Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-02-18

out IN full mass 10 near tnlS worst OF
all men preach, tear their own clothes,
overturn seats, and break the chin of
every one in reach of them. Oh, so
happy y We think the better, yea.
the only proper way to act under such
circumstances would be first, (if pos
sible) exercise confidence in the virtue
and christian integrity of the minister,
and then when Hannah prepares the
gallows for faithful Mordecai simply
and only because he is faithful, you
cannot be so easily employed and
mislead as King Ahasuerus was in
giving orders to execute the diaboli-
cal designs of those who are con-
stantly seeking the death of Gods
messengers. We know by expert
ence, and frequently quake at the cir
cumstances by which Joseph was sur
rounded in Potiphar's house, for
which cause he was cast into prison,
and remained a prisoner for more than
two years.
Judge Lynch is establishing pre-
cedent among us that threatened the
very foundation of human existence.
Christianity is the light and salt of
modern civilization, and the ministry
is an indispensable element in the
continuation of the liberty, peace and
prosperity now enjoyed by the chris
tian world. Destroy the ministry
and the fabric falls at once (for it
hath pleased the Lord through the
foolishness of preaching to save them
that bclieve.) Where, as the lynch
ing of men, quitting them to death
without hearing before the law, the
same injustice is being practiced in
the Church of God. At the bare
mention of some wicked, unprincipled
persons, a whole christian commune
ty turns out unmasked, and without
judge or jury, condemns and put to
death Gin many instances) poor, inno-
cent men who are perfectly clear of
all for which they have to die at the
hands of those in whose salvation
they were Gods appointed instru-
mentality.
Every church has code of laws by
which every difference should BE adj
justed, and all law-breakers are pun
ishable. A minister might do wrong,
but if he is deposed unlawfully, those
that thus attempt to punish him are
fully as bad as he. Now when I'M
favorable rumors are circulated on
your ministers, why don't you exer-
else a little prudence, or suppress
your anxiety to shed blood until some
research, or weighing of the report
can be had? Then if the rumors be
true, ''rebuke publicly" Your Bible
commands you not to receive an accu-
sation against an Elder only out of
the mouth of two witnesses. Il Tim.
V: 10. And yet most damaging lie
can start up without the ghost OF a
shadow of foundation, unreasonable
in all of its bearing, and you can
see our best and most enlightened
members of society slipping the news
along down the line with the apparenf
hope that it may strike him like an
avalanche and break him to pieces. if
possible, that you may enjoy his
funeral even while he is yet alive =?
1t seems to us that the ministry would
rather, and that it would be more
honor to the Church of God, to have
rigid examination and thorough in
yestigation, and be stopped, if guilty,
than to undergo food-tide of Cos
sip in which there is no truth.
Well, the ministry must be pro-
tected. If the church don't do it, it
must be done. Shall the ministry
take up arms. shoot, cut and slaugh-
ter, as other men do for their charac-
tcr's sake The Bible hath said,
"all that a man hath will he give for
his life" So far as the mere exis-
tcncc of man is concerned the drunk
ard, or those of worse characters, (if
there can be any worse, J is of very
trivial consequence. But the amount
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