The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-12-29
For the Central Presbyterian.
DIR. Alexander's Testimony

DR.. Alexander's Testimony.
The late DR.. Archibald Alexander. of Prince.
ton Theological Seminary, passed his early life
In Virginia. He was of Presbyterian ancestry
and training but found little in the Presbyterian
preaching or life of his youth to help him to a
Christian character. His testimony is direct
and strong to the general lack of vital piety in
the churches about him. He never heard he
says. of any one who had personal knowledge
OF the new birth by experience, and never heard
the subject of the new birth spoken of in the
pulpit or In social life. At length in teaching
he became an inmate of the family of General
Posey, where he found Baptist lady. named
Mrs. Tyler. She of English birth and
breeding, and on coming to this country had
retained her connection with the Episcopal
Church. But work of grace taught her the
nature of true piety, and studying the Bible
with new spirit, she abandoned the church
into which she bad been born. and united with
the despsed Baptists. The opposition and
ridicule of her family and friends only strength
ened her attachment to the new spiritual home
In her society young Alexander obtained an
insight into truths unknown BEFORE She was
bright light, shining in thick darkness. The
beauty OF her character attracted him, and con-
WINGED him of the reality of an inward spiritual
life: She talked with him of personal religion
and OF his need of the new birth by the Holy
SPIRIT, and her words and example were potent
to open to him the truth, and to lead him to
Piiety After conversion, Bible study inclined
him to Baptist views, but the power of early
associations and prejudces kept him in the
Presbyterian Church.
MeSSrs E'dators,-The foregoing par
agraph, from the Eaama,aer and Chror,-
,scIe, Baptist paper of New York, has
been enclosed to me by friend. It's
animus is obvious. 1t is specifically
true, in part, but suggestively false
throughout. 1t is true that, in DR.. Alex
ander youth, some portions of the Pres
byterian Church in Virginia were sadly
destitute of spiritual life; and equally
true that some portions of the Baptist
Church were alive with religious inter-
est. 1t is also conceded that Dr. Alex
ander attributed his conversion to the
influence of an elderly Baptist lady, COM
bined with the reading of the works of
Flavel, Presbyterian author. But an
uniformed reader would be apt to infer
from the paragraph, that the revived
spirituality Of the Presbyterians was due
to the influence of the Baptists-an infer
ence unwarranted by the facts. The
latter denomination is entitled to our re-
spect and gratitude, for its services in the
cause Of truth at that day; but the re-
vival of the Presbyterian body was due,
under Providence, to the labors of it's
own evangelical ministry. The fact that
DR.. Alexander derived benefit from sim
gle member of the Baptist Church, proves
nothing to the contrary. Many Baptists,
doubtless, owed their conversion to the
preaching and example of pious Presby-
terians.
But it is the last sentence in the par
agraph that calls fog emphatic comment.
1t is charged that DR.. Alexander stiAed
his honest convictions. bible study in
cJlned him to Baptist vie10S, but preiu-
dice prevented him from adopting them
One is at a loss how properly to charac-
terise such statement. 1t seems to me
contrary to both truth and reason. Surely
it is childish to boast of such a man as q
trophy of denominational zeal, and then
disparage him. But the injustice of the
imputation is no less evident on its face.
If he was candid enough to avow his
doubts concerning pedobaptism, in oppo-
sition to the current of his alleged prelu-
dices, what right has any one to suggest
that these same prejudices overruled his
convictions2 Why not have the mag
hohihiOJ W say do lie ululSeli I6SllUeSt
that superficial knowledge inclined him
to forsake his own Church, but more
thorough investigation convinced him of
his error
This reckless writer would have been
better employed in reading the account,
given in Dr. Alexanders Life, of his
change Of views, instead Of glancing at
few passages in which his difficulties are
alluded to. He is evidently ignorant Of
his subject. Dr. Alexander was distin-
guished among American divines, not
only for the comprehensive grasp Of his
intellect but for the independence, the
soundness, the deliberate calmness Of his
judgment. He loved truth for its own
sake. His hearty adoption Of pedobap-
list principles, after painful misgivings
and arduous investigation, furnishes a
powerful presumption in their favor, and
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