Newspaper Page Text
BY SAMUEL BOYKIN.
50 NOS. IN A YOL.
The Battle is God’s :
Extract from \he Fast Day Sermon of Rev
S. Landrum, of Savannah, preached
Any. 21s/, 1863.
The preacher took for his text the prayer
of Jehoshaphat—*l2 Chron. 20th Chap.,l2ch
and part of the 15th verse :
‘*o! our God, wilt thou not judge them?
for we have uo might against this great com
pany that cometh against us; neither know
we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee.
‘* * * Be not afraid nor dismay
ed by reason of this great multitude, for the
battle is not yours, but God’s.”
He fir3t proceeds to clear up the text, and
then developes the truth, 7he battle is God's,
as true in our circumstances as well as in
the case of Jehoshaphat. He then proceeds
to take up his prayer as ours.
“1. We appeal from all opinions to Him,
to judge between us and our invaders, as to
our rights in the origin and progress of the
raging war. It has long been regarded as a
self-evident truth, that Governments are es
tablished for the security, prosperity and
happiness of the people. When, therefore,
any Government is perverted faom its prop,
er design, becomes oppressive and abuses its
power, the people have a right to change it.
The Union constituted by our fathers, was
one-of co-equal, sovereign States. The fa
natical spirit ot the North, after long seeking
to deprive us of rights and franchises guar
anteed by the constitution, finally acecom
plished its purpose. Security, happiness
and prosperity for the South were thus lost
under the Did Government, and the South
ern States had the right to set up a Govern
ment for themselves. Impartial history can
not charge upon the South the dissolution of
the Union. Ihe Southern States had a per
fect right to secede from the Union when
perverted from its proper design. When
our independence was secured, King George
111 acknowledged the colonies as ‘‘free, sov
ereign and independent States.” In 1787,.
when the Constitution was formed, itdid not
go into effect in any State until the people
of that State, by ordinance, accepted it.—
Any State could have rejected, and some
did delay to accept it. In a convention of
the people called for the purpose, in 1788,
Georgia passed an ordinance accepting the
constitution of the United States; so a con
vention of the people of the State, in 1861,
repealed the former ordinance of acceptance.
The latter act was as clear a right as the
former. So it was with all the Southern
States. And yet, for the-exercise of this
right, we are invaded by a vast army, and
subjected to a*most merciless and barbarous
war! With the confidence of conscious right
we appeal to God to judge between us and
our enemies as to the orign of this war.
Again, the South desired and sought a
peaceful retirement —asked merely the priv
ilege of taking care'of herself. The new
Confederacy at once sent messengers to
Washington with overtures for peace—fora
fair and amicable adjustment of all difficul
ties.* This was done three times. The Gov
ernment at Washington insultingly repelled
these reasonable proposals, and insisted on
devastating our land with fire, Bword and
horrible insurrection. “O I our God, wilt
thou not judge them ?”
From the first, too, our Government has
sought to have the war conducted upon civ
ilized principles. To this course the enemy
has at all times given a reluctant consent,
and o'ewerally in practice has wholly disre
garded all civilization and humanity: as in
New Oaleans, Nashville, Virginia and Mis
sissippi. Nothing upon earth ean surpass
the beastly brutality and wickedness which
the enemy has shown us. Still we have re
fused to imitate the example.
See the course pursued by our army in
Pennsylvania, in contrast with that of the
Federal army in the South. No war is wa
ged upon and children, and private
property is respected. Does not a righteous
God behold ? Will He not discern and
judge between us and our enemies? Veri
ly, though He bear long, till he has scour
ged and disciplined us to his yoke, He will
arise and plead for the wronged.
“War, being an unnatural condition of
man, is productive of resultsat variance with
his essential nature.” Man is made to be
governed by reason and God’s laws, not by
brqte force. War, by its resort to violence,
■■Jakflga-ffianon__aJ_evel with the brute, and
would have thought them incapable.” Now,
our men are but human, likes our foes.—
Why, then, has our Government been re
strained from sinking into the depths of bru
tality into which the Federate have descend
ed ?, Why has our Vice President gone with
the noble mission of arranging for a more
humane and civil conduct of the war, and
been refused even an interview upon the
subject? God has restrained our administra
tion in goodness and mercy, and left the en
emy to manifest to the world, and to all time,
the wickedness of their purposes. God is
the judge!
2. Like Jehoshaphat,we plead before God
the inferiority of our numbers : “we have no
might against this great multitude.” Ilela
tively none, as compared with our enemies,
(having 500,000 to 1,300,000 enrolled,) ab
s dutely none without the help of God. If
numbers is to decide the contest, there is no
hope for us; there never was from the first.
But the victory is not in mere numbers; —
“the race'is not to the swift nor the battle
to the strong;” it was not so with Jehosha
phat—it was not so with the Dutch Repub
lie, which for eighty years, waged war with
the most potent empire upon earth, and du
ring the progress of the struggle became it
self a mighty State; not so when Frederick
the Great resisted, for seven years, the com
bined invasion of France, Austria, Russia,
Saxony, Sweden and the German body.—
Such odds had never been heard of in war.
Less than five millions against a population
ofTine hundred millions, and yet he succee
ded. Not so when the Colonists of Ameri
ca resisted the invasion of Great Britain for
more than twice the time of our resolution,
and with incalculably more destitution, suf
fering, and reverses than we have yet known.
These all confined themselves to the strict
line of self-defence, and this is evidently
God’s will, as shown by H's providence, in
reference to us. Our duty is to stand on
the defensive, throw all our energies into
the cause, and trust iu God more than all
else..
3. Like Judah’s King, we are to confess
to God our iguoreoce of what is best to be
done for coming emergencies. “Neither
know yc what to do.” • The wisdom of our
wisest men has be“n foolish in this war, be
cause the battle is not ours, but God’s. We
were to have no war—a short war—we nee
ded no Navy—other nations would be com
pelled to open our ports —multitudes of
views showing their ignorance. We have
been led along by God’s providence in away
we know not. We are still ignorant of the
channel which the current of events will
take. Let us acknowledge it to God, and
follow the leadings of His providence, meet
ing the duties as they rise. Our present
duty is plain ; no man need to err therein ;
it is to trust in God for deliverance,
fight with all our power the invading foe,
with no thought of ever yielding. This we
owe to ourselves, our children, our servants
and our God.
4. Would to God that the whole national
heart may respond, this day, to the closing
declaration of JehosTiaphat’s prayer : “Our
eyes are upon Thee—our entire dependence,
O! our God, is upon Thee for deliverance.”
There are many who thus feel, and God will
honor their dependence. Early in the strug
gle this feeling was more general, and how
wonderfully God met our trust! Then we
became vain and self-reliant. Reverses fol
lowed—West Tenn. was conquered, N. Or
leans fell; then we were aroused, and once
more fixed our eyes upon God, and again
victory after victory crowned our battles.—
But gradually our eyes turned from God to
speculation—to self-glorying—to pleasure
seeking. We forgot the battle is God’s, and
failed to give him the glory. Then when
we felt most secure, we were in greatest dan
ger. Huw suddenly was our condition chan
ged ! Vicksburg falls, and Lee retreats,
leaving thousands of his noble dead amidst
the hills of Gettysburg. The heavens gath
ered blackness over us, and the day became
dark. Why? We have sinned, and God has
a controversy with us. This is the true
philosophy of our reverses.”
The preacher then proceeds to notice na
tional sins, and closes by declaring that the
answer to our prayer,like Jc’.ioshaphat’s, will
come: God will prove that the battle is his.
and in his own time and way bring about
THE PASTOR’S AID: THE CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE: THE SINNER’S FRIEND.
MACON, GEORGIA, FRIDAY JANUARY 8, [864.
Richmond Correspondence of
the Index.
Richmond, Dec. 18, 1863.
I heard, several days since, of a company
in one of our Virginia regiments, which num
bers eighty men, all of whom, except ten,
are connected with the different evangelical
denominations. Bible classes have been for
med embracing the entire c^jnpany; and
the little handful who are yet “out of Christ”
give manifest tokens of deep religious im
pression. These are the things which blunt
and deaden the pangs of war. It is pleas
ant to know that, if the lives of our heroic
defenders must be perilled, there are so many
instances in which the peril reaches not to
the soul. And when I see Christian effort
in the army bearing such a harvest, I have
no heart for questions of ‘machinery.’ There
is not a lever of Jesus at work among or for
our soldiers, whom I would venture to thrust
aside. When ail have done their utmost,
how much remains to do—how much that
battle or disease, stepping between may pre
vent forever !
Especially should no Baptist be hindered
from these vital labors, on pleas that are un
essential, if not trifling. Even in this time
of war, which ought to shame all secondary
beliefs into the background, proofs are not
wanting that our denominational sentiments
stand in momentous connection with the
highest purity of the gospel. Take a case
in point. A divine, among the most emi
nent of his “persuasion” for talents and pi
ety, whose appointment to the position of ar
my missionary was hailed with pleasure by
the whole Christian public, not long since-*-r
I am credibly informed—while preaching,
in the midst of revival influences, from a
town pulpit, before an audience partly of
civilians, partly of soldiers, broached the
opinion that “it is infinitely more difficult for
jhe baptized children of believers to be lost
than for other sinners!” I give you what
was reported to me as his precise language.
No comment is necessary to apprise you of
the mischievous delusion which such lan
guage may foster ; and you will feel, as I do,
how important it is that the people who have
embraced apostolic Christianity, without the
leaven of pedo-Baptism, should multiply
their witnesses for the truth a hundred fold
in the army.
I say this without forgetting that the Bap
tist pulpit is not itself exempt from liability
to error. The fearful upheaval ofsociety in
cident to a revolution —the reviving of old
prejudices—the engendering of new—may
make its mark there as elsewhere. One of
our Doctors of Divinity, for example, in the
course of a recent sermon, spoteeofthe Phar
isees as “the Puritans of their age.” Indeed !
I had always thought that they were, by way
of eminence, its “ sacrame ital theologians”
and “ high-churchmen ! Oh, that our breth
ren may have grace to put away the passions
of the times, when they “stand up for Je
sus” in the great congregation—may suffer
no shadow of hatred for the North to lall
across and darken the gospel of a Saviour’s
matchless love !
Rev. M. D.'Hoge, D. D., has been giving
our citizens the benefit of his “Observations
in Europe,” in a series of lectures delivered
under the auspices of the Young Men’s
Christian Association. These lectures, now
racy with humor,now glowing with eloquence,
possess the additional merit of ndt following
in the steps of Northern tourists, who, with
the want ol delicacy characteristic of their
section, the names, sentiments and even
household secrets of the Europeans that have
been indiscreet enough to accept “Yankee”
curiosity into a generous confidence ! The
proceeds of these lectures are devoted to the
relief of the poor families of soldiers in the
service; and I am the more gratified, there
fore, to state that the nett income from the
first was $2,300, and from the second, sl,-
100—the third remaining yet to be deliver
ed. I can attempt no report of the many in
teresting things which Dr. Hoge has told
us; but one fact is too significant to be pas
sed over in silence. He gave it as his opin
ion, that to hail from the Confederate States
is a pas Sport, and to hail from the dominions
of Abraham Lincoln a bar, to “good society”
in England. We are recognized, then, by
the country, if not by the government, as
another and superior people. Let us be true
to ourselves, and recognition by the govern
ment will follow in due season —follow when
the God that watches over our destinies
I deems it best for us.
[ lam pleased to learn that the attempt to
I secure funds to discharge the indebtedness
land enlarge the buildings of Alleghany Col-
I Dge, goes on right nobly. The indefatiga-
ble agent, Rev E. P. Walton, is nowin our
city, and his receipts surpass his expecta
tions.. Suecess, I incline to think, is at last
assured ; and I rejoice in it, not only for the
interests of education generally, but be
cause the Board of Trustees have decided
to furnish every possible facility toward
qualitying our younger disabled soldiers,
and the sons of soldiers deceased, for the
position of teachers. So far as I know, this
Baptist Inattention is the first in Virginia,
to make practical acknowledgement of tho
debt we owe the army of Southern defence.
The policy by it is the proper doI.-
icy for educational institutions everywhere,
and I reckon confidently on its universal
adoption. In the ripe old age of our children,
it will be a pleasant thing for them to tell
the young folks, gathered about the fireside
of long winter afternoons, that they had for
their teacher a hero of- Chancellorville or
Ohickamauga, of Manassas or Murfreesboro!
Allow me to correct the inaccurate repre
sentation to which I gave currency, respec
ting the eye-siglit of Rev. Wm. D. Thomas,
Greenville, S. C. The ‘Religious Herald’ of
last week informs me that “the vision of liis
right eye, though seriously impaired, is not
quenched, and the vision of His left eye is
not affected.”
Having stepped over into South Carolina
to make this correction, I will tarry long
enough to mention a Baptist in that State
who failed to attend the session of his Asso
ciation, the present year, but sent up a con
tribution of $lO, in lieu of his personal pres
ence. Poor fellow, he has only $160,000
worth of cotton stored away ! SEMEI.
For the Christian Index.
Different modes of Pastoral Vis
itation.—Observations.
BY A PASTOR. >:
I propose to give my observation of the
different modes of pastoral visitation, as ex
hibited in the labors of three excellent min
isters. Number one was a highly educated
and literary man. In the pulpit his elocu
tion was unexceptionable, but being desti*
tute in a great measure of the emotional, he
was not an orator. He was a greedy gleaner
and a a exquisite compiler. Some thought
him eloquent, some original and profound,
and a few feared he was a plagerist. He al
ways preached good sermons. The social el
ement prevailed in his composition. He was
a popular man and preacher and bad good
congregations. He went among his flock fre
quently, but could not be called a laboriouj
pastor. He was fond of good dinners and
preferred to visit those who occupied a good
social position. Coveting tbc reputation of
a social gentleman, he strove to earn it, and
most happily did he succeed. The house of
mourning, except on funeral occasions, was
too gloomy for him. The sick chamber was
not an appropriate place for the exhibition
of his best gift, and it was not right to ob
trude the solemn subject of religion in the
social circle, it destroyed the interest and
pleasure of the occasioa. Conversions iu
his congregation were infrequent. Though
he was greatly admired by his pew holders.
Number Two, was also an educated, but
not a literary man. He was a student, and
possessed a happy tact in the use of other
rneij’s ideas with a good degree of originali
ty. He, too, was a successful student of el
ocution, and sometimes became eloquent.—
Sometimes however bis desire to display the
graces of the orator, gave a stiffness and for
mality to his sermon, which well nigh des
troyed its religious influence. He was a pi
ous and goodly man, possessing a deep and
tender sympathy with the sufferings of our
fallen race. lie was a good pastor. He
“watched for souls.” He visited much and
systematically. The poor and afflicted were
cheered and comforted often by his conver
sations and prayers. There was one defect, ■
however, in our pastor wMeh is worthy of
note. When he introduced the subject of
religion, it was* with an aspect so solemn,
intonations of voice so dolorous, that the
young and unconverted were reluctant tosee
and hear him, supposing religion to be a
most gloomy subject and one which might
destroy all their prospects for happiness in
the present life. Hence they feared and
avoided him as nfueh as possible, without
being guilty of rudeness. Notwithstanding
this small defect, which is very common,
our pastor was greatly beloved., and was suc
cessful in building up his church, which en
joyed occasionally precious refreshings from
the presenee of the Lord. We very seldom
meet with a better pastor than number two.
Number Three, was not an educated man,
nor could he be called a student. Though
he was not illiterate, nor did he fail to ap
preciate a good author, or to consult his
books when he thought necessary. Ilis ser
mons were elaborated with care, though
without manscript or skeleton. He was an
unctious gospel preacher, drawing his argu
ments and illustrations from a powerful stu
dy of the Bible.
He was a man of earnestness and energy,
feeling a deep concern in whatever affected
the welfare of church or the spiritual inter
ests of its members. He was seen among
the poor and needy, the sick and suffering,
the bereaved and disconsolate, pointing them
to the promises, providences and purposes
of.the Saviour, and praying with and for
them. Nor did he neglect those who are
tempted by the fascinations of worldly folly.
Wherever he went and with whomsoever he
conversed, he introduced the subject of re
ligion, unless it were manifestly out of place,
as it sometimes may seem to be. His con
versations on religious subjects, though of
ten, indeed generally personal and special,
were social without lightness and cheerful
without frivolity. Possessing naturally a
happy and hopeful temperament, the joy he
experienced in the hope of heaven gave a
freshness, sweetness and attractiveness to all
his conversations on the subject. The young
did not shun him, nor the unconverted avoid
him.
Inferior, in many respects, to both the
others, our present preacher proved emi
nently successful in winning souls to Christ
and maintained a larger and more attentive
congregation than either. His congrega
tions but seldom criticized his style, for he
was an unpretentious man, nor did they dis
cover he was iftt an educated man, unless
the infrequency of his classical aliasionsmay
have led to that conclusion, and even this
may have been.considered to grow out of
his preference for simplicity of Btylc and un
ostentation.
Western Correspondence of tlie
Index-
Oxford, Miss., Dec. 15th, 1863.
Bro. Botkin —My Dear Sir : Accord
ing to promise I sent you a brief sketch of
affairs in Northwest Miss., on my return to
this District. Since that time the cavalry
has been on the move. About the first of
December, Maj. Gen. Lee, the cavalry com
mander for this Department, formed a junc
tion of nearly all the cavalry in North Miss,
at Salisbury on the Memphis and Charles
ton It. R. The Federals were deceived by
a previous feint on Pocahontas, drawing all
their forces to that point, Salisbury, became
an easy capture. The depot and a train of
cars were burned, and between two and
three miles of the R. R. was tore up. The
enemy soon csrce up in heavy force, Gen.
Lee fell back, and moved Westward on the
South side of Wolf river. The enemy mov
ed near the lire of It. R. While these
movements were making General Forrest
made his way into W’cst Tennessee, with a
few huudred men. He is said now to have
four thousand, and plenty of supplies at
’Jackson. His numbers are expectod to in
crease very xapidly. But to return. Just
as the enemy were crossing Wolf river at
Moscow, apparently anticipating an attack
upon Colliersville or Germantown,as thesec
ond regimdht was nearly across the river,
Gen. Lee made an attack upon them. They
immediately attempted to fall hack to their
fortifications on the East side of the river
The attack was so sudden fjiat tho regiment
in front were psevented from recrowing the
bridge. They were pressed into the river
and a very large number drowned, a great
many were killed, and some thirty-flve sur
rendered and were taken prisoners. The
fight, lor a short time, was very terrific. —
The bridge was torn up by the enemy, and
there was no chance to come at him, but
by crossing the river under heavy fire. He
was forced to abandon one piece of artillery
and fall back to long range. Onr troops were
ordered to fall back. Col. McCulloch was
of opinion that the place was almost in his
hands when ordered to retire His Texas
Battalion, under Col. Willis, and the 2nd
Mo. regiment, both held in reserve, till late
in the engagement, were eager to charge the
enemy’s works. Capt. Gains, a noble and
brave young man, and of rare qualifications
for bis position as Brigade Adjutant under
Col. McCulloch, was killed suddenly, while
in the discharge of his duties on the field. —
The expedition resulted in a loss to us of
thirteen killed and ‘sixty wounded—tome
very slight—to the enemy of forty-three
prisoners and -near two hundred, the least
estimate, in killed, drowned, and wounded;
TERMS, $5.00 IN ADVANCE
YOL. XLIII.-N0 1.
a considerable number of horses captured,
six or seven miles of railroad torn up, two
depots, a long trestle and one train burnt.—
Col. Hatch, Federal chief of cavalry, was
wounded, but is said to be recovering. Gen.
Chalmer’s command lies quietly as may be,
in the mud, rain and- cold, South of the Tal
lehatchie.*
With Forrest in Tennessee, and our cav
alry on the South side of the Memphis and
Charleston road, the Yankees will have, a
lively time, keeping it in running trim this
winter.
The blockade fever was sweeping every
thing in Northwest Miss., a few weeks ago,
but conscription in Memphis, and a little
effort on the part of the Confederate author
ities, has quieted the public pulse.
More anon.
J. B. L., 2d Mo.
MO I • rnm
c
For the Christian Index.
Revival among the Soldiers-
Bro. Boykin —l have for eleven weeks
been laboring in protracted meetings in
which many soldiers have professed faith in
the Saviour of sinners, some of whom have
already begun to exercise their gifts by pub
lic prayer and exhortation. The protracted
meeting held in Dr. Jeter’s church, in this
city, closed last night; over one hundred
and fifty we have reason to believe, obtained
the pearl of great price many of whom are
soldiers.
The letters, which I am receiving almost
every day, from the army report conversions
and in not a few instances, extensive revi
vals. These revival influences have been
enjoyed long enough to enable us to judgo
of them by tbeir fruits. With rare excep
tions, the walk and conversation of the con
verts attest the genuineness of the work.—
These young disciples seem to know What
it is meant by “standing up for Jesus.” I
enquired of a soldier from Alabama a few
days since if he had any objections to my
calling upon him to lead in prayer in the
meeting that evening. “I have never prayed
in public,” said lie, “but I feel it my duty
to do so, and also any thing else by which
my Master may be honored.”
We are now securing chaplainces for a
number of Baptist ministers. Rev. J. W.
Jones, one of the most zealous and success
ful of our army missionaries, is giving most
of bis time to securing such appointments
in the army of Northern Virginia.
Where the government pay is insufficient
to defray a brother’s expenses our Board
supplements it and thus wo hope to keep
many of our best ministers in chaplaincies.
I have been jnuch rejoiced to see that the
Board at Marion is enlarging its sphere of
operations and receiving such liberal contri
butions from the churches. That Board
has weighty claims upon our people and its
affairs are managed with ability and discre
tion. The S. S. and Publication Board is en
deavoring to do its part in this noble work
and will receive such aid as the brethren
and sisters are willing to extend.
A. E. DICKINSON,
Sup’t &c.
From a Chaplain.
Eatonton, Dec. 10th, 1863.
Bro. Boykin —l wish you would use
your influence with the Committee and try
to get them to send bro. Van Iloose to Gen.
Doles’ Brig. I have already written brother
Warren a letter on the subject and also one
!!> brother Van Iloose. But they may not
have received either letter. There are three
regiments in this brig, without chaplains.—
There are, I think, 8 companies from the
bounds of the Central Association, and as he
is employed by the Association this would
be a very fine field for him to labor in.—
There is a flourishing Christian association
in the Brig., and a Bible class in every
company in the Brig. Gen. Rhodes will
have a chapel built for services during the
winter. lie also agrees to furnish rations.
In Rhodes’ Division there are about 15 or
20 Methodist chaplains and only 2 or three
Baptist chaplains. There is a large Bap
tist influence in this Division and I think
brother Van Iloose is the man to keep it up.
If I return to the army I should like very
much to he associated with him in the work.
Let him go to Doles’ brigade by all means.
I hope the Index will be enlarged. It is,
in my opinion, by far the best paper that I
have seen for the soldiers. It is always look
ed for with great intcriSt.
As ever, your brother, <s.,
A. M. MARSHALL,
Chap. 12th Ga. Reg.
.► i.— - ■■■ ■
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