The More Things Change The More They Stay The Same

 

We include another article, which though it was written in 1832, still describes the situation in American Christendom. - ed.

Brother Beebe: I have received and read the first number of the "Signs of The Times" with much pleasure and satisfaction.  It is a gratification to learn that we have a few preachers and chosen men among the Baptists, who have not bowed the knee  to Baa - hat are not under the control or friendly to the machinations of the popular clergy of the day, or afraid of their anathemas and excommunications - that are not engaged in preaching intemperate sermons on temperance - that are not in search of popularity for filthy lucre's sake - that are not afraid to present the various benevolent institutions of the day in their proper light before the public, by stripping them of their false pretensions, which when  done exhibits the whole brood as "full of wounds and bruises, putrefying sores dead men's bones, and all uncleanness.  Many of the Baptists are in these days the Jews at the coming of Christ.  When they had become conversant with the nations about them, they were taken with several of the ceremonies that were in use by the Greeks and Romans in the worship of the heathen deities, and did not hesitate to adopt them in the service of the true God - a variety of rites of which no traces are to be found in the sacred writings.  In like manner many of the Baptists in this country have become conversant with the different denominations about them, and they do not hesitate to adopt their plans of moralizing and christianizing the world by the means of money, of which there no examples found in the sacred scriptures.  But in justice to the JEws let it be observed, that corrupted as they were with the errors and superstitions of the neighboring nations, they still preserved a zealous attachment to the law of Moses; and it is also true that there are a few left among the Baptists who have not run into all the errors of the day, but are zealously attached to the "pattern shown in the mount and earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints".  

History informs us that the Baptists in England, and soon after the reformation where divided into General and Particular; and in your first number an address of the Old School or Particular Baptists, adopted in a convention held at Baltimore in September last in which they say, "If they (the General or New School Baptists) will persis in bringing those institutions for which can show us no example in the New Testament, into the churches or associations, and in making them the order thereof, we shall for conscience's sake be compelled to withdraw from the disorderly walk of such churches, associations or individuals, that we may not suffer our names to pass as sanctioning them things for which we have no fellowship."This is the laying the axe at the root of the tree - this is the purging the church of those who think to say within themselves, "We have established many Tract and Bible Societies, many Sunday Schools, &c, within the bounds of our churches."  But this will not do - there is an old fashioned winnowing-fan coming, which will thoroughly purge the floor and gather in all those "bring forth fruit meet for repentance."

But the "Signs" must be very unpopular inasmuch as it has taken a stand against the popular institutions and doctrine of the day, which is to preach the ability of the creature to perform works acceptable to God - to exalt the creature and debase the creator.  If I am not much mistaken, there has, within a few years a great falling off from the doctrine of absolute predestination, unconditional election, total depravity, the irresistible and effectual work of the Holy Ghost, &c, formerly taught by the old fashioned Baptists.  It appears from the reading of the scriptures, that the apostles constantly declared all hopes of acceptance and salvation delusive, except such as were founded on Jesus the Redeemer and his all-sufficient merits; while the Jewish doctors always maintained the works of the law to be the true efficient cause of the soul's eternal salvation and felicity.  In like manner our Jewish doctors or sons of Hagar are preaching the works of the law, instead of the gospel, to be the true efficient means of the soul's eternal salvation, not knowing that "by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified."  At least two-thirds of the Presbyterians, two-thirds of the Baptists, and all of the Methodists, are preaching Law instead of the Gospel.  They are also joined together in the same idolatrous practice of collecting money to replenish the treasury of the Lord, for the purpose of making lawyers, &c, for ministers; but the scriptures in turn tell us that the ministers which the Lord has employed in his vineyard, recieve their instruction not of man, neither are they taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  They are all likewise engaged in assisting Him to make Christians, by means of four days or protracted meetings, not knowing that it "is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy; and that he works all thing after the counsel of his own will" and not the will of man, for it is "by grace that we are saved through faith, and, that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God."

In connection with the foregoing, I noticed in your first number that some of the popular newspapers among the Baptists have set up a howl against the "Signs".  Those editors, like the daughter of Herodias, would ask "head in a charger" if they could have the sane assurance of success; and well they may, for their craft is in danger.  They are offended at you for the same reason that Herodias was at John the Baptist, which was his telling him what it was not useful for him to do.  But there are many Baptist and "righteous men" within the bounds of my acquaintance who "have desired to see those things which"are not seen in the "Signs of the Times," they have been looking for them in the popular papers of the day, such as the "Baptist Repository", the "Index", the "World," &c, but they have found them not.  As soon as these brethren are fortunate enough to get a peep into your paper, they, like myself, will abandon those anti-christian publications, as they have "no form nor comeliness" in them.  But it is not the expected that all will abandon them, for the spirit speaks expressly that in the later times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; and false christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." But in closing this epistle which I have continued to greater length than I intended, I would heartily wish you Godspeed exhorting you to cry aloud and spare not to fight the good fight; hold fast the form of sound words, "in meekness instruct those that oppose themselves;" and "God peradventure will grant them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."

I remain yours in the Gospel,

A Subscriber

Signs of the Times Vol. 1, No. 3 January 2, 1833