The Banner and Baptist. (Atlanta, Ga.) 186?-186?, November 15, 1862, Image 1
BY HORNADY & ELLS.
VOL. IY.
Slw §mutx l §aj3tW,
DEVOTED TO RELIGION AND LITERATURE,
Is published every Saturday, at Atlanta, Georgia, at the
subscription price of three dollars per year.
HORNADY & ELLS,
Editors and Proprietors.
H. 0. Hornady.J [James N. Ells.
Hope On.
Why speak so sad of days gone by,
And why that look of sorrow ?
Chase back the tears that dim thine eye,
And hope for joy to-morrow.
The sky that seems so dark and drear,
As if presaging thunder,
The sun’s bright rays will render clear,
And burst those clouds asunder.
The woods that once were bright and green
Are now all dark and dreary, |
No feathered songsters cheer the scene,
And all is sad and weary.
But soon the trees in green, and gay,
Will all bespeak of gladness;
Then look towards a brighter day,
And chase away thy sadness.
Then, if thy lot on earth be dark,
And no kind friend be near- thee,
Within thy breast thou’lt find a spark,
To comfort and to cheer thee.
Then speak not sad of days gone by,
Dispel thy looks of sorrow,
Chase back the tears that dim thine eye,
And hope for joys to-morrow.
[Original.]
Notes on the Gospel of Mark,
With a Revision of the Common English Version ,
*T K. M. CRAWfORD.
Chapter IX. [l] And he said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, that there are some of
them that stand here who shall not taste of death
till they have seen the kingdom of God come
with power.
[2] And after six days Jesus taketh with him
Peter and James and John, and leadeth them
up into a high mountain apart by themselves;
and he was trausfigurcd before them. [B] And
his raiment became shining, exceeding white, as
snow, such as no fuller on earth can whiten.—
[4] And there appeared unto them Elijah with
Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. [6]
And Peter answered and saith to Jesus, Rabbi,
it is good for us to be here: and let us make
three tabernacles; ©ne for thee, and one for
Moses, and one for Elijah. [6] For he knew
not what he should say; for they were much
frightened. [7] And a cloud came and over
shadowed them, and a voice came out of the
cloud, saying, This is my beloved Sou: hear
him. [B] And suddenly, looking around, they
no longer saw any one except Jesus alone with
themselves.
[9] And as they came down from the moun
tain, he charged them to tell no man what they
had seen tili the Son of man should rise from
the dead. [lo] And they kept that saying to
themselves, questioning with ono another, What
is it to rise from the dead! [ll] And they
asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Eli
jah must first come ? [l2] And he answered
and told them, Elijah indeed having first come
restoreth all things; and how is it written of
the Son of man, that he must suffer many things
and be set at nought? [l3] But 1 say unto
you, that both Elijah hath come and they have
done unto him whatsoever they pleased, as it is
written of him.
[l4} And when he cftme to his disciples, he
saw a great multitude about them, and some
with them. [ls] And im
mediately all the people, when they saw him,
were greatly amassed, and running to him, salu
ted him. [l6} And he asked the scribes, What
questiou ye with them ? [l7] And one of the
multitude answered and said, Teacher, I brought
unto thee my sou, who hath a dumb spirit;—
[lß} ami wheresoever he taketh him, he dash
eth him down; and he foameth and gnasheth
with his teeth, and pineth away; and l spake to
thy disciples to cast him out, and they could not,
[l9|; And he answered them and saitb, O, un
believing generation, how long shall I be with
you 1 How long shall I bear with you! Bring
him unto me. [3o} And they brought him
unto him. And when he saw him, immediately
the spirit convulsed him; and he tell on the
ground and wallowed, foaming. [Bl} And he
asked his father, How long is it since he has
been tints? And he said, From a child. [2B}
And oil times he hath cast him into thejtire and
into the waters to destroy him: but ifthou canst
do any thing, have compassion on ns and help
us. [283 And Jesus said unto him, If thou
canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believetli. [B4] And immediately the father of
the child cried out and said with tears, Lord, 1
believe; help thou mine unbelief [Bs] Anti
Jesus, seeing that the multitude was running to
gether, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying unto
him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee
to come out of him and enter no more into
him k M) And the spirit cried out, and con
vulsed him sorely, and came out of him; aud
he became as one dead, so that many said, He
(37) But Jesus took him by the hand
'TTnd when he went home, his disciples
J;' him private, Why coM o> *
; m And he said unto them, Thai
S can com forth by nothing but by prayer
and fasting.
Jk SUBXX€KOUB JUS© fcSmSUJStX' lIVBWIE.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, NOYEMBER 15, 1862.
NOTES.
1. Some of them, Sc. The multitude, as
well as the disciples are referred to. Taste
of death: die. Kingdom , dec., come. —
The kingdom of God had already com
menced with the preaching of John, (if 4,
15) but it was in weakness during the peri
od of Christ’s humiliation. It should, be
fore the death of all the by-standers, be
manifested gloriously and with power. This
began with the resurrection by which Jesus
was “ declared to be the Son of God with
power,” (Rev. i: 4,) and was continued
by the wonderful effusion of the Holy Spir
it on the day of Pentecpst, with the mirac
ulous gifts bestowed upon the apostles, and
by the destruction of the Jewish nation,
and the rapid spread of the gospel.
2. After six days. So also Matthew xvii:
1, but Luke says “about eight days.” (ix: 28)
Mark and Matthew count only the full days
intervening, while Luke includes also the
fractional days. w. 8:31. Peter, &c. f to
be witnesses of the transaction, n. 5: 37.
High mountain. —-There is no evidence to
support the tradition that this was Mt. Ta
bor. Different opinions are entertained. —
It is really a matter of no consequence.
Transfigured. —The context explains what
this means. The Gfteek word is Anglicised
“ metamorphose,” and is rendered in Ro
mans xii: 2, “transformed,” and in 2 Corin
thians iii: 18, “ changed.”
3. Shining, Sc.: Emblematic of the
glory which He was afterwards to receive.
So the face of Moses shone on his descent
from the mount. Ex. xxxiv : 29, 30. Ful
ler.—The business of the fuller was not on
ly to dress and smooth new cloth, but to
wash and whiten clothes.
4. Elijah with Moses. The rites of Mo
ses were typical of the Messiah; and they,
together with his law, were fulfilled in Je
sus. Elijah was appointed the forerunner
of the Lord. Mai. iv :5. There appears a
peculiar propriety, therefore, in their pres
ence now at this glorious attestation of the
Son of God. Talking, <£c.—Luke tells us
the subject of their conversation.
5. Good for us, dec. It was good for them
to behold the glory, though it awed and
amazed them: for it tended in after years
to confirm them in the faith of the gospel.
2 Peter i: 16—18. Three tabernacles , or
tents, booths, which might be readily made
by means of poles fastened in the ground
and covered with branches of trees. It is
useless to inquire what Peter meant, be
cause,
6. He biew not what he should say , on
account of fear. Frightened: as men gen
erally are at what is supernatural.
7. And a cloud , dec.: As the cloud came
upon Mount Sinai, into which Moses went
when he talked with God, and in which ap
peared “ the glory of the Lord.” Ex. xxiv:
15—17 • xvi: 10. A voice came , Ac. —An
attestation from heaven, as before at His
baptism, and as afterwards in Johnxii : 28.
See also John v: 87; viii: 18.
8. Suddenly. How long the heavenly
spectacle lasted, and the visitors remained,
is not stated. Their departure was as sud
den as their appearance had been.
9. Tell no man: probably because others
were not prepared to receive it. n. 4: 33;
also John xvi: 12. The three disciples
were more favored.
10. What is it, c he. They, doubtless,
with the greater part of their countrymen,
believed in the resurrection of the dead;
but did not understand how it applied to
Jesus, whom they believed to be ** the Son
of God.”
11. Why say the scribes, etc. The scribes
taught from Mai. iv : 5, that Elijah should
come before the Messiah. The disciples
recognize Jesus as the Messiah, while they
do not perceive that Elijah had preceded
Him. They therefore ask, How is this?
12. Elijah verily, (tc. The scribes are
right in this : but then, He asks, How is it
(contrary to the teachings of the scribes)
that the Messiah must be rejected by the
Jews!
13. Elijah hath come. The prophecy of
Malachi then is fulfilled, so that the Messi
ah is here. As it is written of Asm.—These
words apply to the first clause, “ Elijah
hath come,” and not to the second.
[Nora. —With much diffidence I submit
some additional observations on this most
difficult and much debated subject:
1. There is no doubt that the coming of
John is at least a partial fulfillment of the
“HIS BANNER OVER” US IS “LOVE.”
prophecy of Malaehi iv: 5. It is indeed
objected that John denies that he is Elijah.
John 4: ,21.. But John answered the ques
tion according to the intent of those who
put it: “ Art thou Elijah the Tishbite ? ”
—“I am not.” That John was the Elijah
who was to precede the Messiah is evident,
—first, from the words of the angel, (Luke
i: 17) “He shall go before him in the spir
it and power of Elijah ”; second, from the
words of Jesus, (Matthew xvii: 17) “Eli
jah hath already come,” in connection with
the statement of the evangelist, “ Then the
disciples understood that he spake unto
them of John the Baptist,”—v. 14; third,
the additional words of Jesus, “If ye will
receive it this is Elijah,” &c. Matt, xi: 14.
It is impossible to avoid the conclusion that
John the Baptist is the Elijah of Malaehi
who was to precede the Messiah.
2. If John the Baptist is indeed the Eli
jah of Malachi and of the New Testament,
and the forerunner of Jesus, was not the
Elijah who appeared with Moses at the
transfiguration, John the Baptist? If John
was the Elijah that, according to phrophecy,
was to go before the Messiah; and the Eli
jah that, in fact, did go before Him; and
the Elijah of whom Jesus spoke to His dis
ciples in their descent from the mount —
was he not also the Elijah who appeared
and talked with Him on the mount ? Why
not? They talked about His departure
which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.
Luke ix : 31. Do not all these things rath
er indicate the new than the old Elijah —the.
Baptist rather than the Tishbite? Does
not the intimate official ■ and personal con
nection between Jesus and John make the
latter the more appropriate witness than
the Tishbite ?
To the view above indicated, I know of
but one objection, viz., that founded on Pe
ter’a remark, u Let us build,’' &c., calling
him Elijah and not John. But how did Pe
ter know either Moses or Elijah ? He had
never seen them; and most probably, or
certainly, had never seen a faithful picture
of either. His knowledge of then! must
have come from some supernatural impres
sion, which might have made him perceive
the third person to be Elijah without yet
identifying him with John the Baptist.
3. Aside from any interpretation of the
prophecy of Malachi, do not the words of
Jesus indicate a second coming of the new
Elijah, John the Baptist, before His owki
second coming? I.—Matt, xi: 14, literally,
rendered, “If ye will receive it, he is Eli
jah who is to come,” followed by the sol
emn formula >M “.H e that hath ears to hear,
let him hear.” 2.—Matt, xvii: 11,“Elijah
truly shall first come and restore all things,”
literally, “ Elijah indeed comes [first] and
shall restore all things.” It is impossible
to avoid the force of the second clause.—
John did not restore all things. Those who
contend that the Saviour refers to the one
coming of John, qualify these words so as
to make them meaningless. In the next
verse, too, let it be observed that, while
Jesus asserts that Elijah has already come,
He refrains from saying or intimating that
he had restored all things. 3.—Mark ix:
12, 13 : This passage confirms the interpre
tation of the preceding. They, all three,
refer directly to the prophecy of Malachi,
and also seem to refer to something future
for its fulfilment.]
14. To his disciples: the nine who had
been left behind when He went up into the
mount. The transfiguration probably oc
curred at night, and this was the next
morning.
15. Greatly amazed. The cause of this
amazement is not stated. The unexpected
ness of His arrival would hardly seem suf
ficient to produce it. It is not improbable
that some remains of the heavenly glory
(as in the case of Moses— Ex. xxxiv : 29)
might have been seen, which attracted while
it amazed the multitude.
17. J brought unto thee. He was bring
ing him to Jesus, and in His absence had j
put him in 'charge of His disciples. My
son: his only son, and probably his only
child. Luke ix: 38.
18. Where soccer he taJecth him . The de
mon had his paroxysms of rage. The
whole description shows the malignancy of
the possession. / spate to thy disciples, etc.
1 In the absence of the Chief he naturally
I applies to the followers, who still labored
las they had been commanded, and whose
I previous success had inspired confidence in
their ability, (vi: 7—13.) Their failure
now was calculated to throw discredit on
their Teacher as well as themselves.
19. 0, unbelieving generation, &c. He
addresses the multitude in language of holy
impatience, and rebukes the perverseness
which seems to be a permanent characteris
tic of the nation. Deut. xxxii: 5, 20. But
no demerit of the people checks the benefi
cence of Jesus. He therefore commands
the son to be brought.
20. When he saw him, dec. The gram
matical structure of the sentence makes it
uncertain whether it refers to Jesus seeing
the son, or the son seeing Jesus : l think
the latter. Immediately, dec. —The presence
of Christ excites the rage of the spirit.—
Generally, “Satan has great wrath when
his time is short.”— Trench.
21. He asked his father, dc: not for the
purpose of obtaining information, for Jesus
knew all things; but probably that the fa
ther’s heart might be more deeply affected.
From a child. —The length of possession
shows the obstinacy of the case, and no
doubt increased the unwillingness of the
spirit to abandon his victim.
22. Ofttimes, Sc.: additional circumstan
ces of aggravation. If thou canst, Sc. —
The failure of the disciples had made him
despond. He was not without hope, yet
probably fear predominated.
23. If thou canst believe, Sc. —lnstead of
proclaiming His own power or declaring
His intention, He speaks of the power of
faith. “ Not only I, but whoever believes
can do all things.” Matthew xvii: 20;
Mark xi: 24.
24. Immediately, Sc.~ The interest of
the father is now excited to its utmost
pitch. I believe, help thou, Sc. —The an
swer manifests faith, but not a faith so strong
as to exclude distressing doubt. It is not
an uncommon phase of Christian experi
ence, before the full assurance of faith,
which doubts not, is attained. It was the true
faith, nevertheless, for it was successful. —
Those who can discern in this passage any
reference to the act or pledge of sponsors
in what is called baptism of infants, are in
possession of
"Optics keen,
Which see what is not to be seen.”
25. Jesus seeing, dr. —He anticipates
fd prevents the confusion that would be
oduced by the tumultuous concourse of
the people, “ for God is not the author of
confusion.” 1 Cor. xiv : 33. Rebuked, dec.
proof of the reality of demoni
ac possessions, n. 1 : 23, Ac. The com
mand, Enter no more into him, is probably
added on account of the malignity of the
spirit, (v. 29.)
26. Cried out and convulsed him, &c. n.
1 : 26. As one dead. —He was so only in
appearance.
27. Took him by the hand, dr.: to re
lieve the injury inflicted by the demon; to
restore strength to the youth; and to iden
tify Himself as the author of the miracle.
28. Went home: to* the house which they
made their home during their sojourn in
the place, (vi: 10.) Asked him, dr. —
Doubtless mortified because they had fail
ed in this case, and wishing to know why it
was so, when heretofore they had invaria
bly been successful. (vi:7 —13.)
29. This kind, dr.: clearly indicating
that there are orders of different power
among the demons. Prayer and fasting :
which must be specially resorted to for the
purpose. We learn hereby the excellency
of prayer and fasting as means of over
coming evil spirits.
A Smile. —A smile is a sunbeam resting
upon a parted rose-bud; and, again, it is
the cold auroral gleam upon a northern ice
berg. An infant’s smile is an instant glimpse
of heaven; the smile of a bad man, a mo-;
mentary vision of hell. The smile of one
reveals the heart’s purity; the smile of the
other conceals its baseness. A smile may
cheer the despairing, and a smile may blast!
the unfortunate. A smile is the silent to
ken of approval—sweet and beautiful upon
the lips of the mother; the highest reward
of right actions and truthful words. A
smile upon the lips of youth, and a burn
ing blush upon the cheek, betokens the first
loss of innocence, and the earliest proof of
moral cowardice. Beware of trusting smiles.
If our condition were really happy, we
should have no occasion to divert ourselves
from thinking of it.
TERMS —Three Dollars a-year.
A VIVID ALLEGORY.
BY CHAKueC dickens.
Once upon a time, a good many years
ago, there was a traveller, and he set out
upon a journey. It was a magic journey,
and was to seem very long when he began
it, and very short when he got half way
through.
He traveled along a rather dark path for
some little time, without meeting anything,
until at las'" he came to a beautiful child.—
So he said to the child, “ What do you do
here ? ” And the child said, “I am always
at play. Come and play v ith me.”
So he played with that child the whole
day long, and they were merry. The sky
was so blue, the sun was so bright, the wa
ter was so sparkling, the leaves were so
green, the flowers so lovely, and they heard
such singing birds, and saw so many but
terflies, that everything was beautiful.—
This was in fine weather. When it rained,
they loved to watch the falling drops, and
to smell the fresh scents. When it blew,
it was delightful to listen to the wind, and
fancy what it. said, as it came rushing from
its home—where was that, they wondered !
—whistling and howling, driving the clouds
before it, bending the trees, rumbling in
the chimneys, shaking the house, and ma
king the sea roar in fury. But when it
snowed, that Was the best of all; for they
liked nothing so well as to look up at the
white flakes falling thick and fast, like down
from the breasts of a million of white
birds; and to see how smooth and deep the
drift was; and to listen to the hush upon
the paths and roads.
They had plenty of the finest toys in the
world, and the most astonishing picture-,
books; all about cimetars, and slippers,
and turbans and drafts, and giants, and ge
nii, and fairies, and caverns, and forests,
and Valentines and Orsons; and all new
and all true.
But one day, of a sudden, the traveller
lost the child. He called to him over and
over agam, but got no answer. So he went
upon his road, and went on for a little
while without meeting anything, until at
last he came to a handsome boy. So he
said to the boy, " What do you here ?”
And the boy said, “I am always learning.
Come and learn with me.”
So he learned with that boy about Jupi
ter and Juno, and the Greeks and the Ro
mans, and I know not what, and learned ,
more than I could tell, or he either, for he
soon forgot a great deal of it. But they
were not always learning; they had the
merriest games that ever was played. They
rowed upon the river in summer, and ska
ted on the ice in winter; were active afoot,
and active on horseback; at cricket, and all
games at ball; at prisoner’s base, hare and
hounds, follow my leader, and more sports
than I can think of; they had holidays too,
and Twelfth cakes, and parties where they
danced to midnight, and real theatres where
they saw real palaces t>f real gold and sil
ver rise out of the earth, and saw all the
wonders of the world at once. As to
friends, they had such dear friends and so
| many of them, that I want the time to
reckon them up. They were all young like
the handsome boy, and were never to be
strange to one another all their lives
through.
Still one day, in the midst of all these
pleasures, the traveller lost the boy as he
had lost the child. And, after calling to
him in vain, went on upon his journey. So
he went on for a little while without seeing
anything, until at last he saw a young than.
jSo he said to the young man, “ What do
jyou here?” And the young man said,
“I am always in love. Come and love
; with me.”
So he went away with that young man,
and presently they came to one of the pret
tiest girls that ever was seen—just like
Fanny in the corner there —and she had
eyes like Fanny, and hair like Fanny, and
dimples like Fanny’s, and she laughed and
colored just as Fanny does while I am
talking about her. So the young man fell
in love immediately—just as Somebody I
wont mention, the first time he came here,
did with Fanny. Well! He was teased
sometimes —just as Somebody used to be
by Fanny ; and they quarreled sometimes
—just as Somebody and Fanny used to
quarrel; and they made it up, and sat in
I the dark, and wrote letters every day, and
NO. 2.