. 1
Y D A u
.. . v- ,; d i f f 1 rt-' 1-
j.j. JAMES, E4itcr.
; : ,! Jrttb' to Hcligiott, ,ffioraHttt; literature,' "t&jKinuhra an&;.tttcraj - ;3nVtiitsmtW .
li JA5IES & Cd.V Proprictdfa
volume ix mxm
KALEIGH, ; N. O.j THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, ; "'1855 :
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THE BIBLICAL RECORDER,
A Religious and Literary Paper:
Published weekly at Raleigh," JT. C, at 2 00 "per
annum, payable in all cases ijc advance. ; - - -
3 All letters on business should be directed to
J.J. James & Co.,- Raleigh, N. C, -
All letters containing communications', or in
,ny way relating to the editorial department, should
addressed to Rev. J. J. Jajies, or Editor of the
Siblical Recorder." ; -.
ff All communications, to insure attention, must
j directed to Raleigh,' N. C post-paid. -
SJ For further particulars, see last page. , -
THE LAW OF NEWSPAPERS.
I Sabscnbera who do not give express notice to
lie contrary are considered wishing to continue their
lubscription. : . " ..... t.
2. If the subscribers order the discontinuance of
fheirpaper3, the publishers may continue to send
ihem uu all casn charges are paid. ; ' - . - v: .
3. If subscribers neglect or refuse to take their pa
pers from the office to which they are directed, they
are held responsible until they have settled their bill,
and order their paper discontinued. " 1
4. If subscribers remove to other places without
informing the publisher, and the paper is sent to the
lormer direction, they are held responsible.'
5. The courts have decided that refusing to take a
paper or periodical from the office, or removing and
eaving it uncalled for, is priar facie" evidence
of frntentional fraud.
For the .Recorder.
Dear Bro. Editor : Having s?en so great
a predilection ia some of our Baptists to eccle
siastic supremacy, which 1 regard as a depar
ture from the old ancient landmarks of. oar
forefathers, I have been induced to send you
the following thoughts on Church Government,
or the apostolic mode of church discipline.
1. Then all church power, i. e., tho power
which Jesus-Christ has delegated to her for
administering her laws," resides in tu8 Church
itself. Of course all church questions are to
be determined by the chuich, or the voice of
the majority, independent of any control or
prohibition, either of church offioers or coan
cil. This is a point for which our Fathers
earnestly contended, aijainst both prelates and
Presbyterians.'" It is the great point now iA
debate concernin;; both a civil and religious of
fice, whether, the power of government is con
ferred by the people on the officers, or whether
the privileges are conferred to the people by
the rulers. Most denominations of christians
hold that church power originally belonged to
an imaginary body called the church universal,
or to the superior officers of the church, and is
thence dispersed to others ; so that particular
congregations or churches are. formed under
tbem, and receive all" power : to -. act from this
superior authority. We as Baptists claim to
he a chTktian. commonwealth, we hold no hu
man founder. There is no 6ne living or dead,
on whose opinions we confide as that of Calvin
for the Presbv by terians, Wesley for tho Meth
odists, or Luther for the Lutherans. We claim
. as our only bead Christ the Lord. - - - :r -Sadly-
That; all church questions' are to be
determined in the church itself by the voice or
vote of the brotherwood according to oiinFa
tbers, Williams, " Baxter, Owens -Hooker, and
Cotton, all Congrefrationalists. ? "-The province
of the churclV officers is to preside and to exe-J
cute, but for any of them mtbio called prelates
or Elders, or preachers, or deacons,' or com
mittees to claim the. prerogative of acting for
the church as a matter of right, is usurpation.
And for the brotherhood to give it up to
their rulers as a matter of convenience, or to save
themselves the labor and respoLsibility.of self
covernment.: is a dissertation ; of duty. Our
Fathers held that, the Lord Jesus Christ has
laid upon the church the duty of watching over
her own members, of ; administering discipline,
and . of cuoosiqjj and removing their officers as
an important exercise of christian graces, and
a discretionary means of sahctification. As we
have said before, we have no superior but th
Lord Jesus Christ. We profess to be consti
tuted under his laws, and subject to no other
authoritative control than him. Every church
is complete in itself,; and has all the authority
which can reside in any organized body of be
lievers ; and is competent to perform all church
acts, without warrant from any superior church
udicatory. The whole authority residing in
the church, . and being placed there by Jesus
Christ, it follows of course that no other carth
Iv tribunal is competent, to reverse the determi
nation of the church, and any authoritative de
crees of a Bishop, or prelate, or presbytery,
committee or counsel, purporting to control or
revise the acts of the church, are acts of usur
pation and merely void.: : : " '- -:
3rd. The largeness of the ' church gives no
additional authority ; it is still a-church, and
nothb" more, whether, it embraeea the - occa-
pants of.4' an upper chamberoriurai profess
ed believers of a city a province or an empire.
The only church which our Lord ha3 appoin
ted or recognized as an!,organiz2d corporation,
possessing church power are; all an , equanty. ;
and according to the principles of the Baptists,
all conncilsl convocations, presbyteries, classes,
Conferences, synods, or' whatever-they may be
called - composed ' of delegates from many
churches, whether they are officers or , privates,
tfive no authoritv.! but are advisory councils: j
In asis of discinlinsi they may ba sought for
rfom other: churches in the above sense. :The
Twer of censure still remains in the particular
. . . - . - -- . . - .- . .:
church, and wbateyer the ecclesiastical couuci
mav' determine, their acts have no force unti
adopted bv the church, and of course the church
mav ad.int thcui or not. according to her own
jadgraent.;r f'' v-?' ----i '' ...
This is grounded on Matthew lo : 17, " and
if he shall nlsct'to hear. them, tell it unto the
church ; and if he will not hear the chui ch i let
him he nnto thee as an heathen and a publican:'?
W ns Roniia tTiJnfc tJns a'divin 3 warrant v for
makinff the voice f the church Jejcisiveiaral
cases, r We regard alt rchearrngs peforejcoun
cila only aids to the church to come to proper
fcerjnination ;.aua au. --apy5. u,r-"f V
called carrying the final act away: from;; the
church to some other body, are but human ds
Tices to iainroye the institution of Christ. .
So far as the reason of the Ihing is 'concern
the ScriDt'ure plan, for it is
more likalv that cases will be determined Tight
by a man's neibors, than ty strangers -that
tbe advice of other-churches is the pest saw
guard against error that if we carry;a question
ever eo far by appeals', the farther we carry it,
the less prtcticiUa it i3 to-make the tribunal
whatever it bo, lialla to err, and its errors can
nt be corrected this feida the judgment seat.
t . While be evil consequences of j the error to
an individual or a church aro more likely to be
remedied, if . the decision bf the church is fiuil,
we think that, so far as experience and obser
vation go to prove anything, are 1 as safe here
as under any other government, and : as likely
to receiTe the protecting care of his Master, if
he lives as he ought. And, moreover, no au
thoritative act could make us close our eyes to
the grevious wrongs of compelling a whole to
walk in fellowship with a man whom they con
sciously believe to have been convicted, on saf
ficent evidence of , crime which render him un
worthy of the communion of saints, t , : .,
But what settles the question in our view, is,
that power of the church itself, to choose its
officers and" execute discipline is a delegated
power derived from the authority of Chris?, and
consequently they have no right to delegate
their power and transfer their responsibility 'to
Others..-.'; -' ; ' . ' J - j "-
The truth is, a particular Church is the high
est tribunal, before . whom the party-may be
brought, and if difficulties arise in the proceed
ings, the council may bo called for from other
churches to clear the truth ;. but the power, 'of
course, rests 8UU in the church, where Christ
placed it. . . - j ..
She, the church, is so far subject to the un
ion of churches, that she is bound, in cases !of
doubt and difficulty, to cravo the council, and
if it be according to God, to follow it : and! if
she shall err from the rule, and continue' obsti
nate therein, they have the right to renounce
the right hand of fellowship with her. !
The obligation of churches to perform the
various acts of fellowship arising from the rela
tion to each other and to their common Lord,
it does not arise from ; any express agreement
to be in fellowship ; nor does it depend on tlje
more or. less complete coincidence in our views
and practice ; but on the simple fact that they
are churches of Christ. ; As such they have! a
common interest, are pursuing a common ob
ject, possess a common character, servo a coni-
mon Lord, and live in a common hope. And
their relations arc sueh, that each is deeply in
terested in the welfare of the other. If one
suffer by declention, error, iniquity, or perse
cution, all suffer, for the cause suffers.
In conclusion, I would refer youito. Paul in
proof of what 1 have written. If he had no
authority over Peter, yet when he saw him not
walking right, he publicly rebuked him : before
all the church ; so churches have no more au
thority over one another than Paul had over
Peter ; yet, as one apostle has a right to ad
monish another, so onefchurch has a rirht to
admonish one another, and that without usurpa ¬
tion. . - y. R. Johxsok.
,. . ,.: -. . - -. , For the Recorder.
Brother James : In compliance with your
request which came to my notice a few days
ago m your; most excellent paper I will pro
ceed to jnve you for publication some of the
success of the protracted meetings; which I bia
the pleasure to attend. Commencing with the
Church, at Colerain, Bertie county,' "N. C.,
Tuesday after the fourth Lord's day in August
it being the fourth day of the meeting, trje
Chureh renewed their efforts ; it was protract
ed through the tveek.; The Lord blessed his
rath 'in awakening and in the conversion of
many souls. . On Sabbath mojning it was my
pleasure to Daptiz3 in the Chowan twenty
eiht willina subjects : upon a profession of
faith in Christ. Ministers in attendance El
der John Nowell, Pastor ; Bro. Williamsand
our moch esteemed brother Elder James Delk,
a day or two. ,
A protracted meeting held with the Church
at Mt. Camel, Notthampton county, N. C,
commencing on Saturday before the fourth
Sabbath in-September, whan the Lord - again
blessed his truth. At the close of the meeting
I had the pleasure of baptizing eighteen upon a
profession of faith in Christ. Ministers in at
tendanceElder Johnv N Hoggardi Pastor,
and Elder John B. Webb., - ...... .
A protracted meeting with thoChurch at
Corinth, in Northampton ; county: N. C :
Nineten baptized by Elder J. B. Webb. There
we had the pleasure of meeting and hearing the
Gospel preached in it3 fullness, by our brother
lder t. ti. irotruan, v
Yours in gospel bonds,' '
- R. W. Delbridge. j
Dead Theater Actors. It is surprising, the.
amount of prais and the number of friends" which
dbtinguished stage performers receive and ' enjoy.
It geem impors ble tosli6w;ilrem enough attention
while living, but when dead 'ordying, how jhey i
are deserted ! One of the leading Mew 1 ork jour-.
nafs sayi, that when the projector and builder of
. r - : rm - 1 ' J " ' 31" Hi.T ,-2. Si I- '..H
tne urojiaway loeaier aiea, reiigiou5 7peopieiiii
not Thespians or stagelovers, attended. his focerat
Arid '.anther, New -York paper, in a notice ,of the
death of T. u. booth, a great; commeaian. at lor-
onto, Canada, August 18th, says, that his remains
were brought for interment to new ? l orK city, his
birthplace, and that at the performances of his fune
ral ceremonies, there was almost utter absence of
all members or adinirers ot thetheatncai ,proie3sion.
Strange,Yet how true the ad ige, w The world will
love ia life ahd forsafcein death ' !
The Prcsest and FirrcRELiFEr---fiarth is only.
a lo tting place . Sir the. Christian ; his home as in
beiven. - This world is bui a shadow,? the other
world a substance. ' So John i Owen the profound
ihpnloo-Ian and humble" Christian felt Iri hi3 last
hoars, for it Is related of him that when he was .on
his dvinsr bed, awaitins his speedy , dissolution, he
dictated a short letter lo a Triend:i The amanuensis
lie at once arrested hira, sayin?.-"Otop,:auer tnat
write". I am vet m the lanj of the jamngftuni OOP
soon 10 ue III lucjauu V "t iJ-
. s i-r.ncrt of lTissiojr.4 ries. -The Rev. A.; D
Pk;iH, n t larlv. of the State of Georgia, and Mr.
t P iKnmont! of Alabama,- have been in : this
-Ww tnr r Vr. davs Dastvarranzinff for their de
pariure as missionaries to Africa. VThey areie.
tin.! trt "ViSrhK-ii and will be associated there with
r. xtAssrsi. TiAwenand Clark under the direction
of the Southern Baptist. Convention. Interesting
vis took Tilaee in "connection with the regular
concert, oh last Sunday evening, at the first Bap
tist Church, (Dr.' Cone's,) when they were especial
ly commended to God by prayer, addresses - being
made to the cbttjregaxion by 'BsvJ. S. Beecber,
remrne 1 nnsssonary from.Burmah,;anl Ilev. James
BTaylor, Corresponding secretary ot tne pouii.
.rn T?antKt Convention. A Karen convert was al
so" present; and addressed a few words to 'the as-
sembly, ' : ' . , - i- -1 .
tk. ictnnariM to Africa sailed yesterday in
the bark Mendt, for Lagos, whence they , will pass,
by way of Abbeokuta, to Ijaye,;the staiionthey
i l.,ro- i milpa from the coast A. X.
ait Ul uifcwj'j y v v -
Examiner.- . -
From the Index.
The Preacuins of Funeral ficrraons t ta-
scripiQral ana Evil In its prendency. t
I am aware that the beading - of this article
contains a somewhat startling announcement.
Many will be surprised to see itJ while others
will ponder and reflect seriously the subject.
The truth is whole communities may be so far
led astray by popular error and excitement as
scarcely to . perceive tho truth I when plainly
preseniea. . 1 nere is, in many localities, a per
fect mania on the subject of Funeral Sermons.
I have many objections to the practice, though
I have sometimes been guil'y of I the inconsis
tency of doing what my own conscience does
not heartily approve. j j
I be first objection is, that it is unscriptural.
In vain have I searched the Old and JNTew Tes
tament for evidence to support the long and
dearly cherished custom. With this confes
sion, many, no doubt, will be astounded. Is it
possible that eo many good men of all persua
sions have so long practiced that ( which is not
authorizad by the Scriptures ? Is! it possible
that the Baptists, who claim to i be governed
exclusively by the word of God have so long
practiced it without authority from the Divine
Kecord ? These .things are so, and yet I can
not account for it. The fact that the Biblo
nowhere authorizes the custom should be a suf
ficient reason for its discontinuance, at least
among Baptists. " !
The second, and a very important objection,
is, that it is a relic of Popery. 1 1 am not for
condemning indiscriminately every thing sanc
tioned by the Popo. If we have not the Di
vine sanction for it, wo have sufficient reason
for its rejection. This relic should not have
been continued should never have been
brought out cf Rome. It was a regulation in
the church of Rome to celebrate mass for toe
dead, which is to go through the representation
of the passions of Christ, to offer up prayers
for the dead. 1 he Romish idea is, that there
are many sins committed by the saints of too
trivial a character to deserve eternal punish
ment. Hence the place of purgatory, or a
place of purifying was established, in which
they might expiate their offenses. The priest
hood claims the power, by the ceremony j'i
mass, to release the soul from its; purgatorial
prison. Thus the priest makes merchandise of
souls. There is no difficulty in releasing the
soul, if by a surviving friend the " one thing
needful" is placed in the hands of the priest.
But now what connection, some of our good
brethren will ask, has purgatory with the sim
ple act of preaching Funeral Sermons in mem
ory of the dead. Disguise the subject as you
may, apologise for it as best you can, end there
is in tho mind of many, a latent idea that the
soul will not be quite so well off if the funeral
is
not preached. The widow .speaks to her
Pastor on his visit, and says, I wish you would
preach my- husband's fuueraL It seems that I
cannot be 'Satisfied if 1 do not have it preached.
Why not satisfied ? Is it an imperative duty
enjoined by the Scriptures? N-o. What
then ? We have but one alternative, and that
is some undefinablo good that is to result to the
departed spirit. The unlettered negro ap
proaches Eis pastor and says, I wish 'you would
give out an appointment on such a Sabbath
for brother Jordan, or brother Charles, or
brother Gabriel, or brother Somc-body-else,
for a funeral occasion. I want my child's fu
neral preached. The pastor asks him why he
wants it preached. The servant responds that
he th'mks it right. He does not know what good
it will do, but he feels that he cannot be satis
fied if it is not done. You may see, as I think
I have seen all the time in the black man's
countenance, that he expects soma good to re
sult to the child. The pastor further asks,
Do you not think your child is gone to heaven?
If so, what good can the sermon do the child ?
Oh, says the servant, it will benefit the living.
Benefit the living, responds the pastor, do not
all gospel sermon3 benefit the living ? Yes ;
but says the servant, the funeral will draw out
a much larger number of people. Tho object
13 then to draw out the people in great nuai
bersJ This leads ana. to notice another objec
tion to Funeral Sermons, that is, it leads per
sons to disparage the ordinary means .of grace,
to look for all the! good from those extraordi
nary gatherings called funeral occasions. It
seems, that one object had in view, is to creato
an artificial stimulous to induce people to go
t-v, church , which tbe ordinary- means does not
produce. It creates itching. cars a perpetual
desire for something newvain curiosity, an in
definable restlessness and craving for that excite-
ment which ; these occasions usually afford.-f-
The. humble pastor who is faithful and punctual
to bis appointments, and of equal ability to, it
not in many cases, superior to those who are
constantly engaged .in preaching funeral ser
mons, has often to preach to empty Walls, Tor
no other reason than that there is a funeral to
bu preached in the neighborhood, at a church,
tpoj 'it 'may be of another persuasion. I he
writer of - ibis essay- knows a minister who
preached to a church located in a community
noted for funeral v sermons in the1 churches
round him. Ha has frequently : been" pained
to meet bis own members returning from the
Methodist church, after closing a very labored
and earnest discourse to the empty benches.
He, with many of his brethren, think that, in
this case, furncral sermons or occasions, are
mere 44 claptrap," if you will suffer the ex
pressioh The writer' heard good preacher
onceiniak6 rriseofthis very truthful remark,
the Metbodistscan surely cefcnp morej extra
1 occasions to .draws off the BiptUt ; congregations
than any people inl ine wona;- n m uumi
sermon is to excito curiosity, todraw out the
people. I think; they are of very questionable
propriety, j am.iea to mo uenui vuk iub wu
iect is to dratv'out a u crowd for two reasons :
r irsi, Ajiey neveri wu w buwi .uymi.
Second,: They are1 - very frequently appointed,
when it is known they will seriously affect if
nt break i up - thej congregation . of pthers,7 Jf
ministers wishto bencht the people, ana secure
a. permanently, good congregation,-let them
Dreach . Jesus Christ; and him crucified let
them hot labor so much to, create artificial cr
i-xtf-ment. . Tim never nroduces ermancnt re-1
results. Cultivate in itbe people a revcrccc'e
for those sublime truths' taught by'Chri
hiiAnostlcsiret' the pcodIo to : love-those
truths, and you will need ' no exfra stimulus to
get
; tho people together " . v $
Anothef objection is, that they usually stand
in the way of other sermons t which are always
necessary 'for. the advancement of Christ
Kingdom. 1 00 pastor : prepares his" mind -to
instruct; his", congregation .on some important
topics, which is necessary for their eJification-r-fcheir
improvement and their progress in the di
vine life, when behold some, friend wishes, on
that day, a luneral to bo preached! The pas
tor cannot well refuse, yet it disconcerts all bis
arrangements, and perhaps no one even grati
fied beyond tho immediate family of the de
ceased. 4. My next objection is, that funeral ser
mons usually are productive of no good. This
would seem to be begging the question, but let
us examine, j I have been a somewhat close
observer for several years have heard many
experiences, have baptized , many, but never
have heard the first experience date at a funeral
disco u rso : but have heard many, experiences
tnat wero dated at sermons delivered on ordi
nary occasions. Ibis is quite remarkable,
wncn we consider the great number of funeral
sermons we pro accustomed to hear ra all the
churches, and the great excitement produced at
iiu.ui. 1 uisjuu goes 10 prove mat 11 is not 01
God, and hd will not;givo to it the seal of bis
approbation.! The feeling attending those oc
casions :s noi the feeling of contrition for sins.
Those sobs and cries come not from heart-broken,
on account of sins, but it is mere sympa
thy a mero animal exciteineut, that ends not
in any permanently good results.
The example is injurious, particularly to the
black population.. A mong them, it is a perfect
mania. In some localities, they can't be in
duced to attepd an ordinary meeting, not even
if the ablest minister is to preach, but will walk
fifteen or twehty miles to hear a negro preacher
deliver a senseless harangue in the name of a
funeral st'rmqn. The poor negro is excited,
not instructed. He feels pleasant or sorrowful,
as tba case may be, but I fear the most of it is
delusion. The preaching of funerals among the
blacks, is a great nuisance. All can S3e this,
and yet it neVer can be cured, until a reforma
tion commences among the whites.
With thesj evils before us, it 13 strange that
our unnistersj have not long since given it up
There are, liiniaine' but few ministers that
i. ti.:-ii a- a t
differ materially with me on this subject, for 1
have often heard their expressions ; but yet
there is but little reformation, it may origin-
kite from twojeauses: 1st. Ministers are aeked
by the bereaved, to preach the funerals of their
friends, and tjhey dislike to hurt their feelings;
2d. It is a source of some pecuuiary gain some
minbtcrs receive large fees One minister told
me, on a certain occasion, that if it had not
been, for his funeral., fees, he could not have
supported his;fauiily. I live on a small salary,
but huve never received a cont for preaching
funerals, but have refused it when offered. The
churches ought so far relieve the wants of their
pastors, as to render the extra fees unneces
sary.: , J '. ' . .
In the maintenance of these views, I may ba
asked, what sort of service 1 would have per
formed on thd death of an individual: I would
say, let the minister or some
let tho minister or some official active
member of the church be called upon to de
liver an exhortation, sing a song, and offer up
prayer for the consolation and warning the liv
ing. There is no need of delivering a eulogy
on the dead ; for if he does not deserve it, if
has a ba I influence if he does deserve it, the
people all know it. The least thing that is
said about tho dead, is generally best. When
a funeral of a loose professor is preached, if he
is extolled above measure,3 it gives the world
false views of christian character. If he is a
wieked man, and the minister says much in his
favor, he will ba subject to tho charge of dis-
sembling: if ha paints out his true character
the friends will take offeuce.
Taking all the circumstances into considera
tion, I am fully persuaded that the. Christian
world would be much better off, if they would
dispense with preaching funeral sermons. I
have ventured thus to give my views upon an
important subject. Thus have I endeavored
to combat a popular error. ' Much more mij;ht
be said. . I invite your intelligent, your wen
informed correspondents to give their views on
tins subject., , . n -Lnqcirer.
Hamilton, Ga. ; ; , .
A very Imporiaiit Query Again. ;
IffiW thouVl Pedohapiisis and CampbellUts
be received inio Baptist ichurches ? We sent
the above, to the Herald a few weeks since,
and begged th4 views of its editor and corres
pondents. Those views have pot been .v given.
Wo repeat the nquest, Uur reason tor doing
so is,' that hi ; some sections of our state cur
brethren are in great trouble,' as to what course
they oubgt to pursue ' towards applicants from
other denominations:: T sees from the Western
Recorder -that numerous-additions are being
made to thelBaptisi cSurches in: Kentucky
from the Campbcllitcs. Will one of the editors
of the Recorder tell us how they are .received
..; ; ' - .-. .- , Inquirer.
; November , 1S55. ( .. ,
t When, a few weeks ago, wo gave tb above
query a place in the Herald, we were about to
leave for the ' Jovcr Association, and could not
conveniently respond to it. ' Moreover, having
OtT a previous occasion, but a few years ago,
answered a similar query, wp deemed it less
necessary to recur to tho subject again. We
preu mod i too, that some of our brethren, in
whoso churches such cases have occurred, would
respond to the inquiry, aud -Inform "Inquirer"
what course they had adopted when such per
sons had applied .for ;. membership. . t ,
Our churches being independent bodies, and
our : associations ! haying 'specified no definite
course in reference to such cases, we presume
such applica tions, Jiavc been decided each on
its own merits; 'ir' different1 grouhds,hd iodi
verse waysli As far as we can learn, there has
been no uniformity ,: in1 reference to thi3 matter
cither iri our own or other ttatcs:; TAny opin
ion we could give, or anyi suggestion woi may
make in response to such an .enquiry; is only
an individual one, and will bo heeded onlyj so
lar as. 11 accoeus wiiu un; views wi.vm,
The above Vcm arks have been made in refer
ence to the amission .of,, Reformers i as to the
reception of JTcadobaptists, thefo " ought to be
"tizedl in' our estimation', Wor cannot receive
thera unless they ' consent toTdjimnier$edT.
IBapiiam with us being a pre- requisite to mem-
jborship,' and deeming nought cb'a but immcr-
sion on a personal profession of faith, as a scrip
tural baptism, unless they,- give us a reason (or
tho bopo that is in them, and have a well groun
ded assurance that they havb passed from death
untd life, wo can neither receive nor baptize
them We ought at least to examine every ap
plicant on this important point, and ascertain
the fact that they arc believers or' regenerated
persons. " . .r -- ' : v
This is more-neccs?ary ns the conditions on
which individuals are admitted to membership,
vary in .the Jedobaptist , denominations. - One
great mission of tho Baptists has been for the
last three hundred years to assert the great car
dinal, vital truth, that none but converted per
sons are entitled to membership in the church.
j. uat neixner oapusm, connrmauon, nor any otn
errito'j is valid ground for admitting to mem
bership, without the new birth. The Congre
gational, Presbyterian, and Dutch Reformed
Churches, in this country, admit and act on
this scriptural : doctrine. Individuals coming
from those churches might be received without
ii. iLft-.il .
quc-buou luuugu we ininx; mat an enquiry
may with propriety be made Other churches
have to some extent adopted this view, but not
thoroughly.' The Episcopal has two divisions,
uigu ana jow tyhurchmen the latter . evan
gelical, tbe former resting on baptismal regen
eration. The German Reformed has recently
manifested a tendency to place an undue reliance
on the efficacy of ordinances. The Lutheran
church has two parties evangelical and anti
evangelical. The Methodist Church occupies
an anomalous position. Jn some respects ortho
dox. and evangelical in actual practice, loose
and disjointed. Admitting seekers on , trial,
avowedly pot converted persons, and at the end
of a few months, still frequently as seekers ad
mitting them into full membership. Not un
usually is the remark made in their obituary
notices, that A. B. was-converted after beinn
a member of tho church, for one or more years',
Some of their preachers, invito persons to the
communion table not even seekers or penitent,
on the plea that it may perchance result in their
conversion. This church, according to their
own showing, comprises within its membership
1
converted ana unconverted persons;, ana in
their case and in the others enumerated, duty
and expediency alike require an examination of
all applicants, prior to reception. .
There is much greater difficulty in the second
case the receiving of applicants from the Re
formers. In two points, both generally lacking
in Pedobaptists, we concur- baptism, orim-
: ;-i it. -e f. u .
mei'S'On U "aw;M u,U luiu iuu uaiuu ui r oiu-
er. Son. and Spirit, on a profession of faith ;
but we differ radically as to the design, or end
to be accomPllshed by baptism, and thepie-re
quisitesin the subject. - That individual alone
in our view. TS entitled to baptism, who has
been the recipient of that faith which worketh
by love and purietb the hcarf, who has felt a
odly sorrow xor sin, repented, ana prougnt
forth fruits meet for repentance : a penitent do
liever, who humbly trusts that he has passed
from death unto lite, and now desires to follow
his Saviour, take his yoke upon him and obey
his command that as Christ arose from bis
watery tomb he may. also arise to a newness 0
life. Baptism with us is, therefore, not a sav-
iog act has not any pardoning, justifying, or
sanctifying efficacy. It is a declaratory act 0
our love for1 trust in, and allegiance to our Lord
and Master. The Reformers maintain, Ltbal
through this medium remission of sin is obtained
tho Holy Spirit imparted, and the subject U
pardoned, justified, and sanctmed ; and that ap
niicant3 arc entitled to baptism on making tbo
- a .
good confession, that Jesus is tho Christ, and
reformation of life and heart- ,
Three things are, in our estimation requisite
to constitute a valid taptism a fitting subject,
a qualified administrator, and compliance with
the rite enjoined, immersion. A. believer,, or
converted man, in the ordinary acceptation of
the term, is alone a proper subject. A duly
qualified administrator must himself have been
immersed, on a profession of his faith in Christ
a regenerated man. As to the rite enjoined,
both Baptists and. Reformers agree.
Most of the early preachers in the ranks of
the Reformers in this state, had been Baptist
ministers. : Of coarse they ..were valid, adminis
trators. We presume their coadjutors were
generally converted men priorto their baptism.
If not, they were baptized first, and professed
to bo' converted by the institution;' or not con-.
verted at all,' we could not look upon them as
authorized administrators. We presume' there
will be little difficulty on this, point, but rather
in the first position, a fitting or scriptural ub.
ject of baptism. There is great ii3crpaoojr m
the preaching and yiew3 of the lictormers.
Somo ot them strenuously insist .o reformation
as well as faith, previous to" baptism. : Others
at the close of a discourse, inviie any one. pres
ent to come forwardj" rajike the good confession
and bo baptize! ; 01 course, mere 13 no time, giy
nn for reformation, or change of heart,- when
the individual is straightway, hurried off to the
baptismal watersV It is' then - only, as Mr. C
would sav. a cbanrre of relation! or state, r We
believe most firmly arid conscientiously,' that if
v . .
a man does not experience a .cnango ,ci . ncart.
Or is not converted before he descends into the
water, he will not experience, a change ort be
come converted in or Sbr his tbaptism.: There
may .'bo a change of state from an alien to a fciti
izen as far as church membership! is concerned.
Wc have no doubt the Reformers arc equally
as conscientious' in their belief tnat baptism will
ettect the remission 01 sin. t in receiwug appli
cants ;in to our fellowshTp,' W must bo governed
..! . it ..i IvJ.aM n.'
oy our views, now, ujr iut-irs. n uu. uvucio
converted persons, when baptized wo cannot rec
ognize them as fitting subjects for thatbrdfnanca,
and' therefore must regard them as still unbap
tized. If we receive f them it; must bo on" the
same terms as in the case of tbo Pedobaptists
If on the other hand they affirm that they were
believers, had obtained the pardon of their sins;
era they submitted to the ordinance, we ihould
deem their baptism valid and; cordially receive
tbcmf if 1 in other:, respects Suitable persons.
This is the;que3non to be seOled--were' they
converted believers -..'prior ; to .baptism, or dii
they depend on the mcro avowal of a belief in
Christ as tho Saviour, and - the act of baptism,
as tho means f their conversion, or rcgenera
i; A Spanish iroberb, What tbo: fool '.does
ia the end,; the wise man 'doca'in'the begin
nidg ' -
i- - fonvffstoTi f nrronp!
The: early life : of , the' late 'Dr. . Cone. and
the marked individuality of his character mako
particularly interesting the 'passingof such a,,
man from .death.: finto life.L' ': A narrative ; of
this convertive work, of grace we have from
himself. .He says:" . - ' - '
In tho 'month ; of ovember, isi3.i after
breakfast, 3 took up the , newspaper, and saw.
among other things, a large sale of books advert
4lOAl4 M 1T.A9M n n J ; J i
myself. T will look in as I go to the office, and
see what they are.: :I "did so, and the first book
1 iook op was a volume 01 tne, wors;s 01 -jonn.
Newton. In an instant my. whole Jifai tassed.
in review before mo L remember taking, tho
book out of the College library i while at Prince-
tpn, arid reading Newton's Life 'tbjroy moth-
tif 3- .i . .1 ii , ,
er. iu3 aream 01 me iosc ruig rcraraaea mo.
orcibly of my dream) tbe well. Andlielt aDu
ardent desire to own the book and . . read the,
dream again. ' I left, the Tooms, having first re
quested: M r4 Wood,' who was a particular Menof,'
10 put it tip for -sale as soon as lie ."saw mo in
the evening, as it was the only work 1 wanted.
He promised to do so, and 1 immediately went
out towards our. office, which was. nearly oppo--. '
site, but T had scarcely reached the , middle of
the street when a voice, like many waters,"
said td me This is' your Jast. warning I
trembled like an aspen leaf; I felt myself to be)
in the grasp of the Almighty, and arucarthquake"
coma not nave lncreasea my aismay; voer-'
mbns heard when only eight years bid, on' tho;
Balm of Gilead, and on the Lamb of God tho."
dream4all were painfully present, and I thought-
my hour of doom ? had ;comoi -1 went to., the,,
office, took down- the day book to charge the .
new advertisements, but my hand, trembled so
that I could not write, and I put the book back
in 11s piace. . 1 went oui in 10 ocuiu oireei
men waiiLca up bdu uuwu juarK.es trees in
tne crowa uu aiuner ume,.xo . arown, 11 11 wcrej
possible my thoughts ' and ' feelings., 5 Rut- alT
in vain'l The sound still mhjinot'1 only. in:s
my cars, but through my hearty like the soond
of a trumpet "This is tyourv last i. warning S:J .1'
went home to dinner, , endeavoring to- conceal;
my feelings as much.as .possible from ,m'y ife
The day wore heavily away j J was: at. the auc-..
tion room at the hour:, purchased, the .book.
that seemed to te strangely . connected with my
weal or; woe : re
to my home immediate
jit
ly, and' read "Newton s eventful life entirely '
through before retiring to rest; 1 bore seemed
to be some-strong points of resemblaco betweetf
us: 5 He bad been rescued from wrath bpmtl f
What would become of me I fopnd Ethai he
read the Bible and obtained Jight. ril went tp
bed .with the deter mixtion of rising to imitate ,
his example, and search .the Scriptures. My
dear yoangwife thought! was going mad, ! Oh .
noi no,:, j wanot.maa. ;ie, wno uaa
com-
passion on the poor Gadareho, was now bring-
inr mellb my right mind in a way that I knew'
1
way ti
not.
' i I'commenced reading the Scriptures'' with -deep
interest to find .out honf a' sinner could bo
saved and in two mohths,read tbo' Psalms
and different portions of the Old .Testament,
and the New Testament I think . more fthan -twenty
i times through, : : The ; Psalms, Johns r
Gospel,1 and the Epistle tothe Romans, were .
particularly precious .Itirequirpd great effort
to attend to domestic duties, and my business,
in tho office ;; for I .felt continually that it would
profit me nothing "to gain tho whole world,' '
and at last lose my dwn eoul.. I sought out
preachers, and heard Mr. Danean frequently,'
but could not lcara from any of them the; ay,
of salvation.: One :evening, j after, the family
had all retired, I went up into a vacant garret,, ,
and walked backwards , and forwards in., great"5";
agony of inind ; , 1 knelt r down,, the instance of "
Hezekiahr occurred, to. me; like him 1, turned
my face-to the wall and cried for mercy. An '
answer seemed to be vouched in ah impression. -that
just as many years as'l had passed in re t
bellion ogaints Godi so : many years I - must '
now endure before deliverance could be granted n
clasped my hands and cried out, "Yes, dear ,
Lord, a thousand, years of such? anguish as I
now feelj iff I may only be! saved ahist, I
continueii to read, and whenever I could steal
away unobserved into the garret, there, 1 walked
the. floor, when all around was hushed in sleep;5
there I prayed and poured out.' tears of bitter
sorrow, f While thus' eegaed no, night, the
plan of salvation was reveafec o; mejn the figure
of N oak's -Ark.i js 1 saw an ungodly race swept
away with the flood, but, Noah; and his. family ,
were saved, for God shut u them in, the Ark. , I '.
felt thatjas a. sinner, I was condemned and just i. "
1 exposed to . immediate and everlasting de J
stmctibn!. T saw distinctly that in ( Christ alone
! must be saved, if saved at all ; and the 'view. J
I at that moment bad of God V method of savi
bg sinnersr' X do still tnostj heartily! eertam,C
after thirty ears ex iricrice of his loveTbirf
was : Saturday .nrght, an J thaVnight Ijslepf tnore'' ,
sweetly th?p I .bad -for, .Cumyweeka before
daylight on Lord's day morning I J awoke andf
went down stairs quietly, made a fire in tho 1
front parlor,' and threw open the window shnt-p'
ters, and as soon as I "could see commenced ,l
reading : the' New Testament. I 'f, opened; tha
13th cba pter of John j and eame to where Pe- y -.
ter eaid, tbou shalt never wash my feet Jesus 7
answered himIf i wash thee .not, thou bast .
no; parwitb me.'; Simon. Peter 'sailh jtcrhim, : .
Lord not toy feet ovlji but toy Jband and myf '
bead t'jtAt that moment jnybcart seemed toj
melt. I felt as f plunged, rato'a bathof blood
divine-r-1 was cleansed from, head to foqtrguilt . " ;
and the, apprehepsion'oX punishment were both, 1 "
put away j tears of gratitude gushed fromi my; ' ,
eves In copious streams i the fire Jtflfhe'' crate
shone on the paper from the' trail and the roomt
was fou of light ; I fell upon the ; hearth-rug,:-)
on my face, at' the feet of Jesus,' and wept and'
gave thank3 ; my sinsj whichr were .many, wero j
all forgiven and a . peace vcf mind -succeedod-r
which, passeth understanding. ; J31ess tbeLord,
Oi my sonl I. from that hour to the pfesen.ft a. cf
doubt ot my calling, and election p'f.Gbd' hasf .
never crossed my path With all my : imper--
fee tiors, "short ecomirigs,A.ahd ba"ck:"slidihgs of .
heart,',! have from that hour steadfastly believ-:' -
ed that "neither death nor; life, nor angel, nor - "
principalltcs, nor powers, nor things present,- a
nor things io come, npr height, nor depth, nor 5 i
any other creature, shall be 1 ablo to i separate
me from the: love of God :' which is in Christ . t
Jesus my; Lord !" . .
'2fbtbing but good life can fit 'mca for abetter
one.