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About Southern Baptist messenger. (Covington, Ga.) 1851-1862 | View Entire Issue (March 15, 1862)
188 ceedingly ‘extensive as to monopolize both the pie % the patriotism of thQ country, aud leave to Others, as a part of their birthright, the inheritance of the highest crimes against their country, a man of common attainments may discover, that they Cos not believe, “ That others are better than them selves.” In declaring that high treason is a part of the birthright of the slaveholder, under any possible circumstances, is a most dishonorable reflection upon many of the patriots of the revolution, before the flash of whose eyes ten thousand calumniators would quail, and seek to hide themselves. Is it not a profanation which leaves all ordinary preten sions in the distance, and casts other assumptions into the shade, to pretend that their commissions are sealed with the blood of Christ, and they are hastening to rescue our holy religion ? The blood of the m aityrs, and the groans of the enslaved na tions of the earth afford us no doubtful comment on the attributes of such a spirit, when once iu the field at the head of armies. Suppose some other most unwelcome national j question should add its moiety of heat to that of the Boundary and the burning of the Caroline, and a national spirit should again range the two very important branches of the old Anglo-Saxou family under their respective standards, at what distance, and in what direction from these two armies should abolition leaders display their col umns. It is not intended to insinuate that aboli tionists are not friendly to their country, far from it ; but with what consistency could they fight the British, who come to free the negroes by force of arms ? May it not be possible that a spirit ol fa naticism is breaking in upon us, and whatever of modesty there may be in its pretensions, its eye may be looking to a loftv mark, and manv hands may be at work to reach it. A throne resting upon both church and state isonlj 7 that supremacy to whicu ambition aspires 5 and many may be now laboring to elevate the despot without intending to do so. Immediate abolition, as now professed and proclaimed, originated in the new measure system, and stands charged to that account. A system which authorizes its disciples to use means, and in stitute measures for the salvation of men, which are not found in the New Testament of Jesus Christ, may also authorize the rescue of the decla ration of independence and our holy religion.— When the Divine guide is rejected, the blind lead the blind, and the ditch is before them. The new measure doctrine seems to be urging the church and the state to some fearful issue. One branch of the popular system appears to be employed in converting men, and in bringing into the church to participate in all the improvements of the times; this process prepares a people for the service of any kindred spirit; and being thoroughly subjected to the law of the priesthood, their obedience cannot be questioned. Protracted meetings already ex hibit symptoms of faintness, they begin to grow weary, their chariot wheels in some places are off, they drag heavily ; and it is possible that the spirit of abolitionism may become the master spirit of SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER. the entire new measure economy. It may yet en force obedience to the priesthood with a power and an energy which may astonish, as it presses its numbers into the army which shall be encamped against the saints. We say encamped against the saints, because as their system is in opposition to the system of grace, they will, a 8 a matter of choice and necessity, place themselves under their own standard. The subject as we view it, presents no redeem ing qualities. The game which has commenced in these recent measures may be somewhat lengthy in its operation, as the stake is a deep one, but a throne is in view, and if political and religious su premacy should be the reward, it shall not be said when the foot of the despot is trampMng on our necks, that 110 one voice gave timely warning.— When the history of our political and religious freedom is wound up in the blood of slaughtered brethren, and the riveting of the galling chain a round the feet of the more unfortuuale survivors out beloved country may then take its place among the and the priest-ridden nations of the earth, and none so poor as to do her reverence. Then may it not be in view of so dreadful a con summation, that “coming events cast their shadows b.sfore ?” The writer of these few imperfect numbers is not sensible of other felings toward new measure disci ples than those of “brotherly kindness ;” he is fully of the opinion that many are laboring for the ac complishment of such a state of things in the church and the state, as will be most revolting to their hearers when at last thedreadful object of their toil is revealed; their apology is the darkness which surrounds them. May the day dawn, and the day i spring from on high visit their souls. Yet when men are organizing over the whole length and breadth of the land, for the accomplishment of ob jects which are not authorized either by the gospel of Christ, or the constitutions of these States, both piety aud patriotism urge these publications, how ever unadorned and unpretending. A deep convic tion that the entire new measure system is in op position to the doctrine of Christ aud the well-being of our country, is his only apology for calling the minds of his brethren to this momentous subject; and it is his consolation that whatever men may produce by amalgamation, and although when thus produced, they may, by a misnomer, call it a church, that the true church of the divine Re deemer will be hidden “ In the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” To hearts and bands of higher attainments in that wisdom which is from above, the subject of the new measures, is resigued for Ohe present. WALDO, A NORTHERN BAPTIST. ■ in -- cf Ministerial Authority. If the time shall arrive when the ministers of the Baptist denomination shall assume to them selves the power of acting independently of the churches, then the fears of some of the friends of Zion will be realized. The ministers wili have found their level with the Romish clergy, atul the churches will have descended to theirs amongr the trampled and abused. Why should it be thought criminal to institute a modest inquiry whether the [signs of the tunes indicate so fearful a consumma tion ? If such inquiry cannot be made without provoking a spirit of abuse, then indeed the reign that spirit has commenced already. If the tongue may not speak but by tbeir direction ; if the pres* must be restricted to a “government standard,” the worst kind of political, or even religious despotism is quite as tolerant. In a widely circulated periodical, a professed Baptist minister says, “It will be found that the Christian minister has a light to act ministerially and independently of the church and of the world, even in recieving candidates for baptism.” At first sight of this, one might suppose that the writer in the amplitude of his creed embraced even the world as a gospel tribunal, and as a tribunal too, higher than the church ; inasmuch a9 he says, “ The min ister may act not only independently of the church, but also of the world in receiving candidates.” If this is not his meaning, it is most certain that it is implied. The most favorable construction which it can bear is, that he had been arguing raiusste rial independence on some other subject of great importance, and to prove his position declares that, if in so trifliug a matter as receiving candidates for < baptism, they may act independently, certainly they may do so in the greater matter. Yet he himself must inform you of what he did mean by acting independently of the world, and by what serijfture right he presumes to do so ; for truly, the task is altogether too much for an Old School Baptist, and it is hoped that no one will require it at his hands. That the minister has a right to act independently of the church, is very gravely af Aimed ; he says rather, “It will be found.” It is to be feared that it will be found. We have before us the doctrine of ministerial supremacy publicly avowed and advocated. If the sentiment had ob tained extensively, is it rational to suppose any ex eept some weak brother of the craft would leak it out upon paper 1 Might cot secrecy for the pres ent be considered a virtue? If the chains were not made already, is it supposed the noise of hammers would awaken us from the profound sleep of midnight—that the startling fact would be trumpeted in the public journals ? No, the weak or honest blunderer would be whipped back into traces, or held up to public scorn as a poor weak thing. The mystery of iniquity would proceed as if no one of its agents had been guilty of the least obliquity. When there is an occasional leaking from a vessel, it may be presumed that more is re tained than the leak has exposed to view, except when the mere sediments of the cask are seen ooz ing through; which possibly may be the fact in the case before us. The minister who acts minis terially and independently of the church, is not a member of it; if he were a member he would dis cover that so feeble a minority could not reversa its decisions ; but being “lord over God’s heritage,” he may act without the church, or in opposition to it. On this ground the church is released from all
