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The Eldership.
1 have been interested in the discussion concern
ing church organization, particularly as it relates
to the Eldership. Your response to a query in
the Index for June 16th, is very clear and strong,
but still it does not, to my mind, settle the ques
tion. None can doubt the original meaning ot the
term elder, but eventually it took on a secondary
or accommodated meaning; and I think it can be
shown that it is not specific—*. e ., did not apply
to, or embrace a single 'office. It is worthy of
note that bishop and elder, and elder and deacon,
never occur together in the New Testament. (1).
Xhe relief contributed by the disciples at Antioch
was sent by the hands of Paul and Barnabas, to
the elders of the church at Jerusalem. Who were
these? when appointed? (2). Let it be remem
bered Luke never speaks of deacons. (3). *lt is
well known that deacon has no particular meaning
in the original—minister, servant, etc. (5). We
know that Stephen and Phillip were preachers,
though thev had been elected and ordained as
deacons. (5). It is almost certain the Seven, if
they did not constitute the entire eldership of the
Jerusalem church, were a part of it As they had
been “appointed over the business” of relieving
the poor —ruling that part of church affairs—it
would have been, to say the least of it, ignoring
them had not all contributions for the relief of the
poor, been placed in their hands. (6).
When it is said “ elders were ordained in every
church,” is any violence done if the view is taken
that officers —pastors arid deacons—were appoint
ed in every church ? (7) In the later epistles of
Paul, bishop and deacon seem to be exhaustive of
the division of church officers. It is clear that in
his letter to Timothy, after speaking of bishop and
deacon, both aredropped, and elder substituted (8).
There need be no difficuty in the passage: “ Let
elders who rule or preside well be counted worthy
of double honor, especially they who labor in word
and doctrine." (1 Tim. v: 17.) Deacons should
rule or preside over the interests of the church to
which they were appointed, even as bishops over
those to which they are called or appointed, so
that it may be truly said: alt rule, and as all are
officers, may be called elders. (?) G. F. C.
(1) In the New Testament, bishop and elder are
identified —are used as synonymous terms. (Acts
xx ; 17,28. Tit i; 5,7.) The two titles are
given to a single office—the one title originating
in Hebrew, the other in Greek, usage. But while
elder and bishop are identified, bishop and deacon
are distinguished—(Phil, i; 1, 1 Tim. iii; 1,8,)
are used as titles of different offices. Os course,
the distinction which parts deacon from bishop,
parts it as well from elder, which stands to bishop
as a synonymous term.
(2) The Twelve had two classes of functions —
the extraordinary and the ordinary. As regards
the first they were apostles ; as regards the sec
ond, elders, taking the oversight of the flock, (epis
kopountes—acting the bishop,) 1 Pet. v ; 1, 2. At
what time and under what circumstances these
classes of functions were separated, and officers
were raised up who, without the former, should
possess the latter, we do not know. But we know
that the thing was done—since officers, with the
latter functions only, known as bishops, or elders,
are frequently mentioned in the New 1 Testament.
Now, as our correspondent cannot show that these
elders, or bishops, arose after the date of the con
tribution from Antioch, is it not a fair conclusion
that they arose before -or, in other words, that
the institution of the office preceded the first use
of the title of the office in its distinctive Christian
sense ?
(3) But does it follow that he had occasion to
speak of them, and spoke of them under the title
of elders? In one instance, clearly, he uses this
title to the exclusion of deacons. Those for whom
Paul sent from Miletus to Ephesus,were those who
came. (Acts 17, 18, 28.) But th6se who came
Paul addressed as bishops —a title which he uni
formly gives to certain officers in distinction from
deacons. But Luke tells us that he sent for “ the
elders of the church”—where, of course, the title,
as Luke uses it, is exclusive of deacons and de
scriptive of bishops only. Can a case of contrary
usage on his part be made out ?
(4) Deacon finely illustrates the fact that a
word may have a general etymological meaning,
admitting of application to various offices indis
criminately, and yet acquire a specific technical
meaning, limited to a single office, and becoming
its distinctive title. What our correspondent says
in this sentence is true, (as regards the etymologi
cal meaning and use of deacon ;) but it is also
true, as he afterwards alleges, that Paul, making
an exhaustive enumeration and distinction of
church officers, uses deacon as the specific title of
one class—a title which sets that class apart from
all others. Is the technical meaning of deacon at
all matter of dispute on this account? Why, then,
should the technical meaning of elder become
matter of dispute, if men should show themselves
able to adduce examples of its use in the more
general etymological meaning ? As to the present
discussion, this would avail nothing. There was
in the church of Ephesus a plurality of such elders
as were bishops —that is, of elders in the technical
sense. In the church at Philippi there was a plu
rality of bishops— such bishops as Paul in some
places styles elders, and in others distinguishes
from deacons. It is that plurality for which we
argue; and whether men term it a church-pres
bytery or a church-episcopacy concerns us little,
(as both titles are scriptural,) provided that only
scriptural ideas are associated with the title pre
ferred. To make our meaning clear: there is no
dispute among Baptists as to the technical New
Testament sense of bishop ; and the plurality we
advocate is affirmed in connection with that term
—a term acknowledged on all hands as definite
and unequivocal, to the exclusion of deacons.
Why not restore this plurality, then ?
(5) They were not preachers because they were
deacons: that is to say, this office did not include
in it the function of preaching. To suppose the
contrary, is to obliterate the distinction between
bishops anil deacons —is to clothe both offices with
the same functions—is, in fact, to merge them in
one, and leave the church with but a single office.
Besides, the very reason why the apostles insti
tuted thd deaconship—the impossibility of com
bining the service of tables and the ministry ol
the word in a single office—forbids us to suppose
that the Seven became, or could become, what the
Twelve were unable to be with good effect, both
servants of tables (or deacons) and preachers. The
necessary conclusion is, that Philip and Stephen,
having purchased bo themselves a good degree by
using the office of deacon well, rose from it to a
higher office—the office of elder within, or the
office of evangelist beyond, the limits of the
church.
(6). In the style of the Scriptures, it was a ser
vice, not a rule, to which the Seven were called.
A weighty reason underlies this phraseology.
The true ruler in the church, is God, through His
word. The New Testament, therefore, uniformly
associates ruling in the churches with teaching—
with the speaking of the word of God : (1 Thess.
v; 12, 13, Ileb. xiii; 7, 1 Pet. v; 1—4.) It
would have been a departure from this usage and
an obscuring of this idea—a breaking down of the
great bulwark against ecclesiastical despotism—
to have styled the office of deacons a rule ; since
that office was created for the express purpose of
separating the work entrusted to it from the minis
try of the word, the only recognized and approved
instrument of ruling. Besides : the term elders,
in the sense synonymous with bishops, indicates a
body of pastors and teachers—a body of rulers
through the word of God spokeD by them: and if
such a body existed in the church at Jerusalem,
as the use of the term fairly and clearly implies, all
communications and contributions from churches
at a distance would be made, of course, through it.
Who doubts that, if Baptist churches had each
its own church-presbytery, or church-episcopacy,
gifts from abroad for the relief of poor saints would
come into its hands, and pass from it to the dea
cons for distribution ?
(7). The fact recorded we suppose to be, that
every church, under proper instruction, selected
its presbytery—its body of pastors and teachers.
Each church might then be left to complete its
organization by the appointment of deacons, as ?n
act of self-government, without impulse or inter-'
vention from abroad. Even apostolic injunction
would not pass a hair’s-breadth beyond the abso
lute necessity of the case. The moment the
churches were brought into working order, they
were suffered to do their own work, while the in
spired messengers went on their way, to inaugu
rate the first stage of organization in churches yet
without it. We find, accordingly, that Paul, who
left Titus in Crete “to ordain elders in every
city,” when writing to him on the subject, speaks
of these elders as bishops, and describes the quali
fications necessary to their office under that title
—but makes no mention of deacons, or of their
official qualifications: while, writing, (the same
year, it is thought,) to Timothy at Ephesus, he
gives substantially this precise list of qualifications
as necessary to the office of bishop, and makes
separate mention of deacons and of the qualifica
tions which their office demands: from which it
seems to follow that the instructions of Titus were
limited to the former class of officers, to the exclu
sion of the latter. This view corresponds with
the use of the term elders, not in the letter to
Titus only but elsewhere, as synonymous with
bishops and thereby distinguished from deacons.
To construe the term as including deacons has no
warrant—at least no clear and certain warrant —in
Scripture; and that construction, therefore, is
‘ violent.’
\S). Why not argue that he simply returns,
after the interval of a chapter, to speak of cer
tain matters connected with the office of bishop,
and speaks of them under the equally well-known
title of the office, elder? Especially since, in his
letter to Titus, on the same subject, he uses the
two titles, with the interval of but a verse, as
synonymous! In this way, we allow the apostle
to interpret himself.
(I*.) The Scriptures, we think, make it clear
that there can be in the church no rule except
that which consists in declaring, expounding, en
forcing, rightly dividing, discriminately applying
the word of God. The teacher of that word is the
ruler : he rules only by his teaching. This prin
ciple, running through the New Testament, sup
plies “ the analogy of faith,” in harmony with
which we must interpret the passage in question.
It (bi bids the supposition that Yule here is ascribed
to deacons who simply serve tables, or to a class
of elders who are not teachers also. The rule is
the function of the church presbytery—the body
of pastors and teachers. Os this body, those
members are worthy of special honor who labor
(kopiontes)— that is, who work hard, who wear
themselves out— in the word and doctrine—in
that teaching which constitutes their ruling.
Faithful Helpers.
Not unto all hath the dear Master given
Five or ten talents to defend the Right;
There are some souls that boldly inarch to heaven,
While others tollovv those who win the fight.
Faithful helpers should be ever at their posts,
To reuder service to Christ’s battling hosts.
Florence Lyndon.
Troy, Ala., IS7O.
The Autobiography of an Old Pilgrim.
( Continued.)
The Ordinary and Extraordinary Commu
nications of the Spirit.
[ fear some humble but dearly beloved
disciple of Christ, who has not been favored
with any vision, like those described in my
preceding articles, may feel somewhat deject
ed, and be tempted to draw unwarrantable
inferences, unfavorable to himself, and be led,
also, to undervalue other tokens of Divine
favor received. For the benefit of such, I
propose to make a few general remarks.
Christ came to earth, we are told, to give
gifts to the children of men. In the gifs He
bestows, there is an endless diversity. Some
are adapted to call true believers, and, there
fore, are bestowed upon all. Others, like the
gift of prophecy, require a peculiar constitu
tion, both of body and mind, to prepare one
profitably to use the gift bestowed. So it is,
I suppose, with the gilt to see visions. One,
whose organ of selfesteem is very fully de
veloped, were he favored with visions like
some of those I have reported, would be
strongly tempted to “think of himself more
highly thaw he ought to think.” But God
cannot be tempted, neither tempteth He any
man. He therefore mercifully, as well as
wisely, withholds this gift from those who
would be tempted by it to exalt themselves
instead of their Lord and Saviour. One
thing is certain: the three individuals to
whom I have referred as having been favored
with visions of glory, were far more noted
for their humility than for any development
of the organ of self esteem. Os himself, it
becomes not the writer to testify. This only
will he say : All phrenologists who have giv
en charts of his intellectual and moral devel
opments, represent him as very deficient in
self-esteem. He thinks, himself, that he es
teems himself fully as highly as he ought,
though he is conscious of ever feeling embar
rassment, when he rises to address a public
assembly. This has been noted by others,
and ascribed to his want of self-confidence.
But enough of the present writer. I have
said of him more than it was pleasant for me
to say, and perhaps more than it behooved
me to say.
The withholding from one a gift which he
is not qualified, physically, intellectually and
morally, to use profitably, is as certainly a
token of Divine favor, as the bestowal of a
gift upon one who is competent to use it aright.
A parent evinces his love to a child as well
when he withholds from it that which would
prove injurious,as when he bestows that which
he knows will be beneficial. He who is the
Giver of every good and perfect gift, is also
the Maker of all, (see John i: 3,) and, there
fore, knows best what to give and what to
withhold from us. In reference to spiritual
gifts, as well as to the question of life or
death, we should say,
“ The question I refer to Thee :
Great God, decide Thou it for me.
Thou knowest best—What in thy sight
Appeareth good, I know is right.”
It is with spiritual gifts as with temporal
blessings. They are bestowed according to
the sovereign will of God, and not according
to the merits of the recipients of them. If
the Lord bestows riches or honors upon one
man which He withholds from you, you do
not thence ihfer that the rich and honored are
more the favorites of heaven than you. Why,
then, should you infer that one who has re
ceived spiritual gifts which are withheld from
you, has found more favor with God than
you ? Look through your church; your
minister is a godly man, I trust, but can you
not find some humble member—perhaps some
sister Dorcas, or sister Mary—to whom the
gift to preach has not been granted, whom
you believe to be as pious, and, consequently,
as much the object of a Saviour’s love as
your minister? There are but few godly
ministers, if any, who will claim to be more
the favorites heaven than are many of those'
to whom they are called to dispense the truths
of God’s word. The few—if such there be
—who esteem themselves bettei than others,
we have cause to fear, are wolves in sheep’s
clothing—hirelings who seek the fleece and
not the flock. They evidently have not re
ceived the grace of God which leads ODe to
esteem others better than himself.
I know of no Scripture that would justify
one in expecting extraordinary visions of God
and His glory, but—blessed be God !—there
are many passages of Scripture which will
justify any every true believer in expecting
that God will manifest Himself—His pres
ence and His glory—to him, if he is careful
to keep himself in the love of God, and to
manifest that love by keeping His command
ment3. (Read John xiv.) These manifesta
tions of the Saviour, and indwelling of the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, when we are
conscious of them, produce emotions as inde
scribable as are those produced by extraor
dinary visions. They are the same in char
acter, though they may differ in degrees ol
intensity.
If there be one professor of religion who
can look back and not recall seasons when he
coujd realize the presence of the Saviour, and
derive inexpressible happiness from commun
ing with Him, I fear for and pity him. I fear
he has been all his life grasping at a shadow,
instead of clasping the substance in his arms;
and I pity him, for, if such be the case, he
must be still a stranger to that peace which
Jesus’ grace imparts —a peace that surpasseth
all understanding—a peace that the world
can neither give nor take away. But Ido
not despair of him. There yet is help for
him in Jesus. As long as the gospel trumpet
sounds, l know the gates of gospel grace are
standing open, night and day—that Jesus is
dispensing from the mercy seat pardon and
peace, life and light, honor and glory, to all
who seek Him with their whole heart.
O that I could write some word that would
arouse to a sense of their danger and true in
terests, those who are sleeping under the
shadow of Him who is standing by, bidding
them awake, arise, look and live, ere He turns
away and leaves them to perish in their sins
But sometimes Christians deprive them
selves of much of the consolations of the gos
pel by indulging a distrustful and discontent
ed disposition. Because they have not re
ceived all the grace—or all the gifts—that
others have received, they will not enjoy what
(hey have. Because they have not reeeired
extraordinary visions, not promised them,
they will not seek to possess and enjoy those
manifestations of the Divine presence and
glory that are promised to the obedient.
Tbjv act like one who down to a table
bountifully supplied with choice viands, bul
because he sees not on it a dish he has
seen on the table of others, and which he
covets, he will not partake of the savory food
before him. Christian reader, is it decorous,
is it wise, is it profitable to thee, to assimilate
thyself to such an one? Improve the gifts
and graces imparted to thee, and more shall
be given as thou hast need of them; neglect
to improve them, and that which thou hast
shall be taken from. thee. So teaches the
Word of God. Take heed to its teachings.
There is this difference in the extraordinary
ar.d ordinary revelations which God makes ot
Himself and of His glory to believers. In
the one case, the favored individual loses all
consciousness of his connection with a body
of flesh and blood. In the other case, he re
tains a consciousness of that connection, and
feels that he is thereby trammelled, in so
much that he cannot praise God as he ought,
or attain to that perfection of bliss after which
his soul aspires.
With this article, I dismiss the subject of
visions. I have communicated only such
things as I believe I have been taught by the
Spirit of God, through my own experience
and observation. 1 might have gathered
from the Word of God all the truths I have
communicated, but, not being an apt scholar,
the Lord sent me to the school of experience,
to have them drilled, as it were, into my ob
tuse intellect and sin hardened heart. The
Teacher in this school —the school of experi
ence—is the same who teaches through the
written word. May the Lord bless the truth
and make it effectual to the putting down of
the stronghold of Satan in the heart, counter
act all errors, and make us all—readers and
writer wise unto salvation.
Abdiel Nekoda.
My Need.
0 Saviour, I have nought to plead
In earth beneath or heaven above,
But just my own exceeding need,
And Thy exceeding love.
The need will soon be past and gone,
Exceeding great, but quickly o’er:
The love, unbought, is all Thine own,
And lasts forevermore.
Congregationalist.
A Peck of Rye.
Now', Mr. Farmer, don’t prick your ears
to hear how much grazing a peck of rye af
forded, and how many bushels it yielded when
harvested. That i9 not my object; 1 just
have a little story to tell.
Once in the annals of preaching, a preacher
had served “a church” faithfully for years
without compensation. Deacons A. and B.
felt guilty for neglecting a duty so palpable,
and they consulted, and resolved to bring the
matter before “the church at the next con
ference,” and see what could be done for their
uncomplaining and faithful preacher. Confer
ence came, and no sooner did the preacher
arrive than he wa3 taken aside by deacon A.
and an honest confession made of his own
guilt, and tnat of the whole church, with a
speedy promise of amendment.
“ This day,” said he, “it shall come be
fore the church, and something sharp shall be
done. But before we go in, l wish to say a
word or two to your advantage. A good rye
patch,” continued the thoughtful deacon, “ is
the best thing in the world for grazing. You
know what good slock I always have, and
you can have the same, if you will sow as l
tell you, and I have concluded to give you a
peck to begin with, as you are such a faithful,
good preacher.” Due thanks were returned
by the quiet preacher.
After sermon, conference came on, where
upon deacon B. rose to lay the matter before
the church. But deacon A, supposing deacon
B. was about to compete with him in the rye
line, interrupted him : “ Stop, brother 8.,
that matter is ail arranged.” And deacon 8,,
thinking deacon A. had been kind and thought
ful enough to arrange the whole thing of the
pastor’s support, closed down, and the paster
got a peck of rye for all his arduous labors.
It is thought there are many peck-of-rye
churches in the world. H, E. T.
Excursion of the Sfeior Class of Mercer
University.
Fur some years before the war, it was my
custom to make a short excursion with the
Senior Class, just afiLr their linai examina
tion. Since the custom has, fur
obvious reasons, beens' 1 more honored in the
breach than the observance.” This year,
however, a short trip to Stone Mountain and
to Atlanta, with 16 members of the class,
though mostly benefict&l to us in the recre -
tion it afforded, has produced some results
whic-h may be worthy of public notice.
About the only series purpose connected
with thp jaunt, was tf.4 measurement of the
height of Stone Mountain. Tnis height is
stated very variously. and >o far as we have
learned, no accurate have here
tofore been made. Ir’ »*» r hite’s Historical
Collections, there isgiv i a round estimate—
It is said to be 3,000 feet high.” White's
Statistics of Georgia -J to greater
particularity: “It is Sij.i to be 2,226 feet
above the creek, and is ff-ven miles in circum
ference.” In striking contrast with this, old
residents at the mountain claim a height of
1,000 to 1,100 feet. The smallest, equally
with the largest, are probably only guesses
at the height.
On the 9ih inst., we, measured two base
lines with a surveyor’s chain, and took the
necessary angles with a theodolite, from which
to compute the rails es the summit above
the elevation of the railroad track at the de
pot. It was necessary .40 choose some point
of reference, and this vas the most eligible,
because the height of the railroad at the de
pot above the ocean was already known.
The first base was treasured, on the hill
south of the depot, front of Mr. A. J.
Goldsmith’s residence, and in a line with a
flag-staff placed on the mountain.
This base was 417 feet-*,n length, on ground
somewhat uneven, and descending slightly
towards the mountain. By levelling back to
to the depot, the west end of the base was
found to be elevated 18 feet above that point.
Calculations made this base, and from
the angles of elevation at its two ends, give
568.40 feet .as the h of the mountain
above the rails of tht Georgia Railroad at
the depot. A second base was measured
from the depot, along die railroad track, at
right angles to the form ? base; and horizon
tal angles at the two emls, and the angle of
elevation at the depot, were determined with
the theodolite. This ba«-e was 988 leet long,
and along a surface alri >st truly horizontal.
From the greater of this base, and the
fact that the angles wer- all larger than in the
former case, the resulti*?hould be more ex
act. The height of tjj# mountain above the
rails, from this basest 541.07 feet. Com
billing the two, the Average height is 554.73
feet, or in the nearest i»v . 555 feet. Adding
to this 1,055 feet, whiofWjJiven in Bonner’s
map as the height of tlHKllroad above the
ocean, we have the summit of
Stone Mountain
This is a large subtraction from even the
lowest previous estimates; but, from the
near a accordance of the two independent
determinations, this reswiß cannot be very far
from the truth. With a base five miles in
circumference, and an altitude of 555 feet, the
mountain contains about one-tenth of a cubic
mile of granite. Formerly, this huge pile
was regarded merely as a unique marvel of
nature, to be gazed at by passers-by, and to
be visited by pic-nic parties. But the con
vulsions of the late war have had a wonderful
effect in attaching money values to many
things heretofore not regarded valuable.
Stone Mountain has not proved an exception,
and now rejoices in the value of
$60,000. It is owned and worked by a stock
company, whose head is in Louisville, Ky.
The company have capital and enterprise,
own five teams of mules and an incipient
railroad, employ a large number of stone
cutters, and are shipping fine granite blocks,
lintels, paving-stones, etc., to many cities in
Georgia, and even to Nashville and Louis
ville.
But it is to be hoped that it will not be
degraded to a mere granite quarry. Stone
Mountain is a great natural curiosity. It
stands alone as a great solitary peak of solid
rock, in an unmountainous country. In former
years, when it was crowned with a tower, and
when the objects of note on it were made
attractive and accessible, it was a popular re
sort for summer picnic parties from Middle
Georgia. Were a little capital to be expend
ed now, in a permanent stone tower on the
summit, in rustic arbors at intervals along
the ascent, and in opening walks and drives
around the base, and especially to the foot of
the overhanging precipice, on the north side,
it would again become the focus of excursion
parties, and even the tourist would turn aside
to spend a day amid its quiet attractions. A
beginning has been made in an excellent hotel
near the depot. Ours wa% the first party to
occupy its just finished saloons, and to be
welcomed by its brass band. It is a source
of pleasure to have this opportunity to ex
press to Col. J. J. Morrison our thanks for
many substantial favors extended to us.
The day after the measurements, we ran
up to Atlanta to visit the Rolling Mills and
other noteworthy objects, intending to return
to the Mountain by the afternoon train. But,
while engaged in our hasty rambles about the
city, we were waited upon by Mr. A. B.
Sharp, in behalf of several Baptist friends,
and urged to remain over night. A social
entertainment was given, in honor of us, at
Mr. Sharp’s; and, when we came to leave
the next morning, we learned that the pro
prietor of the United States Hotel had ex
tended gratuitous entertainment to all of our
company who had not found»homes with ac
quaintances. To all who so unexpectedly
contributed to a pleasant day and night at the
capital, we tender our warmest thanks
W hatever bid Atlanta, as a city, may give
for Mercer, the University can certainly claim
many staunch friends among her citizens.
J. E. W ILJ.ET.
Mercer University.
The Sum of the Decalogue—The Essence of
Religion.
1. “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy
self.” Who is our neighbor] The Saviour
explained that even a Samaritan was neighbor
to a Jew—that the Jews and Samaritans, be
tween whom there were no dealings, were
neighbors ; that is, no national, social, or re
ligious prejudices, can put parties out of the
pale of neighborhood ; that is, all mankind,
under all circumstances, are neighbors, and
owe the interest in each others* welfare, de
sribed in the text; and that seems fairly to
mean that lam bound to feel the same solid
tu'de for the temporal and eternal welfare of
all men—of every man —/ feel for my own.
So the words of the text quoted, seem fairly
to imply. I presume the only objection aris
ing in the heart is, that the requirement is so
extreme. Similarly, when Paul says ,“ l
could wish myself accursed from Christ, for
my brethren, my kinsman, according to
A., THURSDAY, JULY 1* 1870. Is3 00 J YE.IR.I WHOLE NO. 2486.
the flesh ” lhe t. m-. nu.rMs have busied
them- ,
“greater excommunication, ' that a sr V of
mind like theirs, of which he had had expi «•!.
ence, when of his brethren in blindness and
prejudice, or something else, I know not
what, of this sort, is meant, and nothing
mure. Why not let the words mean exactly
what they grammatically import ? Who told
you that Paul did not love his brethren
enough to be crucified, as Christ was crucified,
for them, if that would avail, or even t for
♦ ” separate from Christ for their sake
,’J t n o'ten suppose themselves substanti
ally M .?. ig this part of the law, and think
it suffiei ;as the ’young man who came to
the Saviour, to kt- w how he might inherit
eternal life. One thing he lacked—a love of
Christ and His commandment-', above all his
large earthly possessions. And then, this
position utterly ignores all the direct claims
of God upon the human heart: it makes of
man everything, and of God absolutely no
thing.”
2. “ Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God,
with all thy heart, and. with all thy mind,
and with all thy strength,” that is, with all the
powers of t v soul. Why ? The answer
would, perhaps, be because lie is my Creator,
Preserver, and Benefactor; “ the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” whom
His love gave for our redemption. This may
do provisionally ; but, strictly, He is entitled
to our unlimited love, because He is love—
because He is “merciful and gracious.” The
acts of favor referred to, are only illustra
tions of a character demanding our love and
worship. Os course, Ido not mean that the
reasons of obligation to unlimited love are ex
hausted in the above statement, but hinted,
and distinguished from the erroneous view
that the virtue and the grace are in the acts of
kindness. The demand in the text is, lap
preht-nd, often felt in the human heart to
be exorbitant. To love God, not only su
premely, more than father or mother or hus
band or wife, nay, more than all things else;
and, still farther, with all the powers of the
soul, and this unremittingly ! JCven so. We
answer all such cavils or secret complaints by
saying, we only offer such a Ood as an object
of worship as is worthy of all this love. Any
being below such perfections, were not the
God of the Bible, but a fiction of your own
imagination. Many, alas ! may worship some
deity, some Saviour, suited to their own fancy
and to the tastes of a corrupt heart, who is
no Saviour! This is not Jehovah Jesus, be
fore whom angels casts their crowns in unut
terable joy and heart whelming reverence.
We have heard of sinless perfection ! But
who ever lived as this glorious law requires?
And yet, what pious heart would have its
demands less? Our glory is, that the great
Propitiation satisfied this law for us. Wherein
we fall short, now that the Spirit enables us to
fulfil any part of its requirements, we have
an Advocate with the Father, who is our
resource.
“The kingdom of God is within you.” If
your religion is love of.God, revealed in Je
sus Christ—if the exercise of this holy affec
tion is your peace and unspeakable comfort,
heaven, the “ kingdom of God,” is begun in
your soul. If the claim upon you is felt to lie
exorbitant—if you do nut love in some meas
ure—all that you do love will presently perish.
E. B. Teague.
Be Strong.
Take thy staff, 0 pilgrim,
Haste thee on tiiy way;
Let the morrow find thee
Farther than to-day.
If thou seek the city
Os the Holden Street,
Pause not on thy pathway—
Rest uot, weary feet.
In the heavenly journey
Press with zeal along;
Resting will but weary,
Running make thee strong.
Mercer University.
Where shall it be located ? This is the
great question for the Baptist denomination ;
the most important which has demanded their
attention since the days of Mercer, and one
which, after a few weeks, will disturb this gen
eration no more. Several places, doubtless,
will apply—Marietta, Atlanta, Newnan, Gris
fin, Forsyth and Macon. In my judgment, all
the places mentioned, except Atlanta and Ma
con, are too small to meet the wants of the
denomination. We need a local patronage
sufficient to supply, in part, the deficiency of
endowment. This can be had only in a large
city. And then again, there are a thousand
influences to effect the interests of such an
Institution favorably in a large city, which do
not exist in small towns. And here allow
me to say, that while I favor its location at
Macon, I am not conscious of any personal
prejudice or partiality. I own no property
in any of the above named places, nor doji
expect to. I have no children to educate,
and if I had it would be a matter of indiffer
ence to which of these places the Institution
might go. In favor of Atlanta it can be said
it is healthy, large enough, and a good com
munity ; against it, that it will have the
Presbyterian College, and it is the seat of the
State Government. These to me are great
objections, though not insurmountable. But,
I ask the attention of the public, and of the
Committee, to the following considerations
in favor of locating in Macon :
Ist. It is the central city. The centre of
the State, as ascertained by the Legislature,
is only a few miles from Macon, in the edge
of Jones county. And as this is a State Institu
tion, while a Baptist one, it is well to locate
it centrally.
2nd. It is the Rail Road city. There are
now six great lines of rail road reaching Ma
con, with many branches. It is accessible
from Atlanta, Colum bus, Eufaula, Fort Gaines,
Albany, Thomasville, Florida, Brunswick, Sa
vannah and Augusta, with all intermediate
points. This surpasses any city in the State,
if not in the United States. These are not
little branch roads, but extended lines, and
connected with the great rail road system of
the United States of America.
3d. Macon will afford a good population
for such an Institution. I am satisfied that
no place, of the size of it, affords a better pop
ulation. It is an old, substantial commu
nity, possessing great moral and social vir
tues. There, also, our Baptist fraternity
ranks well. I will not say that they lead in
social and moral circles, but I do say that
the sons of Baptists sent there, from different
parts of the State, will not be mortified at
the social status of the denomination. And
there is, about the society of Macon, an up
ward tendency, a constant improvement.—
This arises from the fact that it affords such
facilities for investments of property, and
such ready aocess from all the surrounding
sections. Substantial planters are making it
their home.
4th. Macon is sufficiently large, at least,
for the beginning of such an Institution as we
propose to build. It extends from
tiful hills around For.. Hawkins, in Eagt%la
con, a distance of some three miles toWine
ville; occupying one of the most picturtmue
and beautiful sites anywhere to be found. -It
has a population large enough to supply al
most enough scholars for a college itself; and,
having no other male college, it would be
largely patronized by all.
sth. It is TIP' ■ •„• 4 ex*v?‘r within
s. cr- «Ijia . . .. C'tJitt 1 . a rru' •• -j
be xn o-jcction with hat. i.ot , ; th t:»c
writer, tor where .me negro Itoois, e.*«,ton
and money will be found; t*d "h ie they
are found boys can be, and will he sent to
college. The upper portion of the State will
never ass >rd many students to any im>titr*l'>n,
because they can never afford >he means with
which to pay the necessary expenses.
6. Again, Macon offers facilities for making
Mercer University what it professes to be—
i University. There, lam told, are ready fa
cilities for adding a Law and Medical depart
ment, and even an Agricultural. The Law
and Medical departments can be bad for our
Institution, I am told, without any expense to
us. And these should be joined to it, or else
the name of TJ,ti> sity should be ehm«ed.
7th. The people >f Macon desire it. Tb< y
have made a liberal subscription, and mani
fested a commendable zeal for its removal
there. That is a favorable omen. The Meth
odists have their Female College there, and
wish our Institution to afford equal facilities
for the education of young men. Os course
they would reciprocate in education with those
who p*':in ihair college. The people
know the .ntiuence such an Institution will
exert for the general prosperity of a city,
and, therefore, desire its location there.
Bth. The location is healthy. Some local
ities about the city can be found where a chill
could be had by seeking it; but the city, es
pecially the western hill portion of it, is re
markably healthy. Locate the University on
Tatnali Square, or the “ Bond Property,’* or
any such place, and no place in the country
would be more free from disease. There
will be fewer cases of pneumonia, and w inter
diseases, than in any city higher up thecountry.
The case as to health, however, is made out.
It has been proved, for more than a quarter of
a eeDtury, in the Female College there. Who
ever objected to Macon, on score of health,
when thinking of sending his daughters to that
Institution ? And, my dear sir, let me ask,
will it not be equally healthy for boys? Who
can say it will not? I know the ignorance
and prejudice of up country people. I have
lived amono them. They had almost rather
die there, than think of moving to Macon, or
especially farther down the country. They
can stand fever finely up the country, but if
they are attacked down about Macon, they
would certainly die. But, I ask the Commit
tee to consider the facts, and properly weigh
all considerations, when deciding a matter of
so much moment, as the location of our De
nominational College.
I have written this as one who loves the
cause of education, and the Baptist people.
I am in favor of that action, on the part.of
the committee, which will be best upon the
whole, and best forever. In the meantime, I
am with the Baptist family whether moving
or located ; and w hether located at Macon or
elsewhere. ’ '* Beta.
Humility,
The violet bows its lowly head,
And bends its yielding form;
While overhead, high towering oaks
Defy the’ embattled storm !
The tempest o’er, while shattered oaks
Their desolations mourn.
The violet lifis ils smiling face
Without a petal torn 1
— J. Wilson Ward, Jr.
History—lV.
History shows to us the instability of human j
affairs.
We see manifested in history, the fickleness
of popular feeling. Ancient Greece and an
cient Rome give illustrations of this. Into
what extremes did the ancients fall ! With
what malignity did they banish their public
men; with what tenderness did they recall
them ! With what vindictiveness did they
put them to death ; with what reverence did
they afterwards worship them ! We are here
reminded of an incident in the life of Paul.
“ When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks,
and laid them on the fire, there came a viper
out of the heat and fastened on his hand. And
when the barbarians saw the enormous beast
hang on his hand, they said, “No doubt this
man is a murderer, whom, though he hath es
caped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to
live. And he shook off the beast into the fire
and felt no harm. Howbeitthey looked when
he should have swollen or fallen down dead
suddenly; but after they had looked a great
while, and saw no harm come to him, they
changed their minds, and said that he was a
god.” (Actsxxviii: 1—6.)
Popular feeling among the Greeks and Ro
mans was almost as changeable as the feeling
of these people of the isle of Melita.
We give an extract from Plutarch concern
ing the death of Caesar. “ After Caesar was
killed, though Brutus came forward as if he
was going to say something about the deed,
the senators, without waiting to listen, rushed
through the door, and making their escape,
filled the people with confusion and indescri
bable alarm, so that some closed their houses,
and others left their tables and places of busi
nes3, and while some ran to the place to see
what had happened, others who had seen it
ran away. But Antoninus and Lepidus, who
were the chief friends of Caesar, stole away
and fled for refuge to the homes of other per
sons.” “ But when
the will of Caesar was opened and it was dis
covered that he had given to every Roman a
handsome present, and they saw the body, as
it was carried through the forum, disfigured
with wounds, the multitude no longer kept
within the bounds of propriety and order, but
heaping about the corpse, benches, lattices
and tables', taken from the forum, they set
fire to it on the spot and burnt it; then taking
the flaming pieces of wood, they ran to the
houses of the conspirators to fire them, and
others ran about the city in all directions,
seeking for the men to seize and tear them in
pieces.”
We see the same fickleness of popular feel
ing among the Jews. They killed the pro
phets and then would do honor to their mem
ory, by adorning their sepulchres. In the
life of the Saviour, at one time the multitude
cry “ hosannah, blessed is He that coineth in
the name of the Lord,” and they escort Him
in triumph to Jerusalem, as if to make Him
king; at another time the air is rent with the
cry of “crucify Him, crucify Him,” and they
hurry Him to Calvary, that lie might suffer
a malefactor’s death.
And as we examine history in modern
Europe, or in any of the republics of America,
we shall learn the same truth to which we
have adverted. Popular feeling “is like a
wave of the sea driven of the wind and
tossed.”
In the light of history we see of how shoi»t
duration are the kingdoms of the earth, and
how fleeting is human greatness.
Some of the most powerful kingdoms of
anchfiit times have long since ceased to exist.
the words —“ Troy was!"
Rome once the mistress of the world, and
Greeoe the home of the poet and the sage,
live only in the history of the past. The
glory of Egypt has departed. Persia and Bab
ylon have lallen. The kingdoms now in exist
ence must also come to an end. “ They all
do fade as a leaf,”* is written upon them all,
and upon * all the pomp and glory of the
same.
*• Passing away, passing away,” is inscribed
upon the most splendid pageants that have
• v?r attracted tin gaze of an admiring world,
i lie >ry of the statesman —how dim its lus
iro.yt hen contrasted with the “ eternal weight
of glory” yet to be revealed! The fame of
'he warrior—how short-lived and perishing,
when examined in the light of immortality !
The proudest monuments of art—how mean
their worth, when compared with the death
less spirit within ! “The fashion of this world
pass< th away.” That alone which has some
bearing on our eternal destinies will survive
the fluctuations of this mortal state.
“ We a billow wilh wonder and awe
Swelling high, as it breaks from the shore,
’ I’ll broken and lost, we lorget what we saw,
And think of that billow no more.
Hi - pomp of the great, so the tame of the brave,
£ > treasures of glorv and pride,
*..ev , unton the flood, like the high-swelling
w.ive.
Like it-t they must ebb with the tide.”
B. W. WniLbßN.
Marshallville, Oa.
Fear Not.
Great are 'hr b-llows,
And Ji-i-j,.; i tlieit shock,
Fear not, leal not.
The Lord is thy Rock.
Starless the welkin,
And ev’rywhere night,
Fear not. fear not.
The Lord is thy Light.
Though the kneep tremble,
• The cross sorely weigh,
Fear not, fear not.
The Lord is thy Stay.
Translated from the German of Friedrich Oter, by\3lr».
G. Anderson.
Reality.
Love thy God, and love Him only,
And thy breast shall ne’er be lonely.
In that one great Spirit meet
All things mighty, grave and sweet.
Vainly strives the soul to mingle
With a being of our kind;
Vainlv hearts with hearts are twined;
For the deepest still is single.
An impalpable resistance
Holds like nature at a distance.
Mortal! love that Holy Ooe,
Or forever dwell aione.
— A. De Fere.
Items.
Our Will. —Oar will is a little wheel re
volving in the watch, but God is the main
spring.
Well Said. —Wendell Phillips said in a
speech, not long since, that for every dollar
the devil spends in his cause, Christians should
feel it their duty to spend ten in their’s. Very
true, but they don’t.
A Female Blasphemer. —At the recent
anniversary of the New England Reform As
sociation, Boston, a Mrs. Heywood unblush
ingly said she “ believed in a divine Being,
but of late had been dissatisfied with Him.
If there was not a change fur the better soon,
she would tell God to take a back seat in the
.school house of heavtn.”
Rank —A very few years ago, I talked
with an Episcopal clergyman from the West,
and asked him if he had ever been in the
army. “Not 1!” he exclaimed; “I might
have gone as chaplain, but I had no notion of*
being outranked by the military /”— Abbott.
Good. — The Episcopal church in Ireland, as
we have sei*h by the reports of Conven
tion, have eliminated the word “priest” from
their Liturgy, and have declared that it is
never to be u»ed, or not to be used and un
derstood in a sacerdotal sense.
Heaven.— The Christian Register , Boston,
in reference to the “martyred heroes”—the
Federal soldiers who lost their lives in the
late war, says: “We. do not see how heaven
can be heaven to the : r grateful countrymen,
if such noble spirits are to be among the
missing there.”
Perversions. —There have been more per
verts from the Church of England to the
Romish Church during the last thirty years,
than during the previous three hundred years,
and the most alarming circumstance is the
changes in doctrine and ritual which have
come over the body of the Church of Eng
land itself.
Church Help. —lt is related of Dr. Ly
man Beecher that, while he was laboring most
successfully in the city of Boston, he was
asked how it was that J)0 was able to accom
plish so much. He replied, “It is not I that
do it; it is rny church. I,” continued he,
“ preach as hard as I can on Sabbath, and then
I have four hundred members who go out
and preach every day of the week.”
Sense of Pardon.— “ I have never been
able to gather a soul to Christ, except when I
was enabled to feel and to realize, as freshly
as though it were but yesterday, that God,
for Christ’s sake, had pardoned my sins.”
i’he power of the cross! The influence of
our first love to the crucified Redeemer!
“ As I Do.”—President Messer of Brown,
was a dreadfully awkward man, with all his
goodness, but luckily was unconscious of the
fact. One day a student who was declaiming
on the chapel stage “ lobstered” so with his
supernumerary hands and arms, as to arouse
the President to “ set hi.n a copy.” So, re
peating the sentence which needed the illus
tration of gesture, and at the same time
striking out in a manner suggestive of a cross
between the swoop of a wind mill arm and
the frenzy of a pump handle, the Doctor in
sisted : “Do it gracefully. It is just as easy
to do a thing gracefully as ungracefully— do
it as I do /”
Romish Education. —Dr. Brownson, the
distinguished pervert to Romanism, in his
Quarterly Review for January, 1862, said :
As far as we are able to trace the effect of the
most approved Catholic education of our day,
whether at home or abroad, it lends to repress
rather than quicken the life of the pupil, to
unfit rather than prepare him for the active
and zealous discharge either of his religious or
social duties. They who are educated in our
schools seem misplaced and mistimed in the
world, as if born and educated for a world
that has ceased to exist.
Piety (?) without Giving. —A Boston pa
per mentions an individual there who “ cla>ps
his hands so fervently ir. prayer, that he can’t
get them open when the contribution box
comes around.” In another column, mention
is made of a gentleman who hadn’t time to
relieve an urgent case of destitution, because
he was on the way to address a society for
the relief of the poor. We wonder if this is
the person referred to above.
Methodist Probationers. —Of the North
ern Methodist church, the N. Y Methodist
says: “ During ten years, from 1856 to 1865
inclusive, our minutes reported 1,206,145
probationers, while the net increase of church
members for the same time was only 172,-
296, or one-seventh of the number taken on
probation; thus making the average number
of probationers received each year over one
hundred thousand, but the average annual in
crease in membership only a little over seven
teen thousand.” For three years, from 1866
to 1868 the probationers amounted to 530,-
136, and the accessions to membership to
243,599: a more hopeful showing—but the
difference grows out of the gain from Southern
and African Methodist churches, who were not
subjected to probationship.