Practical Religion.
Zions Advocate, November 1901, Vol. 40, No. 11, Part 3.
The uses and nature of obedience having been briefly stated, we shall now try to point out some of the duties that are enjoined upon the Lords people.1. They are required to separate themselves from the world, to be a distinct people. "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate." II. Corinthians 6:17. That they may do this he has set up his visible church as a home for them. This is the provision made for their manifestation here as Gods people, and they can separate themselves from the world by coming out from the world and becoming members of this church. For their instruction and comfort the Lord calls and qualifies his ministers, who are the only authorized means for public instruction in spiritual things. To these are committed a dispensation of his glorious gospel, by means of which a sweet feast is spread for them in Zion. All things being ready they are commanded and invited to come.
Their best friends are in the church, and it ought to be esteemed as a high privilege as well as an important duty to become associated with them. They get no sympathy from the world and can no longer find any real comfort in associating with worldly company, and they cannot take delight in a sinful course of life. They mourn because they cannot live better, and wonder if any have such feelings as they have. They feel unworthy of a place among the Lords people, and thus wander in a solitary way. Oh! That we could so appeal to those who are in this condition that they would take up their cross and follow Jesus! Why do you stay away? Surely the Lord deserves the service you owe him, and you have no excuse for living in continual disobedience. Arise, then, and do your duty. Are you advanced in years, and do you feel that you have a little hope that the Lord has been gracious to you, and that he will in the end take you to himself? Then it is high time for you to yield obedience to his requirements. Renounce your past life, and say,
"Here Lord I give myself away,
Tis all that I can do."
Are you young in years, with the stern realities of life just opening to your view, doubting, and fearing, and yet hoping through the Lords rich mercy? Go home to your dear friends in the church a once, and give yourself up to the sweet service of the Lord. Do not pass the springtime and summer of your life in the by-ways of disobedience. "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth." Surely he deserves to be remembered, not only in your mind, but in your very life which he has given you. All you are, and all you have, and all you can do, belongs to him. Be honest with your benign Creator and adorable Redeemer, and withhold not from him that which rightfully belongs to him. You do not add to his wealth or make him any more glorious by your offerings, it is true, but you render to him what is really his, and that is your reasonable service. Come ye young, middle aged, and old; come all who love the Lord, and hope to love him more in heaven; come thirsting ones; come all who hear with circumcised hearts and ears; come all who will; come to the bountiful feast, the marriage supper of the Lamb. "Come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price." Great abundance of earthly goods can be bought by the rich only, but only the poor in spirit - those who have no money - can buy the much more abundant supply of heavenly riches. Cast yourselves at his feet, then, ye poor in spirit, and march forth under the banner of his love. You may be faint and languid, but he who planted his grace in your heart will continue it there. He requires no more of you than he gives you strength to do, but the doing of what he requires of you is your work and no one else can do it. What a mercy it is to be separated from the world that knows not God and loves not his gospel! Evils and miseries are multiplied by the busy part of mankind whose affections are upon perishable things, while the more retired of sinful mortals are indulging in speculative amusements which will in the end be as unsubstantial and useless as cobwebs. All that learned triflers are weaving with so much self-applause will be finally swept away, and all their dreamy fancies will burst as an empty bubble. But Gods children, though they may be unnoticed and disregarded by the vain, self-conceited, pleasure-seeking, miserly world, will continue as trees springing from a living root and watered by the incessant flow of rich grace. To know that he has loved us, and that he gave himself for us, is a sufficient argument and motive to love him and surrender ourselves to him; to consider ourselves no longer our own, but to devote ourselves, with every faculty, power and talent to his service and glory. As he parted with all for us, he deserves all from us.
2. Baptism lies directly in the pathway of duty, and none can pass around it without leaving that pathway. It consists in a specific act, which can be obeyed only by being buried in water by an administrator authorized by the church to baptize. Christ has set up only one visible church, and to that one church he has given the ordinances, and officers to administer those ordinances. When a child of God joins any other church he simply ignores the church of Christ and turns aside from the way that he has ordained. This holy ordinance shows in a figure the believers cleansing from sin. In this act he renounces his former life and declares himself an humble follower of Jesus. It separates him formally from the world, and enlists him as a disciple of the holy Lamb of God.
3. The baptized believer is not discharged when baptized. He simply rises to walk in newness of life. A new life of service is thus begun that ends only at death. This life of service would be very irksome and disagreeable to one not born again. The natural cravings of the unrenewed mind would not be satisfied with the spiritual service that belongs to the church. But to the real child of God it is the most delightful and pleasant employment. The nearer he lives to the life his Redeemer has marked out the more real peace he enjoys. He will have seasons of darkness and gloom, it is true, but the sweet comfort derived from the Lords service will make up for all.
4. Having been chosen out of the world and thus separated from it, and having separated yourself from it by coming out of it, you should live separate from it. Your conduct and conversation should show that you are not of the world. You should attend the stated meetings of your church, and live up to the profession you have made.
5. There are special duties required of some that are not required of others. This is true of the Elders and Deacons. For instruction on these particular lines read the New Testament carefully, and then read dear Elder Walter Cashs "Practical Suggestions for Primitive Baptists." These two books ought to be in every Baptist home, and ought to be read by every Baptist, especially the New Testament. Elder Cashs book only assists in understanding of the teaching of the New Testament relative to church discipline by collecting the instruction found therein so as to render it more easily understood and retained.
6. Live in peace and love with each other, and as much as possible with all the world. How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Be careful not to say or do any thing that will hurt the feelings of another, and if you should at any time err in this respect make amends for it as soon as possible when you become aware of it. Do not return evil for evil, but ever follow that which is good. Bear one anothers burdens, and so fulfill the blessed law of your divine Master. Seek not a high seat, but strive to be found at your post and seated at the feet of your Saviour and his humble followers. Give special attention to the poor and see that you do not turn the hungry away. Do not set yourselves above those who are struggling in poverty. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Let integrity mark your course and moral rectitude your pathway, and let your manners be seasoned with gentleness and love. Make no compromise with error, yet treat those who differ from you with becoming respect, striving continually to follow the example given you by your adorable Saviour.
7. Meet often in public worship, and speak to one another in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord! Our faith is strengthened and our devotion warmed by united worship. The members of the church can promote each others spiritual welfare by conversing on spiritual topics and by mutual exhortation. It is very wrong for members to assemble for worship and disperse without singing and prayer because their minister is absent. One or more should read some portion of the Bible, one or more prayers should be offered, and some of the sweet songs of Zion should be sung. Too much dependence is usually placed upon the preacher in conducting public worship. Dear readers, while we are saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it," we cannot avoid thinking of our own imperfect walk. We would not have you think we are perfect and that we are holding up our own life as a standard. On the contrary we must confess that our life is full of mistakes, and that few and evil have been the days of our pilgrimage. Yet our desire is to live as we have exhorted others to live, and we offer no excuse for our failure in this respect. It is all attributable to our depraved nature, for in our mortal flesh there dwells no good thing. Our hope of final deliverance, then, is not based upon what we are doing here, but upon the blessed merits of our precious Saviour.
J. R. D.
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