FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. NUMBER 2. 1835

FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

NUMBER 2.

For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.—Paul.

No less applicable perhaps are the above words of consolation to Churches or Associations than to individuals. The scriptures of divine truth are of that extraordinary virtue and tendency that they may be received as lessons of instruction to the human family in all their diversified stations in life; and not unfrequently tend to edify mankind both literally and spiritually, whether in single or associated capacities.

Passing by circumstances of a like character, in the history of past ages, I have been led to reflect seriously on the providence of God over, and the force and energy which the above sentence may be applied to the Kehukee Association, during the latter as well as the former part of her history. It appears she was originally conducted by the wisdom of predestinarian councils, but extending her bounds far and wide so as to become from time to time the mother of many other associations—she might have been reasonably expected, she has had to combat often the powers of Arminianism from within and without; and often has she been called upon while recurring to her fundamental principles to stand forth, and before high heaven and earth declare the causes that have impelled her to an eternal separation from the doctrines of Arminianism, and all the multifarious devices of the principalities and powers of satan.

Of all the Associations that have branched off from the Kehukee, perhaps none have been more powerful and inveterate against her measures than the Chowan. The Churches in the latter Ass’n. were dismissed from the former, to constitute one more convenient to their local situation, in 1805. And notwithstanding the Chowan from that time to this has retained the same articles of faith with the Kehukee—notwithstanding the friendly and brotherly correspondence that existed between them for several years after their separation, the infatuated and misguided zeal of the Chowan at length increased to such a degree, that she broke off all correspondence with her old mother the Kehukee; attempted to brand her with ignorance, blindness and bigotry—in the face of her own articles has thrown open her doors and hoisted the flood-gates, to let in under mast of Benevolence, human learning, missions, and other pharasaical titles, and nearly every error under heaven, rank Arminianism not excepted; and has compromised her creed with the world for gold and silver. She has introduced literary men & established presses; hired agents and sent forth missionaries, who by profession were required to defame the Kehukee Ass’n. in every way that human ingenuity could invent, and endeavoured to extirpate her principles from the earth. Rallying on the side of popularity, she has endeavoured to prejudice the whole Christian community against the Kehukee Ass’n. and for the furtherance of that purpose was the first to step forward in the cause of establishing “The Baptist State Convention (Inventions) of North Carolina.”

She perhaps was also the first great mover and principal supporter in causing to be established by Law, the Theological School at Wake Forest, where the children of men are to be instructed in the doctrine of the Gospel according to law, and trained up to be zealous christians and eminent divines, in the same manner and by the same process that they become acquainted with the sciences, and attain the high distinction of philosopher, statesman, lawyers or doctors, by profession.

And this same Chowan Ass’n. was perhaps the first to compromise her dignity and peculiar sentiments, if she even then pretended to have any, and form a league with Methodists and Episcopalians, for the purpose of more effectually carrying into execution her plans. Many individuals from all three of which societies, were during the last winter, infesting the halls of our State Legislature, and succeeded by stratagem and the powerful coalition they formed in doors and out doors, in getting a little law dealt out to each of them for the purpose of imposing still further upon the credulity of the good citizens of the State, and of making their doctrines still more palpable to the inhabitants thereof.

And for the opposition of the Kehukee Ass’n. to these and the like religious pranks of the day, the most bitter cup of persecution has been emptied on her head, and it is only within a short time that the warfare has somewhat abated. The Chowan having increased the number of her Churches at such an astonishing rate; drawing some Arminian ones from the Kehukee, and ascertaining to her satisfaction that she was on the same side with the popular religionists of the day, and has for her advocates and to speak her praise the great men of the earth; she has as it were marched off the field of battle in triumph—considering her opponent too low to merit further notice, and in the plenitude of her charity perhaps given her over to the wicked one!

But the excellency of the matter remains yet untold. During all this persecution and warfare, the Old School Baptists of the Kehukee Ass’n. have been sensible that the Lord God of Heaven has been with them; strengthening and supporting them by His almighty grace, and that His everlasting arms have been underneath them to keep them from falling before their enemies.

They are now still further sensible to the application of Paul’s language, when he said, that Principalities, nor powers, things present nor things to come, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. While the members belonging to and admiring the measures of the Chowan Ass’n. are many, those of the Kehukee are few. Yet they are sufficiently numerous because they are all God has given her, and the more likely to receive the promises inasmuch as they throughout the whole tenor of Scripture are given to the minority.

Moreover, the Kehukee Ass’n. After the struggle she has endured, she at length finds herself in a great calm. Her Churches are at peace one with another; little or no confusion or difference exists in their councils when assembled together, and brotherly love abounds to a great degree amongst their individual members; and like the Israelites after first crossing the river Jordan, they appear to be enjoying, for a while at least, the blessings and happiness of a terrestrial Canaan. While there is great cause to believe that the course adopted by the Chowan Ass’n. has brought within her limits such a diversity of opinions and interests, motives and designs, that having already collected within her borders the combustible matter—the signs whereof begin to appear—she will ere long explode with a great noise, and have her component parts scattered to the four winds of heaven, never to unite again beneath the Sun.

This calamity is no longer dreaded on the part of the Kehukee Ass’n., she is too much narrowed down to a point, and a point in philosophy admits of no division. Those who disagreed with her in sentiment have withdrawn and taken up their abode with more congenial spirits. She has weathered the storm thus far, and appears at present to be cast into a comfortable harbour, praising God for his great deliverance, and his wonderful works to the children of men. She thinks that He has done great things for her whereof she ought to be glad; that He will never leave or forsake his people amidst all the waves of persecution that may roll over them. She is now fully satisfied that the word of God is true, and that thrones, principalities nor powers—conventions, manual labor schools, nor Theological Seminaries of whatever name they be; life nor death, angels high or low, things present nor things to come; no, nor any other creature shall be able to separate the saints of God from His love, which is and ever was and ever will be in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. B. HASSELL.

Williamston, Feb. 13, 1835.