Newspaper Page Text
None can deny thin being done and commanded
•f the Savior to iris Apostles. How tlren could
they teach baptized believers to observe all things
mriita?.oever ‘Olmstlmd commanded tlrem, if they
<iid not, teach them to observe washing one anoth
er’s feet as Cluist had done to them ? If Christ
had washed their feet literally and commanded’
them to do the same, and then commanded them
to teach Christians to observe a*l things whatsoever
he had commanded them, could they carry out
that command without teaching feet washing?—
But we are told that there is no mention made of
it as heing p-noticed by the churches only whew
Paul mentions it in l Tim. v. 10. Even this case
shows that it was a practice to “wash {he saints’
feet,” and well understood 4*y them. Had it not
been a practice well iknown, and well •a-cdetstood,
what could Timothy have learned by this hare
mention of it ? “If she have lodged si rangers, if she
have washed the saints'’ feet.” We see that wash
ing the saints’ feet is mentioned by Paul in distiwc
tion from the act of hospitality in lodging stran
gers. While we should not be forgetful to enter
tain strangers, whether sasnts or sinners, the wash
ing one another’s feet is confined to the saints. It
washing feet is simply an act of hospitality for the
comfort of travelers, then we should wash sinners
feet also, for we are .to do good unto all men as we
have opportunity, but especially unto the house
hold of faith.
I cannot view that though John wrote after the
other Apostles were deed, that the g >spel church
was compelled in all the doctrine and order of the
gospel without his gospel, the three Epistles he
wrote and the. Revelations. 1 give as lull credit to
what he wrote at that late date, as though the oth
er Apostles had mentioned the same things in ev
ery Epistle they wrote. But we a*e asked why
Paul did not say something about feet washing
when he spoke of the supper in 1 Cor. xi. It will
be observed that Paul was endeavoring to reform
an abuse in reference to the communion thahad
obtained among the churches. When they came
together “ ooe was hungry and another was drun
ken.” This was eating and drinking for “self
gratification,” not discerning the Lord’s body.—
He explains the true nature of it to them. But in
reference to feet washing, he simply mentions it as
a matter well understood, and which perhaps had
ot been neglected or abused, and therefore needed
no further mention from him. The lull mention of
it was reserved for the Apostle J>>hn to leave oi
record. What the Apostles taught tb churches:
by word, even before John wiote, was as binding
on them as what they had left on record. Ilenc ,
Paul ad monishes them by letter “To stand fast and
hold the traditions which ye have been tang it
whether hi/ word or our epistle .” 2 Thess. ii. 15.
Ileie, it seems to me, is “conclusive evidence” thai
before John wrote in reference to feet washing the
other Apostles had established somethings by word
that weie not in their Episiles to the churches, and
if J ini cid not after that time mention those things
in his writings, then, we cannot know anything
about what things they were taught “by word.”
Paul also commands his brethren in tlte name of
southern baptist messenger.
the Lord Jesus to withdraw from every brother
that walked disorderly and not aftertne traditions
which he received of us.” 2 Thess. iii. 6. [i mat
tered not whether this tradition was received orally
by word or by their .letters, it was -disorderly to
walk contrary to it.
Having now in some degree, relieved rev mind.
I will draw to a close. I have uot written for the
sake of contention or strife. Those who cannot
agree with vno -on the sulgect certainly have the
right to disagree. lam not disposed to judge >or
set my brother at naught, “ To his own Master he
standeth or faUeth.” I do not know that I'shall
ever again Teel inclined to write upon this subject.
It any tiring is discovered by any brother in wbatl
have wiitten that is contrary to the Scriptures, or
•contrary to the -letter or Spirit of the gospel of
Christ, 4 shall esteem it as a gteat kindness for
such brother to point it out to me. You need not
he afraid of wounding me hv trying in a Scriptu
ral wav to-correct my e*rors. Those who will take
this liberty f este* m as my best friends, and true
friends of the cause of Cod.
Willi unabating love. fur the cause of truth and
for aM who love our L *rd Jesus in sincerity,
1 remain your Brother in the bonds and afflic
tions of the Gospel,
W. M. MITCHELL.
Morgan Cos., Ga.,
Dear Brethren Editors —Since the l'4ih No.
of the current volume of the Messenger lias come
Jo hand, I have read the of mv dea; broth
•>
er West on the subject of Fasting, tny mind has
been occasionally exercised on the same sul j.-ct,
but fear lest feelings should be excited, has hin
dered me hitherto from saying anything further on
this subject J bat as fear should not dtter from a
faithful discharge of duty, [ fee I disposed to ri>k a
few thoughts in reply to brother West. Arid in
the first place I would say to him that I am well
pleased at the brotheily manner in which he gives
his opinion, and that it was his undoubted privi
lege to give his views. And I hope to so order my
expressions that neither he nor any other of God’s
dear children will be hurt with my remarks, though
they may differ with me in opinion.
We are not only admonished to “ follow after the
things that make for peace,” but also “the things
wherewith one may edify another.” Brother West
says “ I have concluded that it (that is Fasting.)
whs a ceremony under the law, and never was en
joined on the Gen ile church so as to be b riding
on it, and that after the death and resurrection of
Christ they no doubt attended to it as a legal eere
monv, for we read th*t they were ailcealous of the
law.” Acts xxi. 20. And then refers for further
proof to the reply of the Apostles and Eiders at Je
rusalem to the Gentile churches who had been
taught that “ixcept they be circumcised after the
manner of Moses they could not be saved,” in which
tiny said nothing about fasting. Now if this re
ply proves anything in relation to fasting, it really
seems to prove it to be a religious duty acktiowl
edged both by Jews and Gentiles, and therefore, no
necessity to say any thing about it, this was not
the question, nor any part of it, neither could it be f
as Christ had before settled it in the established
order of his kingdom, for He bad told them that
the lime should come when they should fast, tfnd
directed them particularly how they should do, acd
how they should not do when they fasted. Matt,
vi. 17, 18—ix. 15, and surely if their fasting was
o be observed as a law requisition, the time for it
was then present, or he erjjoined on his disciples
the yoke of the law from which all the subjects of
hisk’ngdom are made free, consequently no other
just conclusion can be -drawn, only that it is to b#
observed as the will of him whose right it is to
give laws to his spiritual subjects. Again, if the
reply referred to embraced (as it seems to doj'all
that the believing Jews required of the believing
Gentiles, which had been observed as a law requisi
tion, and as fisting was practiced amongst the
Gentiles, as is evident from the reading of the 14th
chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, it appears evi
dent that both esteemed it as the order of tbeir di
vine Lord and Master. Again, if the disciples fast
ed as a law requisition or legal ceremony; wbex
Barnabas and Saul were set apart to the woik to
which the Holy Ghost called them, and when
the same Barnabas and S >ul ordained elders in
every church (even ol the Gentiles.) with fasting
and prayer. Acts xiii. 14. Where is precept or ex
ample for such p-actiee found in the law ? If Elders
were ordained under the law with fasting and
prayer where is it found! Where is fasting and
prayer er joined by the law as spoken of by Paul to
the Corinthians ? I Cor. vii. 5. Paul to lhe< hureh
at Phillippi, iii. 17, says, “ Brethren be ye followers
together of me, and mark them that walk so as you
have us for an example.” Now if the Apostles are
not, to be followed in all they done religiously, we
are utterly at a loss in what to follow them , and
in what not; and it is high time that a Scripture
standard was reared lest we miss our way, or if
it be set up and we have not been enabled to see it
plainly that we be more perfectly instructed in the
way of the Lord.
1 now stop on the subject of Pasting for the pres
ent, having in some degree relieved my mind,
though I have only said but little of the abundance
that might be said on this important subject. I
am aware that many dear brethren besides those
who have written on the subject, differ with me,
but I fell it my privilege to give my views. If I
am wrong, [ hope the Lord may enable me to see
my error. lam conscious I have written nothing
with design to give off-nee to any, hut hope I onlv
labor to pruino e tiie cause of truth in honor to the
cause of God.
Before closing, as many dear brethren have given
their views through the Messenger differing from
the uniform practice of all the churches of the old
order of Btpusis of the south on the subject of
Feel Wa-hing, I j ist say that both churches and
ministers are united, and are universably practicing
it, and would as soon give up the practice of the
L nd’s Supper or Baptism as Feet Washing.—
Viewing it as plainly commanded as they are,
therefore it is vain t-r any to think of moving them
from their position by any thing that they might
53