The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1867-09-21
For the Bolivar Bulletin.
Christianity Once More.

the Bulletin under the caption Chris
tianity," startling, though plausible and un-
christian, though robed in the wrappages of
charity.
The writer leaves the impression, and, in
deed, in bis first sentence expresses it, that
christianity consists in mans love and
friendship for each other, and quotes Christ's
words to prove it. Did he not know that
these virtues may be manifest in ali their
outward seeming aOithout christianity. and
with direct opposition to its great truths ?
Is he not aware that the Divine Injunction is
first pure, THEN peaceable What are love
and friendship to each other when truth is
the sacrifice slain to effect itP Must not
friendship to Christ proceed, and is it not es-
sential to all acceptable brotherly love /?
Can this man dare to offer the latter as
substitute for the former7 But Z" ye are nv
friends If ye do whatsoever I command you
says Christ. Shall His friendship, His love,
be forfeited for the sake of the friendship
and love Of poor, erring, sinful mep2 No,
no Thy love, o Christ, at any risk Thy
friendship at the expense Of anv enmity
With these unquestionable principles let
Mr. CARROTS attack on the authority of the
gospel and on the people holding these prin-
ciples be examined.
Mr.. CARROTS mean attack is on what he
wrongfully terms the "mode of baptism
"Let every individual choose their (his) own
mode of baptism" What does Mr. Garrett
mean by mode2 It cannot properly mean
any thing else but the manner IN q0htch an
act is done. About this the people called
Baptist have no controversy with him or with
any one else. 1t is the theory, not the man
ner or mode to which we cling. Walking is
not leaping; eating is not drinking. These
are different actions. Pouring is not spring
ling, and sprinkling Is not being buried
with Christ in baptism-is being planted IN
the likeness of his death. There is " one
Lord, one faith, one baptism bat one.
That one is described by the Hciy Ghost as
a burial" a planting IN the likeness of his
heath" This is baptism; modes enter not
into the question. Now shall each man
choose an act different from this and claim
the right to substitute such acts or cere-
mony for Christs ordinance Who is the
law giver, Christ or Mr.. Garrett Is It pos
slble that sinful, erring man will lift his
front to heaven, and in the face of Christ
law, assert that he has right to set aside
the ordinance prescribed by Christ and sub
stltute another act?
The grand foundation Of christianity is
ChTlsts death and resurrection The crown
ing cOGsumating act of Jesus was his resur-
rection. "If Christ be not risen we are
still in our sins, says the Holy Spirit by the
mouth Of Paul. This doctrine, on which
hang all our hopes Of eternal life, the apos-
ties preached and the converts believed.
4e have obeyed from the heart the form
Of doctrine delivered unto you" said Paul.
Where is the form of that doctrine? What
form represented his burial and resurrec-
ton Is there any thing any act or " form
IN the range of christianity representing
this glorious doctrine (and which ' form
can be ehanged) but baptism" buried with
Christ by baptism unto death, that like US
Christ was raised" etc. Has Mr.. Garrett
obeyed this form? Can he stand before
Gods bar and say that of his own free viii
and accord he has obeyed from his heart the
form of the doctrine Will he dare to tell
the eternal one, the righteous Judge, that
every individual had a right to select
what act or form he pleased, and nullify the
statue of Christ ?
All, Mr.. Garrett says this is one reason
science and Judgment direct him" not Gods
law. Certainly the Methodist Church-that
is the COnferenee-claims the right to
change, alter, or abolish all rites and eere-
monies. According to mans judgment"
every Tlte, every ceremony established and
commanded by Christ can be changed can
be altered, can be a60ishedI Great God,
to what length viii men 90 in tampering
with thy truth and trampling beneath their
feet thy hallowed laws And shall such
treason to high heaven be covered up IN the
honied words of hberality, charity, and
peace God forbid
The next point in Mr.. CARROTS attack Is
the exchange Of pulpits. OF course he does
not mean the materials Of which the desk is
composed, nor can he mean a wholesale
swap of the preachers Of one denomination
for another. The Methodist Conference, or
church, as he would call that body, will not
receive man as a preacher unless he vows
that said Conference, that is each particular
church, has the right to change, alter OF
abolish rites or ceremonies; that each man
own conscience and judgment shall direct
him in this matter" He therefore means
by an exchange Of pulpits that Baptists
shall invite the teachers Of such dogmas as
the foregoing to instruct them, and substi-
tnte such teaching for Gods Interchangeable
truth. Exchange the one faith for each
mans judgment and conscience to direct
him Exchange the one Lord aud law
giver for the DEGREES of a Conference7 2 Ex-
change the one baptism that represents
Christs burial and resurrection, for any
| other act that suits the mans conscience or
| judgment; or exchange the Observance of
the " rites and ceremonies , Christ has given
| for their total abolishment3 This IS the
exchange of puipits tins man pleads for.
e who hold allegiance to Jesus can you
make the exchange 2 NeUer, neUer.
The other point presented by Mr.. Garrett
/ IS what be terms So close communion" And
/ here, as throughout his whole article, he
/ leaves Christ and his law out altogether.
/ Communion with men, not obedience to law
/ and communion with Christ Is his idea Of
/ the Lords Supper. What, IN this mans es-
/ timation, was the Lords Supper instituted
/ for For show Of charity, Of brotherly
love Are not these 70 be shown by feed
ing she poor, sympathizing with the sorrow
ful. The ordinance Of the supper is not for
this. He that partakes Of it with any such
! -a4f-e 10 Er