A RESPONSE, WHICH IS NO RESPONSE TO BEEBE'S QUESTIONS

This article refers back to yesterday's post.  The editor of the Western Christian Journal "responded" to Beebe's article. - ed.In our paper for August 15, we copied from the "Western Christian Journal" of Columbus, Ohio, (a new school Baptist periodical) thirteen questions under the caption which we have placed at the head of this article.  In stating his questions, it will be recollected, the writer of them stated that there were 600,00,000 heathen perishing in ignorance of the gospel, that they were "dependent on us, who have it; for a supply, that the Lord Jesus Christ has told us to supply them with it, that we ought to be as willing to devote our lives to carrying or sending it to them, as Christ was to devote his life to providing it, that we ought to retrench our expenditures, which fashion demands, to enable us to do more to save them, that if we withhold from them such savings &c., they, for our neglect, will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.  The questions involved substantially what we have represented above; but by referring to the 16th number of the current volume, the reader will find the questions copied verbatim.

In return, we stated a number of questions for the consideration of the writer, and for the editor of the aforesaid Journal, demanding of them, whether Christ was not himself that Bread of Life, which they would have us send to the heathen; whether they considered him an article of merchandise, that can be estimated in dollars and cents, if Christ, the Bread of Life, can be bought with the money which we might save by retrenchment, &c., whether it be less wicked now to believe that Christ, the Bread of Life, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, can be bought with money than it was Simon Magus offered to procure them with the same kind of filthy lucre; and finally, we inquired whether they believe that God has made the salvation or damnation of one portion of the present inhabitants of the world to depend upon the will, or works, or money, of another portion of them.  And in some concluding remarks, we labored to show them, that they were representing the blood of Christ to be of less virtue and efficiency in the salvation of sinners than money.

If it is true that 600,000,000 of the heathen are now being consigned to the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, for the want of money which we could supply by some self-denial, retrenchment, &c., then it cannot be less true that money can save them; for, its money cannot save them, then they are not now going to hell for the want of it.  And if money can save them if contributed and applied, as they represent; and the blood of Christ which they represent to have been shed for them has not prevented their being now perishing and going down to the fiery lake, for want of money, then it must follow that the blood of Christ is less efficient and virtuous than money, if applied, would be.  We labored, earnestly and honestly to show that the sentiments inculcated in the article, were heretical; and subversive of the doctrine of Christ our Lord, as taught in the scriptures, and in former times held by all sound and intelligent Baptists.

We did not expect a candid answer to our appeal, from the editor of the Journal, nor from the writer of the questions; but that our readers may be preferred to judge of the courtesy, candor, temperance, and Christian humility, we here cope the reply of the Journal:

Questions for You

The above is the caption of a series of very solemn interrogations in regard to our duties and responsibilities to the heathen, which appeared in our paper some time since as a section, but which we did not have the honor of writing.

An editor of a paper, however, called the Signs of the Times, published in New Vernon NY has belched upon us instead of the author, sulfurous flames and smoke, for endorsing them.  A more strange medley of blasphemy, fanaticism, ignorance and unintelligible nonsense could scarcely be jammed together.

Our attention would never have been called to it if a transient visitor had not accidentally taken up the paper from a mass of others, noticed the article and passed it to us.

The paper is received at this office as an exchange paper but is never read, at least by the writer of these lines.  A glance at the name when taken from the office, is sufficient to have it consigned to the mass of rubbish which accumulates in an Editor's office.  The very sight of it is repulsive, knowing the ignorance and fanaticism which it contains.  This may seem harsh and disrespectful, but a paper in this enlightened age, which advocates such doctrines in such a manner, can be deserving of no better treatment.

As to "answering" the editor's interrogatories, as requested, it would be acting contrary to the admonition of the wise man in Proverbs 25.4.  But we must urge him affectionately to examine his own heart, & the foundation of his own hopes, to see whether he has built on the "Rock of Ages" as he discovers so much evidence of an unregenerate spirit, lest he is deceived and be found to have deceived and be found to have deceived others, in the great day of account!  "Many shall say in that day, Lord, Lord," &c., but to whom the Savior shall say Depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels!"

Conscious as we are that what we may say, must fail to produce reformation until the Lord shall open the eyes of the misguided revilers of truth, we feel disposed to offer a few remarks on the article copied above.  We have no disposition to resent, or even complain of being called ignorant, or a fool that should not be answered, because of our determination to know nothing in religious matters, save Jesus Christ & him crucified; for we are willing to become - what?  a fool, for Christ's sake, and rejoice in that gospel which is to the wise and prudent, a system of foolishness, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness, of God is stronger than men.  And we see our calling, brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

It is gratifying to know that the charges of blasphemy, fanaticism, ignorance, and unintelligible nonsense, are substantially the same which were heaped, by the wise and prudent of the first century, upon our Blessed Lord and his apostles, and that the advocates of truth and opposers of heresy have been subjected to the same charges in every subsequent age; and we desire not to be thrown out of so good company, by any new set of opprobrious epithets coined expressly for our designation.  Welcome, therefore, thrice welcome, Mr. Journal, to lavish on us.  But if the editor of the Journal or any other person will show that blasphemy or fanaticism are involved in our doctrine, or in our manner of defending it, we will, so far as in us lies confess our fault; and abandon whatever may be proved to be contrary to the word and spirit of the truth as it is in Jesus.

The editor of the Journal says, we have belched on him, instead of the author, sulfurous flames and smoke.  We presume he does not mean that we have literally thus belched on him; nor can we perceive how his language can apply figuratively unless he means, to apply the figure as it is used, Isa. 30.33; compared with Psa. 97.3; and 2 Thess. 2.8.  The breath of the Lord with which he will finally consume his adversaries, is compared to a stream of brimstone in its effects on them, and the spirit of his mouth with which antichrist shall be destroyed, is understood to mean the word that comes from the mouth of God; if the editor alluded to these figures as used in the scriptures, we what are only charged in this particular, with belching on him the words which God has spoken.  If what we have quoted from scriptures have scorched and offended him; if they are not to him sulfurous flames and smoke, what must he realize when from the mouth of God the same words shall issue forth in fiery streams, for the destruction of all his enemies? We have virtually said to him, "The Lord rebuke you" by quoting to him what God has said, and it is to him as suffocating smoke of burning brimstone; but when that rebuke shall be applied flee away, what refuge shall then hide him from the wrath that shall come down on the opposers of truth and righteousness?

We would regard his admonition to us, to search our own hearts &c., as friendly and kind, if it were not for the very evident hypocrisy in which it is uttered.  After calling us a fool, a blasphemer, a fanatic, &c., to pretend to admonish us affectionately, is too great an outrage on common sense to deceive the simple.  Nevertheless, we desire to profit by the admonition, and truly to search our hearts, and we pray the Searcher of hearts and tryer of the reigns of the sons of men, that he may search us thoroughly and purge us from all guile.

We are not a little surprised that the editor of the Journal, should apply the anti-effort, do-nothing Baptists, as they call us, the passage, with which he has closed his extraordinary article.  As though the Old School Baptists, and the New Order, were to change places, "in that day" the Old Do-Nothings, begin to say, Lord, we have preached in your name, we have done many mighty things, such as sending the bread of life to the heathen, evangelizing them, and converting the world.  We are got up and sustained many mighty national religious institutions which have done immense good; as witness our Mission Society, our Tract and Bible Societies our education and Theological establishments, our anxious benches, and all our machinery with which we have done so many wonderful things.  It is not strange that the New School should indulge a suspicion that we were to take the words out of their mouths at that time.  But, we have probably said enough on this subject.  We leave the editor, his writer, and all who love darkness more than light, in the hands and under the management of Him whose voice shook the earth.  And if it is in harmony with the counsel of God, may he save them from their delusion or his name's sake.

Elder Gilbert Beebe, 

Editorial 12/1/1847

Signs of the Times Vol. XV No. 23