Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-09-30

| The Committee on Devotional Exercises
reported that sermon be preached at
O'Clock, by Rev. N Sheppard, of Rochester
MY.
The Churches Of Dayton preferred re.
quest to be dismissed, in order to Join new
Association, to the north Of Dayton. The
question was referred to the Committee on
Admission of Churches.
Suspended business to hear the sermon by
Rev. N, Sheppard, Text, Rom. IA, 10
$50 then every one Of us must give account
Of himself to God"
Adjourned with prayer by George f.
Davis
EVENING SESSION.
7o'clock.
Singing, "Jesus shall reign where'er the
sun, and prayer, by Rev. II. Davis.
A sermon was preached by Rev. N Oolver,
D. d., pastor Of the First Baptist Church,
Cincinnati. Text, Cor. 3, "Purgo out
therefore the old leaven that ye may be a
now lump; for even Christ, our passover, is
slain for u.s.
The Church, the Speaker remarked, IS
not ordained to save those who are in it, for
no one has any right to be in a Church who
is not already in state of salvation, but to
keep the laws Of Christ and hold forth the
word Of life. Churches are held responsible
to the truth and ordinances Of Christ, and
cannot lay off their responsibility. The
Passover was not mere social repast, but a
witness; and none but the circumcised could
partake Of il. With as much care has God
guarded the Lords Supper. Hence the
apostle says, "Put away the unworthy per-
son from among you you are coming to the
Lords table, for even Christ, our Passover,
was slain for us"
Doctrine: Restricted communion is indis-
pensable to the fidelity Of any Church to the
Lord Jesus Christ,
l. It is indispensable to the integrity of
her title. Titles mean something. The
Church is a a"separate body" but IL any per-
son can come to her communion who chooses,
she is not separate. The Church is the
"Bride of Christ" Is the Bride of Christ
common? She is garden enclosed" but
an open communion Church is like garden
which has up the gate posts, while the gate
is down. When he, the Speaker, became an
open communionist, he would not join any
Church, but would live out and 60 to what
communion he liked, and be consistent A
strictly open communion Church is strictly
no Church at all, but is out on the common.
2. It is indispensable to the maintenance
of the laws of Christ. Christ has given the
Church his laws, and laws are made plain.
The laws Of Christ can be understood, and
the Church is bound to observe them, Now,
a Church cannot save single truth on open
communion principles. How can Church
enforce infant baptism and receive Baptists
to her communionl Should she exclude one
of her members because he will not bring
his children to baptism, he needs only to go
and join the Baptists, and he is at once in
vited back to her communion. Baptists
cannot save the truth of believers baptism
without refusing to invite other Churches to
her communion. A Church which lets down
her principles to get converts, is unworthy
of the name.
8. It is Indispensable to the Church's
testimony. The Church is pillar of wit
ness; but if all sorts Of beliefs are inscribed
on that pillar, their testimony to the truth
cannot be known and read Of all men. If
Baptists have great principles they ought to
keep them pure; or if the Methodists or
Prcsbyterians, ETC., are right, let them keep
their pillar clean. The purer Church be-
comes, the higher the position she takes as
a witness to the truth, the more restricted
she becomes in her communion. A strictly
open communion Church is nearly level with
the world.
A. It is indispensable to a pure and stable
fellowship. Restricted communion is not
the cause of differences among the Churches.
Those who practice unrestricted communion
do not generally love one another more than
they love the Baptists. Churches formed
on union principles, are like box Of friction
matches, safe only when their points Of diff
ference are not touched. Open communion
is not honest; the difficulty lies deeper; there
is no permanent union but in the truth.
Remarks. a. Opposition to "close com
munion" is war upon sound and faithful
scipline-reproaches fidelity. Baptists
cannot commune with the unbaptized with
out SHINING against what they deem the plain
laws of Christ, and yet they are tenpted
on every hand to betray their fidelity
Those who call us bigots do not know how
we feel; it is cruel.
(2.) The attempt to stumble young con-
verts on close communion is an assault upon
the sacredness Of Divine law and an honest
conscience. They often feel that they ought
to be baptized, duty to Christ requires it, but
the cry is raised, care you going to leave
your father and mother who are good Chris
tiansr' And yet Christ demands that we
should follow him though we iorsake father
and mother and all things; and thus the
young convert is tempted from his own con
yictions Of duty, and taught to hold the
truth loosely. He should be directed TO the
Bible, and TO follow that in the fear of God.
(3.) Pleas for open communion have al
ready greatly deprecated the authoritative
character of the Scriptures, and the sacred
ness Of Church organization. Thousands OF