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CHRISTIAN HERALD.
2
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[
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Baptists understand and practice of it, with their delusive teaching. full fellowship on an open con
r chur
and
it, is not found in our creed, we. If Baptists would only argue with fession with the mouth that Jesus
them
in
their
own
papers,
their
In the days of Paul there were think is a splendid reason why it
is the Christ, and prompt obedience
want
zeal
must
rise
and
stand
at
the
- certain parties who did* not belong should be--dispensed with along
to his will.
their
highest point, and their editors,
“
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_ ■ to the Church of Christ who desired with all other human and unscrip- meanwhile, grow stronger in the
with
A PRESENT NEED.
to Lnir Trarn^Tr'o
ftp mV“ '111- ■liiral practices and names. We be deadly creed of the sect. * * *
wine
self, saying, “ For as concerning lieve as fi rioTy as < mos the ‘WFlUu to 44*^-. ^>ii*nlnt.i(>n remains, however,
too s
It is a settled Scriptural fact that
this sect, we know that every an “experience of grace ” as taught that noneof God s
have
:44™ ihnTTliuij-cf fihrint ambigh-
where it is spoken against.” We in the New Testament, but we do finally deluded. The great enemy est divinely appointed agencies on
jyust have some sort of employ
presume the churches of Christ not believe in having the experience ment for those who are his, that earth for the preaching of the gos
appo
-known by many of its enemies as before the grace. Neither does this they may be kept in darkness till pel and the salvation of souls.
the
—- “4hat sect.” has never seen the day grace in which' spiritual life is ob- the last. ■
chur
These local congregations arc inde
from Paul’s time to tTie pieselTtthat TKined w>mn prinr to and inde -
Now it occur.i'to us that here pendent organizations in one sense
«
it has not been spoken against. pendent of baptism.” Our friend lies tIw“'’"’reaT SCCTctr”^*y>™JiJap- and hence capable of self govern
We have, been forcibly reminded of is likely to find no such an “ ex tists do not write for our papers. ment, but in another and higher-
this saying by having just read an perience of grace ” this side of the Like Paul of old who came out of sense they are all one and should be
jlchur
arti^ TIT“
judgment. Paul teaches us that we the water at Damascusand straight- perfectly and harmoniously united
Georgia, written by a correspon are baplizetl
g Scrij
-umy. pr ph /- lied Christ in the Jewish in carrying forward the work of
dent and headed, “ Why Baptists do hence if Baptists obtain spiritual synagogues, sj>oke boiilly^~Tn ' the' converting Um. world. But in order
I tried
not Write in Campbellite Papers.” life prior to and independent of name of the Lord and disputed that this may be successfully and
WdSln
This article is one of the most bitter baptism, they obtain it prior to and against the Grecians, and held a Scripturally done, one of tlie pres
■offic<
and unreasonable 'attacks we have independent of getting into Christ. debate in the school of Tyrannus ent and pressing needs of the day
ffivoict
seen from our Baptist friends for a They are perfectly welcome to all for two years so that all they is a more efficient board of officers ' A and
long time, and we are not certain “ experience of grace ” they can which dwelt in Asia heard the to govern ami prosecute the work
tion.
that the Ind&x has added any find outside of Christ. We prefer word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews of the churches. The elders and
i|ept<
thing to its good name by printing’ telling our experience when we and Greeks, so we as the Lord’s the deacons of the New Testament
Wepn
it. This writer gives for his first have one to tell ’ The writer says, servants are always ready to are the divinely constituted officers
reason* why Baptist» da_ftftt,„write “Baptistsprofess to be judges of earnestly contend for the faith. of the churches, and they not only
for “ Campbellite ” papers the fol what a genuine""" Christian ex We, like the apostles and primitive have a work td perform, but that
lowing : “ For the same reason, We perience is, hence they ask appli Christians, have no time to be work is (dearly pointed oUt. by the
suppose, that they keep their ar cants for places in their ranks to placed on “ probation.” Perhaps Holy Spirit and is expressly obliga
ticles out of infidel papers ” We. tell what the Lord has done for this Scriptural course is the reason tory. The responsibility and work
liardly know just how to take this them.” Here then we find both his why WC have been-able., .to .cover of these officers is a great one,-and
statement. Does it mean that in “ spiritual discernment ” and the much of the land with our teach the necessity of such servants of
- faith and practice our papers and “experience of grace.” When one ing. “ Behold, to obey is better the church is clearly apparent from
people are no better than infidels ? pursues the Scriptural course it is than sacrifice, and to harken, than their appointment.
Now when
Or does it mean that Baptist doc not necessary to ask the “ applicant the fat of lams.” But what we these officers fill the mission for
trine is not even able to stand the to tell what the Lord has done for wish to know more particularly is, which they have been appointed
criticisms of infidel papers, and him,” for that can be plainly read something about our brother’s “con and ordained, other things being
therefore its advocates are unwill and is definitely settled in the Law solation that none of God’s elect equal, the church under their charge
ing to submit it to a fair test ? of the Lord. The promise is, that can be deluded ?” Docs this writer will be a prosperous and happy one.
But the writer further says:
“ he that believetli and is baptized know that our reformatory move But should these officers not possess
Baptists, if worthy of their name, shall t»e saved.” But Baptists re ment began among the Baptists, the Scriptural qualifications or fail
are a people of spiritual discern quire the applicant to give Christ and that a large number of our to discharge their whole duty as
ment, while the followers of A. and his apostles the" lie in telling
recruits from that day to this have the true stewards of God, the
Campbell, unless better than their
that
the
Lord
has
done
something
come from the Baptist ranks ? church to that extent will suffer
creed, have no such discernment
fpr
w
him*that
He
has
never
promised
Were these not all required to tell for the bread and water of spiritual
They are by us understood plainly
to deny the existence of what Bap to do, namely, to save him before what the Lord had done for them ? life. Neither do we believe this
tists call an “ experience of grace ” and independently of baptism, yet Did they not all tell that “ Chris work can be properly done by
in which, spiritual life is obtained we are told that when a " spiritual tian experience before baptism,” proxy. If tho Lord expected the
prior to and independent of bap
tism. In doing this they put them church, after hearing such ex and experience that new life inde work of these officers to be done by
selves on infidel ground, if Baptists perience,” “ unanimously vote him pendently of baptism ? Were they some one else, the elders and deac
membership, he has received the not voted on by the church and ons would never have been appointed
are to be judges in the case.
Now we state a simple fact
Indeed 1 Do we understand this highest external testimony to the thus subjected to that “highest ex
genuineness
of
his
regeneration
1
”
well
understood by our readers
ternal testimony ” to the “ genuine
to -be the “.spiritual discernment’
of Baptists in a “ nut shell ?”Tfie Notwithstanding all this, we are ness of their regeneration?”, If so, when we state that in many of our *■
“ spiritual discernment ” of this still silly enough to prefer the then one of two things must be churches the official ministry of the ■ O
writer is certainly of a very high authority of Christ and inspired truerf either that this much prided congregation practically amounts to
order, for when he finds “ the fol men to any external testimony that and unscriptural voting test prac nothing. Instead of the elders 3BS(
tically amounts to nothing in deter being shepherds to the flock, look •l
lowers of A. Campbell ” he finds a Baptists can give.
But the writer seemingly forgets mining the genuineness of regenera ing after it, and thus not only is
people about whom we know
«0
absolutely nothing. If he refers, himself and closes his article with tion, or that the doctrine of election ruling it but leading it to and from
however, to the followers of Christ, this wonderful paragraph. He and final perseverance of the Saints the~~green pastures and the still T
as Baptists fcach is not true. • They waters, they cither suffer the Hock tCi
then we have to say that we make says :
Besides this,no people, perhaps,re can choose which horn of the to scatter and graze at will, or else
no pretentions to be better than our
creed, for sceipg that we take the joice in controversy more thandothe dilemme they like. In the mean take a fright and run away with
“Disciples.” It is their native ele
Bible aZone as our creed, this little ment. They come out of the water time we shall be satisfied in follow them, or still worse run over them.
acknowledgement by our brother ready for disputation. They have ing the example of the apostles and Xhe deacons instead of taking
that “ spiritual 4» discernment
” as covered much of the land by means I evangelists to receiving people into charge of the secular matters of the
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. THAT SECT.