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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
