PUBLIC AND FRIENDS OF RELIGION IN GENERAL. ON THE PRIN- CIPLE AND PRACTICE FOREIGN MISSIONS For the United States of America. By DANIe JpARKER, Minister of the Gospel. VINCENNES : PRINTED BY STOUT & OSBORN. OF THE OF 1820. ADDRES Cii’cumstanceshave occurred in course of a year or two past, which have caused sonic letters to pass iie- tween myself and some of my breth- ren, on the mission system, which let- ters have created an anxiety in tiie minds of some of my acquaintances, and they have requestd me to bring my views on that subject before the public : And as I fee! my mind se- riously impressed to detect eiror and defend the cause of truth ; I feel wil- ling to answer my part, and shew my opinion. It is evident that great talents have been engaged, and much time and money spent to vindicate the mission plan, and as yet, but little said or done against it. It makes me shudder when 1 think I arn the first one, (that I have knowledge of,) among the thousands of zealous religions of America,, that C 4 J have ventured to draw the sword a- gainst the error, or to shoot at it and spare no arrows ; and more particu- jar. when I know that T lack that qualification that is pleasing’ to the spirit of the world, for 1 have no ed- vication but to read, and have no knr.wledge of the English grammar, only as my bible has tauglit me ; but all the apology I shall make for my grammatical errors is that God has chose the foolish things of this world to confound the wise — therefore, I will venture. About eighteen years ago. when in the s0 1 ion system, and the argument is, that they have a right to do what they please with their own, and we would bind them down that they should not have liberty to bestow their money to the relief of any of their fellow mor- tals, whatever. To this I answer, as to the bestowing your money to i relieve the needy in a point of moral duty, we believe is performing good works, and we truly wish such good works were more common among the Baptists. Bat as to a professor being at liberty to do what he pleases with his own in all cases without be- ing accountable to the church, is a ve- ^ I'y absurd idea. I ask would you be willing that your brethren should gamble on his money, or even lend it to a gambler for that purpose ; or give it to the priest to forgive his sins, or to the worship of idols, or in many other cases too tedious to mention. I think tlie spirit of religion saith not willing : Just so if the mission system be an e- vil, and God has never required it at L 11 ■] your hands to give the blessings has bestowed on you to support an unscriptural plan, that is repugnant to his gospel government. Then we are no tyrants, but have a right to deal with you as violaters of the govern- ment of Christ. 4. It is said by some, that the Wa- + bash Association had no right to in- terfere witli the mission system, in the way she did ; or did not understand what she was doing To this I an- swer, the Wabash Association well understood what she was doing, and had an undoubted right to make head against the progress of hetei edox prin- ciples or disorderly practice. And if the mission principle and practice is not agreeable to the law and the tes- timony, then it is to be dam H cd . lleteredox principle and^ disorderly’^’ practice — these charges, with many other similar ones.are very improper- ly stated in order to weaken the con- fidence of the people in our objec- tions against the mission system, and C } by this means practice fraud on the minds of the public, by unfaii argu- ments, grounded on false charges — Jiut I hope when the public are in- formed ot the intrigue, their prejudi- ces will be broke that was against ns, and they will come fairly to the truth and give due weight to our argu- ments. 1 now proceed to the second thing proposed, which is to shew what part of the mission object we oppose, and wdiat part we are willing to support. We stand opposed to the mission plan in every point and part wi.ere it interferes or is connected with the ministry, either in depending on the church to give them a cal!, or semi- naries of learning to qualify them to preach, or an established iund lor the preacher to look back upon for a sup- port, and when the board assumes au- thority to appoint the fields of their labor, w'e belie\ e they sin in attcmjit- ing a work that alone belongs to the Divine JBciiig. Consequently we C 13 ] are not reconciled to the unfruitful works of darkness but feel it our du- ty to reprieve them, and as to the ex- travagant plan of translating the bible and civilizing of the Indians, we could bear with it, if it was not under the sacred name of religion ; but we believe as paper, types, and the labor of men. all cost money, and belong to the t: lings of nature, that it should be conducted under the direction of mo- ral government, and not at the ex- pense of religion ; and as to educating the heathen, vve think it very improp- er for to establish missionary families^ securing the rights of flocks and herds, farms and incomes, all under the color of religion. It seems like making the sacred character of reli- gion no greater tlian the merchandize of this world, and putting it in a long line of trade and traffic, when the col- onization of the heathens ought to be conducted under the direction of our civil government, ora society formed for that express purpose, not under L u 3 the character of any society of reli • gion whatever. But we rejoice at all good that is done in translating the bible, or educating the heathens and are willing to give our aid in counsel, or money, provided it can be done and not dishonor the cause of religion. So you may see we are not opposers of the translating of the bible, nor ed- ucating tlie heathens, but we think there could be a better plan fallen on and not mingle matters of religion with the things of this world. But the object of missionary societies in respect to the ministiy, we are oppos- ed to in every point, and our reasons will be more fully understood before we are done ; so I shall go on to tiic third thing proposed ; (Note, when I use the word “ we,” I include my- self with the common objections of those who stand opposed to the miss- ion plan.) which is to understand what the Baptist Board intends to do from the face of their Constitution and prove it by their doctrine and L i practice. The reason I take up this point, the principles of the board is denied by numbers who are engaged in the practice, and it is often smooth- ed over and the true meaning not ad- mitted ; by these means the ignorant are drawn in to support those errors which they otherwise would not do. The points often denied, are, that the board does not dame the government of the ministry .or hiring preachers & sending them out. These points I shall attempt to prove by their own principles and practice, which I think Avill not be denied by any candid mind, if they understand words; if they wmII but reflect one minute on the exalted title they are pleased to be known! by which is the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions for the United States of America. I ask what are w'e to understand by the word mis- sionary ; is it not designed to convey, to our understanding a mission given^ and alone belongs to the ministry, when spoken of relative to religion. [ 16 -J Then by the title they bear, we un- derstand a society formed for the pur- pose of sending the ministry to foreign parts. There is one thing now I wish to notice in the title they bear, where they claim their authority of the for- eign ministry for the United States of America This evidently proves they claim the gover-nment of the ministry and consequently ar r ests the govern- ment and authority Christ gave his church ; for the fii st ar ticle of the constitution cites them to the general missionary convention for the Baptist denomination in the United States of Amer ica, for foreign missions. Here they liave claimed the Baptist name and authoritv^vhich the Baptist un- ion or government has never authoi'- ized them to do, and in the 13th arti- cle claim the authority of domestic mi«;sions in our own country ; but if we will notice the 4th ar ticle, we will find they do not only claim the pow- er*, but deem it their duty to employ missionaries, by which I understand [ 17 1 preachers, and take measures if neces- sary, fur tlie further inipro\emeiii of tlieir qualifieatiuns, and fix on the field of tlieir labors ; also on tlie com- pensation to be allowed them tor their services. V\ liat are vve to undersland the convention means in this article, or shall w e say tliey did not under- stand the meaning of these words ; no they are men that understand tlie grammatic al sense of these w ords. ^ Well, shall we tnink they intended to impose them on us thinking w^e would nut know what tl;ey meant ; I w ould fain hope not ; but then why not the meaning of these words be freely ac- knowledged, for when they say to employ missionaries, do we not un- derstand to hire preachers. Yes, we are obliged to understand that, espe- cially when they have to agree on the compensation for their services, for if I get only one meal a day for my ser - vices, it is so far a part of the pay for my labor ; then I must be an hiieiing altho’Iwork for little. Well, who 3 C 18 J has hired or employed me ? The board; Where will I get my pay; from the board I look to for it, for they have employed me, and appoin- ted the field of my labors ; I am un- der their government and direction. Well, what has the board got to pay a man for preaching ? are they better off than the wise virgins; have they got any oil to spare? I trow not; then it must be money or something of * this world’s goods to pay me for prea- ching. I ask who has the right to ap- point the fields of the labors of the preacher? certainly the authority that has employed him. Well then, the ; board, acts consistent with their prin- ]■ ciple, for they have employed preach- ]■ ers and sent them out. and pay them , for their labors, and to the Rev, Lu- I ther Rice, as high as eight dollars a ^ week, besides his travelling expenses, f so I hope the mission friends will no e longer deny this truth, but defend the I] cause of the principal, or forsake its evil. [ 19 1 The principles of the board are fur- ther understood by the 14th article of the constitution. In this article as well as some others, it goes to prove they believe education essential to the ^ gospel ministry, and their practice in the urgent resolutions entered into in the Latter Day Luminary, No. 5, pa- ges 234 and 35, goes to prove the fact, for in those resolutions they have re- solved to divide America, in three sections, and two men in each district appointed to receive contributions, and to attend the business under the control of the board Here we find , the Baptist has urged us to form auxiliary societies. What is this great exertion for ? It is to give pious young men education to quali- fy them to preach. This pointedly proves their principle is not only to educate preachers, but hold the go- vernment of the ministry in their own hands. Many other facts might be refeu’ed to, but this is sufficient to the point in hand ; but there is one thing [ 20 ] more observable in the mission prin- ciple which 1 think ought not to es- cape the notice of the Baptists and that is, they prove to us by theii wri- tings that it is the business of the churches to impress on tl.e minds of their pious young men to prcacii the gospel, or call them to the v. (ak ; al- tho’ tliey say in one piare, it is tiie Holy Gliost that mahcs us able min- isters of the new testament. But in this constitution they only claim gifts ai'.d graces to introduce them to the seminaries of learning I ask, may not man possess all these and } et ne- ver be called of God to preach the gospel? And further, in uiging th.e necessity of supplying the world with preachers, it appears their eye is on the churches to call them to the w’ork of the ministry, which may be obser- ved in the following remarks made by them in the Latter Hay Li:min- ary, No. 6, page 2t?l. 'I’his remark is, ‘ if Christian teachers are to be sent forth, it is obvious that the Christian r 21 ] churches must send them.” In the same No. page 2b4, they say, they take it for granted, that in all Chris- tendom, there are not le>s than tliirty thousat d suitable young men. that might be called to this work. In page 2 '5, tney say it is granted that tliere are suitable men enough, if they were disposed to go, and the churches were able to send them to the work. In page 290 tney say to the churches it beio.t-s to move forward it is for them to inijilore the guidance and blessings of the Lord.it is for them to seek out and call forth the messengers of salvation, &c. Also, in Uie first page cited to, they tell us, it is the du- ty of Christians to send .orth preachers of the gospel, in sucii numbers as to furtiiaii the means of instruction to the whole world. Many other simi- lar passages might be lefened to, but it is unnecessaiy. for these remarks eviden'ly goes to prove, to call or send forth preachers, they deem it the wofiC and business of the cliiirch, I L 22 ] ask my baptist brethren to realize this principle and ask their bible and their iiearts, if they dare believe that God ha> ever called on the Christian world to look out, call, quality and send out preachei s of the gospel ; or has he re- served that work to himself, and will fulfil it in his own time and way. I now pass on to the fourth point in hand, which is to take notice of or examine the most common evidences introduced to support the mission plan. In this there are three points to be observed ]. Tiie scripture they introduce to justify them in qualifying.scnding out and supporting the missionaries. 2. Tile evidences that justify them in their plan foi' collecting money in the manner they do. and keeping an cstabiisiicd fund for that purpose. 3 The riglit of the titles and names of th.e 'offu'ers in the mission system. Snt the first point named is the most important matter to be consid- ered ; for if I am right wiien I say I I C 33 1 ■ I the mission system has neither precept nor example to justify its principle fj and practice, and those scriptures in- i' troduced cannot support it ; then the •' error must be great in the mission f' plan and ought to be rejected, for on f, this hangs the whole point. It is to I the law and testimony, for if they i speak not according to this, it is be- cause there is no light in them ; for we have a right to reject men or an- gels that bring any other gospel than that which is already brought. But to the reverse, if I am wrong and the mission plan is right, then I am in an awful error, and should be withstood. So we agree the bible is the standard, and to it we will go. I shall in order to be short and well understood. plain- ly give my own views on the scrip- tures, as I bring them in, as well as to shew what the friends of the mission system aim to prove by them. I shall begin with Jonah's being sent to INin- eveh. This part of scripture is intro- duced by the friends of the mission C 24 3 system to justify them in sending preachers to the heathens, as it is said. This is the first account of an He- brew teacher being sent to the Gen- tiles ; this text is intended to justify the missionary society in sending out preachers. We will now examine and see if it will answer the purpose. We find this was a special act of God in sending Jonah to Ninev'eh, and tliat not by or througli a missionary soci- ety ^stands a very pointed evidence in my fivor,^*^ against themselves, unless the mission society will say they are acting as God, in sending out preach- ers, asid S hope this they will not say. Notice Jonah was not sent to a semi- nary of learning to prepare him to preach to them gentiles, but Was un- der the tuition and special order of his God, and was in no case under t!ie order or direction of any body of men whatever ; neither did he look back to a society formed to raise mo- ney for his support. So we find this text will not answer the missionary L 25 ] jni rpose but contracts guilt on tli€ir own heads ; and whenever quoted by them, instead of justifying their sys- tem, only proves they assume the au- thority of a God. And the same may be said by every text they draft to answer their purpose ; and instead of being angry like Jonah, (as some say we are in a gospel sense,) we are hurt with our dear brethren for at- tempting a work that alone belongs to the great God ; that is, to employ preachers, qualify them and send them out, and fix on the field of their labors. I now go on to the mission evidence. The covenant of grace that God made known to Abraham when he rddhim, in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed This text is brought to justify t!.e mission plan in sending the gospel to all na- tions in order to secure that blessine: t o tlicm Here I wish to obsen e we can jv)in our prayers with our brcih- ren at a thro-nc of grace, that tl'.e kingdom of Christ may come, and 4 L 26 3 his will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and the whole world be filled with the glory of God, and the king- dom of this world become the king- dom of our Lord and of his Christ ; but we cannot join them in piescri- bing a plan for the sovereign of the u- ni verse, and begging him to work that way ; for as to the heathen nations having the gospel preached to them, we have no doubt but it will be done, for God has said so ; but as to the mission plan to accomplish the object God’s word knows nothing of such u plan— lor in the last quoted text as to the covenant of grace, Abiaham had no knowledge that a semiiiary of learning or a missionary society for- med, (independent of the church,) \A as essentia! to accomplish the wot k; but it is evident that after our Lord had rose from the dead, and God was about to bleak down the middle \vall of parlitioi^ between tlie Jen s and the Gentiles, and make ol' twain, one new mantolhe praise of his glory &:!aytlic [ 27 1 foundation of the gospel faith through out the world, and build his church 1 on the rock, that the gates of hell I should not prevail against it ; he gave I hisdisciplestheircommissionto preach i the gospel throughout the world : — 1 Here my brethren attached to the 1 mission plan lay their main stress on ' this command C hrist gave his preach • v ers. and claim it as fully authorising them to pursue the mission system now prescribed. Stop here. O my breth: en & pause ; was this a mission- ary society gave this command, or is it the command of our Kmg and King of Zion, or was there a mis- |. sionary society independent of the ! church to send them and fix on the field of their labors, and support them, or a seminary of Icai’ning lay between I those disciples and the place their ! Lord was about to send them ; if there were anv of those things, where are these texts ; they will do you some ' good; if you cannot find them, then the others stand pointed against you, I [ ^8 1 ft)r we are under the same dispensa^ tion or commission to this day ; for the commission or command that Christ gave his disciples in preaching tlie gospel, plainly manifests his au- thorit}', power and wisdom in accom- plishing the work of salvation thi oughout the woild, agreeable to his own council, and admits of no al- teration. So 1 still say whenever the advocates of ti’.e mission system forces in these scriptures to justify themselves in that work, just so far they introduce evidence to prove themselves acting in the place of God; to look out, employ, qualify and send out preachers of tl,c gospel, and fix on ‘ the field of their labors, and compen- sate them for their services. Tlie next passage to be noticed is about to the .°ame amount, and the same reply might be made to It which is in tb.c y, 13th chapter of Acts, where the Holy Ghost saiih, separate me Paul and Ilarnabas, to the work w hereunto I iia\ e called thicm. ^i'his text will do r ] the mission friends no good unless they will say they are acting as God, or in the place of the Holy Ghost in sending out preachers. But this texi shews two things ; First, just whai Christ told his disciples the Holy Ghost would do when it was come, that it should guide them into all truth and bring all tiungs to their remem- brance that he had said unto tliem. — ^ Secondly, shews the order of God in his church, and the union that exists between Christ and his church ; first his calling his preachers to the work, and then the church, (not a missiona- ry society,) sending them out in gos- pel order to preach and administer the ordinances of the gospel that all things might be done decently and in order, which only goes to shew the propriety of ordainiiig preachers to the work ; font is called the spirit sen- ding tlicm. When the church or dis- ciples h.ad fasted and prayed, tliey sent them away, and they went as they were directed by the Holy Ghost, [ 30 1 and not by a mission society ; Now this text can have no allusion to the present plan of the mission society, as we have no account of a seminary of learning for them to go through, nor an established fund to look back at for a support No, they depended on the Lord for their support, knowing the laborer was worthy of his iiire, and no doubt they believed like some of us, that whereever God sent his gospel, he would send his spirit with his ministers, or before them, and it would produce a willingness in the hearts of the people to support the gospel, like he did when he sent Peter to Cornelius and Paul to the Gen- tiles ; and if so there is no need of sen- ding money aftci- them, for even the church at Phillippi. that adnnni^tered to Paul’s relief, was of the Gentiles, wliich text is often brought to justify the mission conduct in their plan of supporting the miiiistry ; hut I iiope it will be rcmern!)ei-ed that I do not look at tile boai’d of missions holding t 3> J the power or authority of a church as such ; no point of scripture that goes to shew tlie act, power or author- ity of the cliui ch is not admitted as evidences in ti eii favor; consequently this text will not answ'er their purpose as it w as a church act, or an act of some of the hretl>ren in the time of some paiticular need and was not go- vei l ’d by any precious contract made b( ween them 1 might go on to an- swer a number of other texts on this point, but they are all to the same a- moimt and to be answered in like manner. So ! shah proceed to the second point iii (liis head which is to notice their aniborit}^ in collecting of money, tvh.icli is the 22d ciiap of 2d Kings, and 24t;'i and 84th c! winters of 2:! Chronicles, where w e have the ac- count oi’lhe collections of money for the nurpose of lehuilding the temple, or icpairir.g’ the i'lniise of Gnd. I mu'^t suy there are no greater cv- idenci s to pem e the falsehoi'd of any syslehi, than to find its advocates put I L S2 3 to the pitiful shift to force in evidence that has no allusion to the point — Just so the friends of the mission plan force in these scriptures through ne- cessity ; tor if you say these work- men engaged in repairing the temple, stand as figures of the gospel minis- ters, I presume you dare not say the money that was given these work- men, stands as a figure of the money you give your preachers you send ; for if you do, you will then acknowl- edge you look at the money as the re- al cause of men’s salvation ; but you must say the money they icceived stands as a figure of the preachers le- waid, which is evidently the answer of a good conscience tow ards God and man, as they fircach the gospel not for filthy lucres sake, but with a ready mind, and seeing souls fiOcking to God, which is better than gold. and you must say ih.e money th;ey receiv- ed for their labor was not designed to qnaiiry them to dvi .t'n.c \voik. hut to ic\\ a:d llicni fur their tei'/icts ; but [ 3 if you say the money you collect is not to qualify the preachers you send, but reward them for their labors, then you will confess that money is the ob- ject in view. But we find that agree- able to the mission plan, that some of the money you collect, is designed to qualify the preachers as well as re- ward them for their labors ; so turn it which way you will, it will not fit your case, and the collection of mon- ey on the mission plan must fall when rightly tried by these scriptures, as. those collections of money were for the express purpose of repairing the temple and could not tolerate us fur- ther than public collections for build- inu meeting houses. I come now to the third pomt, that is to say some- thing about officers or titles of com- mission ; but as this is a matter of small moment, 1 shall say but little a- bout it ; but the same chapters refer- red to above, is brought in this case. But as the collection of money falls when tried by these scriptures, so all 5 I 34 3 the titles or names of commissions will fall with it, but the book of Dan- iel is referred to, to justify the title President, which I conceive doth not only belong to national affairs but un- der the tyranny of an heathen king» and when professors of religion give way to the spirit of nature and are pleased with the names of honor from the world, it is time to say take care for Israel following after the heathen idolatry, was the cause of her captiv- ity ; so I leave the public now to judge, whether the principle and prac- tice of the mission system, is proven and justified by these evidences or not, and pass on to the next point in hand, which is the Fifth — Agreeable to arrangement which is to try the principle and practice of the board in pending out preachers, by the principle and practice of Christ and his apostles. On this point I shall be short and plain ; still, I shall find it recessary to take notice of some of their reasonings on the mat L ^ '5 3 ter, and answer them. My object here, is to shew that the principle and practice of the mission system is ac- cording to tne spirit of this world, and not according to the spirit of the gos- pel, and the best method to try this, is to come plainly to the word of God as the sure rule of both faith and praci tice- The mission advocates say their principle is good, because it is to send the gospel to the heathens, and by that means have heirs of glory begoti ten : Just so I might say, my neigh- bor or friend is very wealthy and wants an heir very bad, and I view- ing his wealth, and how happy his heir would be with his anxiety to di- vide his happiness with bis heir. — W ould it not be a good principle to wish he had an heir ? Yes ; but a most horrid act for me to attempt to be- come the lather. Just so we all agree the object is good, and we can truly say, O that the heathens were all saints ; but for us to step in the place of God to send means to accomplish C 26 ] the birth of these heirs must be hor- rid and wicked,/ Just so if the mis- sion system is not compatible with tlie word of God and they are attemp- ting a work tliat God has reserved to himself, and claims all the glory — Then they should be boldly with- ^t^iod, notwithstanding their wisdom and zeal, for I have thought that their zeal is something like old Sarah’s was when the Lord had promisedthe birth of an heir, she became so restless and was so anxious, that she could not wait for the Lord to bring it about a- greeable to his own purpose, but must give her handmaid to lier l.us- band. But still, notwithstanding ail it was an Ishmaclite, and was n. t the heir as God designed, and there has been a constant \\ar ever since, between the children of the bond wo- man, and of the free. Just so it seems the mission friends, as God has prom- ised the birth of the heathens, tliey have become so anxious they cannot waa for God to bring it about, but r sr 1 turn in at it themselves, gives their handmaid, that is, their money and wisdom — bestow it on preachers of their own appointing, and what will be the consequence God only knows, but I fear an aw.ul war, between the families, both parents and children — And I wish you to notice the awful consequence of the great regard that Uzzi had for tne ark of the Lord, when the cart was jostleing which caused him to put forth his hand as tho’ it was to be supported by the arm of flesn ; altno’ tlie object seems good, yet the principle was so bad, it cost him his life. Ho it seems the mission friends are putting forth the arm of iiesh to support the ark of the cove- nant. and I liave but little doubt as striking to our hearts as it may be, but it will without a recantation cost them their life in the Baptist union. Remember the stranoe fire that the sacrifice was offered \n ith, altho’ on the altar of the Lord, yet it cost Xa- dab and Abihu their lives. I might C 3 make many remarks here, but I must come close to the point in hand, the dilference between the plan of Christ and his apostles in the speed of the gospel, and the plan proposed by the mission system, both in the qualifica- tion of the ministry, and Ib.e preach- ers being sent out to preach, and their support. The mission society seems in their constitution to claim the right toqualify pious young men, who have gilts and graces, by conferring with flesh and blood, that is. to give them the wisdom of this world by sending tliem to a seminary of learning, for I have not as yet known a school set up in this world to teach people the gift of God’s grace, except it is the gift of God’s spirit in his church, and tnat agreeable to his Avord, and that teaches us a different plan. ?sotice the mission society do not require a call to the work, only gifts and graces, and what sort them are we must guess at. Bet Christ when he Avas about to send out preachers, he call- r 39 ] ed them, whether they had learning or not, and gives us no account tltat a seminary of learning was essential to tile ministry : And old Paul tells us when it pleased God to call him, he conferred not with flesh and blood and that he never sought it of man, neither did he obtain, but by the rev. elation of Jesus Christ ; and thebible tells ns, if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God. And Paul brings us to view our calling, by telling us we sec our calling brethren that not many wise, that not many noble af- ter the flesli are called Let me ob- serve here, I have thought the mission system are about to give old Paul the do Ige here, for it seem^ that if they are not wise and noble when they are called, they intend to make them wise and noble before they send them out. But God takes tlie wise in their own craftiness, and Christ rejoiced that it was the pleasure of the Father to hide these things from the prudent and the wise, and reveal them unto babes. I [ 4b 1 • f could quote many similar texts, and quote chapter and verse; but it would be more tedious and you can search them at your leisure, and I hope my readers will still remember that when he fPaul ) came to preach to his bre- thren, that he did not come with the words of man’s wisdom, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. And a- gain, the wisdom of this world w as foolishness with God, and if he sought to please man, he was not the servant of God; and he that is a friend to the world, is an enemy to God : So we see the apostles had not only no idea that the wisdom of this world qualified them to preach but seem to stand opposed to such measures as well as some of us, and no wonder while they held their exalted views of the grace ot God, which taught them to look to the Great Giver for wis- dom, an not to this world. And a- gain when we apply to the world for wisdom, consider the contempt we throw on the wisdom that comes L 41 J From ubo''c ; observe whenever we apply to aiiy source for help, it proves that we look at that as a superior source. So I consider the board cast this contempt on the school of Heaven, whenever they purpose seminaries of learuiiigto qualify preach- ers ; and in respect to sending out preachers, the scriptures hold out to our \ iew that it is God who calls, tiualifies and prepares a preacher for the work, he designs him to do, and the church is the instrumental means, in the hands of God, to send him out in gospel order, that the union with Christ and his church may appear extcraneously as it is iiuernally performed by his spirit, which internal uii;ou cannot appear nor be perceived by tiie act of the board of missions ; and as to the support of the minister, the board teaches their students to look back (remember Lot’s wife) for a support wliicli was nottlie case with the apos- tles, for they were taught to forget tlie tilings that are behind, and not act like tiiose men that stooped down to the water, but catch as they pass on and lap li.ke Gideon’s men. 'I'hat is, they take no tnought to themselves what tliey' shall eat or drink, or wherewith they shall be clothed ; but they trust the God of grace, know- ing that they wiio preach tiie gospel shall live of it, and that the labourer is worthy of his hire — and their heavenly father knoweth what they' need, and where they go their support is their due, that is, if they give themselves wholly to the work. Here let me observe the preachers have no right to look back where they came from, for there is no account that the gospel ministers are supported from behind, — for Paul calls it robbe- ry, and confesses iiimself guilty of robbing other cliurches and taking wages from them to do ser- vice to the Corinthian church, and asks forgive- (5 I’ [ 42 ^ ness for that ■wrong. We must say that where- ever a preacher labors, is the place for him to- claim his support, and he lias no scriptural author- ity to look any where else — for the jilan of suppor- ting preachers by contribution, is without the au- thority of the bible, for the contributions the scripture speaks of, and taking it from one place to another, was for the relief of the poor saints and not for the pi’eachers. For the preachers are supported as a debt we owe the gospel, a.nd that where they preach, and not to be sent af- ter them — and we cannot pay a debt we owe by a leberal gift — so the poor is relieved by an act of chanty, and the preachers supported as tlieir just due. As I have gone this far, it is necessary for me to say more, lest my readers may think I aim to make a trade of the gospel. Xo, this is what I mean : when I travel and preach, I think I have a right to claim my support, and that I am not in debt to the people for the reasonable supplies to enable me to go on in the ministry ; and whea I am at home it is my duty to labour foi’ the sup- port of myself and family — and whenever my family is in need of assistance, and I caanot re- lieve them by reason of my engagements in the ministry, then it is the duty of the clvurch to as- sist them. But my family cannot eat money, and whenever the offer of a little corn, wheat, or a piece of meat becomes offensive let them alone till the y get hungry enough to eat a piece of ash Poone. So I think it is necessary for the preach- er to know it is better to give than receive, and be looking forward to the mark for the prize, and remember that God is able to cause the Ravens to feed his people. And now the plain fact is, when we try the principle and practice of the mis- C 43 ] sjon system for the spread of the gospel by the ■word of God, they are different, for the mission plan is to look, to the world for qualification and support, witile the scriptural plan is to look to God for both, for the mission society claims the government of the ministers, to look them out— qualify them by learning — send them out and appoint the field of their labours and compen- sate them for their services ; while the scriptu- ral plan is that God holds the internal govern** ment of the ministry by the internal impressions made by his spirit, and has given the authority of the government of the miiiistiy to his church, to conduct the executii e part of the niinistrjq in the external parts of the gospel to be performed a- greeable to the govcniinent in his word ; and Gcd claims the riglit of looking out preachers and qualifying them by teaching of his spirit, and that agreeable to his word, and of sending them out under the direction of his spirit and government as above stated — and directs them into the field of their labour by his spirit, whether to jews or gentiles — and compensates them with “ well done though good and faithful -servant” — and the promises of the hfe that now is, and that which is to come. But when all other evidences fail to estabhsh the mission principles, then its advo- cates will introduce the zeal that attends the mission spirit for its justification. But my dear brethren, if great and warm zeal }s to justify the principle, then surely the wor- shipers of Juggernot will claim the preference, wiiile the Mahometans mat' lay in their plea, and the persecutors of the church of Christ have much to hope, and king Saul’s zeal must be bet- ter than his command, for instead of his killing all the Amalekites, as God told him, he saved L 44 ] some alive to offer in sacs-ifice to the lord. But Samuel told him to hearken was better than sac- rihee, and to obey than the fat of rams — so let us fear lest our zeal leads us to do tliat which God hath not required at our hands, and it re- turns with curses on our heads like Israel tvhen they wished to be like the rest of the nations of the earth, and prayed for a king, and God granted their prayers — gave them a king — point- ed him out for them and instructed him what to do — and at the same time designed him to be a curse to the people. So I wish the mission friends to know that all their zeal, their prayers, t’leir answers to their prayers, and their forego- ing all the conflicts of life, even if they give themselves a sacrifice to the mission system, it will never justify the principle noi- practice un- less they have thus saith the word of the lord for it. For, we are commanded not to be wise above that which is written. \\’e have to ac- knowledge, that the gospel has been conducted, elirected and supported for nearly eighteen hun- dred years without such a plan as the board has prescribed. 1 ask is not the earth the lords now the same as it ever was? Yes, and let the churches do their duty and the thing can be done in a gospel dike manner. I keep tltir.k- Ing of a little anecdote that I once heard. A ve- ry liomely lady undertook to dress herself before the glass, and make herself look handsome ; but let her turn herself or her dress as she would, the glass was true and would show her ugly features until she was very much enraged, and to vent her spite struck a fatal blow at the innocei.t glass and broke it in pieces and scattered it over the whole house whicli made the matter still w orsc, for then go tvherc she would in the hous? there L 45 ] was some piece of the glass which would still shew her uglr features. This I have thought most beautifully brings to my view the situation of the saints after the day of pentecost, when they were embodied together, and as a glass all the devil could do in his disemulations and com- ing as near the gospel light and beauty, by his dressing error as finely ashe possibly could. Yet the saints, as the glass through which the gospel light did shine and disclose the ugly features of error. The devil got mad, struck the fatal blow through the Pagan persecution, scattered the dis- ciples of Christ through a great many parts of the then known world, and the same may be said by every persecution ever since ; but blessed be God there is in a great many parts of the world, and even in what we may call the wilder- ness and frontiers of America parts of that true glass that will show satan’s ugly features, let him come in whatever shape he pleases, and e- ven if it is among the Baptists the true church of Christ. And I should as soon think that some how like this the gospel will get to all nations as anyhow else, as God generally breaks the dev- il’s head with his own weapons. But I must re- turn to the subject : — ^) ou wall sajg pei’haps, what will become of the preachers we have sent out.^ I ask what made you send them? for if God had sent them, no doubt but he would pro- \'ide their support where he sent them, as he has done for his other preachers he has scut. You will say then, what will become of our trans- lators who w’e have sent ? I answ'er support them as long as necessary for that work, but net as preachers but as translators or printers ; and re- member t’nat the kingdom of God is like a grain of Mustard seed, that if God has planted it there, C 46 3 jt ;s iv^iC-S work to make it grow ; and instead of our being opposed to giving the Heathens tUe Bible, we are willing to help yon do this ; take every thing else from it — that is, if furth.er trans- lation is necessary, ii it can be taken in a preper manner, as we have agreed that can be dene by the things of this world, as tyjies, j^aper and the labor or men all cost money. But as to preach- ing of the gospel, wc bcliete it is directed by the special workings of God’s spirit, and that w ork we leave for God’s direction, and v. e cannot join you in that, tor wc think you sin when you touch it in the way \ou do. 'the mission advocates sceiii to giound'all their arguments on the pro- priety of sending the gospel to the heathens, but if this was all wc could bare it better, but tv hen wc Icck at the plan 2..ropoEed in the mis- sion system w c find the heathens are not the only object, for wc hnd they are aiming to establish missionary families i,ot only among the heathens, but on our own frontiers where preachers are perhajis as plenty as among oursches, tl.cre set- ting up schools and raising family funds and stocks, flocks and herds, of \ aliens kinds, all be- longing to the mission system. And wc see them ain.ing to get thirty ihousaiul ]:reachcrs circula- ting througliout ihe world, here as well as else- where, all to lce>k to the seminary of learning for a quahfication, and to the mission fund for a sup- port, and depending on them to aj^point the field of their labour. Dear brethren, can you blame us for not believ- ing the mission system now jmisued, to be tlie way or medium through whiclr the lord is about to fill the world with his gospel or jjrcachors ; when you are not able to show such or plan or : c- jciety threughout the Icds of the Bible. And I L 47 1 ask, can vre believe that God ever designed so great a work to be performed in that way, and has given us no account in his word, so that his children might understand his will and agree in the work. There is one thing more I wish to notice before 1 close this point. I have noticed in some con-espcr.dent letters from the board, and some remarks in what they call “The Latter D.ay Lumiiiar;.-,” v, ;th serre plain hints in the circular adoress by Isaac M’Cey, that all we vhod< net fall in w;th the mission system, or stand opposed to it, arc deemed impious, or not on the lord’s side, or oppecers to the comm;ssi^n Christ gave Ids disciples to preach the g'^spel, acd ur.frtendly to the heathen’s h..ting the Bible. And wha: seems strange ar.d inconsistent is the mission advocates often teli us it is a free thing and no compv.’sicn, and we arc at liberr.' wdtheut any ceriSure or charge from them to act our plea- sure p,nd they claim the same right to act i;i fa- vor cf the plan. Strange indeed that w e should be such base characters and still held cur seat in full fcilowship, ar.d more strange to hear them SJ.y that they arc not hurt with us when we re- fuse to suppen t'ne mission system. And still more strange if possibie to think we are so fool- ish as to rest contented under charges cf such great magr.itadc. It must be owing to this cue thing, the mission friends know they h.ave no grounds to raise- or support a charge against us, as we believe and practice as we have always done upon constitutional grounds. And we have net left them but they have left us. As such v. e cannet say that cur beloved brethren, leaving of the good old way and falling ir.to er- ror, do rot hurt us. ix) I conclude that when we brh.g the principle and practice [ 48 3 of the mission system, to the word of God, the sure standard, it will not measure nor weigh with it. As such, we are bound to give it against the mission plan, and bring in a verdict in favor of the Bible plan, for making and sending out prea- chers of the gospel. I shall let these remarks suffice on this point, and pass on to the 6th head under considei'ation, which is to shov/ the most particular objections I have to the principles and practice of the Bap- tist board of foreigai missions. My object on this piont is to show the moral evil that I see in the mission system, and where it causes our brethren to sin, ivhich is the rea- son we can have no fellowship with them in the mission spirit, and lays ns under tlie heart rend- ing necessity of denying fellowship Y*ith them, while engaged in it. Now dear brethren as the mission s} stem is bringing such distress in Zion, although I know you lay the blame of this dis- tress on tliosc who oppose the mission plan. Yet I as well know the cause is in you, and the time come when we are compelled to submit to, or join in with that which we believe in crur very hearts to be contrary to the faith of God’s elect, and heineously wicked in its nature, or exhibit our charges against the principles and deny fel- lowship with the practice, so I hope you will pay a close attention to my objections or charges, and give every remark due weight and not let pre- judice blind your minds nor hardness possess your hearts. And I hope you will not think these statements, because they are pointed and plain, comes from the harshness of spirit ; but the sin- cerity of my heart as an accountable creature to God, and a lover of the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I request one thing more, and [ 49 ] that is, not let the arguments lose their weight for the want of being decorated with the flowery language of the learned. 1 come now to my first objection ; which is the principle and practice of the mission system in its present operation. It has neither precept nor example to justify it within the two lids of the Bible. Therefore we have a right to reject it. For through tile precept of the lord we get un- derstanding — therefore we hate every false way i — this objection I have fully treated on hereto- fore and I have just named it now to bring to your minds the weight it justly deserves, and I will now state my second objection which I hope will be duly attended to. I conceive the baptist board in their principle and practice, have rebelled against the kingdi«» of Zion, violated the government of the gospel church and forfeited their right to the union and brought distress on the church of Christ. 1st. They have rebelled against the kingiaai of Zion, inasmuch as they have assumed an au- tliority that Christ has reserved alone to himself. 2d. They have violated the right or govern- ment of the churrfhof Chriet in forming them- selves into a 'body and acting without the author- ity of the union. jd They have forfeited their right to the Un- ion by departing from tile gospel plan and the . common constant and constitutional faith and E ractice of the baptist church, and thereby rought distress on the church of Christ. • In order to be short, I shall notice -all these points under one view. It Ts a soul reviving faith that is peculiar toi the Baptists, and I believe denied by' none that profess the Baptist faith (as such it saves me the trouble of being so ve- rv parucular in my evidence to prove my doc- 7 C 50 } trine) that Clirist did set up and establish his church in tiiis world upon that Rock that the gates of hell should not prevail against it. And the spirit told Daniel that God should set up a kingdom which should nevet be overthrown and Paul calls it the church of the Living" God, the pillar and ground of the truth — and Christ has evidently manifested his kingly power and authority, and has gave his law, the gospel gov» efument, to be observed and practised by his church, and sent his holy spirit to gui dered in support of missionaries, sent to foreign countries seeking opportunities of converting fo- reign Barbarians. >Jow my dear brethren is not the soul of a negro as precious in America as in ■ Africa? Does it not look like robbery of the darkest shade to hold these human miserables in bondage — deprive them of the liberty even of . learning to read the word of, and meeting toge- ther to offer up their humble petitions to him who was nailed to the cross to atone for the sins of mankind — to scourge them with the crimsoned , lash — to filch from them even that which is neces- sary to sustain nature, and then take the avails of their temporal, and perhaps spiritual sufferings to purchase worldly popularity or support a mis- taken zeal. I would as soon believe the Devil a . saint, as to believe this is the true spirit of religion. I could say many more things on this point, but I V, shall just submit what I have said to the candid reader, and let him ask his heart whether these things are so or not. I now proceed to the last thing proposed. 7th, and lastly. In this I design to take a small view of the matter in hand. I have in the first place endeavored to remove the prejudices from the public mind that have arose from improper charges exhibited against us, who oppose the mission system. I tliink I have said enough to remove prejudices from every candid mind, and to justify us as candid men,in our opposing the mis- sion system. In the second place I have endeav- ored to bring to the publice view the points of the mission system that we are not reconciled to, and what we are willing to support if brought in a pyo- . . r 60 ] per manner — and I hope our baptist brethren will consider the great necessity of preserving the blessed union of the church, by destroying the evil, and bring the good on principles it can live. In the third place I have endeavored to bring to public view what we are to understand the board btends to do from the face of their constitu- tion, and prove it by their doctrine and practice. And I think it cannot be denied but the board de- signs to take the government of the ministry in their own hands, and support it by education and nioney ; and this point I hope my brother prea- chers will examine, and try by their own experi- ence, as well as by the word of God. Now my brother consider how it was with you, when the Lord was about to set you to preach the gospel to a dt'ing world — when you was in a great strait in your mind — you saw and felt yourself so inade- quate for so great a work, that your spirit shrunk within you — and you was ready to cry out. Lord it is too great a work for me — I shall dislionor thy cause. I ask you my brother, where did your mind centre, that gave you relief— that enabled you to venture in the work ? Was it that you con- cluded that you would spend a year or two at school, and by that means receive suitable quali- ficatians, and then you would venture in the work ? Or was it that you were brought to see there was help in God, the source of wisdom — and he alone it was that was able to supply your needs, and en- able you to do the work he designed for you to do ? On him you ventured, & he has been your helper. In the 4th place I have examined the scripture evidence most generally introduced for the sup- port of the mission system, and find they all fail to answer their purpose. But in this case there is no doubt, but there is and will be scriptures in- troduced that I have not taken under view, but if I <51 j rightly understood will come out about the same way with the other — and I hope the Baptists will examine the reality of those evidences more close than they have done heretofore. In the 5th place lhave endeavored to bring to light and shew the differecce that exists between the principle and practice of the mission society, and that of Christ and his apostles, which appeai-s plain that one is of man and the other of God — and I hope this distinction will be more particu- ^ larly examined into, and let us come out from a- mongst the unclean, and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather re- prove them. In the 6th place, I have laid before the public some of my most particular objections against the mission system, and I hope the objection will be duly weighed by all the friends of Zion. No doubt but the weight of these objections will be tried to be destroyed by the art of criticism, but I feel wil- ling to bare all the dispersions that the enemy' may cast on me for truths sake — and I hope my dear brethren who are on the Lord’s side, will stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free, and be careful to walk in their duty and maintain good works, I know m a little while more I must lie down in death, and know the reality of these things. — Now my dear readers, here is one thing that comfoi’ts my heart while tears are ready to flow from my ' eyes, that when my body is mingling with its mo- ther dust, you may know that there was some in' such an age of the world that still stood as witnes- ses against error, and in behalf of truth ; and may the Lord grant it may comfort your feeble minds. Before I come to a close, I feel to give a small glimpse of my views on the matter. When I look at the difference that appears a- C 62 1 mongst the Baptists now, and thirty or forty years ago, It truly fills my heart with sorrow. They were about that time I think, the veiy description that Christ gave of his humble followers. They were meek and lowly in mind, and separate from the world both in appearance and conduct. O, how lovely they a])peared then, how sweet their company was to the meek and lowly in heart.— But alas ! now many even preachers, when we see them at the court house, by their appearance and conduct, we scarcely can tell them from the la w- ycrs — and common professors are hardly known from the world. This makes me think of old Is- rael ; it appears that when Cod had blessed them avilh p.eace and prosperity, they grew proud and forgot God's goodness, and neglectful of their du- ties, and began to follow after the heathen idola- try, which caused God to bring distress upon them, and he gave them up sometimes to the hands of their enemies, and, sometimes judgements of vari- ous kinds to chastise them for their sins. Observe it was generally' the leaders of Israel that was cut off because it was the leaders of God’s people that had caused them to err. So when I look at the conduct of the baptist church for some time past, with the conduct of the mission system, this is my view, and solemn thought, the chnrch of Christ has upwards of forty years enjoyed peace and prosperity, and like Israel of old, they have not on- ly grown charnally proud, but spiritually proud, and forgot the goodness of God, and neglected their duty ; got above the meek and lowly way j)rescribed for them to walk in, and drink in the spirit of the world, and rather conform to the practice of the world than bear the reproaches cud persecutions, that is the legacy of all the humble followers of our blessed Lord — and they begin even in their religious institutions to pattern C 63 3 after the rest of the nations of the earth ; I mean ^ the religion of the world. Just look at the simile becvveen the rise of popery and the principles and practice of our beloved brethren in the mission system, and 1 liave no doubt but Constantine ap- peared to possess as great ze.alas our brethren liow does, and what awful consequences attended tnat establishment. 1 can truly say; O, solemn thought, I feel like the time is not far distant when God will chastise his peoi>le for their pride and &lly. — And I fear the mission establishment is the ivay this distress will come — and as the leaders of God’s i>eople are the ones that have brought in this evil, they are the ones that will be cut cif, (I mean in a gospel sense,) w.iile the poor despised and persecuted followers of their blessed Lord will have to mourn not only for their own afflict- ed state, but for their dear brethren, like Israel mourned for the tribe of Benjamin, their brethren when they were forced to cat them off. But as God has always preserved, even tlirough the worst of times, a liccie faithful few, altho’ despis- ed, yet witnesses for the truth, and has respect to all the precepts of their Lord, in the self denied order of the gospel, and I had far rather when I lie down in death, leave my name recorded among these despised few, as a witness for tlie truth, than have it recorded m the high circle of fame. I wish the public to know it is not the value of our money we regard, but as honest men in the candor of oar hearts, our respect is to the true order of our Lord. My mind is yet fruitful, but 1 must come to a close, by just observing I am fully apprized of the room there is for criticism. But I hope my re.ader, as an honest man, will lay aside all criti- cism with the bias of their mind and come fairly to the truth, for I can say in truth, I have designed no part of this piece to hurt the feelings of any L 64 1 person whatever ; but I think, my sincere prayer to God. is that He, by his t^ood spirit, and agree- able to his wor