Newspapers / North Carolina Christian Advocate … / Oct. 30, 1878, edition 1 / Page 1
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i ti:iois. T!i-Ohrintiax Akv.vatk 1'urnioliH.I to KnLscri- a . . .. . . tier-a- f i per annum m advanc-. If payment be in'iynl .is nionllH, fj !3o; one ropy, six months. $1 J.".. $1.'.'0 1.7 I ;lub ratks. f wanty-A re fopies, coe year, iob paid, fifty copies, one jeer, poet ai.l, OURA?Krs. ; All tne traieung analog., preachers In the bounds jl the North Carolina Confer, .ire are onr authorised ,:gints. Any person sending us ton aubsrribers. tor I f yrar. will rerlTe th. paper frr. KFY. .1. B. BOBBITT, I). I)., Cditor and TruLisHEn. Tho Faith once delivered to the Saints REV. II. T. HUDSON, c okhhspoxdix,; KToR- published in tlic gntfw$te of gLmtom in Jtortfc Carolina. Vol. XXI I I. ol W l.osr. Raleigli, 3ST. G, Wednesday, Oct 30th, 1878. She tihrfe&it aaroratr." Office Cou. Dawson te Harcktt St rates or advertising: BfAl K. 1 8)uare, 2 Square. 3 Squares. 4 Squares, Col'niii j Col'niii 1 Column 1Wkek.i1 Mux , 3 Mom, ,6 afeHs.il Teab f 1 00 a oo' a 00; 4 001 6 001 9 00 IS 00 $3 00 6 00H 1 00 00 12 SO, SO 00 S3 OO,, $ 7 00 13 Ooj 18 00' 00; M 00 : 60 06' 7 00 is oo, fjomi 3000 M 08 SO Owl 4 Of 00 60 St SOOtM T( CM 700 140 0 140 Mj M0 Mi' as long as man has a soul. passage m John, (Minted ' mey nevor quite leave us, our ftien.ls who have p ii!eil Tlir iixh the shadows of d,.th to the sunlight afove. iA ho.iKan.l s.ie.t memories are li.il.il . n,.., he plat-love. h.v Messed with their presnce and nant and scoffing Jews to tin- man born ii:.. i ...l i . . .i . i i . mum, tmse signi t. nrist n;nt recently . ... i . i . - icsu.icu. icriainiv we an- lint driven ... .1. .... . . 1 . , in tne necessity i taking tins passage to support any doctrine ! It is proof like t!n that makes infidels chu -hie. If hi... sine wor allien they lift and books which thev r.i. etill wlt'i an elopm-ce l.ey sun j. the dear wor.ls fip'.li mutely, though s 1 rare. ?A d the sons thiit ;l.ev 4 that the sanl. i'et li ger au i si h in the desolate air I jfr.n 1 oil when abue, anl a oft in th ihroug, '"4 v.i.u rvii at ures .is or sin draw? h u!j;b, A vbiritf comes treu ly. N;i, lo not the wrong.' jAntl we f'oel tbat our i c. kut-- pi teii on higi.. n tiiH -tcw-tiii-frt It-1 nuM uaua f ht u;u)ine t?ve. V lirii tli' i-UiMrn are merry, or rrniisuue 1 with -rt coin fort t J, even as lone y w j;rieTe, Fir the thought ! Uieir rapture rorbitU ut to e r.il a tuir t ists iu the biirdeu ail heat tJ H ei ia -tiou:U- noon. They are fohled in peat-o It i- we 1 W- r-i-irt that i eir Leaven is swtet. An i one lay lor n all tfie t-et t r wil cease. We tt' .-. ill ;o iioiue -"er llie n vt r f rest, A '.lie fr.:.;i ilit lvoly t -iurt n have gone, O'ir ; will ti-jwu :a the hatiti:nl wet. To r e lu t;;e tri-ry thit .ucl-s the throne ir, "Current col- Una If -.-a w are boanJ by our love and eur fai:h r To tKe a:us u ho are walking in p.ir t fair, Th y hw ji.tji t ul-vouJ sight at t-m touching f I deith, li.t :hey live hk- irelre, in God's iuQnite care r ' i 31 iryrnt F. Sunjitr. ' i; : & o m m it n i c a t r d . I'm- the Advocate. Mi;.l,i'ONlilTiON OKC1UL- iv i;kvii:wi;i; r.Kvir.u ki. v When I wrnte on the mural statn of fchU Ircii a slud't timeairi-, I did nnt have j.the .i! n a:iee t i'iviime tliat everv ibodv u.iuld imsiiciiatc v tliink as I do t and finhrace the ni.ini.iii which 1 en unei:ited. I linjed t elicit thought, and did imt depreciate discussion. tin the contrary, I doired it hoping there- le I clow enmtwM-t ii-I(V. lw l.f.,-.. .r I ..( .-. 1 l i. . i i , I in mo ui"iil OI n.n 'II (I lonn 1IUW l() llll( ClSr.TlK Kill' I .111 Iy l.ro. Lee, I Saniuol who wan riron to and acceiitcd bv I awsertinii ! It umaeks Kl.art.1r nf ITt .1 : , i.... ,! " I i -J n! mr (iiiivninvu laiiLruaLfe oi iniiie--I limi hoi, i. "t. .1.. t ,,.i o 1 I mi .... i- 1 .- I ... al. KII6.T lit' JJUlll I irtl I I'ltl II .Mil . II 11(11 l.tlflli llllll t fnP i..... T If . r . ii l.i i ......... ,. ii uiiMiiiH are iiu-ajiame i iner .-unng turn inm; as 1 .sui.nose it from want of knowledge of heing renew- j unnecessary to the doing of him justice, 't ami eiiterinsr tins irraeo thev are I w nc h. as an lioni.tt ......I.-..,- .,fi.,. i i. ' i v" it...... n mere ciplier. Does Christ treat them I 1 shall trj- to do as such ? Does lie sav. "of lmthiinr is I I'll urraiit that ul.:.t I ..... kiiigdnm of lieaven ? When he I to write is imt argument it is this- I ir ii...i..rt ...... .1. i. ... !.... 1... 1 . , . . , I . u o. ......... ,.,, , says, -except ye be converted and be- I do much reirret that n.v 1-11.1. . I - I C - -J v.v.... .......... nxe.i ny tne .lews : that In blindness em.ie as little childien," !, he mean holds ucl, a position. ot that I hav u.isu.e peuaiu i,- n,s ,ience in a that we are to l.ecotno nothing? Is any ilesire, more than he. to make out 1 " 4 p 'iicii h i;irgi percent 01 tne miman lanniy the tlonr little mnocents a bi" parcol of K,.tl. ..-1. ..1. ...... .1. ...:..i .... t m . . 'in I ...... "I oi ....... .1 .1... ..CIIICU IM V II1ISI. I lie I : l.l..r.. . ....I... w ... Hi. t. . .......... F I 1 t . . i ............... j ninccieiv none I ... . . . I w . . . i snail close ut asking JSro. Kee a I I do misunderstand Urn. Y. Wasn't few (iiiestions. I it written, mv l.iv.tl,. I , ... . I. Is the child at his bo th embraced I amo ? ....i-.nniieiiieiii, ana is no born under Mirely, .r Ivlitor, l!ro. V. would tne agency of the spirit. ? not have us infer from such a position . .. . - I A lias lie a in i if t J f so, is he not a I that he does not believe that inf;. c. . ..!.: . i i i ,1 .... . . ... Ill nun CCI in lie aci(il II II. Ill 11' I III' 1 Ml., la l,.i i,. ,-, I ;,.r..l .1 Mlll'lt 111 lllS(dl:irirni.r ti .-.M1....W I . .... K . . . . 4t... 1 .' 1-1 , i . i"".' "S io mi; ia oi HKe Iiro.lllCCs Is he depraved? If. so, dnes he like; like cause, like effect, proclaimed not ucca the application ol the atone- by the fJreat Teacher to Xieodeinus (leaanos. .-mil l incnl to fit in.. ...iI.a.- f, ,. 1. 1.. .... .U...1. I ri.... ...1-..1. :. 1 r ,1 .... ' 1 1 .v.. ... ... v.ol.i . 1 1 i 11 1111 11 is nni 11 oi .11.. n.iv . ... 4. f ... ins 1 f,.r i.;..l-;..., .,1.- I H. I. " t... I.. -1 e . , ' .j, "" 1 n'. -is is sain 01 .Adam. stance; and that depraved, and in the J first man, alter he had lived a hundred siirlit nl the law I.o is n sim....- tl.... k I o...l 1... 1 . ...i - , 1 ...... nil... it.u, ne ueiai a son in ius- hea eiiihnr ? Ln-n IIL.nwc .. it.. ; - ,......a... ......it. ...i. .....1 1 1 'i' i I : .... r 1 ... 1 1 . .. . iMi.iu.1,1,. ."s mi mi M-eii nuniireii years Ioipt . 1 1 1 1 wni.isDnr.., tict. L'Uth, is,.s. thu begetting sons and dau-hters not onlv hitman, but depraved beings im, w uiioiu i no renewing grace ot Hun. r.oiiiiiTT: I have read, more than j ;od, would never be holy, but would ........ ... 1 r . - r - . I , ..... .tiieuuveiy jro. 1 ates on "inlant live and die in sin; so mav it lit. said of Salvation, No. 1 and No. '. I highly .til after Adam, clean down to tin esteem him as a man of moral and in- miiriding of the death-knell of ti'mi leneciuai woitn. lleiiee, I never Jail lint 1 anticipate Uro. V -. Ii.r,.,Ms . .1 I . ' -...1. .at.- ilie result ol to read with more or less interest and have the renewing grace of (.mi profit any contribution in the paper therefore, what ? They are not having his signature. runt! Or. to If I may he allowed to say it I rc- j "Christ hav posterity till ing a term of probation." the t.i-i.i ,.f Advertisement! will be chaatedMee avarr tk. mosths without adalUoaal chare.. Far r. u.. or change there will be an extra eharaa of t..,i. ojutsaninch. Twenty Are per cent, is added te .u. aoove ratts for aetial notices in th. Local eol iimn Terms, rash in ...... 1 -greed upon. The abov, T V. es'ar. r"..7 U.V those of anr ntli.r r...... 1. n.-. P' ehatarter and circulation. other passage from IVter does imt refer to rative depravity; but, referring to that deep state of corruption in which the gentile world was reeking: viz aseivioiisness, lusts, excess of wine, revelling, baiiouetmgs, and nbnuiiuable idolatries," (1st l'ct. 4: o) he says they have "escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" ( 2nd Pet. 1:4.1 I'lie nt her passages ipioted are dis.-rij tinns of the blindness fleshly lnin.lediiess id ,s' tune '".. imt chil dren. To be in any of these states ac cording to the Scripture implies roUion- and wtii.il S'ti. llow docs a man die ? lames answers this ipiestion (.lames 1: 14. lii. He is drawn away by his own lust (desire) and enticed. When tl fite hath conceived it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished, hrimjeth forth ih:uth." Paul savs fKuh. '2: I. L(. "von uath he (piickened trhn icere dead it i trespasses and si tin," wherein ye walk ed," etc. Their r.tate of death wa 1 1 r. 1 -i 1 .... liaoiuiai wicKciness. j be man is con demned who is guilt of sin which, ac cording ilr. Wesley, is the voluntary (Fnn.. . r 1... i ., t i. .iuii.-.s.sioii in a Known law. 111 a state of condemnation, he is dead so far 1 a Heart unto ri..'lit..oi.si.cs .... "the only rule, and the sufficient rule, both of our faith and practice." Now, if any one can .see how infant justification deliverance from the pen alty of ( iod's law, and infant rci'ii- cratimi, as defined, are any more in compatible with the 7th article of our r 1 - . ... isengion 01 original ur i.ntli sin." than adult, justification and regeneration are, 1 simply have to say, it is more than I have yet been able to do. It strikes me that one has not read the epistles of St. Paul inidersf andiiigl v who will say the said article is not con sistent with the jiistiJicatinii and re gi:ni;..iii,ii i.f .ii'.ili.s; :r.iA, l'.,t ;, "ub stanf ially similar reason, nl' infants ,-ilsn. I II not ipiote it; nor have 1 large. No mie ol For the Advocate. FACTS A( JAIN ST TIIF.ORV. II Y space to cu ll t; Who desires to know what the iNIelhodist Churcli holds and teaelu 011 uie subject ol "Original Sin." need go no fui '.her than to her hand-book of discipline, where it is delined. in the seventh article of our religion, as fol lows : "Original or birth sin is the corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the off spring of Adam ; whereby man is very far gone Irons original righteousness, and of his own nature inclined to evil, and that continually." T.. .1 ! I .... xit t ins iieunii ion then For the Advocate. icts d 1 arrive at what I regard as near ruth than is taught in ur standard My act 111 giving expression of the tact that in the category or . very change And yet, the m ot .Mr. Y. cv's character in a 1 l Er- 1! J"U 0. Lol'B. K the t iheb'ogy ItoBivown views wa stimulated in part ie coiisciousti are many others kvitl myself, not satisfied with lornicr 1ie "ii this subject, I ut ardently wisli tig for something nmre consistent with bUMiioii -elt.se and tin: Scripture. And s JL.o not believe in '.'ipal.oi any other pam;iu iiif'aliibility. I did imt .suppi.se, oril" I in. w that 1 v;is -uiliv of sin gaili-i tie- uiaiies i "in sainted theo gital aiice-trv, because 1 called in tlie8tioii sum.; o their views, f I CnvM imt bliieliy t'n!..vy Mr. W.-sIey, becatl-e he tli.i Imt adhere to 1. lie set nt .ie;. jpinioii-; and oi coin-.' I might not be eaily rand large in. i-ure was, thai he was not joverie'tl by instinct, but was ready to ' c ;hanj:e iiis opiiimiisy.wvy.as.-i.! with an nerei-e light. j I..iil.l imt blindly follow .Mr. Wat pn; f..r lie, in his Institutes, teaches laptlMiia! regeneration which J do not telieve. 1 cannot implicitly follow Mr. lalstoii; for he teaches birth sin and . liat the child is guilty, than which y. lothiiig can be more unreasonable. JeitD'T can I follow J!ro. Lee; for lie eems to have no settled opinieii upon ' he subject . In searching for the truth pou this subject, I have turned from heso uncertain oracles to the "oracles . ds," Brtt. Lee begins his article in a vein ...r. j ridicule (though he disclaims it, and grai.t hint the benefit of his disclaiin f) just as everv pleader does, who i nci "Us of a bad cause, lie inti (ate that I'.ros. Andeisoii, Thomas, TrJ id Bivself are building upon a movable isis that we are in an "inextricable tigfe without seeming to know it" , ( if t0ur trouble results from consider g only one side of the subject that t ak- thus led to a "ridiculous atti ideJ!' .Vnd vet he neither refers to our gamt-iit nor the prooi. jllig argunieiit is good in its place, hut 5 IS TV. lie.iriifr wlmtever ut.ntl th( Stlb- Ct Biider discussion. 1 1e first attempts j prove native depravity w hich in a lODS-asonjj,. sense, has never been denied; nfi.ioiii id that the nature mn-t be changed, a 'r" Ictruie specially insisted iqioii bv my- if. ; jln discussing the first iropositioii, he -nT TPelat,-" t1'10 "am error that has enn jj,antlv been rejierated for years : aket no distinction between native o'd,,5t'V and corruption by actual -t. I be eci;Maa hecoines coiiujit Ly sowing to jtsh. "He that soireth to thejiesh, ' ul ti,;iall of the flesh reap corruption." ivu&l. 6: He ijuotes several jiastsages jrjjTjT Scry ture to prove native dejiravity, Vy a single one ol w hich is applicable a proof text; aib.ers.aic as foil d,!e,d 34; 2nd P. t. 1:4. The passage in Stt. m nmre proves native depravity at tie eoiuplexioii of Seth was light Q1?dark, that he was grave or gay; in lectaul or stupid. The tiopular ex- V. iitio of this passage is based upon assjniptmn that Adam liad lost the pate" 'te3 fcf 1 ;..d, which is no where assert- i Scripture, mid which is impossi- and are not cor- iise his own words, ing lil'tod the lK.ll.nltlr r.f ir . . 1 . r 1 . . - j ...w.i .unu.i as soiiiewuat 01 a com- Adam's sin from al his pliant "homo genus," as with my b" a,e concerned, "io nrst article, a lew weeks ago, touching infancy the irresponsible term, I take .... ....... i uncus, .eaiu. ins re- i ne moral status ol inlants. It .s ,i, tll 1IM tl.r,.f,.. il , f..-,- ...,1. in.. ,; . ..... . ... ... . , ... ' ""- a,v "l v. wi.. .ne.i nuimn uisposuioii. written at the special request ol a broth- nipt. - '"." - -.i..... ui.i.iicu, .inn h nose intellect 1 mo i...i. ntt 1-..11 n 11 .1.. It. . C .1 - il 1 . - I . . - I t -"'F n J'. J ., nil" 111 , e uuny ot me iiesn. .-pintual i tte as much above the ordinary; ho to be able to furnish us a correct nral uiiiiuuess is tne result 01 perststftit re- with this, i write at the -lit 7 7-. is - 7,f l;i,-'M",,uw,,"mi,,are. .va Pmt. I prefer.-, bitten one through ; ' ' 7 ' - 'J e.iineu 10 uaniuy iove, ami wnose in- I the Advocate. 1'Iea.- 1 lie gospel is "hid because they "be lieve not." der. thai.. 13: 23 refers se seat yourself on .11. ... . .1 t teiiect, as a whole, is necond to none 111 vour editorial tripod and. with the full X" 1 ,0 ..r t 1 1.1c. i.oiiieience. 00 you j.er- soul ol a deeply set purpose, address eeive, as, in the language of another, I yourself to the rendering of such a de- have an inclination toward tenmt.it L , . "" ......... UU 1L iui iiisu vour esjiecinlly temptation from such sour- many readers; confident, as I am, that ces, owing to the "tilt ot original sm. v.mr head is level nn fl.w ..;.,f 'i3""""r. - n. inn .. ....j 11 11 nni, 1101 write 1 must. 1 is to s because they have any bearing upnn the Uro subject ol the moral status of children to this state of moral inability as the re sult of habitual sin : "Then may ye al so do good who are accustomed to do ecil. I have referred to these passages y you are on .-.m.. Yates, 1 am very well satisfied, I Poo. Yates and I, and, far more than strictly observes that good motto which all, (tod's blessed word, are perfectlv but to try to liberate Uro. Lee from his I claim to observe inyHelf "Think and agreed that infants are the saved stib "ine.xtricable tangle," and assist him to let think." HitTering with me, as he iects of that grace "which bringeth sal- ;o-i -w a t r rn viz : i s. oi. .). 1 nc ows : in en. o: -y, .loiin listinguish between that which is in flate and that which is the result of habits of choice. I agree with Uro. Lee as to the character of a sinner, rind the necessity for and character of regen eration; but that is not discussing the condition of children at all. 1 wish to point out the heterogeneniisiiess and in validity of some ofl'.io. Lee's arguments, by stating them in the form nf distinct propositions. And then 1 shall ask l.ro. Lee to "untangle" hi.s web and weave it. into a consistent theological system. 1. All children born according to na ture arc depraved. li. "Infants do not need regenerating grace in this life." 3. "All are saved bv faith; all who arc incapable of faith are incapable of regeneration." 4. "If infants are in a regenerate state they might as well not be; for they are without a knowledge of the fact." 5. "Infants are incapable of entering into this grace wherein we stand. I have selected these propositions lrom different parts ofl.ro. L.'s article. They appear there an if lie regarded them of subordinate importance, and yet they are the only parts of it that touch the subject. If infants are depraved and embraced in that terribly obnoxious class describ ed in the first part of the article, and nothing unclean can enter lieaven or be lit for Divine communion on earth, then the necessity for their regeneration lies both in their own moral condition and Divine 2erfcctions. Then they need regeneration. Hence jii-oiio-sitioii (U) cannot be true. It is at variance with the first proposition. I f'aZ are saved by faith, and all who are incapable of faith or in capabel of regeneration" and Christ says, "Lxcept ye be born of water and of the ppii it ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven" what becomes of idiots and infants who are "incapable of faith?" Our instinctive notions of justice revolt at proposition (3rd.) Arc regeneration and a knowledge of the fact the same, or so intimately can nected that one cannot take place with' out the other, or would be no advantage without the other ? If the teaching of Christ concerning regeneration means any thing, it is that the foimtain must be purified, not the stream. If the mind of the child is not sufficiently developed that the stream of rational conduct has begun to flow, yet he has a fountain that needs purification, so that when it does flow, the water shall be sweet and pure whether the child is con scions of the iJivine work or not. Bro. Leeniakes the benefits regeneration de pend tipqn the subjects cognizance of the fact, l.othinthe infant and adult, the fact must jrtctde a knowledge of the fact. It seems a bold and gratui tous assumption to say the person derives no profit from such an inward change unless he knows all about what that inward change means. How docs this I may peihaps, therelore, t believe he will, nevertheless, allow me to say that he Iris shown himself more a master of the situation in his handling of the Hev. Dr. Pritchard than he has of Infant Salvation. He will please give me per mission, herewith, to move (without a doubt that I shall have a second to the .- . r . 1 1 . i- . nioi mr. 1, a vote 01 tnaiiKs 10 nun ior the decidedly becoming way and manner in which he has dispersed of that cler ical brother for his manifestly unchris tian article. i minister 01 the gospel, who can suffer himself to make such ungrac; and unprovoked flings at other branches of Christ's Church as Dr. P. has made, I must say, iu all plainness, yet in all affection, has quite a strange notion of christian propriety and brotherly kind ness; and stands in need of such broth erly correction as Uro. Yates has so wisely administered; which, it is to be hoped, may "bring forth fruits meet for" a true "repentance." A little surprising is it, to say the least, that a minister of sense, as Dr. Pritchard is, does not see, and seeieg, desist from, what is so jialpably evi dent, that he is only subserving satan's cause and not Christ's, in making these disparaging reflections toward otlu or denominations. In the words of Uro. Yates "If therp is anything I do cordially hate, it is this wicked denominational strife." May God speed the day of its end, and that of a general complete exemplifica tion of "Uehold, how good and low pleasant it is for brethren to dwoll to gether in unity." To which lot every lover of Jesus, and, therefore, of peace and harmony, say a hearty amen. And now, my brethren, indulge me, if you please, a short while touching Urs. Y.'s Infant Salvation Jos. 1 and '2. To nn Jortako anything like a Aill notice of thern would require a much more lengthy communication than I am disposed to go into. Ueginning with the 3d paragrai'h of his No. '1, I understand him to say that Adam's offspring havo not inherit ted received by birth from him a corrupt nature; but merely the tendency to a corrupt nature. 1 timiK this is a correct statement of his position. That I do so represent him (correctly) may he seen at the beginning of the second paragraph of No. . "Uut some man will say What about its (the infant's) original sin '? How can it go to heaven with its corrupt nature ? The answer is that it has no corntjtt nqlure. There is no passage of Scripture which, faken in harmony w-itlj th,e spopc and tenor pf tlo Uib,lc, teaches any such doctrine." W hat ! The doctrine that an infant child of Adam's fallen raco has not a oorrapt, that is, a fallen, de praved, perverted nature ? If this is meant, I feel like siying Spirits of Job, David, Isaiah, Paul, Wesley, Fletcher, hear it ! I am amazed I vation and which Jiath appeared to all men. Uut I must say that the Bible, set ting aside myself, makes issue with him respecting the therefore. "Uut then," asks he for the objector, "did not the child bring something evil from Adam ?" He answers, "That something, as the result of evil, has come front Adam, but the child did not bring it." Ue it granted, as justice and truth require. Uut the child inherited it, according to the law above stated, which law runs throughout the spirit ual, as well as natural, universe of iM. Hence, says David, "Uehold I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive mo." Asks Job, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean ? not one." Properly ex plained, "No one differs in natural moral character from his parents; but as are the parents, so are the children, naturally depraved and spiritually un clean." For this reason the necessity of the iufant'it being regenerated, or birn again, in order to its being fitted for the kingdom of lieaven; which bless- e 1 work, 1 must believe, is done in it by the Spirit of God, in virtue of the atonement of Christ, without those processes of thought, purpose, voli- a; . 99 tT. T 17 , ion, 01 which b.i-Q. 1. speaks as so properly applicable to an adult; but, of course, not to an infant. The Uiblo, interpreted iu the light of common sense, ot simple truth, says that an infant s moral nature is fallow depraved, oorrujit, totally, and must be renewed, regenerated, (re-generarc) changed from a natural to a spiritual state," to fit it for the kingdom of hea vcu a pure, sinless abode. Why may not the Spirit of God pro duce such a change in an infant ? What objection I challenge any one to show m one uaviiig any ioundation in truth, can be urged, or assigned against it. It clearly seems to me that w'e must believe this, or what amounts to just the same, to aoeept the declaration of our Lord, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven," that is, present heirs of heaven, being purified through the blood of Christ, applied by the eternal Spirit, I'll not stickle about a mere term; it is the glorious thing signi fied for which, in good faith, I con tend. Wrhat God docs for us, and in us that is, the work of justification and of regeneration, upon specific conditions repentance and faith complied with by an adult; but without regard to .hose conditions, ot course, respecting an infant, is purely passive, i. e unre sisted, in both cases. As I said in my previous contribu tion, I endorse-, without the slightest mental reservation, the 7th and all the rest of the articles of our Ileligion; not because my church reqirres me to do so, but because I consider myself required to do so by the Bible, which I accept, j mie 01 ordinary can.-iciti- with an unprejudiced spirit, can, 1 aj pieneiid, read .Mr. W esley s I w sermons "On sin in believers," ami "The re pentanee ol believers, without being convince.' as to this point respecting adults, that thev have sin iu them, but it does not maintain usurpation of their neans; me carnal niiii.l to contend against, but iu the strength of God's al mighty grace, they have the mastery i'r ( I,.. .1 I AT.. l- 1 .1. mi, .,. ttesiev s sermon "On sin in believers," he says, "The . :., : . .i . ....... n.. t .-o.yi.s .leuiioiic.i. lie remains i'...l...l .. !..., ! : 1 . ."...-. .!.,. .. in. o.ii-i' iuigii;.i, him re mains in chains. So that he does, iu some sense, 'prosecute 1 he war,' vet he grows weaker and weaker; while the believer goes on from strength to strength, conquering and to conquer." And in the same sermon "The sunt qf all is this: There are in every person, even after he is justified" and lie can not be justified without being regenera ted "two contrary urincioles 1. and grace, termed by St. Pat) the flesh and the spirit. Hence, although even babes in Christ are .sa notified, yet it is only in part. Iu a degree, according to the measure of their faith, they are spiritual; yet, 111 a degree, they are car- ,...1 A .II !.. 11; ...... .ivuui.uiigiv, iiciiovcrs are con tinually exhorted to watch against th tlesh, as well as the world and the devil. And to this agree the constant cxperi enee of the children of God. Whil. they feel this witness in themselves, f.. (- f a l III ...jl ill. wily the will of God. They know they are in Him ; and yet tjnd ; heart ready to depart front Ilim, a prone uran in 11, 111 iiiaiij instances, and a backwardness to that which is good. The contrary doctrine is wholly new; never heard of in the Church of Christ, from the time nf His coming iiittj the world, till the lime of Count Zinzen dnrf; and it is attended with the most fatal consequences. It cuts off all watching against ourevil nature, against the Delilah which we are told is gone, though she is still lying in our bosom. It tears away the shield of weak bo lievers, deprives them of their faith, and so leayes tbeni exposed to all the assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil. ''The forcible pertinency -of this some what, lengthy extract fully justifies the quoting of it, TI10 point 1 wish to make is this, as stated, that an infant may he justified, regenerated, and still have a corrupt, depraved, sinful nature, as ttulv so as an adult; still have the carnal mind in it. An important point of difference be tween an adult believer and a regenerat ed infant is plainly this, and truly too : The former cannot, as a believer; can not, and retain a sense of his accejit atic with God, commit sin, that is, knowingly and willfully violate (toil's law. The latter is not capahle of com mitting sin, as thus poperly defined. Both may transgress Divine law, owing to a fallen, perverted, ("tilled,") na ture; but neither can sin, as explained above. It is needless to enlarge. I hero is a very important distinction, not to bo lost sight of by us, to which M. Wesley frequently calls attention in his sermons and writings. It is this-, "all sin is a transgression of (iod's law, but all transgression of God's law is not sin." A little reflection on the part of an ordinary mind will frilly justify the corrootnosis., the propriety of such a distinction. The adult believer may transgress, but the adult believer, can not, or, if you please, will not, sin; it will not be his wile to do so. The re generated infant may transgress; but cannot sin, is not capable of sinning. One more short article, and I'll let Uro. Y. alone, or get Uro. Bagwell after him M. C. Thomas. Lexington. N. O. Oct. 12th, 187. is 110 am biguity. The ease is us clejn- ..s gunge can make il. It is useless here to dispute the propriety of its nominal definition. Call it by what name w pieier. me lad is before us; to be admitted or rejected, according to the churches definition, To go bevom !... I., I....:. ... . . .. ... i..u ijwihi.hii'ioo i. uiai uetinitioii is to destroy all logical precision. The Mctliodist Church acepls the fact. 1 is the central truth 1.1 her theologi in nci caieciiisms. Her hymns, in tlc. training of her children. To deny the fact or to explain it away is hostile to Methodist unity. there is another fact about which -Methodist are as. one, iii.melv, tJie duty 01 ptii-ents to bring their childien to the min ster to be baptized bv him ind to bring them up in the nurture md admonition of the Lord. Every Methodist ought to regard this course is imperative : for it h in,pltot in the very act of hi inging their children in to the covenant of redeinnf ion. Pn- ents are thus made the sponsors of their children, and assume the respon sibility of their religious training. From several communications which. from time to time, have appeared in the Atlrocale, the Organ of the X. C. Conference, il is very evident that, in the minds of several members of the Conference, there is an incongriiitv between these two facts w hich neither lYesley nor Watson nor Fletcher lias been able to remove, They ha , e come to the conclusion that "Original Sin" is "a horrible nightmare,'' resting 011 the world vand of course resling on theM.E, Church," They come for ward witli no small degree of conli deuce to relieve the church of thi heresy. Heiceuniv ii,o mil nutt explicit defiiiiiiou uv our church, they adopt the definition of St. Augustin, which is quite a different thing, or they im aginc that our church did not rightly understand what the church has so clearly defined. In tho definition found in thfi aoyeiilh of her articles of i i liitm, there is not wrapped up any Number 42. "IS IT WFLL WITH THEE ?" r'I...c.i ci.,.l.i ... 1 .. C T.i I .,ric wonts oi r.iiMia h mes sage to the Shnnamite in her sorrow may excite no special interest or notice of themselves. Uut many a hearer with a tender conscience, receiving them from God, through the mouth of his servant has known how searching and how broad a meaning they can beat, A remarkable episode in a public re ligious service onco occured while minister was preaching from that brief -sus preach. Did he not send awar text Jit ia l.'ffl.. ..1 1. - ... I .!..... I . . . . ' &tirtHr . f .. . t "l a o1 uwm-0?u4vui uruErimrui. TJIE PKODIGAL SON. OctoborM.lSTS: Lnka z. ll-M. A. D. SI. Gomikx Text "I am poor and nee dy yet the Lord thinkelh upon me." Ps. xl. 17. Gknkhai. Torn:. The Penitent'- In ception. A great manv sinnet-u cum t.. 1.... . ........ ... urni text, at a little church in Yorkshire. i.ug.au.i, in the year 1831. The min ister was a good man, with no little gos pel power in his heart and manner: and he made it solemuly plain to the audi tory that the Savior was present, look ing nuo ineir thoughts with kind in quiry, ami testing the spirit of every one -is it wen with thoe? thee?" these wicked people ? Xo : he was wil ling to receive all ; he sent none away. He loved penitent sinners better tliHn self-rie-bleons Ph iriaecs; and lit, told the people some parables to show them His love to sinners. He said, A certain man had two sons; and the voiiiun r said to his father, Father givo'ine my portion of thy possessions." S0 the fa- Is it well ii-i'tt. I .1 i; . , . " .. . uicriiivitieii mi he liadbctweeii hU two I soils. A fell.- .1... ..... .1 . Suddenly an eveln,n.;. "J "-, me younger , , . " ,J,M,U " rrainerca all Jus money together, flO 111 Olle nf the iioi.r. .....1 .. 1 .... i I l . .. . . ' b w"-l " 1""' l U"J. twelve j (iiui ueiit ii way lrom his father and his ,.i, (J naa oeeu mtently listen- l"m''5 and took a journey into .1 nig, leu on ins Knees and began to weej .tint pray, a strange thrill ran through the congregation, and many rose to their foet. I he minister paused in his ser mon, and all attention was riveted on the kneeling hoy. Everybody knew lit tie Tommy, for he belonged to one of the oldest Yorkshire families.and his au- a lar country ; and there he wasted his rich. es in folly and w ickedness. When ho had spent all, there arose a jrreat fam ine in that land, and he began to be in want. So lie went and joined himself to a citizen in that country; and thi citizen sent him to the fields to feed swme. The foolish y ""rb" wviiu null una now no kind father to take cestors of Uarnsley had worn the arms him. no home to "7 ,1 " " of a baronet He was a bright, gifted love and eonifo; t him. lie wasso hun boy, now six years motherless, but car- '" that he was glad to cat the food lying in his heart the indelible iiupres- which the swine ate, for no man gave .inn. jvin- ii.pii i, I,,..,.,.. i think how wicked and foolish he l,.i 1 ii uceu, aim now tin -fateful to his kind father. He said to himself. -.Mvfii. titer's servants have plcntr of food to cat;there is enough anil to Mpare at iionie,and licrc I am perishing with bun ger. 1 will a rise ninl -.. r ...,. t r I ........ laiini . a nipuier man preaching at a moment w ill confess my w ickedness, and ask when, before men and angels, a young I hi m to forgive me. I w ill sav. Fati er. s un hist spoke its want, lhe whole 1 have sinned against heaven and bo- congregation at once assumed the atti-1 fore anil 1 am not w orthy to bo tude of devotion. Manv stroitf and I callutl iilY sol make mc as one of thino loving petitions went up to God for the cum .l I.... ......I....... l ....... in mould- s cany religious teachings. The honest Yorkshire peo ple felt too deeply themselves the effect of tho sermon, to misunderstand Tom my's emotion. They did not think he was ciazy. The minister did not. "Let us pray," he said, for he saw more need It lit: 11 NAMF IS CORNELIA. Old aunt Charlotte, is a very clever old colored woman, living in Caswell county, about three miles from Milton, and has in her possessions grown voung wlfite girl she ha raised from a babv. Aunt 'harlotte was formerly the slave of a Mr. Bennett ot Halifax, Ya. The girl's name is Cornelia, she knows no better than that tho old woman is her mother and considers her grown .sons her broth ers. Mie was on ven to the baptizing last Sunday by one of them. Aunt Charlotte is very particular with this girl and the people sav she has raised her as well as the circumstances would permit. But whose daughter she is the public are at a loss to decide.and old Charlotte won't tell. Uut there she is. Brother Mills to the front! Iiddsville. I'imes. idea of sin or guilt, or punishment. states a simple tact, and traces that fact to its remote origin to the lirst ein; and its immediate cause ia staied to be, that every man naturally is en gendered Of lhe offspring of Adam So far then as Methodist are concerned it is superfluous to affirm that infant cannot sin, that they are not guilty that they do not deserve God's w rath and damnation. Whoever inav have affirmed the positive of this, the M. E Church, South, has vehemently denied it. It is highly important, yea, essen tial, that iu discussing so grave a sub ject, w e start with a clear, analytical drjinilion of terms. We ought to find out what is the crystalization wo propose to resolve in to its constituent parts, or its more simple elements. When, therefore, we assay to discuss original sin, if we go beyond the limits of the definition found in the seventh article, we go on to the discussion of something else, and mis take brass for gold. The two facts are before us. Tho con iiption of human nature, and our duty to see that our children are baptized and brought up as Methodist christians. Tne facts are matters of divine revelation. They are both incomprehensible to our finite minds. WThen we have explained the first we may explain the last. But ia our explanation we must not destroy the facts to be explained. If we do so other churches will laugh at us. WThen God commanded Abraham to circum cise his son Isaac, ho gave him no rea son for the command. Abraham obeyed without inquiring as to the fitness of Isaac to be taken into covenant rela tion with God. There was doubtless proper reasons in the mind of Got Abraham might have speculated all his life and have been no wiser. It is (iod's command that our children should be baptized. How they are made proper subjects of his kingdom, he has not told us. Nor has he told us how they are made fit for lieaven. He has assured us, however, that they are fit for both kingdoms. We may speculate on the subject until wo are befogged, and bewildered, but we should not transfer our mental tliflicultie s to tho M. E. Church, South. IIOWTllLY'LL BE SEPARATED. A colored "brndder" thus spoke to the point recently in class meeting. He said: Breddren, when I was a boy I took a hatchet and went into de woods. When I found a tree dat was straight and solid, I didn't touch dat tree; but when I found one leaning a little and hollow inside; I soon had him down. So when the debbil goes after Christians, he don't touch dera dat stand straight and true, but dem dat lean a little and are hollow inside." Ox. Torchlight, little bov, whom, like Samuel. he ha. I a ailed in hi.s own i.vre. The scene was a strange one that sudden prayer-meeting in the middle of sermom-time. The prayers were answer ed, too. Tommy rose from his knees with a radiant face. Thenceforth the se.-n of m aiviiie-anoiiuiug wan on lum. hired servants. So l.enrnce o-' - to his f;i' ,VI18 n'M lather wil ling to rccicvc him? Yes: that kind father had long been waiting and look ing for him : for he loved him still : and when he saw his son coming to ward him, humble and full of sorrow, be did not send him away in anger; but, while lie was yet afar on", the fa ther ran to meet him, and fell on his For the next eight years he continued to neck, and kissed him. Then the son give increasing proofs of aOhristian spirit ocr.r''" to confess his wickedness, lie said, and Christian zeal, and rare ami happy " ,al"cr 1 lve sinned against lieaven fitness for winning souls. When very young, lie was licensed to preach. At the age of twenty he left his native land and came to the Tinted States. Since then he has not neglected the gift that is in him. The voice that so long and before thee : I am not worthy to bo called thy son." But the father liurdly waited to hear his son's confession : ho forgave him all directly, and called tho servants and said, "Bring here tho beet robe, and put it on him; and put :i ring on his band, and shoes on his feet; ago said to him, on the other side of the and bring the fatted calf and kill it, sea, "Is it well with thee?" has ever and let us cat and be merry; for this been gladly recognized, and "he has fol- M,u was dead, and is alive again ; lowed Jesus all the way." It led him to 1,0 was ,(JK ,UI1 ' found." So they bo- Long Island; it led him to Albaiiv; it to ,,e ,,1UI-,T led him down the Hudson again and " ,,sl ,locs ,,,,H I,Il'le mean ? The ,.,, ,. i r . . i. father is God : He is a kind father to im. very many whom his words first taught , . . ,, , . . ' iiii , , . but we have all been ungrateful chil- ine iiettxetiiy lesson, now Know It is I Ullgl! dreu to Him, as rebellious and disobe- 111 .. -.1. .1. m i , i e.i nun mem. io-..ay lew stand (liout as the yollngcl.80Il ,lc. parable. uiguei among tne American ministry, or W'e have gone away from our father. W'e have loved sin better than holinc, more honored of the Great Master, than Tommy, the Yorkshire boy now Dr. Thomas Armitage, of New York. f Watchman. PROPER USE OF TIME "Gather uri the fragments" of time "that nothing be lost." This can be addressed only to those who are employ ing the greater portion of their time in some earnest work. He who floats aim lessly and loosely in society, lias no and wasted much of our time in folly and sin. This is w hat all people do, till God's Holy Spirit changes their hearts. liiblc Jleadimjs. TIIF CORRLCT WAY. The Bible does not need defease no much as it needs proclamation. It de fends itself wherever it is known. Deep in every soul there dwells forever a wit ness to the truth, whose clear eye and fragments of time as related to a whole. stcaJy voice will see and respond to it It is all fragments. He himself is a wherever it is known. We do not fragment lying useless, and his whole need to implore men to believe the truth life requires to be recast. But whatever wc olly need that they shall appre- the great business of man be, however hend it, and then we may defy them to engrossing, there will always be some dcnY il- An(I t,iu the Bible, and eternal fragments of time that will remain; and truth, needs no other argument for its with most men these arc so considerable, support than itseif clearly preached. that the disposition made of them will lhcrc are defenders of tho truth who greatly modify tho results of life. The th'nk it otherwise. 1 hey treat the Bible secret of doing milch is to do a little w-eakly infant, which must be bol- at a time, and to persevere in doing it. J stered up and carefully sustained, lest Half an hour a day in the service of an ,l fall- And so they bring together earnest purpose has been sufficient for their learning and philosophy, their hu- acquisition of languages and writing of nian reasoning and research, which they books, and for laving the foundation of "sc as Proof to keep the Bible up, trenib. lasting fame. Even the minute frag a11 tlie while lest one of these should ments required for drawing his waxen I fail, and the truth, unsupported, sink to ends was employed bv Roger Sherman lts hurt. But the Bible disdains all in looking on his book before him; and I these appliances. It is no weakly ill- it was thus he became a sage and a sign- fant- II has more than a giant's strength er of the Declaration of Independence. and can not only stand unaided, but I ..... Let a professional maa, or any man, cau walk lorth alone, conquering and to when he starts in life, have side study, I conquer. be it history, or a language, or poetry, or any branch of natural history, geology, and let him give to it the his time, and iic will be surprised at his own acquisitions, lhe whole tone of lis thoughts and life will be elevated; the change of subject will be his .best recreation. And what is thus true in literature and science is more so in re ligion, and in all that relates to duty. There is no time too brief for ejaculatory . . . . , e prayer. hen the countenance oi .xe hemiah was sad for the desolations of Jerusalem, and the King asked hiin, What is thv request?" there was time between the question and the answer for im to pray to the "Ood ol lieaven A NEW HORSE-SHOE. An exchange says that in England they are adopting a horse -shoe made of cow-hide. It is composed of three thick nesses of cow-hide, compressed into a chemical preparation. It is claimed that it lasts longer, and weighs only one fourth as much as an ordinary shoe. It adheres so closely to the foot that neith er dust nor water can penetrate between the shoe and hoof. From the time a boy is eight years old until he is thirteen, he devotes two solid ijj hours every day of his life, to learning the objects of this world had been to how to make a new kind of noise. By the furnish opportunities for doing good, it I time he is thirteen years old, lie lias ac- ould hardly have been arranged better cumnlated noise enough to last him the than it is; and whoever has a heart set upon that, will have no need that any rest of his natural life, and use three fragments of time he mav gather up will kinds ot noises tne same lay, too. . Q3 lst Ma-k Hopkins. 1 hmUngton II "wkeye. i t
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 30, 1878, edition 1
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