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L THE CHRISTIAN INDEX.
■tBLISIIBD i'.VSFY WEDNESDAY MORN IN O
■ AT MACON, GEORGIA.
BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN,
I TOR IHE
I GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION.
1 r
I TERMS OF SUBSCR IPTION,
■Two Dollars in sOvatico: ©rpaid within the year.
I If suffered too*, rtu:, the vea , \ Tw,i Dollars ad
9 oitsuu.r wfll be cta'igvu in nil ca^es.
’ ‘ E. W,jyARREN. Editor.
\OLUJt E- X X'X IX. I
New Series.—Volume XXVIII. j
mm. _ ‘ ‘
On the way tq the River.
AN INDIAN SONG.-— vvcKXkn.*
t
(By the Congregmli'in.y I
\ise, converts, to-day ! - .
Jnd the Savior obey *
jes, the Savior of .'-ymera obey :
■ in him yoiuhave faith,
Aid can trust in bis death,
to take your transgressionsgafcay.
(Cor verts join in Ckoryts. r
Oyesf wVli obey hup,
And trust in his favor;
Now and forever, T
Till we arrive at home.
(Congregation.) ‘ ** |
Then follow your Savior,
Who wentin the river,
Was bulled ; but rose from the wove ;
Now interceding,
And for usria pleading
With God ; his dear people to save.
(Coni&ris.) ;
1 We’ll follow,the Savior*
And tryst in his favor
Now ftitd forever,
Till we artrivHft homo*
{Coiigretffitia®.)
Soon you malt all die, *- v
Ami in yoof graves lie,
But there not very long to remain :
This you’ll show forth to-day,
In a symbolic way,
You’H be buried, and then rise again.
• (Conner!*.)
0 yea! that we will!
Like our bussed Saviour—
Then rise from the river,
And follow him still.
• .(Congregation-.),
The u. t yill Soon CoUbp
When yoirv.ilf-getliome, •
And unite with the heavenly baud •
Then 0 b do js6?tiro, < • „•
But raise your -Sting higher, ,
And sirrg as you marqh to that land.
Together ‘ - ~v „ . ■
We’ll march ou like soldiers—
We’ll march on-to
We’ll march on to Canaan,
And join the army there. , ,' ; V ■
“Composed to suit an aif that is pojwl £ with
the Creeks. *'^ v ,
CONTRIBUTIONS.
Corrective Church Discipline.
NUMBER 4. V*
TREATMENT OF PUBLIC OFFENCES, |
How should public offences be heat
ed? When one has been guilty of open
immortality, shail “gospelsteps’” beta
ken ? Is if demanded that a thief, or
a drunkard, or a debauchee, should be
anproached first in private, and then
in company with one or two others, be
fore he is arraigned in presence ot the
Church l Certainly; lor no--private
reparation can atone for, or counteract
the effects of, immoralities.
1. If he does not bring the matter,
up himself, he should be cited to ap
pear and answer to the charge. In this,
arraignment, he should have every la-J
cility to meet, the charge against hiiij
for it does by no means follow that
ry one is guilty who has been accnsjr
Xo one should he condemned with
out a hearing; and to have a hearing,
he must be in possession of all the
counts of the indictment against him.
lie must have the privilege of confront
ing the witnesses, and,of ? mg the
testimony against him, that he may be
able to speak effectively and to the point
in his own behalf. It is not meant
though to be .asserted here that a church
should go through \vitd ail the forcnali-,
ty observed,by a Court of Justice ; but
siinpty that no one should he forced,
trta trial .until lie becomes t.ully, info lin
ed of .the lias an op
portunity Id: sift the €n<Teivee.'relied
upon to * Excepting* in ex
treme and complicated cases, no
written deonfr,eats need be employed’
ip the citation and.triat. * .The arraign
ed may bear the charge’ for the first
time a* it may. hoannoimced orally, or
read from the Clerk’s record, in open
conference. If lie pleads not guilty,
and desires btfneto prepare himself
for ffee trial*,,aU reasonable indulgence
should be gifted, apd .’ nothing per
taining-to-tho ease should be withheld
from him. * <.*
it goes stir, however, to show con
scious guilt, if a church meifiber ar
raigned endepyors to quash proceed
ings by the plea tpat he had not been
served with written processes. JS'ot
uni'll? he asks for information, and
for the postponement of his trial , and
is, re fused by the church, has he any
aground, of complaint. Church trials
arc designed not only to convict the
guilty, but to clear the innocent who
have been accused. An innocent man,
then, so far from trymg to embarrass
the action of the church in the pre
mises, will do all in his power to facili
tate such action. It is for the interest i
of the innocent that the church prompt
, ly and thoroughly investigate the char
ges against him, that his innocence may
appear, and that the confidence of his
brethren and of the world may be res
tored to him. And it goes far to prove,
if not his guilt, at least a heart not
right, for the accused to take offence
at the arraignment, or ascribe it to
conspiracy against him.
2. If the arraigned is proved to be
trail tv of a gross offence against religion
and morality, he should be utonceanci
v .thout delay, expelled. ‘-Put away
from among yourselves that wicked
person.” 1 Cor. v. 13. All will grant
that this conclusion is correct in regard
to such offences as murder, fornication,
theft, &cy but they do not see that va%l
ing y covetousness, drunkenness and ex-
j tortion,may not he dealt with more
J gently, and fo*given upon repentance
■ anT* confession. The Apostle Paul,
j however, places them all in the same
j category with fornication, and prescri
: bes the same treatment to them all in
i common. “But now I have written unto
you not to keep company, if any man
that is called a brother be a fornicator,
or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with
uch an one no not to eat.” 1 Cor. v.IL
It is the opinion of some, and tkeftj
may be force in it, though not perceiv
ed by the present writer, that in the
case of drunkenness, the first offence
may he forgiven on repentance and
Confession; since, in that instance, the
offender may have been “overtaken in a
fault; 5 ’ and that it takes a repitition of
the act to show that he is properly a
“ drunkard . s ’ Be this as it may; just
so soon as these and other gross crimes
are proved upon one that is “called a
brother, 55 he should be withdrawn
from. , ■ *- X
Ist. For the sake of public
and.the reputation of the Church, sfid
should testify unmistakably. This
course would meet with approbation
more hearty from no on than from
! the offender himself, if he is a Chris
tian ; for to such, the honor of the'Mas
ter,. and tho reputation of his Church,
are dearer than his own good name, or
even than life itself. When a confes
sion of sin and a profession of peni
tence are received as satisfactory, and
the offender forgiven, the act may be
misunderstood by the. world'; but when
the member is cut off, there is na room
to suppose that the Church views the
offence as trivial and venicl.
2d. For the good of the offender him
self, he should be excommunicated.
If he is not a Christian, he should not
be a member of the Church: if he is a
Christian, excommm ration will not
harm him. Corrective cipline, even
in its highest censures, is an act of
kindness to the offender, and designed
not to injure but reform. Such wa the
effect of the discipline inffieted upon
the incestuous man at Corinth. While
undisturbed by his brethren, per
mitted to go on in sin with impunity,
he seemed*not to be aware of the en
ormity of his crime; but, after expul
sion, he is brought to reflection and
penitence. So that we find the Apos
tle, who had demanded his exclusion,
afterwards, on satisfactory evidence of
his repentance and reformation, acting
as jjrs intercessor, and begging his
restoration. “Sufficient tosucli a man
is-this punishment which was inflicted
of many. So that contrariwise ye ought
rather toVrgive him and comfort him ; ’
lesJt, perhaps, such an one should be
swaliowenMp with overmuch sorrow.
WherefuJlT I beseech you that you
would djffirm your love towards him.”
3d. warning to others, the
Chun JBcmkl affix to gross crime un
ini at JFab ly the mark of its reprobation.
ypfecticm. But it may be objected,
the Scriptures say ‘if a brother
fault wo should forgive
y Bi’ {hi- i- answered, that tbe
BB|PRnoii refers, exclusively to private
! | nr personal offences. “Take heed to
voiirselves; if thy brother trespass
against thee, rebuke him; and it here
, ant forgive him. ‘ And if he trespass
against “thee seven times in a day, and
seven times in a day turn again to
thee saying, Irepent,thou shalt forgive
him.” „
In public offences not involving gross
immorality, a milder course may be
pursued j and corrective discipline may
be successful and complete short of ex
communication.
TREATMENT OF MIXED OFFENCES. .
What course is to be pursued in
mixed offences? When the act is a pub
lic offence and the object affected by it,
a brother, is it his duty to take ‘"gos
pel steps”? When one wilfully slan
ders his brother, or defrauds or steals
from him, or violently assaults, his per
son, orlibellouely publishes him, is he
the less a liar, a defrauder, a thief, an
infractor of the peace, and a libeller,
because his victim happens to be a
member of the Church? Suppose these
acts had been perpetrated against one
not a church member, would they not
have been criminal? Would not the
Church have been bound to take cog
nizance of them? And if so, under
what head of offences would she have
classed them ? If they are crimes a
gainst religion and morality when com
mitted against an irreligious man, do
they lose their nature when commit
ted against a member of the Church?
Whatever may be counteracted, or re
moved, or atoned for, so that neither
individuals nor the cause may be in
\ j ured, can be disposed of by private
dealing. But gross public offences,
I whatever may be their combinations
! or objects, cannot be disposed of in
that way. The bftfcher trespassed
upon may be, and doubtless is, under
obligations to seek a private interview
with the brother who he believes, has
wilfully slandered, or defrauded, or sto
len from him; since, in all these things,
he may have been mistaken. He may
even pursue a like course with one who
has horse-whipped or libelled him; and
bring them all to coutession ot their
wrong, and to a tender of all the pri
vate reparation in their power. .But
would that relieve the Church trom
the obligation to discipline its members
for the crimes against and
, hiorality contained in lying, in fraud,
in seduction, in thett, in a breach ot
the peace by personal assault and libel
Nay, if the one trespassed upon in the
ways indicated above, concludes to take
no action in the premises, and to bear
i his grievances in silence, would the
Church, acquainted with the facts, he
debarred by this from dealing with its
member%for lying, fraud, theft, Ac.?-
The answer to be given, then, to,the
question at the beginning of the above
paragraph, is: -If the act is a gross
offence agaihst religion and morality,
and the object affected by it, a brother,
it is to be dealt with as other gross
offences that are purely “public 55 , wheth*-
er the aggrieved takes “gospel steps’ 5 or
jiot. .
Anu.it will be seen, alsp, that those
that for convenience .have heeii termed
“ftlixed”, dd net constitute a distinct
class, but are to be ‘ranged under the
head of Hpublic offences,” and treated
according! v.
P. H. MELL
University of Georgia, Dec. sth, 1859.
Missions and the Boards.
Among the early pioneers and their
successors aud coadjutors in carrying
on this great work were such men as ;
theFurmaus, the Baldwins, the Sharps, |
the Staughtons, the Cones, the Way j
Tands, tbe Messers, the Mercers, the
Brantleys and others ; men deeply im
bued with the spirit of Missions; men's!
of humble devout piety ; men who
■consecrated their lives to the Baptist
cause —whose names were synoniinous/
with every great and important work
for advancing the Masters cause—pil
lars of our Zion, and the fathers of our
beloved Israel. They have—the most
of them—gone to their reward. Vv here
men of giant intellects, such unaffec
ted symplicity of life, such unobtrusive |
piety, such matured wisdom have
pioneered the way we, of this genera
tion, may well follow. Bold, to rash
ness, must be the hand that would tear
down a structure watered by so many
tears,’ sanctified by so many prayers,
completed after so many years of toil,
privation, and anxiety. Surely we
have no Erostratus among us who
would set fire to this noble fabric for
the sake of the renown of such a deed.*
The first Board was composed of a
President, Vice-President, Correspon
ding and Recording Secretary, Ti cas
ter, Assistant Treasurer, and forty
Managers. The cause of missions was
their cause. The Missionary, who toil
ed amid the burning sands of the East
was engaged in a work that called j
forth their prayers, their united coun
sels, their solemn aud earnest delibera
tions. They were united to him, and
he to them by a tie of joint interest,
joint undertaking, joint success or joint
defeat.
The result of this system, hilafcv
‘much condemned was the giving,l!h*
word of God, in native language, to
ABurmab, raising up hosts of disciples
to His name, founding schools, bujhi, ’
ing up churches, and unfurling the
banner of the cross on every mountain
and valley. All- of these interests
could only ho.ve be>uj. undertaken and ,
p ressed forward by < xec ul l ve
i . .■
■
!. ■ 1 ■ L” • - ‘ ■ ■ -! ; :
States. Thousands of immorlflWns,
redeemed from the bondage of’ sin,
have gone to glory sand thousands now
live to bear A’it ness to the efficacy ot
those means which have produced such
wonderful results. Churches are flour
ishing, and Jn some instances selfsus-
An army of native ministers
are going forth sowing the seed besi .
all waters; and God is giving the.in
crease. Heaven grant that the seed of
the sower may continue to germinate,
spring up and produce fruit until the;
millions of that land shall join in one
universal anthem of redeeming graces
and dying love. These great results
are the working out of the Board sys-
The plans were arranged, the
Bible translated, tracts distributed,
Stations occupied, the woud preached,
churches established, and a large bar
( vest gathered under this much abused,
Board system. All went on well,
vigorously and effectively.. In 1&J5.,
when the division occurred, between
the churches North and South, a nw
system of Conventions and Boarcfp
was inaugurated at the North. TroCb*
bles and difficulties, to which the oltt
Board was a stranger, had beset the
path of the new system, and embarras
sed its missions. But the foundation
was too well laid in Burmah, the
wrok was too well done for failure
to result under the workings of even a
half-handed system. Burmah, to day
owes her present religious status to the
well laid plans of the old Board —a
Board resembling in its organization,
pretty much entirely, our Foreign
Boarcl at Bichmond. It is very ques
tionable whether, uhder existing organ
izations at the North, any thing of im
portance could be accomplished, in
this old Mission field, but for the foun
dation, deep and solid laid by the old
Board—their and our honored prede
cessor in this noble work.
They—the Boards—are said to be
Episcopal in their character and ope
ration ; but the man does not live who
can show after an experiment of fitly
years their episcopacy or Episcopal ten
dency. They exercise no more juris
diction, control or authority over the
churches now than then; which is
simply none at all. Tiie churches to
day are as free and as untramelled as
tney were in ISII. Even the churches
in heathen countries are not amenable
to the Boards in any sense. The
Boards furnish them with a ministry
until they are able ’to sustain them
selves. The Board of Domestic Mis
sions do the same thing for the church
es at home. It would be news, indeed,
to the Bainbridge church aud others
in Georgia, that they are less free and
MACS®, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY Jl
! independent because tjiey, in the Pro
| viden.ee oi God. are supplied with a
j ministry by the Dom.. Board ! The dis
cipline and the integrity of the chnrch
i h me and abroad is preserved en
tire without the dominion of the ’
, r Boards and witnoul appeal to them in !
any The truth is, in struc- !
1 fare and organization of the Board, no i
danger ever can result to the churches.
They have no jurisdiction whatever,
nor can they have, nor do they claim
any. Then where is the Episcopacy ?
If tue past fifty years has. not disclosed
; it-rif its organizat ion does boy reveal
i it—if its objects and purposes and\;n
----j itations prohibit it, how can any ra-j
j tional man foretell it ?
This whole question of Episcopacy
is the merest phantom of the brain ;
an etherial myth that banishes when
looked at with the naked eye. It may
do very well to alarm nervous women
and children with, but is too mireh of
a transparency to frighten people of.
more steady nerves and more mature
years. There are alarmists in all house
holds, good people too, who are some- ;
times, great disturbers of the peace of)
families. Their nerves are ever on the
Wck on jicroant of imaginary, impen-
Hhg mk They are the last to see
-real d;!’ and the first to fall a prey
to it wWit it comes.
A piyinlar objection is made to tlie j
Boards because they exercise a judi
cious authority over the missionaries
upon many questions touching location,
mode of operation, &c., Ac. Now
just the kind of authority that is here
continued is absolutely and indispen-1
sably necessary. To refuse it, shows
an actual want of business knowledge
and worldly wisdom. Whether a Mis
sionary goes out under the direction of
a local associational Board, or the gen
eral Board or even under the sanction
of*a church, some kind of reserved
control is indispensable. It will never
do to ‘ ay a missionary a salary and
pgiye him a roving discretionary com-1
mission to do just as he jdoa&ea, I
ing him amenable only to his enurch. i
This course of action has been gravely j
urged more than once ; and lately put j
before an association as Mg plan. The-]
missionary might takp ltin tiis head .O’
travel ahont, us did Dr. Livings too,
exploring the country, hfinting lions
and efiephants:’ or im the.exercise of a
Hittle laudable human might
in'trafic; or4^mrgut noc life this or
?that tovvivnnd spend bis Jpeffi mov
frmn one town i*j anot var. Inkjw to
lioSt
ciunige ones iociiiAm, every two weeks,
aye offences under the law that
the churriies. They are
pleavan m<d agreeable occupa^Fj^
are we to do'witii Imh ?
cannot control hVi'n, nor can the odarifc.-
Who can ? Stibh a course of policy
very nearly,
B blank noteß. It is a verv dangerous
PP >de ot doing business. Wi&e, timely f
Fatid discreet control ovof tiie mission
ary is essential to the success the
mission work ; and a feeling of hi YUed
responsibility on the part at the mis ,
sionary, inspires caution, prudence and
deliberation. When the missionary is
disposed to do right, the difficulties
that glow out of this relation are few
and trivial. J- M. G.
’ Pro destination and Fh>ct< * .
In w proceed to the u jMtt tl of
my second propose, ion. ..f) >
knew all things, he never const; -j n
ite man in the enforcement ot sii ris
or, the his plant,; i
*docS.all
ot iiis own , >
“ If be cut of Fan a shut up, or gath
er together, \tho can hinder him.-’—
Sob, 11c. 10 v. Yes, well may this
afflicted servant of God ask the ques
tion, who has tl® right to complain,
if infinite wisdom should
thinly*per to tumble thrones into
earthly sovreigns. and
scatter their kingdoms to the winds,
who has the power, or the impudence
to attempt to stay the divine arm, or
To wrest.from him his sceptre, which
waves in triumph over heaven and
earth ? Nay more, it he should think
-proper to cut oh nations, or individu-,
ids and imprison, them in hell, who
would dare question his outhority, or
charge him with tyranny. This enqui
ry of Job, is pregnant with consequen
ces and full of instructions, and we
should profit by it.
“ Who is he that sayeth, and it com
eth to pass, when the Lord command
eth it not Bam. 3rd, 37. v. Ibis
implies, that man may plan, and imuy
attempt to subvert the laws ol Gi^
I but that, inasmuch as his laws raowf
and physical are fixed, any effort to
change them would prove unavailing
for they are immutable.
If God is unchangeable, so are his
laws, for an unchangeable Being can
not make changeable laws. Now the
! Legislature of Georgia, or the Congress
of the United States or any European
i asiatic, or African Prince may make
laws and then repeal them and substi
tute others. Aud why? I answer
because they are liable to change ; fin
ite, and therefore cannot legislate for
■ posterity without knowing what would
be the wants of posterity,—but God
1 knew from the beginning what man
would want, and what laws would suit
his moral aud soci T condition through
out all the changes and mutations of
earth, and therefore provided laws to
meet every contingency that should
arise. As he cannot change, of course
he cannot repeal those laws ; but they,
must 6tand living monuments of his
; wisdom, power and sovreignty.
It I air correct in the views thus tar
ex pressed; Jet us ascertain what is the’
nature of tVose laws. Here is one ot
them. “I vton have merely upon whom
! I will have itiercv, and will be gracious
I to whom I \till be gracious.” Exodus,
|33 c. 19tb verse. Here is an express
j declaration that he will shew mercy,
I and be gn/cious to whom he will, and
| no one can deny the proposition that
no soul can be redeemed,without the
.mercy and grace of God. If this be
true; then, the salvation of the soulde
peuds upon the sovreign will and mer
cy off God; and as he has th e power to
, save all, and some are not saved, then
i n, *ri-'••Certing grace is not extended
and d whv 'j I
answer, simply because*, m;
mercy upon whom he will. But the
question may bq.asked to how many
will,he extend his mjbrcy ? This is en
quiring into tho secrets of the divine*
mind, which we have noright to know:
but siich answer as has been revealed
to us, we will.give. “As thou has giv
en him power over all ilesh that he
should give sternal life to as many as
j thou has given hifuA’ John, 17th c.
: 2nd v. But the* Apostle Paul, (who,
by the by, was a clear-headed lawyer,)
: with his characteristic and sound logic
| lias clearly set forth the sovreignty and
j immutability of God, and-his right to
I deal with his creatures as seeineth him
good. He says : “ What if God uni
ting to shew his wrath and- to make
his power known,-endorsed with much
long suffering, the vessels of wrath fill
\ed l or destruction.'’ Rom..9th c. 22d
I verse. Again “ Therefore he hath
i mercy on whom he will have mercy,
and whom he wiil he hardeneth .”—
Rom., 19th c. 18th v. Again, “Thou
wilt say then unto me, why doth he
yet find fault, for who resisteth his
will,/ but may O man, who art thou
that replies! against God ? Shall the
thing formed say-to him that formed
it, why hast thou made me thus ? hath
j not the potter power over the clay of
the same lump to make one vessel to
j honor and another unto dishonor. —
| Rom. 9th c. 19 29 21 v. Here we per
| ceive that Paul was’ neither a-hamed,
; or afraid to preachh he doctrines of the
unqualif -d sovreignty of God “ and
yet lie ywered the same objections
vvjdch .ire now urged by your corres
pondent'. t The enquiry made of
the apostle, was abt-Jt this: If I can
not myself by. good works, why.
aid God make me tp suffer—-why con
stitute me a sinner, and at the same
i time give me no power'to save myself ?
j Why am I made thus? 0 how can
God punish me. If lam not able to
work myself to Heaven? The fcp stie
calmly replied : What right 1 ,vo you
to question the divine r. te < s
--jjHWk>f you as he may tn- 1 fit ? He
HSHLi y.:U,
him, and as the - ter has the
uyotrersifonable right to mane vessels
to knit- his own peculiar taste, and to
assign them places of honor or dishon
or, as he may rhiidcpropeu, so has God
Gfhe riglitN# ■dispose’;*.^.you, and be
sides sir, life replying to God and
prQvobingpmn to his fade Aim formed
you, and ycnx have no right to ‘dictate
terms to him, and select tor yotirselt
the position*,* u would occupy. Such
is my reply to all who dare question
the sovreigaty of God-
‘ r L. T. 1)0 YAL. .
(To be Continued.)
.. -4* , ’ •
For
The Wisdom of the Wood.
This world is not the home of man.
Place him how you will, he feels in
captivity. He. has longings for the in
finite which cannot be gratified here.
Hence, when ignorant of the gospel,
*>r, when knowing it, lie rejects it, he
must resort to some invention of his
own to grafjyy the aspirations of liis
nature.
The royal 111011100 im mg the
wants, and relieving tflw? of the
human family, the mast specious and
most applauded, have, from tinrc'.ttjf
time, with very extravagant demon
strations and. pretentions, been given
to the world under the name of Phil
osophy. The leaders in this movement,
now called Philosophers, (lovers of
Wisdom.) originally called themselves
! Sophoi , or the Wise. A sad commero
ftary upon the boasted worth of their
i systems, whether the earliest or latest,
as calculated to produce permanent
good in character, is this: that they
have so wasted their powers, in many
cases extraordinary and brilliant, botb
on the veriest'trifles, and on subjects,
too hidden and mysterious for huinap
comprehension, (and nothing worth.,
could they be infallibly decided,) th'St %
the word Sophist, (which we derive
from Sophos ,) is now, and was soon at
ter its invention, used to signify a shal
low trifler with the truth —one who
cannot or will not see it.
Very many foolish and absurd things
have been done in the name of Wisjp
and in, and if one were seriously to as
sert his belief in what some of the great
spirits of the past prided themselves to
have discovered, in less than twenty
foui hours he would earn tor himself
the reputation of a madman. These
wise men —-well pleased with.their
I names —talk loudly of cause and .ef
fect, and the origin of evil, and, with a
jargon of harshly-sounding words, coin
ed in a foreign mint, impose upon them
selves and others.
In attempting, some to demonstrate
that the earth was not made at all, oth
ers that it is very badly made, they
demonstrate this only : the shallowness
of their understandings and the c r
ruption of their hearts. Among the
\ Ancients, what folly and nonsense
were perpetrated by the noblest minds
searching into the essences of things.
Thales of Miletus believed that water,
or fluid substance, is tii£ single origi
nal element from which everything
came, aud into which everything is to
return. Anaxamjt** taught that air
is the source of all another,
that matter is eternal, ami the
whole of nature is God, aud
ras conceived, that, in some mysteri
ous manner, numbers are the basis and
essence of all things. The doctrine ot
the Transmigration ot souls was also a
favorite oi his? Idealism, as
developed by Plato, aud the beliet in
the pre-existence ot souls, hat e tuini&h
ed the basis of the splendid but ern>
ueous systems of Locke, and the mod
ern German Transcendentalism, and
tfyedoctrine contained in the “Conflict
ot Ages,'’ by oxr own Beecher, i*s noth
ing more than these heathen dogmas
revamped. Bacon is an illustrious ex
* ‘ample of a Philosopher who uttered
wise sayings, and lived a reprobate
life, lie was born to t-Vhel, fame, ti
tles; Os remarkable nathtiif gifts, aud
splendid culture,of viral ing.
far-reaching mind, without, vanity,die
took all sciences, and all provinces ot
thought as his field, aud succeeded in
each as though that had been his legiti
mate and only province.’ Those vol
umes which will make him famous
while the English language is read,
were written in his pastime, merely as
recreation , while lie daily performed
the drudgery pertaining to a high civil
office. Yet, alas! how frail is all hu
man greatness ! and how; impossible is
it to withstand the assaults of the
world, the flesh, and the devil, unless
one be clothed in the armor ot Right
eousness ! He was'guilty of the basest
ingratitude and the grossest cupidity ;
not an inactive, negative ingratitude,
but that active and crushing sort, rath
er, which receives the gift but smites’
the giver, and a cupidity which sells
honor for gold.
The great reformer and advocate of
freedom becomes a furious religious
persecutor, betrays his .dearest friend,
the unfortunate Essex —by whose in
fluence he had risen to office and civil
honors'; nay, by his’ eloquence and j
learning.is the cause of his condemna
tion and execution, and in an elaborate
tract (as* we are informed) blackens his
memory when dead. He is said to
have received not less than $500,00(1
in bribes, and by his wisdom and worth,
’by bis depravity and-dishonor, earned
for himself the. melancholy fame of
having been -
“ Th* greatest, wisest, iika nest of mar kind. ’
Surely, what with his eagle eye could
not be seen, and what with his great
purpose could not be achieved, an ay
not be seen or accomplished, by ordi
nary moles and bats!
We, with the flood of light which
Revelation has poured upon morals,
ad our duty to God, can scarcely re
alize that the wisest men of the world
expended all their energies on j ust such
questronsNiv-’ -have announced.—
flawing construe ifd'a system based On
some fancifhl ’they tailed
this Piiilosophv/the SumrUuqi Bonpm,
Pcligion, and, deluded souls. \yenJ|
around the world? madly
Eureka! Eureka! •
Wove philosophy the world’s*-'lu Af*
w should be-still groping in darkness,
not kndwipg whither our steflpjffimd.’
AVhkf/%itb iWish question/ that do
gepdefjitriiet- with curion4 and i taper*
tinfe'Ar research* into the esfirices of
things, with Nbmiohi.ism,
alism, and variof* smalrer isms, modi
fications, somehow, o.t the. e.fVur/un
derstandings would !><■ - > ).pld*d t P
ened. \i
There is not an infant, wtmsfe
lous accent scarcely makes
the name of Jesus, as,’ knre'eiiiig in
flowing robes of white, at. its nfottieps
knee, it lisps its simple prayer, who
does not know incomparably mote of
the nature and attributes of God, than
Socrates and Plato, and the whole
tribe of learned philosophers, whose
performances, though brilliant and
magnificent wereshowey and specious’
only. ‘* . • f<
Their stately monuments are uoV
mouldering ruins and no bet
ter fate —whereas, the plainest prayer j
of an unlettered chrktian, offered in :
faith, shall reach the ear of Jehovah, .
and be answered in blessings rieh as J
his love, and lasting as his eternity.
We Save, then, a better hope- The !
wisdom of this world is tbolishness ’
with God. The cross of Chriss is to
the Jew astambliDg block, and to the
Greek foolishness, but, to them who
believe, the power of God and the wis
dom of God.
When the world by wisdom (Philos*
ophy) knew not God, it pleased God,
by tlie foolishness of preaching, to j
save them who believe.
Thanks be unto God for his unspeak-,
able gift! W. G. W..
The Wandering Pilgrim.
JJistLA, Zulare Cos., Cal., /
P'P Aug. IS, 1559. J j
Written fby Jantes Webb, of Calif or- j
nia, to k brethren in Ga., j
GREBfiJNG:
Dear Brethren : It is a long time
since I walked up an<£ down, and round
about through ypnr lovely Stat 6
When I think of Georgia, I remember
many dear iind idVely brethren and
sisters that 1 expect to meet in heaven.
I remember a Joshua Calaway, and a
Billington Sanders, whose kind hospi 1
talities I so often enjoyed in my weay
pilgrimage. * I remember a great de*t
of the kindoes6 and unkindness that I (
received in it is all reg- ■
istered by a recordtng angel to
j vealed either for or against its actors,
* when judgment shall appear.
Tertas of Advertising.
Jfc'or alltransient advertising One
often line* for th*> first, and ‘0 <->nts per -qinH
all subsequent publications.
RATES FOR CONTRACT ADVi.KTISISO.
1 of 1C Inc* per ■’ months
no., j .mHH
“ to lines “ I year
rt - ’
gaj,ad\ • ratio.
S. 19 lY KIN, A-sort
NUUBk 1-
>■ •; 1 <*=•!'•
1 !
of my and mv
sermons in each part ot
the W'-d Sratfcs and Georgia, and
California stands most prominent, thus
far, in my wonderful work. I have
about one hymn per day for
tub fast 20 yearn. My Poetic Bible
now extends from Genesis to EfekkajM
and this year or next I shall pi|lß
be through the Old
tuy Christian Hymn Rook 1 lu#l^writ
ten about dOOO miscellaneous'hymns.
Kook, and hypocrites, and iueurnate
devils have been allowed of God. to
taunt my holy and sanctified spirit—
but God.will damn them to my glory
in judgment. 1 M\ friends will rejoice
to see my work admired by all, and
saints in heaven who have assisted me.
in this celestial work on earth, finnes
sunt pro gloria Dei.
I am now Pastor of a small Baptist
Church here in Visalia. It has doub
led its number since I preached to
them the last few months. Some of
my Georgia friends have become ene
mies, ami refuse to answer my letters.
Lqt them desert me for God has better
friends in store for me. If there bo
any who have sense and honor enough
to continue my friends, l do cordially
invite all such to write to me, and i
will describe the beauty of this golden
country to them, and l will describe
tlie California Eden (Zulnre c 0.,) to
them. I will also describe the South
ern part ot our golden State*, ti.atot
right belongs to the Southern States,
and will, probably, ebon be'a Shut-hern
State ofitself.
The Baptist cause here is gradually
advancing. We have several South
ern Baptist Churches no't represented
in the Northern Associations. These
writ probably soon be in one Southern
Association.
I will next year try to take, some
good Southern Baptist Newspaper. —
Farewell.
• Yours in peculiar feelings.
JAMES WEBB, M, D.
BAPTIST COMPARISON.
New York ha.-! in ton years decreased.... 74s’
Virginia has in ten years increased 22,749
Maine-lias in ten years decreased 1,872
Texas has in .ten years increased 11,803
New Hampshire has in ten years decreas’d. 941
Missouri hrsln ten years increased 29,131
Vermont has in ten years decrensed 1,09
South Carolina has in ten) ears increased. 13,818
Northern decrease 4,5&0
Southern increase.:..... 68,5ul
Totai U®4'd States Baptists in 1858.... 923,198
Total Urn ted States Baptists in 1848.... 067,750
11. S. Bilptfetlncrease, in teu years . 255,44 3^,
North Am, Baptists of all kinds in 1858,. 1,515,4 9u
NortHern and Sou. Meflrocfiste sh 1858. .1,176,25*6
j Baptist majority in ISuS, 39,194
interesting statistics are tukcu
i from the .Baptist and Methodist Al
manacs for X&5Sh Our next years Al
manacs will probably give Kegnlar
1 ,Ui)UyM3(t, and the Ir
! regular dentists jtbovit'l/JGPyUtk);.ma
king iirmE .kinds b* BaptisW abou,.
S, an<KUethodist,B of all kind*
hO.boO,’ and Christians of hW
Hon&,.prqbaUy *. about ft
—^ftEIVSIOMSTS.
(.-.<** laurAu *v lOO,OOO/300
MwhOnietan 1. 150,<Mi(i,()f'O
Protpstaife .Osjiit'f’t'ionitts • 15,000,000
Ciat&jpßmc^^ts ...*.*. | * >;uu<yfro
t Imri wsionists. ; • • 28?,h0^,000
W* ‘ SPKTNKLEItS.
Jews 3 • 5,000,000
Catholic ‘/• prixi iilft re ‘ ‘-0J >OO,CO*
Protestant Sprinklers 4.5,0*30,00',
Total Sprinklers. .
>■ r-: oi,i;-t -m” i-j
-A. B. Ti;e earth \.\:h iis, I.:B?‘\V Vi
Wi <■!’ in):atjii hnmer:-
afvd the saints in heaven are
in the kwe /ab-Goa, and why ehoctS
not all in wa?
ter,* to* 6hW. the Baptism of the Holy
Ghost unofthc bußai of .*ur Christ,
v* ‘ * * Hit. WEBB.
- 1 , w* • v *
SOUND ABG
MEN. ‘
Keep good company or none.'* xNev
|en be idle., lf,your hands eau not te
1 \jsefnlly employed, attend to the cnlti
! vation of your mind. Always speak
| tiie truth. * Make lew promises. Live
jup to your en'g3s>ementß. Keep you
| own secrets if you have any. hen
youjfek to a person, look ‘m&* \ the
| face*pGbod company and good con
j vereation are the very sinews of virtue. 4 ,
j Good character is above anything else.
Your character cannot be essentially
injured, except by your swn acts. If
any one speaks evil of you, let your
life be such that no believe
him. Drink no kind of
: liquors. Ever live (misfortune excep
j ted.ywithin your income. When you
retire to bed, think over what you have
i been doing during the day. Make no
; haste to bench, if you would prosper.
[Small'and steady gains give compe
j tency, with tranquility of mind.—
l Never plfty at any games of chance.
- Avoid temptation, though you fear you
may not .withstand it. Earn money
before you spend it. Never run into
debt unless you*see a way to get out.of
it. 4M> not nmrry until you art? able
to Never s-peak ill ot
any one. aße^ust/before you are gen
crolfs. Ktsp tours elf innocent, if yon
would be happy.’ Sate when you are
! young, that you may apljud Aiikfen you
are old. Bdad over the llboVe max
| ims at least once a w<Jek. [Selected.
If the internal gfiefe’ of eveiy man,,
could be read, written on his forehead,
how many who ngw excite
appear to be Ejects of pity.