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VOLUME XL.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX,
SAMUEL BOYKIN, Editor.
A RELIGIOUS FAMILY NEWSPAPER:
PUBLISHED WEEKLY, AT MACON, QA..
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WHITHER BOUND.
BY THE AUTHOR OF U A GRANDSIRe’s GIFT BOOK.”
Whither bound?
Ask’d an angel of the dew
That he met as forth he flew,
Bound on Mercy’s errand new—
Whither bound?
Whither bound!
To the reigions lofty where,
In the rainbow spread out there,
I may shine in colors rare :
Thither bound.
Whither bound ?
Ask’d the angel of a stream,
As he flew on golden beam
From the throne of the Supreme :
Whither bound ?
Whither bound!
To the ocean broad and deep,
Where the mountain billows leap
O’er the dead beneath that sleep:
Thither bound.
Whither bound ? I
Ask’d the angel of thj breeze,
As it sped its way with ease,
Through the foliage of the trees :
Whither bound ?
V *
Whither bound 1
For the parch’d and feverish cheek
Os the way-worn and the weak,
Os the haughty and the meek :
Thither bound.
Whither bound ?
Ask’d the angel of a man,
As adown life’s plain he ran ;
Answer reader, if you can:
Whither bound ?
Whither bound!
That I cannot surely tell,
For I’ve never ponder’d well
If for heaven alone, or hell,
I am bound.
Whither bound ?
Prompt, the breeze, the stream, the dew,
Can all answer well and true:
Man immortal! answer you:
Whither b’ound ?
Whither bound ?
Point not to the grave below—
Quoth the angel—well we know
Far beyond it all must go:
Whither bound ?
Whither bound ?
Ask’d the angel hovering nigh,
Till the man with lifted eye,
Cried, while pointing to the sky,
Thither bound.
Whither bound ?
With the angel’s wings spread wide
O’er the man, from ills to hide,
On they journey, side by side,
Heavenward bound.
THE RIGHTS OF CHURCHES
ASSOCIATED AND UNASSOCIATED.
A STATEMENT AND DISCUSSION OF THE
ORGANIZATION, POWERS, POLITY AND
RIGHTS OF GOSPEL CHURCHES.*
BY DR. J. S. BAKER.
Article 6.
APOSTOLIC AND MODERN VIEWS CON
TRASTED.
The views of apostolic and modern
Christians, appear to me to differ,•fur
ther, in the following particulars :
1. The views of apostolic christiaus
were more enlarged than ours. The
sole object for which they labored
(with a view to the advancement of the
Redeemer’s glory,) was the extension
of Christ’s earthly kingdom, by multi-
? lying the subjects of that kingdom.—
he forming of local churches was nev
er an object with them. It was not ne
cessary that it should be made one.—
According to the plan instituted by
Christ, those who were introduced into
his kingdom would as naturally con
gregate together, and adhere to each
other, as would a bird released from
its cage fly away to mingle with its
kindred tribe in the forest; or as would
6heep, gathered from mountain ranges,
nnite together in flocks, and feed to
gether, when turned into the same pas
ture.
In modern times, the prominent ob
ject with ministers of the gospel, and
other Christians, appears to be the
building up of local churches. Their
views of the Redeemer’s kingdom seem
rarely to extend beyond their immedi
ate vicinity, or the sphere of their own
operations. When it does oecur to
their mind in all its vastness, it is only
as a sequence of the establishment of
local churches. They make primary
that which apostolic Christians made
secondary, and that secondary which,
by apostolic chri9tians, was ever made
primary.*
2. In apostolic times, the true disci
ples of Christ felt their responsibility,
both to God and their fellow Christians,
as soon as they received the badge of
discipleship; and it was a sense ot
their obligations and responsibilities
that led them to congregate into
churches.
Under our modern systems,professed
Christians seem not to feel that they
are under any obligations, or have any
responsibilities, until they formally
unite with a particular church ! They
evidently have views of the origin of
their obligations very different from
what apostolic Christians had. Is not
this difference of views ascribable to
the difference in the system of opera
tions adopted by modern Christians
from that established by Christ and
acted out by his apostles ? The an
swer to this question involves much.—
It is hoped that the reader will not,dis
miss it from his mind, until he has ful
ly reflected upon it and formed a defi
nite opinion, first, as to the existence
of the difference to which reference has
been made; and, secondly, as to the
cause of it, if it be admitted to exist.
I may err in my views, but it does
most certainly appear to me that the
whole Christian world has been thrown
from the divine track laid down torus
in the word of God, and that, instead
of seeking to repair and right the bro
ken car, we are lying amid its ruins,
squabbling about its disjointed fabrics,
and seeking like unruly children, to
“tear each others’ eyes.” That it is in
the power of any mortal man to “re
pair the ruins of the fall,” I do not be
lieve, but certain it is, that it cannot
be right for us either to rest contented
in our present state, or to waste our
time and energies in ruinous personal
contests with each other. Far better
would it be for us, and for the cause of
Christ, were we to get down together
upon onr knees, and with united heart
and voice cry with the Psalmist, “ It
is a time for thee, Lord, to work : for
they have made void thy law.” Far
better will it be to be found thus em
ployed, when the Son of God shall
make his second appearance, than to
he found indulging in sloth, or in vain
and shameful wranglirfg. V J. S. B.
♦
*1 fear I hare not presented the contrast in
a light sufficiently clear to strike the mind of
the reader. The difference to which I have al
luded appears to me an important one. I
wish Bro. Mallary, or Bro. Dagg, would turn
their attention to it, and present it to the pub
lic more clearly , more fully, and more practi
cally than I have done.
A
* Entered according to act of Congress, in the
year 1860, by Samuel Boykin, in the Clerk’s office
of the District for the Southern District of Geor
gia.
RECEIVING EXCLUDED
MEMBERS.
Dear Bro. Boykin:
I see that my old friend and brother,
Dr. Mell, has quoted from an old num
ber ot the Index, an article of mine in
reference to excluded members, to
sustain him in his position, that no
church has a right, under any circum-
to receive an excluded mem
ber.
I have greatly overrated my good
brother’s intellectual acumen, if he is
incapable of seeing that the quotation
does not reach the question at issne
between himself and my other good
brother, Dr. C. I retract nothing con
tained in the article quoted Irom the
Index, but thank Dr. M., for endorsing
the positions therein taken. I stated
distinctly what a church ought to do
under certain circumstances. * (Please
construe the word ought as Dr. Dagg
has done in his Church Manual, vol.
2, p. 288.) The question, what should
other churches do, in case the church
which excluded the member refuses
to do what I have said she ought to do,
has not been reached in the quotation
introduced by Dr. Mell! I hope to
reach it, after a time, in the series of
articles which I am now writing for
your paper, if life and health, (which
are precarious,) are continued to me.
Your readers, I trust, are too honest to
Buffer their minds tp-be biased against
what I may have to say on the subject
by any representations made of opin
i _)ii3 formerly entertained or expressed
by me. I have not changed my views
of this subject; but if I had, I see not
why my opinions fifteen or twenty
years ago, should weigh more than the
opinions entertained now, in more ma
ture life.
We should suffer no local or person
al interests to influence the principles
which we hold and teach; for we, and
all local and present personal interests
will soon pass away; but th e principles
we inculcate will live after us, and
their effects, be they good or evil, will
be felt by untold numbers— FOßEV-
Eß. JOS. S. BAKER.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
Family conversations, embracing the import
ant part taken by Baptists, in the History of
the past, in regard to the great principle of
Soul-liberty.
[This series will run through two
months, and is from the pen of one of
the first men and authors of our De
nomination, and was written expressly
for the Christian Index. We call par
ticular attention to the series, promis-
MACON, GEORGIA, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1861.
ing a rich mental treat to its readers.
• Ed. Index.]
Susan. Ma, what is religious liberty ?
Mother. It is the right to worship
God according to the dictates of our
own consciences—freedom from re
straint in religious matters : that is,
we are said to enjoy this freedom when
we attend on whatever ministry we
please and are not -bliged to obey
laws enacted by government that op
press the conscience.
Charles. But have not all people this
privilege? We go to hear Parson G.
or D. whenever we please—there are
no laws to compel us to read prayers
or attend mass.
Mother. But there have been cruel
persecutions on account of religion in
France, Spain, England, and thousands
of Christians have suffered, been taxed,
whipped, imprisoned, hung on the gib
bet and burned at the stake, because
they differed in religious thiugs from
the established laws of the country.—
Some have been taxed in these U. S.
Susan. What is established religion?
M. The Romish religion was once
established in England in the early
ages: but in the 16th century, Henry
VIII declared himself head of the
church, and now the Episcopal religion
is in the ascendency ; -no one could
hold office, graduate at the colleges, be
an officer in the army, unless in the
establishment ; that is, unless he be
lieved in the 39 articles : the govern
ment directs the articles of faith to be
acknowledged—makes provision for
the support of the clergy—lays under
disabilities all that do not conform.—
They can- prevent any one’s preaching
unless licensed by their bishops; hence
Banyan, we have been
reading every'lUpitWhis winter, was
imprisoned 12 years in Bedford jail.
C. But Pa does’nt pay our minister
according to law, does he ? I saw him
subscribe $25 on Mr. Selden’s bok.—
He said he thought S2O was his part,
but then he remembered the death of
Col. Wilson Stokes and others, and it
would be difficult to raise the $450. —
Now if this matter was arranged by
law, the tax collector would say how
much one had to pay, just as it is in
Ireland. Yon know we saw the pic
ture of the constable taking off the poor
Paddy’B cow for church rates. Was’nt
that cruel and wicked to drive away
their only cow from that poor family
of 10 children, to pay a man they had
never heardjpreach ? But if this is es
tablished leligion, then I am glad there
is none in this country.
S. But Ma, did’nt Christ say “ My
kingdom is not of this world ?” and if
not, why should worldly rnlers that
don’t understand religion take it in
charge? I don’t thiuk our legislators
religious men, it you had been at
the capital last* winter and seen how
they acted, you would not like to have
your religious concerns iu their hands.
Why,Ma,they drink, and curse, aud—
M. That will do, daughter—never
mind.
C. But Ma, you said some had been
taxed in these U. S. to pay ministers,
but surely not in our own dear New
England. Possibly in the South where
the folks are only half civilized it may
have been the case.
. M. My son, you have never seen
the papers published by the Historical
Societies of the New England States,
else you would not make these asser
tions. Persecution has raged in these
States, but it was many years ago, and
few of the inhabitants remember it,
and all regret it now; but we can’t
help what has passed. All unite in
condemning the course pursued by the
early settlers ; they may have thought
they were right, though they erred
egregiously in judgment. They did
not understand religious liberty as well
as we do now, and supposed if they
tolerated more than one denomination
to hold meetings, it would ruin the
government. But Mr. Jefferson main
tains that error can do little harm
where truth is free to combat it.
S. & C. Do Ma, tell ns about this
subject, please do, Ma, for we have no
book that talks about the persecutions.
M. I can’t now, but perhaps your
father will to-night, if yon get good
lessons this morning. Beside, Capt.
Mather who is well versed in ecclesias
tical history will be here to tea and we
can discuss the whole subject in de
tail. LEXI.
SLEEPY CHRISTIANS.
A DIALOGUE —PASTOR AND DEACON.
BY OBSERVER.
Monday morning.
Pastor. Good morning, Deacon. I
have been wanting a private conver
sation with you for some time, and am
glad to meet you thus alone.
Deacon. If I can serve you iu any
way, I am sure it will afford me no or
dinary pleasure, for your labors are ar
duous, aud your encouragements mea
gre. lam sure you do not receive ei
ther the sympathy or co-operation
which your responsible position and
persevering labors demand. *
Pastor. Well, the matter about
which I wish to consult with you, tho’
small, apparently, gives me a good deal
of distress. I allude to the habit of
sleeping in church, which obtains
among some of our good members. —
Is the reason to be found in a want of
interest in my sermons? In their own
indifference to the word of God, or to
temptations of Satan ? I want to know
the reason, and if possible, apply the
remedy so as to remove the evil; for I
assure you it is a very sad one.
Deacon. Ido not think it is an ab
sence of interest in your sermons, from
the fact that they always sleep, wheth
er your tame or element,
common-place or original and striking,
the reason must be sought somewhere
else. I think it is two-fold —their in
difference or cold-heartedness— and the
temptations of Satan. Ido not think
a Christian who goes to the sanctnary
on the Sabbath with a praying heart,
after asking the blessings of God to aid
the minister in preaching, and accom
pany the truth to the hearers, will be
come drowsy during the delivery of
the sermon, frjr he is watching for the
answer to Lis player. Ido not mean
that if a brotypr merely put up a for
mal petition to this effect, bict if he
pray.
Then again-rit is one ot the plans
of the adversary to hinder the good
work, and how qan he more effectually
accomplish his purpose than by caus
ing the disciple not to hear the word
of God, or by so stupifying his senses
as to prevent its becoming fruitful in
the heart. I have regretted often when
I have heard yon setting forth the rich
es of the gospel, the precious promises
it contains, the f*#idrmi'ontal doctrines’
of salvation, anefthe obligations on us,
growing out of when I felt my
soul fed from the very table of the
Lord, and made strong for the duties
and spiritual conflicts of life, to look
round and see some of our members
either nodding, or evidently stupid
as to have lost aTTintei’est in the truth.
I have then felt, “an enemy hath done
this.” Yes, Elder, there can be no
doubt but it is one of the most master
ly strokes of Satan, putting a Christian
tosleepin the honsfe of God, which is
the “very gate of hsaven,” in order to
thwart the good puiposes of the Holy
One.
Pastor. Well deicon, I agree with
you as to the evils, as well as the caus
es already mentioned, and I might add
how sadiy it effects ; me from the pul
pit after laboring and praying, and
studying and thinking till my head
aches, and my brain throbs with ex
citement in preparitig a sermon, to see’
my brethren, and a few sisters, fall
asleep under it.'TTui’you know I some
times take it as an evidence that I am
not called to preach, and am tempted
never to enter the pulpit again ? then
again, I think it an indication that the
brethren are tired of me, and that
therefore I ought to resign and seek
another field. In a word, there is no
one but a Pastor who knows how very
very discouraging it is. But here
couie§ one of’-Biesieemr onee —we will
meet again aud tdra: over the remedies.
A FINAL REPORT.
// yx *
As I have-declined acting any long*
eras evangelist, under the rycomnien
dation of I beg
leave to columns of
your paper, a reportff my labors since
the last session of th*Uonvention.
My labors, since our meeting in May
last, have been confined principally to
East Florida. At the special request
of friends and bre&ren in and about
Gainesville, on Railroad, I
have given them one Sabbath in each
month, and paid them one or two ex
tra visits. I have also preached six
times in Lake City; once in the Meth
odist house of worship, three times in
that of the Presbyterian, and twice in
the Court-House. In the town first
named, a subscription has been started
for a Baptist meeting house. Ido not
think that much can be done in either
town without a stalfeffed ministry.
I have also spent two Sabbaths and
the intervening week, with the church
in Thomasville, Ga. I have evidence
before me that ray labors there were
not wholly in vain. I have also preach
ed three or four SAbbaths to the desti
tute and unfortunate church in Jack
sonville, Fla., and one Sabbath at Fort
Clarke. In addition to these labors, I
have attended the sessions of the fol
lowing Associations: The -Concord,
Santa Fee, Florida, Alachua and Sun
bury, and have been engaged in two
protracted meetings, one in Quitman,
Ga., and the other in Waltbourville,
Ga. Brother J. H. Campbell labored
with me in both, and at the latter sev
eral of the ministers who attended the
Sunbury Association labored with us.
Among them was our brethren S. Lan
drum, D. G. Daniel, and their mission
ary, brother Williams. The pastors of
the churches were with us and
engaged heartily with us in pray
ers and labors-* 0-results of those
meetings eternity will disclose. They
were well attended, and deep feelings
were manifested both by saints and
sinners.
I have been absent from my field of
labor one month. Neither my labors
nor receipts while absent will be no
ticed in this report^
It appears to me to be due alike to
my brethren and myself to explain the
cause of my declining to act longer un
der the auspices of-the Convention. It
will doubtless be remembered, that the
recommendation of me to the church
es as an evangelist, in case I should
conclude to act as such, was made of
their own accord, without any solicita
tion on my part. I did not decide to
act as suggested, until after two weeks
of prayerful consideration. The mani
festation of the Divine presence and
blessing at the. meetings held by me
within those two weeks, induced me to
believe that it was my duty to enter
the work to wJiiekJhad been com
mended. I have reported,
within the eighteen months that I have
labored as an evangelist, 150 professed
conversions, at meetings attended by
me. As conversion is the work of
God, I considered this, perhaps erro
neously, as indicating the Divine ap-
proval of the work in which I was en
gaged ; but circumstances have oc
curred, at the late session of our Con
vention, which have led me to feel it
most manifestly my doty to deline act
ing any longer as an evangelist under
the recommendation of our Convention.
These I will explain.
At a late hour, on the last day of
our session, a letter was read from a
brother who had left, recommending
the appointment of our most excellent
and talented brother, F. Johnson, as
an evangelist, and offering to become
responsible for S4OO towards his sup
port. The appointment of a co-evan
gelist would have met with my cordial
approbation , but to appoint one with
a salary, and recommend the other to
rely on the voluntary contributions of
the churches, would be a virtual reflec
tion upon the latter. It would be say
ing, louder than words could express
it, we deem the one worthy of your
support, and the other, though not
worthy of a salary, worthy of your char
ity ! I never have been willing to be
considered an object of charity ; for
th’S would be to distrust the faithful
ness of that God who, during my ut
most poverty and heaviest afflictions,
never suffered me to want for either
friends or the means of supplying my
daily wants.
The Board of the Convention, I am
persuaded, from my knowledge of the
brethren who compose it, however
much they might desire the services of
brother J , would be unwilling to make
an invidious distinction between him
and their former evangelist. To re
lease them from a\l embarrassments ou
this account, I formally notified them,
(as the overture had been turned over
to them,immediately after the adjourn
ment ot the Convention,that I declined
acting any longer as their evangelist.
Ilenceiorth the world shall be my
field. I shall ever be ready so assist
in holding a series of meetings with
any church, either in or out of the
State, when requested so to do, and
when iu my power to comply with
their request. My past experience
convinces me that but little good is
done by preaching a solitary sermon
at any place, however ample may be
the remuneration tendered. I have
now invitations to attend and hold
meetings in two other States, one con
tiguous to ours, and one remote from it.
• receipts. • ~ —“ ‘ v
I have received, since our meeting
in May, sums as follows :
Hon. S. A. Smith, Thomasville,
Georgia, $l5O 00
Other brethren in do 20 00
Jephtha Davis, 1 00
Coi J. B. Dawkins, Gaiusjriffr’
Florida f JO J
“Wm r ‘jkp*
Mos 63 Ramsay^T^^Bß(|JPP*"^Wo
Church at Quitman, Ga., - 20 00
Rev. C. S. Gauldin, Quitman??
Georgia, 10 00
Sunbury Association, 25 00
Rev. J. M. Wood, Atlanta,
Georgia, 15 00
Bro. Marvin, Munticello, 10 00
Total receipts, since May, $269 00
My memoranda of expenses are not
at hand. I paid traveling expenses,
however, within the last two weeks,
to the amount of sl6 60.
In conclusion, I would respectfully
tender to the friends and brethren,
among whom I have gone preaching
the Gospel of Christ, my unfeigned
thauks for the courtesy they have ever
extended to me, and for their hearty
co-operation in the good work in which
I have been engaged. May the Lord
reward them a thousand fold,and abun
dantly bless the labois of my successor.
JOSEPH S. BAKER.
SELECTIONS.
WHAT ONE FOREIGN MISSION
Board has done for the Sandwich
Islands.
Just 42 years ago, missionaries sail
ed from Boston to the Sandwich Is
lands. The people of those Islands
were then without a written language;
without moral principle; in great dark
ness, ignorance, filth and ruin. The
missionaries have given them an al
phabet, a spelling book, a dictionary,
a Bible, The common ‘school, a select
school,- afl®|MS&lkgewffiiey have as
sisted the king in giving a constitution
bo the people, and in making treaties
with the civilized nations of the earth.
They have baptized nearly the whole
population of those Islands, and admit
ted to the Lord’s table more than 35,-
000 of them. And the inhabitants of
those islands are now as fully entitled
to be called a Christian people as any
nation on the face of the earth. Form
erly.the land all belonged to the king,
and all kinds of property and even life
it6elfwere subject to his caprice. Now,
under the influence of the gospel, a
constitutional monarchy has been intro
duced, aud the lands have been divi
ded among the chiefs and people, a
fee simple title being given in each
case. An enlightened system of laws
has been adopted, regular courts of
justice being established throughout
the Islands, with a Supreme Court at
the metropolis. Taxes are light, and
life and property are as safe as in any
nation on earth. The Lower House of
the Legislature, which meets biennial
ly, is chosen by the universal suffrage
of the people. Industry, comfortable
houses, a civilized dress, and the num
erous other blessings which belong to
the Messiah’s kingdom, are now found
there.
The government nave adopted the
, mission seminary and the whole sys-
tem of common schools as their own,
and they furnish them a liberal sup
port and an efficient superintendence.
The people build and keep in repair
their own houses of worship, and some
of these would do credit to any village
in New England. They now support
in whole or in part, most of the mis
sionaries found there. Indeed only
two missionaries now receive their en
tire support from the Board, all the
rest being supported partly or entirely
by those Sandwich Islanders.
Six years ago these native churches
commenced an independent mission at
the Marquesas Islands, some 1,500 or
2,000 miles off. And they have sent out
15 missionaries from themselves, some
of them being the most efficient of
their own native pastors. All these
are supported entirely by themselves,
these island churches contributing an
nually for this purpose some $3,000 or
$4,000.
Less than 40 years ago, they were
all naked savages. Less than 40 years
ago, they were all pagans of the low
est grade, now they are an enlighten
ed Christian nation, and the tabernacle
of God is pitched among them.
Such, ladies and gentlemen, was the
very small beginning, and such the
present enlarged and elevated position
of the A. B. C. F. M. ‘A little one has
become a thousand, and a small one a
strong nation.”
REVIEW OF THE RELIGIOUS
WORLD.
ITALY.
Here there is indeed an open door,
and with the exception of Venetia, and
the city of Rome, the word of God and
the preaching of the gospel is no long
er bound. In Sardinia, there has been
since 1848, a constantly increasing re
ligious toleration, and the gospel has
been preached in Piedmont without,let
or hindrance; but now, in Tuscany,
where but three or four years ago the
Madiai were imprisoned and tortured
for reading the Scriptures, there are
evangelical churches, and in its. capital
a Waldensian theological seminary.—
Rev. Mr. Arthur, who visited Italy the
past summer, reports that even in
Rome the Scriptures were sold, pri
vately indeed, but very freely. The
young tyrant of Naples has fled, and
God’s word Jo ~o 1-jtjgcx’ prontbited in
the two Sicilies. Much of the reaction
in favor ot Protestantism in Italy is
undoubtedly political and temporary,
but in hundreds of cases, the good seed
now being sown will spring up and
bear fruit to eternal life.
AUSTRIA.
In this motley and crumbling Em
pire there indication! for good. —
-ru* \iuuflmtll of the Hapsburge, which
seems imminent, can hardly fail to
turn out to the furtherance of the gos
pel. In Hungary the Protestant church
es are active and earnest, and their
numbers and piety exhibit a marked
increase. In Bohemia, the land of the
martyred Huss, the seed long buried
in the dust seems springing to life;
whole villages have abandoned the er
rors of Romanism, and organized Pro
testant churches.
GERMANY.
There is here much to encourage the
Christian. The labors of our Baptist
missionaries have been abundantly
blessed. The last annual report of the
Missionary Union states that sixty-six
churches are now in existence in Ger
many, founded by them, with a mem
bership of over 15,000 persons, and ef
ficient Sunday schools. These labors
have roused the miuisters of the Es
tablished Church, in many cases, to ac
tivity, and the rationalism which once
seemed ready to sweep over the whole
land, and visit it with destruction, has
spent its force, and now offers little
comparative opposition to the spread
of the gospel.
PRUSSIA.
Is in much the same position of the
other States. The great bulk of her
population, though nominally Protest
ant, have been really infidel ; bnt a
change is taking place; the rational
ism heretofore proclaimed from the pul
pit, too often, is giving place to a liv
ing vital Christianity; among the ablest
religious writers of the present day in
Prussia, are some who, having fathom
ed uie quicksands of skepticism, have
made good their escape to the still wa
ters of a true religious faith. The pres
ent reigning Prince is a bigoted and
narrow-minded man, a member of the
Reformed Church, but sincerely hon
est, and it is thought, really pious.
HOLLAND.
In this lafid, where once almost the
whole population were sound in doc
trine and reputable in practice, where
the Synod of Dort, creed was so thor
oughly an embodiment of Calvinism,
was held, the vitality of Christianity
seems almost extinct. Os 1,500 minis
ters, says a recent writer, over 1,400
deny the divinity of Christ. Thus fee
bly does a sound creed protect a church,
when divorced from an active, living,
earnest Christian spirit. Hollaud is
emphatically a land to be prayed for.
BELGIUM.
Here Catholicism predominates, tho’
Protestantism has been increasing with
considerable rapidity, under the wise
administration of Leopold, who is him
self a Protestant. The Belgian unites
the earnest, almost fanatical spirit ot
the Spaniard,to a vivacity almost equal
to that of the Frenchman, and when
he becomes a Christian, he is an active,
zealous one. But among the Catholic
Flemings, the most absurd traditions
of the miracles of the Saints of the Ro-
N. S., VOLUME 29, NO. 1.
mish calendar .find full credence. Ro
manism has made great efforts to
its supremacy in Belgium, but the scale
is fast turning in education and intel
lectual power to the Protestant side.
DENMARK.
The progress of evangelical christi-”
anity in Denmark has been rapid since
the passage of a toleration act, in 1850,
which enabled dissenters to organize
congregations. The ministers of the
Established (Lutheran) Church, find
ing their people deserting them for the
dissenting preachers, have themselves
become more active, and many of them
who were formerly irreligious, have
become truly pious. Mr. Oncken and
his fellow-laborers have toiled success
fully in Denmark, and during the past
year there has been a very general re
vival in the peninsula of Jutland.
[N. Y. Examiner.
TO THE UNCONVERTED.
Wherewith shall I come before the
Lord f
“Wherewith shall I come before the Lord
Micah, vi. 6.
You wish to come before God with
acceptance —to come and find a wel
come. You ask, What shall I bring?
What shall Ido ? Bring!—bring no
thing, but come just as thou art. With
’ all thy sins upon thee, with all thy
guilt within thee, come. Come in the
name of Jesus. Come, and plead the
blood and obedience of Jesus. Come,
and confess thy sins, acknowledge thy
desert, tell out all thy fears, express
all thy desires —keep nothing back.—
Tell the Lord the worst of thy case.—
Make no excuses ; and, having honest
ly told the Lord the worst of thy case
and condition, plead for mercy. Be
seech the Lord to have mercy on thee
for the sake of Jesus. Pray that he
would honor Jesus by pardoning thy
sins for his sake, and by sanctifying
thee in his name. He has met all the
claims of the law, he has satisfiod all
the demands of divine justice, he has
removed every impediment out of the’
way of thy acceptance; and now, God
can be just, and yet justify the great
est sinner that believes in Jesus. Come
in no name but the name of Jesus.—
Plead nothing before God but what Je
sus has done and suffered. Expect
nothing from God but through the mer
its of his Son. Cast thyself entirely
on his mercy in Jesus. Promise no
thing. Attempt nothing. Think of
nothing but of Jesus and his perfect
work. In this way acceptance is cer
tain, pardon is sure, salvation shall be
thine. Come through Jesus, and tiro’
Jesus only; for he is the way, the
truth, and the life, and no man com
ieth unto the Father, with acceptance,
‘but through him. Nor can any one,
however sinful, come by him, and be
rejected.
“ Neither is there salvation in any
other; for there is none other name
under heaven given among men,where
by we must be saved.”—Acts iv. 12.
HOW CAN MAN BE JUST WITH
GOD ?
“How should man be just with God?”—
Job ii. 2.
He is cited to appear before God’s
bar. He is charged with numerous
crimes. The charges are clearly proved.
He can not, he dare not, deny one of
them. The law says, “The soul that
sinneta, it shall die.” Justice is there
to pronounce the sentence of God’s
law. The case is clear. The sinnerV
doom appears to be certain. How can
he escape ? How is it possible for him
to be Acquitted, to be justified? The
Son of God appears ; he takes the sin
ner’s nature, holds the sinner’s place,
and undertakes to obtain the sinner’s
freedom. He does what the sinner
ought to have done, —he suffers what
the sinner deserves to suffer. Tlis di
vine nature imparts an infii io merit
to, and stamps an infinite dignity upon
all he does. The Father agrees to the
substitution, accepts his vicarious obe
dience and sacrifice, and engages to
place it to the account of all, and each
one, who believes on his name. Jesus
now, turning to the sinner, says, “ I
have done what you neglected to do ;
I have suffered what you
suffer. I make over my. obedien4P||j|
you : I rffSrits to yous ac”
count. Believo r thiß, and be Ivappy,
trust me, and yon are safe.” The sin
ner receives the word, believes the tes
timony, pleads the life and death of Je
sus before God, and he is justified.—
Christ is to him the end of the law.—
The blood of Jesus is an atonement for
all his sins. The resurrection of Jesus
is a receipt given by the great Credi
tor, —a proof that sin is put away, that
justice is satisfied, that peace with God
is made, and that death is conquered.
Simple faith in Jesus entitles us to the
whole work of Jesus, and so man be
comes just with God. Thus, we are
justified by faith in Jesus, and not by
the deeds of the law, and being justi
fied by faith, we have peace m 2 A God,
and we joy in God.
“Being justified freely by his grace,
through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus.”—Romans iii. 24.
Horrible Tragedy at Wetumpka, Ala.—
We learn that a man named Peter Schwine, a
butcher, long a resident of Wetumpka, shot his
wife and a negro woman, with a double barrel
shot gun, on Sunday. No cause for this horri
ble tragedy is assigned, as far as we have been
able to learn, but many suppose him to be la
boring under a fit of insanity. Neither of hia
victims were expected to live at last accounts.
Schwine made his escape. —Montgomery Mail.
The Paris Conelitutionnel says that France
’ Will never suffer the return to offensive policy
I by Austria in Lombardy.