SIGNS OF THE TIMES 1833 (EXCERPT)

 ...the hidden things of dishonesty; can only be appreciated by those who have been taught in the Old School of Christ, whose souls have been sickened with the specious doctrines which prevail to such an alarming extent in our land.

We are well aware that our standing and union is with the minority of the Baptist Denomination, and if the merits or truth of our cause were to be determined by the numbers embracing it, we would certainly think ourselves in the wrong; but such is not the case. The good master has informed us that “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it,” and again he said, “Fear not little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom;” these are the words of Zion’s Representative. How striking the contrast between his language and that of the Representative of Anti-Christ. Hear him, “Legions! for we are many.”

If Satan ever spake truth, we are disposed to think it must have been when he uttered the above sentence, although it was spoken in reference to a solitary individual, yet it seems to apply with equal force to his Kingdom—besides if this latter application of it, his testimony is corroborated by his deluded millions of the human family.

What better arguments, we inquire, are employed at the present day, in support of the numerous institutions which have arisen within the last thirty or forty years, than the above? The advocates of what are falsely called Benevolent Societies, tell us that they have the majority on their side. True—so had their fathers in ancient times. They have the wealth, and so had the Pope of Rome; they have a large balance of influence on their side—so had Mahomet: they have Literature on their side—so had the Paido Baptists in by-gone years. But they have the greater share of talent, very true, and the reason is very obvious; Christ our King having chosen the weak and foolish things of this world, and things that are naught, to bring to naught things that are. But to establish the point beyond controversy, with a triumphant tone, they tell us that the Lord evidently owns and blesses their efforts, by adding to their numbers &c. But this remains for them to prove. If they can give satisfactory evidence that their increase is of the Lord we shall then consider their arguments good, but not until then.

In their present mode of making disciples we can discover nothing that looks like the work of the Lord. Their new system of getting up revivals, requires no more grace to make a convert than was formerly requisite to make a Jew. If Abraham had funds to buy the materials, and Knives, or sharp stones, to circumcise them, he could easily fill his house with Jews; but are we to understand that christians are made as Jewish proselytes were, with only this difference—the ancient Jews using money, knives, sharp stones &c., and the modern, using money, anxious benches, false doctrine, camp or protracted meetings &c.? Surely not. Christianity is altogether different from Judaism, the members of a christian church are those “which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, John i, 13; these being “buried with him (Christ) by Baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life,” Rom. iv, 4, are by divine authority recognized as the church of Christ.

All such are christians, in God’s esteem, are the workmanship of Christ, converted by the Holy Spirit from death to life, from the love of sin to the love of holiness, and from the love of error to a sincere love of the truth as it is in Jesus. But the modern converts—what a contrast do their experience, faith and practice present. In their experience, they give their hearts to God, they say—Polluted sacrifice! Who has required this at their hands? They have set upon an anxious bench, or a submission chair, or something of the kind—they have perhaps been alarmed by the wild-fire of some enthusiastic revival starker, and having recovered from their fright, they are taught to believe this is genuine religion—this is their experience. There is no God in it; it is mechanically performed—their faith is any thing, and every thing except the Gospel of Christ; this they cannot bear: there is nothing that they so much dread as plain Bible preaching; they tell us with one mouth, that doctrinal preaching will stop their revivals, and as they cannot bear the truth when they get their religion, they remain at war with the truth as long as their religion lasts. 

GIlbert Beebe