North Carolina Newspapers

; fV ' 1.0. 'Ti J. 1 7 A - -r - - " " "". ' " Drooled to Ucligion, ZiTorctlitn, literature, floriculture an& General intelligence - -jLUiEB XVII. HO. 39. RALEIGH, K C, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1852. nTTTTATTi 7TA '110 0 ! ;Vil f' ' I IV S V m I V I V I 9 I V. I BIDLICAL PCORBER, jl Religiou3 and Literary Paper : 7 ftihed weekly at Raleigh, N. C, r X $2. 00 pr an F"t payable in al case3 ix advance.'; ; 'fS All letters on business should be direetedto .publisher, Marcus A. Meredith. "Letters contain .Lnununications, or in anj War relating to theed- ;d department, shoula bo addressed' to "Editor of Z Biblical Recorder.' Private letters to the Editor, n? no reference to the ;Kecoroer, address -thus-f Tho W, Tobey. : -- - All communications; to insure attention , must greeted to Raleigh, IV. i,. post-paid. ; . , TFoc further particulars see last page. . , , . . - THE LAW. OF NEWSPAPERS. . . " ; t. Subscribers who da not give express notice to the jatrarv are considered wishing to continue their nb- fjfihm nbacribe- orde?, thefcontlnuance of -" ' .1 ' 1 I 1 " St. " " . ---- - - papers, mepuuujjuers may continue to send mem V If snbscribers neglect or refuse to tate their pa .... from the office to which they are directed. thev held responsible until they have settled their bill, mi order their paper discontinued. - ' ' " - i 4. it souscnucr: remuvc uj uiaw places wiiaoui in ming the publisher, and the paper ia sent to the for? s.r direction, they are held responsible. i 5 -7- 5 The courts have decided. that refusing to take a ier or periodical from the office, or removing and ! Ci'ftn'it 'incalled br, is ."prima facie evidence of l2!entional fraud, - - , J ' -: For the Recorder. - ' ' . ' ,7. v The Charch. ... :'. j,Tot w the church" in the papal and Poseyite usje, Wt the Church of; Christ, as founded ij Vis inspired' apostles. : Of what was it cora poial ? What were its' elements ? These are jsrely most interesting inquiries to every searcher ! jftar truth. It is certainly a matter of much iasportance to arrive at the proper answer, in or jer to determine the : no less important question iTi this church with the same constituent cle Bents is to b found now ; or whether such a fcodv still exists. - : :yB ; -; -"' To aii in answering these inquiries is the ob--ct of the present article Andtmay th6 Lord give understanding in all things." ' " - la order, therefore, that we; mayj obtain the jjjst reliable ' in formation, we turn nrst to the dfot ecclesiastical history, in -i thel; world; the ' Acts of the. Apostles: " ? 'ifffSMM Aad here I am aware that I am entering a field thoroughly-explored ; ; a subject as-familiar " to nery Baptist as 41 household words.' ' 1 do not promise, therefore, to develope any u truth, or shed upon old truths any new light, but' my djrjn is simply to " stir up the pure minds of fetSrcthren, by way of remembrance," with the ksMe hope that the 5 truth may reach some i ia J yet groping in darkness in search 'f lights ( Hope, thtrefore, that I shall have the prayers sad sympathies of thoserwho are V of the trntu," ntfe i -exhibit arlayHerabrertherf tertimdny of the inspired record in answer: to the impor tant inquiries proposed. ' ' ' . fiTe learn, therefore; that the first church of Jsus Christ was formed at the city, of Jerusa lem. " This was in pursuance of the direct in structions of Christ,- and t in fulfilment of pro- i fhecy,(See Luko 24 : 45--49.) In obedience to these instructions the .12 apostles ' with ; 108 others were assembled in that city with 'one ac eord in one . place pray ing.;-l VV hila.i thcyv were thus engaged, the H ily Ghost'; was poured out upon them from on high, and "filled the 'place where they were' sitting.' This was at the feast of Pentecost, the fiftieth day after the 'Passover, to attend which a vast rconcourss of devout ( Jews out of every nation under heaven" " were Swelling at Jerusalem. " 1 bey spake : diuerent languages. J Many of them . did not ; understand sny other language than their own. When there fore the Holy Ghost descended upon the disci ples, they without any previous learning, , began to speak in all those different . languages " the toaderful works of God,"rso that all those : for eigners understood what they said The effect this display of divine power was as might have teea exnected. It secured the attention of the tist aaditory. 'it gave those inspired preachers cces5 to their ears and understanumgs. . Ana the truth of God reached their hearts. : : They were convicted of a The Spirit of God reproved them.; 1 he truth was ; made manifest in their consciences, fcd they cried out, " men and brethren, what awl we do ?" Feter said unto tnem, nepent ad he baptized every one of you in the name of ius Christ, for tho remission oi sms, ana ye -a receive um gnu u . iuy ,:uuv For promise is unto you" &oJ Acts 2 : 37- 40. "Then thev bat gladly rtuixti the word were kptjzed :. and the same day there were added 32to them about three thousand souls." " And ie Lord added to the church daily such as should saved "--Acts 2 : 41--47. uere wa bavo. the organization . of the first iarch of Jesus ChristJ Here, too, we have an tiTerto the inquiry, of whom was that church disposed ? what were its elements f 1. We read nothing of the church" until gospel is preached with " power "and s demon tioa of the Snirit : until it was heard and s&rstood by intelligent, accountable beings ; iitbad "pricked them to the heart," or i ancted them of sin, and forced from them the i 57" what shall we do ?" We read nothing of e church" until after those who thus" ear -it they must do, until after they had cheer uoeyea tae lnstructioas . ui muse vj wuouj J directed-their cries : in short,- until they eery one" renented and were baptized in the of Jesus C hrist, . to the number, of three - . .. "2sand souls. . - - .2. From this record of the " Acts", of inspir :Cja, we deduce the following conclusions : That " txerv one" that coBJDOSodthe church Menifialem at that period of it3 -history, had " pneked in the heart," -or conviciea ui ' tiiat " every one" had with great: earnest- that " eve- : c-a W43 cninianded by the apostli Peter to . pent and he. bir.hzed w ths name of JesT23 and that fi a nanyl as heard his --J," "were baptized," "and that . of word such, Lord added to tht church daily. ' Of whom tbea vrzs the cbzrch at Jemsabm "-Bed? "Eni:r,tly cf these vrlio Ladrcpen ;f their sir-, sl heen l iptizel ia the natna -t, who bilprsTicr-.'j Isca a-Ten:! to -'-a, and r 1 ii ' ': 1 ? t'-3 rcrrcr cf 7 Glc 1 1 r: 5 l c: - Uiy.-.. JYc c Net V.V.C ! J " vcrtc. '1 1 the nmber. Nor yet were 'there any mere " seekers" there. Thess were excluded by the law of membership. Besides, all the members naa gladly beard the word, l. e. they had heard it Joyfully, with a sense5 of comfort.. - Infants could not gladly bear the word, nor yet could the unconverted who had riot felt its awakeniri power, nor could taere " seekers", thus hear the word, for they cease to be seekers when they find comfort in the word. . . r ; - 4. From all of which it is evident, that the church at Jerusalem -was comDOsed exclusivelv of intelligent men and women, who as sinners against uoa naa been awakened under the preach mg of the apostles by the power of , the Holy Gbostj had felt their guilt seen their cond3mna tion,- and had earnestly sought to know their duty of the apostles; and who havicg learned what they must do, gladly heard and cheerfully obey- "aM uctiuu iuttk wuru given iaem. An,a inus were-tney " added to the church.' - T: 5. -But here I am met with the objection, Does not the apostles add, " For thd' promise is" unto you and to your children ?"-- And -does not this mean that infants are included in the promise ? Let' us examine this passage. L; take 'the posi tion that it gives no support to infant baptism. 1. The term " children" here is used an the sense of posterity t or descendants, as in the phrases u children of Israel," 41 children of. Abraham," " children of David. "K It surely is? not preten ded that the term children in theseplaces is limi ted to infants, or intended to embrace infants 'as suehButj.-f-iji'i. t-vM, 2. J have a stronger reason still for this con struction. . This is. to be found in the: immedi ate c ontext. . The whole : passage ' reads : For the promise is unto you and to -your children, and to all that are afar off, eten as many as the Lord our, God shall, call.", : This latter clause qualifies the whole passage, and limits the appli cation of the promise to as many of the children o r posterity of the Jews,' aridof th ose t that are far off, i. e. of the Gentiles, as the Lord should call. . God calls both Jew and Gentile by the gospel. Infanta cannot hear and understand the gospel, therefore," infants are not embraced in this callj'nor in the" promised with which it is as-sciat.-3i;Nj 1 But that it may be seen that Baptists are not alone in this view of the passage, I adduce the testimony of eminent Pedobaptist commentators. ..Rev.. Dr.r Barnes of Philadelpb ia, a Presbyte rian divine of great',. learning and candor: thus writes on the'passagV: i'fevsV v-; " It does not refer to children,' as 'children and should not he adduced to establish the propriety of infant bapiism?$'-:$ - h. 'vv iZl Dr. Whitby, a learned commentator of the Episcopal church says : 'C";" ' ' 'r'-' ' : " . These "words will rut prove the right (of in fants' to receive bapthmJ;J ; Dr. Hammond; also, an:Episcopalian, says :-. " If any have made use of that very inconclu dent argument in support of infant"" baptism, J have nothing to say in defence of them. The word children there is really the posterity of the. Jews, and -not peculiarly their xnj ant ' children.1 And says Limborch, also a learned Pedobap tist: ' . . - : .-.. " By the original word 'rendered "cliildren the apostle understands, not infants, but posterity. whence it appears that the t argument which is very commonly taken from this passage, for-.the baptism of infants,' is of no forcer afld good for nothing.': '-r 1 bus, then, ; Pedobaptists themselves ; being judges, this passage gives - no support; to infant baptism. And as it 13 absurd to suppose that of the three thousand who heard tAe word . gladly any were infants and as only " as many" as did thus near the woru were oapuzsa, toe conclusion is unavoidable that there were no infanta, bapV tized, no infants in the church at Jerusalem. , 6. The elements,- therefore of that church were, purely spiritual." "It was composed of godly men and women capable of hearing; receiving and believing Jthe'gospel, baptised into the fellowship m . ; A a - ot tne apostles upon aiproiession oi repentance towards God, and faith in the name of Christ.-- lio any aesire to Know, tnereiore woo consmuiea the church of Christ in its purest days." Here they hate the information; and that too ; in the inspired history of the " atls of inspired ' men. Would any know where a church founded upon this simple modcl, embracing; these simple - ele ments is to be found, or whether such a body still exists ? Let me point them to that i body iwho have never departed from this model, who have never symbolized with the least infringement, of it; wno are governea Dy.me same law oi mem bership, and admit none to their fellowship but such " as consent to be governed : by this t law.- There is a church now, and has been ; since ; the apostle's days; who have " continued steadfastly have kept the ordinances as they Were delivered them-by the apostles, lhey have opposed eve ry change, resisted every innovation,; rejected every carnal expedient, and navo counted not heir lives dear" in. " contending for the" faith onct delivered to the saints." Of- this church more anon. - - r In mv next. I will endeavor to showr that all the apostolic churches were formed as; was the church at Jerusalem. A. J, Wilmington August 20, 1852. For the Recorder. - now to Keen Religion : iritS ia- Ccsaterfeit ucircicr. Tt is a well known fact, that it is harder to keen monev.lhan to' make it. Thank" God, it ia not harder to keep religion, than to attain it The reason why some men think otherwise, is, because, as some men have counterfeit; money palmed on them, so alas ! some soub embrace a counterfeit religion. So, the Arminians say, We may fall from grace ! But the whole matter is decided; by denning" terms. If & person be i saint, he will persevere. -Our Lord has prom ised to keep, not professed- christians, but saints unto eternal life. . They (saints) . are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salva tion" Whoa God keeps, they will be well kept. And they will keep their religion, by the eternal 'conservative power. ." Reserved ia heaven for voa." The crKsal -word for " re served" 13 "guarded." What sa cf glory! God and tL3 hcly zlz tha JIalasaia, God's host, "gnardits" the Christhn's crcm! Shall ha not wear itf Jcrzs wca it, for us! B-t what h ths trv.e llz.'-lzz, czl L::r my r-a aTftld 'rtf. rnn-r-frT-ft'l 1 lfi. TI 3 U tit ' z :di raxir cn cart!:, r. ' i i' 3 Great Tre-sury ia HeaTca. The Ntu TcP tamtr.t ' church, f onded on the pure vsordi and unchanged ordinances of the Lord Jisus Chrixt 2d. The notes always have the signer's name clearly written not with ink, but.with4the Spirit of the lmns God. as a witness, and sealed and delivered to the possessor of this Pearl of great pjiwo , wnue toe aupacaie is " recorded'; laid up . on high," the testimony b in Heaven." " Je sus Christ; Author and Finisher !" , .. The Ho- J spirit, Witness !" -Not with ink, nor on pa per tablets, but a spiritual impress on the fleshly tablets tf the heart. Hence. " all is not irold that glitters," in religion ; and shin plasters and private issues, however much in worldly credit, win be rejected at last m; Heaven , Besides all this, there is a counterfeitDetee ter, m the original Hebrew and Greek langua ges, which is generally faithful; except the7ov, which should have.been hizhtealer mark. This Detecter is, the: Bible," the only book? on dearth", which a man mav hold ud. and not sav. "Is there not a lie in -my ' right hand ?" .Hence,' the Fathers the Rabbis of alh ancient and modern and theological lore; when quoted,' must; all'Ve tested, ' by this counterfeit - Detecter. liuzo piles of religious systems; immensa masses of hu man speculation and conjecture, large volumes of forged documents, false traditions? and lying wonders, and gross superstitions; have been blas ted forever by the light and breath, the consu ming Spirit of God's word ! Nothing- but re vealed ' truth ' can escape destruction. While truth only" shines with increased lustre and trans porting beauty. Here, then is a perfect conser vative power. First, God keefs the christian saint, byHis eternal power. Secpnd, the cbris tian saint keeps himself, by the use of. the means j grace, plainly rjteaiea in tue uioie. - js jaun one of the divinely appointed-.; means ? . He be lieves ! ; Is tepentence ?;How sincere is his god' ly sorrow J 1 i baptism his next duly ? He is buried, , emblematically, with Christ, and rises again, from the buoyant . waves, and . walks m newness of life Is communion " in the break ing of bread'? in memory of Jesus, next enjoined on him ?f He forsakes not the - assemblies ol the saints for th a t' purpose , but rem ember s . J e s'l the Lord's Supper - is adminis- sus; V as oft as te'red. M But some one', boasting himself , " some great one,", Pope, bishop or doctor tells the Christian, " Bring your offspring to baptism ! to confirma- tion ! to mass ! to confession ! to do penance ! t keep Lent ! to 5tarve on " Fridays ! t to repeat liturgies ! to : kneel . at . the Lord s hopper l. to j adore the host ! to worship the dead virgin U to pray for the dead in purgatory !"" The Chris? tian solemnly examines the counterfeit Detecter, and finds all these, without exception, to be com mandments and traditions of men. ' : He turns' to Paul in 2d Thess. 2nd chapter, and to: the book of Revelations to St. John , and re ad3 about th e Broken Bank of 'Rome, and .knows there is a vast amount of false and dipped coin, and fo-rg- ed ana counter euizna aorogaica notes, in gene? rai circulation, ana ne reiuscs 10 ajku tu Biugie one of - them . 44for he has never been in Baby lon,. or if he has, comes' out and "separates him sell,' irom an tnese numan ciaveuuons ,auu i.r di tions. " p He j knows, that No lie is of thi truth." Hencei be stands fastt; in the liberty, where with Christ has made him s free," and re fuses tobe a?ain entaneled' with'the ybke ; of Jewish; RomishV or British bondage!-! Oh! won derful Great .Charter of Religious Life .and Lib erty ! : Blessed Bible'of God, to man! J After the Christian has thus brushed away trie rubbish and cobwebs of whole-ages of dark ness and error, he consults the chart, the Detec- ter to guiae;Jiis lees iu- iu ,t pcac auu eternal life' Does it teach him to pray I to give thanks! to praise ! to search and study the Holy Scripturesto meditate on them to go up to the sanctuary to worship ! to pray with his fam ily ! to bring them up for Christ ! to fast really I f not humanly and formally) to be sober ! 'never to be drunk, but abstain from all appearance ot any evil word or action ! to be pure, truthful, lovirjff, honest, amiable, kind, zealous; diligent . ' i - - ... t j. . i. . . - in business, liberal, npspitabie, Irani, xorgiving, patient, good, courageous, humane, obedient to ministers - in the - Juord, oDeaient to tue laws oi our country, obedient to Christ,, in an the reia: tions of life, He has appointed us ! Ail these may bo verified by the counterfeit : Detecter, and found to be good ?ioi, money current in Hea ven. . . Therefore, Lay up your treasures in Heaven," our Lord counsels.; The ' Christian takes and trades on all these talents, hiding not his Lord's money, nor mixing it up with counter feit and broken bank worthless issues ! . 1 he Christian knows, Jesus is the Redeemer" of . his own notes ! And the Lord knows them that are his ! " But the cha ff'. He will burn with un ci uench able fire !": 'i - . ' ; ' . i uus iuh Viiriiiiiaa iteeps uimaeiv n(wiM,A); the faithful use of Christ's appointed means of grace avoiding all tuo commandments oi mcn- Because, admit one human tradition to be obliga tory,' the precedent is destructive to souls, as well as dishonorable te God ; as if, He had neglected in toe wnoie;iew a esiameut - any tuiug iuui- pensabld to eternal elory , and the whole duty and destinv of bis intcllisent ' creatures ! , For example, infants can no more believe, than ex amine themselves.. Hence Scripture, reason and history alike condemn infant baptism and com munion. And so of all other additions to Chris tianity. They cannot stand the test of ' Scrip ture. How can they stand then before 'i the Judge ! But while we are admonished to keep ourselves in the love of uod, and the practice of piety, how rich is the encouragement, that God. is able, who has - promiiod,. to keep us from falling.,, ",They shall never perish-" the imperishable jewels of God !''- Inferences. 1. Tt a Bible alone reveals Christ and bis Religion to c:an. ; 2. The Holy Spirit confirms the word and grace of Christ. 3. We must "wilk in all the commands and ordinances of tbo Lord," if - we hope to be " blameless," land righteous before God. ; Luke 1 : 6. 4. They who obey unscriptural traditions, lose alike their laboriandrewa'rd! 5. How important to dis play the truth of God's word, by faithful preach- in' OI it, ana ueiug bujuiu ciauipies ut us puw er ! 6. God's plants must thrive. - 'Therefore, if we do not grow in grace, knowledge and every Christian virtue, we cannot Keep religion, oe cacs3 we have get a counterfeit. u Let God be tn: V-.:t cTcrv r.an a liar," who pcrvcrt3, nis- !ntprnrpL?. l.U to. or d3tract3 from the revealed I ' - 7 word cf Gci. Wm. A. Shaw. - Never retire at r : -ht t: !lh or 1 1 cirg wirsr than vr-"t r" h f1. 7 hlTirT liim ci souethir- useful duriegthe day. From the True Union A Eisrt flt!:3d vrith t!is Csp tist ? cr, Wcrk fcr t'8 Inntrscrs fzr tie csxt Uucdred ana Ocs Tears," The Christian Observer, a Presbyterian Daper published ia Philadelphia; refers to a tract issued ia the West bearing the above title, and adds : VI hqugn severe and pointed, it is well adapted to awakea .thought and inauirv. and to lead thinking raen, to see that there are many things taught as religion; for which there b ao diyiue precept or authority." . ; , : ' '- We have never seen the tract itself, but jodg ! from the remarks of the ; Observer, it aims to prove 'that the Baptist : " teach things as re ligion ? for which i there bno divine precept or authority," and offers premiums for proof of cer- vm vuiugs w uicu ire -teaca as religion. j s , Of pouree the author means such things as are peculiar to-us, and which no othet,Ohristians teach or, have t any faith in. If this b not his meaning, then there is no point in his book.-r-We will notice somevofthese;.things,iwhich 'are peculiar to us as a denomination not to claim the rewards;: but that our readers may see how flim3y.the missiles" are our enemies hurl at 'us. There are one or two points in the article, such as John's- baptism being Christian baptism and whether the twelve apostles were ever bap' tized that all Christians all believers in th truta of revelation have an interest in; and are questions by no means peculiar to us. We are not prepared to see why it is that .: these ques tions are .fastened upon us as & denomination. If ouri opponents are prepared to admit-to the world that thev care nothing 'about these points. and that it is a matter of r perfect indifference to them whether John's , baptism was : Christian baptism i or not,, or- 'whether. tho" apostles were baptized , or not that they feel' no interest-in this part of ths f Bible,' but that we are the only people who have any interest in it, and that it is oucgiai uuiy to uciena it,tnen we suau tee called tipon to do so.- '.-,.,' ' - T ' i But there are certain i propositions, peculiarly notice. X- V : $ 10 Pircward to, any one producing Scrip ture prooi - lor : the polity . ot the inimerser nhnrYt a f ' t We have taught that our r Ctureh government is Scriptural e admitand forgone others we refer to the occasion when ",ille((iisci pies" (not the priests; or bishop?, or presiding el ders, or traveling preachers) but when the dis- ctpies were assemoiea together ana eiectea one to fill the place of Judas J Acts i. 13-15. We reier again to tue general iauguage anu airec ton o f 4 the Apostles to ; the. Chu rch es as ixids l . . i ' . 1 1 'i ' ' pendent bodies. ' And r also to the f language of the Saviour m M atthew xvuu 15-17, when be directed hb disciples after they had made cer tain efforts to reconcile offenders 4 to tell it unto Ihe-chjirch ctnoi' to -x the session--not to" -the meeting of the elders, not to the meeting of the steward?, not to the Synod; not to the Genera Assembly &c)"but ui to "the -Church"? whose decision f shall; be fihal -for''if ho neglect " hear, the . Church, let bini be uuto thee as' an heathen man and a publican. 'VS r?f - We presume the- author. has reference to the fact that wo f kold f to the independence? of the Churches and recognize no superior power among men when he speaks ot our volUv. - If this bo hb meaning, thb b our answerfV'fS'S : 4t. One1 hundred dollars for .Scriptural proof, that baptizo means to dip- Wever expressing anything -but mode.VCiLet itbe observed; he calls for Scriptural proof.'1 Dr..Carsoa (whose language be quotes ) nor 'any other BaptUt ever as. we contend the Scriptures'ought ;td bo traus late d in order : to. conform strictly to the' lite ra m eaning of th b ; origi nal- And in proof o f th Is we have asserted s (and stand prepared to prove it) jrum the laws and usage of the Lf reek language that such is true concerning the;word bapltzo We appeal io'the: original x and "not to the English version when;we assert this? ? Thewriter has another proposition resembling this in regard to baptizo beingtraiislated im uierse in: our version, to which we 'would reply in languagel similar to? the caba 4 v- r t "One hundred dollars for thus saith the Lord that immersion ; is an essential qualification "fo the;Lord s linpfer.ff:y.- V'We give the samsthus saitK the Lord" tha immersion-is ;an; essentials qualification for th Lord's supper that our Pedobaptbt friends give that ' baptism is an essential qualification to th Lord's supper. .We presume the writer knows these we cive the same, and as we hold nothing as baptism but the immersion of a believer in the i rianio .of the Father, of the Son; and of Holy Ghost he has an answer to this proposition. But let it be observed that this is not a peculiarity of 6or5"dcnomination, - for as Dr. Wall Ktates, "No church" ever gave the communion to any persons before they? were! baptized ' Among all the ab surdities that ever; were held, none ever 'main tained that any persons should y partake of com munion before they were baptized." tion to exclude from their- table a member for commemorating the vicarious death of our com mon Lord at His table, epread by another de-! nomination." This we are frank to ackriowledga .wo cannot do, for we no where find in the New' 1 estament this other denomination . J esus ' Christ institu-l ted but one Church. No such evils existed in hi', day as "branches of the Christian Ch ureA." We nowhere read of the Lord's table spread by another " denomination differing from the faith held by Peter, Paul, John, &c. As far as we can learn they all held to "one Lord, one Faith and one . Baptism." Until we find that Jesus Christ instituted many churches, holding conflic ting views shall we have to plead our inability to bring "sacred injunction" to prevent our mem bers from J sitting down to the Lord's table' spread by another denomination." " ;. "Uno .nunarea dollars lor scriptural prooi that , baptism is a burial as held and taught by Immersers." "; ; ; -. -' C ; If Paul s language in Komans vi. 3-4 is not suScisnt proof on thb point we can give no high er authority. e at least are willing ; to take bita as a competent witness and to take hia too by what he says : "Know ye not that so many of us E3 were baptized into Jesi3 . Chr i were baptizod into tb dsath. Therefore v;. 3 bu ried with tin by taptiora into death, that like as Christ wa3 raised tip uca the caad by tha glcry - cf the Father, even n x:z tl:o houll walk ia nevracss cf life." "Onediundred dollars for Scriptural proof that aptbra b a "cross." Thb we confess b another dlfucult pronosi tion, from the fact that in the days of Christ and the Apostles "those that rladlv received z hi word were baptized," and we have no case on record like those occurin? around us that aftr men professed to love the Lord they tried to ahun obedience to hb commandment and to explain away hb ordinances. ; . We presume it was not a cross then when hose who embraced ' Christ said "Lord we will follow thee whithersoever." thou goest." There - rore we cannot give scriptural proof for calling this particular act a cros3.J' But it is true never theless that baptism is a cross to thousands. It b a truth growing out of the corruption of Chris tianity, when men who should know better study to east contempt on an ordtpancs of Christ and contempt on thdse who siibmirto it." vune hundred dollars for a.smgle text.whose plain teaching b that the candidates must -wait or baptiziog days and come prepared for -bap tbm." ' We no where teach thb an Scriptural or make it a mattir ot consciencs. vlo say the least' his is not a lovely spirit who attsmpts to palm this off,upon us as n doctrine of the Baptist-, church. ..'003 hundred dollars for one passage which plainly enjoins, the linmersera to make the door ot their, church narrower than the djor of .Chrbt's Church." We have never taught that "the door of their (our) church", is narrower than : the door Christ s Church, for v6 claim them 1 to be one and the same.-. ,Thc Lord has said, . . Strait is the gate and narrow is tae way.t; . We say the same, tie says, 'lt any man will coma alter me, let him deny hunsilf. and tak3 UDlhb cros3 aua joiiow me.,' . we sav tha Aam? 1 if 11 : .... ... "One hundred dollars to any one producing a positive precept to reiuse a letter of recom menuauou xto a memoer oi theirJ communion .1 . " -.' 1 m. . i .- who after a prayerful study of God's sacred word is conscientiously, convinced that their, comhiu uiuu t uui uuni in ius, uiuia, anu peuQ3 jeeis it his, duty, to connect: himself , with thosD who administer the ordinances of the . church in per icv-ft accoruances wu iuo spiritit tue; tenor and the teachings of, the New, Testament;' lhere are two reasons we cannot give a " positi ve p re c e'pt". on th is po int. : In "the first ' place. In the days of .the Apostles no such' thing t.0wk place a3 Chrbtians going from one denomi nation to8notiierv 11 .then ; bolongadtothe same d'enbminataonAs'theapdstlerueW b'ccasioh to i act in such case i th have left no "positive" precept" tjnTthVsubject.rAnd tbis is no fault of the I 'apostle' or defect of the New Tes- - In the second place; we have never seen and never expect to see thev man iJwb6...?.after a- pray erful Study of God's sacred, Wi)rd' can say J'be feels it his duty to leave theBaplbt Churcfi fbeV cause we .do not practice the ordinancis accord ing to the Word of God, and that he wishes to leave us, . and connect himself with those who administer thev'ordinance3 of the Church iu "per fect accordance with ths ; spirit th ) tonar," . and the teachings of the ewestamentf & tJf;hefe is "'such a man liying(Ke isf welcome tpVour columns that pur riders' 'y-bVenliwhtr iWe khow'that soma ; fewa yery few ia cora parbon ,tothe hunJredi' who have com j. over to us) havogon3 oiit from us to other jderiomiaa tion3, but wd, have niver mit with tb.3 man who went out on the grounds- hare referred to ; and never expect to mjet with. such an oa35When; wedo thau it will bi tim ? to inaira why wirer fuse. to give him a letter ot: recommcudatipn.to another :.churchT ri;;: . "On3 hundred dollars to any one who will produce a solitary . passage ?; from the ancient Fathers; of :;a Solitary ' exam pie from the ancient mothers, authorizing: the useof leaden weights in the dress of candidates for immersion; or for the use of water pro jf garmsats ba such ? occaP sions " : , , . ; . x .;-;; -; ' -: v Vhat an . effort thb b. to ca?t contempt upon mat oramance wiiicn aunsrcas oi reajDaptist Uivinfts acknowled,;? the Lord and : bavioar sub mitted to, and which all their creeds tench to be an ordinance of the New Testannnt; When the Baptist rainfs ter lean ba i foand whol teaches these things as imatters; of conscience;!! nd as required by the Great Head of the ChurehCas the 1 Pedobaptist teach those things " for which we have offered premiums, then we will be pre pared to cite the proof required." ; " " "Ono linnr'rfxl lrtll.nr for nl.-iln aftri proof of the value of the gift bestowed upon Ro- ger ltliunis ujr - iiuituuau, wnereujr lue said Williams was uuly, and, truly qualiU'sduto immerse the said Holliman and the rest of the company; the other ten; and thus lay the founda tion of the; First BaptistChurch in Providence; and on the;AmericanCdhtineht of the Baptbt denomination.? ' v:'":l',r Ci';' --i-i"": '4. , As we do not believe in the "bestowal of gifts in the manner here referred to; and never teach such doctrine our friend must excuse us for not attempting to give ' scriptural proof for what we neither bslieve or teach. If these are a specimen or among the strong est . points of the book (as we presume them to be from the fact 'that the editor of the Observer has "not given them to us in numerical order) we pity, the cause that has to resort to, such slang for support. i x :v .;;:;.;;;;;rv: A,;'., Aside from our denominational connection, it b distressing to witness such studied efforts to cast contempt upon an orainance which all or thodox christians admit to be an ordinance of the New Testament, and which they themselves sometimes practice. r - It is painful to hear men abuse an ordinance, throw it into derision, and then come down from their pulpits and practice it. Our - Pedobaptist friends ought to do one of two things, either al ter their printed creeds which teach that immer sion b "one mode" of baptism, and boldly de- nouueo it 2j unscripturai uu ustci auuiiuiai.cr it. Or ccass their efforts to throw it into con- t-pt. All discerning mea'nust detect th .ing inconsisteacy of their present coursa. ' If tho author cf the book refcrcd to b ; trsacner. wo Tcnturs the opinion, if oae of bis onn-rrp'-ation should demand imrnersion at bb hanus or threaten to leav3 hb church, that he would ianoersa 1 , cctithotand;ng thb Lloroi eZort to hold up iraeu'ea end .11 vho pric.o it to' tha cc-t:r.jt zzl c:ri;::n cf tha Vcrll. , From the Prebvlerian.. Isitrafrl- We publbh the following rlaia etatorre-t, which carries with it the eviJencocf UJt being a 'ancy sketch, for two reasons : 1st. As a furi ous admonition to. congregations to bo just, ..if not . generous ; and 2d. As an aaaioi.:tica to preachers to take warning fro ta tha experience of our .correspondent, and not to subject thsui-, selves to suen impost tiOns.Tas. Irrcsb. isiv iair ior a minister to go a preacairg oa hb own. charges?.' It is a very, coauioa thing for? . him to have to do this. A vacant congregation, or a congregation ,whos3 pastor b sick or absent, . nds on lor a preacher. Perhaps he is a coun try parson, who has learned to keep his growing wnuy, uimseu, nis company, tus nors3, on h a hundred dollars a year. lie, vruh soma c.f ficulty; gets, the-brother who is teachiug,ln ths neighbourhood; or the one who has a sore throat. to agree to fill his pulpit, and mounts Lis old ha V for a day's journey down to' ; ' -. lie pays toll at two or three gatas, and may ba at a fny; nas a lost shoe nailed on his horse's foot ; pays for dinner and horse-feed ia the middle of tha day, aad. feeb bouad to give sundry shilling to servants, tie preaches twice on" Sunday, be-" sides making-an address at the Sabbath-school. And by Monday night, he finds himself some. dollars poorer than when he started, .to say nothing of weariness, the wear and tear-of th9 " rusty suit oF black,' and the torments of summer heat and drenching rain: ' - , "Again; a tninbter, by pressing' invitations,' " goes to preach to a congregation thirty miles off, in a flourishing town.- He harnesses hb horsa to hb wagon ; takes hb -little son along for a trip ; pys heavy toll ; b allowed . to . stay at a ' tavern from Saturday till Monday, pay hb own -' bill iu full, aad leaves with aa urgent invitation. that he would come again and preach for them very' soon; How could he resist such kindness! x He has not been at home mmy weeks, whea a. letter from' another still more important towa comes, saying, the . pastor b sick, and likely to " continue sick for many weks, and although a pretty strong congregation; yet its situation at that tim o was"" very critical, aad he was,, their , oaly hope for the next Sunday, Sec The pastor ' hesitates, aad goes to - consult the venerabb father, whose years prevent "his labouring regu , lirly. The father adybes him to go, and offers " to preach forhim. The pastor, having no tims " to' lose,' pitches a few old manuscripts into the V little trunk, whilst hb wife, after -a few hasty stitches in hb best ; clothes, packs them alon" ' wnu tae oiu sermons, me place - oemg se venty miles away; he was compelled to take th stage on "Friday o reach there in time. Ha -duly arrived ; spent a night at the hotel; preach ed on Sunday,' and,; before he 7 left on Monday,. the leading-eiaer;a very wealthy man, took hiui round to his largo store,? and sold him ' some goods fully as low as other buyers could have obtained - them retook the parson's raonev " thanked him for hb. vbit, and told him that be " sold goods cheaper than any merchant ia that section of country.-When the parson reached had "baen sent in during bb absence. ' He exam ined hb pocketbook, but found that hb trip had ; cost, him' so much he : had to beg indulgenci. of his creditorHS; " " . But hb trials are not yet over. It b not a great while; before a gentleman conies hastily in to hb study; and says that the great Dr. of the city of . , b away from home, and wishes - him to exchange with him oa the next Sabbath. The pastor, although complimented- by the pro posal, at first declines because of prirate and of ficial "engagements ; but ; the Doctor's friend in sists, and contrives to insbt until he finally con-' -ssnts to put himself to the inconvenience. '. He" . takes the cars next morning for the city ; which", b an hundred miles i.dbtant; Being a stranger,-; be first stops at an expensive hotel; The next; day" he preaches to a large - and most ; opuloat .' congregatiou." He returns home just hb cxpen- ses poorer, than when he left. - f ;Reader, you are vastly mistaken if yoa sup pose that these caiei) are either .exaggerated or rare. " Go aad sitdowa by any clergy maa of ' your acquaintance, and he" will tell you, if you ask him persunal anecdotes in abun lmco of just this kind. "-"'.',;' Now returns the Question, Is thb fair?- No ; other professional man b subject to any such da- -mands j why should preachers be? Jfou have a lurking, traditionary" idea that ; clergyman aro . -public characters, who ' are' " supposed to have a coutempt for the world, and especiallyfor rncn ey ; and as" they'do not fix fees like lawyers, or chaffer and.dn ; like tradesmen; and are in tho habit of "denouoeing-the love of money, they iaa get along without the filthy lucre. And besides, they are supposed .to taha pleasure ia all oppor tunities of doing good, and hence are left to al low the " opportunity" to offset the loss of timo and money it has cost them, to ' embrace it. If . you, my friend, view the subject "in this light, we-had better not argue the matter.. And as thb article b growing to si. considerable length, let only' these few suggestions bo made : 'f 1 Such treatment cf a rainbter usually re sults from careless. cr thoughtlessness on tha part of the congregation or their ofSccrs; Bat - thb b only;;a palliatioD:V;';j.Xl 2. It sometimes results from penuriousness.-- Thb will not be apologized for by any one. ;i 3 It is always unjust, and usually oppressive to the minbttr who . receives Buch;:treatment. -Very fewdergymen are able, even without extra expenditure enditures, to lire on - their salaries, but to have to give their labour to alio congregations for nothing," and pay travelling expenses out of their own lean pockets, b very; very trying to . A Poor PceaCher. fW 'fit. . ;. A passenger who Ta3 on board tha ill-fatol steamer Henry CA '7; relates the following inci dent connected wu taat sad disaster : " He bad born ca th? bo-y cf the v.:nl, and was one cf tha t to cooape Upca rcachii the shore, he c: ::d twenty-thres poro-r.3 r.Lo sur'i to rif "e : : : ore. He sickened at tha t:hif and was j- ; t.-n:r.g to leave the spot, when saw a llttl : from th3 i the fro:: enly eevea years cf r-a'crocr- snd fa ca tos t.::r -:rt r &m - at! r.'.. ) hands, ; a if ia t rayer.'r-'He r::; :t a moc::nt, and then .3 V.-.-13 t rotor. &3 ha v; tios - tho ::. an! tr. . .3 Our :- ":r::o-t rot r " 3 .1-3 hb c i zz.l'vll'j for the the:, vrhich L: u 1 4 s j? i : 1 t i i L 1. ! n 1 3 w, I. n VP i i i 1 4 ' - t i