.k• .
PRESIYTERIA:. - .' - .TANL's..ER.. & 'ADV.I,'CATE
Pre,hrterlan Banners Vol. V, No. 11.
prv.oyterlon Advoonte, Vol. XIX, No. a.
AVID McKINNEY, Editor and Proprietor.
TERMS.--IN ADVANCE.
Original Vociq.
;~
I found an altar with this inscription: To the
unknown God."—Acts xvii : 23.
there a heart that heeds affection's tone,
it hath not alter raised to God unknown?
there a form of any age, or clime,
bath not knelt before a nameless shrine?
there a soul beneath the light of heaven,
cannot pray for this to be forgiven
no! for none this dreary vale have trod,
have not bowed them to an unknown God,
Warrior, glory wreathed, on whose proud
brow
victor's laurels rest so lightly now;
"tom the poet's harp has breathed its lays,
nn ndutiring millions bend in praise,
m no altar raised ? Lay thy heart bare—
, the Prince of Peace a dwelling there ?
.y that scornful lip and flashing eye,
the land of Israel you defy.
thou, time•honored Statesman, thou, whose
Dal r•
izoned on the starry scroll of fame,
live, the watchward of a nation's trust,
crowns and kingdoms crumble into dust;
me truly, can that haughty heart
o the Kiug of Kings its gifts impart?
le who gave that glorious gift of mind,
Ly heart's altar ever should be stained.
sweet child of Genius, thou whose heart,
own living rnu..ite seems a part ;
stitred by , 4 thoughts that breathe, and
i that burn,"
'inc OWII heart's oblations would'at thou
earn'
ling of all things beautiful and fair,
re no charm the Manger-born couldwear
ake thy heart's worship? Oh yes, 'tmust
poet-dreamer, 't is not felt by thee.
Len, with sunny brow, and sparkling eye,
voice of love's own tuneful melody ;
all too fair for earthly scene like this,
better formed for fabled bowers of bliss;
me, sweet maiden, cannot He who gave
peerless beauty, thy pure offering have?
no, another love is in thy heart,
which you bid the Lord of Life depart.
thou, who watchest with a mother's love,
little cradled form, thy household dove;
see'st, in all this teeming world of joy,
Ling so beautiful as that fair boy;
, loving mother, in that gentle heart,
the sweet babe of Bethlehem not a part?
no, the heart's best treasure lies below,
i that fair sleeping child—mother, is 't not
so?
ier, who weepest sadly by the tomb,
which a form, out off.in beauty's bloom
ke fell reaper death.; in silence sleeps, , •
thy sad heart its lonely vigil keeps;
think of Him, whose sorrowing eyes ne'er
slept,
lonely mourner who at midnight wept;
Jwle4 ge thy deep error, kiss the rod,
ere it he too late, worship thy God.
thou, God's Minister, at his pure shrine,
(lost thou offer naught but gifts Divine?
this fair world no bait to lure thee on,
him, God's holy, best-beloved Son?
thou no altar raised ? touch thy heart's
chords;
it re-Tonsive to the Lord of lords?
its deep secret—wherefore dost thou Mart?
that dust should claim so high a part.
ever thus, ambition, pride, and love,
and fame, our restless spirits move;
grieft , , and joys, in turn our thoughts divide,
drive the Lord of Glory from our side.
hae his altar raised, each bows him there;
ye who know the risen God, forbear,
,t, believe, and have your sins forgiven,
frail chords of life by death are riven.
KATE NEVILLE,
It Sewickley, Pa., November, 1356.
,r the Presbyterian Banner and Advocate
Baptism.---lio. 6.
JESUS BAPTIZED BY .1011 N.
Baptist friends assert, with their
confidence, that Jesus was immersed
hu. If we ask them for the proof,
reply, that Jesus was baptized in Jor
and, therefore, must have been into
'. We beg their pardon, but do not
that circumstance as sufficient evi
of the fact. The Saviour may have
tiled the high banks of Jordan, to the
of the river, or trod into the edge of
stream, without being immersed. This
appear not at all unlikely, if we con
that the inhabitants of _Eastern noun
instead of shoes and stockings, wear a ,
A of wood or leather, covering no more"!
the sole of the foot. And in a hot
te, like that of Judea, they might, on
ny occasions, step into a stream with
-
thought of being immersed.
" OUT OF THE WATER."
y our opponents, "Jesus, at his
-aid to have come up out of the
wl,lO l surely means, that he came
/Om the water." Here, again,
must Mll.l. from these good brethren.
words of the original, anebe apo tou
tos, convey no such idea. The very
verb and preposition occur in Solomon's
iii : 6—" Who is this that cometh
out of the wilderness," Anabainausa,
toot heremou. Does this mean that the
se Wa s coming up froza under the wil
.ss ? The preposition apo, translated
f, is usually rendered from; and, in
that
is its primary meaning. We can
fly open the Greek, Testament without
!tio2; with instances in which it is BO
, laced. Here are a few, selected f rom
,y examples :
xxv : 41—" Depart from me (0 1 .'
ye cursed." Not out of ine.
. vii : 1.0—" Let not the wife depart
M her husband," (apo ancolros) Not
at of her husband.
Heb. iii : 12—" In departing fro'Wi the,
log God," (repo tou theou.) Not out of
. living God.
But there is a still stronger objection to
Baptist construction of the passage.
cy know very well, that in adminiatering
Ithun in their peculiar mode, there are
distinct acts performed by the baptizer,
:h of which is essential to the idea of
(ping. The one is the putting of the per-
"ONE THING IS NEEDFUL :" "ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED OF THE LORD :" "THIS ONE THING I DO."
son under water, and the other is taking
him out again. I repeat, that unless both
these operations are performed by the
baptizer, there is no dipping in the case.
Now it is plain, that (Jesus "name up out
of the water" by his own act—not by that
of John. Consequently, he was not dipped
by John. To suit the Baptist Theory, the
Evangelist should have said,, "And Jesus,
when be was baptized, was drawn up, or
lifted out of the water."
33APT1g3.1 WITH WATER
Our Baptist brethren contend, that John
baptized,the Saviour in his accustomed
mode. f so, he was not immersed ; for
John says, "I baptize with water ;" and
Christ himself says, "John truly baptized
with water." To baptize with water, is not
to dip; for who would say, I dip you with
water f But, say our opponents, " The
translation of the passage is incorrect; the
preposition en, should be rendered in, so as
to make John say, g I indeed immerse you
in water, but He shall immerse you in the
Holy Ghost and in. fire.' " To this we reply,
that iu several parallel passages, neither en,
nor any other preposition, is employed. We
give a few examples :
Luke iii : 16—" I indeed baptize you
with water"—Ego men, hudati Imptizo.
Acts i : s—John trilly baptized with
water "Eboptisen hndati.
Acts xi : 16—" John indeed baptized
With water "—Ebaptisen hudati.
In these instances, hudati being found
in the Dative case, without any governing
word, must be taken for the instrument used;
and is, therefore, correctly and literally
translated, with water. It follows, that in
administering baptism, John applied the
water to the persons—not the persons to the
water; just as when the penitent woman
washed the Saviour's feet with her tears,
(tois dakrusi,) she applied the, tears to his
feet—not his feet to her tears. ,
ANCIENT PICTORIAL' REPRESENTATIONS
The views already expressed are amply
confirmed by many ancient pictures, repre
senting the baptism of the Saviour. The
subject seems to have been a favorite one
with the Christian artists, who lived in the
ages succeeding the Apostles. And it is a
striking fact, that 'among all the works of
that kind which have been transmitted to
us, not one represents this baptism as taking
place by immersion. On the contrary, they
all, with singular uniformity, represent John
as pouring or sprinkling water upon the bead
of. Christ, who is standing in the. water of Jor
dan. Most of these pictures were made at a
period when immersion had become the pre
vailing practice in the Church, and, conse
quently, must be regarded as an unwilling
testimony, rendered by immersionists them
selves, to the historical truth.
Mr. C. Taylor, editor of Calmet's Dic
tionary, in his Apostolic Baptism, has fur
nished copi?s of a number of these ancient
pietures. I *ill - briefly notice a few of
them.
One is copied from the centre piece of
the dome of the Baptistery at Ravenna,
which was built and decorated in the year
454. John the Baptist is drawn standing
ou the brink of the Jordan, holding a vessel
from which he pours water on the head of
Christ, who is standing in the water. Over
his head is the descending dove, a symbol of
the Holy Ghost.
Another is a picture in Mosaic, taken
from the church of Cosmedia, in Ravenna.
The edifice is known to have been erected,
in the year 401. John the Baptist is rep
resented as standing on a rock which over
hangs the Jordan, clad in a hairy garment.
In his left hand is a crooked stuff, and in
his right a shell from which he pours water
upon the Redeemer, who is standing below
him in the water. Above his head is the
descending dove.
A th;rd is taken from the Church in the
Via Ostiensis, at Rome. It is executed in
brass, the figures being partly in relief, and
partly engraved. The positions occupied by
John and the Saviour are the same as in.
the other pictures. The baptism is by affu
sion. The picture is evidently the work of
Greek artists, and is regarded by learned
antiquaries as very ancient. The inscrip
tions are in Greek, with the motto BAP
TICEC.
A fourth is copied from the walls of an
ancient Baptistery, found in the Catacombs
of Pontiatras, near Rome. These Cata
combs were originally quarries of vast
extent, which furnished the Christians
with a secure retreat in the ages of persecu
tion. In these subterranean regions, thou
sands sought for safety, celebrated their
worship, and buried their dead. The Bap
tistery is about six feet square, cut in the
solid rock. On the wall above, is a rude
picture of the Baptism of Christ. Again,
John stands on the bank of the river, and
pours water on the head of Christ. The
figures of the lamb and of the single
angel are considered evidences of great an
tiquity. Below is a cross on which are
suspended the Greek letters, Alpha and
Omega. It is susceptible of proof that this
Bapistery was in use in the first and second
centuries.
These pictorial representations prove that
from the earliest times before the rise of
Popery, and even after immersion had be
come generally practiced, both Greeks and
Latins believed that Christ was baptized by
affusion. That they were correct in their
opinion, will appear quite evident when we
consider
WHY JESUS WAS BAPTIZED
Our opponents talk much and declaim
loudly about following the Lord Jesus in
his baptism. In the most impassioned lan
guage, they exhort their hearers, "To fol
low their Saviour to Jordan—down into
water, into his liquid grave." Well
would it be if these brethren were equal
ly intent upon persuading men to follow
Christ in his love to God and man, in
his purity of heart and life, his humility,
patience, meekness, his diligence in doing
gooa, and his decided opposition to Jormal
tsn• But, alas ! when they speak of fol
-I°'"lng Christ, the water seems to drown all
but one idea—that of being immersed.
As might be looked for, many of their hear
ers are ready to conclude that they have fol
lowed Christ far enough if they have been
pht under the water. By way of correcting
this serious error, a little investigation will
shovilhat Christ was
NOT BAPTIZED AS AN EXAMPLE FOR US.
.First. He was not baptized with " John's
baptism," ,for .that was the baptism of re-
PUBLICATION OFFICE, GAZE , " , I ' :I' *,
FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATUuDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1556.
pentance, and our Lord had no sin to re
pent of.
Second. Tie did not receive "believers'
baptism," for that would be to believe on
himself, whereas he was the great object-of
faith.
Third. He was not baptized in the name
of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for
then he would have been baptized in his
own name.
Fourth. He was not baptized till he was
thirty years of age.
So, then, be did not receive John's bap
tism, nor believers' baptism, nor. Christian
baptism, nor was he baptized till he was
thirty years of age. How,, then, can it be
said that he •was baptized as an example for
us ? Is there a single passage of God's
Word which countenances that idea? Not
one. Then, let us hear
,the true rea
son of his baptism from his own lips.
John, not understanding .his design at
first, was unwilling to - baptize -him,- •say
ing, "I have need to .be baptized of
thee, and comest thou to me ?" Jesus then
unfolded to him the end he. had in view,
saying, "Suffer it to be, so now, for thus 'it
becometh us (i. e. John and himself) to
fulfil all. righteousness." John now ac
quiesced, for he perceived that Christ was
about to enter upon his ministry, and that
it was requisite that he should be conse
crated to the work, by the agency of his
Forerunner, and by the 'anointing of the
Spirit. ," Righteousness" means con i ormity
to a law. And to what law-did Christ and
John conform in this instance ? Not to the
moral, but the ceremonial law. To explain
the transaction, we must recur to the law
for, thee - consecration of priests, which is in
these words, "'And thou shalt bring Aaron
and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation, and wash them. with
water. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the
;holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify
him."—Ex. xxix: 12, 13. Now, these
Aa,ronic priests, in their official character,
were types of Christ, and it was necessary
that all the types should receive their fulfil
ment in him.
First. As the priests were introduced into
their office, at the age of thirty years, so
Christ delayed entering upon his ministry till
he had reached that age.
Secondly. As the priests were set apart
to their office by the washing of water, so
by the application of water was Christ in
troduced into his priestly office, which was
the basis of the other two offices.
Third. As "the priests, at their consecra
tion, were anointed with the holy oil, so
Christ, at his baptism,was anointed with the
Holy Ghost descending upon him in the form
of a dove.
Such is the only satisfactory account that
can be given of this baptism. It was in
cumbent on John and. Christ to fulfil those
precepts of the law which fore-shad
owed the Messiah's consecration to his
office. Immediately after his baptism,
and in the first recorded sermon he
preached,. Jesus made distinct reference
to his recent consecration to his work.—See
Luke iv : 16-21. And when he appeared
in the temple, and taught publicly, we are
told that " the chief priests and the elders
of the people came unto him as he was
teaching, and said, By what authority
doest thou these things, and who gave thee
this authority ?" Christ, in his reply, refers
them to the baptism he had received from
his Forerunner, John. He says, " I also
will ask you one thing, which, if ye tell me,
I in likewise will tell you by what authority
Ido these things. The baptism of John;
whence was it 'l' from heaven or of men ?'
They saw at once the bearing of this ques
tion ; for if John's mission was Divine,
Christ had ample legal authority, having
been introduced into his priestly office by
John, who was himself by birth a chief
priest. Rightly apprehending the drift of
the Saviours question, they durst not answer
it, lest they should involve themselves in an
admission of his authority.
From the foregoing .remarks it appears
that those who talk of following Christ in
his baptism,: know not what they say.
Neither in his being circumcised nor in his
observance of the Passover, nor in his keeping
of the seventh day, nor in his baptism, was he
an example for us. Let us imitate him in
all those moral excellences which shone so
brightly in his character;but let us be
ware of attempting to folow him into • his
priestly office. L. N. D.
The Model Prayer
The Glasgow Examiner,, quoted in the .
Paisley Herald of Oct. 25th, has a very, able
article, on the preaching, of Rev. Professor
Cooke, D. D., of Belfast. It is too long for
our columns; but a portion of it, which
presents a synopsis of Dr. Cooke's exposi
tion in Stockwell Free Church of a &Mit
, .
ful part of , Our Lord's teachings, will be
read with interest and profit. The subject
was ; Matt. 6 : 9-13 ; " After, this man
ner, pray ye ; Our Father," &e.
• He commenced by saying that, before he
came to the subject, there were three re
marks which he wished to make. The first
remark was one made by an able expounder
of the 17th chapter of John's Gospel, who
said that that chapter should be called the
Lord's Prayer, while the prayer now to be
the subject of illustration should rather be
called the Model Prayer. The second re
mark was made by a modern Divine, and was
to the effect, that- before we come to our own
personality in prayer we must embrace heaven
and earth. The third remark is, that we
can never do any thing right by a solitary
principle. There is generally a principle
going before to aid the one, lagging behind.
Take in proof, a good man all made up of
benevolence Ile soon gives away all he has,
and requires aid himself. He needs the
correcting and counteracting principle of cal
culation to cheek and control his benevolence.
Or, take a man who merely calculates, and
he be'comes a miser. The two principles a . 6
required in a well-balanced and well-regul
ted mind. Action and re-action must be in
operation. In our exposition of this prayer
we shall see these counteracting principles
at work. This strayer is full of meaning.
If it were found floating on the wide Atlan
tic, or in some far off desert, and were all
of the Bible that were known, it would
witness as significantly for God as the sun
and stars do fortheir Divine origin.
In the preface to the first petition, we find
an interchange of principles suggested. "Oar
Father who art in heavers Paternity
suggests childhood. When live call God
Father we must mean that wClook on 'our
selves as God's children. TVA idea, while
grammatically singular, is inylectually plu
tt
ral. If there is a Father, th n are children
understood, and here the spit of adoption
is implied; the spirit by which. eery " Abba,
Father." The Spirit witniises with our
spirits, not to our spirits, that, we are the
children of God. We ha.velOre„then, the
prayer of a child to a Fathera child- who
, t ,
can appeal to a Father's li tirt, and who
looks on itself in relation to 'Father's duty.
True religion lays hold of thg 4. covenant re
lation. But this Father i k , ; in, Ifeavcv.
Why in heaven?` Is he no 'everywhere,?
He is everywhere; but, in o' 'fi• to withdraw
the heart of the worshipr
in every form, and from a,
God is represented as
_ _ _ _
`mind of the suppliant is
:to heaven, - where the Fat
Father is surrounded with
know not where heaven is, ,we ktiow that
it is where Jesus is sitting . : ,the right hand
of God. And when we kn4w that we shall
see him as he is, that involVes the idea of
home. "I go," says Jesus,t" to prepare a
place for you." The suppliant is in the
position of a child far Min home, and
longing to be home. Therti:can be no hap
piness without a home. "Wben we think of
the utterly miserable, it is of the 7. - zoineless
The man who baS a home is 'hot homeless, be
cause he may be absent. § l O the child here,
though far away, is lookin - to his home.
He feels be has a home, an will be content
with nothing but with hom . He knows his
Father has a home, and to that home he
turns his eyes. It is nature in him which
leads hint to do so. - -
But the spirit of the .child is in some dan
ger of clegnerating into one of confidence
and presumption, and hence we find the
child immediately becomesi o worshipper, and
an earnest, scrupulous worshipper. " Hal
lowed be thy name" is the first peti
tion. The very name .rah—the vocable
which indicates Jehovah's existence—is hal
lowed in his esteem. If the mere vocable
which indicates Jehovah is to be hallowed,
how much more his perhonality—his attri
butes and perfections.. .There is nothing I
am so much aft:aid of as of,my prayers. The
sins of holy things are very heinous. With
what reverence should -Vie approach this
Father. And yet somedare employ 'this
holy name as a mere expletive, or asconfirth
atory of some statement, The suppliant
here has put on the character of a worship
per, and the very sound Of Jehovah's name
fills him with holy reverence, and he Says,
" Hallowed be thy name.-'!
But we observe farther`„ that the tendency
of weak human nature is to reduce all reli
gion to worship. They:yeek no Bethel at
home. 0 Jacob ! when thou didst sleep on
the cold ground, thendr turn the stone
into an altar, and called t place the,house.of
Goa. How many ruakethe Sabbath day Serv
ices all their religion, and never think of carry
ingit into the world—into the activities of
life. Here we observe that the suppliant
puts on another character—not by putting
off the character of the child or the worship
per, but as the warrior puts on his breast
plate and`his hemlet 'over his dress, so does
the suppliant here put on the character of
the subject. He addresses a king, and feels
he is a subject," Thy kingdom come." A
kingdom implies subjects, law, loyalty, trib
ute, and subjection. God's service does not
end with worship. He is a king. Here let
us realize the personality of God. He is a
Father and a King, and has supplied us with
an authentic edition of his own laws. Here
we are taught to pray that his kingdom may
come: This is to be ‘ done in the province in
which Satan claims to be lord. " Thy king
dom come." The petition means, take us
for thy subjects, and we will obey thy laws,
and fight for thy rights.
But we remark farther, that he who serves
his king faithfully and, loyally, expects to be
honored on that ground. He looks for his
laurels as the reward of his service, and
hence, to prevent that feeling, the character
again changes, and the petitioner"appears in
the form of a servant. " Thy will be done."
Here we have God recognized as a master,
and the petitioner as a servant. A servant
must implicitly obey his master in all things
lawful. When commanded, the gbrvant
.must not say, "I will not go." He must
say, like the Centurion, that he is at the bid
ding of his employer. here, then, is the
mould in which he is to be east—God's will
must be done. And now for the measure—
"Asit is done in heaven." That's the
Gethsemane condition of a believer. He
goes in sorrow, but yet he prays, " Not my
will, but thine be done." He has a right to
appeal to his Father, but he adds, "Not my
'will, but thine." This is the measure. We
do not see how angels serve in heaven, but
we see how Jesus served'on earth. Even
in heaven, God charges his angels withfolly*
Christ's exanple, we have a per
fect pattern. He was obedient even, to
death; and for that reason he has now a
name above every man.
But we find another change of character.
A servant has the feeling that he must be
paid. The servant looks for his hire, and in
the parable we see the wages , partly of debt
and partly of grace. He gave the man a
penny who wrought for it- 7 -that was his
hire ; but he gave some a ppnny who had
not wrought for it, and in that he exercised
his right. But now cometh on the spirit of
the beggar—the hungry beggar—cg Give us
this day our daily bread." The bread that
perisbeth is here included, but also the bread
that endureth to eternal life : grace is sup
plicated, but only a day l s grace. We have
no grace to pray either for bread or for
grace for the morrow. Our bodies may be
dead, and not requiring bread, and our spirits
may be in glory.
But even charity may, by continuance, be
come a sort of right, or be viewed as such.
*Job iv :18 ; " Anl his angels he charged with
folly." "Charged," past tense, referring,
to the fall of some from their first estate ; and
t to the continued service of those who kept
t estate, and still abide with God in his love.
Tho passage is often misquoted, especially in
prayer. The intention is to magnify the idea of
God's holiness. But the effect is, in reality,
rather derogatory to that Divine attribute. God
is too'holy to tolerate folly heaven. He cast
out the angels who transeessed.
It is of vast imparts:lee to get into the habit of
quoting Scripture correctly. There is an im
mense difference between charges and charged.
Let goring ministers, and those persons who are
wont to lead . in prayer, and those - who` instruct
children, note the reuiark.—En.
The lazzaroni of Naples were , at first tolera
ted as beggars, but DOW they claim that as a
right which was wont to be a gift, and the
government winks at their demands. A
new principle comes in here to check or
chunterwork that spirit. Man is a debtor—
a debtor wbo 'cannot pay a debt of sin.
Here the petition- 1 " forgive us our tres
passes." The preacher here entered on an
ingenious defence of the plenary inspiration
of the Scriptures, which some have im
pugned because one of the Evangelists Calls
_the thing to be forgiven a " debt," and' the
other a "trespass.' The preacher saki that
Jesus, in teaching his disciples, bad often
to repeat, the same lessons, and found them
'slow in learning, and it is likely that Jesus
`neated this - -ayer in their hearing: and,
wish to know bow much God- forgives, we
are not sent to heaven to. learn, but to : our
own heart. "As we forgive, them who
trespass against us." We are sent here to
human experience. This implies that we
have an idea of forgiveness, through the
merits of Christ crucified. If Christ's
cross has not taught us forgiveness we need
not go anywhere else to learn it.
But the prayer goes on to say, " Lead us
not into temptation." The Apostle James
settles one disputed phase of this petition
when he says, "Let no man say, when he
is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God
tempteth no man." God can, and does,
try
a man, but he does not tempt him. Some
render the petition " Suffer us not to be
led into temptation," but neither the words
,nor the sentiment will bear such a render
ing. That would be a prayer that God
would give us no trouble. But we have no
right to expect God not to try he. God has
a right to polish his diamonds, his jewels, as
he thinks fit. The petition I understand to
be an ingenuous confession of our own weak
ness. Peter lost sight of this fact, and he
fell, not before a Roman soldier, but before
a simple maid, becanse he- did not feel his
weakness. The 'petition is -0, Jesus, I'am
willing to do and suffer thy will, but I am
weak; 0, permit me not to be tempted, so
as to lead me to fall. " Deliver us from
evil." No principle can be behind this.
The man now feels he is in prison—a
prisoner to evil. He can sink no farther.
It is now all a grasp and a grapple with him
for life. The prison doors are closed on
him, and he cries for deliverance. The pe
titioner began in heaven, but he now feels
that he is on the brink of bell, and cries
for mercy.
We cannot at present enter on the ques
tion that the reasons, of -this prayer are be
yond its limits, but conclude with some re-
Marki. First, Ido not say that there can
ilft" l 49,'.:P.TaY.er;wileg o,ll,,thALe.,:,topies are em
braced, because know-that there may be a
heaven-inspired prayer, with only one sen
timent,. such as, help, Lord. Even our
Lord, sometimes, limited himself to one or
two petitions; but what I say is, that there
cannot be the true spirit 'of prayer where
this model is not. 'occasionally followed.
One thought may be .glanced at a time,- as
Stephen's was when he said, Lord Jesus re
ceive my spirit. But prayer spreads itself
over the whole life, and over all human af
fairs. But, again, some` satisfy themselves
with mere individual petitions. In the
evening they pray to be preserved during
the night, and in the morning they pray to
be kept during the day. Such have not the
Spirit of praye'r, else they would embrace` all
men and all human interests in their peti
tions, and, like David, earnestly pray, " Let
the whole earth be filled with thy glory."
North-Western Theological Seminary
[The following letter, concluding our cor
respondent's account of the , doings of the
Seminary meeting at Chicago;, was missent;
and hence did not arrive in season for our last
week's issue. A few of the facts contained,
we had from other sources, and stated them;
but the subject is so important, that we give
the narrativein full.]
Du. MoKiNwEv :—I send you to-day, a
brief report of the final action of the Board
of Directors for the Theological Seminary of
the North'-West.
After the appointnaent of the permanent
officers of the' Board, consisting of Rev. S.
T. Wilson, of Rock Island', President, Hon.
Lincoln Clarke of Dubuque, Vice President,
and Rev. J. G. Monfort, D. D., of Cincin
nati, Seeretary, a Finance and Executive
Committee was appointed, consisting of Rev.
Messrs. S. T. Wilson, J. G. Monfort, D. D.,
J. C. Brown, and Messrs. Lincoln Clark, J. S.
Williams, (.3. -A. Spring, J. 1%1. Glover.;• and.
Hon. John Wilson and Sampeillowe, asso
ciates ; which committee, is charged with
the important business of effecting the en
dowment of the Seminary, proceeding as
they shall deem expedient and advantageous,
to provide grounds and buildings for tempo-.
rary and permanent occupancy, and to make
all such other provision for the Institution
as may be called for. This oominittee is to
report to the Board of Directors at h meet
ing to be held upon the 'call of the Presi
dent, not later than the Ist TuesdaY of
March, 1857.
A resolution was then adopted, calling up
on the ministers and church Sessions, with
in the bounds of the Synods, immediately
interested in the Institution, to present the
whole subject of the establishment and en
dowment of the Seminary to the churches,
upon the third Sabbath of December, and to
co-operate with the Executive Committee in
all their plans for the vvelfare of the Institu
tion. It was further resolved to continue
the operation of the Seminary at New Alba
ny, until next April ; and Messrs. R. L.
Stanton, J. G. Monfort, Victor Sing, and
R. L. Forsythe were appointed a committee
to attend the examination of the students at
the end of the present term:
The following Professorial Chairs were
created : Theology, including Didactic, Po:
lemic, and Pastoral Theology. Bibliology,
including Biblical Literature, Criticism,'
Hermeneutics and Exegesis. Ecelesiology,
including the Constitution, Polity, and His
tory of the Church. It was left to the Pro
fessors to make such 'provision for initruc
tion in Sacred >Rhetoric as they may deem
expedient. After this, a motion was made
to proceed to the election of Professors, pen
ding which; the Board`went into interlocu
tory session, with closed doors, upon the
merits of the several candidates. After
full, free, and pleasant, conversation, the
Board proceeded to elect; and the result
was the elction of Rev. B. D. Mac Masters,
D. D., to the Chair of Theology, Rev. A.
B. Brown, D. D., to the Chair of Ecclesiol
ogy, and Rev. T. E. Thomas, D. D., to the
Chair of Bibliology.
Before proceeding with the election,
there was, a strong effort made, on the part
of some members of the Board, to postpone
the election until a future time ; this was
overruled, however. The vote stood as fol
lows: MacMasters,l7; Scattering, 5. Thom
-16 ; .Scattering, 6. Brown, 19; Scat
terinv• 3 .
Nine gentlemen, whose names I am not
,now in possession of, were appointed a Board
of Trustees. '
Rev. S. T. Wilson, Dr. Stephenson and
„Dr.. Stanton were appointed , a.vommittee to
30 Al the choice of
AgitleikkiiivetheirAW
ceptande.. 'The .4aid`'Clien - ad i jonriced,:to
meet at the call of the 'Preatifent, notiatnr
than the month of March next.
Viewed in whatever light it may, this is
unquestionably to be regarded as one of the
most important movements which has taken
place in our Church for many years. May
the blessing of God attend it; and wherev
er in the great North-West, this'• Seminary
may be located, may the hearts of our peo
pie warm to it, and may their energies
be so wisely directed in regard toit, that it
may be the instrument of great good. God
has manifestly smiled upon the effort hither
to. May the light of his countenance be still
lifted up upon it. , Yours, &c.,.
Good Rale for Editors.
There is, perhaps, no class of our public
servants who have more difficulties to con
tend with, than the editors of our': news
papers. Mr. A. finds too much news in his
paper. Mr. B. does not find. enough.. Mr.
C.. expects more original matter. Mr. D.
- prefers 'selections. Mr. E has .a hobby, and
expects the editor to agree with him per
fectly. Mr. F. has a very different hobby,
and is offended if the editor does not play
largely upon his string. And Mr. G. and
all the rest have some mission or other—
some Booriboolagha—and expect of course
that the editor should say a 'great deal in
favor of, and nothing against their favorite
schemes.
Still, editors may do right and proper,
says an, editor of an influential paper. I
conducted, for sixteen consecutive years, 'a
newspaper which bad a very wide circula
tion, and, considerable influence. My in
variable rule was, the fill exercise of my
own judgment, and , the impartiality and
patriotism which my conscience dictated.
From time to time, iminbers of subseribers,
party-zealots, withdrew, angry with opinions
thaty d ponflicted with their prejudices Nand
hopes ; but most of them returned ere long,
and as many new subscribers were attracted
by the novelty of moderation and impartial
treatment."—Presbyterian Witness.
Narrative of the State of Relikion, adopt.
.ed by the Synod. of Northern Indiana.
In this changeful, world, a.revievr of the past
from any point, and in relation to any interest,
may be expected to preient events hothead and
joyful. Looking over the history of the past year
in reference to our peculiar fieldsof effort, we find
not only occasion to weep with those that weep,
but also to rejoice with those that rejoice. One
of our number, Bev. P. L. Munnie, has been
stricken down by the hand of death. While we
mourn his loss, we bless Godthat'so many of us
"still live."
We notice, with gratitude, that so many
churches report increased attention and growing
numbers, especially in connexion, - with the labors
of the past Winter. Though there has been no
general outpouring of God's Spirit, yet some
churches in every Presbytery have.enjoyed sea
sons of peculiar religious interest, and some of
them, such as they have never before experienced.
We record, with special thanksgiving, that in
Hanover College, always dear to us, but doubly so
now, that it is presided over by a member of our
body, more than one-half of the students are
professors of religion ; and also that in Wabash
Cellege, an institution in which, as located in our
bounds, though not in any sense under our con
trol, - we yet feel a deep interest, therehas been a
gracious outpouring of God's Spirit. Sabbath
Schools have been maintained in almost all our
churches ; perhaps wherever it was practicable to
do so. The interest in them, though fluctuating,
seems, on the whole, to be on the increase. Our
prayer-meetings, too, though suffering from some
disturbing influences peculiar to tile times, are
yet regularly kept up in many places. It is cer
tainly a great encouragement to know, that week
by week, in spite of all hindrance, undisturbed
by the tempestuous excitement that rages around
them, the " two or three" to whom the promise
is'given, continue to gather .in Christ:s name.
Quite a number of our churches have some sys
tematic plan of beneVolence, and others have
made movements, more Or - less decided, in the
same direetion.. We have reason to hope that the
plan adopted by Synod will receive the cordial
co-operation of, all 'our. churches ; 'and we confi
dently anticipate the tim.e,.when every disciple of
Christ within otir bounds, will lay by in store for
the service of Christ, 'as'r God hath prospered
him.
Among our difficulties, we would mention first,
that we suffer seriously from emigration. In
many of our churches, the gain, both by certifi
cate and, by profession, does but little, if any
thing; more than supply the deficiency caused
in this way. It is owing to this 'that some of our
churches seem to grow so slowly, and are so long
dependent upon our Board of Missions. Again,
the scattered state of many : of our congregations,
rendering impracticable'the maintenance of
prayer-meetings at any time, and of Sabbath
Schools, except during part of the year, is a great
hindrance to their prosperity. Our hearts bleed
as we think of our many feeble, vacant churches,
with none to break unto them the bread of life.
The ministers and elders of more favored congre
gations here assembled, would assure these, their
brethren, that as they are pot forgotten, by the
Great Shepherd, so neither are they by the under
shepherds who are to " feed the flock of God."
We would ,entreat them, urged by their ownpeeu
liar necessities, to join us,in praying the Lord of
the harvest to send forth more laborers into the
harvest. .
It is mournful to hear from almost every part
of our Synod that intemperance is on the in
crease, - and while remanding the scrutiny of 1120=
- dyes to Him who alone looketh on the heart, we
cannot but deplore the giving of, fresh license,
froth any canse, to' so ruthless a deStroYer of the
bodies.and souls . of men. But perhaps nothing
' has impaired the efficiency of the Church for a
few months past, so much as the intense political
excitement which has agitated our nation. From
every 'quarter, not only of our Synod hut of the
whole country, we hear ' of its malign influence.
Our Sabbath assemblieMhave been stupifted by it,
the ear rendered dull of hearing, ,our.,
meetings thinned, and in seine eases even the
Sabbath School weakened and scattered. Breth
ren, these things ought not so to be. A patriot-.
ism which makes us forget Grod, may be expected
to lead God to forget us, and " when he hideth
his face, who then can,behold him, whether it be
done against a nation, or a man only?" While we
rejoice that you take an interest in the affairs of
Philadelphia, 27 South Tenth Street, below Chestnut
By Nail, or at the Office, $1.50 per Year, sEE nosnerus,
Delivered in the City, 1.75
NORTH-WEST
WHOLE NO. 219
the nation, thus rendering to Cresar the things
that are Caesar's, we would implore you not to
overlook, or rather under-look the more solemn
and imperative obligation to render unto God the
things that are God's.
We do not think it improper to make special
and emphatic mention of the fact, that amid all
this disturbance and agitation those who have
been set over our congregations it/the Lord, have,
like the apostles of old, given themselves " con
tinually to prayer and the ministry of the Word."
The wild deluge of excitement has not yet come
up to the top of that high mountain upon which
we stand, to publish salvation. Though its
waters may have wet the soles of our feet, they
have not prevailed to overwhelm or carry us
away. We ascribe, this to no superior wisdom or
self-control on our part, but to the restraining
grace of Him who alone can say to these tumul
tuous billows. " Thus far shall ye come, and no
farther," We would, fain believe that in this
ministerial fidelity and singleness of eye we
see • the rainbow, 'spanning our dark and
troubled sky with its arch of beauty and promise.
We value it not so much for any uncertain popu
larity it may secure us among men, but rather as
au evidence of the past and a pledge of the future
favor of God.
." 3 rArtd well - may've here; as we set up on annual
tbenezer,. turn to that future, since a review' of
the past is.valuable .chiefly as it ministers ;instruc
tion and' encouragement for'the future. We 'can
not doubt from what we'llivve heard, in addition to
what we have all individually seen, that "there
remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."
And we can as little doubt that God is adding
the voice of his providence to that of his Word,
saying, " Speak to the children of Israel, that
they go forward." We will go forward, running
with patience, the race that is set before us,
looking.unto
~Iresus, the author arid finisherof our
faith.
terd, submissive niake nßgo,
Gladly leaviug all below;
Ooly thou our leader be,
And we still will follow thee."
J. EDWARDS, Moderator
E. W. Wright, Stated Clerk.
For the Preebyterion Banner and Advocate
Presbytery of Sioux City.
This Presbytery, erected at the meeting of the
Synod of lowa, held at Burlington, Oct. 13th,
'A. D. 1850, met in Fort Dodge, on, the 6th day of
November,. at 7. o'clock P. M., when the following
resolution from the Synod, was road before the
meeting
Resolved, That all that part of the Presbytery
of Dubuque lying West of the Last line of liar
din CountY, thence directly North to the State
line, be erected into's. new Presbytery, to be
called t The Presbytery of .Sioux City ;" and
that said Presbytery be required to, hold its first
Meeting at Fort Dodge, on the first Thursday of
November, A. D. 1856, at 7 o'clock, .to be opened
with a sermon by the Rev. S. T. Wells, or in case
of 'his absence, by the oldest minister present,
who shall preside until a Moderator be chosen.
ln accordance with the above resolution, Pres
bytery was opened With a sermon by, Rev. S. T.
Wells:
After sermon, ;the session of Presbytery was
constituted with prayer, by the presiding officer.
Moderator and other officers were elected, and Com
mittees appointed and resolutions passed for car
rying on the work of the ministry more success
fully within our bounds.
The , meeting, was exceedingly harmonious and
pleasant. Much interest on the subject of Mis
sions;'and the early supplying of the people
within our bounds with the living ministry, was
manifested by the members present. Though few
in number, yet we trust God will put it into the
hearts of many earnest, zealous ministers to come
over help us labor in this beautiful land, and
aid in disseminating the precious truths of the
Gospel of Christ among this people, that our field,
though now almost destitute of laborers, shall
soon bud .and• blossom as the rose, and the fruits
of the Gospel shake like Lebanon over these far
extended and much inviting prairies of North
;Western lowa.
E. 'L. DODDER, Stated Clerk.
For the l'r . esbyterias Banner and Advocate.
Presbytery of Zanesville.,
The Presbytery of Zanesville met, agreeably to
adjournment, in Uniontown, on the lath inst., for
the purpose of ordaining and installing Mr. Alex
ander R. Hamilton. Having passed ,the usual
trials for ordination, which were sustained, Pres
bytery .did then ordain Mr. Hamilton to the full
work of the ministry, and install him pastor of
the church of Uniontown.
Ins these exercises, Rev. M. A. Hoge preached
the sermon ; Rev. S. Wilson,.presiding, proposed
the Constitutional questions, and offered the or
daining prayer, Rev. W. Morris Grimes delivered
the charge to the pastor, and Rev. W. M. Fergu
son to the people.
• Revs. James M. Platt, John Kelly, and Wm. M.
Robinson were appointed a committee to install
Mr. Hamilton pastor of the church of Brownsville,
on the second Friday of December, at 1 o'clock
P. M. Each of these churches receive one.half
of Mr. Hamilton's labors.
Wii. M. ROBINSON, Stated Clerk.
ASCENT OF MOUNT ARANAT.-A compa
ny of five Englishmen have recently ascended
mount Ararat, a feat which the natives be
lieved to be impossible. It is 17,323 feet
above the level of the sea, and 14,300 feet
above the plain, terminating in a precipitous
cone 6,000 feet , high, covered with snow,
which they supposed had: hitherto foiled all
the attempts of explorers. On reaching
the top they drank the health of Queen Vic
toria, whose name, they' say, " is probably
the first that has been pronounced on that
solemn height since it was quitted by the
great, patriarch of the human race, as no re
cord of tradition exists of the ascent having
ever been made before, although repeatedly
tried by men of different countries." In
this they were mistaken, as the ascent was
made in 1829 by Dr. Parrot, who was sent
out on a scientific expedition by the Russian
government.
WORK or GRACE AT AMOY, CHINA.—
The Rev. Mr. Doty writes : " There are
those both at Amoy, and also at the stations
in the interior, who are asking the way to
Zion, or to be numbered with the professed
people of God. An interesting spiritual
aWakening has taken place in a market
town eight miles further inland than where
this precious work began in January, 1854.
We have also increasing evidence that the
leaven of the Gospel is working in individ
ual cases, in many places around us. Our
native helpers find a wonderful readiness to
hear their messages, and listen to their in
structions."
A CONSCIENTIOUS ARTIST.-It is stated
of a distinguished artist, recently deceased,
that he would never draw the likeness of
any one for whom he had not a personal re
spect. ; " When importuned to allow any
distinguished man of defective morals, whom
other artists may be proud to paint, to sit for
a likeness,. he steadily refused. He would
not consent to copy traits of sensuality and
dissimulation in the countenance of any
man, whatever his station or influence."
-SCIENCE AND. THE BIBLE.---Juient. Maury
of the Rational Observatory at Washington,
in a lecture in New York, said, " I have al
ways found in my seientiffc studies, that
when 'I could get the Bible to say anything
,upon the subject, it afforded me a firm plat
form to stand, upon, and 'another round in the
ladder by which I could safely ascend.".