The Pupose of the Signs 1835

“We are persuaded that the great object of our publication is sometimes mistaken by our Brethren, by whose generally excellent communications our columns have been supplied. 

The particular to which we allude is the supposition that our publication is designed to afford facilities for disputation on all questions of discipline &c., wherein Brethren may differ in opinion and practice. We see no impropriety in a dispassionate examination of every point involved in the doctrine and discipline of the Baptist Churches; by a fair and candid interchange of opinion, or comparison of views, the honest enquirer after Bible truth may be greatly edified and refreshed.

But when instead of laboring for the edification of the saints, our brethren, or correspondents, seek through our columns for redress of real or imaginary grievances, and hold up to the public eye such as they suppose are deserving of blame—when they publish in Cath, and tell in the streets of Askalon all their difficulties, they cause the daughters of the uncircumcised to triumph, and is unclean to rejoice.—Nor is this all, for by inconsiderately publishing abroad all their difficulties, they not only increase the flames of strife at home, but render the pages of our paper which they occupy, dry and uninteresting abroad. We could have published many painful things concerning the churches, preachers, &c. of our neighborhood; but seeing no prospect of advantage that could result from such measures to the saints at large, we have and would still wish to forbear.

The object of our paper is to set forth Christ, and him crucified—as the way, the truth, the life, and as the Head over all things to his Church, which is his body and the fullness of him who filleth all in all, and to expose Anti-Christ in all his serpentine windings—to detect, expose, and warn the people of God against error, and to exhibit the signs of the times—by comparing with the standard of eternal truth and righteousness, the many new and popular schemes, plans, and devices of the day for religious improvement, and to collect and promulgate such information of our brethren which are scattered abroad throughout our States and Territories—who have been enabled through grace, thus far to get the victory over the Beast and over his Image, and over the number of his name, as will be calculated to call forth emotions of joy and thanksgiving from the household of faith—who like the ancient Patriarch, will be satisfied when they are assured that Joseph is still alive. And in the collection of such intelligence from our scattered Old Fashioned Brethren, whom we verily thought were dead and that we only survived, and our lives were also sought, our paper has been abundantly blessed.

We are fully aware that there are cases, not a few, in which our oppressed and persecuted brethren have a just right to appeal for the justice of their cause, from the decision of Ecclesiastical Councils or disorderly churches to their brethren abroad. Such, for instance, as the case of Elder Salmon and the Turin Brethren—Eld. B. G. Avery—Eld. E. Raymond, and many others who have been set upon by the New School party who have been published by them to the world as disorderly persons, for no other cause than that of refusing to be called the sons of Pharaoh’s Daughter; or, in other words, refusing to leave the old track marked out for them in the Holy Scriptures, and fall in with the new order of things. Such brethren have not only a right to spread their case before us, but ought to be heard and encouraged to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made them free; and not be again entangled with the yoke of bondage. Such brethren appreciate the fellowship of the saints, which they cannot realize without making themselves known; besides this, such statements appropriately belong to our columns, as they shew the prominent signs of the times—that the scriptures are fulfilled in their case—that perilous times have come, and that whosoever killeth them, thinketh that he doth God service.

But when all the little bickerings, strifes, and animosities, which may sometimes occur among our Churches, are crowded (against our will) into the Signs,’ dry and uninteresting to the reader, and repugnant to the feelings of the conductor of this sheet, and productive of nothing beneficial to the parties concerned. One writes against and accuses another or others; the other, in turn, claims the use of our paper to reply, and tells us that “He that is first in his own cause seemeth to be right, but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.” In this case, we are justly censured if we refuse to publish the reply of the accused. Let the accused be heard, and the accuser comes on again to confirm his statements or to retract them; and after all, we can only say that the paper has been occupied with unprofitable, uninteresting, and in many cases, with unrighteous matter—to the exclusion of such communications as would bring joy and gladness to the people of the saints.

We sincerely hope what has been written on this subject may suffice, and that our correspondents will avoid communicating such things as do not tend to edification. When it becomes necessary to expose the hidden things of dishonesty and the unfruitful works of darkness, among those who profess to have the glory of God and the good of his cause at heart, they should write temperately without the least coloring of misrepresentation. Let such communications be written in a spirit of meekness, and in language that will bear the most scrutinizing search of truth; and where this caution is not observed, let no one be surprised to find their communications neglected or refused.

When complaints are sent to us from those who profess to be brethren of the Old School, we feel safe in believing the statement strictly true. Let us not then undergo the mortification of finding a golden wedge or a Babylonish garment in the possession of a professed Old School Baptist; such an event would wound our hearts more than all the cruel darts of our open and avowed enemies. Let us, brethren, endure hardness as good soldiers—fight the good fight, and always remember that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal.