Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-10-11

III
TO THE CuuHcuEs WITHIN HER uAiTs:
Sendeih Christian Saiu.aiisH.
BELOVED BRETHREN: -.
La sending forth !llis our annual episiir'
permit us TO call your aitnniion 10 inc 'f,Hc'l"'
Of expediency as exIiibncdin the lses oil s"'l'e
professors. and ,ha, which q set forth IN t'e
Scriptures of Truth.
Expediepcy, implies tie adoption, or "seso!
means. most proper OF best calculated 10 nc
eompIish the rnd desircd; vol;rion on the part
of the actor, relative to the inslrnmenln'lles TO
be used, and the performance or omission oi
certnin acts. with respec, Ia attendant cITcrm-
stances aud iheconseaueDcss most likely 10 re-
sui, from such performance or omission.
Tha, this principle is partially recognized by
the revealed vii Of Gud rs uot denied; but that
/, is restricted within very nHrTow limits Is
evident. While therefore. its being received
and acted on in Scripinral boHnds has been aud
will be productive Of the NEST happy and bene'
fciai results, carried without this pale. II Is
franghi with evils tire most awful and appalling.
We proceed 10 the discussion oili subject.
by FIRST considering the end 10 he os'tained and
che sphere OF yuli,on selatisc 7o 'lrc instrnmen-
tali,ies 10 effect IL:
]. The end had in view nrust be correct.
mus, be lawful. This position is so pro'rinen'-
" Sc, for,hin The WovI Of God. tha, si'oaid the
professor lose sight Of il, he would be runHins
to no purpose, and fighting rs one that wanted
his strength ia beating tie air " he'nei
sheTeiore We ea, ~ drink. ar tra1isoertr Nc d"'
do all TO the gioyy Of God" From !ii- p"ft""
OF truth il is seen, that however unirrroTtntt az
trivial the acts uf the Christian may appear.
oiiier in his OWN estimation or thai OF others,
1t L.. ,,nIt "a III
rect reference 10 definite aud specified end.
and that end the declara,ive glory OF the Nest
High God. so deeply impressed was Tins
truth, on the n.inl of the Apostle Paul. while
he would lay before professors the prcecp'sard
example OF Christ. the ancien, worthless ana
h,u,self. ami from these. urge them 10 olsen.
cuu,ber themselves OF every h:udranre, aud
press through difficulties tia, they might run
the heavenly race with speed. he ~on''' have
the.n constantly bear in mind, that tie design
thereof was TO :lorify God. by looking 10. "r re.
living upon "Jesns as the author and fnisher
Of their faith" T'ha, while all the faculties Of
poul and body should be brought into requISon
for the purpose. !, should be considered by them
us nothing more ,han n reasonable service.
"For We are bought with price: therefore
slorly God in your body and your spirit. (which
by Tue mercics Of Ga,i. tina, yc present your bo.
dies living sacrifice. wholly acceptable unto
God, yonr reasonable serricc" Ilow unwise.
nav. even simple, wonld au individual appear
10 every rcfleclng mind who should be 'oil;ns
day and nigh, in some laborio,s employment,
and yet on inquiry. it were found that the end
of that labor, should hc disappointment and re-.
taxation Of spirit, so, beloved brethren. Will il
be with those who profess ,r labor in the v,re-
yard of tie Lord, If they shall have wronsEi
10 other cod tl,aa the glory OF fim who calls
them % work
2. The choice OF ins,rumenalities must bc
made within The Scripture limts. Acting with.
out TN; enclosure, We shall soon find that wc
are tossed on the waves Of human folly. with
on, char, or Compass bv which To di,ect our
eonrxe, and unless n speedy retreat be had.
swallowed ia the vortex cf mrsru!c. anarchy
aud confusion. Til. ins,rumen,ahii's to be-
used for the glory Of God in the extension Of
the Rcdeensrs kimgJoui are no, lett TO I've dc
yised by the uncertain wisdom of man, God
has ordained what they shall be. aud man is for
bslden TO add aught to them. or take aush, rom
t,vrsm, under the mos, severe and solemn sane
tiuns Keep The commandments 0I God. and
do ,lIcIS.. "a s,all ma: adj nn,c the word which
I command you neither shall yc diminish anght
FROM il. that We may keep the c"mna ndnients al
the Lord Your God which | command ynu.
Had this rnie been sarrediy adhered t". and
the expedi, MS uf human wisdom mol substiin.
ted in The place oi divine institutions there had
not been those corruptionS in the Christian re-
lision and those heart rendirg -rhis'ns aud con
tcn;ions IN the Christ,an word ,:int nuw cN!s,
and which have neaily banIslred pure and nn-
defiled religion from the earth We canpo:,
beloved brethren, reprchrnd too strongly tar
arrogance Of that principle. which would a.
ouine the province OF Jehovah. in p:s1umins
10 enact regulations for the government "t his
kingdom. lf funder the AloSaic econnny. cal.
led by ,he Apostle Peter yoke, which neither
the Jews Of his day nnr their Gathers were able
10 bear, and YET, "erery iransgreS.iom aud d'.
sobediencc reccyeh Just recunipensc Of re-
ward" What should he thought OF !hli pre-
sumption, that would A. IN the face of the aIi-
thori,y Of Him. who :. Hath in these last days
spoken INTO us by his SON. who is the biigh,
ness of his glory, aud the express image oi hls
person :" The Chuiche>Iwe now address. pro
iess 10 be founded on that principle, which
knows Of no Judge. Lawgiver"r kns IN Zion.
bu, Chris, Jesus the Lord. Brethren, is this
pr,ncip!e adhered TO Or rather. ,s their not
100 much Of the policy, agains. which we are
sneaking, 10 be seen IN the conduct OF menn-
bcrs, and The discipline Of The Churches; a de-
par,urs from the plain aud simple commands
OF Christ. md rcsnriins To hua,an eNped ency!
An instance or two Of ihs chaIac,e. will snltice
for the present US illustrative and conlir!natory
ofoar position The Apostle Paul |. Cor. vi:
I. SAYS: Dare any Of you. havirs Il r,n;ier
asaus, another. go to law before the unjust and
not before the srnts. v.G But bro,iicr goes
20 law with hro,h-r. and that beioic unhelievets.
vi. Now. therefore there j, uttcriy .fant
among sou. because yc 20 to law one with
another. Va. speak 10 yunr shame. y. 3.
Know ye no. That we shall Iodcesangels How
much more things pertaining I" this life Cnn
there be any thing more plaia and positive than
the prohibition and rcproor co"'aincd in the
aboveienoied Serip,nrci Aud ye, dres ro,bro-
,ber 20 to law will, hrotletl thi do mol Church
cs. no. only counive q, il. bat in some ins:an-
ccs ,Iefcn,i ~ expedicm Tins 10 suffer H. ru,h.