Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-07-24

OF the Ministers and UeacOnS OF the; ;Edgeheld )
Baptist Association. = iss
BY order of the Conference,
w. B. JOHNSON, Chairman -.
July 20, ls44. ,si 4 !.
To the Ministers and Dcacons' Meeting of Me; /;
Edgefeld Baptist association. .s....;;
BELOVED BRETHREN-In compliance with
your request, the following is presented IN an
swer to the query, "What are the best means !.
to be used by Ministers,1to induce members Of
the Church 10 make the Scriptures their rule
ofhfe?" ....=.. ...=,..-... s;s.s... =
lie, that would successfully direct others to
the accomplishment Of any important object,
should be acquainted with the end to be. Oh.
tanned, and the practical operations 1.-THE
means he would propose. Experience proves
the speculation Of the theorists to be dangerous,
and in many instances, to have been ruinons,
The intelligent and successful man Of business,
in whatever department of life be, may abour,
is not easily driven from the practice of
which his predecessors have prospered. sc With
l6, THUS saith tile Lord, stand We in The
ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where.
is the good way, and walk therein; ;Sand We
shall find rest TO your souls.
Again, he, that lahonrs in the employment 5
of another, should take heed, strictly 10 observe
his directions, as he, for whom he labours, is
not under obligation,o accept his service or
become responsible for the consequence Of acts, /
Unauthorized acts be they ever so Trgiinous.
Ministers labour for God, The Scriptures CON-
tain their letters of direction, andsfnrnsh the :
good, the better, yea, The best and only means,
by which they may effect the purpose for which
they labour.. From Them we learn 7: !iysk.gS
!. That the Minister Of the Gospel should BE
well acquainted with the principles of the doc
trine of Christ. For 1.-The Priests lips should
keep knowledge" :. and they shouldseek the
law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of
the Lord ofhosts," Nal. i'll. Iflhe blind lead
the blind, will they not both fall into the ditch?
Can he that has a beam liz bis own eye see
clearly how TO castthe mote out Of his brothers
eye lin the first instance, the consequence :
would be ruinous In the second it would be
extremely dangerously Who would commit
the keeping Of his life to tie one2. Or, place
the delicate and tender organ of sight, under
the operation Of the deranged and obtuse vision
of the otberl Hence the direction oflhe Apos-
tie to Timothy, Tim, iv. 13. "Till come,
give attendance TO reading" Is. q. Mediate
upon these things; give thyself wholly to
them" 16. "Take heed unto thyself, and unto
thy doctrine; continue in, iLem:s for in doing
this thou shalt both save thyself and them that
hear thee."s How important is knowledge in
the ministry 2? Upon it. under the blessing of
God, depends the salvation both Of Minister
and hearers. !. Thou shalt both SAGE myself and
them that hear thee" While the proposition
does not exclude the advantages derived from
philosophy and science, it is not predicaied on
Them. These without doubt are important aids
to the Minister, enabling him to present the
truth to his hearers i'll the most lovely aspect,
and enforce its claims in the most impressive
manner; yet the Minister, that IS acquainted
with his vernacular tongue, and possessed of a
good understanding, BY attending to the direc.
tions previously cited, may attain 10 correct
knowledge of the scriptures, and be always
ready for every good, word and work; and
though he should acquire all the wisdom that
earth Affords $50 that lie should dive into. tho
OF her wonder working laws, The could he but
as sounding brass, or tinkIiug cybal.p
Again, the doctrine of the Bible is;one and
indlvisbe. The Bible does not reveal systems
of faith, each alike bringing salvation. 1t teach
es only, I. The taah of The Gospel, ~. The faith
once delirered to the saints" Il thus exposes
The faiacy and dangerous tendency Of the
principle, |" II matters but little whatfa naf,
believes, III, he bgtbe sincere" = If9tiie faith
of the gospel be but " one faith," upon which
man can with certainty rest his;hope of sal.
vation Ifit be requisi:et % salvation that this
faith be received! iThenSis 1t essentially ne ne,
cessary that he,who Processes 10 teach il, be
intilratelya wi,hit, theoretically, and
practically, John vii. I7.f"If any man will
do his will, he shaltknow ofthe doctrine whe-
therit be Of God."I A. thorough acquaintance
with tue principles of the doctrine Iof Christ,
will enable a Minister ito preach tbesesprin.
iples in their spirit, and power, and sweet.
ness. Unfolding their varied beauties,
and presenting their aptitude to all the multi.
piled cases of believers, he will engage their
attention to the sacred oracles, and fix their
thoughts upon them, not only as opening the
fountain, but also as prescribing the rule. Of
life. We observe them in the second place. 5
z 2. That the truth must be faithfully preached,
to point out clearly and fully. The obligation
upon believers to make The scriptures, the rule
oflite Acts Xxx. 27.n For have not Stunned
10 declare unto You all the counsel of God.
WeJare aware of the extreme sensibilityE that
exislsin the mind Of some professors and nons
professors, whenever the Nj mister, from sense
Of duty and the responsibility Of his Office,
touches upon certnin subjects, and how Sc,
riousy he may 'injure his popularity BY a faith,
full discharge of duty; but popularity and use. use.
fulnes,are different things, and may exist in
dependent Of each other. The time serving
Minister may glide easily along on the seem.
singly smooth surface ofpopulnr favour. and so;
steer bis 'barque as to shun populnr,ekecra,i
on the ONE hand, and Church censure; on the
other; but let him fear that under that surface,
may be concealed the rocks Of, destruction and
the qucksands Of perdi,ion; that this calm cal,
may be butthe presag oftlie Impending storm
.of Gud's retributige justice. LIKE Vi. 26. aWo
unto you uwhenull men.shalls speak weifo fyou1
(orso did their fathers.of. the ifalse prophetssg
Mnih. ". II 10 Blessed ara We when ,ner, shaI,-