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truth : ia doing this, we wish to present them as
the only perfi ,ct and infallible rule of faith and prac
tice to the people of God. Solomon says, “ I know
that wha <t g oe ver God doetb, it shall be forever : noth
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e,an be put to it, nor anything taken from it-:
a\d God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
Eccl. iii. 14. What God doeth is done forever sin
him there is no variableness or shadow of turning,
lie, by whose power and wisdom all things were
created, in setting up his kingdom would surely
provide all necessary laws and rules for the gov
ernment of that kingdom. He says, Psa. ii. G, ‘‘Yet
have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”—
Let us contemplate the excellent majesty of this
glorious King. In his underived character he de
clares himself to be the I am that i am: from ev
erlasting to everlasting, God over all blessed for
ever. John said of him, “ All things were made by
him ; and without him was not anything made that
was made.” The prophet spake of him saying
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given :
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his Name shall be called wonderful, coun
sellor, THE MIGHTY GOD, TIIE EVERLASTING FATH
ER, the prince of peace ; of the increase of his
government and peace, there shall be no end upon
the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to or
der it, and establish it with judgment and with jus
tice, from henceforth even forever . And again, “A
king shall reign iu righteousness.” We would di
rect you, dear brethren, to the law and testimony
of our King and Lawgiver; for if we speak not ac
cording to his word, it is because there is ho light
in us. His law is fairly laid down, and his testi
mony is bound up in the New Testament, embrac
ing all matters of our faith and religious practice,
and be that taketh heed thereto shall not err.—
The want of a proper adherence to this divine rule
has been the fruitful source whence so much error
and strife has crept into the Baptist churches at
times, bringing with it sorrow and distress to the
saints of God. We should be a united and happy
people, requiring a thus saith the Lord, to direct us
in matters of fidth and practice. But now, many
who profess to be the followers of Jesus, suppose
the Scriptures are only an outline of the Divine will
concerning us, and to be filled up by men so as to
suit their views and circumstances; but, brethren,
we have not so learned Christ, believing, a thus
saith the Lord is sufficient as expressed in the
Scriptures, and he who would amend it, or make
any alteration in it, pollutes it.
As we believe the plan of salvation is plainly laid
down, and every point of faith and practice fairly
and clearly revealed in the Scriptures, we will pro
ceed to notice a few of them.
Ist. The Sovereignty of Zion’s King we have
glanced at in his setting up his kingdom, and ma
king all necessary laws for its government.
2d. His electing love in the choice of his people
in Christ, as saith the Apostle, “ According as he
hath chosen us.in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame
before him in love.” Also, “God hath from the
beginning chosen you to salvation through sane”
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER.
tificatiou of the Spirit and belief of the truth.’’
Again, Elect according to the fore-knowledge of
God tl 1 e Father,” &c. These few passages from the
many wo might give, we think sufficient to estab
lish the election of grace. Embraced in God’s choice
of his people is the indivisible spiritual oneness of
Christ and the church in the ancients of eternity,
while by nature, considered in a covenant relation
with Christ, they were children of wrath even as
others.
3d. Predestination is also a Bible doctrine, and
equally a plain and glorious revelation of God. —
Paul said “ Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
them he also called.” Also, “Having piedestinated
us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, unto
himself, according to the good pleasure of his
will.” Again, “In whom also we have an inheri
tance, being predestinated according to the purpose
of him who worketh all things after the counsel of
his own will.” God’s Predestination has set bounds
to all worlds, creatures, and things for his declara
tive glory.
As the doctrine of Sovereignty, election, cove
nant and Predestination are fully and clearly as
serted and demonstrated in the Scriptures, so also
are effectual calling, sanctification, justification by
the imputed righteousness and blood of Christ, per
severance of all the saints of God through grace to
eterfl&l glory, the resurrection of the body, eternal
judgment, everlasting happiness of the people of
God, and eternal misery of those who die impen
itent.
We will now notice some points of practice, as
we have above stated that the Scriptures are a per
fect rule of faith and practice. We will first inquire
what was the practice of the primitive church in
gathering and receiving members into the church ?
We find the Lord commanding those whom he, not
man, had qualified and called to the work, saying,
“Go ye therefore and teach all uations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Again,
he says, “He thatbelieveth, and is baptized shall
be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damn
ed.” Again, it is written, “Then they that gladly
received the word were baptized.” Thus we have
the preaching of the gospel by those whom the
Lord sends to minister under the full knowledge
that all power in heaven and earth is given exclu
sively to Christ, (not to them, in part, to help the
work, nor to their enemies to fiustrate it,) appoint
ed as the alone authorized instrumentality for in
structing in the knowledge of salvation those whose
ears and hearts are opened to hear and understand
by the regenerating power of the Holy Ghost.—
And those who have been so taught as to believe,
not with the head only, but with all the heart , and
to receive the word gladly, are specified as the alone
proper subjects for baptism, and these again, free
from any conditions or specifications are to be ad
ded to the church. Such are also to be encourage
ed with the promises of salvation, To prevent mis,
take here we will simply add, that this rule neces
sarily implies that these subjects for baptism, and
for being added to the church, give evidence of their
believing by receiving the word with gladness.
Secondly. The rule for the walk of the members
of the church, both in relation to the maintaining
of fellowship toward one another, and to their show
ing forth this salvation to those who are without.
This rule needs no addition from men to render it
plain, full and peifect. The conditions are concise,
yet clear, and reaching to every station and relation,
both in the church and in the world. A few par
ticulars we will notice. Ist. In relation topreseiv
ing fellowship. The keeping the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace is an important injunction. —
Essentially necessary to this is that of recognizing
but the One Lord, one faith, and one baptism. —
Another important point in the divine rule is love
to the brethren. This ’s abundantly inculcated,
“See that ye love one another with a pure heart fer
vently,” is one text to the point. A third point is
humility, “In lowliness of mind let each esteem
others better than themselves,” is the direction.—
A fourth item is, a pure and upright walk, a deny
ing ourselves of all ungodliness, and worldly lusts,
a putting off the old man with his deeds, &c. A
fifth is not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together , <&c. In reference to our conduct toward
those without as well as to the brethren, the Mas
ter has given his disciples a plain and full direction
in this one rule, “All things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so them.”
This applies alike to the servant and the master, to
the debtor and the creditor, to the subject and the
magistrate, and in a word to all classes and rela
tions,
Thirdly. The rule for the discipline and govern
ment of the church is alike, clear and full. They
require to be attended to according to the divine
direction, and not in anger or strife, but in the
spirit of meekness, and of faithfulness to the honor
of Christ’s cause, that a separation may be made
between the precious and the vile, and that the
backslider may be reclaimed. And when thus at
tended to in obedience to Christ, discipline will bo
found to have a salutary effect; but when resorted
to out of strife or prejudice, divisions may be ex
pected to ensue.
Th,e ordinances or institutions of the kingdom of
our Lord require to be noticed in connection with
this subject. But it is sufficient simply to say that
they are positive institutions, and therefore if ob
served at all in subjection to Christ, they must be
observed as he has appointed them without alter
ations or additions. He who would multiply or re
move the institutions of Christ, arrogantly assumes
Christ’s throne.
Brethren, we have thus glanced at the different
branches of the law of Christ. May we all be duly
impressed with the high dignity of the Giver of
this rule, that we may in love and humility sub
mit thereto in all things, without adding or di
minishing, or in any case neglecting the proper
observance of,it.
May grace, mercy and peace be with you.
JAMES W. WALKER, Moden\R^>
fi). B. B. Shaw, Clerk,
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