INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME IX. 1841 (Beebe)

INTRODUCTION TO VOLUME IX.

Having concluded the labors of the preceding volume, we are brought to the commencement of a new year and to the beginning of a new volume of our work, and we may rationally conclude that such of our friends as may intend to favor us with their subscription for this volume will expect from us a brief statement of our prospects and designs. With professed gratitude to the Father of all our mercies, we acknowledge his goodness to us, manifested in the preservation of life, the administration of every spiritual and temporal blessing that we have enjoyed, and in a special manner for that kind providence by which we are permitted to enter upon the labors of this new volume of our work. When we contemplate the many difficulties with which we have had to struggle, and the impediments we have been enabled to surmount—when we cast an eye upon the host of the aliens without, spread throughout the country like the Midianitish host of multitude that came to fall before the feeble band of Gideon—when we see in addition to our open field opposers a foe more insidious in its manner of attack, more potent in its influence, more discouraging in its aspect, wearing the livery of the Israelites, and floating the banner of our heavenly Prince;—we are brought to the irresistible conclusion that no power or providence short of that of our victorious Leader, Jesus Christ, could thus enable us to triumph. Truly he hath perfected his strength through our weakness.

While we would express, on this occasion, our grateful acknowledgments to our friends and brethren who have with us thus far, borne the burden and heat of the day: through their kind epistles of inquiry, we cannot fail to discover the deep interest they feel in the prosperity of the Signs of the Times.

It would be folly for us to pretend that our past labors have been without fault, or that those of the future shall be perfect: imperfections and human weakness marks and mars the best performances of our hands. We will only say, so far as the Lord shall give us ability and direct us in the improvement thereof, it shall be our care to exhibit truth, and expose error, to edify and comfort the saints, and to disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

In regard to our present prospects, those who have attentively read a few of our late numbers cannot fail to have observed the lowering clouds that have measurably darkened our horizon and threatened ultimately to drive us from the field. After charging to our own imperfect labors, a full measure, heaped up, pressed together, shaken down and running over, of that which has led to this result, still we are left to the unavoidable conclusion that such as wish to arrest the progress of this publication are not the friends of the Redeemer’s cause. In thus writing, we do not presume that we are entitled to more consideration or sympathy for our faults than others are, but the present is a time at which this periodical, in our judgment cannot be dispensed with without serious injury to the Old School Baptists. To show the connexion of the continuation of this paper with the general interest of our brethren, we may notice,—

First, The importance of a vehicle through which all the brethren throughout our country may readily address each other on every important subject connected with their interests. The profit and edification derived from speaking often to each other, has been known in almost every period of the christian church.

Second, The necessity of a mutual interchange of friendly correspondence is greatly increased by the generally & peculiarly agitated state of the world and of the church, at this very moment. To say nothing of the revolutionary convulsions of the nations of the earth at this time, the wars and rumors of wars of which we hear—the agitation of the powers of darkness, the deep and hidden things of their dishonesty now being brought to light; the concentration of anti-christian power on the one hand and the division and subdivision of the beast into its destined parts, of heads and horns, and crowns and names, &c., together with the influence of these things are calculated to exert upon the church of God, present additional reasons, to urge the perpetuation of our periodical.

Again, the gross misrepresentation given by the New School, of the state of our churches in various directions, urge the necessity of a channel of correspondence through which our brethren can speak for themselves.

The present is also a time of sifting or winnowing the wheat. Christ is at this time evidently purging his floor; sitting as a refiner’s fire and as fuller’s soap; the process of his work requires, the letting loose the powers of anti-christ to worry, vex and afflict the people of God, (for it is with a scourge of small cords Christ drives the merchants and aliens from his temple,) in order to separate from his flock all the big bulls of Bashan, and the wild boars of the forest; to make the sinners in Zion afraid and fearfulness to surprise the hypocrites. The accomplishment of this gracious design of our Lord cannot fail to produce occasional dismay and fear among the weak and tender lambs of his flock; hence the importance of a ready telegraph for the communication of complaints and encouragements, between the strong and the weak, that the former may bear the burdens of the latter, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

We might mention a variety of other reasons why, in our judgment, the publication of this paper should not be relinquished; but aside from them all the single consideration of the pleasure the brethren realize in hearing from each other at all times and under all circumstances is sufficient, in the absence of all other reasons, for the continuance of this work.

After dropping from our list of subscribers several hundred names, we commence this volume with a subscription of between two and three thousand of as good subscribers as ever gladdened the heart of a publisher. This we say not in flattery, but from a knowledge that the greater part of them have stood with us, shoulder to shoulder, through all our disappointments, trials, crosses and repulsions during a campaign of more than eight years, without showing any perceptible signs of drawing back in the day of battle. Many of our brethren have stepped forward, when they have supposed us in need of encouragement, and doubled their subscription, others have assured us they would sooner pay five times the amount of our terms, than be deprived of the Signs; and one brother in this number declares that he would sooner earn the amount at sawing wood, than be deprived of the “Signs,” and the “Monitor.”

With such brethren, such subscribers, we cheerfully proceed with our work, and feel, by no means disheartened in commencing this volume with a reduced subscription, nor has that reduction caused us the least grief on account of any personal advantage their patronage would have been to us, for well we know that the same hand that feeds the ravens when they cry, that clothes the grass with beauty, and that secures the sparrow in its flight, has numbered all our hairs, and will abundantly supply all our needs; but we have been ready to weep on account of the disappointment we have experienced in those we believed were our brethren and companions in tribulation. We have sometimes felt as though we could adopt the language of Sampson, to his friends, “Swear unto me that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.” Judges xv. 12. We care not for the new cords, nor do we fear the hosts of the Philistines; but we wish at all times the assurance that the men of Judah will deal with us as brethren.

The common enemies of God’s chosen tribes are still in hostile array against the cause of truth and righteousness; from these we have never either asked or expected any quarters; we hope to be enabled to go forth against them, and although but “dust and ashes” of ourselves, we shall realize a glorious victory, through the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. In all our conflicts with the powers of darkness we hope to be enabled to use the “SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON.”

It is our design in this volume to embrace as much experimental and doctrinal matter as possible, and to avoid such endless genealogies and foolish questions about the law, as are only calculated to generate strife among the people of God. In carrying out this resolution our correspondents must be aware that much will depend on them, in writing for our columns to avoid all bitterness, and to speak or write those things whereby one may edify another. Such subjects as do not come immediately within the range of our original prospectus will be cautiously avoided. There are many subjects which it may be proper for us to discuss as brethren, which must necessarily be excluded from our columns, and our brethren must not censure if we reject such communications as we may consider are of that kind. We shall need the co-operation of our brethren, and their prayer for us, that we may be kept from evil, and enabled to advance in righteousness; but more than all we shall need the supporting grace of our heavenly Father, the consolations and instructions of his Holy Spirit, to keep us humble and obedient, and at his feet.—ED.