Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / June 15, 1876, edition 1 / Page 7
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Zion’s Landmark : Wilson, N. C. 119 ■svife of his partial kindred, namely of Islitnael; but half-breeds will not do for the patriarch Isaac and his prince ly wife Rebecca. Among the Israelites the custom was for them to marry only among tbeir own race-~a custom founded on tiie most positive and stern law of God. There would now and then be one, a son of Belial perhaps, who would marry among the enemies ; but It would be attended with the Worst c>f evils. As much of their idol wor ship crept ifi^ through such marriages SB perhaps in any other way. Enough is thus shown us to teach this—that there is a fitness in mar riages. AVhilc we do not contend that any New Te>tament law now prevails that forbids an American from marrying a Frenchman, or a German ; yet we hold that from an honest, fair deduction, drawn from tlie Bible teachings on this subject, Uiere should be such a similarity and anion between the parties marrying as will fulfill the intent and require ments of the scriptures. There is such a difference in color, and some other respects, between the white and black races—-and a differ ence that God, and not man, has made, and put between them—that we hold it to be our duty to respect those bar riers so as to preserve the individu ality of each race. In what way oould the voice of God’s works more loudly speak, telling us here are two separate, distinct races in which he has put a difference, than in the one under consideration ? If Moses or Samson, exceptions to the rule, depart under a divine impression and marry (if other nations, that d«es not war rant us to marry—not in other nations merely, but where the difference is' much wider than in that of mere nations—but even in another race of people, unless God gives us such right. Where has he done it?— Doth not nature herself teach that it is uncomely ? Can there be such congeniality and affection between these different races m to make them proper marriages ?— We think not! Would any of our brethren of either race, who truly love their brethren, and love, the truth, and desire to regard God’s laws in nature and grace, wish to so offend their brethren as to thus marry? — Would not a true lover of Zion prefer to marry only in the Lrrd ; that is in letter and spirit according to the will and word of God ? We should take it that one of rather race, who would step over these barriers of nature, of State law, of social feeling, of Christian fellowshij) and divine law, would show such a disregard of his brethren and of the spirit of marriage, as to forfeit all right to the fellowship of the Church. If one should marry in a State or among a paople who are reconciled to it, let him abide there. I mean no offence to the white man or the colored man. It seems that (iach ought to respect his own race and color too much to wish to marry out of it. I would not have the colored people otherwise than free, and hope to see them prosper—if in the right way, by honesty, industry, Ac. I regard them as human beings, aiid believe that God has a people among them. It is not the flesh we fellowship, as Baptists. If it were, a rich white man would fellowship on ly rich white men; and poor white men would fellowship only poor white men; young men would fellowship only young men ; and old men would fellowship only old men ; and color ed men would fellowship only colored men. It is not fleshly or worldly relationships that we fellowship. It is not the coloz’ed man, nor the white man, merely in the flesh, that we fel lowship : but it is the spirit and prin ciple that is in the man. If we believe that Jesus is in him the hope of glory, we fellowship the colored man; un less we do we could, not fellowship the German Emperor on his throne. In the relations of earth we must re gard the claims that appertain there to. The voice of nature cries to us —labor for your bread ; so that if we do not labor six days, because the Bi ble commands it, this whip of natur al want, may drive us to labor some. So in the other and many claims up on us in time; for these must be re garded. There is a fitness of things that guides the wise. Men may pretend to be wise above what is written, and raise the cry : because we are opposed to the mar riage of white and colored people, therefore we do not fellowship them.” If the fellowship were of the flesh that would be true. But people who are desirous to know and obey the truth will not be misled by such-fleshly ap peals to the corrupt passions of men as these. True, colored people give us trouble sometimes. So white peo ple give us trouble sometimes too.— After all, I believe I give myself more trouble than others give me.— We must expect'to be trou'oled some times. It is our duty to bear with troubles. Let the strong bear the in firmities of the weak. What if the Lord should turn us off because of our black conduct? The Lord has a people of every race, kindred and tongue under heaven. These he calls out and brings under his laws; and they wish to obey bis laws, and re- sjzect the rights of others, doing no man any 1 arm. When they abide in their respective places, in the flesh and in Spirit, and obey the Lord they all fellowship each other, and help each other. In the resurrection, where there is neither marrying nor giving in mar riage, nor any flesh and blood, nor any differences that pertain to this world, but where all are as angels of God, and all are one in Christ Jesus, there Avill of course be only one—a glorious one bride, one temple, one body. Only among the old-fashioned, apostolic, predestinarian, Bible, Prim itive Baptists do you see difft>rent races ai.d colors dwelling in zznitv.— All others divide and separate. But Baptists as yet cling together. When ever they cease to love one another and divide on account of color, or polities, it will be a sad day for them Ave think. Let us not mind what enemies may think. Let us not cast off the colored man—to induce some people—too proud to fellowship a colored man, to join us. 'When grace humbles the wdiite man properly lie can bear the infirmities of a colored man, provided he sees ^and believes that he is’ a Christian. And if grace teaches the colored man he Avill not be despising the white man—nor wishing to go beyond the state God has put him in ; but will endeavor to abide humbly in his calling and wMt God’s time to change him. God does nothing in vain. If we have the right spirit we can live in peace. Where one fails to regard that spirit the sword of Church discipline or the w'ord of God, executed by the Church, will do all that is needed. LAYING ON OF HANDS. I was requested, some months ago, to give the Bible authority for laying hands on Preachers and Deacons, in their ordination. Perhaps it wdll be well to state al so that it is not done, because Bap tists do claim any power of im parting the Holy Gliost. For, while they hold that the Holy Ghost is in dispensable to the spiritual under standing of truth, and the acceptable performaince of any duty, they also disclaim any and all power of bestow ing that blessed Spirit. The twelve apostles were given the power of performing miracles, and did lay hands on believers for the purpose of imparling to them the Holy Ghost. For what purpose ? not to make believers, for they were believers before. (See Acts 8 : 14, 18.) Can one believe wdthout the quickening of the Spirit? No! Faith is a fruit of the Spirit. But, besides that power of the Holy Spirit leading men to believe, the apostles confered the gift of the Spirit on be lievers. But wm profess to possess ^10 such power—nor ha.^ that power meen possessed, so far as we know, by any since the apostles’ day. Then we ask why, if preachers can not impart the Holy Ghost in this day to any one for any purpose at all, do they lay hau ls on deacons and preachers in their ordination? If preachers are empty-handed w’hat is the use of laying empty hands on people? The question can be an swered in part by asking another: Did the mere laying on of hands, even of the apostles, confer the Holy Ghost on deacons ? See tlie sixth chapter of Acts, wdierein the apostles instruct the Church to choose out of their number (out of the Church) seven men of honest report,/u/? of the Holy Ghost, &c., tvhom they might appoint, &e. Now these se'^en men w'ere to be full of the Holy Ghost be fore they were selected as deacons.— After they were chosen, the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them. It is plain that the apostles did not lay their hands ondeacons to give them the Holy Ghost. How was it in the ordination of preachers? Were hands laid on them by a presbytery to give them tiie Holy Ghost ? See Acts 13 • 1, 3—where there were certain Teach ers, as Barnaba.s, Simeon, Lucius and Manaen, to wdiom the Holy Gho.st said, “Separate me Paul and Bar nabas tor the wmrk whcrcunto I liave called them.” Vfhen these men fasted and prayed they laid their hands on Paul and Barnabas, Ac. Now did not Paul and Barnabas have the Holy Ghost before this?— No one can doubt it who understands the case, I suppose. For it is said »f Barnabas before this occurrence (Acts 11 : 24,) that he wms a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith.— And of Paul there could be no such question, for before this evmnt, (Acts 9: 17,) Ananias is sent to him by the Lord that he might be Jilled wdth the Holy Ghost. Then it is proven that all of them, both Deacons and Preach ers, were filled with the Holy Ghost before the laying on of hands; and if filled could they receive any more? Timothy is exhorted to commit the same gift to faithful men—that is men seen to be faithful before the committing of the gift. But was not this gift in Timothy by the laying on of hands? “Neglect not the gift wdiich is in thee, which w'as given thee by prophecy with the lay ing on of the hands of the pres bytery” The gift was given him by prophecy—accompanied with the laying on of hands. It was fore told in that w’ay. Pro[)hecy is fore telling that which is to be, not making something. So It w'as given by proph esy to Timothy and indicated publicly by the laying on of hands, and hence was by the laying on of hands. From which it is not only proven that the gifts came from God, and not from men, but it is also proven that they laid hands on them at an ordina tion. This then is our rule and au thority, and it should never be de parted from. If we see no special reason for this it is enough for us if the Bible teaches it. It is not tlie laying hands on a man or ordaining him that gives him the gift of preach ing. It is shown to the Church that one has a gift, and the Church re- quests^jthat he be Ulcerated or set apart to the work, publicly, Vvhich the Lord has qualified him to perform. Hands ought never to be laid on one until it is made manifest that he al ready has the call and qualificevtions from God to preach. Then hands should be laid on such to indicate that they are ordained and set apart by tlie presbytery and Cluirch for the work Avhich the Holy Ghost has appointed them unto. Laying on of hands i« a solemn, pointed Avay of saying “ thou art the man.” BeA’erly, Wanliington Co., Ohio, M.ty 22, '76 Elder P. D Gold—Dear Brother;— I got the advertisement of your pa per from sister R. vkanna Phillips’ Pamphlet, in which she has given her experience, and also has tracal out the marks and evidences of the true church of Christ, and has tried them that say they are apostles and are not, and has found them liars. As to my part, I like her little book so well, that I am unable toexiiress )he comfort and consolation tiiat I have received from reading it. Thank.s be to the Lord, who is the giver of all good, for such a gift as her book is to his poor and afflicted people.-— Her views on the new birtli are the best that I have ever seen in print— ouftide of the bible; indeed it is bi- ble, for it all agrees there wit’). O ! tl’.at all God’s people could see as sister Phillips doe.s, and come out fi'om all worldly institution,oi’men’s getting up, both moral and religious, and prc/vide things honest (not in sn- cret, but) in the sight of all men.—■ Her book ought to be in (he handrs ofevery one that i.s .seeking after truth. This is at yonr disjio.sah your.s respectful 1V. CuAitLii.s AI. Matthew.
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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June 15, 1876, edition 1
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