Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ONE LORD. ONE F AIT & ONE B A P T18 IT'—E PHE8IANS IV: 8. COLUMBIA, 8. C., FRIDAY. MAY 5. 1871 OLD SERIES, VOL. V.-NO. 139 oar pbysioal comfort, should bo n- gnrded m incidental, arising from IHl cooditioa of man la tbit world. Ito L . «t vale* and result is ns loth* mind iteetf—tho InAnonao which it oxerta oo oar power* and reward* It promise*, enough to excite tl»e profoandcst depth of human feeling. The fieri ptorm distinctly recogoiee this power of the truth. TUe word of Qod will not return unto Um void 5 it, *ays he, by the month of the prophet, “shall acootn ptUb that which I plena#, And it Anil proaper in the thing «■ hereunto 1 sent it* Thia word is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two- edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of aoul and spirit, and of the joints nod marrow, and is a disermer of the thoughts snd intents of the heart Now, if thia infloeoce be reritord or disregarded, what else can follow but blindness of mind ami hardness of heart ? The gospel of Christ, then, tn its nature, Is soiled either to accomplish the saoctiftcation sod salvation of those who behove, or greatly to increase the guilt and condemnation of those who betfeve not. “If I bad not coroe and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they hare no cloak for their sin. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin; hot now have they both seem snd hated both me and my father.” With regard to the bouse or city that should not receive the disciples, oor bear their words, our Saviour declares: “Verily, I any onto you, it shall be mote tolerable for the land of Hodottt and Oomorrah in the day of judgment than for that cHy* More tolerable for those cities, which are net forth for an example, suffering the voogenoee of eternal tire; truly this hi the condemnation, that light is enme into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, are a savor of Ufa or of death. having military triumphs. Among the Homans tba general to whom such honor was granted, pusssd through the streets of the oily, which were strewed with dowers and perftuaed with iuouuae. To in crease the pomp of the pageant, the moat noble captives were led in chain* belaud the triumphal car, some of whom, after the procession ended, were spared alive and others slain. To some, therefore, of these captives, this perfume which Ailed the streets and temples was ah odor charged per annum 8.00 other form of divine visitation ever eeea among men; it is followed by n character so diabolical, and with premonitions eg appalling ns to cause men to Ace away in terror as if from the wrath to come. Now wt may so provoke God, as that be will in ja* dicial anger let os alone in oar sins. EpmiMyt ; .Ilf .I’KK DECISIONS. who Mm a ijnpNMrcg' Mfanethrr’iner whether d i»r not*—is responsible mitant of the march of srisnre ; the cultivation of the individual is not h hr rashly oonfoundvd with the In allnaiou to this method of a tri umph, the apostle rep re saute Christ as a vidor^ua general, moving in n triumph>U procession through the world, attended by bis aporiiea, prophets, evangelist* ami other min inters of the gospel, and followed by the idolatrous nations as his cap tives. Among these the preachers of the goet>al dittoed the knowledge of Christ as the fragrance of ineeuse. *r n*»v enuttam to send it eat is upie. *u*d collect the mnt, Whether thi paper Is lost office, or r* nw' mg and \u uncalled V,i* pri»M fade uttcQtlORfil fninn • plv* rents per artar. antes ani comMutik-atimie to er in sciatica la m« familiar with more truth than Aristotle or Plato rev. a. r. rubs; n.n., Cohtmkia, S. C This is physical truth, hot this is not the truth of the Gospel, the roue- sags of its miateirx. Tbs bardra of the Ik bla tear her in moral, spiritual truth. And if that knowledge which lieved was quickening, ending in life; to those that bettered not it wan as a savor of death, eading in death. The design of the gospel ministry is the ad \ ation of men—it has pleased God by the Juottahn*-** of that believe that high court, they name to mao in rrbelltoo with the covenant of peace, with overt ores of |«ardun and offer him eternal lift through the blond of atonement. This is their work, that to which they have been railed, and separated by the grace ef God. Ibis holy sen toe iuAnitely transcends nay other farm of homo* labor ta the magnitude of the Inter oats with which It Asolo, and the consequences it prodaces. The glory of God Is ktftcparabty connected with their sins should be forgiven those. God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens lie baa magnified bU word above all bis name. The reve lation of mercy, through the sacrifice of his dear Son, is his roost excellent glory to man. .This is hts love which passeth knowledge, this his manifold wisdom, this the exceeding greatness of his power, this the riches of his gloiy. They then who reject this gospel, reject the counsel of God against themselves, and expose themselves to the malediction—“for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they al! might be damned, who be lieved not the truth, bat had pleasure in unrighteousness.” so apparent in agriculture and we are the ssvntr «f death nd to the other the savor of : and who sufficient for preaching to save t —they are sent to men “to open their eyes, him! |o turn them from darkness to tight, find from the pom er of Satan onto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and in beritnuee among them that are sane titled, by f dth that Is iu roe.” What ever subordinate or incidental effects may result from preaching the gwa- pel, its great |summonnt aim m tbs glory of God iu the salvation of men. “Unto roe,” says thia apoatle, “who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should reliable riches of ami in the heoveoa—If its energy is frit iu the robust vigor of the intellect, and in the delightful play of the emotions—much more may we expect a richer harvest as the fruit of gospel truth deposited la the heart of man. tiers tbs most so Mi me sad interesting doctrines are enunciated —here, also, the moot HAcseut awe bool and hnmorinl ndstence tecions trust—the powers and jities involved in such n nature more value than all material i /But to possess these attri and at the same time to be Hinder such conditions as that ihe priceless interests of being, Hot over and shove mnr result produced by gnspH truth, under the natural attention of the laws of our tiring, and which fallow just as snrely as any other cflects from their estab lished causes, atiMher and most im portant fart hi to be remem liered— the retain*) which the divine dis- pcnsntiofis hear to a preached gos- tbe moot driightfiil and irrepcsoolble feeling* And their appropriate saw rise. Iteigpon is desiguad to eoieiop the entire um $ not only does it claim n manifrataltoo in the outward life, it has its hxigsmmU in the heart, if it has any proper existence at all Faith, its soul, in n principle of the heart—“with the heart maa bclirvrth.' I«vs, Us fruit, has the 11 is a solemn thing to he man— to] hn|r what we are, and what we bicotne, either in’’happiness or niiriy and also to reflect that these rwffita under God, are iu our hands, oriiemUri on oar own conduct, and mjftoid where angels may look and tnffiNf. No man felt mors forcibly <H|rifln»nty investing life thiu the AHA' of this epistle. Whrii ho' aAvsi the past, his blindness of niMt, fas enmity of heart against Owl his maddened seel against OtmM and looked down into the ftigfcjflpabyss into which such a nian- Mtlof life must have inevitably ted Mifc-ahd fheh, on the other hand. preach the nt Christ, to thp snd that now unto priDCtpahtio* snd powers in heavenly places might be known, by the church, the manifold wisdom of God.* They have been given Aw the per fecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till wo aU eotne tn the unity of the faith, snd of the knowledge of the Hon of Ood, onto n perfect niwi*» unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The gospel ministry is to Inbor with and for Christ, and, Nks Him, are sent into the world to seek and save them that are last; and like Him, also, they are set far the Adi and rising again of many hi Israel, and far a sign which shall he spoken against, that the thonghtn of many hearts. may bo revealed. To some the savor of life auto Ufe, to other* the savor of death onto death. Tbs results, then, are good or evil—Hfe or death—the appointed means of the former, the innoeeot occasion of Abe latter. That “knowledge is power* is trite, and is so abuodantly illnstrated iu the events around ns, ns to receive all the easy belief of an axiom. The truth of this proposition, it may be, is more clearly evinced in its appli cation to physic*. Here we bars pal pable and multiplied demonstrations of its truth pointed agency of Christ for preach mg' his unsearchable riches, is the instrument of divine power in quick ening, sanctifying and saving them that believe; while in the case of those who will not give heed to the things which they hear, thia same ministry becomes the occasion of stupefying the conscience,'hardening the heart, and making men vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. To some a savor of Hfe unto life, to others the savor of death onto death. 2. The responsibility of the minis u*|mrsllried dtsfday of up iu offanugs of holy telligwat creator* coo i obligation* l M v> * r-TITltT neither <-wn any rise a equally true of thn I the infinite love of Ood in b of Christ, and those heights and blessedness to which he t ardnouriy but shrely as- I 'huit. of Ids Is it strange that with all emotion of sanctified, Ira- feeling, he exclaimed, “O, that which It was tbrir doty to have doao. Hut while all rs*utorso are thus on * level be toe* God, when considered in respect to merit, yet ns to the extent of their duty, they differ jo*t ns widely ns do their Responsibility is the glory of man. It is the excellence of our nature that we are capable of doing good or evil, that we are the subjects of moral law. To possess such endow ments as place us in this position, a* qualify us for this relation, allies us to angels and to God: it consti tutes that divine image impressed on man in his creation. ijth of the riches both of the m snd knowledge of Ood! how reliable are hi* judgment* and iy* past finding out 1* » ^ A is Dot that the issue* of life eath, with respect to otnwelves, r»*te Suspended opon the pres hot man has to work out his ■rvation with fear and trem «r he will bring down .upon rnilty head indignation and , tribulation and anguish for and ever. Man is not saved » hi* righteousness, nor does fab alone in bis iniquity, finch * relation* of eftir condition, nek the susceptibilities of our to apply its bhwaingn, Angels are made ministering spirit*. King* snd qncew* nurring father* snd mothers. Tn this scheme, a wfaeme which thou gather* into one all tiring* which are In heaven, and which are on earth, the ministry Is the most im portent vtofbfe agency. It is anno rioted with throw great, snpcmataral fact* which vnw*tit*fe the glory of t'hrtot'fii mediatorial work—* 4 without rattimi n»\ grral Is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the aamflrr* of rigkteonsne*n to the glory of God and the good of man. Conoffituteri ns w* me, it is im- p asm hit hot that enginery no power fal mm Urn*# appliance* of the gospel arts will hart an influence on coo duet and character. If these truths ho bettered nod frit, they of course become the warp sod woof of a new Ufa; if they he mgseted, or even dis regarded, the effisri is rqunJlN certain and derisive —rh “wax warm and in view of thn ribce and w< the ministry, the apostle asks. Not to &ppre- nr* begotten through the ctate this dUtinctiou, not to realise sanctified by the truth, even the obligations it confers, not to dis riy farmsbed onto all good charge the duties it involves, this is they are thn* built ap in all our shame and our sin. It is well n him who is the head; the therefore for the ministry with a akos the gospel preached the proper spirit to magnify their office; of God, and the power of their responsibility is commensurate o them who are colled. The with its dignity and excellence. Such i thus the savor of Hfe onto is the i»erfection of the law of God is just as true also, that over that the requirements of law are in er the influence of the truth strict accordance with the character eg the enmity snd jvovokttig and condition of the sutyect; from cduc«M of human depravity, those to whom much is given, much an incr<..-ri effect, resulting wilt be required—a man is"accepted y from divine agency. Man, according to that which he hath, ipostacy, separated himself and not according to that which he id, and enslaved himself to hath not. This law does not indeed hi sold under sin, and taken relax its demands and waive its by the devil at his will, rights so as to adjust its claims to us alienated from the life of to the bankruptcy of those who may hoot strength, dead in ties have wasted their substance and is not only has no reenpera- impoverished themselves; the meas tor, but he can not even nt* of the obligation in such circum limself at that low point of stances is ascertained not by what harader to which lie has the subject is, bat by what be ought need by fatal transgression to have been, by what he would have aleocy of fallen nature is to been, had he improved the talents was nod worst*” We know entrusted to his keeping. As no in- m why men, in proportion flesh, justified in the, spirit, seen of rook in being, should not ingriH jwwsisd He tisoriJet, he* idly and universally into the Ifosed mm im tke essrid, received np sod bate of devils, but into glory.* k by his power and grace, Moot honorable and soletau is the r at least retards the fear- work assigned to the ministry. Into M of Afageoeracy. We know their hands is committed the soared this world has not fang Hoot of tfco ffery of their Master, come s pandemonium, hut the interests of his kingdom, the I in mercy has prevented it salvation of his peopfe. With what restraining and controlling holy jealousy should they preserve ee over the wicked, he keeps th*t glory—with what unwearied a—the wrath of maa shall diligence should they labor to ad imthe remainder of wrath vanee that kingdom—with what restrain. Hence it is that ceaseless vigilance should they watch not devils. If God should for souls! To them, as the instru those restraints which he mentality appointed of God, the The discoveries, Inven tions and improvement* for saving labor, increasing production* and augmenting the comfort of man. are all constantly furnishing proof of the power of hgowfedge. These farts having respect to matter, to the relations and properties of tilings around ns, tbene results may be con sidered by some as tbs whole effi ciency of knowledge, and they may desire It solely with a view to this end. Henbe that gross and selfish system which would identify the fit ness of tilings with troth, and the use of things with vfrtae fact, it in true, in not the prenehor of nghtoou t that ws live and act for > 8o intimately are human >t« involved, that oun eharac- d eondoct, iu stead of tenui- opou ourselves, their ikitluenoe Over and diffuses itself upon leaving an impress, or pro- S lesulte ou generations Sod and pre eminently is this true Nigics which divine wisdom *flially consecrated to .the end nihf character and controlling ~4be most important of which »o«e who are sent |wth to * fhe Gospel of peac^. This e is a stumbling ami foolish- i® others the wisdom)of God e power of God; to some the •f, life uuto life, to others the >f death nutodeath. J Ls results of the ministry- be responsibility of tpe min lor* are minfayw* wt God, and there is a dignity and rwqmnribiHty at inching itosU to these goverwnieiits from this divia* ordinanee. Hut the gospel mluxury is mors sculptir and more iM>bl« than they all; there Is a riimonsss of oflkriol rsiaiewmiup U*w aaevod the officii mi thm callroi I# presto too gospel! They are miaisters mi Christ, atewasd* of the myrinrie* of Chriri, and it is required in stcwnrrts that o roan be Amnd faithful. How totem* thm thought, to plead In Gad's name. In Chrirife stead—for a* though God did beseech yon by na, we pray you in tlrhri stead b* y* recmwOed to God. Who is sufficient for Iheoe thing* f Tt»e work of tfcd ministry. Whatever else may be the doty of the miuister, his work as a min brier Is to prsncA fa petpri. God is in Christ, rscuoofttng the world onto hitn*slf, not imp*Hog unto them thority existing bstw which considers any pursuit desirable, and any acquisition valuable just in pro portion to ifo material result, to its pecuniary profit. With it every gen erous impulse* every noble feeling, every high moral aim go for m^ght, because, forsooth, they are impon derable—they can not be measured by quantity, nor estimated in cash at tlie exchange- Such men would convert this world ioto a workshop for the living, and for the dead a grave. If this be all, » no thought. Were theu eamotom divine eaafavved As a im>ck-duidcin. in savage sport. Rank insideotf oar pompon* poverty, Wlikh^reap* but pain, from •Mining m The use knowledge, strictly in- telleotnal or scientific, in increasing onto as, first began to pm spoke* by tbs Lord. When it heesns ssp^ dieut for him to go away, nod be ue moss iu the world, ho chaos nod ordained moo to go into th* world and bring forth fritih Those mu ip which faith or <wduli bear upon them, they ho wbrie van to thrir results. The lang [le is not to the ext tfeship, for although ihatically of those c supernatural gifts m extraordinary office, fes which operated 1 i connection with th * in the ordinary m A as really true no* I of the gospel ii the earth, as it w iT’aul in Antioch i How intimate the ndotinntoip. Ghrisfa soonaffilg rii then, which Christ i* pleased to so- km* far hb glory In tho [ a • Q7[-;