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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 % 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, 155