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BANNER & BAPTIST,
it-®
“Holy Bible, —Book Divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.”
JESSE M. WOOD, > F-rtitnrs
11. HOHKADY, f Editors.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA:
Saturday, March 2, 1861.
Our terms of Subscription, $2 00 per
Annum, always in advance.
Terms for Job Bor£ t? our office.
Cash ox Delivery of the Wc»ik.
For our terms for advertising, see Ist col
umn of Ist page.
— - '» Mi* 'oil.
CLIBS-PKiitIUHS.
1. To any one who will send us Five subscribers
and the money, we will send either an extra copy
of the Banner for a year, the Tennessee Baptist,
the Christian Repository, (an able monthly by El
der S. H. Ford, and Mrs. Sallie Rochester Ford,)
or a copv of Matthew Revised, by Dr. Conant.
2. To any one sending us Three subscribers, we
will send a copy of Worrell’s Review, or Four
of the “Little Question Book,” for little chil
dren, by 8. Root
3. To any one who will send Two subscribers,
we will send a copy of the work now in press, by
the slave BERRY. This work every Southerner
will want. Any minister who will send Two,
shall have a copy of the Banner a year for $1 00.
WEEKLY CHAT.
In these times of political distraction and
“rumors of war" Christians should be exceed
ingly watchful and prayerful. Watchful, be
cause there is much danger of having our
minds engrossed with the affairs of the coun
try, and with our own persona! business.
Satan is ingenious in using occasions to divert
our minds from the Saviour and his cause,
lie will be very apt to make many think that
they are unable to do anything for the poor
around them, and for Missions abroad. He
will plead mightily for our “own household,"
and then laugh at our credulity. It would not
be surprising, if poor pastors will have to
subscribe to make up for the losses of rich
men—or which is the same thing have to go
without what they (the rich men) should just
ly pay thorn. Take care brethren ! Watch!
What we say unto one, we say unto all,
“Watch.” We should also be prayerful ; for
with all our watching, we can not come off
safely without Divine assistance. We must
pray, in the name of Christ, for help. Only
in this way can we come off more than con
querers. We should pray daily for ourselves,
our families, our country, the world. The
prayers of God’s elect are not to cease until
his kingdom comes and his will be done, on
earth as in heaven.
"Our Father, God, who art in heaven,
All hallowed be thy name; •
Thy kingdom come, thy will lie dore,
In heaven and earth the same.
•‘lnto temptation lead us not;
From evi. set ua free;
And thine tlie kingdom, thine the power,
And glory ever be."
Religious Liberty.
There are doubtless some who do not un
derstand precisely what is meant by the ex
pression, “religious liberty.” Some suppose
it mean a license to do as they please, regard
less alike of the claims of either God or man.
But it is needless for us to say that such is
not the meaning of the phrase. Religious
liberty is the right of reading and interpre
ting God’s word for one’s self, without the in
tervention of the mandate of the magistrate,
or the priest. The right of private judgment
in matters of conscience and religion is guar
anteed to every one by the Great Law-Giver
in Zion. But while this is truv, there will al
ways be some whose force of character,
knowledge and social position, will tempt
them to try the experiment of thinking for
others—who are too ignorant or indolent to
think for themselves; and when once men
have seemed to acquire such a right, by pre
scription, they will sometimes be disposed to
exercise it in behalf of those who prefer their
own methods of thought. We once heard a
Baptitt minister and Editor, say that some
Baptists ought, to be led by otheis, or that
they ought to follow the lead of others.
We then thought th« remark evinced the
servility of the author’s mind, and we have
not seen anything since to change our opinion.
The Apostle taught his brethren to follow him
at he followed Christ, but in order to do this, i
the parties would he compelled to think.— i
They would have first to study Christ as an
Examphr, and then scrutinize Paul in the
wine Bght. Thin wouLl require thought, and ,
theft they would have to institute the compari
son between Paul’s example and that of
Christ, to ascertain whethv* the apostle did
really fellow Christ. The right to judge for .
themselves is the Ifeaod l-t.ijit privilege of
every Christian, and whenever Baptists lose
sight of it—or are willing servilely to fellow
those who are disposed to lead them, then
they will be no longer worthy of the illustri- i
out dead, who valued independence of thought
above even life itself. The very essence of
religion* liberty ia individualism— or the
right of differing from any and all who depart
from the word of God, in the strictness and
simplicity of its teaching.
But to preserve the right of private judge
ment in religious matters, there must be a
jealous watch maintained against all castes
and HVMsttfKdifs. Tyranny may be asaevtrely
. exervi «al by an Oligarchy or Aristocracy. as
by an Autocracy, and is quite m much an object
of aversion when affected by one as the
other. Obedience to Christ does not
necesaarily require eubmieafen to all the de
crees of M*, fer hi some instances to obey
sens, is to div&bey CAri*?. As Baptists, we
ought to study the scrij»turea to ascertain
when we are to follow men, and when we are
to oppose them. If we find them walking
ares-rung to the inspired word, we abould h>l
low thrir example, but if on the contrary we
find them adhering to the oimmandtnciits and
inslitu-fens of men, and usurping authority
over the vonscicmvw of others, we mu*t resist
tfe m. We must not take it for granted that
some me*i are too wise to err, or too holy to
be ambitious, fur there are iH .se who can be
•afidy trusted with museriplural power.
H. J
“Who knoweth the spirit of man that
Goclh Upward?”
There is, in the human bosom, a principle
which elevates its possessor above the interior
orders of beings by which he is surrounded.
Man may be placed in a condition where every
physical want is supplied, and where there is
an entire absence of pain or bodily annoy
ance, but still be is not satisfied. That some
thing in his bosom is still restless and aspir
ing, and yearns for higher enjoyments than
those of which his mere animal nature is ca
pable. There is still a mighty void in bis de
sires which the perishable good of earth can
never fill. And what is that insatiate rest
less thing which ever struggles like a caged
bird or a chained captive? Ah ! that is what
we call the spirit of man, but what is that?
Who can understand it? Is it of earth?
Earth-born, earth-tending ?’ No, wo: It is ca
pable of surviving the ruin of time, and will
live when the sun shall grow pale in the heav
ens, and when the moon and stars shall shroud
themselves in eternal darkness. This spirit
can tread back through the dim mazes of the
past, and listen to the inspired .strains of the
rapt Isaiah, as he proclaims the ardent suffer
ings, death, and final triumph of the Son of
David. Or it can wonder back and hold fa
miliar converse with the lordly builders of
the Pyramids, or even walk with Adam and
Eve fimong tnf* atconfed bowers o£ Para
dise.
Or, it can travel down the vista of coming
years, until time is lost in Eternity’s great
bosom, and can even gaze upon the arch-an
gel, robed in the uncreated light of heaven.
And yet, such a spirit inhabits each human
bosom —a spirit of tremendous power and of
mighty impulses —one which, when aroused,
rages like the maddened whirl-wind, and yet
can be subdued into the gentleness of the even
ing zephyr. But who cap know such a spirit?
Who can comprehend its mighty workings ?
As well try to penetrate the dark mysteries
which lie imbedded in the deep caves of the
ocean, as attempt to pry into the hidden na
ture of man’s spirit. Oh! Deathless spirit!
Immortal Existence! What is thy destiny?
Are thy wings plumed for flight upward to
the bright regions of eternal glory ? Is heav
en, the bright and glorious temple of God thy
aim f
Then God speed thee on thy shining way,
and grant thee at least a place amongst the
blood-bought throng on high.
11.
Brother R. .1. Hogue.
A private letter from this faithful mission
ary has been received, and we are gratified to
learn that he is still encouraged in his work,
lie reports himself well, but his family have
suffered some, of late, from sickness. He is
making arrangement to have his eldest datigh
ter conveyed to his Indian home, by brother
Peter Folsom, as he returns from Washington
City to the West.
This daughter has been engaged in study at
the Baptist Female College of .South-Western
Georgia, and has not seen any of her family
since they left the State. God grant that she
may reach her family in safety.
Will not the brethren of the Bethel Asso
ciation raise one or two hundred dollars and
send the amount to brother Hogue in the
Choctaw- Nation ? We know him well, and
we can say in all gfiod conscience, th’at we
arc acquainted with no brother of more mod
est and retiring merit. It would doubtless be
very grateful to him to receive such an ex
pression of Christian affection and confidence
at this time, and wc kn >w several brethren in
the Bethel who could raise S2OO for him with
out feeling the poorer for such a generous of
fering. Who will respond ? What say you
brethren about making up a contribution for
brother Hogue? You can scud him a cheek
to Armstrong Academy, Choctaw Nation.
11.
“Softly” and Hardly.
Brother 8., of the Christian Index, at
tempts to call us to account for our article
which we lately published upon “our Mission
work,” under the significant cAption of “soft
ly. ” What he meant to convey by the use
of this term, we do not exactly understand,
but suppose he intended to caution us against
handling what might prove to be an edged
tool. The only point in his “softly” article,
is his attempt, (for such only has it proved to
be) to exhibit our inconsistency in writing/w
the Southern Baptist Sunday School Union,
and against the Foreign Mission Board, when
they are both in States which present the
same political status. But “softly” brother B.
When we wrote/or the Union, we had hope
that Tennessee would go with the South, as
the result of the election in that State had not
reached us up to that time. If there is any
other point in brother B.’s article, it must be
its “softness," as we did not see any other.
Is he answered “softly 1” If not, he can
hardly be answered at all.
11.
The Lillie Question Rook.
Should the orders continue, the First Edi
tion of this little work for children, will soon
be exhausted. But as we wish to have some
guide regarding the number to be struck in
the Second Edition, we still solicit orders.
W e have long been satisfied that just such a
work was greatly needed. Every family in
ail the land should have it, whether their chil
dren can go to Sabbath School or not.
Although the fe-ok has some blemishes.
(winch "however, will be ferrected in the next
edition,) we can unhesitatingly say, that it is
the beat work of the kind that we have seen.
Os many favorable expressions, by the
Press and private letters, we submit a few.
and ask brethren, sisters and friends, to send
orders promptly. Wo will fill bills until the
present edition Is exhausted, and get out the
second as soon as possible.
GkiTSfK, Feb. 11, mill.
Brother Root, —I thank you for a copv of
your new Sabbath School Book. I have ex
amined it pretty thoroughly and am pleased
with it. You are happy both in the selection
and treatment of your topics. As rou sat.
in the Preface, “The kssons are >h,'-rt,” but
by no means too short. The class of children
fer w hich it is designed, require short h-ssoiss.
You will not regard me as flattering vou,
after the above, when I say that «e have long
neesled jw* snch a book as yours, lu all our
Sabltath Schods. I have felt its need in all
with which I ha\e ever been connected. I
iHtee wrote to tintm* of the publishing houses
inquiring fist a similar work, but could not
find it. I then seriously thought of, and did
really commetwe the preparation <4 such a
work, but fer watt: of time and suflicirßt
B A.TN AK H .V N D BA P'l’ I ST.
confidence in myself, I never completed the
undertaking.
Your arrangement is good. You have so '
selected and arranged your topics as that the ■
whole seems linked together, the one natural
ly following the other, and presenting in your
42 lessons a pretty extensive, and at the same
time, correct view of Bible history.
A. VAN HOOSE.
Primary Bible Questions.—A Catechism
for young children, by S. Root, of Atlanta,
and published by the Franklin Printing House.
This little book exactly fills a niche in our
Baptist schedule of wants. So much was this
need felt by us, that it was in our mind to go
about making just such a book. Often do or
ders corhe to our Depository for just such
books, and, heretofore, we have had to send
such as were prepared by pedo-baptists or
none. Rut those who want a simple Cate
chism ofScripture History for children, white
or black, can be supplied from a Georgia
Baptist Press.— Christian Index.
Primary Bible Questions for Young Chil
dren. By r S. Root; Atlanta, Ga., Frank
lin Printing House; Wood, Hanleiter, Rice
& Co.
This little question book, containing 42
chapters, has just been issued by the new pub
lishing house above mentioned.
The book is just what our schools have long
wanted. The pious author has for years been
a most zealous and efficient Sabbath School
Teacher. He has deeply felt the need of just
such a work, and has well performed the task
of supplying it.
It is simple, pointed, concise, and yet more
comprehensive than any question book of the
kind 1 have seen. All Sunday Schools
should supply themselves at once. “ Price 15
cents per single copy. I suppose a deduction
will be made to schools buying by the quanti
ty- . E. W. WARREN.
In our first notice of the book, wo gave two
chapters pertaining to the Old Testament.
We now give two relating to the New Testa
ment.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE CHILDHOOD OF CHRIST.
Q. What did the wicked King Herod do,
when he. heard of the birth of Christ?
A. Tie had all the little boys in th°.t coun
try killed.
(y. Why did lie’do that?
A. Because ho wanted to kill Christ with
them.
(f And what became of Christ when all
the little boys were killed ?
A. He was carried into Egypt for safety.
Q. What do we know about the childhood
of Christ ?
A. Ihat. lie was a good boy, and obeyed
His parents.
Q. Did He ever do anything wrong?
A. No, He did not.
Q. Christ is an example to all little boys
and girls, is he not ?
J. Yes, we should try to be good like Him.
If \\ hut did He do when lie was twelve
years old ?
A. He went in. the Temple, and talked with
the wise men.
<2- What did the wise men think of Him ?
A. They wondered at His learning.
Q. Now, what can you tell us about little
Jesus ?
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST.
(f Where was Christ baptized ?
yl. In the river Jordan.
Q. How old was He then ?
J. Thirty years old.
Q. Who baptized Him ?
A. .lohn Baptist.
<2- Why did John baptize Him ?
.1. Because Christ wished it.
Q. What did Christ tell John about his
baptism ?
J. “Thus it becometh me to fulfill all
righteousness.”
Q. What happened as He came up out of
the water?
A. Ihe voice of God was heard from hea
ven.
Q. What did the voice say ?
JL “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased.”
Q. What did that mean ?
yl. That God was Christ’s Father.
Q. And what else did it mean?
A. That God was pleased with His Son’s
perfect example and obedience.
Q. What else happened at the same time?
-1. The Holy Spirit, in the shape of a dove,
came down and lit on Him.
Q. Now-, can you tell something about the
baptism of Christ.
QUERIES.
1. What should a church do with a mem
ber about whom very bad reports have gone
out for years; but the church fails to get pos-
I itive proof of guilt, yet from the company
i the member keeps the church is satisfied of
guilt, so that the church has lost fellowship?
Answer. A church should not exclude a
member on a charge which cannot l>e proven.
Keeping bad company is a proper ground of
i complaint, and if this is continued, after re
moustraiKe and Christian advice, until the
i church loses fellowship, the member should l>e
cut off. 1 bis should have been answered ear
j lier, but was overlooked.
2. Somebody in Teianessec, who signs his
query “Cupidus,” asks who was David’s
; mother ?
las. The wife of Jesse, the son of Obed.
He was David’s father and his wife was his
mother, so far as we know. This is as une
quivocal as the signature.
I.un<lmurk Prineiplleti as Advocated
I»j tin-. Il’npvr.
1. None but those who make a credible
prof >-.;<>n of faith in Christ, should be bap
tized.
2. None are r< .illy baptized, except those
who are immerst J upon a profession of their
faith In Christ.
3. None can properly be members of th<»
Church of Christ, except they have been bap
tized.
4. None can properly be ministers of Christ
who are not members of the church of
Christ.
5. Nonaffi’iatiou with those who refuse
to obey Christ in f ese things—with those
who refuse to walk acwnjlng to the Divine
rule. •
6. We shall insist upon Baptists practicing
what they hold and tqaeh.
7. While we shall firmly adhere to the a
bove principles, yet w e do not deny that others
are eo'sv i rt- >l a< w■ 11 a* Baptist-;, but a- it
regards their baptism, we regard them as be
ing in disorder—mdjaptiztsl.
-■»»■
v- We publish this week, brother Lan
drum's article which we reviewed in a late
number ot out paper, with his note appended,
a id we do it the more readily as it alwavs
gives us more pleasure to correct an error
than to commit one. We are sorry that w e
gave any expression to a surmise that there
might be an ulterior i*l»jret in brother L.’s
plan, as we tx»w find it “is teholfy withmtt
ffiundatlon." We trust this will be satisfac
tory to our brother, whom we esteem verv
higif y. H.
! GOMMOTKAHOM '
r- -
For I lie Banner .& Baptist.
Dear Brethren,— As you have reviewed
mv article, “A Plan for Stale Missions and
Colportage," I ask, as a favor, that you will
now publish it. 1 furnish it below.
Let me l iei ’ e sa y> ’' !at l ' ic inference y° u
drew in reference to a connection with the
Nashville Bible Board, and the Biennial Con
vention. is wholly without foundation, so far
as my plan is concerned. 1 never thought of
such a thing until I read your article. The
plan was written without conference with any
one and is the result simply of a desire to do
good in the best way in our native State. The
design is purely for a Georgia Mission and
Colportage work. Yours, truly, S. L.
A PLAN FOR STATE MISSIONS AND
COLPORTAGE.
Bro. Boykin:—ln your editorials, “What
Georgia Baptists ought to do, &c.,” you have
alluded to two great wants in our denomina
tional work in this State. The one is State
Missions; the other, an efficient plan of
Colportage.
Formerly our Convention had a State Mis
sion conducted by its Executive Committee.
Some years ago it was turned over to the Do
mestic Board at Marion, and abandoned by
the Convention. Was this necessary or wise?
| I believe I voted for the transfer, but with the
; light which experience furnishes, I question
| both the necessity and the wisdom of the
course. Ido not believe the Board lias been
benefitted materially by the change; nor can
I see that the supply of the destitution in our
I State has been improved by it. The Domes
j tic Board has strong claims upon our contrib
i utious, and we may receive some returns in
i the way of supplying towns and city missions,
I but there is a vast destitution which that
i Board cannot understand, nor supply : such
destitution as exists in Southeastern Georgia,
for instance. (Brunswick, St. Marys, Darien,
St. Catherines, Camden county, and other
points, are now entirely destitute.) Who
can understand this destitution so well as
Georgians, or feel so deep an interest in it?
The same is true of other portions of our
State. Now, I believe money can be raised
by the Georgia Convention for this State
i work which docs not go to any benevolent
I object.
Then, I believe that our Bible and Colpor-
I teur Society is inadequate, as it now exists,
! for a general and efficient system of State
I
Colportage. It has not, it does not now, en
list the co-operation of Georgia Baptists.
Even its’anniversaries, though held in connec
tion with the Convention, do not receive even
| the encouragement of the presence of most of
i its members. It seems to be regarded as a
I sort of outside affair, and has been kept alive
I by the energy of a few brethren.
I should not allude to these deficiencies did
I not believe that they can be remedied. We
need a better plan. You alludeto the success
of Virginia in this work. It is gratifying.
1 What is her plan? Please get and publish it.
1 I want the best plan for this important, and
| distressingly urgent necessity.
I have thought of this plan. Let the Col
' porteur Society turn over its work to the Con
; veution, and go into liquidation. Let the
\ Mfrsidns and Colportage.” Let a general Su
‘perintendent be elected annually by the Con
vention, with a sufficient salary to take charge
of the work. It would be his duty to raise
, funds to support Celporteurs in whole, or in
• [ part, in connection with churches and associa
! tions ; to select Colporteurs, to aid destitute
churches and communities, in securing preach
ing and raise funds to aid in their support; to
' purchase books and Bibles, wherever needed
by Colporteurs, Missionaries, or Sunday
Schools. The Convention may raise a Com
mittee of three, or more brethren, at some
suitable point, with whom the Superintendent
may counsel; to whom he may make quar
terly reports; and one of whom may- act as
treasurer; but let him report annually to the
Convention, and receive his appointment from
that body direct.
I should have said, in the proper place, that
all the Colporteurs and Missionaries should
I report quarterly or monthly to the General
’ Agent.
Some of the advantages of this plan would
! be: Ist. The employment of much talent in
the ministry now almost useless, and the sup
ply of destitution not reached by any existing
■ agencies. 2d. The securing of a State evati
; gelist, in the work of the Superintendent.
' 3rd. Creating a deeper interest in the work of
Home missions; giving much more interest
to the sessions of our Con veution, and carry-
• ing out more fully the terms of its Constitu
, tion, viz : (1.) "To unite the influence and pi
■ ous intelligence of Georgia Baptists, and
thereby to facilitate their union and coopera
tion. (2.) To form and encourage plans for
the revival of experimental and practical re
ligion in the St itc and elsewhere.” 4th. The
accomplishment of more good with less ex
pense.
We ne ed no book Depository in this work.
All the expense of rent, salary of Depository
agent, -.Ce., is obviated. The Supcrintcndeiil
would buy books where they could be had on
; the best terms, and order them direct to the
i point where they are needed. He could thus
i secure books to the destitute, and to colpor
i teurs, cheaper than any depository can furnish
i them. He could obtain them of the publish
j ers at the price allowed to “she trade.”
j There would not, by this plan, be a dollar
i needed for any purpose, but to promote the
; work directly, unless the salary of theGener
.al agent be so considered. Even this cannot
i properly be regarded as an exception.
The great obstacle in the way of the plan
■ is, to seeiire the right man to take charge of
( the work. He must be a good preacher, pos
sessing the power of representing the great
work efl"ectively to any congregation. He
must be a man of experience, good judgment,
' great practical wisdom, and a good share of
financial skill; must be generally acceptable
to the denomination, and deeply devoted to
the work for the Master’s sake.
Can such a man be found ? Ido not Know;
but I hope the Convention would be able to
point out the right man.
I have thus given you an outline of a plan
* which iit seems to the would be practicable
and simple, and one that would supply ade
sioEaxiTM in the benevolent efforts of Geor
gia Baptists.
S. LANDRUM.
Snctittnah, Jan. %ssh, !S*H.
' er speak of a man’s virtues to his
I fists, nor of his faults behind his back.
For the Banner & Baptist.
Jesus mid the “Three Witnesses.”--
1 John 5:8.
For 1800 years, they have stood by the
highway of Christian experience, and have
cried to the children of men, “This is the way, i
walk ye in it.” These three witnesses are
“Z/ze Holy Spirit,” and “Z/«e Water of Bap
tisms and “Z/zs Blood of the Lord's Supper.” '
The Holy Bible says, “ there are three that bear
record, the Spirit and the Water and the Blood.”
These three are God's witnesses and are enti- j
tied to the utmost belief, for the Oth verse '
says, “If we receive the witness of -men, the '
witness of God is greater.” The testimony :
which God furnishes us by the mouth of these ■
three witnesses, ought to be believed more
readily than all other witnesses. Yea, let God
be true—let His holy word be believed, tho’
“every man be a liar,” —though every man’s
testimony be set aside. Let me believe God,
although every human being tell me just the
contrary of what God tells me.
These Three God- Witnesses have one. great
work to do. They are to prear/z Jesus. For
the 9th verse says, “For this is the witness of
God, which He hath testified of His Son.” The
distinct unequivocal commission under which
they act is this: “Go ye, my witnesses, into
all the world, and preach to every creature —
Jesus ; for, through you, I shall testify of my
Son.
These Three God- Witnesses of Jesus are to
preach in perfect harmony. Each will pro
claim precisely what the others do. For God
says of them, “ These Three agree in on,e.”
When these Three God-Witnesses of Jesus
have laid down their testimony, what will it
be? What shall that unanimous, concurring
record be ? Blessed be God !we have the
answer. For God himself tells ns in the 11th
verse, “And this is the record, that God hath
given to us eternal life, and this, life is in His
Son.” Then, these three witnesses eome be
fore us. The testimony of each one is this :
Ist. Salvation is a gif'l.
2d. When once bestowed, salvation is eter
nal.
3rd. This eternal salvation is in the Son of
God, and in Him hZdne.
The Holy Spirit is an internal witness, for
God says, in the 10th verse, “He that believ
eth on the Son of God, hath the witness in
himself.” The two other witnesses are exter
nal. That which “Z//e Spirit” teaches me in
ternally, “the Water” and “the Blood” teach
es me externally: for, “these three agree in
one.” The oftener I look within me and re
view the t; ashings of “the Spirit,” the better
prepared shall 1 be to see the significance of
“the Water,” and to experience the precious
ness of “the Blood.”
When convicted by “the Spirit,” 1 saw my
self entirely polluted, sinful all over, “from
the crown of the head to the sole of the foot,”
and therefore in need of an entire washing, a
total cleaning. And when this utter helpless
ness was felt, and 1 like Paul had “aiedfi then
“the Spirit” took of the things that were
Christ’s and showed them to mo,” and I feupd
life eternal, and “this life was in His Son.”
Then come my baptism. (First, Faith by
“the Spirit,” then “the Water.”) And my
baptism taught me butdardly that which the
Spirit had already taught me inwardly. For
now J see that God has given me the external
form, the ont.Ward ceremony, to strengthen,
and not to supercede the internal grace. In
that baptism was repeated to my soul, “the
record,” or testimony “that God hath testified
of His Son.” Salvation was a gift; for I was
entirely corrupt and had need of a total
“washing of regeneration” by the Spirit, of
which thus “having my body washed' with
pure water,” from the crown of the head to
the sole of the foot,” waj the outward sym
bol. Yea, I was “dead” and was to be “buri
ed in baptism;” and if raised at all, either to
“newness of life” tn this world, or to the final
glory of the other, must be raised by another
even Jesus. And that total washing, that en
tire submerging, taught me afresh what “the
Spirit” had already taught,—namely, that this
Giftoi God through Jesus Christ was Eter
nal life. For, the hope offmal glory, and the
love?of Jesus, imparted to me<by ‘the Spirit,’
were not more eternal in their prospects than
was the teaching of “the Water"-—wherein 1
was “washed and sanctified,” and “raised to
newness of life,” washed once, and once only,
and that forever.
Then come “the Blood.” (Mark again the
Gospel order, first, Faith, by “the, Spirit,”
then Baptism and ZZtea the Lord’s Supper.—
“The Spirit, and the Water, and the Blood.”)
There, blessed be God 1 I have sat again
and again, and have read in “blood” “the re
cord that God gave of His Son.” And it is
evermore the same lesson, precious to him
who hath “the Spirit.” “As often as” we look
upon “the Blood” and drink thereof, we re
joice that Ist. Salvation is a Gift. Thanks
be unto God for His unspeakable gift! 2nd.
The free gift of God is Eternal life; and 3rd.
That life eternal “is in His Son.”
“Our sins and griefs on him were laid ;
He meekly bore the mighty load ;
Our ransom price he fully paid,
In groans and tears, in sweat and blood.”
“There is a fountain tilled with blood,
Drawn frog) Etiwnuefs veins:
And sinners plunged benrtith that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.” A. T. 8.
For the Banner 4 Baptist.
Malvern Hill, Feb. 27, 18(51.
Dear Brethren:—The superficial observer
may even exclaim, with some degree of rap
ture, “We are living : in an age on ages tell
ing, when to be living is sublime.” Events
startling and world-moving, press so rapidly
on each other, we feel bewildered amid the
solemn greatness of the times. That which
strikes the interested beholder with wonder,
is the condition bet ween the moral and po
litical world, in their action and re action, as
the one by an over-ruling Providence is made
to indicate the future course of the other.
Somehow, in all the p st, great political revo
lutions and changes have had no little to do in
giving direction to the work of the Christian
wor’J. To this view of the subject, I would
point attention. It is perfectly legitimate for
us as Christians to seek to know the Divine
will in regard t<» his wonderful providential
dealings with us. Has God no design, look
ing to the interests of His Kingdom, in estab
lishing a confederacy of nations—in isolating
a people so peculiar in their political, social,
and religious creed ? Is there nothing in all
this singular organization that nfay give com
fort. and impart energy to the defenders of
true faith? Are we not taught the Supreme
W isdom of the Great Head of the church in
the peculiar characteristic of his spiritual or
ganization, by the failure of all constitutional
governments to promote the ends of justice,
happiness, and peace ?
It seems from these considerations. that the
Baptists of the Southern Confederacy, are
brought to grapple with two of the most vital I
and absorbing questions of any age, fundamcn- !
tai as they are—“ The Gospel plan of Evan- I
gelization,” and “The lievision of the Scrip
tures,” so as to give us the pure, unadulterat
ed word of God. The first has been agitated
to some extent only among us. Far in ad
vance of others in beholding those first prin
ciples necessary to success, it becomes us to
occupy that foremost post, which Providence
seems to have designated. The fate of a lie
public, modeled in its main feature? after the ,
Baptist church, but now become consolidated j
by the natural concentration of power, bids us, j
in our church policy, beware, beware ! On i
this point, suffice it to say, the safety of the
Baptist church, the safety of the world, de
pends on a plan of spiritual propagandism,
that guards with unabating vigilance intense,
individual sovereignty or independence; in
other words, our safety is in a return to first
principles.
The second is a work termed by some, the
work of the age, for w hich we are none the
less fitted. I venture to affirm, without the
fear of successful contradiction, that no people
in Christendom can, or are prepared to give a
true version of the Sacred Scriptures, but the
Southern Baptists. lam a friend to Revision,
de fqelo. 1 never have, have not now, nor
never expect to have any connexion w ith the
present movement. The motive was good,
the plan wrong. Revision of the Oracles of
God, belong only to the church that receives
them in extenso, verbatim el literatim. No
grand religious, spiritual movement that is
dependent for its succeSs on mere pnlicy, can
ever succeed. It will fail to secure the Divine
approbation. Therefore, the work of Revis
ion belongs to Southern Baptists. Two ques
tions, the one affecting the social, material in
terests of the world ; the other the purity of
the church in its organization, are viewed by
that one Body of Christians in the world from
the same stand-point, fixed on the sole authori
ty of the Bible. A European nation cannot
give a true, unadulterated version of the
Scriptures, for it would refuse to translate
“doulos.” Neither the Catholic, nor the Epis
copalian, nor the Dissenter, for they would, in
common, refuse to translate “Baplizo.” The
Northern people are fast failing to give a pure
version of the “ Word,” because they refuse to
translate “doulos.” The Northern Baptists
must fail for like reason, while all Pedo-bap
tists, both North aud South, cannot do it, be
cause they refuse to translate “ Baptizo, ”
though the latter could give a correct transla
tion of “doulos.” It is, therefore, a strong in
dication of our responsibility, as seen from the
striking developments of the present. The
work is ours. The current of events sets in
the right direction. “Ho, every true Baptist
to the rescue.”
“There is ft title in the affairs of men,
When taken at the flood, leads on to fortune - ”
MALVERN.
For the Banner & Baptist
11ERCER mVERSITY.-A<i. 2.
The public, as well as Baptists, should sup
port Mercer University because it is the best
of all our Colleges. Os this, I will give my
reader ample proof before 1 close this scries;
but in this Number will offer but one or two
reasons. It is the best of Colleges, because it
has the best endowment. It may be asked,
“what has that to do with it?” I answer it,
has much to do with it. It enables the Trus
tees to procure the most competent teachers;
to elevate the standard of scholarship; to be
independent of Tuition fees. This, it is per
ceived at once, will make it necessary for an
applicant to be prepared for the position he
seeks; and after he has entered to faithfully
perform his duties, or depart. The Faculty
are under no necessity of compromising mat
ters with him inorder to procure their “daily
bread.”
1 discover from looking over the list of the
Professors, that they are the very men to in
sist on thorough scholarship. They combine
youth with tho experience of sufficient age.
They are men of energy and experience; aud
in their respective departments are at home.
It is my decided conviction 'that, taken as a
whole, they have no equals, in the whole land
for competency, energy, and efficiency.
One example of their conduct of the Insti
tution may be given in their examinations. At
the end of each collegiate year, a thorough
and rigid examinat.on is had upon all the
studies over which the class has passed during
that period.
The same written questions are handed each
student as he enters the room where the ex
amination is held. These questions are valued
by the Professor at such amount ns he thinks
right: and each student promises not to get
aid from any book, or person, in solving the
questions, or giving the translations. If he
can answer properly, he gets the full value of
the question. If not, he fails by that much
of receiving the highest amount. It is per
ceived that this method of examination allows
time for reflection, gives a student the entire
command of himself, and makes him self-re
liant. And it is very evident that a course of
such instruction continued for four y<ars, will
have much to do with the mental culture of
the student. Every recitation during the
whole course, is made to bear upon the final
examination. In awarding honors, which I
think is a very questionable policy, this has
much to do in determining the relative stand
ing of each student; and affords one of the
easiest, aud most equitable methods of adju
dication. The endowment enables the Trus
tees to procure the best Professors; and also
enables them to elevate the standard of schol
arship, and act independently of all contingen
lies. Such an Institution has claims upon the
“good public.” But I would not have my
reader believe that the Trusteee have all the
endowment they need. By no means. They
have an agent under rppointment now to
raise enough for another chair. And when he
comes along, let'me request you to treat him
as a “orqtbcr beloved.” BETA.
LADIES' EOLIM, ’
Fur the Banner 4 Baptist.
THE BLESSIVG OF THE SABB ATH.
BY I’iKCONNUE.
Accept our thanks, 0, gracious God ’
For this sweet day of peace and rest ;
What would we be without this boon, —
When Heaven comes down—and we arc blest
Life would apjiear a dreary void.
To us immersed in worldly care,
Without these rests along the road,
Where we may pause for praise and prayer.
Father, we love this day of days.
Our souls have fed on heavenly food,
From thy high Throne, Faith’s lovely rays,
Descend on us a radiant flood.
Within the temple, 0, how sweet ’
To listen to thy holy word,
And feel that round thy mercy-eeat,
abides the presence of the Lord.
Oft mid the bustle and the din,
Os week-day cares we feel depressed,
While all the waves of earth and sin
seem, rolling o’er the weary breast
Then, O, how welcome and how sweet,
Thy light of this celestial morn ;
Tumultuous thoughts, away, away!
New hopes within our souls are born.
At peace within, —our sins forgiven,
Nothing hath power our faith to move!
Upward our thoughts are borne to Heaven,
Wafted on high by songs of love.
From the Christian Repository.
CHARACTERISTICS.
BY MRS. F. Ji. GARNETT.
“Keep thy tongue f rom evil, and thy lips from
speaking guile.”.
Observation proves that there is some di
versity in the physical conformation of the
human frame. We find in the countenances
of those around us almost every variety of
expression. The faces of some individuals
arc enlivened by such an expression of sweet- ,
ness and amiability, that we feel, upon ap
proaching them, as if we could at once take
them into our confidence, and .bestow upon
them the endearing appellation of friend.
They have about them that instantaneous pass
port to the affections which is almost irresisti
ble. Their opposites are those of stern, in
flexible visage, whose features seldom relax
into a smile—the unmistakable language of
those countenances is, -‘thus far shalt thou
c-.me, and no farther.” We would as soon
expect warmth from an iceberg, as the genial
influences of friendship from such a source.
Again, we find the cunning, artful man, who,
by the subdued twinkle of his deeply-set eye,
evinces the predominating character of his na
ture. Thus we find upon a careful study of
the “human face divine,” that the emotions of
men’s heart's, and the predominant characteris
tics of their nature, are often legibly engraven
upon their countenances. We might multi
ply examples, but these are sufficient for our
present purpose. «
This diversity is not confined to the physi- ■■
cal organization, but is also apparent in the
mental and moral. Some individuals are. re
markable for an ungoverned temper; others
labor under a more serious evil—an unbridled
tongue. It is of this we would speak.
Tne evils of the tongue are “legion,” for
they are many ; and as the diversified coun
tenances of individuals indicate the predomi
nuting feelings of their nature, so “out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
We cannot divine how an individual can be •
really pious with an unbridled tongue; for the
apostle expressly declares, “ifany among you
seem to be religious, and bridle not his tongue,
that man’s religion is vain.” Christians, or
professors of Christianity at least, shot Id in
vestigate this subject carefully and faithfelly
with reference to their own condition, as an
unbridled temper is an unmistakable evidence
of a vain religion.
We would first inquire into the evils of the
tongue. What are they ( Loquacity being
the genus, we will consider the species as they
naturally suggest themselves.
First in order is tale-bearing, more genteel
ly denominated gossiping, practiced by a very
knowing class of individuals, christened
bodies. This has been considered the predom
inant characteristic of the female, more par
ticularly, “single ladies of an uncertain age.”
But we exculpate those honorable members of
society from tbe entire odium of this, for tho’
they deal liberally in the article of gossip,
yet, as a class, they are. not more inclined to
indulge in it than the more fortunate of their
sex, and are much more excusable.
Nor is this sin confined to woinan. There
are numbers of the self-styled “lords of crea
tion,” who condescend to retail the current
rumor. The office of tale bearer is sufficient
ly degrading to the character of woman, who
is denominated the weaker vessel, but man pro
fesses to be graduated upon a different scale;
indeed, claims a higher, intellectual position
in the scale of being. Should not, then, the
crimson of shame mantle his cheek at the re
flection that he ever descends from his eleva
ted position to mingle in the petty affairs, sui
ted only to the tastes and capacities of the
weaker sex ? but,
“True it is, and pity ’tis true.”
We include in our reflections gossips, both
male and female. Hear what the apostle says
with regard to this class:
1 Thes. 3:11, “For we hear that there are
some which walk among you disorderly, work
ing not at all, but nxe busy-bodies.” 1 Tim. 5:
13, “And withal they learn to be idle, wan
dering about from house to house; and not
only idle, but tattlers also, and busy-bodies,
speaking things which they ought not.” 1
Peter 4: 15, “But let none of you suffer as a
murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil doer, or
as a busy-body in other men’s matters,” To
say the least of it, the busy-body is found' in
very bad company. The developments of
this passion for talking are various. We
give an example:
Miss Hetty Wise enters the parlor of her
confidential friend, Mrs. Anderson, with the
exclamation, “Oh, tell me, Mrs. A., have you
heard the report —Bob Watson and his wife ?”
“Bless me, no I What is it? lam dying
of impatience to hear it.”
“Well—its a secret, mind you, aud you
must promise me sacredly that you will not
tell any one, not even Mr. Anderson.”
“Os course, I will not. But, pray, don’t
keep me waiting.”
“You know 1 said when they were married,
that they would not get along well—she a
perfect vixen, and a tyrant,”
“Yes, yes, I know, Hetty; but do tell whafs
to payß
“I don’t much like, to talk after negroes,
Mrs. Anderson ; but they can tell the truth,
and their house-girl, Dolly, told our Judy that
they had a real storm there the other morn
ing.”
“What in the world was it about, Hetty ?”
“Well, when Bob sat down to table,he said
that tho coffee was not fit for a dog to drink,
and he did wish she would attend > the eook
ing, so that he could have soim. u omfort in
eating. But if she had, it would have been
no better, for she knows nothing about do
mestic aflairs. ’Tis a wonder tome that men
will marry such girls.”
“Please go on, Hetty. 1 want to hear In w
they settled it.”
“Did’nt settle it at all. She flew in a greit
passion ; declared he was the most cruel man
she ever saw, and went off to her father’s,”
“Ido wonder I Well, I always said no
good would come of her. She gives herself
■ too many airs, and thinks herself above peo
ple that’s as good as she is. I ain’t a bit sor
ry—not a bit.”
“Well, 1 must go, Mrs. A,; but don’t say a
word about this, for your life. It’s a profound
secret.”
So saying, Hetty hurries off to repeat the
story to all of he confidential friends, white
Mrs. Anderson hurridly dons her bonnet, for
getful of her solemn pledge of secrecy, and
rehearses it to the curious of her set, and it
goes the rounds until the rumor is current
that Mr. Watson and his wife have separated.
“Behold what a groat matter a little fire kin
dleth.”
There are no precincts too sacred for the in
vasion of these busy-bodies. Their investiga
ting minds explore the domain of each indi
vidual in their vicinity, and
“No pent up Utica contracts their powers."
They mak< exploring expeditions into more
remote localities, gathering up information for
the edification of the curious of their coterie.
I have heard it said of a certain village,
that a house-keeper could not have a turkey
cooked for dinner but it was known all over
the place in half an hour. The industrious
habits of these feisy-bodies cannot be snrpass
,l. They are kind enough to attend to all
the small work in their line free of charge.
The result of ail tins'is most melancholy.
Th- peace and harmony of communities is
broken up. Families are often deprived of
domestic quiet; churches riven, asunder, and
evils almost innumerable follow fe the train
of those who engage in this demoralizing bu
siness.
It l;—om<'s i:s, in view of those facts, to
watch the tongue carefully, remembering that
we must account to God in the judgment for
our government of it. Let ub guard vigil
antly every word, pray earnestly for divine
assistance in our work of reformation, and ve
ry soon busy-bodies, as a class, will become
extinct.