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Many good and strong things were said in be
half of
Ml® ® XO]V ®
During the Session of tho
Southern Baptist Convention.
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Special effort
As February is one of tho best m onths
of the year for newspaper circulation,
we have decided to beg every Baptist
pastor and. working layman and conse
crated sister, of our denomination in
Georgia to make some special effort to
increase the circulation of the Christian
Index during that month.’ It is the pa
per of our church, the servant of our
denomination and the medium of com
munication between the great Baptist
family of the empire State of the South.
It is unnecessary to take space to show
the need of such effort and tho good 1
that the success of the effort would
bring. Every oue knows too well how
infinitely more good tho Index would
do, if it had two or three times the cir
culation it now has. Brother pastor,
will you during the month of February
bring tho Index properly before your
people and urge them to take it? We
willhppreciato anything done for us in
response to this appeal, by pastors, dea
cons, superintendents of Sabbach-schools
or laymen,
Hold to tlie good resolutions you
made nt thy beginning of the year.
The longer you maintain them the
easier it will be.
’ Work for the Master and thereby
strengthen your faitli in, and love Him.
Who appreciates the power of prayer
in the universe? It calmed the raging
storm, and stilled* the angry waves.
W! ;.t vu.; it uvt do?
We give in our children’s department
to-day an articles which every parent
should read, It is written by one of
the ablest and best Baptist ministers in
Georgia. Parents and children too
should read this article.
No blemish of the outward man could
approach before God in the sacred offi
ces of the Hebrew priesthood, Lev, 21:-
17-23. A typo this of the purity which
tho inward man ought to bring to all
the labor.! of the Christian life: for now
the whole canh is the temple of the
Lord, and every believer is a priest be
fore Him.
We read in the papers of a drunken
man wli<> sat down at a saloon tabic
with a glass of Leer; stupor falling on
him, his face .sank downward to the
glass; and an attempt to rouse him
showed him drowned and dead! An as.
tonisbing incident. But alas, in how
many far more astonishing instances, a
soul lias been drowned in a glass ofrbeer,
and men l ike no note of the destraction
and perdition!
“He who covets tills world’s goods is
like one who-drinks sea-water.’’ tho Per.
sians say*, “the more lie drinks the more
he increases thirst, nor does ho cease to '
dripk until lie dies.’’ Not for this, we
hope, will any of our readers hold back
from tho centennial fund an offering
earned by their hands, relinquished by
their desires, hallowed from worldly
uses by their faith, and quickened
witli energy for good by their praye..
Tho Persian Zend-Avesta quaintly
says that tho evil spirit “wrought nine
diseases, and ninety, and nine hundred,
and nine thousand; and nine times nine
thou and diseaseij.” Is not this sug
gestive of the marvelous power lying in
evil to multiply its blights and its curses;
beginning with show of none, and then
perchance with one widening slowly in
to few, and at last running up into
numbers which Arithmetic labors vain
ly to compute?
‘•What’s in a name?” may well bo
asked, if tho name stands 1»y itself, fo r
in that cane it brings us nothing, and
makes us nothing, Any hopes wo may
build on it, to borrow an eastern com
parison, must bo more disappointing
than tho fire of a glow-worm." This
powerlessness of mere names was illns
trated by tho social gathering in Mary
land not a great while ago, which the
sun shone on though among tho guests
wore a Mrs. Sprinkle, a Mrs. Shower
and a Mrs. Storm. Alas, if what wo
have of tho Christian is tho name only!
To be always “throwing up tilings” to
people is simply a vomit of tho mind*
moving the onlooker to disgust, and apt
to become more and more a token of the
mind's dire disoasefulness, as tho black
vomit ranks among the most fatal symp
toms in yellow fever. Be not a sort ofj
(‘Criminal Calendar” in the great Libra-
♦
‘ «»»TTrWest
ry of niirnauuy, ..;-Sed ove r
from the first page to the last with tho
faults and errors and crimes of others,
as though unfit for record of better
things. Do not make your soul the an
alogue of a Picture Gallery on whose
walls are hung only portraits of the
halt, the lame, the blind, the leper, and
victims of whatever other maladies are
unsightly and loathsome to the gaze of
men. See good in others—see, and tell
it—that others may know there Js
good in you.
THE ORIGIN OF AMERICAN BAP
TIST FOREIGN MISSIONS.
As a matter of historical interest
which may be acceptable to the read
ers of the Index, I propose to trace
the immediato origin of American
Baptist foreign missions. And let it
be noticed that I say American Bap
tist foreign missions. For while
there had been more or less of for
eign mission work by those holding
the Baptist faith, from the days of
the apostles, and on down through
the centuries following, yet, or
ganized Baptist Foreign missions, by
name, did not begin until abou t one
hundred years ago, and American
Baptist foreign missions, not until
about eighty years ago. True there
were Baptists in America for more
than a century and a half previous to
this, and up to 1790, they had in
creased to about sixty thousand,
and doubtless they were as godly and
consecrated as Baptists are now, per
haps more so; but their mission ef
forts were confined to tho scattered
settlers and pioneers of our own
country and the Indians
Up to the time that William Ca
ry began to agitate the subject, if
American Baptists had any serious
thought of laboring to evangelize the
distant heathen, we know nothing of
it. No doubt, pious souls as they
prayed “Thy kingdom come” desired
tho salvation of those benighted
ones, but as yet no door had been
opened to effort in their behalf, and
quite likely no special sense of obli
gation in this direction was felt.
And even after Cary’s work was actu
ally begun, and heathen converts
wore being gatb.ned, srt.il* the rtatl'.i
of things was not materially changed.
A few individuals sent money to
help their English brethren, and a
few scatteredmissionary societis were
formed—but there was no general
awakening, and no general and sys
tematic effort. Well, what brought
the change? What was it that in the
providence of God, started Ameri
can Baptists upon a career of mission
work which has made them the most
successful of all American Christians
laboring in foreign fields; and has
wonderfully reacted in blessings upon
their home churches?
Strange to tell, and by one of the
most manifest and remarkable provi
dences in the history of Christianity,
we must go to the Congrcgationalists
of New England for the immediate
occasion and origin of organized
American Baptist Foreign Missions.
To the honor of this people be it
said, that they were the first of all
American Christians to respond, as a
denomination, to the trumpet blast of
Carey, calling to the Lord’s redeem
ed to go forward in the great work
of giving the gospel to the nations
And for the encouragement of young
Christian workers, be it further said,
that the newly awakened missionary
zeal was most conspicuous in their
ranks, and to six pious Congrega
tionalist young men, namely, Luther
Rice,James Richards, Adoniram Jud
son,Samuel Nott, Samuel J.Mills, and
Samuel Neewell, must be accorded
the high distinction of taking the ini
tial steps which led to tho formation
of the first general foreign mission
society of this century. And to two
of the young men, namely, Judson
and Rice, belongs tho further distinc
tion of having been the providential
instruments in arousing American
Baptists to a souse of their duty to
tho heathen; they never saw and felt
it before. Well, how? That is what
I will now proceed to tell.
Tho six yoilng men already men
tioned, some of them while pursuing
their studies at Williams College, and
all of them later at Andover Semi
nary, had felt impressed with the du
ty of becoming foreign missionaries.
As there was no general organiza
tion of any denomination ill this
country for the support of missiona
ries, they communicated with the
London Missionary Society, (formed
by tho Independents in 1775; not on
ly after tho example, but at tho ex
press suggestion of English Baptists)
to know if they would take and sum-
ATLANTA, GA., THURSDAY. JANUARY 19, 1893.
tain them. Not being able to effect
a satisfactory arrangement with this
society, they were induced topresent
a memorial to their General Associa
tion which met at Bradford, Mass.,
in June, 1810, asking their “Rev
erend Fathers” as they called them,
t.o adopt some plan by which they
mighfr be able to fulfil their desire to
preach the gosple to the heathen.
This memorial, or petition, presen
ted by these young men, resulted in
the formation of the famous Ameri
can Board of Commissioners for For
eign Missions, and by this board
Judson, Newell, Rice and some oth
ers, were sent out in Febuary, 1812.
Judson and Newell, with their wives
setting sail from Salem, Mass., and
Rice, with the rest of the mission
company, sailing from Philadelphia.
Being altogether unacquainted with
mission .work and mission fields,
was thought advisable for them to
communicate with the Baptist mis
sionayies at Serampore, before selec
ting their particular field of labor.
Accordingly, both companies set sail
for the port of Calcutta. A trip to
that distant place was a long and te
dious journey in those days, and it
■was not until June 17th, nearly four
months, that Judson and Company
landed in Calcutta, while Rice and
his companions did not arrive untill
about six weeks later,
During the long voyage, Mr. Jud
son, desiring a more personal ac
quaintance wifli the New Testament
Scriptures, undertook a translation of
hi 6 own. While thus engaged, doubt
sprang up in his mind with reference
to baptism, both as to the subject
and also the act of baptism. Know
ing that he would meet the Baptist
Missionaries on his arrival, aiid from
what he had heard of the pugnacity
’of Baptist, supposing that he would
be called up onto defend his faith, he
determined to give the whole subject
an exhaustive investigation, that he
might provide himself with weapons
of defence, as well as know for him
self just where tho truth lay. With
the question, st.il! luder eon skier a
tibu, the ship reached Calcutta. The
missionaries, (Judson and Newell
and there wives) were met by Dr.
Carey, and cordially invited to go up
to the mission Station, at Serampore
and their await the arrival of the
other company. They ' were here
treated with the utmost kindness, and
quite contrary to Judson’s expecta
tions, they were not assaulted and
compelled to defend their faith, not
even a word being spoken about de
nbm.inational differences.
But Judson’s conscience had been
aroused. His doubts, instead of be
ing removed by the investigations
made on his way out, had been in
creased; and having been called
back to Calcutta by the suspicious
government authorities, while at this
place, waiting the arrival of the oth
er missionaries, he determined to re
sume the subject and press it through
to tho end. His wife, becoming a-,
harmed lest ho should be converted to
the views of the Baptist,s tried to
dissuade him from his investigations,
but he still persisted. In order there
fore to help in relieving his doubts,
she too, began to study the subject;
but 10, instead of finding arguments
by tVhich she might reesfablssh his
wavering faith, she only saw the
more clearly tho weakness of the
side she was trying to defend.
Such was the state of things when
Lnther Rice and his company arriv
ed. Starting from different parts,
and on different vessels, andsSeing
and hearing nothing of each other
during their long journey, of course,
Mr. Rice knew nothing of tho inves
tigations of Mr. Judson, nor of his
weakened faith in their former belief;
and yet, by a mysterious providencm
he, also, had Loen led to investigate
the same subject, and like Judson,
had had serious doubts to arise as to
tho correctness of his faith, and like
Judson was still undecided when he
reached (‘olcutta.
(Jn learning what a round of re
search and study Judson and wife
had gone through, and that they
wore now very nearly decided on
joining the Baptists, Rico was arous
ed to greater effort in defence of the
old faith, desiring not only to estab
lish himself, but to rescue Judson.
All, however, was unavailing. Mr.
Judson and wife became thoroughly
convinced of tho truth of tho Baptist
side of the question, and accordingly
were baptized September Oth, 1812.
But Mr. Rice was not yot willing
to give it up. He still went on with
his study of the subject, striving and
hoping to settle the matter on the
side of his childhood’s faith. His ef
forts in his own behalf were unavail
ing likewise, and he, finally, had to
adfnit that he had converted himself
to the very faith he had trid to over
throw. He was baptized November
Ist 1812.
The letters of Mrs. Judson to her
friends in this country, and also, her
diary, give an inside history of this
change of sentiment on the part of
these devoted missionaries, which it
will be profitable to notice. In a let
ter to her parents and sisters she
says; “I will now give you some ac
count of our change of sentiment re
lative to tho fi’hject of baptism.
Mr. J’s., doubts commenced while on
our passage from America. While
translating the New Testament, in
which he was engaged, he used fre
quently to say that the Baptists were
right in their mode of administering
the ordinance. Knowing he should
meet the Baptists at Serampore, he
felt it important to attend to the mat
ter more closely, so as to be able to
defend his sentiments.
After our arrival at Serampore
his mind was o rmuch taken up with
missionary inquiries, and our diffi
culties with tho government, as to
prevent his attending ;o the subject
of baptism. But as we were wait
ing the arrival of our brethren, and
having nothing in particular to at
tend to’, he again took up the sub*
ject. I tried to have him give it up,
and rest satisfied with his old senti
ments and frequently told him, if he
became a Baptist, J would not, He,
however, said he felt his duty to ex
amine closely a subject on which ho
had so many doubts. After we re
moved to Calcutta, he found in the
library in our chamber, many books
on both aids, which he determined
to read candidly and prayerfully, and
to embrace the truth, however morti
fying, however great the sacrifice. I
now commenced reading on
the subject, w 5 ill ni y
-pr*. jn.’.icc.i .... ’’, -> <* ’ '.apust
side. We had with us Dr. Wor
cester, Dr. Austins, Peter Edwards,
and other Pedo-baptist writings.
But after examining the subject for
several weeks, we were constrained
to acknowledge that the truth ap
peared to lie on the Baptist side. It
was extremely trying to reflect on
the probable consequences of our be
coming Baptists. We knew it would
Wound and grieve our dear Christian
friends in America, that we shonld
lose their approbation and esteem.
We thought it probable that tho
Commission would refuse to support
us; and what was more distressing
than anything, we must be separated
from our missionary associates and
go alone to seine heathen land.
These things were very trying to
us, and caused our hearts to bleed
for anguish. We felt we had no
home in this world and no friend
but each other. Our friend at Se
rampore ‘were extremely surprised
when we wrote them requesting
baptism, as they had known nothing
of our having had any doubt on the
subject.”
Another letter gives some addi
tional particulars: Mr. J. resolved to
examine the subject candidly and
prayerfully let the result be what it
would. No one in the my ion fami
ly knew the state of his mind, as
they never conversed with any of us
on this subject. 1 was fearful he
would become a Baptist and fre
quently suggested tho unhappy con
sequences if he should. Ho always
answered that his duty compelled
him to examine tho subject, and ho
hoped he should have tho disposition
to embrace the truth, though ho paid
dear for it. I always took the Pedo
baptist side in reasoning with him,
although I was as doubtful of tho
truth of their system as ho. After
wo camo lo Calcutta, he devoted his
whole time to reading on this sub
ject, having attained tho best authors
on both sides. Alter having exam
ined and re-exainined the subject in
every way possible, ami comparing
tho sentiments -of both Baptists and
Pedobaptists with tho Scriptures, ho
was compelled from a conviction of
the truth, t > embrace those of the
former. 1 confined my attention al
most entirely to tho Scriptures, com
pared the Old with tno New Testa
ment, and tried to find something in
favor of. infant baptism, but was
convinced it had no foundation
there. Why, my dear parents and
sisters, wc arc both confirmed Bap-
Gists, not because we wished to be,
but because truth compelled us to
be. A renunciation of our former
sentiments has caused us more pain
than anything which ever happened
to us through our lives.”
Some extracts from Air. Judson’s
journal will still more fully disclose
her feelings at this time, and show
how reluctantly she and her husband
reached the final result: “Aug. 10,
1812. Besides the trials occasioned
by the orders of the government, I
see another heavy trial just coming
upon me. Air. J.’s mind has been for
some time much exercised in regard
to baptism, lie has lately been ex
amining the subject more closely.
All his prejudices are in favor of
pedobaptism, but he wishes to know
the truth and be guided in the path
of duty. If he should renounce his
former sentiments, he must offend
his friends at home, hazard his rep
utation, and what is still more trying,
be separated from his missionary as
sociates.”
A little later, she wrote: “I have
been much distressed the week past,
in view of the probable separation
between our missionary brethren and
ourselves, Air. J. feels convinced
from Scripture that he *has never
been baptized, and that he cannot
conscientiously administer baptism
to infants. This change of senti
ment must necessarily produce a
separation. As we are perfectly uni
ted with our brethren in every other
respect, and are much attached to
them, it is inexpressibly painful to
leave them, and go alone to a sepa
rate station. But every Sacrifice
that duty requires must be made. I
do not myself feel satisfied on the
subject of baptism, having never
given it a thorough examination.
But I see many difficulties in the
Pedobaptist theory, and must ac
knowledge that the face of Scripture
does favor the Baptist sentiments,
I intend to persevere in examining
the subject and hope that 1 shall be
disposed to embrace the truth what
ever it may iio. It, is gainfully ipor
tifying to my feelings to think seri
ously of renouncing a system which
I have been tought from infancy to
believe and respect. O that the
Spirit of God may enlighten and
direct my mind—may prevent my
retaining an old error, or embracing
a new one.
September 1, She wrote: “I have
been examining the subject of bap
tism for some time past, and contrary
to my prejudices and my wishes, am
compelled to believe that believers’
baptism alone is found in Scripture.
If I ever sought to know the truth;
if I ever looked up to the Father of
light; if I ever gave myself up to the
inspired word, I have done so during
this investigation. And the result
is, that laying aside my former prej
udices and system, and fairly appeal
ing to the Scripture, 1 feel convinced
that nothing really can be said in
favor of infant baptism, or sprink
ling. We expect soon to be bapti
zed. O may our hearts be prepared
for the holy ordinance! And as we
are baptized into a profession of
Christ, may we put on Christ, and
walk worthy of the high vocation
wherewith wo are called. But in
consequence of our performance of
this duty, we must make some very
painful sacrifices. We must be sepa
rated from our dear missionary asso
ciates, and labor alone in some
isolated spot. We must expect to
be treated with contempt, and cast
off by many of our American
friends forfeit the character wo had
in our native land, and probably live
to labor for oilr own support wher
ever we are stationed. O our heav
enly Father, wilt thou be our friend?
Wilt thou protect us, enable us to
live to thy glory, and make us useful
in some retired spot of this eastern
world, in loading a few precious
souls to embrace that Savior whom
wo love and desire to serve.
And now a single extract from a
letter of Air. Judson to tho Third
Church of Plymouth, in which he
rehearses some of tho distressing
heart experiences he had passed
through, in reaching the final deter
mination to sever his connection
with them and unite with tho Bap
tists: “Must I, then, forsake my
parents, the church with whiqh 1
stand connected, the society under
whose patronage I have come out,
tho companions of my missionary
undertaking? must I forfeit the
good opinion of all my friends in my
native land, occasioning grief to
some, and provoking others to anger
and be regarded henceforth, by all
my former acquaintances, as a weak,
despicable Baptist, who has
sense enough to comprehend the
connection between the Abrahamio
and Christian system? All this
was mortifying; it was hard to flesh
and blood. But I thought again, it
is better to be guided by the opinion
of Christ, who is the Truth, than by
the opionion of men, however good,
whom I know to be in error. The
praise of Christ is better than the
praise of men. Let me cleave to
Christ at all events, and prefer his
favor above my chief joy.”
These extracts give the inside
view of perhaps the most remarka
ble instances of conversion to the
truth, all things considered, that have
taken place since Paul was stricken
down on the way to Damascus ; and
they seem to be no less providential
and no less descisive as to the truth
of tho doctrines at issue. But to
continue the narration:
Forbidden by the government to
remain in Hindostan, and apparent
ly insuperable difficulties being in
the way of going to Burmah, Jud
son and Rice reluctantly determined
to go to the isle of France, an island in
the Indian ocean, and begin a mis
sion there—which place they reach
ed, January 17, 1813. The prbs.
pect for permanent usefulnes not be
ing favorable here, and still being in
suspense as to what view the Bap
tists of the country would take of
them and their work, it was thought
best for Rice to return to America
and personally communicate with
their new brethren, and if adopted
as their missionaries, to see what
permanent and reliable arrangements
could be made for their support-
Still anxious to be at mission work,
Air. and Judson, left to their own
councils, determined to go to Prince
of Wales Island, which, indeed, was
one of the points named in* their
commission. But as no vessel could
be found going to that place, they
resolved to go Madras, hoping to ob
tain a passage from there. But in
this they were disappointed, and
fearing that they might fall into the
hands of the government and he
sent to England, they determined to
go to Rangoon, Burmah, at which
place they landed July 14, 1813.
Her.e we will laave Judson and
his heroic wife, aid inquire after
Rice, whom we left on his way to
America. Being compelled to go
byway of South America, he did
not-reach this country until Septem
ber, 1813, landing at New York.
News of his, and Judson and his
wife’s conversion to the Baptist faith
had preceded him, and had wonder
fully stirred the Baptists from one end
of the laud to the other. It seemed
almost like a voice from the skies,
calling upon them to arise from then
lethargy ami go forth upon the grand
mission of giving the Gospel to the
world. Rice found that several so
cieties had already been formed to
raise funds to sustain the missiona
ries which God had given them, and
he immediately began an effort to
enlist the entire denomination in the
good work. As that was before the
day of railroads, and the Baptists
were scattered from Alassachusetts
to Georgia, it was no light undertak
ing to visit them at their homes, their
churches, and their associations, but
providing himself with a good horse
and a sulky, Rice addressed himself
to the task. His efforts were quite
successful, and as a result, there was
formed tho following spring, (May
18, 1814,) in the city of Philadelphia,
“The General Alissionnry Conven
tion of the Baptist Denomination of
tho United States of America, for
Foreign Afissions.” Subsequently
called for short, the “Triennial Con
vention,” because it met only once
in three years, and now known as
the “Old Triuiniial Convention,” be
cause it was disolved in 1845, being
succeeded in the South by the
Southern Baptist Convention, and in
tho North, by tho American Baptist
Missionary Union.
This first meeting was truly a gen
eral convention, delegates being
present from every part of tho coun
try. Richard Furman of South Car
olina was chosen president. One of
their first acts was to appoint Air.
Judson and wife ns their missiona
ries, and to provide means for their
support. Air. Rico was also appoin
ted, but Ins field of labor was to be
in this country, continuing tho work
Brother Minister,
Working Layman,
Zealous Sister
• We aro striving to make
The Index
the best of its kind. Help us by securing a
now subscriber.
VOL. 70-NO. 3
of forming mission societies and col
lecting funds.
It was not until September *5,
1815, more than two years after his
arrival in Burmah, that Air. Judson’
heard of the organization of the Gen
eral Convention, and his adoption as
their missionary. But his time had
been diligently employd in learning
the language and doing other useful
preparatory work. He thus writes on
learning what had been done: “Thia
general movement among the Bap
tists of America is particularly en
couraging. * * * * None but
one who has had the experience can
tell what feelings comfort the heart
of a solitary Alissionary,when,though
all the scenes around him present no
friend, he remembers that there are
spots on the wide earth where Christ
ian brethren feel that his cause is their
own, and pray to the same God and.
Savior for his welfare and success.”
It was six long years, June 27,
1819, before Judson had the privel
ege of baptizing his first convert.
His faithw as tried, but it was . not
found wanting. He persevered in
the face of danger and discourage
ments many, and God gave him suc
cess at last. More than forty years
ago, Judson was called to his home
on high, but the record of his earth
ly- life, his piety, his zeal, his conse
cration—his sacrifices, his sufierinsis
his labors, his successes—the whole
is, and will ever be a precious heri
tage of blessing to the great Baptist
family and to the world.
Such was the origin of American
Baptist Foreign Alission.
J. 11. Kilpatrick.
FIR3T PETRR.
As in a former article, I insist
again on reading an entire book of
the Bible at a sitting. This with a
few other pointers will better enable
one to get the meaning of the writ
er. This First Epistle of Peter
should, by all means, be taken as a
whole if you would gather the force
of the truths there set forth.
Notice tie lettei is addressed 'to
tho scattered strangers, maybe, small
churches gathered here and there by
the labors of Apostles, and traveling
Christians who by business, were
lead to make trips through the coun
try, but quite as probable, they were
sure enough scattered Christians one
Here and another there as the Holy
Spirit may have claimed them by
the story of the Gospel from some
witness aj Pentecost, semo traveling
tradesman of some refugee from the
persecutions to which in those times
they so often were subjected.
This man of God obedient to the
injunction of his master was anxious
if possible to strengthen the brethren
and so wrote this far reaching, deep .
ly pious, ardent appeal to the strau .
gers Scattered abroad, hoping to Af
ford encouragement in triads and
strength of faith and purpose in per
secution.
There is no part of God’s sacred
storehouse more adapted to the com
fort and assurance of a child of God
under trial.
It is not argumentative. It is a
statement of marvelous facts. It is
not necessarily doctrinal and still
deeply Christian. Peter is like Paul
in strong heart lifting statements and
like John in tender, heart searching
love.
When you read this first letter of
Peter again see how many statements
he makes that are encouraging to
struggling Christians. By one state,
ment and another ho brings into his
letter all the great doctrines of Chris
tianity but not for tho sake of teach
ing the doctrine, it is for the pow
er the doctrine has to make a
burdened soul strong. He writes as
if his readers were acquainted with
parts at least of both tho old and
the New Testaments and only needed
to be reminded of the gracious
truths and promises they contained
for Christians in fiery trials. In
thinking of the use Peter had made
in his letter of tho groat doctrinal
truths, 1 was impressed with the
unstudied aptness with which ho in
troduced them at every point where
they would come with telling effect
in his appeal to tho “stronger broth
ren” to stead fastness and courageous
endurance.
He begins with the sublime doc
trine of God's sovereignty in choice
of these feeble saints and then passes
so gracefully and rapidly over tho
“now birth” and tho resurrection’of
Jesus Christ to recur in a breath to
his first thoughts with the redoubled