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THE CHRISTIAN INDEX,
Published every Wednesday morning
AT MACON, GEORGIA.
BY A COMMITTEE OF BRETHREN,
FOR THE
GEORGIA BAPTIST CONVENTION.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION,
Two Do?.; ahs in advance; or paid within the year.
If Buffered to overrun theyea l -, Two Dollars and
one-hat. f will be charged in all cases.
SAMI EL BOYKIN, Editor.
VOLUME? XXX-IX.)
New Scries.—Volume XXVIII. j
POETRY.
Home Above.
Home above;
The Christian's home:
All bright and fair,
With angels there,
To grace the throne.
Beautiful world;
Where seraph’s sing;
Onr spirits fly,
To those realm-on high,
To meet their king.
Glorious rest;
To our spirit’s given :
No sorrow there,
No pain, no care,
Joy rtjigns in heaven.
B!es*ed home ;
Where God reigns in love :
He welcomes us there,
To those mansions rare,
In our homes above.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES.
Letter from Central Africa.
Ijaye, Central Africa, t
Jan. 25th, 1800. j
To the 11 ashington Association:
Dear Brethren : Anew year of
multiplied spiritual blessings, may this
be to you, brethren. One, also, may
it be, which will greatly extend the
kingdom of God in the earth.
An Index wandered across the great
deep, and arrived here a few weeks
since informing me of your annual ses
sion. It tells me of your increasing
zeal. You desire, not only to have
those instructed in heaven
ly wisdom and profitable knowledge,
but also to scatter abroad the “ bread
of life” in your own land an i m all the
world. Your hearts are enlarging—
God will till them to their ant most ca
parity with rich supplies of grace.
1 have twice endeavored to commu
nicate with you since my arrival here,
hut know not whether my effort was
successful, as I have not received a
letter from Georgia since J. left the
State. AVe have enjoyed reasonable
health, With the exception of one,
the Attacks of fever have not been se
nous. In the case excepted, we were
both down at the same time, and placed
in different apartments. The fever, at
first, was simple, and would have soon
been checked by administering quinine,
but we were out of this necessary rem
edy, and the fever continued to inter
mit until it resulted into the malignant
form. For many days my beloved
companion was at the gate of death,
and her departure seemed inevitable;
but God spared her, and we are now
quite restored to our funnel health.
Our spiritual affairs are quite en
couraging except to those who are more
sanguine than common experience al
lows.
During the last ye'ar we excommuni
cated one and baptized one, the former
being a woman, the latter a young
man of much promise. He was bap
tised in Nov. last, and has learned to
read the Bible in his native tongue
since that time.
We now have two candidates for
-baptism, one here, and one in Awyaw.
They are both young men, and good
Yoruba scholars, having been raised in
the families of various Baptist mission
aries. Ono of them, especially, is a re
markable youth, and more may be
heard of him. In Ogbpmishaw are
said to be some anxious enquirers ; but
alas, no one is there to supply them
with the “ bread of life.” We here,
also, have a man who has cast away
his orishah, and is seeking the true
way. In all the Mission the number
of baptized is 18. I am contented in
my work here, and have no desire to
return. For several months alter my
arrival, 1 had the use of an interpreter,
and was able to preach in the market
and houses, but lie becoming a teach
er, I was obliged to devote my whole
time, (Sabbaths excepted,) to the study
of the language until October, when I
again had the pleasure of resuming my
labors among the people. AVhen
preaching to them, the people general
ly pay great attention, and if 1 were
to quote some of their expressions on
such occasions, it would seem that they
were really alarmed about their condi
tion, but their manner indicates indif
ference. They confess their sins, and
pray that God would help them be
lieve, and often take oil* their charms
(only to resume them when lam gone)
saying they would endeavor to forsake
their former lives. Some, however,
are really affected, and 1 have confi
dence enough in the Lord to believe
that though much of the seed sown falls
on waste places, yet some falls on good
ground, and will eventually germinate
and bring forth the fruit of eternal
life.
A\ r e have eleven children and youths
living with us herft, and it is quite in
teresting to hear them read and sing
in their native tongue, when assembled
at family prayer.
Brethren, I earnestly request your
prayers in our behalf. The harvest is
ripe, but the laborers are few. We
are not, however, discouraged; for it
is not with multitudes the Lord chooses
to conquer ; if so, a few could not “put
ten thousand to bight.” I hope you
will not fall into the vain theory rela
tive to white men not beiug able to
live here. • All whom the Lord called
are able to live here or in any country,
as long as it is His will, whether they
be Jew or Gentjle, white or black.—
The gospel has no physical bounds, nor
is there any similar conditions in the
great, last command, “ Go ye into all
the world and ‘preach my gospel to ev
ery creature’' 1 Besides, the great ad
vantages newly developed, show that
“the ends of the world are upon us,” 4
and that God who teaches the mind of
man the simplest things of discretion,
is writing a commentary upon this
command in the multitude of instru
ments of grace with which He is fill
ing the world through the minds of
men. The lightning of the telegraph
flashes through the air, the printing
press thunders in your cities,the steam
boat glides swiftly along your rivers,
and the engine darts across the land,
while the great deep is whitened with
thousands of American sails, going and
coming from every known port in the
world. I am a firm believer in the
good old doctrine, “Stand still and see
the salvation of the Lord ” But the
world has been standing for a thousand
years. The way is now open ; the clash
of the enemies’ arms resound in our
ears; So forward. The world is ac
tive ; but “ the spirit in them lusteth
to envy.” “ The love of Christ con
strains 118.”
Two colored men from the North,
Messrs. Dr. Delany and Prof. Camp
bell, who have been exploring the
country with a view of settling with a
colony, are now here. They have made
a treaty with the Abbeokutans, in
which with the privilege of settling in
common with the people; the colonists
stipulate to bring wiih them “intelli
gence, education, a knowdedge of the
arts and sciences, agriculture, and oth
er mechanical and industrial occupa
tions, which they shall put into imme
diate operation, by improving the land
and in other useful vocations.” The
colonists are to rigidly respect the laws
of the Yorubans, but will settle all dif
ficulties among themselves, unless both
parties are concerned. This institu
tion is intended to furnish a home for
the free blacks, and for the political
and social benefit of the people. It has
nothing to do with the missionary
cause. The latter gentleman has heen_
photographing here. Just think!—
Having your photograph taken in
Ijaye, Central Africa.
\Vifh prayers for your prosperity I
now close. Yours in Christ,
R. 11. STONE.
Infant Baptism Examined.
NO. 2.
BY REV. J. H. CORtEY.
In a so. trier article we said about all
that we cared to eay respecting infant
baptism as founded on the rite of cir
cumcision. In this we propose to ex
amine the New Testament texts that
are used by its advocates in support of
the practice. The first text introduced
into the “ Confession of Faith,” after
they get through \yith and
his circumcision, is Acts 2: 38, 89.
“Repent and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost, For the
promise is unto you, and to your chil
dren, and to all that are afar off, even
as many as the Lord our God shall
call.” The introduction of this text
into the Confession of Faith, proves
very conclusively at least one thing,
viz: that the advocates of infant bap
tism are extremely hard pressed to
make out their case, The circumstan
ces of this case were these: Refer had
just, pieached to avast crowd of atten
tive listeners one of those stirring ser
mons that were characteristic of the
man, and when they heard it “ they
were pricked in their heart,” and said
unto Feter and the rest of the Apostles,
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Then Peter said unto them—what ?
Baptize your children ? Not the least
intimation of anything of the sort. —
“Repent and be baptized, every one of
you, (those that were asking what they
should do,) in the name of Jesus Christ,
for the remission of sins, and ye, (those
penitents,) shall receive the gift of the
Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto
you, (upon condition of repentance and
faith,) and to your children (upon the
same condition,) and to all that are
afar off, even as many as the Lord, onr
God, shall call.”
If this text proves anything for Pe
dobaptiste,it occurs to me that it proves
decidedly too much. If we conclude
that children are to be baptised be
cause the promise is unto them, wheth
er they ever repent and believe or not,
we must also embrace all “ that are
afar of” and baptize them, for the
promise is equally sure to them as to
the children. Is it contended that
those that afar off', are limited to
as many as the Lord shall call ?
Then are the children likewise limited
to as many as the Lord, our God, shall
call. But the 41st verse settles the
question by restricting the number
baptized to such, and such only as
“gladly received bis word.” The spe
cification of one thing, is always re
garded as the exclusion of every other
tiling. Consequently, when the Apos
tle says, “Then they that gladly receiv
ed his word were baptized,” he in a
most solemn maimer avows that none
were baptized but such as did gladly
receive the word.
Lydia and her household are next in
troduced to our notice, and what shall
we say for them ? Why, simply this,
that before Peiobaptists can make out
a case from this circumstance, they
must prove,
1. That Lydia had at that time, or
lately, a husband.,
2. That she had children, and chil
dren then in infancy.
3. That these children were with
| her at Philippi.
> 4. That such children were actually
baptized.”—Bap. Man.
We leave Lydia here to await the
proofs, while we proceed to the house
of the jailor. Acts 10: 29, 30, 31, 32,
33, 34. Read the whole chapter over
carefully, and you will find the follow
ing facts contained in it.
1. That Paul and Silas preached to
the jailor, and to all that were in his
house the word of the Lord.
2. That the jailor believed in God
with all liis house. (Os course they
were proper subjects then for baptism.)
3. That the jailor took the Apostles
to where there was water and washed
their stripes.
4. That the jailor and all his were
baptized straightway, Any infants
here? They all attended the preach
ing, they all believed, they all re
joiced and were all baptized.
As infants are not capable of attend
ing on the preaching of the word, not
capable of believing in Christ through
the influence of the word, nor capable
of rejoicing in consequence of truths
contained in the word, of course they
were not included in this case. But
the little children come next. Matt.
IT: 13, 14. If, when Jesus took these
children in his arms it had been added,
“ and he baptized them” instead of
“and he blessed them,” as it is in Mark,
10th chap., then the passage might in
deed be adduced as proof of infant
baptism ; but as there is not one word
on the subject of baptism iu connection
with the circumstance any way, it
proves anything else just as conclu
sively. Some of the most learned .Pe
dobaptists are aware that this passage*
serves not their cause. ,
Pool’s Continuators. “We must take
heed we do not found infant baptism
upon the example of Christ in this
text; for it is certain that he did not
baptize these children.” It would be
just as sensible to argue that all small
men should be baptized because Zac
cheus climbed up into a tree, as so ar
gue that all infants are to be baptized
because* Christ took some of them in
his arms and blessed them.
But we close our remarks on this
point by saying,
1. That infant baptism cannot be
taught in the New it is
not even mentioned, either directly or
indirectly.
2. That if any man will produce one
text from the New Testament, that
does teach the doctrine, either Ly posi
tive teaching, or reasonable inference,
wo stand pledged to take back, pub
licly, all we have ever said or written
against it.
3. That we will discuss theqifestion
of infant baptism with any respectable
pedobaptist minister in the ; United
States, we agreeing to make it appear
that it is a positive evil.
Letter from Landmark.
j Dear Bro. Bay kin :—ln common
with you, I regret very much to see the
apprehensions which exist among ns,
of a division ol onr beloved denomina
tion ; anc], I fear, that brethren have
permitted their fears to be excited more
from ‘hearsay’ than from any real cause.
It is true, that there does exist in
ourjnidst, a difference of opinion upon
a matter not located in our midst. —
But if we are what we profess to be,
we should all, and each of us, be Jesus
Christ men in the Convention and out
of it. We should not penpit our preju
dices, or notions of ‘ what we think
right,to carry us so far as to inflict pain
ful injuries upon each other. We are
all one, and when one of us suffers,
the whole body necessarily feels the
suffering. We ought to beware, lest
we offend one of “Christ’s little ones.”
Surely, ye have had enough of this
strife about two of these little ones. —
Brethren arrayed against brethren, sec
tion against section, feelings wounded,
which nothing but the grave will cure,
And shall we lend our aid to continue
and keep up this unholy strife ? Does
the permanency of our adorable faith,
doctrines, and practice depend entire
ly upon the existence of the men and
measures, which have caused this agi
tation in £ion>j Will Christ-loving
baptists of Georgia, so far forget them
selves, and the teachings of Him whom
they love to obey, as to persist in keep
ing up strife which must end in divi
sion and distraction, if continued ?
What will ye brethren! that Zion’s sons
should, after you are gone, be called
Howell-ites, Qraves-ites, Convention
its, or Auti-Conventionites, etc., or
had you not rather they should con
tinue the humble, but honorable title
of the followers of Christ ? We may
follow Christ as he teaches, not others.
But we should be very careful how we
follow Him after others , for 6ome in
following Christ (to their shame be it
said) get so inflated with the influences
of the world, and the devil to help,
that if we follow Christ behind them,
we should not wonder if He is hid
from our view.
But seriously, my dear brother, is
there any way under God, of arresting
such a calamity as is apprehended, of
a divisiou ? “Is there no balm in Gi
lead,” that would prove a prevent
ive ? Allow me to suggest, that I
think there is a powerful remedy, and
one which has never yet failed to cure
the worst cases ever known, if strife,
varience, malice, enmity and the whole
list of spiritual diseases, so common to
saints while in the flesh. That reme
dy is LOVE. Let every brother come
up to the Convention resolving by
Qod’s grace, to have some of this reme
dy with him; not only for his awn use,
but enough to spare iu trying to heal
any of the diseases before mentioned,
with which other brethren may be
seized. Oil one another with this
greaffcompound. Have to 6pare of it,
that it may be concentrated into a
Holy Fire Engine, and put out the first
MACON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1860.
blaze of unholy fire which may be visi
ble. AVe have God’s word for it mv
brethren, that it we assemble together
thus armed, He will he with us. Let
us then, as has been suggested, away
to the throne of grace, daily, and en
treat with our blessed Lord at the foot
ot Calvary, that lie would grant us
grace sufficient to “bear all things,
hope all things and think no evil.”
Ido honestly believe, that if we can
come thus together in Convention, all
tears as to a division would disperse—
even before wo commence our session.
All the agitating questions, would take
wings and fly away. Ilowell and
Graves-isms, would be lost sight of,
and all the real and anti-isms of the
day, would be swallowed up in one
earnest, undivided glorious desire, for
the kingdom of the Lord to come.—
And we could go home from the Con
vention, forgetting that we were on
any side of any question heretofore—
we should be overwhelmed with the
one thought, that we have been doing
nothing for one, who has done so much
for us. 4-nd Christ and his cause,
would he one thought, one theme.—
Amen. LANDMARK.
Mission Letter.
Little River C, N. j
March 10,1860. \
Dear Bro. Boykin: —l have dis
continued those questions and answers
on “Indian Mission,” fearing perhaps
they might not be interesting. The
large amount of work here, deprives
us of much time fur eitliei study or
writing, consequently, those questions
were just jotted down as they occurred
to my mind, without any thought'or
care as to their proper order.
Our mission among the Creeks is
advancing slowly, though we trust sure
ly. One was baptised on the We-wo
ka two Sabbaths ago, and I heard to
day, that several were anxious to be
immersed in the lfitchittee town, some
forty miles above here. The Creeks
are making considerable advances in
their form of government. At the last
general council, they divided the coun
try into four districts, and formed a
constitution highly progressive. All
officers are to be elected by the peo
ple, and courts and custom-houses are
to be instituted in each district, The
general council to meet only once a
year in legislative capacity. Trial by
jury has been in operation -here for
some time. Several young and even
middle aged Creek men, have recent
ly sent on to the States for books and
ary now reading law with diligence
and zeal.
A week agoff visited bro. Buckner
at his station, the North Fork town or
Micco P. O. Himself and family were
well and hard at word. The transla
tions are progressing quite as rapidly
as could be expected. Bro. B. was en
gaged in studying the grammar of the
language, and had made some really
interesting discoveries. Hitherto the
Creek or Muscogee language has been
supposed to be altogether without sys
tem or rule; this bro. B. finds to be
an entire mistake, and he thinks there
is less irregularity in this, than in any
language with which he is acquainted.
He has conjugated at length, two verbs
which though exceedingly and wonder
fully interesting documents, yet would
give a school-boy the brain fever for a
foitnight. Bro. B. wants to be ready
to go on in April, and would like to
visit the Georgia Convention. Should
lie be thus permitted, we humbly yet
earnestly hope he may receive a warm
reception and strong aid in his labors.
While you are preparing, brethren, for
your approaching Convention,and ma
king your collections for the different
objects, do not forget those Creek
translations, nor should you neglect
Indian Missions either; although no
longer connected with them, yet I
would plead that you and car
ry up something for the Indian Mis
sion Board of Marion. Our good bro.
Holman has been suffering for some
time, and is threatened perhaps with
partial blindness, “make him open his
eyes” should he be at Macon, gladden
his heart at the aid sent by Georgia
churches for Indian Mission. Fare
well, for now* I write in haste.
YYmrs truly,
J. S. MURROW.
Letter to the Editor.
Dear Bro. Boykin: —Though w T e
date at present from a city familiar in
name and in history to many of your
readers, we would, in the first place,
say a word or so about the Index. For
quite a number of years it has been a
regular, and ever welcome visitor to
the writer of this letter. Before it
took up its permanent (w’e suppose)
residence in your city, its columns
were familiar to us.
Through all its trials and vicissi
tudes, it has been watched with no
little interest, and at no period with
more anxious solicitude than now.—
Y r our readers, dear brother, can but
observe the deep interest with which
you have re-assumed its editorial re
sponsibilities, and will certainly come
up nobly to your assistance.
Baptists can, and will work when
they take a “notion,” and we humbly
trust that working spirit will not delay
its visits much longer; but that the
day is near when there w’ill be seen a
union of heart and of hand, in all the
interests which claim the prayers and
co-operation of the lovers of Jesus.
The Baptists in this aucient city,have
had for very many years, many able
and worthy representatives, both in
the pulpit, and private w’alks of life.
The Baptist pulpits are filled with men
i w r ho do honor to any pulpit, in
| any country. They “hold forth the
word of life” (on every Sabbath,) with
earnestness and marked ability, though
not with that apparent success wliioli
seems to mark other localities.
Other influences have been, and are
yet ot such a character, as to prevent
the people from being brought under
the direct teaching of our pulpits.—
100 much deference may have been
paid to these influences,by the Baptists,
and hence their tardy growth. Bap
tists ought, of all people, to preach and
widely diffuse the Truth, the whole
truth. They have nothing to conceal
—nothing to be ashamed of. To ac
complish this very desirable aim and
end, there are various means and ap
pliances; the pulpit, the Sabbath school
and the press, might be mentioned
here as the most potent in this great
work.
South Carolina is not quite so well
supplied with the teemings of the week
ly press, (Baptist) as some of her sister
States. She can claim only one week
ly paper, while several of her sisters
can proudly boast of three, and others
of two.
With reference to wdiat has been re
cently done, and what is now doing by
the agency of the latter, (the press,)
we might be allowed to say, upon re
liable authority, that the Southern
Baptist Publication Society, of which
many of your readers are members,
and have great reason to be proud,
have issued a larger number of new
books, of decided value, than at any
former given period. Not including
re-prints, of which we learn that sever
al thousand volumns have been issued,
there have been, (or will soon be) seven
new works added to the list, giving an
aggregate of over ten thousand vol
urnes, and more than one million of
pages. Os the character and perma
nent value of’sotne of these books, your
readers are familiar. “Soul-Prosperi
ty” heads the list, and will live when
many ot its cotemporaries will have
passed into “the shades of forgetful
ness.” We canno.t devote space in this
connexion, to the comparative value
of the works lately published by the
Society.
We cannot, however, give up this
point without a word or so about one
work, bearing their imprint. Os this
work, all men ought to be proud, and
especially every baptist, throughout
our entire country. We allude to Dr.
Dagg’s “ Manual of Theology.” It
ought to grace every library, and be
studied by every enquirer after truth.
The work of the Society is rapidly
enlarging, and it only remains for Sou
thern Baptists to say whether it shall
more than quadruple its work and use
fulness during the next few years, or
not. Why it is not fostered, encour
aged and patronized more widely, and
generally, is astonishing to us. Why
it is, that those having ample means
to appropriate for the purpose of doing
perpetual good, should withhold their
contributions from it, is still more as
tonishing.
We will only say in conclusion, that,
in onr judgment, no man who wishes
his “mite” to be permanently useful,
can make a better investment of it,
than by giving a portion to the Sou
thern Baptist Publication Society.
A word or so might very justly be
added, with reference to the Board of
Managers, and the Financial Secreta
ry, who is the only active officer of the
Boafd. Though our acquaintance with
the members of the Board is not so in
timate as with their officer, yet suffi
ciently so, to justify an expression of
opinion a9 to their standing as citizens
and their stability as Baptists. No
city can boast of more valuable citi
zens, nor can any Baptist churches feel
a greater degree of satisfaction at hav
ing more unflinching Baptists.
As to the Financial Secretary, there
is no man more devoted to the interest
of our denomination than he, nor any
man who has labored more constant
ly, unceasingly for the promotion of
the Publication cause.
We hope that our Georgia brethren
will not overlook the w r ants of their
Publication Society, at their approach
ing Convention, but wiff make to it a
liberal contribution. Now is the time
to render assistance to this important
enterprise. Now is the time for Gecujfr
gia Baptists to aid in making their tor
mer contributions still more efficient
in the great work.
To meet the increasing wants of the
great Baptist family, an increase of
working material become'? a necessity.
Our city was visited recently by the
Rev. John Todd, whose works many
of your readers gratefully call to mind.
His lecture before the Sabbath schools
of the city , was of the most interesting
character.
Before leaving, we may drop you a
line upon other matters. ETA.
Charleston, April 7, 18G0.
OUR LORD’S BAPTISM.
The learned Dr. Ebrard, Professor
of Theology in the University of Erlan
gen, has a note on the baptism of the
Redeemer, which presents a thought
of profound interest. Such scholars as
he, and Olshausen, and Neander, would
hardly stop to reason with a man who
should doubt that immersion was the
baptismal act appointed and exempli
fied by our Saviour. Ebrard says:
The essential feature of baptism
should not, perhaps, besought so much
in the relation between the baptizer
and the baptized, as between the lat
ter and God, of whom the baptizer is
but an instrument. It is not the rais
ing of the baptized into the sphere of
the baptizer, which essentially charac
terizes baptism, but that be before
(jr<jd buries himself into death, as one
laden with guilt, in order toYise again
from death as anew, divinely born
man. The Jew who submitted to John’s
baptism, acknowledged : “I have de
served death ; I need anew life.”—
Christ in his baptism declared : “I will,
laden with the guilt of humanity, de
scend into death, and as a glorifiec
conqueror will arise from it.” Thus
his baptism by John was a type and
prophecy of the real baptism ot death
and resurrection, and forms the real
connecting link between John’s bap
tism and Christian baptism, (Matt. 28:
19.) Such is the explanation of the
baptism of Christ.
From the Banner and Baptist.
Review of “Corrective Church
DISCIPLINE”—No. 2.
In my first article, the definition of
private and public was partially con
sidered ; in the present, “mixed offen
ces” demand attention. It has been
shown that a “private offence,” as de
fined by Bro. Mell, is only an imagina
ry crime, since it does not essentially
violate the laws of religion or morali
ty ; and that only the frst part of
the definition of “Public offences”—
viz: “A public offence is one in which
the act is essentially a crime against re
ligion,” or “morality”—is at all adinis
sable, inasmuch as latter part, viz:
“The object of it, the church in its ori
ginal capacity,” is not oiily unphilo
sophical and illogical, but also nn
scriptural, being based upon the ab
surd dogrfya of church inf allibility.
By ‘‘Mixed offences is, of course,
meant offences which contain the “es
sential” elements of private and public
offences. In order, then, to ascertain
what a “Mixed offence” is, we have
only to find the elements of these two
classes, and form a “mixture” of them.
In the language of the Professor :
“When the act is essentially a crime
against religion and morality and the
object affected by it is a brother we
have both offences in combination.”
Let us obtain the elements of the
first class. —An act not essentially a
crime against religion and morality,
and, the object affected by it a brother.
Inspiration says, “Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself.” A private of
fence, according to the above defini
tion, is not essentially violative of this
command; otherwise it would be es
sentially against religion. It is not an
act against morality; then, if the act
has any moral element, it must be a
good one. To put the least favorable
construction on the act, it does not con
tain a bad element. The first term we
may consider as containing not a bad
moral element. Let the moral element
of the second, or public offences, be
found. It is an act essentially against
religion and morality —taking the first
part of the definition. This act of ne
cessity, contains a bad moral element.
The two elements being found, let us
form the compound. The mixture will
be not a bad moral element, plus a bad
moral element. Is nqt this a remarka
ble compound ? An act possessing the
very opposite elements of bad and good!
A simple impossibility!
Suppose we find the elements in the
second part of the definition of public
offences —in the expression, an act
“against the church in its organized
capacity.” Such an act may be bad,
and consequently contain a bad moral
element; or it may be good , and con
tain a good moral element. If the
church is acting in accordance with
the spirit of the Scriptures—is ‘acting
right—an act of resistance to “ the
church in its organized capacity,”
would contain a bad moral element. —
But if the church acts contrary to right,
(which it sometimes does,) proper re
sistance to the church even in its or
ganized capacity, would be a good act,
and consequently contain a good moral
element. Whether an act against the
church in its organized capacity, is a
bad or a good act, must always be de
cided by taking into the account what
the church has done, how she has done
it, and the manner of the resistance
against the given act, or position of the
church, as the case may be. But let
us form the mixture. Taking the mor
al element of a private offence, and nut
ting it with the moral elements found
to exist in the latter part of the defini
tion, we will obtain —
Ist. Not a bad moral element, plus
a bad moral element, (in case the church
has acted right.) Here again we are
greeted with an impossibility.
2d. Forming the second “mixture,”
we have— Not a bad morul element,
plus a good moral element, (in case the
church acts wrong, and the member
makes proper resistance.) This every
one can readily see, is a possible “mix
ture.” The elements are not antago
nistic.
It is to be hoped that the Professor
will come back, and prepare such ele
ments as will, if a “mixture” we must
have, “mix.” Moral and even Theo
logical Druggists will never be likely,
after proper examination, to receive
the Potion which he has prepared.
But the Professor, after all, does not
seem to attach much importance to
“Mixed offences,” as a separate class.
For the sake of convenience, however,
they will be termed here ‘‘mixed offen
ces! The phrase, I must confess, is,
to me at least, a new one ; and so far
as “convenience” is concerned,it would,
it appears to me, be much better to
leave it off wholly.
To sum up. The Professor's defiei
tnn of “A Private offence,” not being
a crime essentially against religion, or
morality, is not properly a crime at all;
and consequently ought never to create
any uneasiness in the church—ought
never to be presented to the church, if
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NUMBER 16.
known to be Private; and, it may be
added, ought never to “offend” a bro
i tber. Indeed, he acts the part of a
very silly person, who becomes offend
ed at the act of a brother, when the
act itself is not essentially a crime
against religion or morality. The first
part of the definition of “Public off en
ces’’ is the only part of Professor M's.
definitions that can stand at all. Asa
definition of a “Public offence,” is
very imperfect, since not every act
against religion, or morality, is a” pub
lic offence. The clause, “or against
the church in its organized capacity.”
I hope, he will expunge. Ilis rep a
tion as a scholar, if nothing else, de
mands tins. Scholars should never ‘n
corporate into a definition what mm/
or may not be an example under ’ c
rule contained in the definition.
“Mixed offences,” (except the last
compound noticed above, in which tbe
elements are Not a bad moral clem, np
plus a good moral element,) are, a le
tined by the Professor, impossibili s.
I here is not the least nece&sity, if j ri
vate and Public offences were righ ‘y
defined, of having this new class.
Thus far the Professor’s definite s
have been viewed in the light m< iy
of common sense; in my next, they
will be viewed in the light of the Scrip
tu res. Having disagreed with the first
principles of “Corrective Church Dis
cipline,” it will not be astonishing if
we do not entirely agree in our con
clusions. A. S. WORRELL.
Talladega, Ala., Jan. IC, ISCO.
From J. 11. Campbell’s Georgia Baptise.
VINCENT THARP,
A native of Virginia, was born in
1700, and bore arms in the cause of
iis country towards the close of the
revolutionary war. Ilis first wife was
a Miss Rogers, by whom he had two
children, a son and a daughter. Du
ring his first marriage he removed to
South Carolina, and thence with his
second wife, a Miss Persons, to War
ren county, in this State. Owing to
the hardness of the times, and his be
ing a poor man, he learned the gun
smith’s trade, and was said to be a su
perior workman. Before he entered
upon the ministry, he acted as a mag
istrate in his neighborhood. He was
baptized into Briar Creek Church,
Warren connty, and was also licensed
and ordained there about the year 1800.
He served that church as pastor sever
al years, also Sweetwater and Rocky
Creek, in Burke county. Soon after
the Purchase, which extended to the
Ocmulgee river, he removed to Twiggs
county, where many of his descend
ants are still to be found, and who are
among the most respectable and weal
thy citizens of the county. Among
these may be mentioned Rev. Charn
ick Thai )), a son, and Rev. B. F. Tharp,
(now of Houston county,) a grandson.
lie was a member and the pastor of
Stone creek church, now one of the
most flourishing churches in the State.
That clmrch was gathered under Rev.
Henry Ilooten, who resigned in favor
of Mr. Tharp. His labors here and
elsewhere were owned of the Lord in
the salvation of many souls. To the
time of his death he was moderator of
Ebenezer Association. JSenevolencc
and hospitality were prominent h its
in his character. lie was always “care
ful to entertain strangers,” and his
house was the home of God’s people,
of every name. He delighted in the
society of certain brethren, Poll i!,
Franklin, Ross, Rhodes, Baker, Me u
ty, Mercer and others, by whom he
wa3 frequently visited. He died in
1825, in the triumphs of that fa b,
which he had so long preached to <. .ti
ers. Ilis end was peace.
UNDER SENTENCE.
When a man is convicted of my
crime, the judge sentences him, rd
if the crime is not deserving of death,
he is sent to the State prison for a -er
tain number of years.
There he must labor, perhaps the
length of his natural life, unle he
lias influential friends who will draw
up a paper and make application to tho
Governor for his pardon. If deemed
worthy to be again admitted into -oci
ety, the Governor grants him a release;
but the cases are few where this act
of clemency is accorded.
We are under bondage on account
of sin, and there is no way of escape
unless we can obtain the assistance of
our Mediator, who will present our pe
tition to the Governor and Judge of
all. Through his agency alone can
we be admitted into fellowship with
the saints in the new Jerusalem.
“And this is the confidence we have
in him, that if we ask anything accord
ing to his will* he heareth us.”
“ This is a faithful saying, and wor
thy of all acceptation, that Christ Je
sus came into the world to save sin
ners, of whom I am chief.”
Have you thought of the necessities
of your case ?—the danger of delay (
j. p.
A Suke Cure for A Felon. —AN hen
the soreness first commences, or even
when far advaced, it can be relieved
and entirely cured by holding the fin
ger or part afflicted in Perry
Pain killer for half an hour. It has
been thoroughly tested, and proves a
never failing remedy.
•+*
Quench not the Spirit by any
means; but quench the fires of sin, Sa
tan, and strife, by all means. Quench
not the kindlings of liberality or zeal,
in yourself or others, by procrastina
tion or fear of singularity.