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BY SAMUEL BOYKIN. VOL. XLII.-N0 28. CONTRIBUTIONS. . Written fur the Christian Index. Brief Discussions of Important Doctrines. No. VII. CHURCH ORGANIZATION. According to the programme of subjects furnished by the Editor, the remaining dis cussions of this series will relate to the ex ternals of religion. The Saviour has taught us that all his commands are not equally great, and that internal purity is more tobe sought than external: but nothing that he has commanded is unimportant, and all his directions respecting the outward forms of religion ought to be carefully studied and obeyed. On two occasions the Saviour is known to have used a ierm which our translators have rendered ‘church.’ In one of thq* discour ses, Matt. 16 : 18, he calls his people “my church” and promises the preservation ofthe body from the assaults of hell, In the other, Matt. 18: 17, he gives in structions pertaining to church discipline.— In the first passage, the term chureh is ap plied to the whole body of his followers; in the second it is applied to a small .company of them, charged with the responsibility of set tling a controversy between two brethren at variance. ThesAwo different applications of the term are found in other passages of the New Testament. It more frequently signifies a small body, or local Church : but in various places it manifestly intends the whole company of those who are saved by Christ, that is, the church catholic or uni versal. The word church, as used by English speakers and writers, signifies a house of re ligious worship, or an organized religious so ciety. In the first sense we speak of St. Paul’s church, aud St. Peter’s church. In the second sense we speak of the Hoinan Catholic church, the Episcopal church, the , Presbyterian chfenifei, the Methodist church : and we sometimes hear the name Baptist ( church, applied to the whole denomination ] of Baptists, although they do not form an , organized society. I The word church in the English transla- ; tion of the New Testament, is, with a single | exception, a rendering of the Greek word , ecclesia : but the two words are not precise- , ly equivalent in signification. Tim Greek , word does not appear to have been everused , to denote a material edifice. In Acts 19:37, | “robbers of churches,” it probably means the temples of the heathen gods: hut this is j the exception before referred to, in which , the term is not a translation of the word ec- , clesia. It. is used for an assembly not relig- * ious, as in Acts 19 : 32, 39, 41, and in these cases the word ‘church’ would be an inad- ; missible rendering. It to have been always used with a reference to an ac- , tual assembly. The word ‘church/ on the contrary, is frequently used for a society so scattered through a large district of country, that actual assembly is impracticable. It is true that no actual assembly of-the Church universal, to which the term ecclesia is ap plied, can ever occur on earth : but the saints : on earth are said fey Paul to be “come to the ■ general assembly and church of the first , born, which are written in heaven.” Heb. i 12 : 22, 23. They are citizens of the lieav- i enly Jerusalem, and belong to the ecclesia , actually assembling in that high and holy i place. Hence the term ecclcsia, in its ap- i plication to the universal church, does not ] depart from its proper signification. 1 The word ecclesia is derived from a Greek verb which signifies to call out , It was ap plied to the assembly of the citizens iu the democratic towns of Greece, when in obedi ence to a public call they met to consider and decide questions of State policy. The authority of the summons, the obligation to obey it, and the right of the citizens assem bled to act as one body, resulted # from the political organization of the State. We do not affirm that organization is implied in ev ery case in which the word is used. In Acts 19 : 39, the town clerk speaks of a “lawful ecclesia” as different from the company then assembled; and yet when he dismissed the company, it is said, “he dismissed the eccle sia j” verse 41. From this it appears that the word was applicable to an assembly not lawfully organized for the transaction of bu siness. In Acts 7 :38, we read, “He that was in the ecclesia in the wilderness.” Dr. Doddridge renders this, “He that was in.the assembly in the wilderness.” The reference is to the assembly of the Israelites at the base of Sinai, when the law was given. The time is called in the old Testament, “the day of the assembly.” Deut. 9: 10. No or ganization seems in this case to be implied in the use of the term. But local churches of the New Testament are organized bodies. They wrote and received letters as bodies; as bodie-s they excommunicated the unwor-. thy; as bodies they had officers who served them at home, and as bodies they sent mes sengers to perform service abroad. When mr*n Sr-Vfngf• (h (*r rts cmeijotfy,- ft is nerenssry that they he united by some species of or ganization. * That the churches cd the New Testament were organized bodies, may he inferred from the words, “If the whole church he come together.” 1 Cor. 14 : 23. The context shows clearly that the church universal is not here intended. The body intended is the church at Corinth; and the phrase “the whole church” manifestly implies, that there was a definite number of persons who formed this church, and were under obliga tion to attend its meetings. They belonged ■to the church, even when not assembled with it; aud therefore had their member ship determined by organization. A furth er proof may he derived from the verse next to that}ust quoted : “And there come in one that helieveth not.” If the church were a loose assembly, the persons who come into its meetings would be members of it: hut a distinction is here clearly made, between the church and the persons who come into its meetings, hut are not inemhcrs of the body. The right of a church to act as an organ : ized body, may be learned from the words of Christ: “Ts he shall neglect to hear them tell it unto the clmreh : but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.” Matt. 18 :17. These words of the great lawgiver, author ize the churches to receive appeals, and to decide the cases properly brought, before them : and in so doing they must act as or ganized bodies. While the Scriptures furnish proof* that churches ftTr . .r ii i .... —:„„.i _ TioiTtes, they prescribe no forms or ceremo nies by which the)’ must become organized. Churches are organized for the worship and service of God, and the spiritual benefit ’ of the members : and an agreement of the members to co-operate fur these ends, is ne cessary to the organization. llow the agree ment should be-signified the Scriptures do not direct ; and therefore this matter is lelt to the direction of Christian prudence. To attain the ends for which churches are formed, it is important that they should have ( officers. The church at Phillippi had bish ops and deacons; and these officers are ne cessary to the complete and efficient organi zation of all churches. But thesfe officers are chosen by the churches; and therefore the churches have an existence previous to .the election. When it 4s said, “They or dained elders in every church,” Acts 14: 23, it is manifest that the churches existed be fore the elders were ordained. The church universal is an organized body; hut its organization is spiritual. It w the body of Christ;. and its members are spiritually united to him, the head, and have a spiritual union* and sympathy with one an other. It is a unit; hut it3 unity is not the result of.external organization. The attempt to produce unity by external organization originated the Roman Catholic church; hut this is not the church of Christ. Christ has not two universal churches. He is not the head of two bodies, the husband of two wives. The good shepherd has “one flock” in which he gathers his sheep, that “shall never per ish.” To the spiritual universal church, the .epithet Invisible liU£ keen applied to distin guish it from a body unknown to the holy Scriptures, called thg visible chureh catho lic. This church is said to consist of all who profess the true religion : but an or ganization consisting of all who profess the true religion, no where exists. Interpreting Scripture in Prac tice. , A pious merchant once sent a present of chocolate, sugar, &c., to his pastor, with a note desiring his acceptance of it as a com ment upon Galatians vi: 6: “Let him that is taught, iu the word, communicate unto him that teacheili, in all good things.” The pastor, who was confined to his house by in- „ disposition, returned his compliments to his friend, thanked him for liis excellent Fami ly Expositor, and wished the merchant to give him a practical exposition of Matthew xxv: 36, “I was sick and ye visited me.” THE PA STOTT’S AID* THE CHRISTIAN'S GU4 Dg : THE SINNER’S FRIEND. MACON, GEORGIA, MONDAY.,JULY 13, 1863. F<JY the Christian Index. Notes-by the Way. BY- DR. J. S. RAKER. A Parallel A cknowledynimts Conver sions-—An Object ion to Tracts Noticed and'Answered: . , * Israel suffered from a want of water in the wilderness. The Lord, through Moses, spoke to a barren rock, and st raightway t here gush ed forth a refreshing stream which followed : ftr- rr*r**ft neyings on the way to Canaan. Some seven months since I entered upon the work of an Evangelist among the soldiers on our sea ocgaL I found in our army a great dearth of the word of God, and a great thirsting for its refreshing truth. I made the facts known, and the Lord unsealed the fountains in the hearts of those with T conversed, and first one aid then another, and another contributed of their substance to aid in sup plying our soldiers with the Word of Life. Contributions are still coming in, as needed, to enable me to furnish the destitute among our soldiers with Testaments and Tracts —. for all which, thanks are due tq God and the generous contributors. Since my last published acknowledgments, I-have received as follows : Rev. A. E. Dickinson, Agent of Colpor tage in Virginia,'a large box of tracts ; from Rev. T. hi. Langley, six Testaments, the is sue of the old A. B. S.; from Win. Wells,- $5; Capt. Th omson, 810; Ueut E. Way, $5; P. C. Pendletou, §5 ; Lieut. T. S. Dar ling, $5; Major E. 0. Anderson, $10; Lieut. John P. Hines, $5; Lieut. E. A. Elarboc, sf>; Rev. L. C. Tcheaii, 85 *; Mrs. Almira Way, 82; ITon.S. A. Smith, 810; Rev. Robert Fleming, 810. One soldier, a member of one of com pani<& to which 1 have been pmrching, was baptized by our brother, Rev. C.S. jjaukliiw. on the 15th of June, lie dates , his nrsfese rious impression to a word of admonition dispensations of (<reat )| >f divine som- ; mand —‘‘Itv ihk ajorning sow thy Sefed, and in the evening wfHihold not thy hand/’&c. Another soldier, a member of another com pany to which I have been preaching, left camp wy.h the intention of uniting with the Baptist church. , It has been objected to tract distribution, that the soldiers often receive the tracts and afterwards tear them up. I have distributed thousands and have never seen one torn up or thrown away before it was read. Many of them, I have nojdoubt, axe torn up or thrown away f as newspapers arid-political pamphlets are, after being read... If they treasure up the truths they contain, it is a mattes of very little consequence what be comes. of’the paper on which they are print ed. They but actus our children do to whom we give nuts. • They crack the JWts, eat the kernel and throw the..shells away. But suppose some few, yea, even very ma ny, tlirew thfeir tracts away without reading them. Is this a good and sufficient reason ivby we should withhold them front those who desire them, agd who would seek to pro fit by them ‘l By no means. We might as well object to the preaching of the gospel, because some give no heed to the word prea ched, and others give heed only to find some thing at which to cavil and scoff ! *- A week ago last Sabbalh I preached to the sth Reg. Ga. Cavalry, on the Isle of* Hope, and after the conclusion of the servi ces distributed a large package of tracts. — An hour or two afterwards I walked out to the river side and there saw, at some half dozen different points, soldiers reclining on its banks so absorbed in reading their tracts as not to jiofice my approach. 1 Take another fact. After going around and distributing tracts in the tents of a bat talion in Bryan -county, I visited, conversed with, and gave tracts and testaments to the the hospital. I found one man with isionji, f e ver on him. After conversing with Turn I put a couple of tracts under his pillow and told him I placed them there that lie might read them after his fever went off. I passed on to other wards. As l returned I looked in to see how he was getting on and found him, though his fever had not abated in the least, with one of the tracts in his hand reading it. I advised him to lay it by for the presesent, commended him to God and left him. , These facts, and many others of a simi lar character that might he reported, evince that if there are some few who attach no val ue to tracts, there are others who prize them highly and ever receive them gratefully. — • Even our Hard Shell-brethren, with many of whom I have met in camp, generally re ceive kindly andread attentively the tracts I give them'. * , * “ ’ Had fho>% who offer the objection to tracts *i above notieed heen admitted to’ the councils of eternity, no doubt they would have objec ted to the divine mission of the Saviour, that ha would lie rejected and shamefully cruci fied : Tlurly-Second Ga. Regiment Randolph County, Ga., ) June 22d, 1803. j Jle.ar Bno. Boykin.—l propose to give you a brief account of my recent visit to the 3*2d Regiment Ga. Volunteers, who are now eoeatrijpSd at White Rluff, = some eight miles below the city of Savannah. I arrived at tie camp on Saturday, the 30th of May, and was cordially received by*the excellent Colo nel, G. P. Harrison, who, on learning that the object of my visit was to .preach to his men, assured me that he would assist me.in any way be, could, and he did so by abbrevi ating his-drills as much as. possible, so that the men could attend upon divine service. I continued my humble labors with them for a little in ire*than two weeks, and during the whole time tire congregations were large and serion.dy attentive; a deep intqrest was man i-festul belli by professors aud worldlings.—- How my heart was moved *to see crowds of from filly to one hundred of these weather beaten soldiers coming forward for prayer, when, fr-om impaired health, I ljad to desist from any further labors. ‘ I asked whether there were any present who had received evidence of the pardon of sin. There were six persons who professed to have found the Saviour precious. Ob, it was good to lie The last three days I labored with them, all drilling was dispensed with and the whole time devoted to religious services. I trust, much. good was done. The chaplain of th§ regiment seems tobe a m u) irk iiHieh prayer, but is a young min- Td? T’**"*-*.’ 1,1 1,1 nm-jiarip vnntinp m ministerial experience. I think wesHTivnoj have men of much experience in charge of the spiritual interests of out soldiers. For the encouragement of pastors who would go and dispense the Word of Life to* our soldiers, but for the pecuniary sacrifice, I would say, that on leaving this regiment 1 received a handsome contribution, which more than -remunerated me for the time and expense. JAS. G. CUMBIE. - : :mm ‘ i— . The Sabbath School and the Church. * * ‘. ■ . A faithful pastor,whose face is often seen by the children in the Sabbath School, report ing the state ol another church lie had viS ited.says: “The church has a Jarge Sahbatli School Under the superintendence of Elder G , •amt so Lng as that flourishes, the church may he sure of its own future growth; for a prosperous Sabbath School gives prosperity to the church. When the children are all cared faf, and trained up in the nurture of the Lord, the church and State alike will prosper. A- neglected childhood is the pret ty sure precursor of a vicious manhood; and so Ion? as multitudes of children are suffer ed to grow up in ignorance of God, and sal vation! through Christ, evils great and many will continue to multiply and abound. The Sabbath school places itself at the head-wa ters of public corruption, and aims to purify- Ihem. Os all our efforts, those for thgSab bath'School are in our judgment among the most promising and imperative. The Mother. Bishop Roane, on the death of Rev. Dr. Wharton, said: “JTe is to be added, on his own testimony, to the host of great and good men who have owed their greatness and their goodness, un der God, to a mother’s precepts, piety and prayers. ‘Many of her parental precepts and tender caresses/ he saysinalittle sketch of his first fifteen years, ‘are still fresh in my memory, and frequently present her dear image to my mind.’ Until eighty-five years of age, lie was accustomed to speak of these benefits with the fervor and susceptibility of youth.”’ Ifc r;. '’ —r • JdSgrA child is eager to have any toy he sees, but throws it away at the sight of ano ther, and is equally eager to have that. We are mast of us children through life, and on ly ebenge one toy Sox another from the cra- REASONS FROM THE BIBLE FOR BELIEVING THAT THE Future Punishment • OF THE WICKED WILL BE ENDLESS. By Rev. Andrew Fuller. Mr. Fuller was requested by a Universal istto give him the reasons why he believed that the future punishment of the wicked will be endless: ami lie gave him the four •ffrifalMlMMri 11 : I. All ‘those passages of IScrjdure whii n describe the. future stales of men in contrast: “Men ofthe world, who have their por tion in this life: I shall-.be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; but the expec tation of the wicked shall perish. The wick ed is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in liis death. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; tome to everlasting life, and some tp shame and everlasting contempt. He will gather his wheat into the garner ; and will burn up the chafi* with unquencha ble fire. Wide is tjie gate, and broad is the way that leadeth *to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way that lead eth unto life, and few there be that find it. Not every one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall eater into the kingdom of heaven ; but lie that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many shall com*, from the east and from the *est, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the king dom of heaven; but the children of the kingdom shall be east into outer darkness : there shall bo weeping ar.d gnashing of teeth . Gather ye first, the tares, and hind them in bundles; to burn them; hut gather the wheat into my barn. The Son of Man shall send forth his angejs, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend,- and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of lire : there shall he wailing and gnashing of teeth : shall the righteous shine Curt 1 1 as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Well done, good ‘ trr~?riTr^ j;: TTr^u joy of thy Lord. But east ye the unprofita ble servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall tire king say unto Them on his right hand, Gome/ye blessed of my Father, inher it the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of thq world. Then shall lie also say unto them on the left hand, De part from me, ye cursed, iitto everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and liis angels. And these shall, go away into everlasting punishment; but tlie righteous into life eter nal. He .that helieveth and is baptized shall De saved ;„bat lie that helieveth not shall be damned. Blessed are ye when ‘ men shall hate you for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice ya in that day, and leap for joy ; for behold, your reward is great in heaven. But wo un to you that are rich ! for ye have received your consolation. God So loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever helieveth on him, should not per ish, but have everlasting life. All that are in their graves s'hall come forth ; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have (Tone evil unto the resur rection-of oamnation. Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another Un to dishonor ‘f What if God, willing to show r, that his wratli to make his power known, endured with much long-suffering the. vessels of wrath fitted to destruction; and that he might known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepar ed unto glory. Tire Lord knoweth them that are his. Rut in a great house tftere’are vessels to honor, and vessels to dishonor.— Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For ho that soweth to tire flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption; hut he that sow eth io the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life eveilasting. That which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cur sing, whose end is to he burned. But, be loved, we are persuaded better things of you, and tilings which accompany salvation.” I consider these passages as designed to express the final state of men, which, if they be, it is the same thing in effect as their being designed to express the doctrine of endless punishment; for if the descriptions here given ofthe portion of the wicked de note their fined state, there is no possibility of another state succeeding it. That the above passages do express the final states of men, may appear from the fol lowing considerations : TERMS, SI.OO IN ADVANCE 50 NOS. IN A YOL. and. The state of the righteous, which is all along opposed to that of the wicked, is al , lowed to be final: and if tire other were not the same, it would not have been in such a variety of forms contrasted with it; for it’ would not be a contrast. 2. All these passages are totally silent, as to any other state following that of destruc tion, damnation, Ac. If the punishment threatened to ungodly men had been only a purgation, or temporary correction, we might have expected that something like this would 7iaveT>e<;'ii InuiTiivtod wftrtr ttreir Arturo stale is described ; but nothing like it occurs in any cf the foregoing passages, nor in any other. 3. The phraseology of the greater part of them is inconsistent with any other state following that which they describe. On the supposition of salvation being appointed as the ultimate portion of those who diein their sins, they have not their portion in this life; hut will, equally with those who die in the Lord, behold, his face in riyhteousness, and be ‘satisfied with his likeness. Their expec tation shall not perish; hut shall issue, as well as That of the righteous, in e/ladness : and though driven-away in their wickedness, yet they have hope in their death ) and that hope shall he realized. Tift broad way doth not lead to destruction, hut merely to a tem porary correction, the end of which is ever lasting life. The chaff will not he burned, ’ hut turned into wheat, and gathered into the garner. The cursed as well as the blessed, shall inherit the kingdom of God ; which al so was prepared for them from the founda tion of the world. There may be a wo against the wicked, that they shall be kept from their consolation for along time, hut not that they have received it. Those who in the present life believe not in Christ shall not perish, hut have everlasting life. This life is also improperly represented as the seed time, and the life to come as the harvest, in asmuch as the seeds of heavenly bliss may be sown in hell! and though the sinner may reap corruption, as the fruit of all liis pres ent doings, yet that corruption will not fee ” the opposite of rrcrlastive/ life/, seeing it w#B* issue in it. Finally: though-they lar !., y ars amt (horns, yet their end is no t'hJLy burned, but toobtain salvation. ( To be Continuedj) Rules for Holy Living. XIX— OF PERSONAL DUTY “Ye are not your own.” ‘Know thyself.’ Reverence thyself. ‘Deny thyself.’ Govern thyself. ‘Abhor’ and Hee from ‘the appearance of evil.’ Guard the senses. Avoid all occasions to impurity of heart Eat and drink ‘to the glory of God.’ Eat to live, rather than live to eat. Be careful of health. Avoid repletion XX— OF RELATIVE DUTY. “Love thy neighbor as thyself ” “Do unto all mqn as you would they^should do unto you,” were you in their circumstan ces. As a-sacred duty, visit the sick. Always pray with them. Read to them the Scrip tures. Ascertain their state. Lead them to Christ. Cultivate the disposition of compensation to the poor : care for their spiritual interests XXI—OF MAKING PROGRESS. “ Go forward.” Religion is the greatest business of life; therefore begin the day with God in prayer and reading His word—in meditation and solemn purpose. “Let nota day go over your heads in which your hearts have no converse with God in heaven : and romember that, so far aft you suffer your hearts to retire from heaven, so far they retire from a life of Christianity and peace.” Aim in all things at the glory cf God, and the good of man. Be continually striving in the daily occur rences of life to exemplify the fruit of the Spirit in holy tempers, kindness, meekness, palierce, purity, truth. Neither speak evil, nor hear evil. If possible, got retirement at noon day. Watch, all occasions, for opportunities of doing and ’gaining good. Exercise habitual dependence on God, and trust in Christ every where. Submit to trials, and use them. Expect temptations, and resist them. Prepare for injuries, and forgive them. Inquire every evening if the day has been an improvement on the last. Would you rather die.than sin Y