Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-09-29
COM,M MICATI0 NJ s..
FOR THE ADVERTISER.

in which am personally alluded to, and presented
to the public IN unfavorabe light beg therefore,
you will give me the privilege Of speaking in my
defence 1t is the first dictate Of justice 70 give
accused person fair hearing before judgement is
passed on him. think in your hasty editorial you
have misapplied the doctrine Of charity as taught
by ST. Paul 1t is the nature of charity indeed, as
expounded by that Apostle, not to be harty to inn
pute evil motives to actions Of doubtful nature;
not to take pleasure in finding out the fsults of
others, and to be ready to forgive offences when
committed against ourselves: but to carry it beyond
this, and to let it degenerate into a compE.cency
which is afraid TO rebuke, or oppose, or condemn
error, lest we should offend the transsressor, or
violate the law of courtesy,-is TO violate ut once
the law both of the first and the second tablet is
10 forget every obligation which we are laid under
both to love God and our neighbor. The most per-
feet charity towards men, then, is that which, in
stead of looking with complacency on their errors
warns them of their danger, and admonishes them
TO escape 1t is Of no consequence that they think
they are in the right. This only makes their the
more alarming; and to act towards them as if we
thought their mistaken views Of no consequence, is
only to confirm their dcusion and to aid their de-
s:ruciion. Christian charity cannot then, mean
Indifference to religious error, nor connivance at
sin it cannot be a confounding Of the distinctions
between truth and error, depreciatng Of the ex-
eellcnce Of the former, and at the same time d.
mnishng of the evil Of the latter. Indeed il is a
!. ID, dc
of men, not their opinions. Whilst it requires love
towards the persons of our frowmen, it demands,
for that very reason, that We oppose their errors
Religious controversy therefore, is the imperative
duty of those who are teachers among the people.
St. Jude says: Earnestly contend for the faith
once delivered to the Saints" ST. Paul commands
Timothy: {" To hold fast the form Of sound words;
and to give himself TO doctrine" And St. John
teaches: Whosoevcr transgrcsscth and abideth
not in the doctrine Of Christ, hath not God. lie
that abideth in the doctrine Of Christ, he hath both
the Father and the Son. II there come any unite
you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not in
your house, neither bid him GOd-spced; for he
that bidieth him Godspced. is partaker Of his evil
who are sent to preach this doctrine of Christ"
earnestly contend for il, but BY yindcating it, when
assaulted Aud what is this but contro:erry 7
And how shall they abide in the doctrine Of Christ
anl-rcfusc to bid1hose God-specd WIN teach error,
but: by exposing their errors and opposing them
with the Truth What is this but religious con-
trovcrsyl 1t is manifest, therefore, according to
tho Bible, that where error s. promulgated for
truth, We are in duty bound to oppose t-and hence
often are necessarily led into religious controversy.
IT, however you still feel disposed to controvert this
position, with some specious train Of reasoning let
me cite the practice Of the Apostles the best
c,mmentary on the ddactic portion of Scripture.
Beginning with the Nv Chapter of Acts, you
viii find where certain men" taught the brethren
the necessity Of circumcision 10 salvation. " Paul
and Barnabus had no small dissension and disputa.
tion with thcln;' and neither party being con"
vinccd they referred the matter to convention OF
the postles and Elders held at Jerusalem Even
a rons them also, there was difference Of opiron
nor Was it settled nntl {" there had been much dis
putting"
In the XVII Chapter you find St. Paul at Athens,
where he =" disputed in the Synagogue with the
Jews, and with the devout persons. and in the mar
ket daily with them that met with him." And in
the XlX Chapter he is at Ephcsus in the Syna-
gogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three
months, disputing and persuading the things con-
after this he disputed daily in the school of one
Tyrannus," for "thc space of tro years." and by
this mcans they that dwelt in Asia heard the word
of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks"
rather think therefore, that you were hasty in
styling this Kind Of controversy, such wranglins
ann on" a public defence Of the truth of God
when assaulted by the erring, should not be con-
founded with the chickering's" aud family feuds
too often found, rs you bitterly lament, in cOngre-
cations.
Indeed, the only means by which the lost unity
of the Church can be restored is BY firm yet
temperate, decided yet decent defence Of divine
truth and fearless exposure Of errors that is by
religious controrersy.
am willing to believe that you referred in your
remarks to the abuses Of religious controversy too
often ndulgcd in by Sectarians. And am ready
to admit that thus qualified your structures would
be just But you failed to put in this saving clause
You unquaiifedly condemned the controversy now
progressing in Grccnville, on the subject Of Infant
Baptism You say you "judge it to be a bitter
controversy and that it arose in consequence Of
Presbyterian lady having been immersed BY Bap-
list Clergyman"
Allow ME 10 state that upon both these material
points you are nlisinformcd by the editor Of the
Southern Baptist. This controversy did not grow
out of the Immersion of "a Presbyterian lady"
but directly in consequence Of violent attack
made on Infant Baptism, by the Minister in charge
of the Baptist congregation, before this lady 'oas
immersed. In defence Of the fundamental doctrine
of Infant Baptism, delivered two sermons, in
which there was not the most distant personal alu-
sion. The defence then "of the principles Of spirit
ua religion" according to the facts which are well
known in this community, came from Inc and the
able clcreylnen who acted with me, having been
assaulted by the Baptist minister. We felt the
obligation Of applying tho emphatic language Of
the blessed Apostle: "But tho wo or an angel
from heaven, preach any other Gospel usto you,
than that which we have preached unto you, kt
him be accurscd. AS We said before so say now
again, if any preqch any other Gospel unto you