Zion's Landmarks; Wilson, N. C.
191
we do, or, v.diioh is the same thing,
iot us do evil that good may come,
shows that one’s !amnation is just:
for it shows what a vile estimate such
place on the doctrine.
It is not pi-edestimition tiiat licenses
a ma:i to do wrong in any sen.se.
I’iit, as a tiiief will take shelter any
where to CAiiua'al his crime, so one
that love.s sin will contend for his
lust HO mucl'i as even to assail the
1-ightoousne.ss of God to obtain a plea
in his jiistifeation, and will seek a
sludter an^’wh.cre, even if on the horns
of the altar of iiolhiess. If man is
such a sinner that he must be killed
lead to sto]) 1dm from, committing
in he will give all for his life which
'O loves sin, and will even thrust
Idmsclf into the daring position of
tho,sc tiiat .sav, we have made a cov
enant with, death, and with hell are
vvc.ab asrreem mt. Such will even
l_3
say that God made us as we are, and
it would be unjust to damn us. This
is a refuge of lies that cannot stand
the overfit.vwing scourge, in the day
when judgment shall l>e brought to
the line, and righteousness to the
plummet. ThcB all counterfeite will
be detected.
If a man loves error or false doc
trine more than the truth lie mav
hide it under some specious form
or refuge of falsehood in time, but
"Clod judges the liejirt, and shall ren
der' to every man according to his
woA.
Still another class, wlio censure
God in defending their wicked course,
is the one that make no pretensions
to religion, but cover their coiir.^e
lip plca-p-that, rntrording to
ihe doctrine thg Baptists hold, we
G.in do nothing good ; therefore we
will continue in sin, or do 'evil that
good may come. That this general
teaching i.s from tiie devil is manifest
in*}iis temptation on the mount; “ If
thou be the Soji of God cast thyself
down, for it is written, he shall give
his angels charge over thee,” &c.
Here Satan imitates Christ in quot
ing Scripture. But he does what
the Scriptures do not command ;
namely h.e tells Clirist to east himself
down.
To cast our.self down would be to
sin. To argue that it does not mat
ter what a man does is to cast him
self down, or tempt God. It is the
woman that is overtaken unawares in
the field and cries out that find.s favor
—not the one that runs after false
lovers. A man’s logic is an expression
of his inward character. If our logic
infers that we are licensed to sin, our
premises re.st on tlie rotten founda
tion of a wicked heart. If we know
that the Lord is a hard master and
gathers wTere lie strews not, then we
are required to prepare for such a
reckoning by a more diligent use of
our talents; but the man who says
Jesus is a hard master does not wish
to serve him.
But says one, “ where sin abounds
does not grace much more abound
and, if it is needful for sin to abound
in order for grace to much more
abound, is not God unrighteous if he
should take vengeance ? This is
speaking as a man would speak, as
all natural men would speak. But
if this is so then how would God
judge the world ? If it is not so how
could a sinner be saved ? Grace
saves sinners. Grace is more than
mercy, or pity, it includes both.
Pity could be shown to one we did
not love. Likewise mercy, and this
might minister to one suffering with-
out changing his character ; as a mer
ciful man shows mercy to his beast,
but it still remains a beast. But
gi*ace changes the character and con-
ditiou of ouejustly condemned, and
rigliteously brings him salvation—
brings him salvation in so glorious a
way that it is marvelous—marvelous
that such a sinner could be saved at
all—marvelous that he is so wonder
fully, so righteously saved—made a
new creature in Christ; “Behold
what manner of love.” It is love—
more than mercy and pity; but in
cluding them both, that embraces
sinners dead in sins; even love with
great mercy. It also gives a new
life by birthright and heirship. So
that the Spirit of God is given us
and we do not want to sin. The
refuges of lies are all gone.
None but those taught by grace
call love it, or even understand it.
My friend, are you one that can
not live as well as you wish; that
cannot, or you are afraid you do not,
love God as he deserves to be loved
and adored—that ffiils to know as
much as you wish of salvation? So
that you, instead of laying an ambush
to commit sin, have already com
mitted more than you wish, and your
grief is that you cannot cease from
.sin. If so this is such evidence as I
humbly concieve pienitent .souls have
of a work of grace. . ^.,^1- .'.
Are you so killed to^lf and' siW s
that it is your great desi\e to servll t
Qo(p_,_not so much because you feay*. s
death, hell and the devil, as because
you love and fear God ; and does it
seem good to you that salvation is by
grace-, then are you amongthose killed
to the love of sin. Are you prompt
ed by a principle of love to Jesus as
God to obey him and keep his com
mandments; and do you wish to
glorify him In your body and spirit,
and does it seem to be only a reason
able service to thus present your body
a living—not a dead, stinking—sacri
fice; then you are already saved, and
the refuge of lies issweptaway. Your
bed is a good one. God will be all
your bed in your sickness, and will
provide a table for you in the very
presence of your enemies. You
have liberty in the Lord. Your
covering is of wrought gold, and you
are covered with the skirt of Christ’s
rigliteousness. You never seek a
plea, or liberty to do wrong, but wish
the Lord to keep you from evil that
it grieve you not. You are kept by
the power of God through faith unto
salvation.
END OF THE EIGHTH VOL
This issue closes another year of
Ziois^’s Landmaeks.
This lias been an eventful year of
judgments in floods, and wind; yet
many raercises have been extended to
poor man.
The unbounded mercies of a long-
•suffering Providence have been be
stowed upon us. The wonder is that
the judgments are not heavier. For
this is an evil generation, from the
office seeker that takes bribes and
covets money, to tlie voter that can
be bought: from the pulpit teacher
who divines for reward, to the pew-
holder that endorses and upholds his
w'icked teacher.
We have been, in Eastern North
Carolina, remarkably exempt from
pining sickness. Altogether our laud
yields her full increase—the heavens
drop down ffheir plenty of fatness,
and God blesses us.
It has been my privilege this year
to visit many Associations of Baptists.
In every one great harmony and joy
ful steadfastness in the faith is mani
fest. There has been in some of them
considerable increase in membership.
Many of the preachers are traveling
and preaching much, and the good
fruit of this is manifest; showing that
when the Holy Ghost separates them
unto this work the labor is not in
vain in the Lord.
Quite a number of promising young
preacher.s is coming on to serve the
Churche.“. God always has a reserve
—of which he calls some into the
harvest to bear tlie burden and heat
of the day.
I have received much kindness
from my precious brethren this year.
They are near my heart. If I could
be of true service to such a jieople,
and God be glorified, what a great
blessing to me. To be a faithful,
humble gosjrel preacher and writer,
serving the Lord God acceptably, and
comforting his people, and being thus
useful to men, would be to me better
than any riches or glory of earth.
The present time indicates great
praee amoiur th» Churches of the
smuts of'the Must High God. As
the . ^ipoments pass many fall and
sleep in Jesus, and we are all hasj,fin
ing to the glorious appearing of our
Lord.
ASSOCIATIONS.
These bodie.s are representative in
their character. Churdies form a
friendly and brotherly compact, and,
because they could not all convenient
ly as.semble in Associations, they se
lect some of their number to represent
them. These me.ssengers are serv
ants of the Churches so sending them,
and are to be wise and discreet in at
tending to matters that come up ; and
should faitlifully transact whatever is
thus committed to them, just as the
Churches themselves, if assembled,
would do.
But what powers have the Church
es, so represented. They have no
legislative powers—can make no laws.
Jesus is the law-giver in Zion. Her
duty is to obey and endure.
Certain rules are needful for the
maintainance of order, and the pres
ervation of fellowship; these rules
are drawn from the gospel. No
Church out of gospel order could be
fellowshipped. Any Church hold
ing any members in di.sorder could not
be retained without correcting such
disorder. The Association can deal
only with its Churches in this matter,
but not with individual members of
Churches. Dealing with its Church
es or with other corresponding Asso
ciations can extend no farther than
to matters of fellowship which is the
ground of corespondence.
No Association can rightfully put
a buixlen on any one Church or a
number of them any more than a
man could put a burden on one—
even the least—member of liis body,
without its being felt by the entire
body. Churches even liave no miglit
except as they arc in the Lord, and
walking in his ordinances; and tiicir
strength is to abide in tlie order of
the New Testament.
What is then the use and beneiit
of Associations ? -They are of good
service in preserving order and fel.
lowship among Churches and breth
ren. For they furnish gootl ojipor-
tunities for brethren to meet toffethor
and hear and see each other, and
strengthen one the other by the mutu
al faith of each. The preaching
brethren generally are thus often to
gether, and a general correspondence
is preserved. It is evident even from
the conduct of tlie Apostles, that we
sliould be careful to commit the
precious teachings of the Lord to
faithful men who shall likewise com
mit them to others, in successive gen
erations, down even to the cominfr of
Christ, and, also, that the golden
chords of love should reach from
stake to stake in all the outposts of
the militant Church.
But what if this wise measure for
general correspondence among clinrch-
es should be abused ? Wliat if some
Association should usurp authority
and lord it over Churches, and the
servant rebel against the employer ;
would this be a good reason for dis
pensing with Associations entirely ?
No; not if they a’e useful when not
abused. Some bad men h*vc been
found in the pulpit doing much rnis-
cliief, but we should not from that
fsay that pres^ching is not needful.
JVe think that all difficulties that
could, should be kept out of Associ
ations. If brethren \vill pursue the
gospel rule it will be be but seldom
necessary to carry up a difficulty into
an Association.
How beautiful and good for breth
ren to meet in gospel harmony, from
various quarters, in Associations ?
YES, A GOOD THING.
In ray traveling this year in Vir
ginia, North Carolina, and Georgia,
I have but seldom seen liquors ot
any sort used by Baptists. It has
been only now and then brought out
and used.
Baptists have no w’orldly Temper
ance societies to keep them sober.
Their fulness is in Christ, in whom
they are complete. He writes his
law in their hearts, and with the pro
per application of gospel discipline,
administered in tender faithfulness,
and brotherly affection, which is an
observance of this law, they have all
that is needed to keep them sober.
As a medicine, and in Ciises of in
firmity or weal ness, spiritous liquors
do good, and in suen cases it is prop
er to use them. Otherwise, it is bet
ter not to drink at all.
Baptists should be sober people.
I am glad to see tlie general disposi
tion of our brethren is to abstain from
the traffic of this thing, which does
so much more evil than good when
abused ; and that they keep away
from grog-shops, and set sober, good |
examples on the one hand, and, on
the other hand, do not bind tiiein-
selves to human societies with oatlis
and pledges to keep sober ; showing
that they are temperate from princi
ple.