Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1838-11-21

came and spake unto them, (the apostles,)
saying: All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, ard
teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name Of the Father, and of the Son, and OF
the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe al, i,
things whatsoever | have commanded you.
This Injunction was not confined 10 the
apostles. |, is manifestly binding as long
as there shall be a family or an Ind'Vldua'
of Adams race without the Gospel. For
it was in immediate connection with th'S
command that the Saviour added, ,--"Lo,
am with you always, eusn "nto me ena q
the ,Oorld;" plainly implying, that the ob'I-
ga1ion to perform the duty enjolned' was as
broad and as lasting as the promise OF sup
port under its performance. The same
great command is either directly or virtual.
" repeated from the date Of the Masters
ascension 10 the end of the New Testament
history. And, accordingly, THE APOSTOLIC
CHURCH WAS ALWAYS, AND EMlNENrLY, A
MISSIONARY CHURCH. She was constantly
employed in plans and labors for spreading
the Gospel. In conformity with the
Saviour's injunction, she immediately ad-
dressed herself to the great duty Of preach
inc repentance and remission Of sins unto
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. She
raised funds, and sent ou. missionaries 10
every direction. In all her assemblies Tor
worship, the coasrsrsion OF the rortd was
evidently the great prominent object OF
counsel I'd prayer. And her sincerity IN
these prayers was evinced by unceas'ng
and vigorous efforts for carrying the OBJ CT
prayed for into effect. Accordingly we
find the apostles and their contemporary
coadutors in the ministry, preaching Inc
Gospel, and establishing churches, not on
ly in Palestine, but in Syria, in Asia Mt-
nor, in Greece; as far west as the city OF
Rome, and as far east as Babylon. Nay
they went on, exploring one moral wilder,
ness after another, and breaking up field
afcr field wit. the Gospel plough, UNI! they
had spread the knowledge of the religion
ofChrist over the greater part OF the Roman
CUlpTe, WHICH i'lSu' "'>'
prise the known world.
Such was the spirit and course OF he
pli nltive Church. And can We doubt that
it was right spirit, and that i. ought to be
the spiri, Of the Church in all ages! for
what was the Church originslly founded,
but for this, as we'll as for other purposes;
or rather mainly for this purpose she
might be, as i, were, great lighthouse 10
the nations; that she might, according 10
the language of, inspired apostle, "hold
forth the word of life" 10 the benlghted and
;he perishing? Nay, can we conceive ol
an organized body of Christians, prlz'ns
the Gospel in any measure as they ought;
considering it as the only hope OF ruined
man; as "the power Of God unto salvation
to every one that bell=veth," wi'hou: feeling
impelled to send it as far as possible, from
the sing to the setting sun? Were the
apostle Paul now TO rise from the Dead and
re-yisi: our assemblies in person, with what
amazemcut would he hearit alleged, that II
is no part ofthe churcn's duty 10 engage III
missionary enterprise; but that this hailow,
ed work ought 20 be resigned to other hands
N"No part Of the Church's Duty" the holy
man would reply, send The Gospel abroad
bevopd her own bounds! If this be no
her appropriate work, nothing is. she i
N HER OWN NATURE ESSENTIALLY A Mis-.
sIoSARy SOCIETY, as really and essentially
as she IS society for worship or for dscip
line"
The great question, my friends. which
we have 10 settle, is not what others ma!
do, ifthey think proper; but what the churcl
is bound 10 do. We do no, deny that any
persons, who choose, may associate, ane
raise funds, and employ living teachers tt
! ,rry and explain the Bible TO those wht
are destitute ofthe Gospel. No one doubts
the rig!.. of any persons who think prope
| to empioy their time and their funds in sucl
an enierprize. 1t casnot, for a moment
b. questioned that the most heterogeneous
mass of Pelag:ans, Socinians, Delsts, an'
even Atheists, responsible 10 no worldly au'
thority, and agreeing in nothing among
themselves, but the single object OF their as
sociation, mag, if they choose, unite for the
| prosecution of that object. But would 1t bt
wise in the Church TO surrender the work
| of missions in:o such hands? Would the
great cause ofspreadIng the Gospel be safe
an hour under such management! Nay
is it not incorrect in principle, that eccesl.
aslical man, or ecclesiastical matters, shoult
be authortalively disposed of by any o'he'
than ecclesiastical bodies Especially ac
cordine to the constitution of the Presbyte-
rian Church, can any man he licensed 'e
preach the Gospel, or ordained to the work
of the ministry, or regularly sent to any fielc
Of labor, domestic or foreign, without the
authority ofthe ecclesiastical ludicatory te
which he is subject? We'll it is plain