Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-03-02
For n e i e graph g.
THE CLOSE COMMUNION OF THE
BAPEEsTs.

FOR tn e Teleg graph.
THE CLOSE COMMUNION OF THE
BAPEEsTS.
BROTHER GRANTS REPLY.
{ On 70 e d.
[ wish to ask you, ny Brother.-" Is
union with Pedob2ptis's in one christian
ordinance a more certain indication OF
love than one equally with them in every
christian exercise, not peculiar TO external
church fellowship? Or is that one assoc
iation so supcr}ativeIy and exclusively
love? Y and splendid, as 10 obscure and ex-
tingush the character of every other chris
tan association ? So then, union in pray
er. praise preaching the Gospel, and the
various exercise of christian benevolencc
ia which we do coa!esce with our Ptdo
baptist is nothing. A joint participation
in every christian ordinance, in which for
certain conscientious reasons we are not a
party, is every thing-the all in all. One
amorous all Observing indication Of chris
tian Lowell We do rot need to be told that
every thing unaccompanied with love is
nothing. We are fully convinced that
love is the cardinal grace. But then who
au!hoTjz d the assumption that mixed
communion is love, and that in the New
Testament, love means mixed commun-
ion or where is it asserted that the joint
participation of the Lords supper is to
constitute that of christian charity! es-
peciaIIy such an union at the Lords ia
bic as is c0nfessedly. tho in your opin-
ion justifabIe, an infringement on the re-
Iaticns prescribed by the governor OF the
FEAST in his last commission. Surely nv
friend, this is new test-and strange to
tell, enacted by Protestants, Dissenters of
the nineteenth century. Now just con-
slider for moment the consequence of
making our union with Pedo-b ptists at
the Lords table, the test of our christian
regard towards them, and am persuaded,
your benevolent mind, will abandon the
position forever. On this principle, it fol-
lows OF necessity that the strict Baptisls
(Iet the fact be as it mav) are to be con
sidered as destitute of christian love
Therefore they are to be considered as
having no title to the comfortable persua-
sion that they have passed from death IN
to life; for truly we know that we have
passed from death unto life, because we
love the BRETHREN" Nay. it becomes a
matter for great consideration with the
church, whether. these strict adherents to
he order Of their Lords commission have
received the grace Of life :" g. For he
that loveth not his brother, abjdeth in
DEATH" And is it not pvesumptuous in
Ioedo-b2ptists to repose in unsuspicious
sincerity while their persons are accessi-
bic to these enemies OF mixed communion2
For whosoeVer hatheth his brother, is a
murderer, and We know that no murderer
hath eternal life abiding in him" Nav
10 pity stop; peradventure they may have
repentance, and by yielding to a lovely
deviation from their Lords commission,
be acknowledged as exhibiting the move
mcnts ard expressions Of "charity;" and
be released from the painful suspicion, for
want ofevidence to the contrary of being
murderers, destitutesof spiritual life, and
exposed 10 eternal death. Now my friend,
l canno, for moment, suppose that you
oeIieve we are destitute of christian love
to orr Pedo-baptist brethren; and there
fore obnoxious to these tremendous con-
sequences. Then why By perpetuaIy
exhibiting s:fict communion as, indicat
ing the absence Of that, convey such
hunfuf insinuation. How studiousI Y and
industriously, and successfully this false
imputation must have been circulated by
some of our public teachers, and by some
Of our laymen. You write as though
there were no difference. between christian
and church fellowship. Have you not
forgotten my friend, what You have writ
ten elsewhere! Take netice what you
have admitted. That there is difference
between christian and church fellowship.
Now let Us hear what nv friend has ac-
| kuowIedged you viii every where
else fellowship US as good christians ycu