Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-08-24


above to his readers, together with" the nvesi- |
CATION as it has gone on in the Telegraph, which |
he has laid by''? No more g diminishing ;, No /
more 9 backing out" ea.#@s a:~ |
REPLY FROM BROTHER BALDWIN.
II will be seen, from the introduction of
the communication below, that it was writ
ten before brother Baldwin had received my
remarks on the ordinances, of two weeks
ago. What said then will supercede the
necessity Of much which should otherwise
! say in reply TO the following. ! shall there
fore only append here and there note.
@ Barnston, L. c., Aug. 10, 1912.
Brother Murray You gave encour-
agement that you should make farther re-
marks upon the ordinances. | have wait
ed some length of time, and they do mol
appear. Probably your time is taken up
/ with other things. I therefore thought
| would give you my views upon what
you nave written. thank you for your
frankness, in saying you was unsettled in
;. your mind as 10 the ordinances being con-
linued. But in your remarks, you rath-
!. er take the ground that they were bot to
] be continued. So | shah rather notice
the sentiment advanced in these remarks.
You said what led you to examine this
subject, vas, the use made ofthe ordm an
ces. You say, with all denominations,
they are made paramount to every thing
| else. You say that strict, practical OBJ
servance of these ordinances is made the
test of church relationship, by all sects,
that hold to them think, brother Muir
ray, that was rather strong assertion.
Have you never known member exclu-
4 ded from Baptist Church that was at
tending punctually to the ordnances2
(say for faIsehood, drunkness, licentious-
ness, theft, and olher crimes ?? (Dl
think you must have known such instan-
ces in all your acquaintance. l certain
| ly have, and those who were attending 10,
! the ordinances in very punc,ual manner.
Certainly an attendance to the ordinances
in that case was not the test Of church re-
lationshlp. (2) You admit that Baptism
is positive institution, Tor law of God.
81 had supposed that when God once
established an institution, Tor law it was
enforced, and obligatory upon man TO
obey, until it was repealed by the law CIV
er or one who established it. If this is
correct it belongs to you to tell when and
where God repealed the law, or institution
of Baptism. If you cannot do this, must
think that Baptism is yet TO be attended TO.
You speak of the cerimonies of Judaism,
of their passing away, and well they
might, for many ofsthem were pointing to
Christ. AS the apostle expresses 1.-THE
law was school master to bring US to
Christ And when he had Come, of
! course there was no more use for them.
And the Apostle speaks expressly OF
Chrisps blcsting out the hand writing Of
ordinances, and taking them out of the
way. mailing them 10 The cross" No one
can doubt but what these were the Jewish
ordinances. (D Now. Sir, prove as clear
~ that God has blotted out Baptism, and
the Supper, and taken them out of the
, way, and | will readily dispense with
them. And will moi leave it 10 the con-
sciences of men to decide. | was little
surprised when you said "you perceived
no objection to their being continued by
all who should es eem it privilege"
= (5) when you have just said 'you find
no scripture to settle the point, whether
they shall be continued or not" ,Idonot
believe person has any right TO practice
any thing as religious ordinance, with
; out command IRON God. You, brother
Murray, are one of the last men that
: should suppose would advocate The doc
trine.(6) Butmy establishment was in
creased, when you gave your reason for
, leaving It TO the person 10 decide whether
TO attend 10 the ordnance or not-because
a the church left much here for the person
: TO decidedly had not supposed, after
: your high pretendons 70 abide strictly by
the word of God, that you would call any
E man fa.her, or even the whole church.
J. especially church that is so corrupt that
/, the foulest sin, las you say) finds hiding
place 10 it.(8) Brother Mui ray the ground
! is unsafe. Il is the principle thing that
has divided our world into so manv sec S,
and caused So much dlseord, and confu-
sion.l9) No matter what a man believes
: or practices, If he can only work his mind
: up to believe it is right. You say you
= find nothing in scripture TO settle the point
> whether Christ Designed TO have the or,
dinances continued beyond the Apostolic
: age" Il does seem 10 me as though this
e sentiment impeaches The character OF
Christ What Christ establish an ordi-
o nance and leave it altogether to men to de-
!. eide whether it shall be attended to or
e not! Have you ever known God 10 es.
/ ltablish an institution and leave it 10 his
d creatures TO decide how long it shall be
d lcontinued Think mol. Let US turn TO