For the Christian Sun.
THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH AND HER
MINISTERS.
Broth kr Hates. I here hand you the first
number of a series of views concerning the Primi
tive Church and her Ministers, whieh I have writ
ten out, as my infirmities in advanced life have
permitted. If you deem them worthy of it, you
are at liberty to publish them in the Sun. The
subjects referred to, are of very deep interest to
all jour readers; but whether that interest will
be impaired or enhanced by my manner of treat
ing them, remains to be seen.
It is agreed on all hands, that theqhurch of Christ
had her origin at Jerusalem, roofe than eighteen
hundred years ago, under the preaching of Christ
and his Apostles. At the beginning, her number
consisted of about one hundred and twenty souls.
But on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost fell
on the Apostles and fully qualified them for their
great work of preaching the Gospel with power
and success, saving souls from death, and planting
churches. Accordingly on that very day about
three thousand souls were converted under their
preaching, were baptized and added to the church,
and soon afterwards, on another day, five thousand
more: and so rapidly did the work of evangelising
the world, progress, in the face of the fiercest op
position that it overleaped the boundaries of Pal
estine, overspread Greece, Asia, Africa and the
whole Roman empire. One of the first astonish
ing movements, was, the planting of the seven
churches in Asia, and also in the principle cities,
everywhere, where Christ whs preached. All
these churches and their members; were but parts
of one whole—united church, knit together with
love, interest and effort having one communion
name, by which they were (known everywhere,
and acknowledging no other,'as their appropriate
distinctive appellation, to wit; Christian the name
doubtless, given by Divine appointment, as the
only proper one by which the whble body of be
lievers throughout the world, and through all
coming time, should be- called a!nd known; in
fulfilment of the promise made by the Prophet
Isaiah eighteen hundred years be
remarkable words—“And thou s
by a hew name, which the'mouth
shall name.”
fore, in these
halt be called
of the LORD
In the second of Acts, the full length portrait
(drawn to the life by the hand of am sister) of the
Primitive church, in her youthful beauty, is un
surpassed by any tiling this side of Heaven* for
simplicity and exquisite loveliness. “ And tmey ”
—the newly gathered members of the church—
“ continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine
and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in
prayers.” So united, so linked together by love,
so heavenly minded, so zealous and so happy,
wereMier members, that nothing could withstand
her moral power, or resist her triumphant pro
gress to tiniversal dominion.
But, alas! tlie arch-destroyer of all good, the
enemy of God and Man, sought to divide and con
quer the church, even before the Apostles fell
asleep, by instigating restless men who had crepl
into her fold, to endeavor to put asunder, those
whom love and sympathy bad knit and God made
one, and array them into separate parties, undei
the names of Paul, Apollus and Cephas, as theii
leaders. The Apostle Paul, with a holy indigna
tion, which so well became the occasion, severely
rebuked and promptly put down this suicidal
movemet, and demanded of these partisan bigots—
“ Who was Paul or Appollos, or Cephas ?” Were
they any other than mere men, humble Ministers
. by whom they had been brought to believe ‘
Had either of them been crucified for them ? Was
Christ divided ? If not, no more should his church
and people be.
And not only Paul, but also all the writers ol
the New Testament, and the LORD himself, ofter
repeated the fearful warnings against schisms it
the church, and awful threatning against those
who should cause divisions among his people,
whom it was his will and prayer should ever con
tinue one in union aud fellowship. Dreadful will
be the reckoniu^, which awaits those ambitious
priests and partisans bigots who, in utter despite
of these warnings and threatnings, have rent intc
antagonistic fragments, the Lamb’s wife, kindled
up the strifes of ages for human made names and
creeds, disciplines and forms ; slain hecatombs o
human victims by fi*e, sword, gibbet, dungeon:
and chains, to compel dissenters to pronounci
their party shibboleth, or die. Thus lias Chris
been divided and put to open shame in the housi
of his friends; infidelity armed with a formidabli
weapon against Christianity, and the Church
shorn of much of her moral power for usefulnes
in the world.
xv uiuou mibi voui>g si Jv^xiii y m/i c. m iov-o . v/
whom was the Primitive Chprch composed ? Ii
settling this question, each one can readily deter
mine for himself, whether he rightfully belongs t
the Church of Christ or not. The Apostle Pau
very clearly tells us of whpm it did not consist
and who never can belong to it, so long as the;
possess the disqualifications that he describes. Ii
1st Cor. vi. c. 9 and 10 verses, he says, “Knov
ye not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit thi
kingdom of God ? Be not deceived ! neither for
nicators, nor adulterers, effeminate, nor abuser:
Of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, no:
covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor cxtor
tioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Again
In Gal. v.c. 19 and 2}st verses, he adds: “Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which art
these: adultery, fornication, uncleannesss, lacivi
ousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy
ings, murders, drunkenness, revellings and sucl
like; the which, 1 tell you now, as I have tolc
you before, that they which do such things, shal
not inherit the kingdom of God.” These tw
passages of Scripture shed a flood of light upo
the controversy respecting the visible Church.
J All the advocates for the divine right, as the;
term it, of ordination and apostolical succession
are strenuous supporters of what they call th
“ visibility of the Church.” According to thes
men, there must always have been a visible Churcl
in its ministry and sacraments; but the persona
virtue, or holiness of its ministers and members
is not generally insisted on by them as essential
St. Paul, on the contrary, holds these persons
aualificalions as indispensable to membership i
ie visible Church. The expressions of that emi
nent Apostle—“ know ye not ”—“ be not deceiv
ed”—“the works of the flesh are manifest”—
o."-~iUv leads us to conceive, that in his day, am
according to bis understanding of the matter, th<
visibility of the Church, and each of her mem
bers, consisted in certain well known moral char
acteristics, otherwise called holiness of life. Mys
ticUm and theory, opinions nnd feelings, to saj
the best of thorn, can only have an indirect bear
ing upon the visible Church ; and the apparatm
of ordination and sacraments, are too mcclianica
to become standard proofs.
Again, the word “ inherit,” used in the abov<
-quoted-scriptures,- and so many-others -of similai
import, seems to be employed by the inspirec
pennman, in allusion to the ancient inheritances
of the Jews in the land of Canaan, as it is deriv
ed from lots and giving or naming. The posses
sessions of that people were divided to them b\
lot. All claims to those lots or inheritances, wer<
investigated with a strict regard to legal forms
but an inheritance in the kingdofa of Cod, or the
Church of Christ, does not depend on a geneolo
gical table or record, but on being a new creature
and a patient continuance in well doing. The
clearest evidence of a descent from a tribe oi
family, however eminent or pious, would avail
nothing in settling a claim or title under the Gos
pel, to a place in the kingdom of God
The vices mentioned by the Apostle in the
above recited texts, should be taken in their most
simple 'and definite meaning, as they are common
ly understood. A sli iking instance of the error
of forced constructions of plain scriptural truths,
to effect -sinister objects, is observable in the tor
tured use which has been made of the word —
“ heresy,” which occurs in the above quotations.
The Church, according to the Romish creed, is
the infallible expounder of scripture ; and all who
dissent in opinion from her dicta, are heretics.
'1 his^doctrine which has been such a fruitful source
of injustice and cruelty, is corrected by St. Paul
himself, who said he worshiped God in the very
way which the Priests and Elders of his time,
called heresy, and who would not have a man re
jected or condemned on the charge of heresy, un
til he had been admonished a first and second
time. Now, among those who allow liberty of
thought and the. rights of conscience, (and the
Apostle was one of these) men are not' wont to
be admonished or condemned for their honest
opinions carefully formed on a diligent search after
truth. This assumption of the criminality, or
damnable nature of a dissent from established
opinions, is nothing more nor less than a conse
quence of the doctrine of ecclesiastical infallibility.
I shall resume the subject in my next number.
JOSEPH B. HINTON.
For the Christian Sun.
THE LATE GENERAL CONVENTION.
BY DR. J. R. KREESJi.__
The pamphlet report of oarikle General Con
vention is now published, and ready for delivery
to all such as may favor me with their orders._
It is a neat octavo pamphlet of 24 pages, an
good paper, handsomely bound in fancy covers,
and contains a handsome engraving on its title
page of “ Antioch College.—That is to be.”
it contains not only the Minutes of the Conven
tion, but a number of reports of Commitees, to
gether with a notice of our General Book Concern,
e price of it is $3 per hundred copies.
I have already received several orders for the
pamphlet from the South, and should like to re
ceive many more. Let each Christian Church
take up a collection, as recommended by the Gen
eral Convention, and forward it on to me, for
which I will serjd them the worth in reports, free
of expense, to our Book Agent South, Elder W.
B. Wellons, of Suffolk, Va., or by mail if so di
rected.
Philadelphia, February 6th, 1851.
For the Christian Sun.
CHRISTIAN SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN BOOK.
A portion of the Executive Committee of our
General Book Concern, have now in contemplation
the compiling of a small Hymn Book to be used
in our Sabbath Schools, Prayer Meetings, &c. «fcc
It will be made up of original and selected Hymns
containing 150 or two hundred, and the price nol
exceeding 10 or 12 cents. ■
As some of our ministers, Sabbath School Su
perintendents or others may have a favorite Hymn
or Hymns, which they would like to have inserted,
, the object of this notice.is to give all such an op
i portunity of forwarding them on, between this
t and the first of April next, to our General Book
s Agent.
* We should like if possible, to get it ready be
, fore the assembling of our Conferences for 1851, s<
s that orders might be sent on before, and thi
Books delivered to ministers and delegates atten
f ding the different Conferences.
> Any hymn sent on after the 1st of April, will ir
- all probability come too late.
) Orders, as to how many each church will take
1 may be sent on immediately, but we want n<
, pay until the Books are delivered. Be careful t<
r state to what Conference they shall be sent, ant
i to whose care. Address, post paid,
r. J. R. FREESE,
> 64 North 3d, St. Philadelphia.
February, 7tb, 1851.
GEORGIA AND HER RAILROADS.
1t appears before the close of the year 1852,
that Siatp'wiBhave unsuccessful operation up
wards m nine hundred miles of Road. The Roadi
alrcafdy in operation are all prosperous—realizing
from 8 to 16 per cent, clear profits per annum
Thus is demonatratcd the wisdom and important
of a proper system of improvements. Georgia
after expending nearly $14,000 000, is now twic<
: as rick as when she commenced her noble enter
) prizes.
The Home Missionary says, “ Not long since'!
preacher in Missouri took for his text the word
' “ Let there be no scheme in the body.” “ Breth
’ ren,” said he, “'some who pretend to be minister
3 of the gospel are great schemers, but the Apostl
3 Paul forbids them in the text. There is the Sab
‘ bath school scheme, there is the Tract scheme
there is the Bible scheme.” On he went abusin
* these schemes, till at length one of the congrega
j tion called out, “ No brother B-r, you have gc
that word wrong. It is not scheme, it is skistr,
1 1. Cor. 12, 25.”
The human mind has an intense delight in wha
j is vast and unxeplored.
CHRISTIAN SUN.
RALEIGH, N. C. y
Wednesday, February 19, 1831.
i “ -«-■ ---- - - »i ■
A^""We also send this Number of the Sun, to
several persons who are not subscribers. Those
who wish to become such, will retain the paper
sent them ; but those who decline, will please re
turn it forthwith. After waiting a reasonable time
and they should fail to do so ; we shall enter then
names as subscribers upon our book.
I here are six Newspapers, besides the Sun,
printed in this city ; and not one of them has ta>
ken any notice of our humble sheet. Is it because
they think it too insignificant to be noticed ? Or is
it because they feel no sympathy for our cause ?
- To Agents. You can save us a great deal of
trouble by observing the following directions :
When you make remittances, be sure to write in
a plain hand, the name of the subscriber and his
post office for whom the money is,sent.
In sending pay for new subscribers, always dis
tinguish between them and old ones.
In ordering discontinuances, be sure to give the
name of the post office, as well as the name of the
subscriber that wishes to discontinue.
We have received a Pamphlet from Bro. J. R.
Freese of Philadelphia, containing the Minutes of
the General Convention of the Christian Church
held at Marion, New York, October 1850.
Our friends who would like to obtain copies
can b.e supplied by addressing post paid J. R.
Freese, 64 North Third Street Philadelphia.
The circulation of this Report of the proceed
ings of the General Convention, we deem to be of
great importance. The doings of that meeting we
have no doubt, (if the plans adopted are success
fully carried out,) will be the commencement of
a new Era, in the Christian Church.
We hope our Agents and friends will be active
in getting new'subsefibers to our list. If we give
you a good paper ; arc you not willing
little industrtfto increase its circulation i
We must nave your active co-operation to en
sure success to our periodical. Recollect that you
are interested as well as ourself. Let each sub
scriber make an effort to get at least one more •
if so, we can send out the Sun once a week, at the
present price. JEST Just think of that. Once a
week for one dollar per annum. And we ha
no donbt with proper exertions it can
Every one then to the work.
We have the pleasure to announce to oub
that Elder Charles Henry Plummer of Pen
nia, has consented to become a regular
tor to the Sun. His prSductions
doubt, will be highly interesting to our
We most cordially welcome Bro.
a fellow-laborer in building up the go
Christian liberty ; and extend to' him.
of brotherly love.”
It will be seen from the followj
table, that the “ Christian Conne.
the number of its Churches,
municants, about sixth
denominations in the Uni]
counts we have lately
the Christian Connexii
there existed no such
so, we know not.
We have no dispoi
numbers. Far from
pie should know at lei
such a denomination.
But here is the tab!
PRINCIPAL RELIGIO
THE UNITED
ACCORDING TO THE
Names.
Methodist Episcopal*
M_South*
“ Protestant*
Baptist, Regular*
“ Anti-Mission*
“ Freewill* "
“ Campbellite*
“ Minor sects
Presbyterian* | ^ g
Associate PresbyterL
Associate Reformed
Reformed Presbyterian
Presbyterian, Cumberland
others «.
Congregational. (Evang’l)
Reformed Dutch*
German Reformt
Protestant Episcc
Lutheran
United Brethren
Evangelical Assoc., t«er.;
Unitarian*
Roman Catholic*
Christian Connexion
Church of God
Mennonites ^
Universalists*
h
1,
316
2,513
1,651
214
332
74
480
490
1,971
lj073
1,500
125
100
100,001
50,00<
Friends $ Evangelical, about
l-nends { Hicksites
The statistics of the denominations marked*, arefron
the reports of 1849; the others troin the latest reporti
that could be obtained. Family Christian Almanac.
We have received from Elder James Maple
of Franklin Ohio, an interesting sermon on tin
subject of Prayer; which we intend to publish it
our next number. We hope Bro. Maple will con
tinue to favor us with his esteemed and valuabh
communications.
We have several dozen numbers of our first is
sue yet on hand; new subscribers can be supplied
from the commencement of the volume.
Published Volumes of the Sun : I will give
any brother the subscription of the current vol
ume, that will furnish me with either of the pub
lished volumes of the Sun, from the 1st. to the
6 th incut si re.
The first tUht will comply with this proposition,
i will have the preference, of course.
The design, of the gospel of Jesus Christ, was
to benefit mnhkind. This was the errand upon
which he cames to this sinful world. He came
not clothed in Majesty and Power to destroy; but
in meekness and love to save. The angels an
nounced to the shepherds that watched their
flock by night; that “ in the city of David, this
day is born a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.”
It was glad tidings communicated fromthe heaven
ly world—a Saviour born to save man from sin,
and restore him to the favor and friendship of
God.—To elevate his moral character, and quali
fy him to mingle in the society of the blest around
the throne of God.
This salvation was not to be confined to the
great an noble of the earth, but that the poor too,
might have a share. As a confirmation of the
heavenly mission of our Saviour; he told John’s
disciples to say unto John, that the poor have the
gospel preached unto them.
While journeying through the land of Pales
tine, he sought out the objects of commiseration
and pity ; and healed their sickness. He heard
the wailings of the widow of Nain over her de
ceased son, and restored alive unto her, the object
of her affections. He sympathised with the weep
ping sisters of Lazarus, and' Himself wept at his
grave. Well might the Poet say :
‘ ‘His heart is made of tenderness,
His bowels melt with love.”
Should- not those who have been made parta
kers of the divine nature, ifl^ate in sympathy
and love their Divine Lord lind Master? Did
Christ ever shut his ears against the petitions of
the most abject sinner in the world^T^o, never.
Did he ever reject the poor for hi/s poverty'? No,
never. Did he refuse to mingle with publicans and
sinners ? No. He received sinners, and ate with
them.
But, with many, in our day religion has become
a fashionable and popular thing. They suffer
themselves to be swallowed by the world, as Jo
nah was by the fish. The poor are neglected and
despised, for whom, as well as the rich, Christ
suffered and died. And many 6eek to be clothed
in costly array and decked with jewelry; and^
order to effect their purpose, grind
poor. ,
The -church needs to ,
sins of pride and
sackcloth and
I
I
CbriSt, yv guv* y.
After having served the
en years, I contemplate closing up my labors
them, 6h or before the first day of April, afte
which time, I shall be at liberty to go whereve
the openings of a good Providence may lead.
Respectfully and truly yours, .
C. H. P.
Lewisville, Penn., dan., 30, 1861.
1 Bro. Hayes. I am happy to communicate foe
the “Sun,” the gratifying intelligence, that God
.-baa been pleased of late, to revive his cause in
I this 'place. The reviving of the church, as is
• mostly the case, resulted in the reclamation of one
backslider, the conversion of two souls, (a man and
his wife) and the addition of three to the church :
making an accession of five to the number of the
saved, within a few months past. That the Lord
may yet do greater things for us than these is my
prayer. Brethren pray for ur.1-—
Yours respectfully,
CHAS. H. PLUMMER.
Lewisville, Chester Co., Penn., Jan. 3, I85l.
UCiUIUATiUJM.
The pleasing duty of dedicating to the wor
ship of God; the “Free Meeting House ” located
in the village of Lewisville, was performed by the
writer, on the Lord’s day, December 22nd 1850,
at 3 o’clock, P. M. The exercises consisted of
reading the Holy Scriptures, praise in the song,
prayer, and a sermon from these words—“ Search
the scriptures ;for in them ye thinkye halve eter
nal life; and they are they that testifyme.”
John v. 39. After the discourse, some r^parks v'*'<
were made by bro. James Scoit; and the closing
prayer by bro. John Cann, of the Methodist Epis
copal Church.
This is the second Free Chapel, that we have
succeeded in raising up, in the large and populous
County of Chester. May it prove a great blessing
to all the inhabitants of this place.
CHAS. H. PLUMMER.
Lewisville, Chester Co., Pa., Jan. 3rd, 1851.
Buo. Hayes: I am much pleased that the
“Christian Sun ” has arisen from the dark night
that had settled down upon it. I was afraid that
it had set to rise no more ; but thank God the
cloud has passed from its brilliant disc and it once
more shines forth in all its original glory. My
prayer to God is, thatit may continue., to shine
through all coming time. May its genial rays be
a blessing to the world, and contribute its share
of light to scatter the dark cloud of sin that has
shrouded our world in gloom. Go on bro. Hayes
and may the blessings of God rest ppon you in
your arduous labors.
Yours in love and truth.
JAMES MAPLE.
Bro. Hayes : I am anxious for some one of
your correspondents to give me the
ing of the following ]
say unto you,
mammon of
they mav
Hera
minds i
Christians i
and it will not only result in goi
brethren in the South,