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INDEX AND BAPTIST.
JET, D. E. BUTLER Manning Editor.
ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
Hr> fi. Cr. Hn.i.VER., D.D Forsyth, Georgia.
05 j, fi, IjAwtok Atlanta, Georgia.
*jr. G. A. Ncnn.u.i.t '. —ltome, Georgia.
: kOTHiR C. M. Irwin, Agent for
Foreign Missions, requests the clerks
of Associations to send copies of min
rtcs to him, care Index office, Atlan
ta, Ga. It is very important that he
should have the minutes of every As
so ation in the State.
SOUL qt’ERIKS ANSWERED.
Brothfr Editor*— While I would not be
tote troublesome, and in as m icli rs I am
ilwjyr witling to imparl instruction according
o mV ability io those asking it, I am the more
boh; to ask it of you. What I want is ju.n
shl* : What relation did the twelve a post!
rjßf.iin to Christ before His (Christ's) death
an : resurrection ? Did they mstain a different
relation to Christ after the day of Pentecost to
:hsf sustained before the passion? Were
she/ converted ? changed ? born again before
His crucifixion ?
I sometimes become perplexed in my mind,
and I am obliged to seek the way out. Like
eke poor Ethiopian, the question is, “how can
I, except some man guide me?” lam always
persuaded there is, like on that occasion, some
im at bis post.
Please answer through The Index, and
♦bilge yours in Christ.
A. J. Cooper.
Wo will endeavor to answer the quer
ies above stated in their order.
1, The twelve apostles, while Christ
eontinued with them, sustained to Him
the relation of disciples; that is, they
were learners and tie was their teacher.
Tht word “disciple" means learner or
pupil. For three years they were His
eoropanion*, and He unfolded to them
His words of truth—teaching them the
right knowledge of God, and of our
flutj to Him, and to one another, and
ifce way of salvation.
2. After the day of Pentecost, they
still continued to be His disciples ; but
sol exactly in the same way. His
• dily presence was no longer with
them j but He sent upon them the Holy
Ghost—thespiritof truth—who should
beach them all things, nnd bring all
things to their remembrance which
Christ had said to them. Thus, under
the guidance of that blessed Spirit,
tbej continued to be learnors—disci.
Me*. But on that day they became
Hi* 'fitnesses also. They were endow*
•and with power from ‘Heaven, and
i thed with authority to make known
to mankind the glorious Gospel of the
blessed God, became em
bassadors] for Christ, to beseech tnen,
in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to
God, and to set up His kingdom in the
earth, and to set in order all things
pertaining to it, to be continued till the
#nd of time. Without losing the rela
tion of disciples, they wore advanced to
the higher and more important rela
tions of witnesses, messengers and em
bassadors. Hence they were called, par
MceUence aposti-bs.
Iu answer to the third question we
give it as our opinion that they were
all, except Judas, truly and actually
"regenerated," “changed," “convert
ad,” before the Saviour’s crucifixion.
Wiiy should we doubt it, P While it is
true that the Holy Ghost was mani
fested, on the day of Pentecost, iu a
aiost wonderful degree, we are not to
suppose that its work of regeneration
had never been performed till then.
The fact is, the Holy Spirit has been
the agent iu the work of revealed re
ligion through al 1 the ages. When the
disciples heard the voice of the Saviour
vailing them to follow Him, they at
•nee arose and followed Him. Wbat
secret influence controlled their ac
tion* ? It was the Spirit which moved
them to go. Some left their fishing
nets and their father, others whatever
avocation may have previously engaged
them. Even Matthew, the tax gather
•i, sitting at the receipt of custom, ab
sorbed in his finances, when Jesus said
follow me, arose and followed him.
The whole purpose of his life was
ehanged in a moment. To account for
such sudden changes, we must suppose
a divine influence. Thtet influence
enabled them to sos through all the
disguises of His poverty and His hu
miliation, the Son of God in the person
of the lowly Jesus. That same influ
ence enabled them to refer His miracles
which they witnessed to Divine Power.
Hence they believed on Him. The
Saviour’s own words corroborate this
view. Speaking to Peter, He said:
“Blessed art thou Simon Bar Jonah,
for flesh and blood hath not revealed
it onto thee, but my Father which is
in Heaven.” What was true of Peter,
was true of all who believed on Him.
Other passages might be cited to show
the same thing. Hence, we conclude
that the twelve apostles, Judas except
ed, were truly regenerated before the
Saviour’s death.
THE CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTHWESTERN BAPTIST.
MIRACLES AND PROPHECIES COMPARED.
We use these terras in their popular
acceptation as denoting different things.
Strictly speaking, prophecies are also
miracles, yet the latter term is usually
applied to those works which cannot be
accounted for except upon the supposi
tion of a supernatural exercise of Divine
power; while prophecies are such pre
dictions of future events as cannot be
explained, except upon the supposition
of Divine foreknowledge. This dis
tinction is sufficient to justify the ap
plication of the one term to things
done, and the other to things foretold.
They agvee in this, that both must be
referred to Divine agency. And they
agreealso in this, that both are designed
to establish the faith of mankind in
the truth of revealed religion. Jesus
appealed to His works as proof of His
Divine mission, saying: “The works
which the Father hath given me to
finish, the same works that I do, bear
witness of me that the Father hath
scat me.” (John v : 3fi.) Then speak
iug of His betrayal, He says : “ Now I
toll you before it come, that when it is
come to pass ye may believe that I am
He." The works referred to were mir
acles ; the prediction was a prophecy.
The design of both was to confirm their
faith in Him as the “ sent of God.”
In prosecuting a comparison of these
two methods of proof, we notice in the
next pilace wherein they differ. Mira
cles are addressed to eye witnesses. To
them they ought to be a sufficient proof.
Those persons who witnessed the mira
cles of Christ had the most convincing
evidence of His truth, and upon every
principle of common sense and of sound
philosophy they ought to have believed
in Him. If their minds had not been
occupied by preconceived opinions, and
their hearts swayed by a corrupt de
pravity, full of all prejudice and malice’
they would have believed. Those works
surely left the spectators without ex
cuse. But whoa the works were re
ported to others, separated from the
spectators by distance of time or place,
the proof was at once affected by the
well known uncertainties which often
attach to human testimony. The fur
ther the testimony is removed from the
facts affirmed, the wider room is there
for that uncertainty to enter in, and
thus to suggest doubt and unbelief.
Iu such cases it requires the most care
ful tlte most 'candid state
of mind to appreciate the strength of
the testimony, and to clear it of all the
mists which the known fallibility of
men may throw around it.
True, wo believe, Mr. Hume to the
contrary notwithstanding, that the
testimony for the miracles of the Bible
is such, that a careful and candid re
search should induce conviction. But
unfortunately, men are not generally
careful or candid in religious matters.
And when they are so, they are often,
for the want of proper information,
wholly incompetent to examine the
natuve of the testimony in the light of
history aud logic.
Let us now consider the nature of
prophecy. It is not addressed to one
generation, or to one locality. The Old
Testament is a body of prophecies.
Many of them relate to events which
occurred before the Christian era.
While those to whom they were ad
dressed could uot live to see them ful
filled, yet impressed by the holy call’ng
and character of those who uttered
them, and often still more impressed
by the miracles which they were per
mitted to perforin in the name of
Jehovah, the hearers wore able to believe
and to look for the fulfilment of the
prophecies. But the proof was not
complete, till in after ages, these won
derful predictions were, one by one, ful
filled. To illustrate what we have
said take the book of Daniel. It con -
tains among others, a prophecy of the
conquests of Alexander, and of his
successors, reaching through a period
of several hundred years.
When the prophet uttered those pre
dictions, the people who heard hitn,
could have no higher evidence that
they would be fulfilled, than the proof
which he gave by miracles of his being
a messenger of God. The interpreta
tiou of the king's dream, the reading
of the inscription on the wall, and his
passing a night unharmed in the lions’
Jeu, were such works as showed that
God was with him of a truth. Those,
therefore, who were witnesses of his
works might credit his predictions.
But that generation soon passed away ;
the testimony in support of his mir&.
cles was soon impaired by time and
distance. But then his book remained;
in it appeared the predictions; they
began to be fulfilled. As years rolled
on, the fulfillment was more and more
apparent, and thus furnished to suc
ceeding generations proof that the
writer was inspired. The lapse of time
has no effect to lessen the force of this
proof. We still have the book of Daniel;
its composition and language go far
towards fixing its date %nd its author.
It was written in Hebrew, yet it abounds
in Chaldee words and phraaes. Hence
it was written by a Jew who must have
lived in Babylon—whose native lan
guage was Hebrew, but who was also
familiar with Chaldee. These facts
go to show that the book could not
have been written later (ban the early
years of the Persian empire, which
succeeded the Babylonian.
At the time when these prophecies
were uttered, the Persian empire was
the strongest on earth. Greece was in
its infancy. Upon every principle of
human probability, the most unlikely
thing that one would of at that
time, was that an adventurer from
Greece would overthrow the empire of
the great king. Yet there it is in that
old bock—a clear, distinct foreshadow
ing of coming events reaching through
several centuries of ti gftt Jewish,
Greciau and Homan historians bear
witness, without intending it, to the
general accuracy of the prophecies of
Daniel in foretelling the career of Al
exander and his successors. He could
foreknow these events by no human sa
gacity. Such foreknowledge can be
accounted for only upon the supposi
tion of Divine inspiration. Hence
Daniel was inspired.
Once more, this method of proof has
a retrospective power. The fulfilment
of prophecy establishes, as we have
just seen, the inspiration of the proph
et. But his inspiration secures him
against the possibility of wilful false
hood. When, therefore, he tells us that
three young men were thrown into a
fiery furnace, and were saved from the
flames by the presence of a fourth per
son, who was like the Son of Man, we
are bound to believe him. Jf that
event did not occur, Daniel was a liar;
if he was a liar he was not inspired ; if
ho was not inspired he could not fore
tell future events; but he did foretell
future events, therefore, the event did
occur as ho described it. ("Ehi* argu
ment logicians call a dcsteACve con
unriAiis ) it^it
ust be shown that thl^Jßmecies
iied. A like argument would prove
every miracle that Darnel records.
Thus it is manifest that prophecy has
a retrospective power to establish our
faith in the wonderful facts recorded in
the Holy Bible. And thus to establish
our faith in revealed religion.
We have more to say on this subject,
but want of space compels us to defer
doing so till next week.
ANOTHER GREAT EVIL.
Much has been done to stop the sale
and distribution of obscene literature,
and not ono effort too many has been
put forth against this prolific source of
vice and crime. There is another evil
which should be regarded as belonging
to the satno class, and against which
our efforts should be directed. We al
lude to the indecent pictures ko pleuti
ful in shop windows, in counting rooms,
and on the street corners. Though not
so powerful, perhaps, this evil is more
widespread, and, doubtless, just as pro
ductive of immorality. The beautiful
form of woman is prostituted to do the
work of advertising a brand of cigars
or soap, or yeast powders, a patent
medicine, and a thousand other articles
of merchandise. The coming of min
strel troupes, and other troupes, is
published by half, and more than half,
nude forms in the shop windows of our
cities. At the street coruyjp, aud in
every public place, the same displays
meet the eve, until a man is made to
blush for his race and age. We have
seen pictures in the windows and on
the walls of stores in our own city—
that would have done credit to a vo
luptuous city of twenty centuries ago.
That these objects exert a pernicious in*
flueueonone large class of society will
be acknowledged by every honest, think*
ing man. Men may say “evil to him
who evil thinks, and “to the pure all
things are pure,” but these are mere
apologies for au excuse. It is an evil,
a great evil, as every candid man will
acknowledge; and one wljich every
lover of morality should strieis to put
down. We have no law to interfere, but
merchants can at least deny to these
shameful exhibitions a place in their
houses. They may be seen in the
houses of good men—Christian men.
Let them be seen no longer. Harbor
no longer such an enemy to the mors
ality aud purity of society.
TOO MANY CIinUHIS.
The Committee on Destitution re
ported the following resolutions to the
Genera! Association of Illinois :.
1. That the weak churches near each oth
er unite to form self-sustaining churches.
2. Tiiat churches not able to sustain a
p-istor alone, nor to unite in organization
with some other, join with some neighbor
ing church in supporting a pastor, who shall
conduct weekly or bi-weekly services in
both churches,
3. That to encourage these churches and
arouse them to this work,(l) pastors of self
sustaining churches do missionary work
amoDg the weaker churches in their vicinity,
and (i) tliri laymen in all the churches be
called upon to conduct prayer, and otlic
meetings, at home and abroad.
These suggestions are worthy of
careful attention. They are offered as
a solution of one of the great problems
now before our churches. The first
recommendation would remove one
great cause of destitution. We have
too many churches. Zeal to extend
the Kingdom of Christ is very com
mendable, but we fear some have
shown a zeal that was “ not according
to knowledge.” An army may be so
spread out as to lose its efficiency and
power; and the same result will follow
an unwise increase in the number of
our churches. In a certain city of our
State there is sufficient Baptist strength
to support four good pastors. Their
strength is, however, divided among
seven churches, and the result is that
only two pastors are supported, the
third receives a partial support,
and the other four churches are almost
“ destitute,” not able to pay pastors,
and hence dependent upon voluntary
work from ministers having other
charges. Four churches would more
effectually and successfully occupy the
field than the seven. This same spirit
of conquest has been operating in the
country also. At an Association,
which we recently attended, the mis
sionary of the body reported four new
churches aggregating twenty-eight
members. One of these reported
three. Of course there are instances
when it may be wise to organize a
church with a very small number; but
there is no doubt about the fact, that
our cause has been weakened by mul
tiplying churches. We trust that the
course recommended above may ac
complish good in Georgia, as well as in
Illinois.
SKLECTHki PASTOR.
The Association
at its recent session, discussed “ freely
and practically” the “ mutual relation
of pastor and people.” One thought
advanced was that the church should
have a day of fasting and prayer, and
that choice of a pastor should be
made in a spirit of humble submission
to the will of God. A correspondent
of the Beacon mentions this thought
as in strange contrast to the modern
mode of “ hearing candidates for the
pastorate,” and “hiring a preacher.”
It is a striking contrast. The view
presented at the Association shows
appreciation of the relation existing
between pastor and people, while the
modern plan lowers the dignity and
importance of both church and preach
er. The indifference and carelessness
of some, and what is worse, the parti
san efforts of others in electing a
pastor, betray a shameful inapprecia
tion of the office. The settlement of
a pastor is an event of momentary
concern to both parties to the con
tract. The nature and power of his
influence, and the work to be accom
plished, combine to make this position
the most important in any community.
A church is never called upon to act
in a matter of greater concern than the
selection of a pastor. Upon this ac
tion depends, under God, the spiritual
growth of the members, the concern
of sinners, and the building up of the
church. Carelessness, indifference, or
a spirit of rivalry may lead to the
calling of one wholly unfitted for the
field which he is to cultivate. Those
bits of paper, placed in the hat, are
forces which are to put in motion in
fluences whose results eternity alone
can unfold. How prayerfully should
we consider the question ! With what
submission and faith should we look
to God for guidance at such a time !
We should not dare to touch, in our
own strength, and guided by our own
wisdom, tlie-e springs that are to
vibrate throughout eternity.
—We learn, from the Excelsior News , that
the churches at Watermelon Creek and Phil
adelphia, in Tatnall county, have had revivals.
Several have been baptized at both places by
tbeii pastor, Elder A. Weathers.
—The Chatahoocnee Association has in
vited the churches of North Grorgia to send
each a delegate to a general meeting at Hope
well church, Hall county, next July, to take
into consideration some plan by which they
may promote more eflectually the cause of
missions.
DOCTRINAL SESSIONS.
Doctrinal sermons are usually poor. The
best preaching has nothing to do with doc
trines, for doctrines, after all, are of no im
portance. ~Ex:hange.
We clip the above from an exchange,
and it seems to us impossible to con
dense more errors into the same space,
than this editor has done. We would
reverse his assertion in every particu
lar, and write it in this form : Doctrin
al sermons are usually good. The best
preaching has most to do with doctrines,
for doctrines, after all, are the grand
essentials to the soul’s salvation.
The editor has well expressed the
conviction of many church-going pec -
pie, and for all that, the conviction of
many who are church members. And
in many instances the Pulpit has
yielded to the pressure which comes
from these classes, and in yielding, the
preacher has lost his power, and his
ministry has become a useless append
age to society. The members who sit
under such preaching, are generally of
little worth to the cause of Christ.
They know nothing, for they have been
taught nothing. They do nothing, for
the placitudes of the pastor have point
ed out nothing to be done. They be
lieve nothing, for no doctrine has been
presented which commands their faith.
Ask such a one “ what do you be
lieve ?” He answers, “ I believe what
my church believes.” You inquire,
“ what does your church believe ?” He
replies, “it believes what I do.” You
ask again, “well, what do you both
believe?" And you get the satisfactory
and conclusive answer, “we both believe
the same thing.” Such is the result
of that “ best of preaching which has
nothing to do with doctrines." The
hearer simply knows that there are
different denominations in the world,
and this he would not know if they
did not have different places of wor
ship,and different ministers to officiate.
He does not know what other denomi
nations believe and teach, any more
than he does his own. He knows that
somewhere in the past, there were such
men as Paul and Peter and James, but
of what they taught and believed, he
is wofully ignorant.
Let the secular press say what it
will; let our policy brethren wince as
much as they please; let the uncertain
members criticise as severely as they
Xhoose, still it is best to follow Paul‘S
injunction io Timothy, “preach the
Word” and taking the Apostle to the
Gentiles as our example, we should
“ Shun not to declare the whole counsel
of God,” and thus we shall fulfill the
commission which requires us “to
teach all things whatsoever I have com
manded you.” Then shall we be “pure
from the blood of all men, and our
brethren will be able to give a reason
for the hope that is in them.”
MISS LOTTIE MOON.
A young man—a member of the
Second Baptist church, of this city—
writing from Virginia, says this : “It
was mv pleasure to meet Miss Lottie
Moon. Dr. Tupper invited me to call
to see her at his home, as she stopped
there the day she was passing through
Richmond. I was certainly charmed
with her. She impresses one at once
with a conviction of her very superior
character. She is simply a grand wo
man. She is a fine talker, and possess
ed of wondet ful mental resources. She
alluded beautifully to our Georgia
ladies, and particularly to those of the
Second Baptist church. She asked me
to say to them that it was greatly her
preference to be retained as their mis
sionary, rather than be changed to that
of Virginia alone, and she so expressed
herself to the ladies of the Society when
she met them in Richmond,
She thinks it decidedly advisable to
take the money raised to build her a
new house, and buy instead, and take
possession of, the property alreadv
partly owned aud paid for by the Mis
sion Board. This, she says, is much
more valuable than a house built with
the amount raised, and would be ready
for use at once. The Virginia ladies
have consented to the proposition, and
it only waits the sanction of the
Georgia ladies.”
The general Convention of the
Protestant Episcopal church which has
been in session for some weeks at Bos
ton, adjourned last Tuesday. Among
the important results of the Conven
tion’s deliberations is the sanction given
to lay preaching and to greater liberty
in the use of the prayer-book in de
parting from the rubrics when neces
sary to shorten the service.
—The ladies of the Jonesboro Baptist
church are going to renovate the house.
GEORGIA BAPTIST NEWS. ~
—We learn from the Greensboro Harold
that brother C. H. Strickland h?s t:-n rilled
to one of the churches in Augusta, and to the
church at Albany.
—The movement to establish a Ministers’
Library for the Coosa Association is meeting
with success, as appears from this item in the
LaFayeile Messenger:
Rev. T. C. Tucke- preached at the Baptist
church on last Sunday night, and, after the
nerraon, delivered a short lecture in the inte
r „ of the Ministers’ Library for the Coosa
Association, which resulted in a very prompt
and liberal subscription to this enterprise.
The Union Association convened on Satur
day before the third Sunday in October, at
Poplar Spring, Bullock county. The intro
ductory sermon was preached by brother W.
L Geiger. Brother Miller was chosen mod
erator, and brother Geiger clerk. The busi
ness of the Association was transacted pleas
antly, and in a manner
ing interest in the work. wa ,
earnest and forcible. Brother dlßfclrwin
was specially requested to speak on Missions
and also to explain the organization and ob
jects of the State Convention, as this body has
never joined our State organization. As ths
result of brother Irwin’s addre-a, a libera:
voluntary contribution was made to Missions,
and the body, by an almost unanimous vote,
determined to become a constituent member of
the Georgia Baptist State Convention. These
indications give promise that the Association
is entering upon an era of greater activity aad
use ulness in the cause of Christ. The hospi
tality of the citizens of the community w a(
unbounded, and delegates and visitors will long
rememt jr with pleasure the Union Association
meeting of 1877.
—The Ebenezer Association met at Dublin,
on Saturday before the fourth Sunday in Octo
ber. After listening to a fine sermon fro*
brother Ivey, of Gordon, the body organized
by re-electing the former officers, brother G.
R. McCall moderator, and brother W. D. Horn
clerk. The meeting was harmonious and very
interesting, and the preaching excellent. Bro.
Irwin, who was in attendance, says that the re
ports on Temperance and Missions wer#
among the best he has ever heard in any Asao
ciation or Convention. Many of the chnrche*
reported gracious revivals during the year.
The amounts contributed to the various benev
olent objects were about the same as last year,
—New Hope Association (colored), con
vened in Lithonia on October 19tb. Tb*
former officers, Rev. J.M. Jones, moderator,
and brother A. A. Blake, clerk, were re-elected
Thirty-seven churches were represented, and
four new churches applied for membership iu
the body. There were pretent seventy-three
delegates. The amounts contributed for mit
sionary purposes were small, but, from the in
creased interest manifested in this subject,
there will no doubt be very great improve
ment at the next meeting. The business ot
body was transacted with nmj*u£l haruvsr.y
and good tecling. An animated discussion oc
curred on the subject of the Theological Wti.
lute which the State Convention contemplate*
establishing. The Association was well cared
for by the good brethren of Lithonia, and those
pment will not soon forget their kindness.
The session of 1878 will be held with the
church at Campbelllon.
—Rev. John A. Harris, writing from Madi
son, says: “We had a gracious revival at
Rehoboth church, Jackson county, in August
last. The meetings continued six days, dur
ing which nineteen were added to the mem
bership by baptism. We expect others to join
by lettei at our next monthly meeting. May
the good Lord continue to bless and save *in
uers.”
New Prospect church, Walker county,
organized on Saturday before the first Sunday
in September, now has a large and flourishing
Sunday-school.
—Antioch Church, Walker county, will
soon occupy their new house of worship. It
is a comfortable, well built house, 40x60 feet,
witb raised fl >or. At a recent meeting th#
pastor, brother J. M. Robertson, received, ia *
few minutes, a contribution of over s3oo—the
amount required to complete the erlifiee
Speaking of this church reminds us that th#
superintendent of the Sunday-school at An
tioch wants brother T. C. Boykin to come np
aud identity ttie twenty-seven recruits enlisted
by him during his former much-appreciated
visit.
During the session of Union Assr-ciatioß,.
at Poplar Spring church, brother J. A. Scar
boro was ordained by a presbytery composed of
brethren C. M. Irwin, G. W. Smith, J. R. Mil
ler and \Y. L. Geiger. The examination w,n
mainly conducted by brother Bmith. Brother
Irwin oflered the prayer, and delivered a plaie,
forcible charge to the candidate, after which
the hand of leHow-hip was extended by the
presbytery and church. The exercises closed,
as usual, by benediction from the brother or
dained.
—Our venerable brother Rev. James Bar
row, is meeting with good success in his la
bors. The Warrenton Clipper says: “He i*
doing a good work in Warren, both for Tire
Index and for the souls of his hearers. We
hope he will meet an abundant reward wher
ever he goes.”
Brother John M. Webb, writing from
Roswell, Cobb county, October 28th, says: “I
have just closed another eight days’ meeting
at this place, or rather eight nights ; for the
work of manufacturing was compelled to be
carried on, and, although it was after 8 o’clock
before the congregation could meet, we had
another glorious time, the result of which
was, sixteen by experience, and four by letter,
which, added to thirty-eight by experience
and otherwise, alluded to in a former number
of your valuable paper, makes fifty-eight since
August 16th, this church, having, perhaps,
doubled its number. The prospect is yet
very favorable, the meeting closing with abont
twenty-five at the altar for prayer.”