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Schbol t)Ooks f ir a part of the machinery which is
used to deceive and draw away the minds of many
from the truth. Tradifibfi ah’d the writings of men
are made more the standard of religious belief than
the Scriptures of truth. The distinction of clergy
and laity is observed to mark the superiority of the
clerical fraternity, and the inferiority of the private
members of the church. Modern missionism is estab
lished without any Scripture proof, and hundreds of
honest people, for aught we know, will contribute
fchffir sabstance to its support, and think they are do
ing that w r hieh Is acceptable to (Jod. Large monies
are raised to expend for religious purposes, so called,
mid to evangelise the world through the means of Bi
ble, Tract and Mission Societies and Sunday School
Unions. A large portion of the preaching of our day
is on these subjects, and all those who will not eon
tribute their substance to sustain such societies and
men, are charged with robbing God by withholding
their money from what they profanely call the Lord’s
treasury. Sometimes they will use the text which
tire have at the head of this article, and pervert its
meaning to carry out their selfish purposes, and oc
casionally trouble some of the dear saints with their
pernicious application of the Scripture. Much more
could be said in the w 7 ay of describing the hvpocrisy,
and wickedness of the age in religious matters, but
it is not a pleasant subject to dw ell upon. In our
early experience we endured a great fight of afflic
tions, surrounded as we were by the elements of scho
lastic divinity, and aristocratical religious popularity
with which New England abounds. Pride, fashion,
▼ain-show and popularity is the order of the day, and
we speak of it, not to ridicule and to stigmatize any
•lass of people, but with grief we express it.
In the New Testament it is recorded that Christ is
the Head of the ohoreh. the King that reigns in
righteousness, and the twelve Apostles are the Prin
ces that rule in judgment. Furthermore, Ohristand
his Apostles are seated upon their thrones in the
kingdom of God or gospel chtl?ch. All power in
heaven- and earth is given unto Jesus, who called,
qualified and sent forth his Apostles to perform the
work assigned them. On the same principle yet he
•alls whomsoever he will to preach his gogpel. He
•alls sinners by his grace, and his church is composed
es living members. He pours out of his Spirit and
revives bis work when it is his pleasure. And it is
the duty and privilege of his people to do w T hat be
has commanded them. And the Scriptures are plain
to show the way of duty as far as the Holy Spirit
teaches. And as there is no record that Christ and
his Apostles ever approved, sanctioned, or authoriz
ed any other society in religious matters but the
•hurch of Christ, the saints and inquirers after truth,
need not heed what men and false teachers may
•ay.
To withhold anv part of the doctrine of the gOßpel
which is revealed from heaven, simply becau.se fall
en man squirms under it, and may call it unprofita
ble to be preached, is robbery in the sense of our
text. God is glorified in the faithful ministry of the
word. To be governed by a covetous worldly mind
ed spirit as the professed followers of Jesus, and
neglect church privileges, and do as the world does,
loan money at usury and take unlawful per cent for
’ the sake of gain, is another species of robbery. Lov
ing the praise of men more than the praise of God,
seeking for h nor, popularity and wealth, is an ac
ttrsed thing among God’s people. Drukenness and
debauchery, slandering,tattling and backbiting, is de
grading not only to the world at large, but is espe
ially so among the professed people of God. It is
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER.
robbery in a Serijrtufral seftstf tb depart from any
principle of truth eith’er iti 'doctrine or practice which
God has commanded, for God vs glorified in his pur
pose of love and mercy in his church when the saints
walk in the truth’, ffnd love one another. The holy
things of the kingdom of ottr God relative to the
peace and prosperity of Zioft art bestowed upon the
church for his declarative glory and honor. There
fore we should not rob or w ithhold from Godßhe glbry
due to his holy name.
If the tithes and offerings have any figurative ap
plication to the gospel church in any respect, we
conclude it must be in reference to the ministration
of the word, the administration of ordinances, and
the practical observanceof the rules, precepts, duties,
privileges and discipline of God’s house. An attendance
upon what God has commanded is in the way of self
denial, and bearing the cross of Christ, and is accept
able only as the- heart and soul are engaged in it,
•pd is not grievous to be borne. When faith and
hope are in exercise, and the love of God inw T ardly
abounds, the saints aie satisfied with what God has
declared, and it is a privilege to them to bring their
tithes and offerings into the store house or gospel
church. The gospel church is a spiritual house to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Je
sus Christ, and is not a house made of brick, stone,
wood, or such materirls, but is a building of God, a
house not made with hands, whose workmanship is
not of men but of God. It is saerilege, blasphemy
and robbery in the fullest sense, to withhold or add
to the worship of God in his house or church, either
in doctrine, precept or example, contrary to the
statutes and commandments of Zion’s King. The
saintp are a Riyal Priesthood, and the Lord Jesus is
Great High Priest, and they (the saints) are kings
and priests unto,God and his Father, to whom be glory
and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
As sister Wilson of Jackson co., Ga., requested 7 oar
views of the text treated upon in this article, we have
done about the best w T e could under the present cir
cumstances, realizing as we do our inability and lack
of understanding in the Scriptures of truth.
P.
Appointments.
Brother Isaac R. Teat of Cobb Cos., Ga„ will preach,
if the Lord will, at the follow ing places, viz : Friday,
June Ist at Shoal Creek, Newton Cos.; Saturday and
Sunday at New 7 Salem, Putnam Cos.; Monday at
Crooked Creek ; Tuesday at JEnon; Wednesday at
Mt. Gilead ; Thursday at Hebron, Jasper Cos.; Fri
day at Murder Creek ; Saturday and Sunday June
9th and 10th at Holly Spring in this County.
(Slritam
From the Signs.
No. 92 Sixth Avenue, New York, April 8, 18G0.
Brother Beebe— lt becomes my painful duty to
inform you, as well as the numerous circle of friends
who have been w r ont to visit our house from time to
time, that my beloved wife, Louisa Ow en, is no more.
She had been laboring under disease for some years
past know T ri as Jaundice, until at last it set in with
more than usual violence, turned to the kidneys, and,
death ensued. She fell asleep on Wednesday even
ing, March 28,18G0. She lived beloved by all who
knew her, and I trust our loss is her eternal gain.
I have no and esire for flattering notices, but those
who knew sister Gilmore, will remember her, and her
ever kind and affectionate welcome.
From yours, in affliction,
JOHN GILMORE.
ffbifz, Gibson county, Ind., April 2, . .
Brother Beebe —By request I send the following
obituary notice of sister SARAH, daughter of broth
er William and sister Anna Lankford, who died of
Typhoid Fever in September 1857, in that tWentr
second year of her age;. Sarah made of
religion, and joined the New Salem Regular Bhptist*
Church in this county, in April 1857, and was bap
tised by Elder Elisha Hblcotirrtr Mhy following. .
Sister Sarah was ayounglady of remarkable piety,
a devoted Christian, a dutiful child, and highly es
teemed by all who knew her. Site leaves a largecir-’
cle of Connections, friends and acquaintances to
mourn tlieir bereavement. But their loss is her
eternal gain* S; M. HOLCOMB.
The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us bt
glad and rejoice, and give honor to him ; for he it
clothed with majesty and with strength, and hit
throne it established of old, even from everlasting.
He reigns in righteousness over heaven and earth,
working all things after the counsel of his own will.
Not a sparrow falleth on the ground without his no
tice. For behold! the heaven, and the heaven of
heavens, is the Lord’s, the earth also, with all that
therein is. The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he
bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. In
his glorious reign of divine providence, he has taken
from the shores of time, our much esteemed young
friend, JOHN ABNER WIIEELESS; and as we
believe, from the evidence given before his departure,
his immortal spirit was borne on wings of everlast
ing love, to a world of peace and joy, where it will
forever remain in the bosom of its redeeming Lord.
This is indeed a glorious consideration, from which
the troubled and bereaved mind may take sweet con
solation, and from which, under divine influence, it
may be raised into aspirations of praise to God.
John Abner was the second son of Thomas and
Lucinda Wheeless, and was born Oct. 1, 1853. He
lived under parental guardianship until about the
age of seventeen years. His mother died when
he was about this age, leaving her family in
very destitute circumstances. He, with his three
brothers and five sisters, w*re taken by William; and
Tabitha Wyatt, (his grand-father and grand-mother)
with whom he lived the most of the time, until the
day of his dea*h lie was kind and affectionate to
his grand-parents, and waited on, and served them
faithfully, as an obedient son. lie was married Dec,
29, 1859, to Miss Hannah Jane Garrott. On Tues
day Jan. 31, 1 ‘6O, (one month and two days after
his marriage) he was violently attacked with what
was called by his attending Physician, the Peripneu
mony, and departed this life, on Tu ‘sday following,
Feb. 7, 1860, at 8 minutes past 2 o’clock in the morn
ing. During the last two years of his life, he devo
ted a large portion of his spare time to the reading
of the Bible, Signs, and Messenger, frequently com
ing to bis grand-mother, w ith the Bible to get her to
explain to him certain texts of Scripture. lie was.
while in this life, a good singer, and seemed to enjoy
a great deal of delight and pleasure in singing.
* * * * *• * * *
May the Lord oomfort the dear companion, togeth
er with the relations and friends of deceased, w r ith
the gracious assurances cf the gospel of the Son of
God, if in the counsel of Ilis will, and to Ilis name
be glory and honor forever.
GEORGE W. WRIGHT.
April 8, 1860.
Sign* of ike Times, pltase copy.