Newspapers / The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, … / May 8, 1889, edition 1 / Page 1
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W , 1 ,; , .1 AY ! - 'v ' 1 i . . . ' - ' ' " J '- ' - ' ' ' ' .. .. .1 ..... i i j r i i ,- , - , i , , n , i , TBE ORGAN OF THE NORTH. CAROLINA BAPTISTS DEVOTED TO BIBLE RELIGION, EDUCATION, LITERATURE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE, Volume 84. RALEIGH, N. a, WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1889. Number 44. 4 3. .be- The Biblical Recorder. PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY. OFFICE : Corner Hargett and Salisbury Su., Raleigh, N. C. Terms of Subscxiption ; One copy, one year................. ...$ 2.00 e copy, six mcnths 1.00 hubs of ten (copy extra, to tender) 20.00 Remittances most be sent by Registered Letter, Poftomce uraer. rostai note, express or unit. pyabie to tne order oi ue ruusnerv Obituaries, sixty word loot, are Inserted free of gorge, wnen uwr exceed tals leagta, one cent far eacn word most oe paid u advance. . CONVENTION SIDE SNOWS, last May when the Southern Baptist Ooorention met In Richmond, Va., a smart Northern brother was on hand at the1 solic itation of some society to deliver a lecture oo the evening before -the, organization. The trick was a' shrewd one, and so far as patting money into the pocket of the lec turer, proved a great success. He took his nDection before the secretaries of the Boards had drawn upon the delegates for Mods, got the first shot at "the docks, as It were, bagged his game, and took the next fltrain for Chicago. This lecture did the Convention mnch harm. It destroyed the nb'giouB characterpf the entire session, ui had much to do with making the meet ing in Richmond ' one of the 'poorest ever held. We feared then s . that other wise oremren woma uie we .flint ana appear in Memphis Jost a day ahead and arrange with Borne impeetmeous society to raise the wind by a lecture, provided the spoils were amaea, u sucn snoaia oe ine ease we J 3 a ' a. a advise the delegates and visitors who read pis to give sneh lecturer a wide berth. lion's near mm. Don't con tribute one jcu iu euijr euvu ytsrevu ur purpose, un- and showmen of all kinds moving! around tltli trie uonevntion for the purpose of raising money for personal - and secular pnrposes. The Southern Baptist Conven tion should have no side-shows connected with itU It Is a Convention of Christian aen, assembled lor the purpose of trans uung ousiness ; for the Lord, and aside item its legitimate work should not allow jeetures on "The Bastile,w Back Bone," "Jfoor Kin," "Git there EH," or anything ,oo a uiumeui ua i ume or attention. ,ach lectures mar be uiu iwiurea uiay uti very, proper ana vvuivto S W VbUVsT UlUCI fUlU PlttCOBa, H are a nuisance when 'delivered at our Conventions. If a meeting on the evening t May the 9th most be held, let Bro. fenable, jthe pastor of the church, get some sinister fun of the Holy Ghost and of wis- m to preach a sermon in the chnrch, and few tO it 1 that no fanev mnaia ia ranAaraA m r u w ind no collection taken. ' The Biblical Recorder, Having reeeivea, uom a source i am 3 M ....... tmd to reSDeota reaneat t.n fnmlfih fn. aoncation the main facts in reran! tn th Vly history of the Biiblical Rbcobder: u ucuevmg mai many, it not most, of its aaoEcnoers Know little, if anything, s eariy . nistory, l cheerfully comply u uue request ; at least so far as tn v owledge of the matter will en&hla m. other fact has some influence, which is A W HA'it a j . - " uuateujui me red neat, that, rwrhani nn A wrYiutu "ow Ting, naa tne opportunity U pknowing the facts so well as mvself. - . AS this article is nreliminarv f An r.t IS !bt)nm 5n if. t.n anfa rn tVt ht....i . t . j r; -w w hub UUUHIHU; WQIm XIK. ?Sfct A A.1 . . . ... Mfl.1 , . "Wiliroiiai, vuiku a uoua vv. Xfl Ha X A. a - a . - in nrjflP8mniR.ramm t i u aac l;, ""pyrianc ua true in regard to the yea vital value oz tne KKOOKDEB to us denomination. t a j ui ail the enterorisea in which t.h tptists of North Carolina ve engaged. wuo um Bccompusned more ior tne gen ii ucuvuti una DrosnArirv or tna fmnml. mon than their onran th T?Tr m a t. RDER. It had from its earHt lum n tne warm n.nri iyan.r.. j rocaie oi au our other worth v es-thdmain spring which put in mo- and Dressed fnrwaH national work; and Nthie ft has done . a uuac "iee or reward " . Whfla fv,. j tments have required, and Justlv. manv ,rac fanas to make them efficient, our organ - '1? ,8to?d on it8 own has ever . Y.!j7 moividual enterprise, and, under puanges tnat nave occurred, has had eke ean of Itself. After its mission of ft C""! agnail a century, it still lives, light, joy and gladness , to, the laoosanos in its weekly visits. A -e, wuuuuiucwik p its piace h9 family cannot otherwise be fllled, oi lT&Ine estimated, for Inculcating gh- teousneas and truth, and In pointing out and rebuking error. . . 2. Although the Recorder has done much in the past for tbe Baptists of the State and the cause they represent, and lias been a Hne qua non to the present sue cees ot our miaaion, educational interests. Sunday schools, Ate. ; beside being a weekly religions instructor to the many families into which it has gone; yet it has not ac complished all it might and would have done for want of a more generous patron- age.' By the strenuous and well-nigh cease less efforts of its different proprietors and the active eo operation of some of Its many friends, it has, beside the service rendered and already referred to. reached its present improved condition. Had it been more lib erally sustained and patronized In its ear-' lier history and struggles, it would doubt leas have shed a brighter light and on a more extended scale; moulding the charac ters of many, who merely claimed to be In fa vor of missions, &c, Into Intelligent, active, working members. But human foresight, as well as human excellence, has its limits. Time, observation, and experience are es sential to forming the best plans and exe cuting them in the best manner. Yet Di vine Wisdom sees fit to frustrate or over turn even . these,, or any other human de vices, when not In accordance with his will. i In an address by one of our gifted and" energetic ministers; be made in substance the following declaration: "Our Baptist fathers acted wisely when laying tbe foun dation of our denominational progress and prosperity, in issuing a paper, organizing the Convention, and establishing a literary institution or college.? Having labored in connection with these agencies some twenty years I was prepared to recognize the com-, pliment, to M Our Fathers" and endorse the correctness of the statement But however wise to arrange and brine Into ex istence these agencies, it required no little aevouon, sen-sacritice and labor to keep them in active and effective operation. The present generation of Baptists in our State are, perhaps fortunately, ignorant of the many struggles and trials through which " the Fathers " had to pass ere their cherished object was realized; while some, and not a few, like the Israelites in the wilderness, fell by the way, leaving their successors to carry on the good work. In dosing I would say. what I have writ ten can have no practical bearing upon the past- that is done and gone but some things on this sheet may be suggestive as to the future, f In my next I propose to give some facts in regard to the early history of our organ and some -co incident circumstances con nected therewith. J. J. James. Yancey ville, N. C, April 29, 1889. Plain Doctrines of the Bible Plainly Stated by a Plain Preacher, BUMBEB SKVEB. Begeneration. Regeneration, or the New Birth, is often mistaken for and used svnonvmonslv with the term Conversion. They are really two entirely distinct words with entirelv differ ent meanings; and yet there can be no re generation until reformation or conversion has permanently taken place in the daily walk and conversation.' ' Regeneration has direct reference to the spiritual, and con version to the natural or ; ohveical life. There ean be no regeneration without con-; version; but there may be, and often Is, conversion without regeneration. Regene ration occurs but once in "a man's life; con version may occur just as often as he mav choose to correct his habits or to reform his life? This conversion or reformation is sometimes so clearly manifest and so thor oughly wrought that it is easily and too often mistaken for regeneration to the fear- f of deception and loss of him or her thna deceived. Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit through belief of the truth as It Is In Christ Jesus. ; Conversion Is the work of man through stren firth of the will hrW. ing the whole body In complete subjection thereto. The one affects both the sniritnal and -physical life, and has reference to tim and eternity.- The other pertains? only to this life, and affects only the moral stand ing. The definitions of the words In their primary, significations are totally unlike, and Inspiration Itself makes this difference perfectly clear. In Acts, 3: 19, the Apostle Peter says ; Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins map be blotted out, ' when the, times Abf refreshing shaU come from the cresence of the Lord" ' Rnv fearful then to. mistake the one for the other, or to so confound the two as to draw no distinction between them when interests of everlasting Importance and - awakenings of unchanging doom depend upon the Inst conception and right understanding of this wonderful doctrine of the Word of God. Like faith.. it is known bv the fanif It bears,, In everyday, life. Its nature of course is spiritual and can be seen only in its effects, not tn itself. STt is personal and individual ; and In no case can be Inherited or transmitted from parent to child. or even be divided or shared with the dearest Of enda.T Though spiritual It makes con stant use of every faculty of the soul, every intelligence of the mind, everv power of the body, and every possession of life. The reason, understanding, and nature of man are by no means taken away or substituted ; but they are so acted upon bv s-raee divine as to be corrected, enlightened and purified, so that, turned Into another channel, thev may be used for God's glory In imitation of the example of Christ Jesus. The soul, dead in trespasses and sins, is resurrected to a life of holiness. It was the same body oi our oaviour mac came zrom the tomb, but with a glorious brightness conferred on its humanity that it did not before mani fest ; so in regeneration, V As a carver takes not away tbe knobs and grain in the wood, but planes and smoothes it, and carves the Image of a man upon it, the Substance. of the wood remaining still; so God pares away the rareed pieces In man's understanding and5 will, and engraves His own Image upon it.n The passions, appe tites and affections remain the same, but the difference Is readily apparent In the digerent objects upon which they are lav ished; for Instance, the1 act of loving in a regenerated man is tbe same as that In the nnregenerate, bat the lore of the latter is entirely earthly, given to iself, while the love of the former Is heavenly, given to God. Bo It Is with all other feelings or powers In themselves considered. It U the same mind, the same will, the same facul ties of every kind, bat cleansed, controlled, and used for a religious purpose. If a man be of a quick and - violent temper, graee does not remove the aalekneaa and vio lence, but tarns them Into teal with which to serve his God; or If ai man be of a thoughtful, serious tarn, hisithooghtfulness and seriousness are tamed I Into delightful and instructive meditation dpon God's holy word. God takes the unrefcenerated man as he Is In all the filth and eerrantion of hia fallen nature, and refines his soul, purifies Atw suiecuons, enooies nia a its and assimi- iates his character to that lot the Son of God Himself. : 1 It is also a revolutionarvtthanee. brinr- ing man into daily conflict every pre conceived Idea of 'doty, affection, and even of life li re,: work. if. The fear- fnl struggle inaugurated at e New Birth as tne soul cries out for d veranee from sin is but the heavenlv el Indicating that the battle is begun which can end only in the death of soul and body to every emotion, desire, and act of afn. Its realization Is not always the same, hence many are led to fear and doubt their regeneration because It was not like some other, or was different from what was ex pected. Sometimes it is liki the lightning flash athwart some dark cl ad, Ailing tbe SOnl With tnaratifnftn. U LWWv. the lightning, it leaves the glorious light of life shining brighter and brighter unto per fect day. Sometimes its ingress is so gradual as scarcely to be perceived until a rich flood of glory all divine dawns upon the astonished soul; nor can it be told when, bow, or whence it came. It can only be said, "Whereas I was blind, now I see." The outward manifestations are of necessity slow and unsatisfactory to man because of the corruption of th bodv which death Shall consign to the bosom of mother earth, who, kinder than loved ones, lovingly receives and retains it until ab sorbing all its Impurities to be burned np with herself at the last day, she presents the purified dust ready for God's insurrec tion power by which soul and body, pure and nndeflied, shall be presented before the Father's throne on high. It is a radical change: tongues, long used to nought but blasphemy against God, are now tnned, sweetly tuned to His praises; hearts long closed to all the purify ing influencees of the Holy, Spirit are now thrown open wide to His continual indwel ling; hands, long untutored save to the service of self, now find their chief delight in the service of God; and Uvea, entirely given over to indulgence In ail the pleasures of sin, are now made happy by sacrifices and self-denials for the glory of His name who died to redeem them from everlasting despair And shall I not know it f Can the beautiful panorama of God in nature pass before the newlv restored ateht ana ne not know it? Can the dead fanl. ties of the soul be raised to life, everlasting - un ne ignorant oi tne wonderful change? No. No. No. God means, for His creatures to know, to feel, to enjoy, to a greater or less degree.-thls wonderfullove sq richly bestowed upon them, and to show to a dying world some of the attractions and glory of the transforming power of the Son of God In saving lost souls. i .V . ; Nothing in man is the, germ from which this springs; no recuperated powers of a worn-out force or energy can produce won ders so divine, tit is the gift of God; The same voice that said " Let there be Hght," spoke to the darkness of the troubled sou!, and Immediately there was light, We light of life. The same power and love that makes and sustains all of natural life, is the power, of love that shapes, fosters, and mseS these restored faculties and powers to the glory of His own name in the good of man. God's Word, in this, as In all other Of its teachings, is SO nlaln that. niSn nav make any mistake. ; John 3: 3-5: " Jesus answered and said unto him, Terily, verily I say unto thee, except a man be bom again he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Jesus answeed, verily, Terily, I say unto thee, except a man be bom of water and of the spirit he can Dot enter Into the king-' dom of God," thus showing it to be abso lutely necessary to enterance into the king-' dom of God. John 1: 13: Which were born, not of blood; nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, bat of God." Ezekiel 36 : 27r And I will put my spirit within you," &e. Ephesians 2: 1: "And yon hath He quickened who were dead In with xseasn Jtt, en raal trespasses and sins. w John 1:12: " But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God to them that believe on His name. M God does the work with the co-operation of man. .John 8: e-7: ..." That which Is bom of the flesh is flesh, and that which is bora of the spirit is spine juarvei not that I said onto thee, ye must bo bora again." ? 1 The following are some of the evidences of the New Birth: 1 John 4: 7: "And every one that loveth is Lom of God." . 1 J ohn 5:1-4:" Whosoever belie veth that J esus is the Christ, is bora of God. For whosoever is bora of God overcometh the world: and this Is the -victory that over cometh the world, even our saith." K----'V.-: v.d. m. Ponder WeB thi Le9on, : Dear Recorder-ln these days of man-' reverence, mammon-worship and hanker ing after position, we deem it Very apposite' to direct the attention of the elergy, and of the laity as well, to the very important les-' son taught In Matthew 4:11L i When Satan the tempter first came to Jesus, how beautifully and successfully He parried his blow I Step by step he made his onslaaght; bat of no avail !as yet. - Fi nally as if reaching th climax of his temp ; tation V he taketh Him up into an exceed ing high mountain, and she we th Him all the kingdoms Of the world, and the glory of them; and saith onto Him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." . j- -. v - . t. But Jesus notuing daunted with a tx edness of purpose, and lh the steadfastness' of His character replies: "Get thee hence' Satan: for itia written, Thou shalt worship tbe Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." . v. ; i - What Is the sequel to this contention with a bold, daring temptation t We are plainly told and what solace and joy It brings to tbe sorely tempted! Here it is: "Then the devil lea veth Him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him." The Important lesson here taught seems to be, that they, who cab rise above the unholy influences of man, mammon and position, need have no fear because an gels will come and minister unto them, . Would that Christian men and women everywhere would ponder and ponder well this lesson. Fraternally, F. The Lord's Prayer Temptation. "And bring us not Into temptation." Our Lord knew by experience both the suffering and the danger of temptation. " He suf fered, being tempted." "He was in all points tempted like as we are." He passed through all his varied temptations without sin, but he carried with him, and carries still, tbe memory of the fierce conflicts, and he knew that his people, so long as they remain in this world will be exposed to temptations, which may prove too strong xot mem. xienee mis petition. " Bring as not Into temptation." What Is the meaning I Can It be thought, as a thing possible, that oar Father in heaven will lead his children into temptation! In one sense, "No," emphatically, no. He never exerts on any man an Influence de signed to induce him to sin- In this sense, God tempteth no man. Let no man say when he Is thus tempted and falls, that God tempted him in order that he might fallV But on the other hand, God does bring as all Into temptation by bringing ns Into this world. There are temptations which are " common to man," and which no person In this world can wholly avoid. In sick" ness and in health, In solitude and in com pany, in leisure or in business, In prosperity or in adversity, we are surrounded bv ob jects which furnish the occasions of sin, and solicit us to sin. In every Eden there is a tempting tree bearing forbidden fruit. This is a world of trial and discipline, which it could not be, If there were no tempta tions In It I Some degree of temptation, too. Is good for us. All the temptation which is resisted and overcome helps to develop and strengthen our virtue. "Blessed is the man that endnreth temptation." "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations,; knowing that the proving of yoar faith worketh patience." Manifold temptations, then, should bring you Joy, for they prove yonr piety, and help to complete your char acter. ? Welcome them' When they meet you in the course of 5 Providence, Overcome them, and ' thank God for them, and for the grace which enabled yon to triumph over them. - -' - " ' - . . - What then is tbe meaning of the petition I There are fierce temptations, which distress US. which are too tt,rnno fnr na aht.k n. danger oar soals, and from which there I seems no way of escape. We are taught to I pray that we may not be brought into situ-? ations so distressing and so perilous. This is one class of temptationa ; The apostle speaks of ;V the fiery darts of the wicked one. They barn, they torture, they often slay. There is another class of , tempta tions, so seductive, that they act on the spiritual system ; like a glow, but deadly poison, or rather like that deceptive dis ease, which waste the. vital energies, while the hectic .flush, mistaken for the rosy hne of health, is on the cheek; and the eyes are bright as if the tool looked out joyous from the house in which it loved and meantiong to dwell. We pray in this petition that we may be kept from Influences so Insiduous and so deadly. We also pray that In every temptation which God nermits to assail . he will grant ns strength to overcome. TLe -promise, which answers to this petition. ' and explains It, is, " God is faithful who will not suffer yon to be tempted above ' that ye are able, but will with the tempta- i tion make also the way of escape tfiat ye may be able to endure it." Such is the petition: We can see abun dant reasons for offering it. j 1. The power of temptation; All history nd experience bear witness to its power. Among all the generations of our race there $ has been but one person, tbe man Christ Jesus, who has not sometime, many times ' In his life, ' succumbed to it. Strong men heroes in the faith, like Noah, and Abra ham, and Moses, and David, and Elijah, , knd Peter, have fallen before it, and though . they have risen again, vet thev hava bom : still tbe scars and the disgrace of their fall. ' Consider f 2. The consequences of yielding to temp- tation. No one can foretell or foresee them OIK as they reaehon into the eternal fntorev " How often! has a yonng man been rained for this world and the next by one false step." He thus started on tbe slippery, down-hill" path to perdition, and dragged others down with him. All tbe sin and the misery which) lure or ever will be in this world, or in any pther, are the result of yielding to tempta- tion. It is not Indeed certain that the man" who falls to day Is forever fallen; through the graee of God he may rise, and be saved, . but it is a terrible experiment which he is ' trying, and even If he should reach heaven 6t last, others who have witnessed and felt tie Inflaenee of his fall, may be lost beyond ' Irecovery. ; . - . . ... . ,: I 3. . God's willingness and power to help the tempted. Temptation Is strong, bat God Is stronger. Yoa need an almighty Helper, and yoa have one, always at band, l always mighty to save. The weakest child, I with God to help him, Is stronger than all the combined temptations wnioh the world, and the flesh, and the devil can bring against him: Pray for God's help, and he will give it, and yoa will be safe, bat never safe without his help, and yoa have no reason to expect that help unless yoa ask -for It I Consider' again what the sacred writer" says of oar Saviour. "In that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he Is able ' also to succor them that are temnted . We have not a high priest that cannot be : touched with the feelings of bur Infirmities, ' bnt one that hath been in all points temp ted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need." : If we oiler this petition sincerely, we shall be careful to avoid scenes of temptation. Into which Providence and doty do not call us. There are temptations which we cannot avoid. They lie In the path of duty. lUMo we luuai doc tj to avoia Dut over come, i Bat there are others to which many expose themselves in the pursuit of worldly pleasure or profit; and when they do thia they tempt God, and forfeit the protection ior which they pray, when they say lead " us not into temptation." An old legend telle us that a damsel was to be possessed of the devil, and when the bishop commanded the unclean spirit to come oat of her, he replied, " I will not, she Is my lawful prize, I found her in my own territory, not In the church, but in the theater." ' , f j "Watch and pray," says our Lord, "that ye enter not Into temptation.!' Watch as well as pray. We are passing through the country of enemies from whom we are try- ing to escape. How watchful is a man who Is thus fleeing t How carefully does he scan every object he passes and every person he meets, lest he fail into the hands of his foes. So long as he remains in that country his eyes are open, looking before him and on every side. So must the Christian watch. ' "Lead a not Into temptation." All our brethren who are in the world are in peril like ourselves.; Some of them perhaps in much more peril than we. Let us bear them on our hearts, those whose homes are places of fierce temptation which they can not escape, those who in the business which they must pursue are Surrounded by com panions who try to entice, or to laugh, or to frighten into sin, those who are endeavor ing to break the power of evil habits long Indulged. How careful, too must we be not to lead others into temptation by our conduet or our words. Oar thoughtless indulgence, our rash or careless words may start downwards towards the abyss of evil some Of those whom oar prayer pledges us to guard, so far aa we can, against temp tation. ; ;,, iv;!i . One thought more. . Posaihlv ih atJ polntments of our life are the answer to oar 4aUyPet?tIon uIad oi not Into tern uta- aon:" " onr plans had saeeeeded, we "V1?1 havebeen pufEed np with the pride n juuu Kueui uuon aeeiruction, or entang led beyond escape In the net of worldliness, or led npon enchanted ground, when we should have slept the sleep of death. We were praying for disappointment when we said, Lead ns not into temptation," and God in mercy answered our prayer. Chris tian Secretary. A Christian may enjoy a calm and Inward! peace, while he sustains the storms of out ward trouble. If he enjoys the former he may expect the latter: if he suffer the latter he may expect the former. There Is no spring without its fall; no summer without its winter. Seeker. ' -
The Biblical Recorder (Raleigh, N.C.)
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May 8, 1889, edition 1
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