{No. 7. }

BETHANY, BROOKE CO. VA.

MONDAY, FEB. 1, 1830.

{ Vol. 7.

}

"Style no man on earth your Father; for he alone is your father who "is in heaven; and all ye are brethren. Assume not the title of Rabbi "for you have only one teacher. Neither assume the title of Leader; for "you have only one leader-the MESSIAH."

Matt. xxiii. 8-10.

"Prove all things: hold fast that which is good.”

Paul the Apostle

TO BENGELIUS.

Dear Sir, THAT my papers, published in the Christian Baptist, if noticed at all, would-among a self-created order of proud, overbearing usurpers, whose predecessors had, for many ages, been accustomed to lord it over the understandings, consciences, and purses of their fellow-men, not less than the present race-produce such effects as you mention, was precisely what I calculated on. That, like the approvers and defenders of all existing customs, practices, or systems by which they profit, no matter how false, unjust, and oppressive they may be, they should, as Demetrius and his workmen formerly did when their craft was in danger, raise a hideous clamor, and, instead of coming forth as bonest men and real lovers of truth, attempt to demonstrate the falsehood of my assertions by showing their inconsistency with God's word and human reason, they should, by imputing to them a multitude of frightful, but wholly imaginary consequences, labor to deter their bigoted followers from receiving the truth, is no unexpected occurrence, it being the course and the means which interested impostors have adopted in all ages to maintain their influence. When my essays shall be completed, and the system of religious instruction which I think the Spirit of God has proposed and enjoined in the New Testament, shall be, according to the best of my weak judgment, unfolded, all I shall claim for it is a fair and full trial of its efficiency. Should it prove wretchedly abortive like the present, or paganize the world, as its dreaming opposers predict, east it out; but if, on a fair trial, it should christianize the world in a much higher degree than the present has done, it will no doubt receive to itself a continuance. At any rate let neither friend nor foe censure and condemn it before it is koown. All I have yet attempted is mere assault on a few of the out-works of the clerical castle; against the citadel itself, not a shot has been fired-and as to the new edifice, not even the foundationstone has been laid. Did ever mortal man act so foolishly as to proceed to erect a new building on the very site on which an old one stood, before he had pulled down the old fabric and cleared away its rubbish? About preaching, teaching, and exhorting, in the scriptural use and sense of these terms, I have certainly said vol. vii. 13

nothing, at least condemnatory. What place they are destined to occupy in the system of religious instruction which I intend to propose, and propose merely because I believe it to be the system proposed and enjoined by the great Teacher and Ruler of the church on earth, for into it not one peg of mine shall enter, unless it enter inadvertently, will be seen when my views are exhibited. Till then let fuss and foolish clamor cease.

But if, in the mean time, the tenants of the old castle be disposed to defend their out-posts, I blame them not. A craft which poured annually so many millions into the clerical purse is not likely to be given up without a struggle; let them, however, confine the means which they employ to the defence which they undertake.

I have asserted that in my judgment it is an act of gross impiety, of great disrespect to God, to presume to alter in any manner, or by any means, the order, connexion, or diction of his instructive message; that the act sets our wisdom above the wisdom of God, and tells that omniscient and all-wise Being, to his face, that his message has not been as well contrived and clearly worded as it might have been, or as we can still render it: in short, that we can ameliorate God's best effort to serve us.

I have asserted that all that is necessary to render God's message as plain and instructive as he ever intended it to be, or our salvation required it to be, is a correct and perfectly intelligible translation, that is, a translation devoid of all unintelligible words.

I have asserted that unless a person understand the scriptures perfectly himself, he cannot possibly determine whether the explanations and meanings proposed by others be correct or not; and that, of course, if he receives such explanations as divine information, he deceives himself, and builds his faith on a human, and not on a divine foundation; on the notions of men about the meaning of scripture, and not on scripture itself. It much concerns, therefore, those who are in the practice of proposing their own explanations or notions about the meaning of scripture, instead of proposing God's own word to either children, servants, or others, to see that their children, servants, and others be not made to build their eternal hopes on the fallacious apprehensions of men, instead of the infallible declarations of God. What! Is the language of men fitter to convey information clearly than the language of God?— Truly I cannot believe it.

As to the inferences drawn from my papers, if they really be such as you state, they can, with truth, be considered only as the ravings of men who have bid adieu to common sense. To obey the positive commands of their Redeemer, and to perform, in a social manner, every action which he has commanded to be so performed, as well as the commemorative supper, and none else, is not only of great use, but of indispensable use to the followers of their Redeemer. We are told that the primitive christians persevered in the apostles doctrine, (and where, pray, is it to be found? In the inspired written oracles of God, or in the blundering compositions of men?) and in the performance of an action termed koinoa, and in prayers, as well as in the breaking of bread: and in

other places that they met for mutual edification. But where is the command to listen to the harangues of uninspired, fallible, blundering clergymen?

I am engaged at present in instituting a comparison between the instrument of instruction sent by God to a perishing world, and the clerical inventions, which have bred so much dissention, wasted so much time, and cost more than man's residence in this life would sell for. A. STRAITH,

Extract of a letter to the Editor, dated, Bluffdale, Green Co. Illinois-December 5th. 1829.

"MY opinion is not of sufficient importance to render any one vain, but such as it is, it is warmly in favor of the Christian Baptist. I know of no work in our country so well conducted, and, what will be far more gratifying to your feelings, none that is doing half the good in this state that it is. "Campbellism,” and “Campbelites,” have become very common terms in Illinois, and they are not unfrequently pronounced with a bitterness that reminds me of the "Christian Dog" of the Turks. Is hostility to pure, undefiled religion found no where except among Infidels? It is not; nor is persecution confined to the walls of the inquisition. Public opinion on the subject of religion is, however, rapidly undergoing a change: inquiry is abroad, and the time has gone by when religious sentiments are to be adopted merely because they are prescribed by mon of high sounding titles. In bringing about this revolution, the fearless numbers of the Christian Baptist have been chiefly instrumental, and deeply regret that you have felt so much of the persecuting spirit of the middle ages assailing you from almost every section where your work circulates:-but go on; and may you not desist till primitive religion is every where restored. How deeply every sincere christian must regret to hear the boast that a "christian party in politics shall be established." Even in this state religion is too often made an electioneering hobby. We have not yet arrived at the "Free grace candidates," and "Unconditional election candidates," of good old orthodox New England; but we are making some advances towards it. A powerful effort is making at the Eastward, to direct and control religion in this state. Ten thousand dollars are raising to establish a college here, and for the support of its faculty. You have seen the speech of Rev. Mr. Ellis, to his employers, in which he so feelingly makes known our profound ignorance, and the deplorable state of our morals. He represents us as but little above the zero of absolute heathenism; as electing to the office of lieutenant governor, a clergyman who solicited our suffrages with "a Bible in one hand, and a bucket of whiskey in the other." This, he tells us, is literally true. Pity that no man should have known it except Mr. Ellis. With the lieutenant governor and Mr. Ellis both, 1 happen to be acquainted. Of the former, even his political enemies acknowledge him to be an amiable and pious man. Of the latter, more hereafter. Several missionaries have recently been sent here, and more are promised

How kind, how generous, and how benevolent in the eastern people to make us the magnificent present of ten thousand dollars! How great must be the love to US that could have induced them to pass by the tens of thousands in their own section, who are suffering poverty, and "all the ills that flesh is heir to," and to whom this donation would have been like a well of coll water to travellers perishing in the desert! The number of paupers in New England and New York are as four hundred to one, compared with those of Illinois; this, too, when the relative population of these sections are taken into account. A large majority of the eastern people are compelled to toil incessantly and practise the severest economy to support life on their barren soil. I do not speak unadvisedly when I say that the necessaries of life can be procured in this state in as great abundance by two days labor in seven, as they can in New England by six. This is a land of plenty, where want is unknown, and where almost every table is bountifully spread. The great mass of the eastern population feel the reverse of all this; they toil like a western slave, and if their labor is remitted for bus a single day;

"Non aliter quam qui adverso vix flumine lembum

'Remigiis subigit: brachia forte remisit,

"Atque illum in praeceps prono rapit alveus amni.”

"To this class of people, to whom a barrel of flour, or of pork, is of more value than six would be to an Illinois farmer-to this class, their missionaries inform us, we are indebted for a large portion of this magnificent donation. What obligations are we not under to make good use of this donation, wrung, drop by drop, as it has been, from hands barely removed from breaking the bread of charty! Bul I will pursue this subject no farther, and nothing was more remote from my intentions when I commenced writing, than touching upon it at all.

"I have seen but one copy of your Testament. I set up a large portion of the night in examining it. I think it much truer to the spirit of the original than any other version that I have seen. 1 have not the presumption to criticise, but you will pardon me for thinking that a passage in John (Evangelist) is not conformable to the Greek of the common copy. Perhaps I shall only display my own ignorance. In John, chap. ii. ver. 4. Tai nai on juvai; I should have translated, "Woman, what is that to you and me?”

Sir,

FOR THE CHRISTIAN BAPTIST.

King and Queen, December 18, 1829. TO MR. T. W.

WHILE I acknowledge the oversight, for it was an oversight, that a solution of the 19th query, published in the Christian Baptist of April last, had been partially given in the latter part of the remarks made on the 16th query published in the Christian Baptist of March last; yet I cannot agree with you in opinion in your very positive declarations made in reply to "A Constant Reader" pub. lished in November last. In speaking of our popular preachers, (so

called in the Christian Baptist) you say "He styles them living witnesses, who stand as in Christ's stead. Who preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand: repent and believe the gospel. According to these characteristics, we should first conclude, that they are false witnesses; because they never witnessed one single item of what they preach, if so be it is contained in the Bible; for this plain reason, they were born too late." Alas! alas! has "the fine gold become dim?" Now, sir, going much further back than 1700 years, before the editor of the Christian Baptist was born, I would ask you whether, as an individual, you ever witnessed this item, which is contained in the Bible?, "They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; walk and not faint." Again, "Unto you that fear my name, shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings." And again, coming down to a more recent day; "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." If Mr. T. W. has never witnessed these items, by having the witness in his own breast, I fear that he is, at best, nothing more than a nominal christian. Believe me, there is a difference between belief and knowledge. He that cometh to God must believe, that he is, &c. but there is such a thing as knowing him; and not only believing that he is; but of knowing it too. I know, said Job, that my Redeemer liveth, &c. Our populars profess to have witnessed those items with many others; having witnessed, in their own persons, the truth contained in them, they stand. being living witnesses, declaring to the church and to the world, that they are such. If any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his! If, then, a man have the spirit of Christ and preach the gospel, he stands as in Christ's stead-God moving in him, both to will and to do, of his good pleasure. Should Mr. T. W. have left Bethany, the Editor of the Christian Baptist, will please publish the above, (indeed, in any event, I ask of the Editor this favor) and thereby oblige a subscriber who is

Dear Sir,

"A CONSTANT READER"

REPLY TO "A CONSTANT READER."

IT so happened, that, in the course of my peregrinations, I arrived at Bethany just as your critique upon my reply to your communication of May 10th, 1829, was put to press. Not finding the editor at home, as I expected, I take the liberty of correcting the mistake which elicited your criticisms upon said reply. The mistake is simply this: You confound receiving testimony with giving testimomony:-"having the witness in one's self," with being one's self the witness; than which no two things can be more distinct. The origi nal and only proper witnesses bore testimony to that which from the beginning "they had heard," had seen, had contemplated, had handled, of the word of life; all which things being external-the proper objects of sense, and consequently of testimony-bearing, the

*"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent," 13*

Vol. VII.