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BY SAMUEL BOYKIN. YOL. XLII.-NO 27. CONTRIBUTIONS. Written for Vie Christian Index. Brief Discussions of Important Doctrines. No. VI. (Concluded from last week.) FINAL’ PERSEVERANCE. 111. Effectual calling ensures final perse verance. In effectual calling the Holy Spir it co-operates with the other persons of the Trinity, to execute the covenant of grace; and according to the purpose of the cove nant, the new nature which he produces in the converted, is immortal. They are born of tho “incorruptible seed’,’ 1 Peter 1, 23, and cannot return to a life of sin, because their “seed remaineth in them.” 1 John 3:9. The new life which the Holy Spirit gives, is expressly styled “everlasting;” and it is affirmed of all who possess it, that they can not come into condemnation. John 5 : 24. With this view of the Holy Spirit’s work agrees the confidence expressed by Paul,that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” Phil. 1: 6. IY. God’s promises to his people ensure their final perseverance. The promises made in the eternal covenant, to the Son of God as the of his people, are in the new covenant made to them personally. God found fault with old ooveoant made with the people of Israel, on the ground that it did not secure them from apostacy ; and he therefore established the new covenant ou better promises. Ileb. 8 :6 —lo. “I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.” “ I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me.” Jer. 32 : 40. Men who are duly conscious of their weakness and helplessness, dread to be left to themselves, and earnestly pray to be held up by divine grace, that they may not fall. God hears their prayers; and in answer to them promises, “My grace is suf ficient for thee.” 2 Cor. 12 :9. “I will nev er leave thee nor forsake thee.” Heb. 13 :5. V. It h u coLOiU.SiVc argument flir final perseverance, that the Scriptures account for apostacy when it occurs, on the ground that the apostate never possessed true relig ion. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1 John 2 19. The same is taught in the fol lowing passage : “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you : depart from me ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7 : 23. They to whom this language is addressed claim to have been followers of Christ; and to have prophesied and wrought miracles in his name; but the Saviour gives their true character, “workers of iniquity;” and the words “I never knew you,” clearly imply that they never were in truth his people. If any among them had ever been true Chris tians, they might affirm in contradiction to the Saviour, tha* he had once known them. From the passage last considered, we may learn that a profession of Christ, accompa nied with gifts and miraculous endowments may exist without true piety. So Paul teach es, 1 Cor. 13th chap., that knowledge, mi raculous gifts, and outward works of alms and devotion, are unavailing without love.— In the 6th chapter to the Hebrews, he teach es the possibility of final apostacy, after very high religious attainments have been made; but he distinguishes between these cases and those in which a ‘work and labor of love’ demonstrated the existence of true piety.— These he regards as “things that accompany salvation,” and things which he is confident that “God is not unrighteous to forget.” The doctrine which we have been defend ing, maintains that perseverence in faith and holy obedience is necessary in order to the attainment of everlasting life. Those who suppose that because they have been converted at some past time, they will cer tainly be saved, though they are now living in sin, are wretchedly perverting and abu sing the doctrine to their own destruction.— If grace bestowed does not cause persever ance in faith and holy obedience, we have no scriptural authority for the expectation, that it will secure life eternal. Hence war nings against apostacy as dangerous and ruinous, are perfectly consistent with the doctrine of final perseverance rightly under stood : and the fact that such warnings are found in the holy Scriptures, is no valid ar gument against the doctrine. J. L. D. , Do you intentionally aim to please God in all things ? For the Christian Index. Life and Times of Jesse Mercer CHAPTER* IV. —CONTINUED. BY REV. A. SIIERWOOD. Sketches of Shackleford, Posey, White , etc. 6 Dr. Andrews Battle,brother of Dr. Cul len Battle, now of Tuskegee, Ala., was born in North Carolina —a practicing physician in Powelton, say 1819—married a daughter of Judge Duggar, who survived him many years. He was baptized by Mr. Mercer, at Powelton. In 1828-9-32 he represented the auxiliary societies of Pike county in the Convention. From Pike he removed to La- Grange, prior to 1840. While in Pike, on his plantation, some Pedo-baptist had, as he thought, mangled and misrepresented the subject of baptism, as some men that know little about it can do, and there was no man near that could answer the discourse. So Dr. B. gave notice and read to a large con gregation, a most triumphant answer. He was a man of education and largely acquain ted with history. 7. Malcom Johnson was baptized about 1828, at Powelton, then somewhat advanced in life—yet the love of souls burned in his bosom, and he soon began to preach—was pastor of several churches, and removed to Sparta; theuce, about 1859, to Cass county, to die at his son’s house. This occurred in a year or two after. 11. M., his youngest son, who was graduated in the first class at Pcnfield, 1841, was Professor of Rhetoric, &c., in Franklin College, and wrote a useful and creditable book, in 1840, on “The Eng lish Classics.” 8 Benjamin Milner,brother to Pitt and John, was many years in Sardis church, Wilkes, where he began to preach, whence he remov ed to Jones, which was his permanent resi dence till called up higher. Tie was fre quently sent by the Ocmulgec to the Con vention—a man of great benevolence, tho’ his ministerial talents were inferior to those of his older brother, John. Pastor some years of Hog Creek qhurch, some six miles north of Blountsviile. sea* few Dr. Blackburn and Major Tufts married two of his daughters. The widow ot the latter resides near Milledgeville. Died 18—. 9 Major Oliver Porter settled in Giecne,in 1784, and was useful in the councils of the State, and one of the early trustees of Mer cer Institute —an associate of Mercer over fifty years. He was a member of Shiloh church, and died between 1835 and 1840. He was Elector for President and Vice Pre sident four times. Greene was then a part of Washington county, and be had to go to a Court ground near Shiver’s mills, on the Ogeechce, now Hancock county, to pay his taxes and vote. He reared a large family, and was neighbor of his friend and brother, Thos. Stocks. 10 Vincent Sanford must-uot be omitted—a deacon of Greensboro’ church, and father of Prof. Sanford, a fixture in Mercer Universi ty. He was a native of Loudon county, Ya. He died some two years ago, over eighty-two years old, though an active man and at the Convention the year before his decease. His piety and usefulness were proverbial—all loved and revered him. 11 Benjamin H. Willson was the pastor of Sharon church, Henry county, when the Flint committee came to examine it, and re tained his seat as moderator, which was his right; for a church is higher authority than an Association. He was a useful and active minister, and active in the cause of the Con vention, for which he was agent some time. His connection with C. White was the occa sion of his being suspected of Arminianism; but it was untrue. He removed to Alabama, where he died, some years ago. 12 Cyrus White was born in Elbert; profess ed religion in Jasper, and taught school in that county for many years. About 1830 he published a pamphlet on the Atonement, at the request of his church. The Convention disapproved the publication, as he was their agent, whether it was orthodox or not. With out knowing it. he had run into Arminian ism, and when labored with, he was persist ent and ran farther, and so formed an Asso ciation—removed to Alabama and died there in 1842, sixty'years of age. Brethren T. S. Hand and Luke Robinson answered it. Mr. M. wrote him ten letters in a kind spirit, ex posing some of his fallacies; but he was not reclaimed. He had been a useful minister in the Ocmulgee Association. Mr. W. was a captain on the Georgia oast in the war of 1812. 13 Sylvanus Gibson was born in Wilkes co. 1783, was baptized and began to preach at Clarke’s Station. Preached some eighteen THE PASTOR’S AID: THE CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE: THE SINNER'S FRIEND. MACON, GEORGIA, MONDAY JULY 6, 1863. years in Georgia, and removed to Lawrence county, Ala., July, 1851, having baptized over 1,000 persons —a feeling, good niinis ter. 14 Thomas Meredith, a Pennsylvanian by birth, and a student of Dr. Staughton, in Philadelphia; was pastor at Savannah about 1821-2-3—4. Thence he removed to North Carolina, where he was active with Wait and a few others in originating the State Convention and Wake Forest College, be tween 1833—35. Soon he commenced the “Biblical Recorder,” a very excellent freck ly, which he conducted till his death, in 1851. Mr. M. Was a gentleman of great ur banity in his manners, a handsome speaker, and an able defender of the truth. 15 John A. Willson,deacon of Society Hill church, S. C„ was an enlightened and libe ral man, eminently useful in the church and neighborhood—a great admirer of Mercer’s original thought in discussing knotty ques tions on Theological subjects. 16 Thomas Stocks was President of the Geor gia Senate many years, from Greene county; joined Shiloh church about 1828, _was active and punctual in the Convention and Execu tive committee; attended the Triennial Con vention in New York, in 1832; was Com missioner to run the line between Georgia and Tennessee, in 1818, and explored Nick ojack Cave; was Preside^ of the State Ag ricultural Society; active Trustee of Mercer University; moderator of the Baptist Con vention after Mercer’s death, till his deafness forbade. Born on his own plantation in a Fort, Ist Feb., 1786; been an active mem ber of Greensboro’ church over twenty years; now over 77 years old. Still he is active and never misses a session of the Conven tion nor of the Trustees of the University. 17 Joshua Key began to preach in Burke as early as 1821, and was an active pastor and messenger in the Convention from the Hcp zibah Association. Kilpatrick and Key la bored much together in the good cause; — they seemed to he identified in feeling and effort. Os late years, JJrp. K<. had held hack—had lost his zeal, or infir mV ty had prevented his active lab< rs. Died quite suddenly, Nov., 1862, at his residence in Jefferson. 18 Joseph Polhill,youngest son ofllev. Na thaniel Polhill, who wrote a work on Bap tism, 1814, was probably born in Burke.— For a short time he studied at Penfield. Af ter this he became very useful in the Hepzi bah Association. Died about 1859, having fallen from his Gin-house. 19 Wm. Redd and Ross Conyers were ac tive co-adjutors in the early efforts at Pen field. The first had been a Presbyterian, and desired to continue such—it wrs all pro ved in the Catechism; but the minister who he expected would relieve his difficulties did not quote a single text of the Scripture.— This increased his troubles. For the Christian Index. Gen- Colquitt’s Brigade. Bito. Boykin. —l will give the readers of the Index the result of my visit to General Colquitt’s brigade, composed of the 6th, 19th, 23d, 27th and 28th Georgia regiments. I arrived at their camps on the sth inst. The 27th regiment requested me to preach for them the next morning, which I consented to do. They soon prepared an arbor, with seats. The hour arrived, and, to my aston ishment, hundreds of persons were seated, who listened to the word preached with unu sual interest. At the close of service I gave an opportunity for those seeking the salva tion of their souls to signify it by coming forward. Avery large number came for ward and requested special prayer. I continued there eight days. The meet ing and night, and a more gracious work of divine grace I have never witnessed. Hundreds would crowd the al tar, at a time, for prayer, while saints were rejoicing, and some shouting aloud the prais es of God. During my stay amongst them I heard no swearing, nor did I see any card playing.— But one regiment had a chaplain, which is the 19th. It is supplied by Bro. McDonald, of Henry county, Ga., who promises much usefulness. The 27th had petitioned for Bro. G. T. Embry to he commissioned as their chaplain. These are both young bre thren of promise, and I pray may be a bless ing to their charges. Such is the anxiety for the gospel to be preached to them, that one regiment propo sed to j>ay me for my services, and pay my fare on the road, once a month, to preach to them, which would cost about SIOO a trip. And, now, brethren and sisters at home, wbat should be our efforts to supply those war-worn soldiers who have and are suffer ing so much for us. Oh you spend a week, and witness their fare, and their great will ingness to bear hardships TPthe defence of their country’s rights, you would offer up your prayers continually to God for them, and untie your purse strings and contribute liberally to Ripply them with thorn with the written word and preached gospel. J. 3. DODD. June 22, 1863. For the Christian Index. About Several Things. Bro. Boykin. —l have just received your paper, of the 22d, and feel moved to write you a few lines. You speak of the Bible Board as “virtually extinct.” It was form ally abolished, and its work entrusted to “th e Boards of the Convention.” If my memory serves me, it was suggested in the commit tee’s report, that the Bible work abroad be managed by the -Foreign Board, and that contributions for general home distribution thould be made to the Domestic Board. This ileport was prepared I presume, before it was known that a Sunday School Board would be established. There is no inconsistency, how erer, in our Board’s procuring Bibles and Testaments in the best way we can, for the use of Sunday Schools. Accordingly, an attempt has already been made, by which, if unsuccessful, we lose nothing, and is suc cessful, we shall receive probably 20,000 Testaments at a reduced cost. Distribution to the destitute generally, and to the army seems to belong more pro perly to our brethren of the Domestic Board. But if we Lre able to secure supplies ol the Word of God, we shall take great pleasure in furnishing them with all we can spare, aud co-operating with them in every way. I was in favor, as you know, of action by the Convention in regard to a European Agency for the procurement of Bibles, &c. It was no part of the plan, however, that the Convention should send a man ins taster, Without due examination of the probabilities of the case. We had some grounds for be lieving that the expenses of importing tho books could be greatly reduced. The cost of bringing in a Testament costing five* cents, was stated in one case to be sixty cents; in another, forty cents. We saw a method by which we believe this cost could be reduced at least one half, so as to make 810,000 con tributed to Bibles do the work of 820,000. The proposition was to appoint a brother of known tact, ability and energy to examine minutely into this matter, and to go, if he judged it expedient, and could find it com patible with other duties. It would have been a sacrifice of private interests for him to go, bat he would have gone, at the re quest of the Convention, much more readily than by the solicitation of someone of the Boards. The safeguards thrown around the scheme were these: First, a committee of one, (usu ally the most efficient) was appointed to ex amine into the whole matter, and as he would feel the responsibility of carrying out the plan, if adopted, he would naturally scrutinize closely the chances of success or of failure, and would not go unless there was a strong probability of accomplishing some thing valuable—something equal to the ex penses and the time that would be required. Next, a committee of five business men, (not preachers) men acquainted specially with the matter in hand, was proposed, to aid this brother in his inquiries, and in case it seemed a desirable thing ; but if he coaid not go, they were to nominate some other.— Then, thirdly, the whole matter came under the review of theßoards; for the agent was simply to attenato “such business as might be entrusted to him by the Boards of the Convention.” And they must be satisfied that thuplan was feasible and that it would pay—or They would have no business to place itfn his hands—and the agent, of course, oiuld not go. Such was the plan proposod. It was nev er fully argued before the Convention, and I shall not undertake to argue it now. The lateness of the period when it was brought np made brethren impatient of discussion. And the only attempt that was made to state the reasons for it, was decided out of order, as the merits of the question could not then be discussed. This is not complained of.— The Chair was right. But that is the fact. And when the undebatable motion to “lay on the table” was urged, many of those who favored the scheme voted to lay it on the table —satisfied that it was undesirable to carry a measure of the kind by a mere majority, even if it could have been done. I think it might have been one of the most useful movements of the Convention. But it was defeated, chiefly by the indisposition to deliberate, which always crowds and con fuses the closing periods of a session. There are so many who think that the great end of Conventions and Associations is to get to the end. Having come, the chief object of anx iety is to get away again. The fact is, I enjoyed myself so much among the Georgia brethren, I would willingly have stayed a day or two longer—and mean to come again whenever I can get a good excuse. The Virginia brethren have contributed very cheerfully and liberally to our School Board, placing nearly $3,800 in our hands, and promising whatever more may be needed. I trust Georgia will do the same thing, whenever an opportunity is present ed. Yours, truly, B. M. ; Jr. Greenville, S. C. For the Christian Index. A Chaplain’s Report. Camp Gregg, Ya., June 5,1863. Dear Bro. Boykin. —For the gratifica tion of friends at home, permit me to make a summary statement of my past month’s la bor as chaplain in the army. After remaining in the army preaching and conducting other religious exercises, du ring the winter months, I thought it best thgt I should take some respite, which I did by making a visit to my home in Georgia. I took leave of my regimenton the 6th day of April, and arrived safe. I enjoyed the sweei comforts of home twenty days; and arrived at Richmond on the 2d day of May, on my return to the army. At that place I heard of the battle that was coming off at Chancellorsville. Commu nication, with the army being cut off by the raids of the Yankee cavalry, I was necessa rily compelled to remain in Richmond, amid more excitement than I had ever seen or heard of before, until Thursday, May 7th, when I again mounted the iron horse in feuarcli of my regiment. - On Friday evening I arrived at the camp of the 49th Georgia regiment, much fatig uedl This regiment took an part in driving Joe Hooker, with his grand army, back to the North side of the Rappahan nock. I found them encamped in a pleasant oak grove, rejoicing over the glorious victo ry with which the God of battles had crown ed them. After resting a short sime I visited all the companies in the regiment, when my heart was often saddened in finding so many ofthe boys that had so often met me at the place appointed for the worship of God, gone— some of them killed in the batile; others, wounded, and off at the hospitals. At night notice was given for religious service. I soon saw that the great interest for the salvation of their souls, which had so plainly manifested itself during the win ter, had not abated; but, on the contrary, the fatiguing march and hard fought battle had increased it. I found the soldiers ready and anxious to hear the words of eternal life. Soon the sweet strains of music from the voices of the war-worn soldiers were heard to echo and re-echo up and down the valleys and hilb where so many Georgians had fall en in defence of their country. It would have done your very soul good to have been with us. I would have caused the hearts of all pious mothers, fathers and sisters to leap with joy to have seen their friends, with tears making paths down their soldier-like faces, asking for the prayers of God’s peo ple. From that night until now prayer meet ings, with few exceptions, have been kept up. We all find that the Lord is not slack con cerning his promises, as some men count slackness, nor has he retired from the world, with the sweet and powerful influences of of his Holy Spirit in reviving the hearts of Christians, reclaiming backsliders, convict ing those who had hitherto been careless, and bringing them to the light and liberty of the gospel. Near our camp we constructed a pool, the waters of which have often been troubled by willing converts going down into it and being buried with Christ in baptism. It has been my privilege to baptize in that pool fifteen young men, and still the work goes on.— Large numbers, at every opportunity given, are asking for the prayers of God’s peopled I have three times since returning to the army been invited to Gen. Wright’s brigade to baptize soldiers. The chaplains in that brig ade are brethren Cook, Stokes, Jones and Houser. They are laboring zealously and TERMS, $4.00 IN ADVANCE 50 NOS. IN A YOL. faithfully. I have baptized in that brigade sixty-five men. I have baptized in all, du ring one month’s labor, eighty soldiers.— Surely the Lord is preparing the way for peace; anff I trust the dawn of peace will soon be seen, and find us not a demoralized set of men but an army of Christians; and may all go home and meet their loved ones as the children of the living God. Will not every heart be uplifted to God in our behalf. Parents, wives, sisters and friends, all of you have dear ones in the army, many of whom are without God. Can you not, will you not warn them of sin and point them to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. Your letters are anxiously looked for, joy fully received, and read with avidity. One word from you may do great good. Yours in Christ, J. J. HYMAN, Chaplain 49th Ga. Reg. Hamilton’s Crossing, ) June 14, 1863. } The regiment being ordered off at night to meet the enemy, then crossing at Freder icksburg, I could not mail this letter. We have been in our entrenchments nine days and nights. Tho boys are all cheerful and our meet ings regularly kept up. I have baptized five since we arrived here. lam sure that the enemy at night can plainly hear us singing the praises of God. J. J. H. Prom Virginia. Ilead’qrs 12th Ga. Reg., May 29, ’63. Dear Bro. Boykin— Yesterday I visi ted the 3d Ga. Reg. and found a very inter esting state of things in the whole Brigade. I was invited there to baptize those who wan ted to unite with the Baptist church. I found 26 waiting to receive the ordinance. Bro. Ilaymen of the 42d Ga. was with me and we both went in to the water together and while I was baptizing one man he would be getting ready, and so we carried on the work pretty rapidly until the 26 were buried witjj Christ in baptism. For the last two weeks the Index hosfailed to reach us. All are disappointed in not getting it. Your brother in the Lord, A. M. MARSHALL. Foreign Mission Funds- The Southern Baptist Convention, at its recent session, instructed the Board of For eign Missions to “prosecute vigorously the collection of funds, at least to the extent of our present annual expenditure.” This is clearly the dictate of wisdom. Nothing else can preserve the Convention from crushing debt. Our missionaries abroad secure loans, which must be repaid when the course of events restores our communication with the world; and if the treasury of the Board is not in a condition to meet this demand promptly, an embarrassing loss of credit and influence will ensue on the part of the Con vention and its laborers in foreign fields.— What Baptist of the Confederate States is willing to have such a page written in our history? Not one, we are sure. Our confi dent persuasion is, that the denomination will cheerfully contribute, year by year, the $25,000 necessary* to avert a dishonor so deep. In accordance with this resolution, the Board, at its meeting last week, instructed the Corresponding Secretary, flev. J. B. Taylor, D. D., to devote his whole time to the collection of funds. With his charac teristic faithfulness and energy, he has en tered on the work. He is now absent on a visit to one of our porta, to make arrange ments, if possible, for another shipment of cottoD, in relief our brethren, whose neces sities call from Africa and China for the help of the churches. Let the churches rest as sured that in some form or other funds will be transmitted to England for this purpose. Let them remember that in their hands are funds, which the Lord of missions has en trusted to them for the prosecution of the work, and give as He has prospered them— give what may otherwise fall into the hands of the public enemy.— Pel. Herald. The Hungry Arab. An Arab was once lost in a desert. For two days he found nothing to eat, and was about to die of hunger. Fortunately he hit upon one of the wells which lie on the tracts across the desert; and whilst assuaging his thirst, found also a little leathern bag on the sand. ‘God be praised,’ said he, he lif ted it; these I think must be either dates or nuts; how reviving they will be ! With these sweet anticipations, he opened and looked into the sack, and exclaimed in a mournful tone, ‘Alas, they are only pearls.’