What We Think.
Zion's Advocate, Vol. 43, No. 4, April 1904.
We gladly respond to our dear Brother Alderton's request given in the foregoing editorial. To be qualified to do this intelligently and sincerely, we have just re-read, with great care, the address made by the Black Rock Convention. This convention met at Black Rock meeting house, Baltimore Md., on the 28th day of September, 1832.The address declares that "a new era" is constituted in the history of the Baptists, "when those who would follow the Lord fully, and who therefore manifest a solicitude to the pattern showed in the Mount, are by Baptists charged with antinomianism, inertness, stupidity, &c., for refusing to go beyond the word of God." It was the New School party who were making the charge referred to in that address. The charge was made against those who refused to endorse the new departures of the New School party.
We can find nothing to object to in the address, which protested against Tract Societies, Sunday Schools, Bible Societies, Missions, Theological Schools, and Modern Protracted Meetings. It also states the following difference between the Primitive Baptists and the New School order: "They declare the gospel to be a system of means; the means it appears they believe to be of human contrivance; and they act accordingly. But we believe the gospel dispensation to embrace a system of faith and obedience, and we should act according to our belief." We can afford to protest against the same things today, and we see the same radical difference existing still.
A young Indiana paper, only two years old, has spoken out against the Black Rock Convention, and makes the same charges against those who stand by the address of that convention; viz., antinomianism with its kindred train of evils. It is high time for all to speak out in terms that cannot be misunderstood. Zion's Advocate stands where she always has stood, in favor of the old land-marks and opposed to every innovation. What is regarded by some as "the dawn of morning and the sun of restoration arising over the eastern hills of hope," is but a threatening cloud of error. Fuller and Campbell and Burnam all attempted what they seemed to think was a reformation of the old cause, and what was the result? We are notified by the Saviour of the rising of false Christs and false prophets, when it shall be said, "Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there." He tells us not to believe or follow such. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your soul." Jer. vi. 16.
J. R. D.
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