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VOL. XII. (iTonummitattons. _ Nacogdoches, Texas, March 9, 1861. Bro. Beebe: —In the Messenger for Decetuher Ist, I see a request from Bro. Coleman, of Alaba ma, for my views on 1 Tim. v. 24, and waiving apologies, I will offer such views as I have, and if you think them worth publishing, please insert them in the Messenger. The verse reads as follows : “ Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment, and some they follow after.” I understand by open sins, such acts as are manifest, or susceptible of de monstration and proof. This is clear from the fol lowing verse, where the word mauifest is used as synonymous with it. There are in my mind two interpretations of the text, both of which are in accordance with the general tenor of the Scriptures. First, that as all ruen, in a state of nature, are blinds and do not discern the sinfulness of sin ; conse quently their sins are, in this sense, hidden from themselves while in this state; yet they will assu redly follow after them to the judgmeut seat.of Christ, while the people of God, having spiritual diseei grv cu them, or’ 1 uy es *uptsn< <i U see their sins in all their hateful and condemning nature, they are thus open, manifest, and proven to them, so that they come weary and heavy laden to the judgment seat of God, and plead guilty be fore him, and receive at his hand, through Christ, a full and free pardon. In this sense, then, some men’s sins are open in this life, condemned, repent ed of, and forgiven ; while other men’s will follow after them into the eternal world, to their condem nation and ruin. If this is really the Apostle’s meaning in the text, it is worthy of remark that he does not say that some of a man’s sins are open beforehand, and some of the came man’s follow after him to’ judg ment, niacins him in a half justified and half con deemed state, agreeably with the Arminian theory;- but that some rneuV sins; in the aggregate., as a class, no before to judgment, whiled,he sins of some other men, in the aggregate, as a class, follow after them, &c. I confess I have been, in times past, very much inclined to adopt this interpretation of the text. It accords with the general tenor of the Scriptures, which represent men as blind, having their understanding darkened, being dead, harden ed, and without a knowledge and sense of their sinful and justly coudemned state before God, until they are quickened and born again, with the facul ties of seeing, understanding and appreciating their sins. This is also in accordance with a gospel ex- DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS. “6B& m@wm* on oaui, abb oaa bapvzssi,” COVINGTON, NEWTON CO., GA., APRIL 15, 1862. perience, as, I think, all who have been taught of God will testify. Yet I am constrained, upon a careful examination of the text and its connections, to think that the Apostle has reference to church discipline, and our conduct toward each other, as subjects of church government. ’ • * The careful reader will observe that the Apostle was, throughout the chapter in which our text stands recorded, giving Timothy general instruc tions which he was to inculcate in the churches, as rules for their government and action. I will notice briefly some of the leading ideas : Elders, whether such by reason of age or office, when fit subjects of rebuke, on account of any departure from gospel order, were to be entreated a3 fathers, and the younger men as brethren, the aged women as mothers, and the younger as sisters, with all purity. Widows, that were truly such, were to be honored, taken care of and provided for, by their relations, if they had such, ar.d by the church, if they had not. The Elders were to have especial honor or respeet paid them, on account of their age or .station ; and this attention and regard was particularly enjoined towards those Elders who la bored in the word and doctrine ; against such no public charge was to be admitted in the church, ’> .loro lwo or throe with ;&ooS. ‘ A_d, fiAYily*, they that sinned were to be rebuked before all, that others might fear. That is, 33 I understand it, all members, no matter what their office, age or station, who were guilty of known public transgres sions, were to be dealt with before the church, that the beauty of holiness, and the purity of the gos pel, in its letter aud spirit, might be constantly impressed upon the whole church. And of such vital importance did the Apostle consider faithful gospel discipline, that he, after having enumerated as above, enforces it with the most solemn charge and injunction in the New Testament, a charge which none dare disregard, who fear God, and rev erence his commandments. Having thus far point ed out our duty as members of the church, one to another, and enjoined its faithful and impartial performance, he seems in the 22d verse, to drop a very necessary caution —“ Lay hands suddenly on no man.” That is, we should net rebuke a brother, whether old or young, in a hasty, sudden, or pas sionate manner, but with a thoughtful, deliberate aud mature judgment, being convinced, from clear testimony, that such rebuke is just and marked ; then we should approach the elders as fathers, and the younger as brethren, never losing sight of the tenderness these relations suggest. But lest this caution should tend to the opposite extreme of suf fering public offences to go unreproved altogether, to the scandal of the church, the Apostle adds, — “Neither be partakers of other mefi’s sins;” that is, by neglecting to reprove them in a gospel spirit and manner; for then by bidding them God speed in their sins, we become partakers of their evil deeds. 2 John 11. The sum of this verse incul cates not only caution in treating our erring breth ren according to the letter and spirit of the gospel, but faithfulness in our duty to watch over each other for good. Passing by the 23d verse, which seems to be elliptical, I shall consider the 24th, or the text, as in direct connection with the 22d, for it is evidently a continuation of the same subject, and seems to contain an* additional warning or caution against dealing with men’s hearts and motives, instead of their acts. For “some men’s sins are open before hand ;” that is, made manifested, or made public, and such Come properly before the church for judgment and settlement; while there are others so crafty as to conceal, hide, or cover their deceit, and even sinful acts, from public observation, so far at least, as to evade gospel testimony. Such the church must leave to the judgment of Him “w!fo searches the hearts, and tries the reins of the children of men,” being assured that though hypo crites may conceal their sins from the open view 7 e ctv •*’ *•'<*- “- i • 1 f> t 1 t t? * ** gospel discipline would pronounce, if thej r were made public, yet they will follow them to the judg ment seat of Christ, to a more solemn and fearful account. Bro. Coleman will understand my views oi* the text to be strictly practical, and to apply to our re lations with each other in the church; and the Apostle, in discriminating between open and secret sins, was fortifying us against a too common error of arraigning each other upon charges not suffi ciently open or proven, to the great injury of the peace and welfare of the.church. The time has truly come .wiien judgment must begin at the House of God ; but that -j > gment must be con fined to open sins. .Slice we are bound, as we fear God and love our brethren, to rebuke before all, in a gospel spirit, with all parity of motive and manner. But secret sics must be left to fol low the guilty to that Judge who searches the hearts, tries the reins of ibe children of men. That discipline, and gospel dealing was intended in the 22d aud 24th verses of this chapter, will ap pear more manifest by referring to some other passages. The laying hands upon a man, as in the 22d verse, is not a literal act, as some understand it, and applicable therefore, to ordinations of church officers, or tc acts of positive violence, but is a figu rative expression of similar import with the para ble in Matthew, (xviii. 23 to the close,) where the NO, 2