LIE NOT AGAINST THE TRUTH - SPLITS BETWEEN OLD & NEW SCHOOL IN CHURCHES

"Lie not against the truth." James 3.14

Brother Beebe: - I send you a specimen of New School truth, which, I think, puts a cap sheaf upon all that has ever been published before.

In the 17th number of the 5th volume of the Signs, will be found a statement of facts relating to this case; therefore it will not be necessary to repeat it in this communication.  All that I shall notice is the letter of dismission given to me by the Council and Church at Canton, after I fulfilled my engagements with the said Church which terminated on March 25, 1837.  The letter reads thus:

"Whereas a council having been called by the mutual consent of the members of the Baptist Church at Canton N.J., to settle the differences existing between them, This is to certify that the aforesaid did, among other decisions, determine that Elder John Miller, Pastor of said Church, should have a letter of dismission, signed by the Clerk of said Church, but to be written by the authority and direction of the council, Therefore, be it known to the Baptist Churches, and all whom it may concern that Elder John Miller is in good and regular standing, and as such is dismissed by us to any Baptist Church of gospel order and faith, consistent with, and agreeable to the faith, laid down in the excellent Confession of Faith put forth in Philadelphia, by a Convention of Baptist Ministers, 8n 1742.  Praying that the Lord of heaven may be his friend and shield, direct him he the path of peace, make him a useful and acceptable minister of the New Testament, and bring him and his family to the care and protection of the church to which this passport may be presented for admission, and subscribe ourselves.  Yours in gospel bonds.

S. Nightingale, Moderator of Council.

Done by order of the council met at Canton, and signed in Salem, March 20th, 1837, and on behalf of the Baptist Church at Canton, this the 28th day of March 1837, by E. Turner, Clerk.  You will receive by the Clerk's signature that this letter was signed three days after the close of my labors among them.  The above letter was presented to me by the Clerk in the presence of Richard Dubois, who came with him to my house for that purpose.

Thus, having been dismissed, I of course thought myself at liberty to accept a call from any church of gospel order and faith, and having received such a call from the little despising received such a call from the little despised flock called the Canton Old School Particular Baptist Church, I accepted it, and still continue with them.  The course I have taken has given offense to some; and when they understood that we were about to build a new Meetinghouse, and seeing that the work would go forward, they concluded to publish something, which the Old School Baptists, with every honest man, will call a lie.  Here you shall have it as copied from the Minutes of the New Jersey Baptist Association, dated Sept. 25th and 26th, 1838, viz:

"The Committee on the Canton Church reported as follows:

Whereas we understand that said Church has excluded from her fellowship John Miller, lately denominated their Pastor; and whereas they acknowledge, with apparent Christian feelings, their regret for the errors and dissensions into which he was instrumental in leading them; Therefore Resolved, That the said Church be again received into this Association.  The report was adopted unanimously, and the right hand of fellowship presented by the Moderator to their present Pastor, William Ruddy."

If we understand the language of the committee, they profess to have received their information from the Canton Church, so-called: if so, we have discovered the inventors; and what appears most awful is, that the above Richard Dubois (if I have been rightly informed) acted as Moderator and Ephraim Turner as Clerk for the Church when the letter was sent to the Association; and Ephraim Turner put his signature to it, after signing the preceding letter of dismission.  Surely I may use the language of the Psalmist and say, "They have spoken against me with a lying tongue." Psalms 109.2

2d. The Propageters.  Here we shall notice the Committee, whose names are as follows: - Morrison, of Woodstown, and Elder William Sheppard of Cohansey.  You will perceive that two out of the three are preachers, and we have a right to expect that gentlemen of their cloth will speak the truth, but shocking to relate, they appear with a lie in their right hand, and that without excuse; for the said William Sheppard was one of the councils under whose authority the preceding letter of dismission was written, and he is in possession of facts relating to the case. - Well might David say "They delight in lies." Psalm 62.4.  But "The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped." 63.11. The next I shall notice is Samuel Aaron: from the slight acquaintance I have with him, he bears the appearance of a gentleman, and I should hope that he had done this ignorantly; if he has not, he must be the greatest sinner of the three; for he that knows his master's will and does it not, shall be beaten with many stripes; and if their system is correct, viz: that a scholastic education will qualify them to understand the scriptures, I verily think he has that advantage; and I shall feel obliged if he will tell me where I can find any command, either directly or indirectly, in the word of God, for him, or any of his colleagues, to speak, write or print a lie.  We often hear from that quarter that God has given them new light in this our day; but if this is a specimen of that light they are welcome to it, for the old-fashioned truth reads thus, "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth." Zeph. 3.13.  Again, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." Prov. 12.22.  The last member of the committee is Matthew Morrison, a deacon belonging to the Church at Woodstown.  Did he consider what he was doing?  I presume not.  Surely no Christian deacon could bring in such a report with his eyes open and then come to my house shortly after with such apparent friendship, giving me an invitation to pay him a visit; calling at a member's house to be admitted in to see our Meeting-house and seem to be much pleased with it.  Can it be possible that M. Morrison could be guilty of such base conduct?  Did any of the New Testament deacons ever do so?  I leave M. Morrison to answer this question before the Judge of quick and dead.  "Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead?" I Pet. 4.5.

3d. The Subscribers.  It will be insisted, on the one hand, that this is a respectable Association - that she has professed to be sound in the faith - that she has had many worthy Ministers of the gospel in her connection; this being the case, we are bound to believe whatever she subscribes to, believing that what she says is true.  Perhaps it would not be wise to accuse her of endorsing a falsehood willfully; yet, somehow or other, it has crept into her MInutes, and if it is not one of her little pets, she will cast it out; should she nurse it, the world will know it is one of her own children.  If this should be the case, it would be a great pity for such a darling as this to exist long without being honored with some of the family titles; however, we must find out which part of the family will own it, before we can determine the case.  The report says it was adopted unanimously, and the right hand of fellowship presented to William Ruddy!  Oh, see William!  Art thou driven to such extremity as to be under the necessity of going to the New Jersey Association, with your hat in your hand, and lie in your mouth, to recommend you and your flock to that respectable body; and they upon such condition will present to you the right hand of fellowship? I am at a loss to know which is the most guilty, the Association, or the Church and her pastor.  Surely I ought to feel much obliged for the compliment paid to me in the report; it states that I have been excluded from their fellowship; this is as it should be, for the word of God forbids as from having any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them.  See Eph. 5.11.  And, as I have divine authority, I do reprove them and confess I have no fellowship for such works of darkness.  Might I not say with Job, "You are forgers of lies." Job 13.4.  4. Blush, O you great Sanhedrin of New Jersey!  That seventeen ordained Priests, one Licentiate, and 36 lay members, (making in all 54) should combine together, to slay one poor insignificant character.  This reminds me of the combination which was formed against Paul; we are told that their number exceeded forty; yet the Lord delivered him out of their hands, yea, and he will deliver all them that put their trust in him.

Again, The report says, I have been instrumental in leading them to errors.  It is a well-known fact the majority of the association has denounced the doctrine which the Old Fashioned Baptist have believed from the Apostles, down to the present time; and if contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, be esteemed by those New School divines, an error, I plead guilty to the charge; for this, I have been striving to do.  Again, If standing in opposition to those innovations, which they of the New School are imposing on the Church of Christ, be considered by them an error, I plead guilty.  Again, if continuing to preach for the little flock called by the name of the Old School Particular Baptist Church at Canton, against the will of the New School, be an error, I plead guilty to this charge also; which makes three errors. - What an awful character; thus commit such errors against the New Jersey Baptist Association, in connection with all the New School Baptists!  Surely no time should be lost, for the craft is in danger!!!  And these Old School Baptists will never be quiet until they are slain, - see Rev. 2.

As for the dissensions mentioned in the report, this is only a natural consequence, for the children of the bondwoman always did persecute the children of the free woman.  An Old School Baptist, by the name of Paul, has positively declared that "As then, he that was born after the spirit, even so, it is. ow."  Gal. 4.29.  No wonder there should be strife, discord, and disagreement between the two; for they never will be friends, and it is in vain to try to bring about a union.  Lastly, Th design, I presume their design is to oppose the cause of God and truth, for a lie, stands in opposition to the truth; and all liars to the God of truth.  For a false witness that speaks lies, (the Lord hates) Prov. 6.19.  And John says, "No lie is of the truth." I John 2.21.  As the scriptures are the best evidence that can be produced, its testimony must be admitted as conclusive in this case; and if the scriptures are true, such characters will be placed in a very awful situation at the last great day of account!  Our Lord says, "many," (not a few) "Will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name have cast out devils, and in your name have cast out devils, and have done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me you that work iniquity."  Matt. 7.22-23.  Again, "And there shall in no wise enter into it, (the city) anything that defiles, neither whatsoever works abomination or makes a lie." Rev. 21.27.  "For without (the gates of the city) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers and idolaters; and whosoever loves and makes a lie." Rev. 12.15.  Mark this all you that love, or make a lie!

Will any of the high priests ever have the confidence after this, to stand before the New Jersey Association, and say that they are Old School Baptists?  I have been informed that this was actually done, when the association met at Cohansey, in September 1837.  At this time William Sheppard with some others, used all their influence to induce the association to adopt the before-mentioned child, (or resolution) but some of the most judicious, thought the complexion was rather too dark; however, one year's growth has made some alteration, so that it is adopted unanimously; and I will venture to challenge the pages of history to produce a case that will compete with this!  I think every church belonging to the New Jersey Association may put a feather in its cap, and boast of its superiority over all who have gone before them, in such works of darkness.  What an honor!  To be a member of such an august body!!! Thus I have communicated facts relating to the subject which must serve the present. If I should deem it expedient at some future time to resume the subject, probably.  I shall mention many things not found in this communication.

I remain your brother in tribulation.

John Miller
Canton, N.J., December 24, 18238.