THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
Editors: T. Fanning, J. D. Lipscomb
Vol. VIII
Nashville, July 31, 1866
Number 31
AN ESSAY ON THE RELATION SUSTAINED BY CHRISTIANS TO CIVIL GOVERNMENTS – NO. I
By J. C. Mitchell
The terrible convulsion through which the republic of the United States has recently passed, and its effect on the professed followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, both individually and in associated capacities, should awaken all Christian people to the realization of the importance of understanding the precise relation in which they stand, with regard to the civil government within the dominion of which they may chance to sojourn.
The discussion, strife, and acrimony among Christians, and the rending asunder thereby of religious ties, indicates that there is something wrong somewhere; something wanting that ought to be “set in order.”
Believing that the excitement which, for several years, has swayed the public mind like a whirlwind, and disqualified many persons from calmly and dispassionately investigating matters pertaining to civil politics, has subsided, I deem it a suitable occasion to invite my beloved brethren, in the Lord, to a thoughtful and careful examination of the relation we sustain toward the governments of this world, and the duties we consequently owe to the temporal powers.
With a firm and entire reliance on the revealed will of the Almighty, I am bound to believe that “all Holy Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” and “is sufficient to thoroughly furnish the man of God unto all good.”
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
Therefore, all the duties of Christians, in every legitimate relation of life, are to be found therein. If this be true, whatever can be sanctioned in the inspired volume, cannot be a good work, and consequently, is not a Christian duty. This proposition will readily be assented to by every person who believes in the all-sufficiency of the Bible, and to the mind of such a one only is this essay written; it requires no argument.
Under a republican form of government, the relation of the citizen to civil authority is twofold, inasmuch as he possesses a double character, being invested by the constitution with the attributes of sovereignty, as well as the duties and privileges of a subject.
I will first consider the latter relation, and collate the inspired teaching pertaining to the duties of Christians as a matter of civil government, as the principles which regulate it may be universal and immutable under all systems of government.
Romans XIII: 1
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers; for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance (appointment) of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For, for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”
1 Peter II: 13-15
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance (appointment) of man for the Lord’s sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
1 Timothy II: 1-3
“I exhort, therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”
The foregoing extracts contain the substance of all the teaching of the…
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
483
Scriptures concerning the state of the Christian subject to temporal rulers, and they are so full and explicit, that it is impossible for an intelligent Christian not to understand that he is required:
- To be subject to civil authorities.
- To obey them.
- To not resist them.
- To honor them.
- To pray for them.
It is important to remember that these directions, like all the epistles of the Apostles, are addressed exclusively to Christians. There are a few essential observations to be made concerning these extracts.
It is essential to consider the character of the government under which we live. The duties are the same under a monarchy or democracy; it respects the authority, to lessen civil strife.
It is likewise pertinent to note the reasons assigned by the inspired writers for the duties prescribed—the spirit and reason of any statute always constituting a primary rule of interpretation. It is not from any favor with which “principalities and powers” are regarded, but rather tells us that the obedience of the saints is enjoined in order that with well-doing we may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Thus the essence of Christianity would be deprived of a great pretext for condemnation, and would be rendered entirely free from excusing further indignation against them, by declaring them to be salutary, intended to govern and violate the public peace.
It is, then, for the honor of the church that we should be reasonable and law-abiding as far as possible.
This point will be more fully developed as I advance.
The disciples of Christ were greatly persecuted by earthly princes, and they were enjoined to pray to God that he might restrain them from tyranny and from undue and wicked exercise of power. Thus Christians should pray that the merciful God to whom we belong, and who has promised to answer the prayers of his people, when made according to his will, is able to restrain all wicked men in their wrath, and to protect those who trust in him.
How pertinent it is to impress the fact that civil rulers are ministers of God, and not merely politicians of the world, who imagine themselves to be the…
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
Architecture of the Functions of Governments
1. “He is the minister of God to thee (Christian) for good.” While this is a solemn assurance to the man of God, it is equally certain that to all others except the peculiar people of God—the children of Abraham, by faith in Christ Jesus—he is neither minister nor God for worth.
2. “To execute wrath” (the wrath of God) upon him that doeth evil—not only on the violator of civil law, but rather the transgressors of God’s law—all who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.
In complete accordance with all this teaching was the life of Jesus of Nazareth—that “bright pattern of the Christian life,” by whom all things were fulfilled. He paid taxes, and complied with all the exactions of the Roman government, that the law might be fulfilled. The pure and irreproachable life of our blessed Savior constitutes the exact model after which our new walk should be formed. It is the precious privilege of the follower of Christ to be like him; hence he enjoins his disciples to be perfect as he is perfect. Nothing in earth or hell could constitute him to do anything in violation of the will of his Father. This fact, corroborated by many explicit declarations of Holy Writ, furnishes us with a rule of limitation by which the obedience to civil rulers, required by the law of the Lord, is restricted. When human law conflicts with the Divine law, the man of God has no choice. He must obey God rather than man.
3. We have the examples of the inspired Apostles and our Lord Christ on this point. True to the will of God, they fearlessly performed their duty, and calmly submitted to the penalty of the human laws, thus sealing the revealed truth with their blood.
But men are not, on this principle, authorized to act on their own whims, or in obedience to that uncertain and poorly defined moral called conscience. There is no greater hindrance than that men are justified in obeying the dictates of their own consciences. A mere conscientious conviction will not justify us in disobeying temporal authorities. There are few laws that Washington meets with opposition, were men led to their own judgments, right and wrong, and were one brother thus advised, they would certainly be placing themselves in jeopardy. Nothing but the plainly promulgated will of the supreme Ruler will suffice as a competent plea in this behalf.
4. “Thus it is written,” should eventually be our authority. While the jurisdiction of human governments over subjects purely temporal should be recognized, God remains Lord of the spirit.
5. No one can claim the benefit of this exemption, who is not the true follower among the soldiers of the cross. We cannot reject one part of the law of the Lord and claim the benefits of other provisions.
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
From Road’s Creek, New England Station, A. H., July 12th, 1866.
Brothers F. J.XXING & J. N. R.: The undersigned never met until last Lord’s Day, but upon comparing notes, found that we are so perfectly agreed in observations, in research and experience, that we have concluded jointly to lay these before the brethren for their consideration.
We ask all who love the Bible, the cause of our Master and the primitive simplicity of the Gospel, to give our suggestions a candid examination. Contrast them with the great standard, criticize them in the wisdom from above, that is pure, peaceable and gentle, and let them stand or fall, not as they comport with the wisdom of men, but as they agree with the revelation of God.
The brethren are giving much attention to the evangelizing question. We suppose that missionary societies, evangelical societies and corporation meetings have come to the same conclusion with respect to this question. This question must be settled as others, by the word of God and not by the wisdom of men.
Let us then, brethren, prayerfully, humbly and in the fear of God, lay before you what we consider to be the will of God, promising this much. However, that we are not anti-missionary or anti-corporation in our principle.
Observations
We see a great lack of labor in the glorious work, whilst the harvest truly is great. We see many brethren who have retired from the work for the want of support for themselves and their families. We see those who went to work, not laboring as the Apostles and our Lord, working while it is day, remembering that the night cometh when no man can work, preaching from house to house, daily, boldly, in season and out of season, bearing all things to all men, that by all means they may gain some, and if he is applying their hands to work to supply their necessities, but they are so circumscribed, preach once a month at a place on Lord’s day, do nothing the other portion of the week, or work their worldly goods, they must base stipulations, and everything perfectly to suit them or they can be induced to engage in the work, they must be all the time preaching mounted discourses to the brethren, and thus lessening their influence.
I have observed that while good men are dying all around us without hope, the sowers of the good seed can find time to leave their work and attend a couple of weeks to a society of competition or elsewhere, to attend to business which a deacon could do as well, yea, better than the preacher, for we have further observed that these business meetings in which we engage teachers, are characterized by confusion, worldly debates and wit working which little becomes saints.
Having observed so much, we withdrew respectfully from our expected meetings, that we might study the word of God, and now give the result of our investigation. We find but little said in the Great Book about raising money for the preacher, (for the much said in our day on this sub-
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
Subject: Much said about providing for the poor saint (for the little said in our days). We have not found where preachers had anything to do with raising money for their support, but the congregation being instructed by him in their duty, did this as one of the duties incumbent upon them. 2 Cor. 9:1, Phil. 4:10-16.
We do find that brethren furnished Paul with the necessities of life. We do not find any stipulated salaries for ministers. We do not find any preacher doing nothing because some society, or cooperation, or individual does not support them.
We have hundreds or thousands of dollars to engage in the work (Paul would never get out if he thus waited). We do not find Paul, or Timothy, or Titus saying, “I will have to abandon the field because the brethren do not support me.” We do hear Paul say expressly, that they that preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel, and he says this is ordained of God too. 1 Cor. 9:14.
We find our Savior saying, “No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. We do not find Paul or others on a circuit or preaching to four churches in one month. We do not find them concentrating their labors, sometimes one, sometimes two, and even three years at a place. Acts 11:26, 18:10, 20:31.
We find them then building up the church in place until it becomes self-supporting, officiating it, and leaving it in a living condition. We read of laborers being very zealous in their work, exhibiting that indomitable, indefatigable spirit that men of the world manifest in obtaining this world’s goods—not bowing to circumstances, but bending circumstances to them—not yielding to every trouble, but brooking every difficulty, overcoming every opposition, and by all means preaching the Gospel.
If they did not have much to eat, they simply ate less and were content, having learned how to be hungry or be filled, always having the bread and waters of life as their rich repast. Phil. 4:11-13. If poorly clad, they were still consoled with the gladsome reflection that they were clothed in the habiliments of Christ, the garment of righteousness, and that there is in store for them a robe washed white in the blood of the Lamb.
Our conclusion tends to be that we do not do as the ancient worthies did, and consequently, we do not succeed as they did. Look at what Christianity is, and consider what it ought to be. But says one, the Reformation has done wonders in forty years. But contrast superior characteristics of these times with the meager facilities of primitive days; look, too, at the great moral degradation of those days, then compare the first forty years of the Gospel, and with the last forty years of the Reformation, and see how little has been done.
In Alabama, the Gospel pure has been preached ever since we can remember, and what the result? Lameness, slackness, coldness, and death. Go to Selma, Montgomery, and elsewhere; and the tale is told. Not only the churches, our ministers turned to the plow, ordinary and subordination are shifting as they can. What is the…
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
Ah, says brother lawyer-preacher and brother doctor-preacher, I can make more in the practice than I can preaching, and I must have some money, so thought he, and he left. Paul: Tit. iv.: 10. Brother farmer-preacher says, my family must have something to eat, and I must obtain it, for he that provideth not for his family is worse than an infidel. Now if we say the brethren will not support us, is it not evident that there is wrong somewhere, either in the word of God, in the minister or the brethren? It cannot be in the word of God, this is immutable; if in the brethren, it must be the fault of the teacher after all, for they are instructed by him—they are his work (1 Cor. ix.: 1).
I am thankful the same they have ever been all the world over, and they will continue to Paul, and he says, that whoever needs a sock or plants a vineyard is surely entitled to fruits from his labor. It must be that the difference today is in our not being like Paul, and not in the brethren not being like they were of old.
Now, brethren, as to our experience, it is indeed, but limited; but being sustained by the word of God, we are emboldened to say it before you. So far as we have tested the matter, the word of God is true, “they that preach the Gospel can live by the Gospel,” and the brethren will be true if they are the work of the right kind of a workman (exceptions)—the vineyard will yield the vintage—the flock will feed.
I am I can see the shepherd, or pastor. A great many flocks do not produce any fleece or give any milk, for the simple reason they are not well fed and attended to. Many things or vineyards do not produce fruits, simply because they do not receive the proper culture. As in the kingdom of nature, so in the Kingdom of God. A shepherd who neglects to feed or minister to his flock brings destruction upon the flock, so we have some preachers who have neglected their labor before the flock.
And what is the consequence? Preachers are not to do likewise—they look for fleece, or milk of their flock to be produced—they are surprised at there being no fruits in their vineyard, when the cause is very apparent, they have not labored there unceasingly. Again, a farmer must not overcrop himself—a little yield is far better than too much poorly cultivated. As in nature, so in grace.
Now looking to our experience and the Bible, we say to all who have been engaged in the good work, or wish to go into it, also to our lawyer-preachers, like D. preachers, school teaching-preachers, and farmer-preachers do not wait for a society or cooperation meeting to send you one—this is not according to the Bible, and we are a “book” people. To all who engage in the work contiguously, or staggering before the many opportunities, let us not back down from the work under any ordinary circumstances, for if we do, we will not follow Paul, and he said follow him as he followed Christ. (1 Cor. ii.: 1). Ah, but we are not Pauls. We know that.
But let us do just as near like Paul as we possibly can, and then there…
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
will be the name attached to us. Have we done this? Oh, no! Again, our experience and the word of God testifies as follows: If a preacher, having the ability, and what we mean by this is common sense, a well cultivated heart and knowledge of God’s book, will get the consent of his church (she must send him), then select a field of labor suited to his ability, and work that field, and we mean work as only the man of God, who loves God and dying man can and should work, we are satisfied from our experience, unless assured by Paul that they will have good and success, and with that, he says, we shall be content.
Now the soldier of the cross, who goes about cracking jokes and telling many anecdotes, talking about games, wars, politics, etc., never visiting the brethren, the sick, the widows and orphans, and when they do, never encouraging them, ever indolent, negligent and indifferent, preaching the wrath of God upon the disobedient on Sunday, but never urging it by example or argument during the week, but talking of everything else, deserves to be stricken out of the field.
We have said we are not anti-missionary or anti-cooperation men. But this we do say, that whilst these are all around us, and have not the Gospel of Christ, the preacher has neither command, example or time to turn away from preaching to other duties, but we have sermons whose business it is to serve tables and let them attend to the financial matters in their own way, and we shall say nothing. With these remarks let us all be followers of Paul as he was a follower of Christ.
THE LITTLE SOWER
We have received the “Little Sower” for the half year just ended, bound in two neat and handsome volumes. We learn that the publisher, in addition to semi-monthly issue, will issue it in this form every three months as a quarterly. It makes a handsome appearance thus bound.
It will be remembered that in the beginning of the year we made some severe strictures on its course. Our attention at the time was called to the fact that the objectionable articles were in the last volume, which had been sent us. We have noticed it closely since, and we are happy to record, having seen nothing objectionable in the present volume. As now conducted, it seems well adapted to interest and instruct young children, and we wish for it an extensive circulation.
It is published at Indianapolis, by W. W. Dowtin, twice a month. Single copy 75 cents, five copies $3.00, ten copies $5.00, one hundred copies $30.00, for one year.
D. L.
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
“THEY DESIRE A BETTER COUNTRY”
The imagination may picture a far-off dreamland, where fairy forms walk beneath the shaded bowers and tread the flower carpeted paths that wind along the limpid streams, whose murmurs breathe a music that enchants the soul of the visionary. Still this is only a fantasy’s wild domain, and not the long-sought home of the just, whose names are writ in heaven.
Mahomet pointed his followers to a land called eternal spring, blooming trees, blossoming flowers, and luscious fruits, where the sensuality of the oriental voluptuary could not in an abyss of carnal security; for this alone could charm the devotees at the shrine of appetite and carnal meeting, only this could fascinate those whose desires were satisfied by the blandishments of pride and passion, and pump an power. Still this is not the “better country,” the land of the pilgrim, journeying through thorns and snares, and “seeking a city whose builder and maker is God.”
Not in harbors, for the temple is not made of stone; where church is the veil of the living God, whose heaven is the star of Bethlehem. Mention is often made by “holy men of old,” or a home where the weary are at rest and the wicked cease from troubling. Truths, like lustrous stars from heaven’s own altar, are spoken by these faithful witnesses of Jesus, and our hearts bound with triumph when they talk confidently of our Father’s home. Appellations most significant designate the Paradise of God. It is called our Father’s house—the New Jerusalem.
Glory! Our better country is not a myth; no, it is no dreamland, but a place, the place where Christ, the forerunner for us, is gone; for He entered into heaven itself, craving a real existence, it can be sought, found, cultivated into and enjoyed. Where it is, I presume not to say, but doubtless it is the most tranquil place in all the dominions of the universe of the ever-blessed God, who is the Father of our spirits. It is exalted, yes, upraised, above the suns and stars of day and night. Oh, sweet thought! No darkness, nor any night in the glorious home held in reservation for God’s poor, mourning, earthly children. Jesus ascended to it, and Paul taught up there, and heart words unlawful to be uttered on an earth stained by sin and moaned by death. Our better country is the palace of our Father. His throne is there; His temple, His servants’ tears are wiped away and they all serve Him during the endless age in that sinless climate, where “age has no power over the fruitless frame”—where “the eye is all fire and the heart is all flame.” We have heard of the state of our better country.
The glorious habitation of God is mentioned as the State of the glorified saints, of the spirits of the just made perfect, and of the angels who bow before the throne; yes, it is a state of triumphant adoration. Not a brow there shall throb in the limpid stream heard by our Father’s throne—not a hand but shall pluck the immortal fruit, and bask in the…
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
The sense of the Savior’s love shall realize the state of salvation from sin and death and hell.
It is a state of sacred rest to the toil-worn traveler, of incomprehensible triumph to the war-scarred veteran of the cross and crown, of unspeakable glory to the deep-seated follower of the Nazarene—there sorrow is exchanged for joy, tears for smiles, pain and mourning for peace, life, honor, immortality, and incorruptibility.
“Oh, bless the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name; for He will give me power instead of weakness, honor for dishonor, incorruptibility for corruptibility, a spiritual body instead of my poor shattered and sin-stricken natural body.”
Oh, happy contrast! Though this earth was very beautiful and quite desirable when it leaped into being at our Father’s bidding; though birds of brightest wing and sweetest note flitted in the balmy air that gave life to Eden; though the care and kindness of our Heavenly Father were lavished on it, and beholding all with benign eye, He pronounced it “very good,” yet sin has marred its face and blighted its beauty. The wild winds and waves of desolation have been unleashed, and the death-thrall has poisoned the petals of every flower and blighted the bloom of every blossom. The purifying streams of many pleasant homes are turbid, for the ministration of death has darkened the waters. Not so, that “better country.” The very essence of purity and holiness makes the air replete with a perpetuating element. No plague of sin withers its borders; the streams are all pure and their wells exhalations to the soul. The radiant light that illumines that better land emanates from the face of our peace and blessed Elder Brother. Not one spirit devoted to the cause of the evil one shall ever tread those halls brilliant and radiant with the Savior’s divinity.
How different this world from our Father’s home: Sickness is the fruit of sin, pain the offspring of iniquity, death the wages of transgression—the dark train of woe has touched every heart, and the death-mangel has chilled the breath of every circle with his gloomy wing, and created seats around every heartstone.
“Mourning, dying is emblazoned on earth’s brow. Here on earth we are pilgrims and strangers. We are born today and we die tomorrow.” Death loves his dark drapery about our bodies, and we live planted in the earth cursed by sin, but there comes a bright, proud day, when Jesus Christ will break the chains that bind us, and roll back the stone from our sepulchral entombment.
“Oh blessed thought! Oh precious hope!! The heart-treasures shall be returned to their caskets, and we taken to our Father’s home.”
No death-songs will ever be sung there; no pall shall ever be settled for those we love so tenderly—no long night watch shall be kept by the broken-hearted ones. Those solicitous has a pain intense, while listening to the death-rattle in the throat of our darling ones—no pain, no fear, no grief, no death in our better land. Shall we not seek it,
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
Page 491
and weep no more? Bear the cross and we shall wear the crown.
Dear reader, that you may have the right to the tree of life and enter through the gates into the city, keep the commandments of Christ. All that we are able to do in order to claim this Heavenly country, God has done for us. All that we are able to do he requires of us. The Father has loved us, the Son has died for us, His blood cleanseth us. Let us obey his Gospel. By faith in Christ, confession of his name, forsaking our sins, being buried with Christ in baptism, transforming glory, honor immortality, and his spirit helping our infirmities will secure the harp of gold, the crown of life, and joys inconceivable and full of glory. We desire a better country, with a city whose builder is God.
JO. F. BROWN.
Paducah, Ky., July 6th, 1886.
SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE WRONG.
- It is wrong for man to refuse to submit to the authority of God and submit to the authority of man. God established a government for man after the fall, but man soon renounced the authority of that government and established a government of his own; this brought upon them the flood. After the flood God established his government for man again, both religious and civil; man soon grew tired of it and set about building a tower to perpetuate his own name. This resulted in the confusion of their tongues, the evils of which we labor under today. After a while God established a government for the descendants of Abraham; this government was both religious and civil, but the Jews abandoned the civil government which God established and established a monarchy, and made void the religion which God gave them, by their traditions. After this God, through His Son, established a government for the whole world, intending by it to control the world in both their spiritual and civil relations, but even those who claim to be citizens of that government reject it so far as it was intended to control their civil relations, and look to human governments for laws to regulate their civil relations; and many of them have made it void, so far as it was intended to control their spiritual relations, by the traditions of men. All this is wrong.
- It is wrong for man to change, modify or abolish any institution of God for any purpose, and substitute the institutions of men. God has set up an institution “the Church of God,” or “the Church of Christ,” for evangelizing the world with the view of saving the world, and ordained all the means and instrumentalities necessary for the work, but there are many who claim to be members of the Church of Christ who have abandoned the use of the means and instrumentalities ordained by God, and have abandoned the church as the agent for this work, and have set up an institution of their own, and called it a missionary society. This is wrong.
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
492
31.
It is wrong for a Christian to insult his Master by describing the Church of Christ as a level with the unscriptural abusive attempts of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, and others. When they call the church the “Reformation,” the current reformation, the reformation of the nineteenth century, it calls the current reformation to distinguish it from previous reformations. This implies that it is subsequent to the former ones, and yet further pretends to establish, even though it is not the establishment of the Church of Christ. If this reformation commenced too late to be the Church of Christ, if it is the reformation of the nineteenth century, it is because it commenced since the commencement of the nineteenth century; thus, it confines it within the nineteenth century. But the Church of Christ commenced nearly nineteen centuries ago. I say it is wrong to designate the Church of Christ by calling it a reformation.
32.
It is wrong for a congregation of Christians to hire a Baptist preacher to preach for them. It is wrong for a congregation of Christians to recognize a Baptist congregation as a congregation of Christians, and worship promiscuously together, and receive letters from such congregations. So long as they continue their separate Baptist congregation, and call it a Baptist Church, and call them Baptists, this is wrong. It is wrong for Christians, when speaking of the Church of Christ and the sectarian denominations, to call them “other denominations of Christians,” thereby implying that the Church of Christ is one of many denominations of Christians, and that others are equally denominations of Christians with the Church of Christ, which is not true, and it is wrong for Christians to say anything that is not true.
33.
Finally, it is wrong for Christians to sail under false colors. When a ship is found sailing under false colors, it is taken as evidence of piracy. The Christian who is ashamed of his name to be found under an article he writes for “Christians,” should be ashamed to write at all. Every man inherits a name from his father, and his father gives him another after he is born; when he becomes a Christian he does not lose these names, but takes another in addition to these; by the name Christian he is known religiously. We all say that it is wrong for him to wear any name religiously than the one he received from his heavenly father. I hold it to be equally wrong for him to take any other than the name he gets from his worthy father when he writes for a religious paper. Besides, the church is interested in knowing who writes, for if he writes anonymously, the church should know who to hold responsible; but a man may write as much as he pleases under an assumed name, and no one will know who did it. It is wrong for editors to publish all articles without the name of the writer to it. These are other things that are wrong.
W. H. GOODLOE
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
APPEAL TO YOUNG CHRISTIANS
Young Christians, did you know that you have a part to perform in the great drama of life? We do, indeed, and it is an important one, too. It is the duty of us all to study diligently the Word of God, so that we may show by our good works that we are worthy to imitate the example of those gone before us.
When we look around us and see the elder brethren and sisters who have labored long and earnestly in the cause of our Redeemer, and note their feeble footsteps, the heavy silvering of their hair, we must remember that these are the ones who first taught us to seek after the life of our lowly Savior. Who, then, will supply the vacant places? Who will take the young Christians? Will it be incumbent upon them to perform the duties long performed by these? And in order to the performance of these duties, in spirit and in truth, we must strive earnestly for the faith, as it is in Christ Jesus, conducting ourselves so that we may be found worthy of the high calling of our Lord and Savior. Let us not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.
Instead of striving to appear as elegantly as those clad in silks and furs, let us show the timeliness of our dress, that we can not rot for the vanity of the world, and what we would expend for gathering ornaments to decorate the outward, but distribute among the wholly suffering children of earth.
The trying scenes of the past few years have made almost numberless widows and orphans, and we know not how many families are struggling up their cries, in waiting that they may be comforted. If we would “succeed in our religious duties,” we must visit the widows and orphans, and not only visit them, but minister to their necessities, as far as it is in our power. If we have no money to give, we can read to them from the blessed volume of inspiration, and, perhaps, be the means of saving a benighted soul from darkness and despair.
Oh, if the world would throw aside the successful garb in which it is arrayed, and appear in the charming simplicity which characterized it, it would, indeed, become a terrestrial paradise, where everything that is beautiful in nature and art would tend to raise the mind to a closer communion with our Maker, and inspire the heart with Christian grace and meekness, to perform the duties which are ever associated with mercy and consolation.
FELLOWSHIP
We have received from the church at Concord, Christian county, 25 votes, and 5 dollars from a sister in Nashville for the relief of the needy South.
D. L.
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
PUBLICATIONS BY J. T. WALSH
We have received from the author a pamphlet of twenty-one pages, by Elder John T. Walsh, on “The Civil Obligations of Christians.” The author well and ably sets forth the obligations of Christians to civil government as defined in the Bible—shows the limit and bound of their connection with the governments under which they live. If he, in some points, fails to come up to the full measure of the teachings of Scripture, he, nevertheless, shows a just appreciation of the unyielding character of the Christian’s standing before God and further exhibits the incompatibility of Christians supporting these powers by carnal weapons.
This is a valuable tract to those desirous of studying their practical Christian duty on this subject. We rejoice to see the amount of sanctified Christian thought bestowed upon this subject, by my brethren, and the amount of literature resulting therefrom. Price, single copy 25 cents, 10 copies for $1.
Also a tract, “Universalism Exposed,” which is a thorough expose of the system of infidelity. Brother Walsh is publishing the Messianic Banner, at Newbern, North Carolina. We believe it is chiefly, if not wholly, devoted to the author’s conceptions of the millennium and its early advent. That one or two copies have reached us.
From Apple, July 18, 1866
Brother Lincolns:—When I saw you in Amity Church you enquired of me concerning the condition of our preaching brethren of this section, in answer to which I read you a full statement as I was prepared to go at the time. Since returning home I have seen Bro. G. W. Neely, who is a faithful minister of the Gospel, and is of good report among all the brethren.
From his teaching last year, though part of the time assisted by other preachers, there were added to the faithful two hundred and thirty-three persons. This year, in consequence of the health of his family and excessive mining, his labors have not been so fruitful, probably amounting to thirty accessions up to this time; all that he can claim. What I desire to state to you is, that Bro. Neely is an efficient preacher, but for want of means will have to abandon his calling, unless assisted by the brethren. If anything can be done by the brethren of your section for Bro. Neely, it will no doubt be means well applied. I therefore commend him to your favorable consideration. In the meantime,
I remain, yours in Christ,
DAVID ADAMS.
Will not brethren respond to this call for aid to sustain Bro. Neely? We will send him one hundred dollars that the brethren have placed in our hands. With an additional hundred or two he would be enabled to de-
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
vote his time to the work so much needed in his country, work that will be a rich return in future years and in eternity. Brethren, we appeal to you for dear Nelly. Through the help sent through our hands, Bro. Smith, of Ga., has been enabled to devote much of his time to preaching. Bro. Wheeler, of Trion Factory, Ga., Bro. A. C. Burden, of Carrollton, Ga., and Bro. Robert Gray, of JamecCun, Miss., have been sick and unable to present much. Provisions and clothing have been sent to the relief of the poor saints in Spalding, Coweta and Clark counties, Ga. The amount sent is, in value, worth near two thousand dollars. Every dollar’s worth, I doubt not, was worthily and properly distributed. We appeal to our brethren and friends the condition still in this world, and especially for aid to capable men to preach to the interesting and starving thousands in that destitute land. Will they not promptly and cheerfully respond? Will not our preaching brethren present these matters to the brethren?
Columbia, Tenn., July 30th, 1866.
Brethren Laconium—You will please call attention to this place, as a place in which we think one of the best male schools can be had in the South. There is none here now. The citizens are anxious for some qualified teachers to come and make the effort. We are of the opinion that a male school of one hundred pupils can be obtained with but little effort. There will be two female schools in operation in September. We will give any information that we can to any one who may write to us. This is not the most county in Tennessee.
Yours truly,
John A. Sidener.
American Christian Teacher please copy.
We know of no location more favorable for the immediate opening of a male school, with certain success than beginning at Columbia.
Elk Bridge, Clay County, Tenn., July 31st, 1866.
Brethren Laconium—Dear Sir: I am highly pleased with your remarks upon the subject of the Reclamation, in the twenty-ninth number of the Advocate; also with the article you proposed of the case of Cornelius, in a former number. In short, I am better pleased with the Advocate than I expected to be when I subscribed for it. Your reply to my inquiry, or Louisville, Ky., I have not had time to examine, but I can assure you I have been wanting to hear something definite on this subject. I now think I will try to be at the meeting at Pea Ridge on the 9th of October.
Your brother in hope of a better day,
Wade Barrett
THE GOSPEL ADVOCATE
JOHNSONBORO, Ga., July 18th, 1866.
DEAR BROTHER LISCOMB:
Yours of the 12th inst., acknowledged the 14th inst., came to hand this morning, and I hasten to reply at once, according to your request. I am glad you sent some to the poor and needy in Coweta and Carroll counties, shipped to Newman. I have just written Bro. Smith, and I will go to their assistance as soon as I am informed of the arrival of the cargo. I think I will go down next week anyway. I have out appointments for protracted meetings till away in the month of August, and have had a very sick family for ten days. I am hindered by sickness, shall be absent pretty constantly preaching.
Bros. Travis and Jones would have me come down and assist them in the division of the articles sent to them to divide among the most needy. I think they add very judiciously. And I, my soul brother, if you could have heard the expressions of gratitude, and the tears streaming down the cheeks of the beneficiaries, and would, in some degree, feel for the great work you are doing, you would rejoice.
I do not know what is to become of us! I know not. The great rain in the spring, and now the great dry spell of weather—had rain about four weeks—come hurting up in the field—scarcely a half of my corn crop will ever have a shoot on it. It just seems to me that I can’t make a bushel to the acre. Never in my life. May the Lord leave mercy.
X. W. SMITH.
NEW WORK.
We have received the advance sheet of a portion of a work being published in Louisville, Ky., by “Pilgrim,” entitled “A Vision of Spiritual Life.” Its aim is to set forth the true order and workings of the Church of Christ. While it is lacking in popularity and force, it contains many valuable selections, and shows the path of the author, a high appreciation of the principles and workings of the Church of Christ. His endeavor to call Christians back to the true simplicity and purity of the primitive Gospel, both in church order and private walk. We will cheerfully aid in its circulation. It will contain fifty-eight pages, Price 25 cents single copy, $2.00 per dozen. Without price to daughters in word and doctrine, and to the poor.
Bristol, July 9th, 1866.
DEAR BROTHERS PARSONS & LISCOMB:
On the first and second days of this month Bro. J. M. Armstrong, Bro. J. C. Campbell and myself held a meeting with the congregation at the mouth of Little Moccasin creek, Washington county, Va. (known as the corner house.) Fifteen were added to the church by confession and baptism, and one rededicated. Many more seemed almost persuaded to be Christians, but circumstances forbade the continuance of the meeting.
Yours in the bonds of Christian love,
SAMUEL H. HULLARD.