The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-11-07

tleman Of Amherst county, and by him
politely commune ate Tor publication in
the Vrgnen;
South Unicn, Hogan county, (Ken)
FRiErD -, There has been great
deal said about the Shakers religion, and
about their faith, having u father and a
mother in the gospel. We acknowledge
both Of these. The title of mother and
If elders we aekpow lcdgr IA essential ia
the manifestation Of the works of rcdemp-
ton, for AS the invisible things of God arc
clearly undcrsi0odhy the things Which are
made, so take away the mother from auv
order of creation, visible or Invisible aud
1t must of necessity ccasr. The same
argument Will prove that no order cauexist
bni through the mother, and therefore I'M
Ill there WAS manifestation uf mother 10
the otdrt of regeneration, that oldcr WAS
u ereslablished earth perfectly distinct
from tic order of nature. The title of
m bther IN the work of regeneration is not
more strange than that of father was ON
the first appeatance of Christ. This is oh
,lous from the early writer's on thai sub
lrct. "Whsn thaa nearest the word faith
er, acknowledge that hr has n son truly
born Again, ltuilinus saith, "Whrn thou
he rest the tllc father, understand that he
b III IL son, who is the image OF his sub
stance; for, as no man IS called u lord un-
less he hath servant ar possession
which he lordcth il over aud no one is cat
Ted master except he bath "A scholar, SO
no one can ia any manner he called faith
or unless he hath a son. BY this name,
ther, fore, by which God is called "A fnthcr,
the SON IS also demonstrated toexiN like
wise with him" The same exposition is
gwen by almost all others who have had
occasion 10 mentlon TINS subject. All OF
which ccnally aprllcs In the character and
Office of mother that WHEN ihou nearest
the title mother understand that che hath
n daughter who is the innS. of her sub
stance: and moreover, whcu thou nearest
the title son or daughter, understand that
mother is thereby demonstrated To subsist
IN herproper relation to them.
The ancient fathers, however, by ,hrii
subtle reasoning on those subjects, ran into
absurdities, which tot lily .clpsed the hcau
IL and simplicity of the gospel, particularly
IN aScrihing to the son personality distlnC'
from the father; whereas the doctrine ol
Christ Was that the father and the son
werr one. Now, altho' We acknowledge I
/ leading mother, AZ before stated, and admit
! hat the fnllu,ss Of the Gospel emhracrtl
/ thu CORES ondent relation of four, which
, Is different fon the very ancient doctrn,
Of trinity of persons, we are not To b,
Understood as meaning any thing more
than different attributes of the Que undivI
ded Deity, in the work of regeneration
and redemption, which in the end will de.
stroy those Distinctions which exist in ma
tnrc, AND gather into one Gll things in
Christ for in Christ jesus there is neither
male nor female therefore II is plain to
tx understood that the leading mother il
the work of redemption is not a distipct
person, but that spirit of truth, which y
one with the father, aud is manifested by
the gospel, to lead us Ia God. Then, IA
none can know their real father hut by then
mother. M, in accommodations to our con
crptlons nf things, the spirit is revealed
under that cndearing character, as bearing
witness with our spirit that we ART til,
children Of God. Therefore you may un
Gsrsiand who is meant by our leading mo
ther. II iSa qulckcu,ng spirit, who to tn,
Je"s~as revealed under the title of Wis
dom TO the first gospel church Under III,
little of Comforter; and lastly under th,
Appeslatlon of Mother, which is she sam,
AS everlasting ley.. I have written yo,
oar faith respecting Mother, &c. to SHOW
YOU we are not lgnorsut al susreat warl
! IA mans redeIptlan. We knsw than al
souls are iost. and thai there is only on,
way Tor poar mans recovery, and that b,
4 painful cross of self-denisl, until they ar,
delivered FROM that body of sin aud dealt
which came by the fail. Tie way of Coo
IS out of all sin. James, c. /, v. ID, rs
II rs "A way of virtue and IA way of peace ant
comfort Being baptized iniethis one spi
lit OF truth, we iecea I'd uue faith, and :.