Home and Foreign Journal, October 1858

of domestic nm Irion', ливлмл. octoueii, m. He^^fcmiweee Convention, U II its twnty-fourth anniversary in Djptist Church in Jackson, on the ' „f August; Elder 1). Wagster preach- 'St introductory sermon ; Elder James | Hurt elected President, and elder Jo- ,h U- Borum. Secretary. ‘Ahrge delegation was in attendance. „„I brethren from a distance were Г t £ЦеГз Graves and Pendleton of Tmaesseo Hrptist, and Williadi II. rt missionary in Central Africa, un- .'appointment of the Richmond Board. .)>htr C. addressed a large and in- font congregation npon the state f'3,e mission with which he is as- L(d, exhibiting a number of curiosi- Ljrcujht by him Irom that dark land. I speaks well of the field as missionary Ld, and hopes to secure a number o! and efficient men to return with as labourers together for Christ. | Tie Convention afforded us an oppor- tanity to speak of the MISSION’ HOUSES. 4 hundred dollars ($600) were raised in 1.1 and reliable subscriptions for this ob- MANCIIgSTKR, A pleasant town uu the James River, op¬ posite Richmond. Here the Baptists com¬ menced three years ago to gather the children into the Sabbath school. Only a very few could be gotten together, but by constant, persevering effort, the enterprise brethren, and spare them'ifoybng con¬ tinued usefulness. fii'T.s, Mtf 7?T The Acceptable Sacrifice. " What shall I render to tlje i Lord for all his benefits?” is the earnest inquiry of <■— - •— *■ — ■ :z.“',s;hrb4lb "" Clod is not pleased. life ■ccessee — a good investment. R's were much pleased with our visit tee brethren, and hope we may ever (bund side by side in this good work. Ie were gratified to form the acquain- :« of Elder William Shelton, l’rcsi it of BROWNSVILLE FEMALE COLLEGE, Immshing school for the daughters of West, and under the patronage of the nenlion. During the past year 121 were .in the .College^ This institu- situated in a beautiful and healthy !ry, and with its able corps of teach- must receive a large share of the lie paironage. were compelled to leave the Con- .lion previous to its adjournment, in rr to get to the meeiing of the SHILOH BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, iich held its sixty-seventh anniversary the Baplist Church at Flint Hill, ippahannock county, Va. The introduc- ly sermon was preached by Elder Tlios. Lewis; Elder T. W. Lewis chosen lerator, and Elder John N. Fox, Clerk, tiers from 31 churches were read,— -all i healthy condition; Ml baptized dur- He year. ®er A. E. Dickin«on presented the "ms of Cblportage ; Elder С. C. Betting cairns of the Coliseum PI, ice Baptist :n!>- New Orleans; Elder Л. M. Wexler, Foreign Missions; and the wol Domestic and Indian Missions re- 'id a share of attention. Subscrip- ‘ere made to all these objects, and seven or eight, hundred dollars, in secured. hi Association indicates decided pro- fii' We returned lo Culpeper court-house, of a church. In conjunction with the State Board of the General Association, the Board in Marion made an appropria¬ tion lo sustain preaching at this point. The services of Elder Gibcrt Mason were secured ; but brother M. remained but a short time, and was succeeded by Elder Jeter George, a young man of more than ordinary promise, and who had just completed a course of study at the Uni¬ versity of Virginia. But his course was short ; he lived only long enough to attach himself to a large circle of devoted friends, and Rive promise, could his life have been spared, of great usefulness. He was ta¬ ken down by disease, and lived but a few days. Brother George has been succeed¬ ed by Elder William E. Hatcher, a young man who graduated, al Richmond College at its last Commencement with great credit to himself and his Alma Abler. Brother II. is already much beloved by his church, and his preaching is receiving the Divine approval. A piotiacted meet The house to be called “ West ing is in progress, and the results are en¬ couraging— some fifteen mourners were presented for prayer, and three had pro¬ fessed hope in Christ. The meeting will be continued for some days to come. A new brick house of worship has been erected, 7G by 43, and elibits will shortly be made to liquidate the debt thus far in¬ curred, and secure means to complete the building. It has a nourishing Sabbath school of 1G9 pupils, and 2$ officers and teachers. Several brethren have gone over from Richmond to assist in building up this new interest,— among'lhem is' brother George J. Sumner, the Treasurer of the S. S. and Pub. Board of the Gen¬ era! Association of Virginia, who is the Superintendent of the Sabbath school. We wish them great prosperity. This is a fine field for Richmond Baptists ; here is the place for doing good. 11 Go out and compel them to come in." Next we left in the Central train for Louisa С. II., to attend the anniversary (the sixty-sixth) of the GOSHEN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, Which convened with the Lower Gold Mine Church, on the 7th of September. Elder James D, Coleman preached the introductory sermon to a congregation of 3000 persons. Elder Charles Quarles, M. D., was elecled Moderator, and Elder James D. Coleman, Clcik. The letters fro m the churches (fortj-two) show an increase by baptism of GOO. $5,000 were contributed for missionary purposes. From the report of the lioatd, it appears that during lire past year there were bap¬ tized by the missionaries (15); under the appointment of the Board on the domes¬ tic field 110, and during the pa<t twelve years 770, ten churches planted, eight meeting-houses built. Two colporters have been employed during the year with large success, fn addition lo the labours of these missionaries on the home field, the Board arc sustaining F.ldc-rs Cabaniss and wife, and Elder Holmes and wife, recently appointed, in China ; and Elder Shuck and wife In California, and prison that held in confinement ! Elder Moffutt and wife in the Choctaw J- preachers for opinion’s sake. But ( Nation, and Elder Lewis McIntosh in the 15 «mighty and will prevail. This : Creek Naiion. Ц|. ’Г1"! of the age— free and' This is a model organization in many (/"ti, ге^ез lo our religious j particulars, and our Associations would he building is in the centre of do well lo look into their operations. We Offerings What, .then, is ac¬ ceptable to him ? To this ques j' letter lo the Romans, 12 : 1, is answer. The. contemplation stion Paul’s ■ ( »k* , ‘ a suitable if and the deceased is united with the future , wisdom and knowledge of God." IuvieV h undying world ; so the sou! that has [ of «his wonderful display of God’s love. to Cod’s he me for matchless grace in providing a the recovery of lost sinners— pi chief of sinners, filled his soul with amJsrig, ador¬ ing love. And under its inspiring influ ence he thus earnestly exhortsilhe Ro¬ mans, " I beseech you, therefore, breth¬ ren, by the mercies of God, tfift ye pre¬ sent your bodies a living sac Alice, holy, acceptable to God, which is yo(ir reasona¬ ble service." Here we have' lji*e offering, the manner of presenling it, ill reasona¬ bleness, and the ground on whiqi the duty rests. Is.” The :asons lor forlh the I. The offering — "your lioJi apostle may have had several \ choosing this inode of settiitg great Christian sacrifice. 1. Analogy to the offering of animal victims. The peo¬ ple were all familiar with the c lemonial law of the Hebrews, which jyas done J away in Christ. Now, the bodits of be- 1 lievers, not of animals, must ,bi offered. ! 2. The body is often employed’ t include j the entire individual— as Rom)' 6: 12. So that the exhortation includeridhe offer¬ ing of the entire individual. S^If jmplies that the work of consecration brief extend to all paits of our nature, — notfonly our menial and moral, but pliysiqu'-, nature. Paul, in his benediction upon the Vhessa- lonians, teaches the same trutlSi, 11 And the very God of peace sanctily/you whol- ly.;”_and,..“ Ll?rAX»fi and soul and body be prese^Tblfmelesi^'^^''^^^^^0"13141'1^™53'1™ .. . я . I . Kl<rntnp(! “ Wllhftnt n 4r\ flhrle. to our good brother, Edward B. ‘ or a seal in his buggy. Here the etist cause is advancing. It is worthy femark, that the brethren here have 1(1 a new and beautiful house of wor- F* lhe Slr"c lot on which was situa- 1 the ' :b the ' ’-"в hjw tuiiuv ui / 4«. and is a credit lo the liberality Cl,|iem. May it long stand to bo 'me of cornel in,»!. Eider Cum- ■and C gospel truth. e°rgc is pastor. ‘e Baptists have lately organized the fVIPEPER FEMALE INSTITUTE •'ly If'1 Un<ler **,e charge of Elder »*«r George, and Mr. William J 1 suck loaders, it must " * wish it a bright future. Sabbath we spent in e “e*l S “ Cod loveth a cheerful giver.” ” For if there be first a willing mind, it is accept- eJ," &c. " If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” This frame of mind has always been requisite to render service acceptable to God. All that we arc and have must be willingly given to him. 2. “ A living sacrifice." A living, not a dead animal was to be offered for sacri¬ fice under the ceremonial law. But that life was lo be taken for God’s service. Under the gospel economy, not the bodies of brute animals are required, but the bodies of believers. Not to be destroyed, but to be used in God’s service as he has wish them success. We wish further, j appointed. They are to present their that these brethren would enlarge their j bodies as one perpetual offering unto the operations; they can do il. and why j Lord. While there is not the destruction should’nt they ? May Goshcnism prevail. [ of life, yet there is a death implied in Many brethren were present from a dis- this offering; death unto the world— to tancc, and preached and addressed the j sin. "Mortify, therefore, your members meeting. All was harmonious, and busi- ! which nrc upon earth," kc. " I am cru- ness was properly attended to. The new cilied unto the world." This death entire- Board met, and made their appropriations ly changes the relation of the individual, for the coming year. The Marion Board , he is alive unto God. As in case of nalu. was not forgotten. The Lord bless these l .ral death, the relation to this world ceases, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The same idea is set forth in his First Epistle to the Corinthians, G : 20, "For ye are bought with a price, iherefore glo¬ rify Cod in your body and in your spirits, which are God’s.” II. The manner of presenting lhe sacri¬ fice. " Present your bodies a living sac¬ rifice, holy, acceptable to God.” "Ac¬ ceptable to Gnd !" Will GoJ accept our gift ? Cain brought an offering unto tire Lord, and it was rejected. Faul more than intimates, (hat one may speak with the longue of angels, and yet be "as sounding brass;" bestow all his goods to feed the poor, and give hb body to be burned, and it profit him ndhiog. How, tltcn, shall we offer our bodk's so as to be accepted ? The apostle gi'es us direc¬ tions. 1. Willi a willing mind. This is im¬ plied in the terms employed, " l'icsent," kc. This is the word used in offering sacrifices under the law, which was al- died to this world, stands no longer con¬ nected with ii, but with the spiritual world. Paul is amazed that any heaven-born soul should be longer identified with the world. " How shall we, who arc dead to sin, live any longer therein I Know yc nut that so many of us as wero baptized into Christ wero baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by bap¬ tism into death. Christ died, was buried, and " was raised again from the dead by lhe glory of the Father.” The grave, through which lie passed, separated him from the carnal,. mortal world, no more lo be united with il. Though in lhe woild, for a season, alter his resurrection, yet he was upon the spiritual, immortal side of the graves, to die no more. The body of¬ fered to God in saciifice dies lo lhe world —to sin ; and is a proper subject of burial, of which act baptism is an expressive figure. His emerging therefrom symbol¬ izes his resurrection to a new life, and that resurrection was produced “ by the glory of the Father which raised up Christ from the dead.” By this symbolic grave lie is separated from the world-lhough in it, lie is not of il, as said Christ. He is now con¬ nected with the spiritual, undying world, — “ Walks in newness of life ;" " alive unto God ;" ‘ a /icing sacrifice to God ;” " zeal¬ ous of good works.” " Lord, what wilt thou have me to dor" “ Yield yourselves unlo God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of right¬ eousness unto God." How changed! Once alive to the woild— its fashions, its follies, its censures and praises, its hon¬ ours and wealth,— but dead to God and holiness. Now “alive to God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”—" a living sac¬ rifice." 3. “ Holy.” This term, applied to sac- a perishing world, he cries, " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies' of God, that you present your bodies n living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." And what stronger appeal could be have made.? What motive more stirring or winning could he have presented? If such mo¬ tives do not move— melt the heart of, sin¬ ners, there is little hope of them: if such cannot lead piofessors of religion to make an egtiie consecration of themselves to Christ, their claim to the Christian name- is doubtful. signified “ without blemish." So Chris¬ tians must be free from stains of lewd conduct, and blemishes of immoial de¬ portment, which will expose them to re¬ jection. Animals separated from a common lo a sacred purpose were considered " holy." So Christians are required to "come out and be separated from sinners. It signi¬ fies purity of life. The bodies of Chris¬ tians should be sacred dwellings. Has the soul been renewed, purified, justified, made an heir of glory; and shall no re¬ gard be had to its dwelling place? The bodies of Christians are said to be the temples of the Holy Ghost." " If any man defile the temple of God, him will he destroy." If we offer our bodies with a willing heart, "a living sacrifice, holy," it will be “ an odour of sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable and well pleasing unlo God.” HI. 11 II ii a reasonable service." It is a service required of rational, immortal, and dependent creatures, by a supremely ways to be done willingly and cheerfully, wise and good Being. It is founded in the principles of right and justice. By such service the creature can, in the high¬ est degree, glorify his Maker and Saviour. In the performance of such service con¬ sists the purest joy and most perfect secu¬ rity of the cicature: therefore it is a rea¬ sonable service. “ We love him because lie first loved us.” IV. The ground on. which the apostle urges this exhortation—" lhe mercies of GoJ" He makes no appeal to God's rightful claims, his divine commands, and sovereign power, nor to man’s depend¬ ence and obligations, but appeals at once to " tire mercies of God." He bad just closed a careful investigation of the scheme of redemption. Deplorable was lhe state of the Gentiles in absolute heaih- enism,— that of the more elevated and refined Gentile and Jew was no belter; "all gone out of the way." "By the deeds of the law no flesh could be justi fled in his sight.” God sent forth his Son to bo a propitiation through faith in his blood. “ Nov; he can be just and the juslifier of him that bclieveth in Jesus." "Oh the depth of the riches both of the REFLECTIONS. 1. Correct and comprehensive views of the plan of salvation give us exalted views of God’s mercies. , fn the preceding chapters, the apostle clearly shows “ God had concluded all in unbelief, llial ho might have mercy upon all." And that " God commendeth his love towards us in that, while we were sin¬ ners Christ died for us.” Now sinners, condemned by the law, may be "justi¬ fied freely by bis grace, through the re¬ demption that is in Christ Jesus." Such was the stale of all mankind that their salvation without an atonement was in¬ consistent with God’s government. The death of Christ rendered the salvation ot those who believe on him consistent with tire claims of juslicc. It was this view of a scheme for the recovery of such sin¬ ners that gave Paul such an exalted view of " the mercies of God." This same view will produce the same effect on all hearts, 2. Clear views of God’s mercies are the strongest incentives to Christian duty. " The love of Christ constrained! us." " We love him because he first loved us." What a spirit of domestic missions it en- ТнпЗ(е(Пп~ПТГ1геаг1. " He says, ifl have' "" great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my breth¬ ren, my kinsmen, according to the flesh." Nor could this feeling be circumscribed to the home field. “ For there is no dif¬ ference between Ibe Greek and the Jew: for the same Lord over all is rich unto ail that call upon him.” He was the chief aposlle to the Gentiles. His whole life shows the influence God's mercies had over him. Our activity, as Christians, is in proportion to our conceptions of "the mercies of God." 3. The first great Christian duty is entire self-consecration. " Present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy I" Paul opens his earnest exhortation to the dis¬ charge of a long list of Christian duties with this idea of enlire yielding ourselves, our nil unlo God without reserve. Until this is done, we have reason to question tire sincciity and acceptablencss of any service which may be rendered. What offerings have we made, and how have we presented them ! 4. We sec what constitutes the most formidable barrier to the progress of mis¬ sions,— the want of this spiritual consecra¬ tion. In other words, want of personal piety. The " bodies” of Christians are not presented “ living sacrifices, holy, ac¬ ceptable unto God." What we shall eat, drink, and wear, buying, selling and get¬ ting gain, gratification of carnal ambition and vanity, give but little time for the cul¬ tivation of personal holiness, and leave but a small pittance for religious claims. Oh when will the disciples of Jesus feel they are not their own, became they are bought with his precious blood ? When will Ihdy feel that their highest good con¬ sists in glorifying God in their bodies and spirits which are his. Reader, let me ask you to study, the Scriptures, and acquaint yourselves with the great principles of the plan of salra- lion. Learn who you were, what your condition, the method God pursued to save you, and the way you come in possession of your hope; and then consider if you have appreciated "the mercies of God.”' Hive they led you to rpake a willing of-,