Church who would gladly commune
with other Christians, but they are judged
by others, and, for the sake of immersion,
submit to the practical sacrifice of a prin
ciple of Christian charity.
The above has been a favorite remark
of other Pedobaptists besides the authcr
of the “ tract for family use.” We be
lieve it to be an exaggeration. There
doubtless are some in the Baptist church
who would commune with Pedobaptists
if it were not for disturbing the peace of
the churches in which they hold their
membership, but the number is compara
tively small in this country. Dr. Pierce,
however, stated what he cannot prove,
when he said that those who would com
mune with Pedobaptists but do not, re
frained by “ practically sacrificing a prin
.. ciple of Christian charity.’’ The author
of the sermon under review is entitled to
our forbearance on account of his age and
high standing, yet it is impossible to al
low such ungenerous accusations to pass
unrebuked.
The following is the closing paragraph
of our author’s preliminary remarks:
This teaching for doctrine the com
mandments of men is a sore evil; and
this I think Immersionists do—at’ least
they do it to the extent of their assump
tion. I do not believe there is an inge
nuous-minded Baptist preacher or member
in all the land that will say they have a
clear Scripture warranty for all they as
sume and do for the defence of immersion;
and, if not, here is a case in point at once ;
things ordained and enforced as church
polity after the doctrines and command
ments of men, not being taught in the
Scriptures either by implication or direc
tion. It will be seen that our opinion is,
that all church canons founded on de
nominational opinion, leading to non-fel
lowship of Christians and close comma.
nion, for causes hot; specified in the New
Testament, are ordinances of men, not
authorized in God’s holy word, and are to
perish in the using—after the command
ments and doctrines of men. These all
belong to will-worship , being self-imposed.
The non-subjection of ourselves to or
nances after our spiritual regeneration is
not to be understood as any ignoring of
Christian baptism as it is taught in the
Scriptures, but only of such decrees in
connection with it as outrun and overleap
all the bounds of right as taught in the
blessed gospel of charity and peace.—
These extras —addenda of religious bigo
try—imperiously required of every Chris
tian man and woman, and, in default of
compliance, every dissenter to be put un
der the ban of ope denomination, un
churched, and held to be aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel—are an onslaught
upon the other Christian dsnominations,
which deserve and must have a Christian
rebuke.
It is strange that a Methodist minister
should deprecate the “ commandments of
men.” We, however, agree with Dr.
Pierce that they are “ a sore evil” in the
land, especially in the Methodist church,
and we have often censured his majesty,
the Pope of Rome, for entailing on Pedo
baptist churches such human inventions
as conference bishops, infant baptism and
sprinkling. Such things “ are not taught
in the scriptures either by implication or
direction.”
If the author of this sermon will not be
lieve, “that ingenuous-minded Baptists
will say they have’ a clear warranty for
all they assume and do for the defence of
immersion,” the Baptists will not compel
him to believe it; but then, as it happens
to be a fact that Baptists as a body have
always and in all places claimed to act by
scriptural authority , in their faith and prac.
tice, it follows from Dr. Pierce’s logic, that
they have always been, and still are “ dis
ingenuous” —that is, dishonest. Here
is another charge against the Baptists, un
worthy of such a man as the author of the
“ tract for family use.” Surely, it must
be for lack of argument that the oppo
nents of the Baptists resort to such un
generous inuendoes.
But Dr. Pierce, in not subjecting him
self to ordinances, would not be under
stood as “ ignoring baptism as taught in
the scriptures.” Os course not. But is
infant baptism or sprinkling taught in the
scriptures? If he answer yes, then we
call for the precept and the example. The
Dr. saw plainly that his logic would be as
fatal to all ordinances as to immersion,
and hence his many attempts at explana
tion.
But now the author of this “ tract for
family use” comes boldly up to his work.
After charging the Baptists with using
“ extras of religious bigotry,” he says that
their position is “ an onslaught upon the
other Christian denominations, which de
serves and must have a Christian rebuke.”
Very well, Dr., “ rebuke” them with all
the authority of a Methodist bishop, and
see how much they will care for it. By
the way, this word “ rebuke” reminds us
of old times. If we mistake not, it origi
nated in this connection, with Dr. Barnes
of Philadelphia, was reiterated in Macon
about two years ago, and, as it would
seem, has found a permanent home in
Methodist literature.
We are, however, at a great loss to
learn how the position of the Baptists—
that is, their believers baptism, immersion,
and close communion—can be an “on
slaught on other Christian denominations.’’
If the Legislature enacts certain laws and
some of the people obey these laws while
others do not, can the people who obey
be regarded as making an “ onslaught”
on those who disobey ? Do not rather
those who disobey make an “ onslaught’*
on the laics ? This is exactly the state
of things between the Baptists and the
Pedobaptists. Some eighteen hundred
years ago certain laws were published by
the King in Zion. The Baptists obeyed
those laws then as they do now. Not
quite 150 years ago a sect arose under
one John Wesley, which repudiates these
ordinances—that is, the people comprising
it, will not keep them as they were delivered.
Yet, because the Baptists stand by these
old landmarks, and i e fuse to commune
with those who will not obey the laws of
the King, they are making an “ onslaught’
on the Methodists, and “ must have a
Christian rebuke!” Alas! for the poor
Baptists. It may be well for them that
the American government protects the
free exercise of conscience.
His preliminaries ended, our author
proceeds to “ a fuller explanation of the
difficulties in the overrated value and im
portance of mode in baptism.’’ And how,
reader, thinkest thou, does he begin this
“ fuller explanation ?’’ Read the follow
ing extract and thou shalt see :
“ Bet no one beguile you of your re
ward in a voluntary humility,” etc. Sa
tan beguiled Eve by getting her to do a
bad act, for, as she hoped, a good end—
the enlargement of her knowledge. The
delusion here intended is sought to be car
ried on by the charm of a voluntary hu
mility ; that is by subjecting oneself to
some ordeal or mortification of feeling
produced by compliance with some ordi
nance necessarily leading to such expo
sures as must painfully involve feeling.—
But the importance of the step, yea, even
the indipensable necessity of the act, in
order to fulfil the law ol obedience to a
literal modality in baptism, compels com
pliance, however humiliating my expo
sure to the gaze of tearless eyes, or the re
marks of wanton minds. This might and
often does occur in the immersion of fe
males ; all right, however, if immersion
holds such a place in the kingdom of hea
ven that there cannot be a Christian with
out it, nor a legitimate membership fit to
be recognized as such only by its magic
touch. But if much of this should rest,
as we are assured it does, upon the com
mandments and doctrines of men, then in
deed are its devotees paying to it abso
lutely a voluntary humility.
We have been requested by several
friends to deal tenderly with Dr. Pierce.
We certainly shall deal as tenderly with
him as a faithful defence of the truth will
allow. We ought to deal tenderly with a
man who in his old age, with a matured
experience, could place on record such a
paragraph as the above.
Baptists, according to his logic, “ be
guile” believers “in a voluntary humility,”
by instructing them to be baptized. And
this beguiling is the same in kind as that
with which “ Satan beguiled Eve to do a
bad act for a good end!!” Alas, alas;
has it come to this ? Must those who
urge baptism, not as “a voluntary humility ”
but as a Gospel duty, be compared to the
Devil, and those who submit to it to “ Eve
who did a bad act for a good end ?’’ In
other words: those who consent to follow
their Lord in the waters of Baptism, “ do
a bad act for a good end”—that is, under
the belief that good may come of it, tho’
the act is bad !!
But the heart sickens as we read on
through this paragraph, and notice how
Dr. Pierce attempted to create prejudice
against immersion from the immersion of
females. We must repeat, that this refer,
ence is unworthy the author’s gray hairs.
Why must the Baptists forever be twitted
with the indecency of immersing females ?
Is it because there is the least truth in the
charge as applied to them ? No, verily,
and Dr. Pierce must have known that as
a general thing—probably as a thousand
to one —the immersion of females by Bap
tist ministers is attended with solemnity
and becoming decorum. Indecent im
mersions do indeed now and then occur,
but they are in cases in which Methodist
ministers undertake to immerse females,
who do not understand how to administer
the rite, and are unwilling to learn. We
do not wonder that ladies generally are
unwilling to be immersed by such faithless
and bungling administrators. In fact we
are astonished that any ‘female should be
willing to run the risk of being immersed
by a Methodist immersion hater.
But our aged author is very condescend
ing to the world on this point. He has
no fears that Christians would view the
immersion of females in an improper light,
but it is the world that gives him concern.
There will be “ tearless eyes to gaze,’’
and “ wanton minds to make remarks.” —
The Methodists ought to blush for a
preacher who could deliberately preach
and publish such sentences.
We shall now send the Dr. in his old
age on a missionary tour. If the world
are so distressingly offended at seeing a
lady, though neatly robed, in the water
for about two minutes, and the Dr. is so
anxious to avoid an occasion for the gaze
of “ tearless eyes,” and the remarks of
“wanton minds,” why does he not visit
the fashionable watering places in this
country, to preach against the shameful
indecency of men and women bathing to
gether ? Here would be a theme worthy
of his antimodal eloquence. No Metho
dist minister, however, lifts his voice a
gainst that practice, or writes a tract in
opposition to it, “ for family use.”
We conclude this leader by expressing
our sorrow, that a professed minister of
Christ should have volunteered in the nine
teenth centurv, thus to reflect on the sis.
terhood of the Baptist Church. We are
proud to claim for the ladies of the Bap
tist Church as much intelligence, refine
ment, piety and modesty, as is usually
claimed for a well ordered sisterhood of a
church of any other communion ; yet, be
cause they have conscientiously obeyed
a command which Dr. Pierce has through
a long lifetime neglected, they must be
persecuted with remarks on the indecen
cy of immersion ! Very well, Dr., it will
be seen in the end whose baptism has
been most acceptable to God—theirs or
yours.
“I Wonder!”
We are not in the habit of publishing
anonymous communications, though
we confess to an irrepressible desire to
give the following. The author, who
ever he may be, seems to have been
influenced by a desire to bejriend us
by giving us a hint—however, if he
should be an enemy he can not prose
cute us for a libel as he did not give
us his name, so we’ll let it go in—here
it is:
Dear Bro. Walker—l have received
hints, no matter from whom, that cer
tain brethren in the interior of the
State are discussing the project of star
ting a “Georgia Baptist” in opposition
to the Index.
The fact is, some brethren have fal
len so far below their anticipated de
gree of fame, that they feel constrain
ed try anew method of seeking noto
riety. Then there are others, who are
agitators by nature, and are ready for
any new measure which will gratify
their task and give them a chance to
figure as spirited writers.
The Sectarianism of the Univer-
SITY OF VIRGINIA.
When several weeks ago we pub
lished from the Religious Herald a
communication from a Baptist student
in the University of Virginia, impart
ing information of the sectarian char
acter of Dr. McGuffey’s lectures, we
made no comments on the statement
of said student. With the Herald we
concluded to withhold remarks till an
opportunity had been afforded the Prof
of Moral Philosophy to explain him
self. It will be seen from an editorial
of the Herald on the outside of this
paper, incorporating with itself an ed
itorial on the same subject from the
Watchman & Reflector, that Dr. Mc-
Guffey has as yet made no explana
tion. The reader will please read the
article, in which the Dr’s, offence is
quoted;
In connexion with this subject we
may remark, that we have not for one
moment questioned the statement of
the student. Dr. McGuffey’s school
books —in the Second Reader, we
think, particularly—teach the same
sectarian sentiments that recently fell
from his lips in the University lecture
room. While we were pastor of the
Baptist church in Charlottesville, we
had frequent opportunities of hearing
f , ■ i ■. ■ * .■
him preach and lecture, and we have
always regarded him as a manager of
the Faculty of the University, so as to
subserve his Presbyterian ends. We
will not say that he has ruled the Fac
ulty—we think them too high-minded
to be controlled by the dicta of one
man—but all being Pedobaptists or
none professors of religion, it was not
difficult for Dr. McGuffey so to shape
the current of events as to invalidate
the force of Baptist faith and practice.
We hope now, that the Baptists of
Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennes
see, the Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia-
Mississippi, in one word, the Baptists
of the entire South, will educate their
sons-at the Institutions within their
own States, or send them to some oth
er place than the University of Vir
ginia. It is beyond question a secta
rian Institution—has been so for the
past twelve years, and will continue
to be so, while Dr. McGuffey holds a
connexion with it. Jefferson, its foun
der, who was, to say the least, as friend
ly to Baptist sentiments as to those of
other Christians, and—as we were in
formed by one who knew him—
thought less ot Presbyterian church
polity than any other—could he rise
from his resting place on Monticello,
would be astonished at Presbyterian
predominance in the University.
Just what it Leads To.
The subjoined extract explains, par
tially at least, why Spiritism is so pop
ular with many of the sterner sex, and
perhaps also, why the mediums are all
women. Look out, ye matrons ofliap
py homes. Indiana is within a few
hours ride of every city in this Union:
Spiritualism in the Family Circle.
We regret to hear that a gentleman
of this city, of distinguished literary
and scientific attainments, one who
bears a venerated name, and whose ge
nius and science has given an impor
tant improvement to the cities of the
United States, has been so far bewil
dered in the mazes of spiritualism, as
to believe that he is wrongly mated
with an amiable and devoted wife, and
has found his spiritual affinity with
another young lady. As we have been
informed, the wife, though heart brok
en by the development, and having one
child, has assented to the request of
her husband for a separation, and he
has gone to Indiana to procure a di
vorce, in order that he may marry his
new affinity, who, we believe, is like
his wife, a lady of intelligence, amia
bility, and irreproachable in charac
ter. —Boston Traveller.
A Trick ot Spiritism.
The female “trance lecturer” in this
city p/etends that she is ignorant of
what she says —that when a subject is
given her for the occasion, that some
departed human spirit takes possession
of her, who is master of the subject.—
She is careful however, to have this
subject selected by a committee, be
tween whom and herself there is of
course a perfect understanding. On
Sabbath before last, the subject was
the clergy. The spirit which took pos
session of her was (as she claimed) that
of John Wesley. He confessed his
former errors, in preaching as the cler
gy now do; and candidly confessed his
desire to take back all his former
preaching ! This was a trick to defeat
a worthy effort of the Rev. Mr. Parks
of this city, to rescue his congrega
tion from the miserable imposture and
satanic delusion of Spiritism, towards
which a few of them seemed to tend.
Will give you the Reason Broth-
ER EDITOR.
We extract the subjoined notice from
the last Texas Baptist, of which jour
nal we have several times spoken fa
vorably :
The Christian Index comes to us with
anew head dress. We like it, although
it is not according to our taste. Per
haps we think favorably of it because
we like the paper so well. We have
for some time esteemed this paper and
its editor very highly. But we are at
a loss to account for the apathy of
Georgia Baptists in regard to its sup
port.
It is a sufficient apology tor the head
ing of the Index to say, that it is in
th qfashion. The Christian Chronicle
of Philadelphia, The True Union of
Baltimore, with other religious papers,
and the seculars by the dozen, have
adopted the same type as that which
heads off the Index, for 1859. Now
then if the heading is not to our broth
er’s “ taste,” then he has no taste for
the fashion, and a man who has no rel
ish for the current fashions, might as
well be off to Japan, or some other
heathen country.
The apathy of Georgia Baptists in
relation to the Index will not appear
so great as our brother imagines, when
we inform him that our subscription
list has averaged eighty new subscri
bers per month during the last two
years, and if he will notice our receipt
list, he will see that our subscribers
pay what they promise.
Our State, however, has been in
undated by papers from other States
—as Texas will be, unless Texans de
termine to sustain their own paper—
and as many Georgians can not take
two papers, and have, perhaps, fancied
that excellence comes only from a dis
tance, they discard their own organ for
strangers.
We hear apprehensions expressed lest news
coming along the Atlantic telegraph wires thro’
3,000 miles of salt water, will not be “fresh”
when it gets here.
What does it Mean ?
For four weeks from the close of the
last volume we were kept busy opening
letters at the usual time devoted to that
service, with new subscribers. Last week
there tfas a falling off, there having come
in only ten. This week, as we were mak
ing up the paper, the new names came in
by sevens —the good old Bible number —
with the cash, and the way the bank bills
loomed towards a pyramid was delightful
to gaze upon.
Well, “ what does it mean ? Is it
because we are reviewing Doctor Pierce’s
Sermon? If it is we have to say, that
we have but just begun with that docu
ment, and shall have to save the
Methodist Book concern the trouble
of issuing a second edition by demonstra
ting to thepublic that it is the feeblest pro
duction of the kind that has ever emana
ted from a Methodist brain.
Or it may be because we have no agents
in the State except those who labor out
of pure love for the paper. Or again, it
may be that new names are coming in be
cause the Index is not arrayed against
our Mission Boards, but intends to pay
over SSOO to missions at the next Conven
tion. However, let the names come with
the money—no matter about the reason.
Books ! Books !!
Wo invite the attention of all who may
desire to enlarge their libraries, to several
works on sale at the Baptist Book Store
in this city. Among these are Robert
Hall’s works complete, which every min
ister should own. “The Word and Works
of God,’’ by Gill, a book which can never
become old. The “Annotated Paragraph
Bible,’’a new publication of rare value,
and for pleasurable reading, “Palestine,
Past and Present, by Osborn. Call,
friends, at Boykin’s and examino these
works for yourselves. *
Book Notices.
The Power of Prayer : Sheldon &
Blakeman, New York.
This is a remarkable book, and we read
t with great interest. It contains sketch
es of incidents, made known mostly at the
Fulton street prayer-meetings, illustrating
wonderful answers to prayer. It proves
the existence of a prayer-hearing-God : it
encourages all to pray. Many remarka
ble answers to prayer are given, together
with many remarkable conversions during
the great Revival. It exhibits the Power
of Prayer with God, over the Sinner, upon
the business man, among children, on
criminals and over the poor. The efficacy
of prayer in every aspect is illustrated in
many thrilling incidents, all tending to
show that supplication was the great effi
cient Power of the late revival.
A writer in Harper’s weekly says of it;
“No household in America, where the
faith of Christ is the ruling principle of
life, will be without this thrilling record
of Ilis great work. No romance will
crowd it out, for no romance can equal it
in absorbing interest. Since the days of
miracles no more startling accounts of the
answers of God to prayer have been writ
ten.”
The Word and Works of God. — By Dr.
Gill. Edward H. Fletcher, New York, 1
vol., 500 pages.
This is a “ compressed’’ edition of the
most important part of Dr. Gill’s Body of
Divinity. The original work is out of
print, scarce and costly. This is a cheap
condensation. The thoughts and senti
ments are Dr. Gill’s—some orthodox, Cal
vanistical, dissented from by some, to be
sure, but a standard among Baptists, nev
ertheless. Changes have been made in
verbiage and punctuation ; and “ the
abridgement is almost entirely of redun
dancies and repetitions.”
It should be a text book for ministers.
The Great day of Atonement : or Medi
tations and Prayers on the last twenty
four hours of sufferings and death of our
Lord and Saviovr Jesus Christ. Gould &
Lincoln, 200 pages.
This book has lived its first century. It
was written about one hundred years ago.
Its title almost tells the whole story of
the Book. The devout author in a series
of meditations and prayers accompanies
and communes with our Saviour during
the last twenty-four hours of his suffering
life.
It is a book to water the heart of God’s
Saint, and let fall upon his saddened
though loving spirit the sweet dews of
heavenly consolation, for it exhibits the
dying love of our Savior in such warm col
ors, that not without a blessing to his own
soul can the humble, believing disciple
read.
The history of the Book is romantic.—
It was written by Charlotte Elizabeth
Nebelin, of Germany, about the middle
of the last century. Out of print and al
most knknown, a student of Basle, found
a copy in possession of an aged Christian
woman from Wurtemburg. He carried
it to Basle, where the venerable Kollner
revised it. A copy was loaned by a Ger
man missionary to the translator in the
north-western part of India, and she, Mrs.
Colin Mackenzie, devoted the hot hours
of an Indian summer season to its transla
tion. We recommend the book.
Can it be True ?
The Hopkinsville Times announces that
Mrs. Ostrander is to lecture in the Bap
tist Church of that town, on Spiritual
ism. We most sincerely hope, that, for
the sake of a pure Christianity, wholesome
morals and common decency, the Baptists
of Hopkinsville will not allow their house
of worship to bo desecrated by the disor
ganizing, virtue-blighting, and soul-de
stroying designs of the Spiritists and Spir
itism.
Hayti News.
New York, Feb. 12. —The correspondent of
the New York Herald publishes the details of
the revolution in Hayti. It is stated that Geffard
entered the Capital on the 14th Januarj-. The
city surrendered without firing gun.
The Emperor Solouque was compelled to take
refuge from the excited mob, on board of a steam
er under the charge of the French Consul.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
For the Index.
Eatonton, Jan. 25th, 1858.
Bro. Walker, I have just been reading
Bro. Crawford’s “Christian Paradoxes,”
and I am so much delighted with it that I
want to recommend all the readers of the
Index, who have not yet obtained the
work, to procure a copy immediately and
read. It combines two excellencies which
are not always found connected in one
book —it is pure and strong in doctrine, and
at the same time well calculated to in
crease the spirituality of the reader. Our
books generally, either maintain our prin
ciples in a controversial spirit and at thir
expense of the reader’s spirituality, or cul
tivate devotion to God and deep spiu-tn
ality in his service at the expense of Bible
truth. But not so with “Christian Para
doxes.” If it would be agreeable to all
concerned, I should like to see the fifth
chapter of this work in the Index.
Yours truly, J. H. CORLEY.
P. S. After a long illness my health is
again improving. C.
For the Index.
Thoughts by Thoughtful.
THE NEAR APPROACH OF DEATH
Another cycle of time is gone—another
year has passed away ; and brought me
nearer to my final account. How many
responsibilities are heaped upon me! How
many sins have been entered upon the re
cords of externity against me! How
short is the period which now intervenes
between me and death! My years which
have been numbered already, appear, ie
the retrospect, as a simple dream. Those
which are to follow, if years they be, ap
pear as a shadow that is declining. My
bearings are all towards the grave; and
very soon, my mortal life will end. Oh
how soon my summons will come! And
what are my prospects for eternity?—
Have I repented of my sins and believed
upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation ?
Have Ia well grounded hope of a blissful
immortality ? Is my name inscribed in
the Lamb’s book of life ? These are mo
mentous questions. Questions that will
ere long be tested in eternity. May I so
live as to enjoy a conscience void of of
fence towards God and man, day by day !
May I enjoy his smiles ; and as I approach
eternity, come nearer to my own eternal
joy. Living thus, no fear need disturb
me ; all will be well.
For the Index.
The Sects vs. The Baptism.
Dear Bro. Walker:—As it would be a
heavy tax upon me to answer all the let
ters of inquiry about the book now pass
ng through the press, with the above title,
and as many of these letter writers are
your subscribers, I ask the liberty to res
pond to them through your columns.
]. According to the printer’s contract,
it was to have been out by Dec. 1. Cir
cumstances which neither he nor I could
control have retarded him in his work.
He is now at work upon the last form ;
and the probability is, that by the time
this meets the eyes of your readers, it will
be in the hands of the Binder in Charles
ton, S. C.
2. The book is entirely different from
the one proposed to be published a few
years ago in Albany. Ga ., under the title
of “Sects Dissected.” The subscribers to
that will not receive copies of this unless
they order them.
3. The book will contain about 230
pages, but it is a justification of the Bap
tists only on one ground of complaint, viz:
the rejecting the baptism of Pedobaptists.
The author has been compelled to exclude
two chapters prepared for the present vol
ume, and the testimony that had been re
served for an “Appendix.’’ To have ad
ded these would have been to swell the
volume to such an extent as to compel
him, either to raise the price of the vol.,
or to involve himself in great pecuniary
embaiTassment. Neither of which could
he feel justifiable in doing.
.4 The work is written for no particular
Iclan, but for the masses in the Baptist fami
y, and Christendon at large.
5. Much of the book has been written
under great bodily prostration, and the
printer has had to follow first draughts to
a considerable extent; consequently a
quantum sujjicit of errors will be found in
it to gratify those who have a penchant for
criticism.
SSgP 5 These things I have thought pro
per to state, to prevent disappointment in
those who may order the book. If it meet
with favor, the “Defence” will be continued
in a second volume, of about the same size,
provided a sufficient number of subscribers
can be obtained to defray the expense of
publication. In this second volume, the
charge of “unchurching others” will be
repelled, and the tables turned upon the
complaints, by an exhibition of their own
exclusivism.
The chapters excluded were, one on
“The corroborating evidence in favor of
immersion afforded by the general prac
tice of all professedly Christian churches
for 1300 years;” and a second, on the in
consistency or exclusion of the prosecutors
in rejecting evidence, when produced
against them by Baptists, which they in
troduce, and on which they rely, in their
controversies with others. I will send
you a paragraph or two from the latter,
which you may admit into your columns,
when you have nothing more interesting
or important on hand.
“The Sects vs. The Baptists” was to be
furnished to subscribers at 50 cents for a
single copy, or 40 cents for five or more,
in paper covers. They who prefer to have
it bound in muslin and lettered, can have
it done by paying an additional 15 cents,
to cover cost. THE AUTHOR.
Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 2, 1859.
fW°m “uT P‘ gS be P ut int <> four pens, so
that there shall be an odd number in each pen ?
Easy enough. Make one big pen and in it make
•° neS \‘ n u each of these little pens
P *i f Pgs, which Will be odd numbers
. AS a m rn t t r ° f course the fourth pen—
wCne^ W,U have an odd “umber in it
tne whole nine.
Review of the Anti-modal Ser-
MON.
In reply to our worthy correspondent,
whose letter is hereunto appended, we -
may say, that Dr. Pierce has reasoned
from false premises from the beginning to
the end of his sermon on baptism. A ca
tegorical denial of his assumptions, would,
by all reasonable rules of logic, be an am
ple reply. But then, his groundless charg
es against the Baptists are repeated in so
many different forms, that they must be
refuted consecutively as they occur, which
may require the review to run through
ten or twelve issues of the Index. If we
should not “give them a thorough dis
section” it will be because our Baptist scal
pel is too dull.
February 10, 1859.
Dear Bro. Walker: Permit me in com
mon with many others to commend you
for the present course and conduct of the
Index. It is gaining favor with the peo
ple every day, and worthily too. lam
pleased with your strictures on Dr Lovick
Pierce’s sermon, delivered on Baptism :
the spirit you manifest is one to which the
Doctor cannot object. The Doctor is one
of the magnates of the Methodist denomi
nation ; but I doubt not that you will
make him feel that he not only is on the
weaker side of the argument, but that he
is not perfectly conversant with the sub
ject.
While you have undertaken the task ol
exposing his sophistries and “washing the
sand from under the foundation on which
he expected to construct an argument
against immersion,” let me urge you not
to dispose of him too quickly. Give him
a thorough dissection: your readers, I
doubt not, will willingly follow you in the
Review.
Hoping that you will thus co-incidewitb
the desire of many of your readers, and
looking for an interesting and exciting
series.
I remain your sincere well wisher,
T. H. D.
m ii—- •*-
For the Index.
Americus, Feb. Bth, 1859.
Dear Bro. Walker : Permit me to ac
knowledge through the Christian Index
the following subscriptions towards se
curing the services of brother J. 11. Camp
bell, as a General Evangelist for Georgia.
Hon. P. E. Love, $20,00 ; Hon. M. J.
Welborn, $20,00; Maj. J. 11. Worrill,
$10,00; Jas. W. Furlow, $10,00; Pres.
N. M. Crawford, $10,00; Jonathan Da
vis, $25,00 ; R. T. Asbury, 15,00 ; Elder
C. M. Irwin, $20,00 ; Elder B. F. Tharpe,
25,00; Samuel Felder, $25,00; J. C.
Gilbert, SIO,OO.
Send on your subscriptions and the
amount necessary can soon be made up.
Let one hundred brethren contribute $ 10
each, and one thousand dollars will be
the aggregate. Are there not that many
who will contribute this small sum ?
Brethren, send your SSO, 40, or any smal
ler amounts which you may be willing to
contribute, and let the work go on. How
many precious souls may Bro. C., be in
strumental in saving during this year, if
the brethren will only aid in sustaining
him in the work!
H. C. HORN AD Y.
Bible and Colporteur Work.
To the Baptist of Georgia, Greeting :
Below is my report for Jan. ’59.
Received cash as donation in ]
Macon 35,00, Forsyth 28,00, |
Thomaston 13,00, Barnes- [ 4 ,. . nf
ville s,oo,McDonough 12,75 j ’~ ‘ J
Jonesboro 1.50 and Griffin j
9,00. J
Received cash, on old jxledges, )
in Grsffin, $20,00, on new I
pledges, (made to me) from (_ 8f,25
LaGrange $5,00, and in At- j
lanta, 2,00, received cash for (
Books sold. J
Received cash for Chrietian Index, 33,00.
Received pledges in Macon )
$70,00, Forsyth, 50,00, „
Thomaston 15,00, McDon- { ‘ ’
ough 15,00, Griffin 50,00. J
Total $448,50
My success in last month exceeded De
cember $22,15.j
Will the brethren in Fort Valley, Per
ry, Milledgeville and Eatonton, (whom I
hope to visit this month) do as much as
was done in either of the two past months?
Yours tn Christ,
F. M. IIAYGOOD,
General Agent, &c.
Atlanta, Ga. Feb. 1, 1859.
Legal Intelligence.
A countryman walked into the office of Law
yer Barnes, one day, and began his applica
tion :
“Barnes, I have come to get your advice in a
case that is giving me some trouble.”
“Well, what is the matter ?”
“Suppose, now,” said the client, “that a
man had one spring of water on his land,
and his neighbor living below him should
build a dam across a creek running through
both their farms, and it was to back the water
up into the other man’s spring, what ought to
be done
“Sue him, sir, sue him by all means,” said
the lawyer, who always became excited in pro
portion to the aggravation of his clients. “You
can recover heavy damages, sir, and the law
will make him pay well for it. Just give me
the case, and I’ll bring the money from him; and
if he hasn’t a great deal of property, it will break
him up, sir.”
“But stop, Barnes,” cried the terrified appli
cant for legal advice,” it’s l that built the dam,
and its neighbor Jones that owns the spring,
and he has threatened to sue me.”
The keen lawyer hesitated a moment before
he tacked his ship, and kept on. J
“Ah! Well, sir, you say you built a dam across
that creek. What sort of a dam was that, sir
“It was a mill-dam.”
“A mill-dam for grinding grain, was it!”
“Yes, it was just that.”
“And it is a good neighborhood mill, is it V”
“So it is, sir, and you may well say so.”
“And all your neighbors bring their grain to
be ground, do they V”
“Yes, sir, all but Jones.”
“Then it is a great public convenience, is it
not?”
“To be sure it is. I would not have bunt
it but for that. It is so far to any other mill,
sir.” „
“And now” said the old lawyer, “you .tell me
that man, Jones, is complaining just because
the water from your dam happens to put back
into his little spring, and he is threatening to
sue you. Well, all I have to say is, let him
sue, and he’ll rue the day, as sure as my name
is Barnes.” e
Tlie State Fair
Is to be held at Atlanta this year, so the Ex
ecutive Committee decided at their meeting in
this place last week.