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‘The entrance of Thy Word giveth light’
A. C. DAYTON, Editor.
JAS. N. ELLS, Secular Editor.
OCTOBER 24, 1863,
Our Platform.
1. None but those who make a credible pro
fession of faith in Christ should be baptized.
2. None are really baptized except those who
are immersed upon a profession of their faith in
Christ.
3. None can properly be members of the
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. Non-affiliation with those who refuse to
obey Christ in these things—with those who re
fuse to walk according to the Divine rule.
6. We shall insist upon Baptists practising
what they hold and teach.
Louis Napoleon, the linn of Pro
phecy.
Dear brother Dayton: I have heard that
Louis Napoleon is accustomed to speak of
himself as the “man of destiny,’ and I
have thought sometimes that he may be the
man of prophecy of whom we read in Rev
elations 17: 11, as the “Beast” that was
and is not, who is the eighth and is of the
seven, Ate. There is at this time a great
deal of anxiety to know what the sure word
of prophecy indicates concerning the powers
that now rule upon the earth, and especially
what their action is to be in regard to our
confederacy. Can you not give us some
light upon these subjects? I understand
you have peculiar views upon these prophe
cies. The readers of The Banner would be
<rlad to see them. Your brother in Christ,
8 L. P. E.
Remarks. — We have very little reliance
upon our own knowledge of the prophetic
writings. . We have read them and studied
to gdMheir meaning, but feel far from cer
tain that ou? half-formal conclusions are
correct. There are bretffen who are much
better qualified than we to judge of these
things. We would be happy to concentrate
the wisdom of the Theological world upon
this subject, and give expression to it in
The Banner. Ifany brother has given these
subjects his special study, we hope to hear
from him. We may give our own views
at some future day, when they are moje
matured, and leave them to be valued at
what they seem to be worth.
At present we will only say, that it is
certainly true thatseveral circumstances do
point towards Louis Napoleon asrthat eighth
great power. But if he is it, there is much
to be developed in him which has not yet
come to light. He is yet to attain a vast
ness of power of which he probably has yet
himself but little conception. He is to do
things which he would probably now shud
der to contemplate; and will have a sudden
and fearful overthrow, which will make it
most undesirable that our confederacy shall
be in any way connected with him.
We will suggest —not as deductions from
prophecy, but as events which seem to us
to be casting their shadows before them—
that when Louis Napoleon has established
his rule in Mexico, he will turn his attention
to Texas, and probably procure some claim
upon it from the old United-States govern
ment and proceed to take possession of it,
we having no power that can hinder him.—
It is not unlikely then, should our present
war continue, that he will attempt to regain
all that his uncle. Napoleon I, ceded to the
United States in the great valley of the,
Mississippi, and seizing upon New Orleans
hold it tor France against both the North
and the South. We have no power t<>pre
vent it, and it may be that he will so ma
nomvre as to use us to aid him in overpow
ering the resistance of the North. It it
must be lost to us, tlm majority of our peo
ple had rather it were in the hands of France :
than of the power that rules the North and
will continue to do so, unless ousted this
fall.
But if Louis Napoleon is the king spoken
of in the text referred to by “L. P. E.’’. I
we will, in all probability, have a morel
fearful struggle for our religious liberty than .
we are now engaged in for our political—
for that king is to become a fierce perseeu-,
tor of all who will not worship the “ image i
of the beast" which he will set up, and will!
uot receive his mark in their hand or their
forehead. Os the setting up of this image, I
we may speak more hereafter.
We have in this brief note uttered no
prophecies. We have not even attempted
t o interpret the prophecy in Revelations.—
THE BAPTIST BA.NNER-
We have only made some suggestions of
what it seems likely Napoleon will.attempt
to do, partly by arms and more by diplo
macy. We counsel no alliance with, and
no dependence on, the emperor of J rance.
a. c. D.
Tiie Christian Sabbath.
Dear brother Dayton : Please write for
The Banner, an article on the Christian
Sabbath —its origin, and the expressed design
of it. Also, one on the Scripture fast, man
ner of conducting it, design, &c.
Wm H. G.
“We would respectfully suggest whether
the term Sabbath does not refer to an old
landmark which was taken down some two
thousand years ago, and is therefore inap
: plicabio to ,a Christian festival.”
We have no desire to reset any landmark
which God has taken down. When God
speaks, let all the earth keep silence before
: Him. He has the light to unmake,as well
as to make, Jaws for man. But we are not
sure that we comprehend the object of the
above respectful suggestion of our worthy
L cotemporary. Does he mean to intimate’
that the fourth commandment has been re
s pealed and is no longer of any binding force
• upon the consciences of men? Such seems
to be the most obvious sense of the words
when taken in the connection in which they
’ were employed.
The word Sabbath has in it the idea of
a rest. The Sabbath-day is a day of rest.
' It was at first ordained in Eden to com
memorate God’s resting from His labors.
, It had been commanded, and was observed
by those who feared God, before it was in
i corporated into the law written upon the
f tables of stone by the finger of God in the
[ mountain of Sinai. It was binding upon
the race of man before it was made a part
j of the specific law of the Jewish nation.—
s It required that after six days of labor, there
1 must be a day of rest. The observations of
I J '
physicians and others, who have studied the
’ effect of continuous labor on the health and
. life of man and beast, have proved that this
! rest is needful to secure the best temporal
I condition of society. Os this, as well as of
’ the other commandments, God might say,
“All these commandments have I given thee
for thy good.” But if it has pleased God
. to repeal it—if God in his wisdom has seen
. that the rest day is no longer needful, —or,
in His anger, has determined to leave men,
unchecked by any law from Him, to on
laboring without rest, till health and life are
destroyed, —we have no more to say of the
. Sabbath as an institution of God and to be
, observed because commanded by Him.
Does our esteemed brother of the Con
federate Baptist intend to say that such has
, been the case? He promised “moreanon.”
We wait with interest to see what more he
will have us believe about the fpurth com.
. mandrnent. Mean time we will give, next
week, a brief synopsis of our own views
A. e. D.
The Houston Association.
1 On Friday before the second Sabbath in
October, brother Abner Burnham drove his
fine black horse up to my door, and asked
me to ride with him to “ Ebenezer,” some
forty-five miles south from Perry.
We had hardly started when he remark
ed that we should be obliged to go out of
the way and meet with some detention, as
it was necessary for him to go by his “Hog
Crawl Plantation.” But we had no fear of
seeing other roads than the direct one, and
rather enjoyed the prospect of a plantation
dinner. There was time enough for some
delay, and we were sure brother B. would
not be too late for the meeting, since he is
ever prompt in all his engagements, and has
been so long identified with the Houston
that it would hardly know itself if he were
absent.
“ Hog Crawl" is the ugly nameof a most
beautiful place, where the habitual absence
of the owner has left no sign of decay or
disorder by which it could be known that
he did not reside in the comfortable farm
house, which was thrown hastily open to
receive its owner and another guest besides
ourself. The old “ Aunty ” who rules in
the kitchen and presides over the cow-pen,
soon had a dinner which might have tempted
appetites that had not been sharpened by a
half-day’s ride : such nice rich milk —such
sweet fresh butter, and savory fried chicken*
—one does not often find except at country
homes.
It was not long ere we were on the road
jagain, winding about here ana there around
swamps and plantations, worming our way
(back into the old and beaten road. When
1 we reached it the night was almost ready to
j spread his mantle over the earth and hush
. her noisy children to repose. There was an
old friend of brother B. who lived upon the
j road, and just as the stars began to take
their places for their nightly watch, we
reached his gate and met another welcome.
!It would have done you good to hear the
Baptist deacon and the old Methodist colonej
talk themselves sleepy over old times, only
[pausing occasionally to get breath and light
j their pipe or segar. I
I he morning set us on the road again, but
only in time to reach the church a little be
fore the hour of meeting. As we passed
along, our hearts weie saddened by the
tokens seen on every side, that the owners
of once beautiful and fertile fields were
gone,, and had left the weeds to grow where
corn or cotton should have flourished. —
Some were in the army now, J and some had
fallen with the slain.
The church is a singular structure, in a
most place. It is not oblong like
other churches, but eight-sided ; and stand,
ing in its forest of ancient pines and sur
rounded by its carpet of wire-grass, im
pressed the eye of the beholder very pleas
antly. On entering it, we were struck
with the amount of seat room contained in
the seemingly small house. We doubt if
’ any form of buildingjean be devised which
will give more seat room at so small ex.
pense as the octagon ;"and there is this other
, advantage—that no one is behind or on the
• side of the preacher.
The Association contained one or more
■ representatives from nearly every church,
and was a warm-hearted and earnest work-
, ing body. Great unanimity and brotherly
i love pervaded all their proceedings; and
! we were unable to see where anything was
left undone which ought to have been done
—unless it was that more of the brethren
‘ should have subscribed for The Banner,
but that was not Associational business.
Elder Thomas Aldridge was reelected
Moderator, and Elder Collins was chosen
Clerk. Both make very attentive and ex
. cellent officers
The preaching was under an arbor in the
. pine forest which surrounds the church.—
On Sabbath there was a large congregation
, of very attentive hearers, and we trust
some good was done. The contribution for
army col portage was larger than any one
’ expected ; no' less than twenty-three hun
dred dollars were collected in the congre
gation on Sabbath morning, after the mis*
sionary sermon. Blessed be the Lord who
puts it into the hearts of the people to send
the Gospel to the soldiers I
We found the warmest hospitality at
sister Coney’s, and at brother Slade’s. —
Brother Slade 5 is the man who has been
selling large quantities of wheat from his
mill and his plantation, to the wives of sol*
diers, at one dollar a bushel. We met with
some brethren who have long been known
to us by name, but whom we had never
seen before. Among these are Elders N.
W. Collier and Larkin Joiner, besides some
younger brethren.
As we had far to travel, we could not re
main to hear the farewell sermon by Elder
Horne. He is a good preacher and a good
man, and exerts great influence over the
brethren, with whom.he has long been asso
ciated in the work of the Gospel.
Night found us in the piney-woods of the
most desolate portion of Dooly, and we be
gan tojfeel uneasy lest we should have to
travel in the dark; but we found a house
that “took in travelers,” and had a good
night, after a very fatiguing day. Next
day we dined at home, and found all well
in the family and in the school.
a. c. D.
Governmental Interference.
The Confederate Baptist thinks we are
ready to surrender our religious liberty
when we ask the Government to cease to
sin against God by desecrating the Holy
Sabbath. God has expressly said,
ber the Sabbath day to keep it holy. In it
thou shall not do any work." This law is
binding just as much upon the Government
as upon the people. The Government dis
regards it, and brings the curse of God upon
the nation. We, as citizens, are bearing it
now. We venture humbly to ask the Gov
ernment to leave off the sin, that God may
turn his hand snd bless us. And this, for
sooth, is giving up our religious liberties !
A. C. D.
Welcome, ‘N'lmporlc’!
We extend a most hearty welcome, to
the columns of The Banner, to our con
tributor, ‘ N’lmporte,’ whose beautifu]
poem — Chickamauga— appears to-day in
our Soldiers’department. This gifted Child
ofSvng (a favorite authoress with us while
’conducting another journal) has, we are
pleased to say, kindly consented to enrich
the columns of The Banner—and we again
bid her welcome.
Award of Premium#.
The premiums promised to the three
ladies sending us the largest lists of new
subscribers by a specified date, have been
awarded to the following competitors :
Mrs. Matilda T. Hoy, Noonday, Ga.
‘ Aunt Edith,’ Thomson, Ga.
Miss Lou. Pyles, Milford, Ga.
These lady friends have done well, and
will accept our warmest thanks. The prize, '
a copy of ‘ The Infidel’s Daughter,’ will be
forwarded at once to each.
J t J
Terms of Thx Baptist Banner, t 5
I per annum—invariably in advance. <
A Sad Reflection.
God gave the world a moral law. This
law requires rest one day in seven. To
enforce the observance of this law, God'
promised special temporal blessings to the
nation that would regard it, such as plen
teous harvests, peace, and prosperity, and
defence from their enemies in time of war.
Our Government professes to recognize
God as the Ruler of nations; but, so far
from observing this law, it has passed laws
forbidding its people, in certain instances,
to pay any regard to it. It requires them
by its laws, under penalty of certain civil
disabilities, or other punishments, to labor
on that day, just as on any other. It sets
itself, by its official acts, in direct and open
rebellion against the God of Heaven, and
thus defies him to his face, and calls upon
him to do his worst by bringing upon us the
armies of our foes, and delivering us into
their hands; and, yet, the people are silent.
Christian men sustain the Government in
this, its sin. And when we venture to call
upon them to petition the Government to
change its course and cease its rebellion
against God, Christian newspapers more
than intimate that we are endeavoring to
place our religious liberties in the hands of
the Government, and assure us they can
give no countenance to a movement which
calls upon our rulers to obey this law of
God, and permit the people to do it without
legal restraint! a. c. d.
Moral and Religious Culture.
It has been asserted by an active thinker
and logical reasoner, of the present day,
that pure morality is inseparable from reli
gion or Christianity, because moralists are
actuated by no higher motive than that of
refined selfishness. This is, undoubtedly,
true. It may be difficult for a man to
discriminate between the character of the
strict moralist and that of the Christian,
yet there is, unquestionably, the difference
that has been named.
A young man of olden time presented
himself to the “Great Teacher,” and said
unto Him, Good Master, what good thing
shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And He said to him, Why callest thou me
good? there is but one, that is
God*: but if thoiF-wilt enter into life, keep
the commandments. He saith unto Him,*
which ? thou shalt do no mur
der, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou
shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false
witness, honor thy father and thy mother,
and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
The young man saith to Him, all these
things have I kept from my youth up;
what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If
thou wilt be perfect, go and sell what thou
hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt
have treasure in heaven; and come and
follow me. But when the young man heard
that saying, he went away sorrowful; for
he had great possessions.
This plain and simple narrative beauti
fully and authoritatively illustrates the
difference between one of the noblest ex
amples of morality on record, and Chris
tianity, as taught by its Great Founder.
Morality is to Christianity what reputation
is to character. A. person may have a good
reputation and a corrupt and vile character;
or one may have a bad reputation and a
good character. So of persons calling them
selves Christians. Their morals may be
notoriously bad, while another, repudiating
Christianity in name, may resemble, in
reputation, the young man in the Gospel,
as cited. It should be borne in mind,
however, that every true Christian is a
person of good morals, while it is not true
that every person of good morals is, because
of this, a Christian.
But moral culture is the theme of the
present discussion. Where, when, how,
and by whom shall morals be taught, and
the lessons enforced ? The first part of the
inquiry relates to place. Where, and then
when, by whom, and to whom shall morals
be taught ? At home, on the mother’s
knee, by the mother’s lips, just so soon as
the child’s understanding begins to develope
itself.
These words which I command thee this 1
day, shall be in thy heart; and thou shalt
teach them diligently unto thy children,
and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in
thine house, and when thou walkest by the
way, and when thou liest down, and when
thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them
for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall
be as frontlets between thine eyes. And
thou shalt write them upon the posts of
thy house and on thy gates.
Not only teach, but train the child, and
the children. For He hath declared who
seeth the end from the beginning, “ Train
up a child [not teach up] in the way he
should go, and when he is old he will not
[not may not] depart from it.” What a
promise to the fidelity and untiring dili
gence and faithfulness of parents? How
inspiring such a promised reward must be
to the hearts of fathers and mothers, as
they gather their dear children around
them, morning and evening, to teach them
diligently what they need know, so that 1
they may honor their parentsand reverence
God ! And how pleasant the exercise of
that vigilance during the day that watches
' over the little ones and trains them to obey
the lesson, so diligently taught! Such
children grow up to be an honor to their
parents, and benefactors to the world. How
unlike the children of Eli, the priest, who
said to his sons, “Why do ye such things?
for I hear of your evil dealings by all this
people. Nay, my sons ; for it is no good
report that I hear : Ye make the Lord’s
people to transgress. Notwithstanding they
harkened not unto the voice of their father.”
These children were taught, but not trained,
nor restrained. Let parents recall this
lesson of warning left on record for their
instruction.
[For The Baptist Banner.]
Resolution passed at Cooaa Associa
tion*
Bro. Gwinn offerred the following pream
ble and resolutions,which were unanimously
adopted :
Whereas, The Baptists have ever been
opposed to the union of Church and State,
and realizing that the advances of State are
generally stealthy and destructive, and de
siring to guard well the rights of the Church
of Christ —
Resolved, That the office of Chaplain in
our armies is inconsistent with the theory of
our government, and opposed to the rights •
of the Churches ot Christ.
Rasolved, That we encourage the sending
out, and support, of ministers by the
churches.
The above resolution is of great impor*
tance at this time, and I most heartily com
mend it to our brethren generally, fortheir
serious consideration. Baptist editors ought
. to speak out upon this and kindred subjects.
No doubt the will Znctez take an opposing
view, as it seems to be its rule of action to
oppose nearly everything which first ap
pears in The Banner. Yet, by speaking, it
may open the way for others to write, who
can properly meet the issue. There can be
no longer doubt that great efforts are made,
during these war times, to undermine our
doctrines and polity. It becomes us to see
to it that Baptists now make a record con
sistent with all their past history. r they
have ever opposed taxation to support the
ministry. The chaplaincy of the Confede
rate States is supported by taxation, by
which Baptists will help to support Catho
lics, Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyte
rians, Campbellites, and even Universalists.
All these, and perhaps others, I am inform
ed, are represented in the army by our sys
tem of chaplaincy. I suppose about half of
the present ministerial labor in the Con
■ federacy is performed in the army and hos
pitals, and the laborers are supported by
taxation. In times of peace such a thing
would not be tolerated for a moment. But
what is the difference in principle whether
peace or war reigns? Now is a favorable
time to prove that we are, from principle,
opposed to union of Church and State. It
is said that we cannot change the order of
thingg. and that we ought to share equally
witWßthers of the public benefits. I answer
that it is better to suffer wrong than do wrong.
Better, far, that Baptists should help pay by
taxation the salaries of others, and then
support their own missionaries, than sacri
fice their time honored principles, and there
by darken their own history. Missionaries
to the army can do more good than the
same men would do as chaplains, to say
nothing of the work of those who consent to
accept such a position.
Another resolution passed at the Coosa
is of the following import:
“ Resolved, That we request the churches
to send up, in their letters to our next ses
sion, the number of their members who have
been in our army service as soldiers, and
how many have died in service.”
It is earnestly desired that the churches
will comply with this request, and that the*
churches in this State, and all the Confederate
States, will report to their respective Asso
ciations their statistics in this respect. It
will form an important item of history, es
pecially for Baptists. Will our brethren
agitate and let those who
may live know how many of their brethren
took part for Southern independence?
‘ J. M. WOOD.
[For the, Baptbst Banner.!
Coosa Association.
At the late session of this body, held at
Poplar Springs, Chattooga county, Ga.,
there was passed a resolution to request the
churches not represented to send, as soon as
possible, the statistics and funds for missions
and minutes, to A. B. Ross, Rome, Ga.—
Bro. Ross is Clerk of the Association, and
wishes reports from the churches who failed
to send delegates, so as to make out his
minutes properly. Will some member of
each church attend to this business?
2t J- M. WOOD.
Thanks.
Mrs. 11. C. Hornady will please accept
our thanks for sending us the numbers of
Dayton's Monthly, recently advertised by
us. Iler subscription has been credited one
1 year, as promised.