The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-02-09

Several months since. one of orr cor
respondents at Culleoka sent us an item
in regard to what he thought was q re.
markable sermon preached by Rev. E
q. Sewell, at Campbell Station. Mr.
Thos. White said that the report did
Mr.. Sewell injustice, whereupon we
invited linn, Mr.. Sewel) through Mr..
White and the Herald, to write the
words he used on that occasion, and we
would publish them cheerfully, as We
regretted that anything had appeared in
our columns that could reflect upon a
minister, or produce q religious discus
sion. One of his friends, Mr.. White,
we believe, told US afterward that Mr..
to reply through our columns to what
he considered q false report of his ser
mon. Afterward, Mr.. White asked the
privilege of replying to our correspond
ent, and it was granted. His article
was very personal, and it was but sim
pie justice in US to permit Mr.. Watkins
to reply. To this Mr.. Sewell complains.
Mr.. White sent us another long article.
too late for publication in that weeks
issue, but We told the gentleman who
brought it to leave it and we would pub
lish it at another time. He had instruc-
tons not to do so, however, and it was
sent to the Gospel Advocate. We pub
lish it now, not because OF the threat of
Rev. Mr.. Sewell. but on account of the
fact that the Herald is friend to all de-
nominations of Christians alike, and
will not allow even an imputation of
partiality. Religious controversies are
out of place in our columns, Tor in any
columns, for that matter) but as one has
come upon us accidentally, our readers
must bear with us this week. This is
the end of the controversy, as we will
not publish anything more upon the
subject, If we can help it. In regard to
the threat Of Rev. Mr.. Sewell, we will
say, that il he knew what our position
as prOprietors of newspaper in this
county alone can furnish, he would
do. With the above facts before them,
we ;are willing for our readers to Judge
between us and a minister of the Cos
pei of Jesus Christ who advises the
members of his church not to patI onize
our paper, in the event we do not pub
lish long religious disquisition. If we
bad the space, we would publish Rev.
Mr.. Sewell's remarks. Below is Mr..
Whites letter:
Editors Herdld:-I beg your indul-
gence while l offer a few thoughts in
answer to Mr.. W. A. Watkins, in your
issue of the odd of December. He says
that by no means admitted the posi-
bility of salvation without "baptism :"
I believe all those who die before they
arrive at the years of accountability
are'saved There is no salvation prom
ised to any "sane adult" who has had
an opportunity to hear the Gospel,
without Baptism. Mr.. w. says, mo
where in the New Testament is the
cleansing of the soul ascribed to any
thing else than the blood of Christ,
and a change of heart to the Holy
Ghost" Mr.. w. does not tell US how
these agencies perform their work. /
would respectfully refer him to 1st Peter
LIST and 22nd, Acts 18th and 9th.
He refers me to John 3-16, and 1856,
5-24, and $40. and exclaims very tri>
mo baptism there" What
has he referred to these passages for?
to prove that man is saved by "taith
alone, and baptism is not necessary.
He does not use the word alone, but
that is tho idea. Why is baptism not
because it is not mentioned
in the texts referred to? By the same
rule of reasoning the texts prove that
repentance is not necessary. Why?
Because it is not mentioned. VIII
Mr.. w. contend that man can be saved
without repentance? No verify. Let
us take this mode of reasoning for
and see what we can prove
Take Saul's case Acts 9-1s, Cornelius
case, Acts 10-47-4S, Lydia's case, Acts
1915, and we prove that man is saved
without either faith or repentance
Why? because neither is mentioned
in the texts referred to. If we pursue
this method of reasoning we can prove
we wish to. This is the rea-
son why there are so many religious
parties in the land. We, as a people
lake the Bible as whole, rightly divid-
ing the word of truth" End Tim. 2-15.
1t is said in the New Testament that
man is saved by faith, by grace, by
BIZ prayer, by 6dptis9a, and
by the "blood of Christ" But never
Is it said that he is saved by any one
Of these alone. Read all of tie Sd chap.
Of John and you will find "water"
and "baptism" mentioned six times;
three times in the ed verse. The diff
aren't denominations throughout the
and, are more uncharitable than the
Lord, for they try to prove that the
Lord will receive unbaptised persons
while they will not. To be more ex-
Dlicit they reject persons because they
nave not submitted to Baptism, but at
he same time contend that the Lord
receives them. What reason they have
or rejecting persons, when they say
he Lord receives them, it would be
difficult to tell. We understand to
believe in Christ" is to do all he has
and not part. The End
1r To, hn ruyhn
ion of Faith alone. In my first COM
nan had to do, and the part that God
performed in mans salvation, though
t seems failed to do 50 to Mr.. WIS.
and he still insists that
We teach that man trusts to baptism, or
some one to baptise him, for salvation.
He says there is no "third party at ALL"
hat 1.-THE way they have it, Christ can't
ave without an act to be performed
oy some man, thereby preventing God
rom saving souls entirely independent
If earthly power" Mr.. W. has but one
tenn in his theory (Faith) and tries to
prove that we have but one (BaptisD').
have often heard of one idea men,
We here have practical demonstra-
ion Of the fact.
In answering the above, 1 do not
propose to travel outside of Gods ap-
and say what he will,
,ould would, may, might or can do un-
Ter certain supposed contingencies.
shall confine myself strictly to .he word
IF the Lord. God commissioned the
apostles "to go into all the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature"
Matt. 2S-l9-20. Mark 16-l5-16. Is not
here the presence of a third party ?
When the apostles went and preacher
TO a nation or people, who were igno-
rant OF the plan of salvation and be-
levers were made, who were they in
iebted to tor their Faith were they
not indebted to man? the "third partyn
Gods authorized agent? Now if we
reject Baptism because we are indebted
to man for it, may we not reject faith
for the same reason, because we can
have no faith outside of Gods appoint>
ments. Rom. 10-14-l5. Again Paul
says in Acts 29-ls, the Lord sent him
TO the Gentiles ito open their eyes and
and turn them from darkness to light,
and from the power of Satan unto God"
Paul then was the agent in the hands
of God to open the eyes of the Gentiles,
and turn them from darkness to light.
Paul says LIST Cor. 1921. 1t pleased
Ged by the toolishpess of preaching to
save them that believe, In all cases
in the times of the Apostles where per-
sons were made believers and turned
to the Lord, the Gospel and some one
to preach it were present; and the same
xyaro ,>roconf To do tho