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
