Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-16

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It will hardly be questioned that a party
whose triumph eliminates in this, has lost
its capacity for doing any thing else that is
useful, and for its own perpetuity.
Bnresenerate Teachers in the Sunday
Schools.
An interesting discussion was had last
Saturday at the meeting Of the Cincinnati
Sunday School Union, at the Central Pres
bytetian Church, on the question whether
we can employ unconyerted teachers in our
Sunday Schools, and expect our children to
become Christians. 1t seems, from the re-
port Of the debate, that the practice Of uu-
rseenerate teaching obtains to a large ex.
tent, therefore the question is a vital one.
If, as all Christians believe, the Bible, prop.
erly expounded, is a sufficient rule of faith
and practice, it must furnish a solution to so
important a question as this.
If the church can not furnish religious
teachers, it would follow that it is incapable
of perpetuating its species, and must degen-
crate, from the cross Of worldly teachers
upon the children of the church. If we re
fer to the Scriptures, we find plain and posi-
tive texts, such as; Scan a bitter fountain
bring forth sweet waters2 or a corrupt tree
good fruit ~ 'Do men gather grapes of
thOrDs, or 6gs of thistles ~ "Can that
which is unssYory be eaten without salt: or
is there any taste in the white of an egg? 2"
SCAN an Ethiopian change his skin, or a
leopard his spots2 then may he that is evil
learn to do welll'
This seems conclusive; but a gentleman
claimed that the would rather have SYM
pathetic. earnest persons from the world for
teachers, than lukewarm members Of the
Church, and be adduced, as an example,
Peter, who, be said, preached eighteen
months before he was converted. If this be
true, and is an example for us, then uncon-
verted persons may be ordained 10 preach,
and administer the sacred rites In our
churches. 1t is doubtful if the gentleman's
faith is strong enough for this therefore he
discredits' his W Scriptural example; for
surely no one will pretend that those whom
we regard as unworthy to lead the flock,
should be allowed to train the plastic mind
of the tender lambs.
A statement having so important a bearing
on religious teaching should not be lightly
made, and ought to be well-grounded in
Scripture. We find, it ia true, that in Acts
2, when Peter and the oDser apostles were
assembled on the day of PentecOst the Holy
Ghost, or "holy wind" as it used to be
translated, came with the sound of a rush
ing, mighty wind, and filled the house and
them, and cloven tongues of fire sat on each,
and they spoke in the tongues of all nations
under heaven.
But there are several other considerations
TO be taken into the account. Might not the
Holy Ghost have visited them before? We
find in John 10Th, 22d, that after the resurrec-
ton, all the disciples but Thomas and Judas
being assembledat the Sea Of Tiberias, Christ
breathed on them and said, receive ye the
Holy Ghost, and then and there assembled to
Heaven. The other gospels do not mention
this gift Of the Holy Ghost; but that does
not affect its truth. Each gospel writer
mentions those things which are necessary
to make us believe. Therefore, instead of
preaching eighteen months without the Holy
Ghost, Peter received it before the ascension.
But we find, also, in Luke, oath, 49th, that
Christ told his disciples to tarry at Jerusa-
lem until they were endowed with power
from on high. This, although d~ifferingfrom
the other account Of John, establishes still
more plainly that the Holy Ghost was an in
dispeDssble requisite for a teacher of Christ
ianity. Mark does not mention the gift of
Aka HoIu Ehnat hint re1atau that aftar HE
cruci6xion Jesus appeared to his disciples at
Jerusalem, and after upbraiding them for
their unbelief in his resurrection, he directed
them TO 'gO into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature and then he
was parted from them and carried up into
Heaven, where the disciples saw him sitting
ct the right hand of God.
Matthew lays the scene of Christ's last ap-
pearance in a high mountain in Galilee, but
he does not mention the gift of the Holy
Ghost, and he agrees with Mark in regard to
his instructiDg his disciples to go at once
and teach all nations, But these discrepan-
cies, in regard to mere locality, do not affect
the more important fact of the resurrection;
and If we have the testimony of one of the
Apostles that the Holy Ghost was given
them before they were commanded to teach,
the omission of this fact in the other gospels
does Lot affect it.
The necessity for the gift of the Holy
Ghost being established as the requisite
qualification for a teacher, the more full and
particular account of its manifestation
given in the Acts, may be taken as the rule
of evidence of that qualification, by which
every teacher must be judged. One Of thest
evidences is the gift of tongues, the ability
to speak all languages very valuable &C
quirtment for a teacher, especially in thi
city, where so many ~nationalities are gath
cred.
There were other manifestations which, i
appears by the text, excited the suspicion
among the people that the disciples wert
"hlled with new wine," for we find Peter
defending them from this charge by referring
to the fact that it was then "but the third
hour Of the day" which it seems was re-
gaIded at Jerusalem as too early in the
morning for men TO be filled with wine; al
though among US it is doubtful if such posi-.
tive evidence could be founded on the mere
time of day, it being the practice of many to
Prolong the night into the morning.
This Shove that the gift of the Holy Ghost
was attended with acute symptoms, although
the bystAnders mistook their nature. As il
Is always the ZANE, the evidence Of qualifeA,
tion for q teacher Of religion may always b,
given, and should always Be required.
W As 10 the assertion Of the gentleman tina
he would rather have s~ymPashstie person
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