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Wednesday, November 20, 2024

DEFENSE OF FALSE ALLEGATIONS (DUDLEY) 1835


Lexington, Ky. Aug. 1835.

DEAR BRO. BEEBE: Your two letters came duly to hand, and but for absence from home in the discharge of ministerial duties, should have answered them sooner. It would give me much pleasure to be with the Old School brethren who meet with you in Oct. Next, I indulge some hope that it will be in my power to accomplish it. The matter is however involved in doubt. I have sent you the “Cincinnati Journal” of the 17th of July, which contains an unprovoked attack upon me and the society to which I belong, together with my reply to the attack. I had not heard a sentence of such a piece being in existence, until our Bro. Trott visited us in the latter part of December last. He came across the piece copied into the Southern Telegraph, printed at Richmond, Va. on his way out. After he had given me the information, I used some industry to get hold of the paper containing the original attack; having obtained the loan of it, I wrote a reply in January, but owing to the continued absence of my brother (who lives in Cincinnati) from the city during the most of the latter part of the winter and spring, I did not send the article first written (I may say that some friends urged that it was too lengthy) because of its length, and wrote a second which did not reach the press, owing to the absence of my brother until July.

You may form some idea of the nature of the war waged against me upon reading Mr. Brainard’s piece, as also the prospect of my “capitulating to the enemy,” when you shall have read my reply. A desperate struggle is made to build up their systems by the worshippers of the great goddess Diana; and no wonder, for her “craftsmen live by their craft,” and it is in danger. I think they find heavy pulling, deep roads, and balky oxen; which renders the onward march of their machinery rather tardy. I think the gospel in its simplicity and purity is sweeter to me than ever; and when I find a brother here and there (and there are yet some amongst us, and occasionally we have visitors from a distance) who have firmness and independence enough to speak out plainly the language of the Jews – who can pronounce the “Shibboleth of Jordan” distinctly, he feels nearer my heart than ever. This consideration somewhat reconciles me to persecution. It always did, and always will tend to strengthen the cords of Christian affection.

The Apostle has said, “yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” O, my dear brother, if we can only have grace (for on it alone am I dependent) sufficient to live as the faithful in Israel, “though a host should encamp against us,” we have nothing to fear; “for the Master has said, One shall chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.” O that we may always remember that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of the strongholds.” The Poet has said of Jesus:

“He is a solid comfort when
All other comforts fail.”

May we feel in our souls what another Poet has said,

“If bliss thy providence impart,
For which resigned I’ll pray;
Give me to feel the greatfull heart,
And hourly watch and pray.”

Affliction should thy love intend,
As vice or folly’s cure;
Patient to gain the gracious end,
May I the means endure.”

We live in an evil day, when “the love of many seems to wax cold.” I have frequently been reminded of the language of the Psalmist, within the last few months, “Help Lord for the Godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men.”

Within the last three weeks, a friend has placed in my hands the “Cross and Baptist Journal” published in Cincinnati, in which I find another attack on myself and our Association, over the signature of “R.T. /Dillard.” The ostensible cause of this attack is, the remark contained in my letter to Bro. Reis, viz: “Our Association remains firm as a body; we still have a few disaffected among us, but their number has been diminished since I was with you,” and which was published in the Signs at the request of the Old School brethren. I take no exceptions to its publication. Eld. Dillard admits that dissatisfaction exists; that a majority of the Association is opposed to Missionary operations; and admits and denies that the number of disaffected has been diminished. My reply is written and will be forthcoming shortly – provided the Cross and Journal will agree to publish it; if not, some other medium will be sought. My best love to dear brother Conklin and all the brethren who enquire for me.

Your Brother and companion in tribulation.


THOMAS P. DUDLEY


THE REV. THOMAS P. DUDLEY, OF KENTUCKY.

Last Sept. more than NINE MONTHS ago, the editor of the Journal spent a week in Kentucky, and on his return, he wrote a short account of his visit. – Among other things, we referred to the operations of the particular Baptists, of whom the Rev. Thos. P. Dudley is a leader. The following is an extract from our observations:”

Georgetown.

‘This is one of the most delightful towns in Kentucky, containing about 1500 inhabitants. Situated on rising ground, furnished with excellent water, and surrounded by the rich and beautiful landscapes, so common in the center of Kentucky, it will hardly lose by comparison with any town of its size in the United States. It is on the direct route from Cincinnati to Lexington, twelve miles distant from the latter, and sixty-eight from the former. A company has been chartered to construct a Macadamized road between the two cities, and when this work is completed, Georgetown can hardly fail to become one of the most flourishing and populous towns in the state.’

‘We have mentioned three kinds of Baptists. The Regular, the Cambellite, and the Newlight. There is another kind still, called Dudleyites, or familiarly Iron Jackets. Their great leader here is the Rev. Mr. Dudley. He preached at Georgetown on the Sabbath we were there. His sermons are often two hours and a half or three hours in length. Wherever he starts he is sure to travel over about the same ground in each sermon. He and his party claim to be the original Simon Pure Baptist denomination, and they everywhere, like another party we could name, denounce as heretics and innovators all those pretended Baptists, who offer salvation to sinners, and endeavor to persuade them to repent and believe in all-sufficient and accessible Saviour. They believe that all efforts by men, to save souls, and savor sacrilege, by invading the sovereignty of God. They are wonderfully afraid of revival excitements; and without scruple, collect and trumpet forth to the world the slanders which the world is willing to originate against revival preachers. The Rev. Mr. Dudley does not scruple to take up Presbyterians, Methodists, Regular Baptists, Episcopalians, &c., by name, and lacerate them without mercy. We know of but one other minister, in any denomination, who deals in this personal abuse, and he in all respects above named is a true yoke-fellow of Mr. Dudley. Against our Bible, Tract, Missionary, Sunday Schools, and Temperance Societies, the Dudleyites have a special antipathy. They rail at these as new measures, calculated to take the work of God out of his hands; as Arminian devices opposed to Calvinism, and not named in the Bible. We know of at least one lady, a member of this ultra Calvinistic and essentially bigoted sect, who tried to break from her chains, by sending her children to the Sunday school. For this, she was disciplined and persuaded to make a public confession. Another, a father, whose son had joined the Temperance Society, came in a great rage and ordered his name to be stricken off. In these churches is still heard the old song about ‘man-made preachers,’ ‘ministerial hirelings,’ &c. The leaders of this denomination are striving to reform the Regular Baptists, by persuading them to give up their revival preaching, and benevolent societies, so that all may lie down together and sleep, and ‘wait God’s time to gather in the elect.’ They are willing to trust sinners throughout a perishing world, to God’s naked sovereignty, bu they are afraid to trust the church to such keeping and stir themselves right heartily to hold their own, and gain proselytes. Marvellous consistency!

Pity that all antinomians of all denomination, who are afraid sinners will be converted too fast, could not be collected into one body, and laid away quietly to sleep, where their slumbers would not be disturbed by the rolling wheels of the gospel chariot, and where they would no longer disturb, by their croaking, those who are fighting the battles of the Lord. Their number we know not, but they are scattered here and there over the west.’

TO THE PUBLISHERS OF THE CINCINNATI JOURNAL.

Gentlemen,

Within the last few months, your paper of the 17th October last has been placed in my hands and my attention especially invited to an unprovoked libel, published (under the editorial head) against me and a respectable proportion of the Baptist denomination, as well, in our own, as other countries.

Were the circulation of your paper confined to the limits of my acquaintance, I should treat that vituperative article with the contempt it merits. But learning that it has been copied into several of the eastern journals, amongst others, the ‘Southern Telegraph,’ printed at Richmond, Va.; I feel it a duty I owe myself, the society to which I belong, and to the cause of truth (unaccustomed as I am to newspaper controversy) to disabuse the public mind by exposing that issue of misrepresentations. As your journal has been the medium of communication for the ‘visitor’s’ attack, I ask it as an act of justice that you publish my reply.

With the author, I have no personal acquaintance, nor do I recollect ever to have heard of him, except in connection with his unchristian and wanton attack on a body of people, who for integrity, honesty, and real piety, would lose nothing by comparison with any sect in Christendom. It is true, the Particular Baptists stand aloof from the system of mendicancy (erroneously called benevolent institutions) peculiar to those days of invention in religious matters; believing that God has ordained the means which shall infallibly secure the salvation of his elect and that not one word is said in the Bible (the standard of our faith and practice) about missionary, bible, tract and temperance societies, as conducing to effectuate the eternal purposes of Jehovah. Nor do we feel disposed to impose upon the credulity of the religious and irreligious; male and female, bond and free, by telling them, that contributing to rear and sustain those institutions of human invention, they are throwing into the Lord’s treasury. Nor yet, that approaching an anxious seat, front bench, or emphatically a work bench, is a means appointed by the Eternal of securing an interest in a Saviour’s blood. We rely on stronger and more effectual means than such trumpery as this. We rely on the atoning blood of the Lamb as efficacious in the ‘purchase of his church’ and the irresistible work of the Spirit to sanctify and prepare them for the Master’s use. Such was Paul’s reliance, as we learn from the following declarations: ‘We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation (the end) through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth’ (the means:) 2 Thess. ii, 13. It is not surprising, however, that the young man has manifested so much bitterness of feeling when we remember what the Master said to his disciples, ‘Marvel not if the world hates you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore, the world hateth you.’ We have long since learned that to maintain consistently, that God saves his people by his own uncontrollable power, ‘according to the eternal purposes which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,’ is enough to secure (from the children of the bondwoman) the title of antinomian, fatalist, &c.; and to refuse worship to the great goddess Diana, and withhold patronage from her craftsmen rarely fails to secure (from the same source) the epithet of uncharitable. Yet it is said, ‘Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name’s sake,’ and we are exhorted to ‘bear hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.’

Had the ‘visiter’ made himself acquainted with the doctrine and practice of the ‘Dudleyites or Iron Jackets’ as he is pleased to name them, and given to the world a fair and impartial representation of them; not a murmur would ever have escaped one. But it is evident such was not his intention. The interest of many is promoted by suppressing the truth. Hence with them ‘the end sanctifies the means.’ If he really has a desire to know something of the doctrine and practice of the ‘Particular Baptists’ (of which he seems entirely ignorant) if he will examine what is commonly called the Apostle’s creed, supposed to have been written shortly after the ascension of the Head of the Church; the Confession of faith published by the Waldenses, who inhabited the valleys of Piedmont in the 12century; the London Confession of Faith, adopted by a number of Particular Baptists near two centuries past; or the Philadelphia Baptist Confession of Faith, adopted in 1742; he may learn something of them. The church of which I am a member was constituted in 1786, and received as her declaration, the last named Confession. From it, we have not departed. If there exists a discrepancy between our views and those of the Regular Baptists, it is because of their departure from original principles, and not from our adopting a new theory, whether called ‘new-school divinity,’ or by any other name.

I might with confidence appeal to the First Presbyterian society, and the various Baptist churches in Cincinnati, (at each of whose houses of worship upon special invitation, I have several times tried to preach) in refutation of the slanders of Mr. Brainerd. His allusion to the length of my sermons and my traveling over the same ground in each is too contemptible to merit serious notice. That I believe the doctrine and practice of the Particular Baptists to correspond with the Bible, is most true; but that I denounce all those who differ from us as ‘heretics and innovators’ is a perversion of truth, for which the author of the attack is holden responsible before the religious community. That I descend to ‘personal abuse’ is equally destitute of foundation in fact. To assign the reasons why I conceive other denominations are in error, and to expose such errors, is my privilege as a minister of the gospel, in doing which, I have studiously avoided misrepresentation, and Mr. Brainerd is challenged to produce a single instance in which I have misrepresented any creed. His cause is indefensible, hence he is disposed to meet argument, sound argument, with abuse. I have again and again said publicly, that I believe there are many heaven-born souls attached to the various denominations of professed christians, but that, in so far as they differ from us I conceive them to be in error.

If I abuse and denounce all other denominations, as Mr. Brainard accuses me of doing; or if I ‘collect and trumpet forth to the world slanders,’ is it not passing strange that our congregations have increased since Mr. B’s. visit to his classmate in Georgetown, and that those congregations are composed of Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Regular Baptists, Reformers and Unitarians, &c? which is known to be a fact. Gentle reader, ask yourself the question: Is it rational to suppose, that those congregations meet me month after month, to hear themselves abused? Shameful perversion of truth! We believe that Jesus is an all-sufficient Saviour only for those whom he has redeemed and that he will save all such with everlasting salvation. We believe him the only medium of access to the Father; ‘For through him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit unto the Father.’ Eph. ii, 18. We warn the impenitent of the claims of the LAW upon them, their duty to turn from sin; but we dare not promise them salvation upon their obedience to the law. ‘By the deeds of the law, there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.’ Rom. iii, 20. Men are ‘dead in trespasses and sins;’ when made alive by the Spirit, (whose province it is to give life, ‘it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing:) Then and not till then are they the subjects of gospel address. ‘But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.’ Hence it is seen that the agency of the Holy Spirit is indispensable to the production of gospel faith, without which it is impossible to please God. The law, and the law alone has to do with men in an unregenerate state; the gospel has to do with those who are alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ The Saviour said ‘Make the tree good and his fruit shall be good,’ in reference to the principle of faith, whence flows good works.

A heavy charge is leveled against us for our supposed opposition to ‘revival preaching and benevolent institutions.’ Whence the term ‘revival preaching I know not; I am very certain it is not drawn from the sacred volume. The gospel of Christ is the same whether preached in times of revival, or when Zion is languid, and the ministry is required to ‘preach the gospel.’ Why then is this distinction drawn? In relation to ‘benevolent institutions,’ as they are called, I remark, that we have no earthly objection to men associating together for the suppression of vice and substitution of virtue in its place, but we do object to setting up those institutions as ‘religious institutions.’ – They are unknown to the Bible (the standard of our faith and practice) hence we are unwilling to dishonor our divine Head by saying (virtually) he has been deficient in the appointment of the means to secure his ends, and that we will supply that deficiency with our societies. Or that the laws for the government of Zion are inadequate, and we will, therefore, supply that inadequacy. Religious and irreligious may, and have become members of most or all of them, by paying their money. In such association, are we not violating the command of Christ: – ‘Be ye not conformed to this world’ – ‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers’ – ‘Touch not, taste not, handle not?’ But, it is said we ‘are willing to trust sinners throughout a perishing world to God’s naked sovereignty.’ In this, he has said truly; but as untruly has he said, we are afraid to trust the church to such keeping. We have no city of refuge but the eternal God; hence we cannot trust ourselves or others anywhere else. ‘Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh not in vain.’ Ps. cxxviii, 1. Every soul who has experienced regeneration, who has been made acquainted with the holy character of his Creator, the purity of his law, the heinous nature of sin, the corruption of his own heart; who has tasted, figuratively, of the wormwood and gall, being ‘ten thousand talents in debt and having nothing to pay,’ is brought to cry ‘Lord save, we perish.’ ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ ‘Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.’ Here he relies exclusively on God’s naked sovereignty and here must Mr. Brainerd be brought to rely, or he will assuredly hear the sentence depart. – ‘Not unto us, but unto thy name give glory.’

Mr. Brainerd says, we know of at least one lady, a member of this ultra Calvinistic and essentially bigoted sect, who tried to break from her chains, by sending her children to the Sunday School. For this, she was disciplined and persuaded to make a public confession.’ There is not the least shadow of foundation in fact for this charge, and Mr. Brainerd should be held up to the world as a calumniator for asserting it. The case of the father, which he says he knows to exist, is alike untrue in every essential particular. It is humiliating indeed to see a man professing to be a minister of the gospel, so reckless of truth.

Tenacious as we are of our principles, believing them to be gospel principles, I rejoice that no individual is to be found in our ranks, who seems to regret that all these who differ from us ‘could not be collected together, and laid away quietly to sleep (ay, the sleep of death) where the rolling wheels of the gospel chariot can no more disturb their slumbers.’ No, they may ‘croak’ on, until the Lord shall stop them. Christians of all denominations, has it come to this, that because an individual or body of christians wants a ‘precept or example’ drawn from the bible to sustain the inventions of men before they are to be prescribed; yes, but for the laws of the land, deprived of their liberty, and perhaps of life? Charity would hope that the young man’s pen wrote that which his heart did not dictate. But that I may do the Rev. T. Brainerd a presbyterian preacher of Cincinnati, Ohio, no injustice, I quote his own language. ‘Pity that all antinomians of all denominations who are afraid sinners will be converted too fast, could not be collected into one body, and laid away quietly to sleep, where their slumbers would not be disturbed by the rolling wheels of the gospel chariot, and where they would no longer disturb, by their croaking, those who are fighting the battles of the Lord. Their numbers we know not, but they are scattered here and there over the west.’ The above sentence closes Mr. Brainerd’s philosophy against me and the society to which I belong. We have a cause of gratitude to God in that we enjoy religious toleration. Had Mr. B. the sanction of law, we know not how soon he would engage in exterminating all who dare proclaim ‘salvation is of the Lord.’

THO’S. P. DUDLEY.
Fayette, Co. Ken. April 1, 1835

Signs of the Times
Volume 3, No. 21
October 14, 1835

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

CALL TO THE GOSPEL MINISTRY (DUDLEY) 1874


Lexington, Ky., Nov.24, 1874.

MY DEARLY BELOVED BROTHER BEEBE: - A short time since I received a letter from a brother in a distant state, asking me to write for publication in the “Signs,” my views on the call to the gospel ministry. I can only give the exercises of my own mind on this important subject.

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Monday, November 18, 2024

ONE OFFERING (DUDLEY) 1879


Lexington, Ky., Jan., 1879.

MEMBERS OF HIS BODY (DUDLEY) 1879


Lexington, Ky., Jan., 1879.

MY DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - I have been fully satisfied for more than fifty years, that the difficulty with the people of God in explaining the warfare which so distressingly annoys and perplexes them, results from want of understanding the relations they sustain to the Lord Jesus Christ, and their complex character as the sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty. 

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Friday, November 15, 2024

I JOHN 2.3 (DUDLEY) 1841


Near Lexington Ky., April 20, 1841.

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: – The 3d no., current vol. of the “Signs,” did not come to hand until a few days since in looking over it I found a request from a “Correspondent” for my views on 1 John iii. 2, 3:

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

A "REVEREND" WRITES (POOLE) 1989


On a xerox copy of what appeared to be a "Sunday-school" lesson the following two comments were hand-written and mailed to us.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

THE MEDIATORIAL WORK OF CHRIST (DUDLEY) 1872


Lexington, Ky., Feb. 29, 1872.

DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - I have reflected much on the crude and undigested notions of almost, if not altogether, the religious world, so-called, excepting Particular, or Old School Baptists, with regard to the mediatorial work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and am constrained to acknowledge, that, if those notions comport with the teachings of Christ, and his apostles, and prophets, I have wholly mistaken them.

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This book is a well known work, showing how Baptists have become enamored with the Reformers, abandoning their own apostolic heritage and growing fond eyes for the Reformers who persecuted them.

Friday, November 8, 2024

CHRISTIAN WARFARE (DUDLEY) 1845


TO THE CHURCHES

Composing the Licking Association of Particular Baptists, especially, and to the “Old School Baptists,” generally.

Circumstances seem, in the judgment of the undersigned, to render it necessary to his own vindication, and but justice to those who concurred with the sentiments contained in the following Circular; that it should be published for your prayerful consideration.

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Thursday, November 7, 2024

PASSED FROM DEATH UNTO LIFE (DUDLEY) 1877


Lexington, Ky., Nov.7, 1877.

MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: - You and I have been permitted to live and labor long, as we have presumed to hope, in the cause of our divine Savior, and have witnessed many defections from the faith of the gospel, among those who professed to “walk with us to the house of God in company;” and why is it that we have not been “turned away from the truth, and been turned unto fables?” What anguish has that question stirred. “Will ye also go away?” I feel the language to be appropriate to me.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

THE DEATH OF ELDER EPRHAIM RITTENHOUSE 1902

Locktown Church, Locktown NJ


[Even though we have reservations about his softening views of Predestination, still this minister chose to be buried in Welsh Tract Cemetery. - ed]

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

FROM AN EXCHANGE PAPER (POOLE) 1997


[The following article is a fair sample of the views of limited Predestinarians. It does not seem appropriate to let it pass without a reply.]

Monday, November 4, 2024

DEFINITIONS (POOLE) 1993


Condition
: Anything called for as a requirement before the performance or completion of something else.

Sunday, November 3, 2024

DOES GOD LOVE EVERYBODY? (POOLE) 1991

Driving down a main boulevard here in our religious community, we observed a billboard above a building with a short message which caught our eye. It read, "God loves ya."

Saturday, November 2, 2024

CORRUPTED MAN AND THE HEAVENLY FAMILY (DUDLEY) 1861


CIRCULAR LETTER of the Licking Association of Particular Baptists of Kentucky, now in session with the Church at Bryant’s, Fayette County, Kentucky, to the Churches of which she is composed, sendeth Christian salutations.

Friday, November 1, 2024

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY RELIGION (POOLE) 1992


We recently saw the following bumper sticker on the back of a local junker: "Include God in your life. Read the Bible every day." After musing on the message for a moment we felt a bit of consternation, and a portion of revulsion. Bumper sticker religion has never had much worthwhile to say, and this one conveyed the very essence of what so-called modern religionists really believe. "Include God." Yes, indeed; by all means include a favorite deity in your daily activities.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

THE BIRTH OF THE NEW MAN AND ADOPTION OF THE OLD MAN Or, The “Soul of Man” is not the New Man, nor the subject of Regeneration (DUDLEY) 1853


Dearly Beloved Brethren,

In our youth, we were taught to seek instruction from those sources which time and improved opportunities, had rendered most competent to impart it. As we have increased in years, our desire to know the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, has increased.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

DO "ALL THINGS" REALLY MEAN "ALL THINGS IN ROMANS 8.28? (POOLE) 1990


"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Rom. 8:28,29)

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE WARWICK OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CHURCH & ELDER COX'S EXCLUSION

 


ARE WE ANTINOMIANS? (POOLE) 1988


For a long period of time now those who publish "The Remnant" have been variously accused of some of the vilest heresies ever known to humankind, and, in particular we have been branded as Antinomians. By definition an antinomian is one who is "against the law." Using such a definition it would be possible then even to accuse the most extreme Arminian of being an antinomian when he says he is against the law of sin which works in his members. Certainly before one is tagged with malicious titles there should be some understanding of what that title connotes. In this case we refer specifically to being charged with antinomianism.

Monday, October 28, 2024

QUICKENED SPIRITS (DUDLEY) 1877


Lexington, Ky., Jan.25, 1877.

MY DEAR BROTHER BEEBE: - My attention has been recently called to an expression that occurs in the Circular on the Warfare – “quickened spirits.” I remember the expression was severely criticized immediately after the Circular was first printed.

Sunday, October 27, 2024

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD (DUDLEY) 1877


Lexington, Ky., Jan.11, 1877.

MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST: - If you knew my anxiety to hear from you, the interest I take in your temporal and spiritual welfare, I think you would have written before this time. I have not heard anything directly or indirectly from you since we parted in Louisville.

Saturday, October 26, 2024

HE IS A VICTORIOUS SAVIOR


"I will be surety for him: If I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame forever" - Gen 43:9

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

DOUBT (POOLE) 1989


One of the major tenants of the Arminian's religion is that its adherents must believe with all their heart, and never ever doubt. To doubt, (they say) is to make God a liar; a crime of the deepest hue, and worst magnitude. This has never been fully explained to us, but that is what they say; and "take it or leave it" seems to pervade their stance. And who wants to make God a liar?

While this may not seem too ominous to the new convert, it certainly will aggrieve the woeful sinner that has been far enough down the road to experience a few things for himself. If, for instance, we feel the Word of God condemns some particular activity of ours, will we not sense some condemnation for it? And if we feel some condemnation, then is it not probable that we will be led of the Spirit to examine ourselves? To what purpose would we examine ourselves if there was not at least some little cause for doubt? If you were satisfied beyond a peradventure of your standing before the Lord could you possibly be induced to inquire of yourself as to whether your standing before the Lord was true or false? Simply put, if we sin, and we do, then we are subject to doubts and inquiries.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" II Corinthians 13:5. That the word whether means "if" needs no proving to the honest soul. Except means "unless" in this text, again raising a question of the possibility of one not being what they once thought they were. It is important here too, to see that the Apostle broached this inquiry to those Corinthians after he had accused their assembly of failing to repent of uncleanness, fornication, and lasciviousness (loose living) II Cor 12:21. Can it be believed that we any less need such an examination in our daily lives? To refuse to examine ourselves is tantamount to saying we are fully established, live in perfect holiness at all times, and "know" we are going to heaven when we die. We cannot speak for others, but for ourselves we feel far, far too much the inward working of sin and unbelief to ignore the admonition.

On one occasion a poor sinner was recorded as saying, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24. Had there been any of today's modern breed of Arminians there to hear him they would no doubt have rushed upon this wretched unbeliever and severely rebuked him for such a comment. "You had better get saved friend, before it is everlastingly too late. Accept the Saviour before He withdraws the Spirit. Tomorrow's sun may never rise; act now!! Repent! Turn or burn! ....etc, etc, add nauseam." Would their harangue be of any benefit to the sad bemoaner? Only to the extent that it would compel him to flee their company as soon as possible. Sooner far he had rather be alone with his doubts, fears, and unbelief than to endure their sanctimonious company. And so too had the poor little children of the Heavenly King today rather be isolated from all fellowship than to walk with the arrogant Arminians that feel God owes them heaven and happiness because they do not doubt.

J.F. Poole

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Tuesday, October 22, 2024

THE CONFLICT (POOLE) 1994


"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me (Romans 7.21)."



The perplexing conflict between good and evil in the Apostle Paul was not an aberration; he said he had discovered a law to that effect. Paul was no religious wastrel, nor was he given to exaggeration. Simply put, this poor man, like all others called by grace, found his life to be swayed by these two principles; good and evil. Thus, by the Spirit of inspiration, he relates his lamentable condition as one of unremitting conflict.

Let us mention that this text is seldom the subject for Arminian inquiry, nor a theme likely to be expostulated upon by those trapped in the web of duty-faith. This text is, rather, a sure beacon in the dark experiences of those tried saints finding so much filthiness and vile imaginations working in the secret recesses of their being. Under God's blessing they may often find comfort, and experience seasons of delight, in learning that such a man as Paul also was vexed by this warfare. It, the warfare, was the endless conflict raging between the old man and the new.

This is not a text to flee from when the great conflict boils within, when many distresses emerge from the love of sin, sinking us down to the lowest regions; it is rather a fountain of truth flowing with comfort and strength. There is no message here of condemnation. No thunderings of threatened punishment gush forth as might be supposed. This text simply sets before us the facts of the matter. In our times of intended good, evil is just as present with us as our aspirations to holiness. There is no "Ought to" or "Ought not to" here; just the exclamation of one who has discovered this law, or certain consequence, of attempting to do good. Evil is present.

Who is there that has not found a little glimmer of hope when hearing a more seasoned child of God lamenting his leanness, and his awful inclinations toward sin? "If that dear brother" we consider, "has these dreadful apprehensions of evil when he desires to do good, then how can we expect to do any better?"

No more sobering and presumption-killing truth ever entered the soul of a child of God than "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3.6)." These are the sources of good and evil; good naturally flows from the spiritual birth, and evil likewise develops from the fleshly birth. We believe it to be a certain truth that this conflict will continue unabated to the grave.

J. F. Poole

Monday, October 21, 2024

EXODUS 20.8-11 (POOLE) 1990


"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Exodus 20:8-11)

Our text plainly says that the Sabbath day is the seventh day; a point which we wish to strongly emphasize in this article. We do believe a very great misconstruction of the Scriptures has been done in attempting to transfer the Sabbath day from the seventh day of the week to the first, and making it a so-called Christian Sabbath for believers in the gospel age we now live in. We also believe it fairly impossible for those who hold to and teach a Christian Sabbath, to prove their position; either from the Bible, or from Baptist history. We full well recognize that such a statement will bring much criticism, and, even bitter dissent against us, for even suggesting that the Christian has no specific calendar Sabbath at this time. However, we feel it necessary to take our stand here, and to reaffirm the clear, plain, and obvious teaching of the Word of God; that believers are not under law but under grace. And too, that statement will no doubt bring additional criticism and distress among the legal day-keepers; and if our present feeling is not changed by our Lord, we will have to say, humbly, "So be it."

We are continually bombarded with articles on the Christian Sabbath in Baptist papers, which we either receive by subscription or exchange. It seems that the notion of this Christian Sabbath is an increasingly important point among some today; to the extent that the writers of the same will bombast, vilify, and condemn those who cannot agree with them, or walk with them in this purely old covenant, legal way. Within a three-week period we noticed four different papers with articles on this subject. All condemned what they call Sabbath breakers (those of us who differ with them) and those who will not walk with them in their legal precept. Some were more critical than others, but all contended that God's children today were as much obliged to observe the Sabbath as the Israelites were when the commandment was first given them in the wilderness by Moses. It would seem that if the believing remnant was to observe one particular day out of the week as a Christian Sabbath that we would have clear and concise instruction from the Word of God on when this was begun, and how we are to perform it. However, this is not the case! As we previously stated, there is not one shred of evidence that such is so.

Let us first consider briefly what the Sabbath is, according to the Bible. From our text we learn that the seventh day was the Sabbath of the Lord. It was a time for no work and the basis for its existence was that the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that was in them in six days, and rested on the seventh day. As says the text, "Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." You will notice that the word "Sabbath day" and "seventh day" here mean one and the same thing. This is the day the Israelites were to remember as the day their Lord rested. So clearly, the Sabbath day was a day of God's rest, and they, from His example, were to rest on the seventh day, so long as they lived under that economy. But, does that still apply today to the Child of God that has found rest in Jesus? By no means.

In Exodus 3 1:12-17 it was clear that the fourth commandment was different from all the others, in that it alone was a sign given by God. As we read, "For it (the Sabbath) is a sign between me and you throughout your generations." Without lengthening the argument at this point it seems very plain that no one was intended here but the Israelites and their generations to whom this commandment or sign was originally given. It is also to be seen that all violators of this sign or commandment were to meet with sure and certain punishment. They were to be cut off from among the people, and put to death. They were allowed to work six days, but on the seventh was the Sabbath of rest, and it was holy to the Lord. Anyone who violated this day was to surely be put to death. We ask; are those who are so intent upon enjoining a Sabbath day upon us in this day, as willing to enjoin upon us the penalties of its violation? If we have today the same Sabbath principles, do we not also have today the same Sabbath protections against its violation? Wherein has one changed, and the other not? Or one remain the same, and the other not? We fail to see any consistency among those who lead us down this legalistic path to a Sabbath ordinance.

The idea of a Christian Sabbath seems to stem from the mistaken notion that there was at some point a change in the day the Sabbath was to be observed; from the seventh day to the first. However, when we begin to look through the New Testament for some indication of this, we find that a record of this supposed change simply does not exist. There is no text, or texts, which tells us anything of the kind. There is nothing stated, nor is there anything even implied, that the seventh day was changed to the first after the resurrection of Jesus our Lord. We fully concur, and believe with others, that the disciples met upon the first day of the week; that they broke bread upon the first day of the week, and many other things according to their worship was upon the first day of the week. We agree that the Scripture is plain that John was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. But none of these things tell us that there was any definite break from the seventh to the first in order that we might have a specific day of legal rest. These things in themselves do not create a "Sabbath Day" by which we are legally bound to its observance. Conjecture is the best that can be said for this position. We further, in examining the Scriptures, find that no where did the Apostles teach, or act out in such a way, a doctrine that God's children today must take one day out of seven, and set it apart to do nothing but worship. That worship is enjoined upon God's children, and assembling likewise, we heartily concur; but that it must be carried out on one specific day is a point we fail to find in our Bibles.

We believe there are three wrong assumptions in this very erroneous view of the Christian Sabbath. The first wrong assumption is that the Sabbath was, in some unspecified manner, changed from the seventh day to the first at some point after the resurrection of our Lord. The second being that it became the believer's particular day of rest. And the third is that it was commanded us by God as law to observe the first day of the week. We fairly conclude that all of these positions are no more than bare assumptions with not one single "Thus sayeth the Lord." If it could be proved that the Lord's people are to gather on the first day of the week, and that alone, it still would not prove that was the Sabbath day. It has been believed by God's children for so long as there has been a people on this earth saved by grace, that they rest in Christ and not in days; that they cease from their labor when they are brought into union and communion with their Lord, and not by observing any legal periods of time. God's children have found the Christian Sabbath to be little more than a renewing of the Israelitish ceremonies and ordinances that were given to those ancient people for their social rule of life and behavior, for that period of time when they walked in the wilderness, and were governed in Canaan's land of promise. And, that we have a commandment as law to observe the first day of the week for a Christian Sabbath, we consider to be a grave error, and we wish not to be bound by it.

Let it be plainly understood that the true followers of the Lamb have no desire to defile themselves, or transgress the Lord's injunctions by living wantonly before the world, or by themselves, for that matter. The children of the Most High would live the strictest life, could they but by grace do so; but they as well vehemently deny that they are governed by legalistic principles, that say "do this, and do not do that" regarding their rest in Jesus. Is not this something akin to what Peter taught when he said "Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?" Acts 15:10.

There are three additional texts in this connection which we wish to address. The first is Romans 13:8-10:
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
In verse nine the portion of the ten commandments which deals with the relationship of one man toward another is listed; adultery, murder, stealing, lying, covetousness. Those commandments which embrace the relationship of man to God were comprehended, as Paul said, "If there be any other commandment." But of them all, Paul clearly embraces the gospel way when he said they were comprehended in this, namely, "Thy shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Love was the fulfilling of the law. Thus, if love fulfills the law towards man regarding his commandment relationships to them, does not also love fulfill the law in our commandment relationships toward our God? Did not our Lord teach the same thing in the Gospels? (Matt.22:34-40, Luke 25:28.) Then what of a supposed commandment regarding a particular day for worship? It was certainly not embraced in this text, for here, rather than singling out a time frame in which God's children are required to legally serve their God, they find that the new relationship which God has worked in their hearts has bound them together in all of the commandments, and that is that God first loved them, and they love Him. And to the ability that He gives them in grace, they now serve Him. Not from a principle of commandment, but a principle of love.

The second text we wish to observe is Ephesians 2:15:
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace."
Paul instructs the church at Ephesus that something was abolished, and he describes it as the "law of commandments contained in ordinances." We do not believe that Paul taught that the law was abolished, or that commandments were abolished; but that rather, legal commandments that were contained in ordinances were abolished. Ordinances here means those systems of rigor and service enjoined upon the Israelites for their dispensation.

This same line of thought is found also in Colossians 2:14
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
Here it was the "handwriting of ordinances" being blotted out, whereas in Ephesians it was the "law of commandments contained in ordinances" that was abolished. In one a blotting out; in the other an abolishing. In one, a handwriting of ordinances; in the other the law of commandments contained in ordinances. So then it is very clear that it was ordinances from which the child of God was freed. And it was further stated in the Colossian epistle that they were not to be judged in respect of Sabbath days (verse 16), for they were but a shadow of things to come (verse 17), whereas the Body was Christ.

Can it not be seen from these three texts that sabbath-keeping as a legal duty or precept was done by the Israelites, as was all other things in the Old Testament, to set forth in type and shadow, as well as in figures, things to come? The Sabbath prefigured in its legal sense the Spiritual rest the children of God found in Jesus. This is why, today, the child of God can rest in Jesus seven days of the week, and not just one. This is why the child of God can scorn the exhortation of the legalist, when they demand of us that we follow after the things which they think makes for Christian morality. This is true freedom and gospel liberty, which can be found only in Christ our Lord, and revealed by the Holy Ghost to the elect.

Finally, it seems necessary for us to set forth the error of one article we recently read concerning the Christian Sabbath. May we emphasize that we have no desire to act in an evil way toward the publisher of this article, but rather to show what we believe to be the truth, as opposed to error.
"The desecration of the Lord's Day is the most noticeable and perhaps the worst evil of this generation that hath forgotten God. The loud cry always goes up when any mention is made of keeping the Lord's Day holy: 'We are under grace, not under the law.' To tell you the truth, I am getting sick in my stomach at people excusing their ugly sins by waving the banner of grace."
"God sets the day apart and requires us to remember it in the Fourth Commandment. Remembering the Lord's Day is not a matter of Christian liberty, i.e., something neither commanded nor forbidden by God. Rather, it is law, the law of God just as are the matters of having no other gods, honoring our parents, and not stealing. It is the commandment of the Redeemer to His saved people. It is a commandment that at once teaches us to know our sinful nature more and more, so that we fly to Christ for righteousness, and directs us in the way of pleasing our Deliverer and of living a happy life. it is a commandment that the thankful believer gladly obeys, as a child willingly obeys the father whom he loves." (Two separate paragraphs from an exchange paper.)

In the first paragraph, where we supplied italics, it was seen that the writer used the language "keeping the Lord's day holy". We do not accuse him of doing anything sinister, but it is clear he is, whether willingly or unwillingly, attempting to rewrite the Bible. We are not told anything in God's Word about "keeping the Lord's day holy". The Children of Israel were told to "remember the Sabbath day", but the keeping of the Lord's day holy is something we are not familiar with. It will also been seen that the writer did not think too highly of the banner of grace, and attempted to accuse those who denied his legal Sabbath of trying to "hide their ugly sins under the banner of grace," when nothing could be further from the truth.

In the second paragraph, the same error is observed. Again, the words in italics, "remembering the Lord's day". Was it not in the Scriptures the Sabbath day that was to be remembered and not the Lord's day? The next thing in italics, he says, "rather it is law". This is what he describes as "remembering the Lord's day;" that it is law for us. We ask then fairly, again, "Are we under law or grace?" This writer would have us to be under law, as he plainly sets forth. Next he says "it is a commandment of the Redeemer to His saved people". If it is a commandment, we desire humbly to know where this commandment is written.

And so the message goes, continually. The Sabbath day and the Lord's day are supposed by the legalists to be one. God's children, we are told we are to observe them with vigor and rigor, as though they were walking yet with Moses in the wilderness. We say honestly and openly to those who read our paper; be not deceived, God is not mocked. We are free, brethren, to worship our God at any time, and the Scriptures say nothing about the 1st day of the week being our Sabbath, legal or otherwise. It is true, we are not free to sin; we are not free to walk with the world, and we are not free to violate the Lord's plain teachings. Neither do we desire to do so. But we are not willing to be placed under a yoke for the satisfaction of legalists. If they desire to observe a Sabbath, that is fine with us. But we desire the privilege to walk with the Bible in our hand, and abstain from their course.

J.F. Poole

Sunday, October 20, 2024

FATE (POOLE)

During the past year there were numerous "disasters" around the world. Like many others did, we watched several of the television news releases regarding them. There were many tragic and depressing accounts given by those involved in these frequent devastations. Some told of the death or injury of their loved ones; others somberly related their personal property losses. Many others, we were informed, had been wiped out completely. There was in all this one thing noticeably absent from these startling accounts. Of those devastated souls we heard being interviewed, not one of them acknowledged the hand of God in these catastrophic events. There was only occasional profanity uttered where the name of Deity in one form or another was used. Sad as that was, there was one statement expressed in one particular interview that came as near shocking us as anything we have heard in many years, and we do not shock too easily any more. A lady that had lost nearly everything but her ignorance was being interviewed. She expressed her estimation of the circumstances this way: "But for the grace of fate, it could have been worse."

But for the grace of what?

Fate!

After considerable reflection on this ridiculous avowal we concluded that this was no slip of the tongue, nor was it said in unawareness. Rather, this was a deliberate impertinence toward the God of all grace. God, the true and living God, had been replaced (at least in the mind of this woman) by a deity called fate. Fate, that blind god of inevitability and impersonal vagary, which knows neither love nor pity; void of mercy and compassion; without feeling, has been accredited with the attribute of grace. Grace is that sweet portion of God's compassion towards sinners and has been given a role with fate. Surely, bitter disappointment must follow for those beguiled by such confusion.

History records the fable of three ancient deities known as The Fates; Atropos, Clotho, and Lachesis. But we have never heard that these three capricious gods ever extended grace to those poor souls in the midst of sudden calamity.

"This know also, that in the last days perilous time shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away (II Timothy 3:1-5)." Observe well the expression, "Having a form of godliness." Attributing grace to the fates comes as near to a form of godliness as we have ever seen, and is little more than religion run amuck.

From a worldwide perspective, religious activity is on the rise. Worship in some form or another is much in vogue. Some deluded souls worship idols, others are mesmerized by crystals. Astrology is the current god of choice for many that have never seen the hand of a creator therein. Humanism, foul as it is, fills the need for a deity for multitudes, both in this nation and in Western Europe. The psychic movement satisfies the yearning of others. Sex, pleasure and materialism answers the religious craving of other multitudes lusting for a more sensual god. Witchcraft is on the rise; especially among the younger population. Volumes have been circulated on just about every conceivable facet of religion to suit the taste of the masses. Thus we see fulfilled the scripture; "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (II Timothy 3:7)." It is very obvious that today there are vast numbers that do exactly what this scripture says of them; they seek out learning before stocks, stones, parsons, priests, and assorted altars of iniquity, but none of these can impart to them the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. These deluded souls remain as blind as the gods they worship. But for the true grace of God, so would we.

A now dead communist advocated that religion was the opiate of the people. It still is. They are allured by it, and covet its intoxicating effects. Religion provides a soothing balm for those restless souls. And, sad to say, for most, one religion is as good as another; so long as it is not the truth. "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith (II Timothy 3:8)."

Despite this sad commentary, we may be sure that there is yet a remnant according to the election of grace that has not bowed the knee to Baal. Or to fate. Or any other phony religion. The redeemed family has been in the furnace of affliction. They are an afflicted and poor people. Besides the usual calamities that are common to all men, many of the saints of the Most High have been destituted, tormented, imprisoned, and even killed for their testimony and convictions. But it has never been known that a single one of them has ever departed from the faith by giving the glory of God to fate, chance, luck or any other system of contingencies. Rather their theme is "Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

"Though with afflictions sore,
He may them exercise;
Yet still His hand they shall adore,
And still His love shall prize.

"Should poverty, and loss
Of every kind of good,
Conspire to make our weighty cross,
Our helper still is God.

Unlike the troubled citizens of this world, the saints of the Most High would rather give up all than to deny the source of free grace. Fate has never done a thing for the sheep, and those that put confidence in fate are but strangers to them. Consider Job, the servant of God. It could be said that Job hit the jackpot when it comes to calamities. But did he see fate in the great wind from the wilderness, or the fire from heaven? Was he of the opinion that the Sabeans and the band of Chaldeans were driven on their mission by a whim of fates? Did he seek solace in vagaries? The Scriptures speak: "Then Job arose, rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshipped. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:20,21)." Job worshipped His God; the God of all grace. Job acknowledged the hand of God in all he had, and in all he lost as well.

"Grace reconciles to every loss,
And sweetens every painful cross;
Defends my soul when danger's near;
By grace alone I persevere."

With Paul we hope to cling to the sweet message from God in storms and affliction: "My grace is sufficient for thee." Let the fates have their deluded followers. Only grace from the God of all grace will ever calm the troubled beasts of the elect.

Elder James F. Poole