SUMMER 2019
LETTERS OF ELDER WILLIAM DOWNS.
The Pastor who Baptized Thomas Lincoln.
WILLIAM DOWNS.
(J. H. Spencers History of the Kentucky Baptists, pages 162-166.)
Rolling Fork Church was located in the southern part of Nelson county. It was constituted in 1788, and united with the Salem Association the same year. It reported to the Association seventeen members. It was probably gathered by Joshua Carman, an enthusiastic Emancipationist. This church sent with its letter to the Association, the year after it obtained admission into that body, the following query: Is it lawful in the sight of God for a member of Christs church to keep his fellow-creatures in perpetual slavery? The Association judge it improper to enter into so important and critical a matter at present. This answer was unsatisfactory. The church continued to agitate the subject of slavery till, in 1796, it withdrew from the Association. It returned to the Association in 1802, but was disturbed by a factious spirit, and a disorderly preacher of the name of William Downs, and continued to wither till 1825, when it dissolved.*
* Minutes, Salem Association.
Joshua Carman, who appears to have been the founder and first pastor of Rolling Fork, was probably a native of western Pennsylvania. He was among the early settlers of Nelson county, Kentucky. For a number of years he was an active minister in the bounds of Salem Association, and was several times appointed to preach the introductory sermon before that body. He was regarded as a man of good ability, and was much beloved by the brethren. But, becoming fanatical on the subject of slavery, he induced Rolling Fork church to withdraw from the Association, in 1796, and declare non-fellowship with all slave-holders. He attempted to draw off Cedar Creek church, of which, according to tradition, he was pastor at that time. But, failing in this attempt, he collected the disaffected members from that church, Coxs Creek and Lick Creek, and, with the assistance of Josiah Dodge, constituted an Emancipation church, about six miles northwest of Bardstown. This church soon withered away, and Rolling Fork church returned to Salem Association. The exact date of constituting this Emancipation church, or the name it bore, is not now known, but it is supposed to have been the first organization of the kind in Kentucky. Mr. Carman, finding himself unable to bring any considerable number of Baptists to his views, moved to eastern Ohio, where it is said he raised up a respectable church, and preached to it till the Lord took him away.
William Downs was the next preacher in Rolling Fork church. He possessed extraordinary natural gifts, and was one of the most brilliant and fascinating orators in the Kentucky pulpit in his day. But he was indolent, slovenly, and self-indulgent. This rendered him almost useless to society, and perhaps worse than useless to the cause of Christ.
William Downs was a son of Thomas Downs, an early settler in what is now Ohio county, Kentucky. He was probably born in a fort where the county seat of Ohio is now located about the year 1782. His father, having moved to Vienna Fort, on Green river, where Calhoun is now located, was killed by a party of Indians, about the year 1790. He left two sons, Thomas and William, both of whom became Baptist preachers - the former, a man of great usefulness. William was brought to Nelson county, and placed under the care of Mr. Evan Williams, by whom he was brought up. He received a fair English education, for that time, and adopted the profession of school teaching. In early life he professed religion, and united with Rolling Fork church. He commenced exercising in public soon after he was baptized, and gave evidence of such extraordinary gifts that the church too hastily had him ordained to the ministry. He had preached but a short time before he was summoned before the church to answer the charge of being intoxicated. To avoid the trial, he sought membership in the Separate Baptist church, and was received. Rolling Fork church, however, publicly excluded him, and requested Salem Association to advertise him. This was done in the minutes of that body in 1805.
Mr. Downs, however, continued to preach among the Separate Baptists till he raised up a large church of that order, called Little Mount. It was located about three miles northeast of Hodgenville, and contained a number of highly respectable citizens. Mr. Downs was fond of controversy, and engaged in several debates. His exceeding familiarity with the Sacred Scriptures, his ready wit, keen sarcasm, and brilliant oratory, attracted the attention and won the admiration of the most intelligent and refined people within the limits of his acquaintance. Hon. Benjamin Hardin, one of the leading lawyers and statesmen of Kentucky, greatly admired his oratory, and embraced every opportunity to hear him preach. During an informal discussion with a Catholic priest, Mr. Downs wit and sarcasm so irritated the reverend father that he struck his troublesome adversary in the face with his fist. This afforded Mr. Hardin an opportunity to arrange the terms of a public debate between the priest and Mr. Downs. Mr. Hardin presented his friend Downs with a handsome suit of clothes to wear during the debate. The priest opened the debate with an hours speech. Not knowing Mr. Downs church relationship, he attempted to confound him by proving conclusively that all the Protestant sects had received their baptism from the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Downs admitted his proposition, but denied being a Protestant. The priest exhibited his disappointment and confusion by saying to Mr. Hardin: You have brought me an Anabaptist to contend against: had I known this, I would not have debated with him. Greatly to the gratification of his honorable friend, Mr. Downs gained a complete victory.
About the year 1830 Mr. Downs moved to Ohio county, and again joined the United Baptists. Here an opportunity was soon afforded for the display of his controversial powers. A Universalist preacher, of the name of Mann, had been for some months preaching at Hawesville, in Hancock county, occasionally. At the close of each discourse he challenged his audience to furnish an orthodox preacher to debate with him. Finally a gentleman present accepted the challenge. The terms of debate were agreed on, and the time appointed for it to commence. Punctual to the time, Mr. Mann, who was a very handsome man, and dressed very elegantly, made his appearance. Mr. Downs had worn out the suit of clothes which Mr. Hardin had given him, and was now clad extremely shabbily. He had on a pair of coarse, short, tow-linen pantaloons, an old wool hat, with a piece of leather sewed in the crown and a pair of coarse cow-skin shoes, without socks. He and Mr. Mann were formally introduced. The latter expressed his astonishment and disgust by asking the question: Is this the man you have brought here to debate with me? Mr. Downs replied promptly: Never mind, Mr. Mann, I am only fit to do the dirty work of the church. The debate proceeded. The Universalist fop, in debate with the old experienced controversialist, was as a pigmy in the hands of a giant. Mr. Downs played with him as a cat plays with a wounded mouse. At the close of each argument, presented with irresistible force, he quoted from Paul, leaving out the word every. Let God be true and man (Mann) a liar. At the close of the debate, the crest-fallen Universalist beat a hasty retreat, and was never afterwards seen in Hawesville. In the split among the Baptists of the Green River country, on the subject of missions, about the year 1835, Mr. Downs went off with the anti-mission faction. After this he had a controversy with a Campbellite preacher. But while he always displayed splendid abilities in the pulpit, his moral character was so defective that he exerted little influence for good. He died in poverty and obscurity, about the year 1860.
Note: The quotation above, from Spencer's History of the Baptists of Kentucky, gives the reader sufficient evidence, to understand why Elder Downs himself, in the letters following, would speak so disparagingly of Mr. Spencer's associates who were editors of the Baptist Banner & Western Pioneer. He uses such words as "vituperative bilingsgate, slanderous scandal, scurrility, recrimination, falsehood, deception, misrepresentation, base intrigue, persecution, abuse, and death itself, from hirelings, money beggars, pharisaical hypocrites." This will be very well understood by all those who see what was printed, that he refers to. Elder Downs defended himself, and his cause, very well.
Spencer obviously had no use for any man who differed with him on the mission innovations. We have not yet obtained a copy of what was written in the Baptist Banner and Western Pioneer.
Elder William Downs, 1782-1860, was a contemporary of Thomas Lincoln, 1778-1851. Elder Downs was a composer and compiler of hymns. His hymn book was titled, A New Kentucky Composition of Hymns and Spiritual Songs; together with a few Odes, Poems, Elegies, &c., by the Rev. William Downs, of Hardin County, Kentucky. Gerard & Berry, Printers, 1816.
For the Western Predestinarian Baptist.
Hartford, Kentucky
June 25, 1842.
VERY DEAR BRETHREN NEWPORT & CRAIG:-- I hereby acknowledge the receipt of your Western Predestinarian Baptist, and must acknowledge my surprise at some of the ideas advanced in No. 7, (which is the only one come to hand,) which is to me astonishing. Does the Old Baptists intend to provoke a separation amongst themselves on philosophical terms and metaphysical distractions on subjects no way interesting, or do they intend to throw fire brands into their own ranks? Whatever the devil is, he is so by the appointment of God in his purpose. That he is a devil and a powerful devil, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience, is clearly taught by the divine volume. The devil is denominated in the Scriptures a Serpent, Rev. 12, 9. As such, he is a creature of God, Gen. 3, 1, 2, a Dragon, Rev. 12, 9, as such he is fierce and cruel. 3rd, He is called a liar, John 8:44. 4th, A deceiver, &c., as such, he is opposed to truth, honesty and fair play. His devices are great, enchanting, bewitching, cunning, deceitful, captivating, &c., and I have no doubt but he is at the head of the protracted dispute about him. All the above facts are clearly taught by the Bible, but the Bible no where teaches that he is self-existent, almighty or supreme, but that he is commanded to worship God and that ultimately he is to be confined in chains in the bottomless pit. If the devil be self-existent, neither men nor angels can ever comprehend that feature in his character, no more than they can infinity. If God made him a devil, it was to answer some wise purpose of his own, in the glorification of his son and salvation of all his elect people. If he made him originally good and suffered him to fall as he did Adam, it was so eternally in his purpose, and as it is impossible for God to err, he can in neither case be the author of sin, as our vain philosophy sometimes prompts us to imagine. Be the Devil whom he may, he is infinitely below Jehovah in wisdom. His character and self-existence [if he be so,] what would it profit me, if I knew that he existed without any cause? I could not know any thing about a causeless cause, neither by philosophy, opposition of science nor scholastic divinity. But as the devil is a tempter, it at all times behooves me to guard against his wiles. God is God, the devil is satan -- God is light, the devil is darkness --- God is truth, the devil is falsehood -- God is immortal, the devil is mortal, &c. If the devil is self-existent, God is not, as such; the above catalogue must be changed, vice versa. I am a sinner, as such, I am so by the eternal purpose of God. This fact no honest Predestinarian will deny. If I am a sinner in the counsel and purpose of God, I am as much self-existent in that respect as is the devil. Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, says, Luke 10, 18, I beheld satan as lightning fall from Heaven. Whatever may be the true rendering of this text, to me it is certain, that he was once in a place called heaven, and that he fell from that place. Christ also says, John 8, 44, he is a devil, and abode not in the truth. As such, is it not evident that the devil was once in the enjoyment of truth, but did not continue in that enjoyment. Let these suffice, while I enter my decided protest against all speculative opinions about the devil. I dissent from Milton, from Parker, and from all others who dissent from what is revealed in the Scriptures of divine truth. All the philosophy, logical limas, scientifical researches, &c., can never comprehend God, the origin of sin, nor of the devil. As such let all Old School Baptists be still and know that God is God, the devil a devil, and sin destructive to man's happiness. Dear Brethren, I am now an old man - as such, I crave indulgence and must be allowed to say to you both, suffer no more argumentative pieces about the devil to defile your valuable periodical; for sure am I that all such disputings originate from corrupt minds and must tend to strife, confusion, and ultimately division. If my eternal salvation and the elect of God depended upon correct views of the origin of the devil, all men would be justifiable to earnestly contend for the real origin of the devil. But since a knowledge of the origin of the devil is not the pivot on which salvation is either offered or procured, I am resolved not to trouble my brains about it. The seemingly ill-natured remarks in the Signs of the Times, between brethren Trott and Goldsmith, have, I have no doubt, been injurious to them both, if not to the cause generally. May all such controversy cease and each of us learn to imitate the beloved disciple John, and thus know nothing but to love one another. I am taught by the Bible that there will be a resurrection both of the just and unjust, that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man Christ Jesus, whom he had appointed heir of all things, and that at that day the son will deliver up the kingdom to the Father that God may be all in all. That the righteous will not rise to be judged, but to enter into possession of the joys prepared for them before the foundation of the world.
Another subject of controversy hath showed itself in your 7th number, that is the Saviour's meaning about the new birth, John 3, 5. Although this is a subject of vital importance, it is certainly a subject not comprehended by all who think they understand what the Saviour meant. To be born again, implies to be born another time. Here the second birth is contrasted with the first, as such it seems to me that literally the first birth is a birth by water, not figuratively, but elementary, as such it is called a birth of the flesh. This birth always does, and of necessity must, precede the second birth. The process by which the first birth is brought about is all natural from Adam up to the present day. The process by which the second birth is accomplished is throughout in all its bearings supernatural and divine; as such it is a birth by the spirit; and since grace is infused into the soul by the Holy Spirit, that grace quickens its dead faculties or makes the soul alive. This I deem regeneration which means cleaning or washing, and since grace is represented figuratively to water in its divine application, the second or new birth may be said to be a birth by grace and the spirit. Though Nicodemus was a son of Abraham by descent, the birth that made him so could never give him spiritual enjoyments nor yet entitle him to a station in a spiritual kingdom. Hence the necessity of his being born again, or another time, or in other words, created in Christ Jesus, or Christ formed in the soul, the hope of glory. The above phrase, with the subsequent, to be circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, made alive, renewed in the spirit of the mind, &c., are all synonymous terms, meaning the same thing, the new birth or a birth by the spirit, or if you please, by grace and the spirit. The birth spoken of in the above text by water, in its literal application to fact, certainly means the first birth or the birth of flesh; if not, there is, it seems to me no meaning in the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus. Christ says, "that which is born of the flesh is flesh. You must be born again." While in the 8th verse, Christ puts the whole subject to rest, since he denominates the birth by the spirit is the new birth, and applies it alike to all who receive it. Dear Brethren, I hope this letter may not prove offensive to any person; for I can assure you I have not designed to give offence to any, but purely to put a stop to unnecessary disputation amongst the Predestinarian Baptists. I am perhaps one of the oldest Baptist preachers in Kentucky, having been preaching about forty years. I have carefully read the New Testament through 12 or 14 times, and yet I fall short of understanding it all. Yet I think I know there is an incomprehensible God, a mysterious Devil, a general judgment, and a second birth or a regenerating process necessary to prepare men and women for the enjoyment of God, both here and hereafter. If I am saved, called, justified, regenerated or created in Christ Jesus, I am saved by grace eternally given me in Christ. If I am called with a holy calling, I am called unto obedience. If I am foreknown in the eternal counsel of God, I am predestinated; if predestinated, I am called; if called, I am justified; if justified, I am glorified; and in the end, I shall be redeemed from death, ransomed from the grave and fashioned like unto the glorious son of God, when and where I shall see him for myself and not for another.
WILLIAM DOWNS,
of Ohio County, Kentucky.
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For the Western Predestinarian Baptist.
HARTFORD, KENTUCKY,
June 25, 1842.
BRETHREN BEEBE & JEWETT:
Suffer me to say to you both, exclude from your columns all argumentative communications about the origin of the devil. If you do not, you will assuredly cause a division in the ranks of the Old School Baptists. The great, pious, and devoted Apostle Paul determined to know nothing among the Churches but Jesus Christ and him crucified. I would rather know Christ to be my Saviour than to know all about the devil. If the devil is self-existent, be it so. I hope he is no friend to me. If he was once an angel of light and with God in heaven, he was there by the appointment of God. If he sinned and fell from that station, it was in the eternal purpose of God so to be, to answer some wise design of his own. If he was created previous to the creation of Adam and fell from his original purity, be it so, I am content. If God made him a devil to answer some wise purpose of his own, be it so. If the devil created himself, still he is a devil and will, I think, remain so. He often tempts me. He is every where present, but in heaven, from that incorruptible place he is excluded or shut out. He is mighty but not almighty. He is powerful but not all-powerful. In a word, he is the prince of darkness; the king of the bottomless pit; the enemy of God, of course, to his chosen people. He is the father of falsehood, the deceitful hypocrite; the inventor of every hateful thing. His character is odious; his devices mischievous; his pretensions hypocritical, &c. As to the character of the devil, all who believe the Bible will agree in, as to his origin, none can comprehend it. Why then all this ado about it? The devil is well gratified when he can instigate God's people to quarreling about him. As such, I am determined to never lift my pen to write any thing about his origin, since his origin is only known to God. Be that what it may, I am content and am writing to be still and know that God is God. A God possessing all wisdom, all goodness and all power; as such he knows who the devil is, from whence he came and what use to make of him. To me, God is good, superlatively; good, in delivering me from the wiles of so powerful a devil. He is all-powerful in the destruction of him who holds the power of death, to wit: the devil. The dispute about the resurrection and future judgment between brethren Trott and Goldsmith, had well nigh caused some to withdraw their subscriptions from the Signs of the Times, and should it be revived, I have no doubt but such will be the result. The controversy never in the least affected me, since I am fully, I think, established on that subject. Brother Trott's views thereon, are mine in toto; yet I think brother Trott used some unsavory expressions about Brother Goldsmith's opinions. I never understood Brother Goldsmith to discard the idea of a future judgment and a general resurrection. If Brother Trott so understood him, he was justifiable in charging upon Brother Goldsmith the crime of Hymenaus and Philetus. As to the charge of Brother Goldsmith's ignorance of the new birth, that was altogether gratuitous - for this I am gratified to Brother Trott making reparation to Brother Goldsmith, which proves that Brother Trott is both the gentleman and the christian. May more such magnanimus patriots for the Christian religion as is Brother S. Trott wield their pens in defence of its genuineness and divine origin. Brethren Beebe and Jewett, will please publish this communication to them, in the Signs and Advocate, if they think it worthy of a place in their columns. If not, they will lay it by. I am, with profound respect, yours in christian fellowship,
WILLIAM DOWNS,
of Ohio County, Kentucky.
For the Western Predestinarian Baptist.
DEARLY BELOVED BROTHERS NEWPORT AND CRAIG:.
In the multiplicity of business in which I am at this time engaged, I have consented to borrow a few moments to send to you the following communication for the Predestinarian Baptist should you think it worthy a place in its columns. I own to you both that I am somewhat alarmed and deeply distressed in reflecting upon the portentious occurrences of the present day. The christian world is at this day miserably distracted and torn to pieces, by division, discord and faction, and especially the denomination called Baptists, once deemed the light of the world, the salt of the earth, and the spiritual Israel of God. But what are they now? A ruined, split up, and contemptible mass of fragments divided and subdivided into at least a dozen sects, all arrayed against each other, with as much hatred and intolerance as the fiend of the bottomless pit could almost wish. Those different sects are every where hateful, and hating each other. Is there not for all this state of things a cause? Certainly. In the purpose of God, it is first to be found, by him designed, and intended: 1st. To purge his church by separating the tares from the good wheat. 2nd. It is found in the general union entered into between the Regular and Separate Baptists. From that union (falsely so called) has grown up the present distress. That union was hypocritically entered into; as such it was unquestionably an unlawful marriage; as such the children resulting, or growing out of that unlawful union, are all the children of illegitimacy. The complete heresy; the Stone and Marshall-schism; the Missionary innovations with the Stinsonite abomination, are, I awfully fear, naught but the children of this unlawful connection, all partaking more or less, of the errors of the Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. St. Paul, II. Thess. 4:3, prophesies of this very day, for, says he, Let no man deceive you, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4th verse, Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God sitteth in the Temple of God showing himself that he is God. From the above I infer that intolerance is the man of sin found in the succession of the Popes of the church of the see of Rome. If my views of this subject be correct, the following conclusions are also true. 1st. There never was any Apostolic church set up in the world, the pillar and ground of the truth, but the original church first planted at Jerusalem by Christ and his Apostles. 2nd. That church, I clearly believe, is at this day only found with the Regular or Predestinarian Baptists. That church for about three hundred years with its branches remained in the general, sound in the faith and practice of the gospel, with few exceptions. In the year 324 or 325, Constantine the great, out of a false zeal for Christianity united it with state policy, which soon proved a flood of poison poured into the lap of the church. This anti-christian zeal of the Emperor laid the foundation of all the subsequent abominations that characterizes the Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. Almost instantaneously sprang up, a thirst for College bred preachers; those when stationed in power sought to ride rough-shod over the laity; next came Missionary friars to tease the laity out of their hard earnings to aggrandize the Clergy, but by hypocritical pretense to immortalize christianity by raising it above the state, in direct opposition to the orders of christianity itself. Out of this arrangement grew a thirst for distinction. This was soon obtained; humble preachers of the cross was soon displaced, and Priests with badges of distinction made to officiate in their stead. Out of this order, grew Bishops, archbishops, prehendaries, prelates, and lastly, a Papal or Pope, or universal Bishop, vicar of Christ, etc., which St. Paul means by the man of sin. At his bidding the world was convulsed, and then ensued persecutions, famine, carnage, blood shedding, roasting, burning, &c., all hereticks by his holiness, so denominated. From these cruelties and abominations fled the pious Waldenses, Vocdesis, Petrobrussisns, Nestorians, and others, and thus was the church of Christ split up into fragments or fractions and scattered abroad like sheep without a shepherd, while the great majority remained under the influence of the man of sin, swallowed up in all his abominations. But God, who is rich in mercy never did, nor never will entirely forsake his Elect people, chosen in Christ and grace given to them before the world began. II. Tim. 1:9. To the deliverance of his Elect Israel, he raised up a Cyrus, a Darius, and others to rebuild his house, and lead them out of Babylonian captivity. In this manner did God raise up a Wickliffe, a Huss, a Luther, with others to reprove the abuses of his spiritual Israel; this they measurably did by reforming some of the abuses brought on by the man of sin. Their reformations gradually progressed, until an effectual reformation was completed in Wales by the Predestinarian Baptists there. Their confession of faith may at this day be seen, in what is denominated the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. In the above extracts, I have traced the church from Christ to Constantine; from thence to the man of sin; from thence to Wickliffe, Huss and Luther; from thence to the Predestinarian Baptists, in Wales, where she is again occupying original ground; from thence she has progressed with very little molestation, or alteration up to the year 1800. Though during this time she has been opposed, hated, and set at nought by the whole array of the arminian phalanx, and Pedobaptist Rantism, yet has she, almost proselyted the world on the subject of baptism. I next compare the above eras with the present state of the church as connected with the above prophecy, II. Thess. 2, 3, 4. About the beginning of the 19th century, the Baptists were visited with a great revival of religion. In this revival thousands were added to their churches. Just at the close of this revival the union between the Regular and Separate Baptists were concluded, which introduced in a short time almost every heresy arminianism was capable of introducing; so that Luther Rice, in the year 1812, instigated by the love of money, brought on to Kentucky the Missionary fever under the pretense of sending relief to Judson and Carey, then stationed in the Burman Empire. Rice making a great profit by imposing upon the unsuspecting part of the Baptists, with others, caused hundreds of money loving preachers to embark in Rice's projects. Thus was introduced into the churches a host of money institutions, such as Missionary Boards, with a host of officers, such as Presidents, Vice Presidents, Managers, Life members, etc., all looking up for distinction and remuneration. Add to this unscriptural society, the bible, the temperance etc., societies, with their distinctions and salaries annexed, and you see, at least, of innovating abominations all growing out of love of money, and others for distinction. These abominations are now almost every where imposed upon the churches, to their disquietude and division, so that it may in truth be said, that the gold is again become dim, and that the glory has departed from Zion, while her sons and her daughters are now setting disconsolate and weeping as did the Elect Israelites in the Babylonish captivity. O melancholy picture. In my humble opinion what at this day is denominated the United Missionary Baptists are aiming to bring on as late of things not a whit better than existed in the reign of Pope's Gregory VII and Leo X. Then existed intolerance, persecution, and slanders, never in any age of the world excelled. At this day, the same abominations are almost predominant, which characterize the Missionary churches as they did, the Mother of harlots and abominations of the earth. It is true that the exercise of their cruelties is let or hindered by civil authority which will prevent the execution of their intolerant designs. But how long this may be the case, I am unable to say. But let those intolerant aspirants get the reigns of civil authority (as did the Pope of Rome) into their hands and rivers of pious blood would again drench the earth. The shrieks of pious men and women would again be heard, from the midst of torturing flames. These things are by the great majority of the American people hooted at as though no danger is to be apprehended; in like manner did the great majority hoot at the gradual approach of Papistical supremacy in days that are past by and gone. The Popes in their crusades to unlimited power were asserted by large councils filled up with designing ambitious clergymen. Many of these councils set for years (one at least at one session 38 years) deliberating the destruction of the common and religious rights of the laity to aggrandize the Clergy, who like greedy wolves, were seeking their own profit at the expense of all others. In like manner we see the execution of the Missionary innovation upon original christianity, treading in the same steps as did their predecessors and exercising similar means, presenting the same colors, and venting the same spleen in their anti-christian papers, regardless of the pressing injunctions of the New Testament of God's grace; anciently the church was ruined by intrigues, councils being friars, false glossaries, and ambitious money lovers. At the present day, they are ruined, distracted, split up and rent in pieces by general associations, petty councils, hireling preachers, venters of slanders against the brethren. New schemes to make gain constantly following each other in succession, and to palm these impositions upon the ignorant and unsuspecting, the divine book is ransacked from chapter to chapter, with detached verses and fragments of verses perverted and metamorphosed so that the Bible is made to say what its divine writers never intended it should say. The cause of all the 460 sects, now existing in the christian world have all been produced by disappointed aspirants who have coveted to be rulers, or independent leaders. Such failing to realize their wanted expectations, have set up for themselves, and thus drew parties after them as at the present day out of the original Welsh Baptists, known as the Particular, Regular, or Predestinarian Baptists, have grown, the General, the Separate, the Dunkard, the Seventh Day, Baptists, all of the arminian stamp. But of the general Union, have grown the Campbellites, or Reformers; Stinsonites, Missionaries, Mormons, Middle Ground etc. Baptists (falsely so called). Not one of the above sects deserve the name; yet they have all arrogated it to themselves, and are busily engaged in nick-naming the real Baptists. They call them Antinomians, Parkerites, Iron Jackets, Hard Sides, Infant Destroyers, etc. These, though all arrayed against each other, all unitedly vent their poisonous spleen, and unheard of slanders against those who are Baptists indeed. So do all the other sects. Thus do all unitedly misrepresent, belie, and slander the Old Baptists, as though they were not the creatures of God. Let the original Baptists, then, to a man, stand to their posts, by earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, Jude 3, and ere it be long, error will hide its deformed head, and the whole elect of God will, in union become to their enemies as terrible as an army with banners. In my humble opinion, every individual who contributes to the Missionary operations is ignorantly contributing to the downfall of the American Republic. The leaders and inventors of this anti-republican institution, have long since been convinced that they could not speedily attain to their wanted prospect, until they trained up votaries enough to revolutionize both church and state. Thus they are now busily engaged to do as may be seen in their numerous protracted meetings in which they make to themselves thousands of proselytes, mostly out of little boys, girls, and negroes, all intended for show, and to intimidate the weaker soil of those who are Baptists indeed, and it is remarkable, that all their protracted, or distracted meetings excite no interest with the people, but a small distance from them; hence it is, that as soon as their efforts are withdrawn, the excitement ceases. Dear brethren, I must close by praying Almighty God, to give you both wisdom and christian prudence, sufficient to the crisis in which you are placed. I am in the best of bonds, your unworthy brother in Christ.
WILLIAM DOWNS.
Ohio Co., Ky., September 27, 1842.
[Western Predestinarian Baptist, Paris, Ill., Vol. 1, No. 15, June 1, 1843, pages 235-238.]
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Richland, Ohio County, Kentucky, September 27, 1842.
BELOVED BROTHER CRAIG:
I send you a few lines, the purpose of which, you will see, when you read them. Some weeks back, I was all night with Bro. Griffin Kelly, Henry Co., Ky., who has in his possession a bundle of my writings on various religious subjects, one of which was the equality of he Father and the Son, in their relation to each other. In an expression found in the writings, I am informed that you took some exceptions. Before I advert to the passage, or sentence, you objected to, I will give my views on that incomprehensible subject, I. Tim. 3:16.
1st. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Son of Mary, his Virgin Mother, as such, he is perfectly God, and perfectly man. So that in him is two distinct natures, Col. 2:9, Col. 1:15.
2nd. I believe that Jesus Christ as the Son of God, is equal, co-equal, and eternal with God in wisdom, power, and glory. But as the Son of Mary, he was made a little lower than the angels, Heb. 1:14.
3rd. I believe Jesus Christ is one in essence with is Father, the second adorable person in the Godhead, Col. 2:9.
4th. I believe Jesus Christ as the Son of God, was in his generation, Eternal, but not so, as the Son of Mary, John 1:14, Col. 1:15.
5th. I believe the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Jesus Christ, Col. 2:9, which sense he is God manifested in the flesh, I. Tim. 3:16, etc. Romans 5:19,30.
6th. I believe Jesus Christ as the Son of God in union with Divinity is infinitely self-existent, but not so, as the Son of Mary.
This brings me to the sentence you objected to. I said, and I still say, that Jesus as the Son of Mary, is not infinitely self-existent, neither is he as such infinitely good, infinitely wise, or infinitely holy. As my justification in the above belief, see the following scripture proof. 1st. He is the Son of Mary, Matthew 1:25th verse. 2nd. He was a young child, Matthew 2:8, 11. Luke 1:27, Luke 1:44, 80. Luke 2:12, 21, etc. 12:72. 3rd. He says he did not know the end of the world, Mark 13:32. 4th. He objected to be called good, Matthew 19:17. 5th. He said, he of himself, could do nothing, John 5:4. 6th. He said, my Father is greater than I, John 14:28. All these sayings, evidently, refer to his human nature as the Son of Mary, but not to his divine nature as God; thus it is, that the unity of the Godhead, or the adorable Jehovah is clearly presented in my mind by the scriptures of divine truth, in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to whom, and whom alone divine honors are equally due, from me, at least. If my views are wrong, I ask some of my brethren to instruct me, and lead me into the truth. I am resolved to have no controversy with my Predestinarian Baptist brethren; I am an old man, and an old sort of a preacher; yet I am not too old to covet instruction, and would as soon receive it from you, as from any of God's other dear children. Dismissing that subject, I have to request your indulgence for writing so much on a single sheet. My apology for so doing is that when I write I wish to communicate much, and since the postage of letters are high I could not find money to pay postage should I send many communications to you, and to palm postage on you or the office would neither be honorable nor just. My next communication to you, I intend being on the Union of Christ and his church. Your brother in Christ,
WILLIAM DOWNS.
TRANSPOSED PROSE TO VERSE.
To me, there is but one God, The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, To whom divine honors are due, the same as to the Father. The Holy Ghost is also God Almighty to whom divine honors are equally due, to be but one in essence, will, and mind, neither divided, or compounded in their nature, in personal relations, all of which are divine. The Father is of none, nor yet begotten, the Son is eternally begotten. The Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father, a pure spirit, Through the Son, Yet all but one God.
These are my views of this incomprehensible subject, both in verse and prose. These with the above letter to Bro. Craig you will publish, if you see proper.
VERSE.
One God I own divinely true,
One Jesus Christ to him is due,
Who now's enthron'd the God in heaven.
One Holy Ghost, a God of power,
That with God and Christ adore,
Yet all but one in essence joined,
One in will, and one in mind,
The Father God, he is of none,
Eternal is his only Son,
The Holy Ghost from God proceeds,
Through Christ the Son who intercedes,
For all the gift, the Father gave,
All which the Holy Ghost will save.
Yours in Christ,
WILLIAM DOWNS.
[Western Predestinarian Baptist, Paris, Ill., Vol. 1, No. 16, June 15, 1843, pp. 243-244.]
FOR THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES.
Hartford, Ohio Co., Ky., July 15, 1841.
WORTHY AND BELOVED BROTHER IN CHRIST: I must acknowledge that I have too long neglected a correspondence with you, and too long been silent in speaking through or by the Signs of the Times. The cause of my silence has not been out of any disrespect to the cause you so ably advocate and so masterly defend; but, from an aversion I have had in general to all religious periodicals: which aversion, in me, has been created by my unabating prejudice against the Baptist Banner & Western Pioneer (falsely so called). The merits of that paper, in my opinion, entitle it to the estimation it has acquired, as a vehicle of vituperative bilingsgate, slanderous scandal and scurrility, uniformly directed against the truth. Sure I am, that it deals in slander, recrimination, falsehood, and deception. And in so doing, it professes to sustain the cause of the United Baptists, (falsely called) who have so grossly apostatized, even from the articles of the general union, that they are no longer considered the same people they were thirty years ago. Instead of preaching salvation by grace, as did Paul, they preach effortism, human agency, instrumentality, and the highest colored arminianism, to gain proselytes to carry out their unrighteous system; they constantly keep in the field a set of hirelings or money beggars who, to prove successful in their ungodly efforts, have erected anxious seats, mourning, or work benches, by means of which, and the exertions of their devotees, they are daily filling up their churches with pharisaical hypocrites - with little boys and girls, who know no more about experimental religion than Nicodemus did of the new birth, by water and the Spirit. Experimental religion is by them but lightly esteemed, if esteemed at all. The operation of the Spirit in the conversion of the soul to God is by them irreverently spoken of, as a thing too much harped upon by Old School Baptists, and baptism or immersion almost converted into the laver of regeneration or the new birth. In their churches, they keep up no orderly regular scriptural discipline; but, in all their proceedings, trickery, intrigue, and low devices are resorted to, with an eye to the support of their human institutions, regardless of the word of divine truth. I own it is wrong to speak evil of any person; but, contend that truth is truth, and that Israel should be shown her sins, and Jacob his transgressions: that, as directed by Jude, I believe it my duty to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. This cannot be done without exposing the errors of the day. If the Baptists were right in the days of Gill, Toplady, Stennet, Bunyan, Booth, Beddome, &c., they are certainly wrong now. Since no such things as at this day practiced by the United Baptists were ever known to their several churches: anxious seats and mourning benches are of modern contrivance amongst the Baptists as such; I awfully fear the invention of some foul demon, designed and intended to tarnish their fame as the only church of Christ: slander, misrepresentation, falsehood, and base intriguing are the weapons of their warfare, if the "Banner & Pioneer" be a sample of their dispositions. If not, they are either foolishly bewitched or designedly wicked to support it. Myself, with brethren Dudley, Newport, Keith, Tabor, Ricketts, Bristow, and others are shamefully abused, tantalized and basely belied by the Banner and its anti-christian devotees. Perhaps if the Banner had kept my name out of its lying pages, I might have remained silent as to its vulgarity. But, since its editors have published three or four base publications against my moral and religious character, I have determined, as long as the "Sign of the Times" continues to publish the truth, to forward to its editor a monthly number at least, for publication in its pages. I have about one hundred pages already written in answer to each publication in the Banner, each charge therein exhibited against me, I have proven irrefutably false - by the associations, churches, and individuals of the first respectability. These writings, I intend sending on to you, which I wish published following each other, until the whole is published. Were I, and those worthy brethren, the only sufferers in their bishop-Bonner-like crusades against the truth, I might content myself in silence; but, since their slanders are designed to effect and tarnish the true church of Christ, and overturn the truth, to pave the way, to get into their power, (papist-like) the reins of government, I have determined to oppose all their ungodly schemes, hoping thereby to prevent the lovers of truth from enlisting under their infamous banner. For sure am I, that no man who regards primitive christianity can for a moment patronize the anti-christian Banner & Pioneer whose columns present very little short of slander, misrepresentations, falsehood and perversion; in which its editors prove themselves hateful, and hating their brethren. There are Waller, Buck, Peck, and others, as intolerant as was bishop Bonner in the reign of Queen Mary of England; they are only restrained by civil authority from burning (as the papists did Cranmer, Rogers, Philpot, and others,) - myself, and many others, who have shared their wanton abuse. I have no hesitancy in saying that the Mormons were sent over from England to revolutionize this country; as such they are abolitionists. The missionary system had its origin with the papists, and Great Britain, who are all in England abolitionists - thousands of which have obtained footing in America. And although Waller places me below the Mormons, I place him exactly identified with them, and all his devotees.
Brother Beebe, I wish you to publish this letter in the "Signs of the Times," as my preface to what I intend sending on to you for publication. You will please send me on two copies of the Signs of the Times, for the year 1841: send me on all the back numbers for 1841, and I will remit to you the money for the two papers, as I wish to take them for the whole year. I hope you will not think of quitting, for at least ten years. Every occurrence proves the utility of your paper, and that it is growing more and more in demand. I, myself, would maul rails at twelve and a half cents per hundred, before I would be without your useful Signs of the Times. Just so long as you edit the Signs of the Times, I am a subscriber for it, provided it deals in the truth as it heretofore has done.
I am in every sentiment of respect, your unworthy brother in Christ,
WILLIAM DOWNS.
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WORTHY AND BELOVED BROTHER BEEBE:-- It is with unfeigned satisfaction that I announce to you the receipt of your papers, the "Signs of the Times;" those numbers have already been to my soul like good news from on high, since they have dissipated my fears, relieved me from many doubtful disputations, and established me in the sovereignty of all abounding grace. I am greatly delighted in reading the epistles of your worthy correspondents, and much interested, especially, with editorial remarks. Although there are some opinions given in some of the communications to you, and one at least in the editorial remarks, that I cannot as yet give in to; yet they may be right and my views wrong. And since I am unknown to you by face, and most of the brethren that communicate with you, I have concluded it nothing wrong to let you know who I am, what I am, and whither bound, before I communicate any more pieces to you for publication.
I was born of the flesh, October 28, 1782, in Nelson Co., Ky., and I hope I was born of the Spirit, Oct. 1801, in Mecklenburg county, Kentucky. I joined Cedar Creek church, Nelson Co., Kentucky, on the 4th Sunday in May, 1802; in October same year, I was licensed to preach, by the above Regular Baptist church, constituted on the Philadelphia Confession of Faith. In the sixteenth year of my natural life I embraced the views and opinions advocated by Thomas Payne, in his "Age of Reason," and then commenced abusing the Bible as a book unworthy of my attention, believing or feigning to believe it a book of lies, contradictions and burlesques on common sense; the invention of designing priests to awe the world into subjection to their ambitious designs. About three years I was trying to disbelieve the Bible as a revelation from God, supposing that the laws of nature were all sufficient to teach me every thing about God desirable for me to know. But God who is rich in mercy, did not design that I should thus remain; in his providence I was directed to attend at a place of worship in Mecklenburg County, Kentucky, where Elder Benjamin Talbert was to preach; a man I esteemed as a fine jovial fellow. I took my seat in about the middle of the house. After he was done preaching he commenced singing a hymn and shaking hands. I thought he fixed his eyes on me; at all events, he moved towards me and reached out his hand to me: I said, Every dog shake his own paw, and refused him my hand; he smiled and passed on, but as he passed me he laid his hand on my shoulder: as he took it off, this awful sound like thunder horrified me, "God will pass you by in the great day of accounts." I trembled, and was near falling on the floor; after meeting was dismissed I got out as well as I could, believing the eyes of the people were all fixed on me: however I got to my horse and made for my home. My reflections were such as I cannot describe; I considered myself ruined or totally undone, since the christians all knew there could be no mercy for me, having abused the Bible, denied the Saviour, and ridiculed religion, and my former associates would laugh at and scorn me. I continued in this awful situation about a week, when I concluded I would go and see two of my deistical associates, hoping they would by their conversation with me drive these melancholy reflections out of my mind - all proved ineffectual, and I returned home, worse burdened than ever. I next tried the "Age of Reason;" its arguments were disgusting so that I burnt it. I then concluded I would quit all my bad practices and keep the law, since I thought I believed in the Bible, and also believed in Christ. In this way, I continued for at least a month; yet the awful thunder, God will pass you by, would demolish all my hopes, and sink me back into almost hopeless despair. I was next solemnly impressed with the duty of prayer; but how to perform it I knew not; for weeks I faltered or lingered in this way, and I well recollect the first time I ever attempted to get upon my knees; I was alarmed with this awful reflection, whom are you going to pray to? The God you have said is a bastard, and imposter, &c. This awful reflection drove me from my knees and suddenly hurried me from the place; still I was impressed to pray and often made attempts; I began, supposing that as God had not killed me for praying to him I might pray on; I did so, and soon began to conclude I could pray pretty well; I had quit swearing and all my immoral actions: I concluded it was not a bad with me as I had supposed. In this Pharisee-like way I went on, for two or three weeks, until this alarming text thundered in my ears, He that denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father, &c. I now was brought clearly to see that I had sinned against God and his gospel, as well as against Moses and the law; I also discovered that obedience was due to faith a well as to the law, to God as well as to Moses. The purity and spirituality of law was here brought to view, which I never could keep, since I was carnal, sold under sin; here the commandment came, sin in me revived, and I died; here I discovered that original guilt, the corruption of my heart, that was truly like a cage of unclean birds, deceitful and desperately wicked. This awful discovery made me cry out; oh! wretched man, I am forever undone; keep the law I never can; reconcile an offended God, I never can; here I was made to cry, Lord, save, or I perish: Lord, have mercy, I am undone. In this way I went on for weeks in glimmering hope, hoping against hope, sunk almost into irretrievable despair; getting as I supposed worse and worse, whether awake or asleep I was either thinking or dreaming over the above awful words of Jesus, him will I deny, &c. Then did my sleep depart from me, and I concluded I was one for whom Christ did not die, or he would have never suffered me to blaspheme his holy name; these reflections drove me into despair, so that I cried in bitter anguish of soul, salvation for me is forever gone. I recollect one evening, I was laying on the bed, and I suppose fell into a doze; at all events I imagined I was suspended over hell, kept out of it by a brittle thread fastened to my breast, and the sword of the Lord turned round and round, and in every turn, it came near to the thread; the next turn I felt confident it would cut the thread and let me drop into hell; I screamed out, Lord, save or I perish, and instantly left the bed. This was on Monday evening. In this state of almost hopeless despair, I continued until Thursday about 3 o'clock p.m., then it was that I was made to yield. All hope apparently seemed to be fled; my tears were dried up; all doing power was gone. To pray I durst not, the heavens appeared as brass; God was to me, I considered, a consuming fire; all nature seemed to frown upon me, and I was brought to a stand still. Here I perceived the justice of God in my banishment from him into endless perdition. To be reconciled to my fate was more than I could then bear - I trembled over the yawning gulf of hell, expecting every moment to be plunged therein. In this almost hopeless situation I felt a desire, if I were sent to endless perdition, which I thought I justly deserved, that I might be prevented from sinning against God, even in hell - instantly I felt resigned to the will of God. If he sent me to hell I knew I deserved it. This resignation was instantly followed by an impression to pray to God once more. I began to bend my knees, when these ravishing words rolled into my mind, Come unto me and rest, you that are troubled, rest, &c. My guilt vanished, my burden was removed, my fears all quelled; all nature smiled; such feelings as I then enjoyed I cannot describe; I felt calm and serene, at peace with God, with myself, and all around me. But this transport of joy was almost instantly followed by doubtful disputation. I concluded this was not the way God gave religion, since my feelings came in a way I had never thought of, and I commenced praying for my burden back again. In this doubting way I continued, from October until January; some moments I could feel as though God was my friend, but that feeling, when gone, left me doubting again, until I concluded it was all delusion; for surely Christians are not like I am. In this cold doubtful state, I was one evening traveling up a long hill, pensive and alone, a proper time and place for reflection, my mind being grievously burdened by a sense of my deceived condition; I burst into a flood of sorrowful tears and anguish of soul, I cried out, Lord, save me from this awful delusion I groan under now. Instantly, as though one spoke to me from on high, these glorious words sounded into my soul, "In my Father's house are many mansions," &c. These words instantly banished all my doubts, which filled my eyes with tears of joy, unspeakable and full of glory, so that I cried out, Glory to God in the highest. Yet strange to tell, in less than thirty minutes I was assailed with the most grievous temptations to renounce the Bible and all pretensions to religion, as the articles of designing priests, then it occurred to me, he that is an heretic after the third admonition is to be rejected. It occurred to my mind, this is the third time that you have thought you were happy, but now you see it is all delusion, God hath surely been mocking you: this I felt inclined to think might be the case. In this awful way of temptation I went on for weeks, praying if I were deceived that the Lord would undeceive me and send me back my trouble in proportion to my sins. During all this time I never had a view of how faith justified by laying hold of the righteousness of Jesus Christ, nor was I enabled to see the difference between the old man (or the flesh), and the new man (or the Spirit) until on the third night of January, I was sitting ruminating upon my wretched state, and often venting a bitter sigh. All at once a thought crowded upon my mind, to take the Bible and open it, and the first verse I cast my eyes upon would exactly describe my state: I arose from my seat, advanced to the Bible, and as I took it up, I trembled, fearing I should read in it my just condemnation; but to my unspeakable surprise, the Bible opened to the 5th chapter of John's gospel, 2nd verse, "Now are ye clean through the words I have spoken unto you." Instantly all those previous joyful feelings, with the scriptures applied, presented themselves to my view - a heavenly calm ensued, joyful transport in still accented whispers run through all the powers of my soul: while I stood so amazed at the sweet consolation, these words sounded in my ears, "Be not faithless, but believing." The application of these words presented Jesus as my righteousness, my wisdom, my sanctification and redemption. Here I think I saw how God could be just, and the Justifier of his people or the sinner, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Thus, brother Beebe, I have given you the outlines of my hope in Christ, whom I own as my wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; for sure I have none beside him. I confess with Jacob, that God found me in a waste howling wilderness, deaf, dumb, blind, and dead in trespasses and sins, that he unstopped my deaf ears, opened my blind eyes, let loose my stammering tongue, quickened or made alive my dead heart or soul, gave me repentance unto life not to be repented of, and with the cords of eternal love brought me to see how he can remain just in the justification of one who with Paul owns himself the chief of sinners. I acknowledge myself a sinner, and daily stand in need of the advocacy, intercession, &c., of Jesus Christ, my surety and eternal redemption, my life, light, strength, liberty, and crown of rejoicing, my all in all. This is my hope; take this from me, and I am eternally gone - gone. But thanks be to God, who (I hope) hath given me the victory through my Lord Jesus Christ, hence the gates of hell, the powers of darkness, the rage of devils, the malice and efforts of men, with the abominable institutions, inventions, and intriguing designs of the day can never overturn that hope which enters into that within the veil, and thus becomes the anchor of my soul. Although my journey through life is rough and boisterous, and made more so by the persecutions I daily have to encounter, yet I rejoice in the promises of the gospel of the grace of God, that persecutions, more or less, is the lot of all God's dear children. This I believe is one of the all things that shall work together for good to them that are called according to his purpose. In a word, my hope is in the eternal, electing love of God, and if saved from sin, it is by grace through faith, and that not of myself, all the gift of God, being his workmanship, his creation in Christ Jesus. This, brother Beebe, is the old fashioned religion, taught by Christ and his Apostles upwards of 1800 years ago; against this religion, all the New School parties are now fighting, such as Campbellites, or pretended reformers, Christians, Marshall-ites, with all the effort-men of the day, such as Missionary Boards, Sunday School Societies, Bible Societies, Temperance Societies (falsely so called), with every other ite and ism, all designed and tending to destroy experimental religion, and tarnish the beauty of the gospel by introducing another gospel predicated upon the wisdom of men. Hence the struggle to get a supply of theological colleges to manufacture (or to use their own words, to qualify) thousands of fops, dandies, and money lovers, to ride rough-shod over the dear people of God. This was once done, and is being aimed at to be done over again. As such, shall we who are the soldiers of the cross lay down our arms in the hour of danger, and surrender the citadel of God to them? God forbid, - "My voice I must confess is still for war," not against men, but against principalities - against spiritual wickedness in high places, against all the man-made inventions and innovations palmed upon the Baptists in modern days. The weapons of my warfare being spiritual, not carnal or worldly, I can with propriety reject the sword of Gideon, and use only the sword of the Lord, which is the sword of the Spirit, or written word of God; the unerring rule of my faith and practice. This sword will cut its way in spite of all opposition, either by men or devils. As such, my dear brother, the Old School Baptists have nothing to fear but themselves: let them keep themselves from idols, or from running after the abominations of the day, and all is safe. Though we in ourselves are weak, and in the estimation of the ungodly, few in number; the Captain of our salvation is strong, and at the head of an innumerable army - all in martial array; all clothed in clean white linen, the righteousness of faith - their helmet is salvation; their girdle is truth; their breastplate righteousness; their shoes the preparation of the gospel, and their banner is grace - all-abounding grace, while their escutcheon is "The Lord their righteousness." Against such an army, in vain shall the powers of darkness or effort-men contend,* already are they defeated, vanquished and driven to new shifts to rally their scattered forces to again measure strength with the Old School Baptists, or the army of the living God; and were not their Captain the Captain of their salvation, both in the front and in the rear; both on the right hand and on the left, they would certainly be defeated, since the world, the flesh, the devil, and all carnal or effort professors are arrayed against them. O then, ye soldiers of the cross, gird on your buckler of defence - march to the contest - hoist the cross, your glory; present courageously your faith as the standard in your camps, dispute every inch of ground, and thus shall victory perch again on your banner. Old School Baptists ask not the aid of the sword of Gideon, being thoroughly furnished unto every good work, having in their possession the sword of the Lord, or the written word of God.
May their God at all times, and on all occasions teach them how to use successfully this divine sword. I am with sentiments of profound respect and christian fellowship, Your unworthy brother in Christ,
WILLIAM DOWNS.
Hartford, Ky., Nov. 2, 1841.
* The beast hath received a deadly wound, the inquisition put down; the supremacy of the clergy, overthrown, &c.; all intended to be revived by the effort-men of the day.
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Hartford, Ky., June 13, 1842.
BELOVED BROTHER BEEBE:--It has been some time since I wrote to you, in consequence of which I ask you to indulge me in this epistle to you. I did expect to have sent on ere this time many pieces for the Signs of the Times; but since many of my previous enemies are now begging quarters, I have agreed to be silent until the "Banner & Pioneer" makes it necessary for me to again resume my defence. I received six numbers of the Advocate and Monitor, edited by brother Jewett, and after carefully reading them, I am convinced they ably advocate the doctrine of the gospel, and wisely admonish all christians to flee the abominations and deep rooted heresies of the present century, it being an age of error and gross darkness. The Advocate as well as the Signs, I hope will in the end conduce to the declarative glory of God, and to the peace and welfare of his Zion. To the Advocate I would cheerfully contribute by becoming a subscriber did not my poverty or want of funds forbid it. You know that I am a subscriber for two copies of the Signs of the Times yearly: these numbers I regularly receive and joyfully read. You know also that these papers advocate the same truths, having the same object in view, i. e., the declarative glory of God, the presentation of the christian religion unsullied, the promotion of Apostolic piety and evangelical holiness. They both equally strike at the man of sin, expose the mother of harlots, and abomination of the earth; both of which are being aimed to be again palmed upon the christian world, as clearly seen in the many man-invented institutions in this dark midnight age of error and love of money. The advocates of those institutions every where fulminate abundance of slander and wanton abuse against the truth, and its advocates, which consequently proves that they have drunk in the spirit of the harlot mother, and as such are daily struggling to raise her to the earthly grandeur she once enjoyed. Thousands (I hope pious christians) follow after those designing men, not knowing the deep designs they have in view. I am led to this conclusion by facts every day manifesting themselves to the world, such as hundreds leaving their ranks and joining the Old School Baptists. The Missionary churches in this section are miserably torn to pieces, public opinion is pretty generally prevailing that the object of those designing men is to unite church and state, and that the general associations are to be metamorphosed into so many inquisitions. Those designing men can now advocate without a blush the most heaven daring project ever yet aimed to be imposed upon the christian world, i. e., that the Bible must be so translated to keep pace with the improvement of the world, as to make it more acceptable to the polite, the rich, and the well-bred. This is at once saying the holy word of God is vulgar and nonsensical, as given to the church upwards of eighteen hundred years ago.
Brother Beebe, in my humble opinion, the days of the Arminian or Ishmaelitish brood are numbered, and fast approaching their final destiny. The art of making proselytes by protracted or distracted meetings I view like a pile of loose straw in a flame, soon takes fire, and as soon dies away: hence it is that all their effortisms, instrumentalities and human agencies eventuate in light ashes of no value - as such those amazing over-righteous Pharisees are constantly losing the confidence of the thinking part of the community - as such the opinion every where prevails that their sin is to aggrandize the clergy at the expense of the laity. In a word, I again repeat it, that it is generally believed in the circle of my acquaintance that the object of the labors of the Missionary faction is to establish religion by law, (i. e., their plans and notions about religion) as their theological colleges to manufacture preachers are in advance of their design, that thousands who are as destitute of real piety as was bishop Bonner or Pope Leo X., may ride rough shod over the people of God, and thus wallow in luxury as did the pontiffs of Rome. Sister E. Barlow in one of her communication to brother Jewett, seems to console his hard lot in the many trials and difficulties he has to encounter, in the performance of his arduous tasks assigned him: but sure I am that those trials and difficulties should give no trouble, since they are the common lot of all God's chosen little ones. Persecution, slander, abuse, and even death itself are the heritage of the elect of God, and especially his preachers, the sure test of their discipleship and call to the work: all the above are included in the all things that work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to his purpose. I sometimes think I can glory in persecution if it be for Christ's sake, and when faith is in exercise can take it patiently. I often pray God that I may never act in such a way that will reproach the cause of God, and bring just reproach and scandal upon myself or profession. I am often led to fear that I do not possess that which real christians do, owing to the imperfections and corruptions of my nature. I often fear that God has never called me to preach his everlasting gospel especially when I compare what the preacher should be, with what I am, the chief of sinners, and the least of saints. If a saint at all, so that my whole life is one continued struggle, the flesh warring against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, so that I cannot do the things that I desire to do. Often am I led to conclude that my ignorance and lack of christian piety forbids the idea of my attempting to preach the glorious gospel of the blessed God; yet when tempted to surrender up my charge to the churches I attend, it is often thundered in my ears, that woe is me if I preach not the gospel, with all those trials and difficulties. I am constrained many times to ask, who is sufficient for these things? All which murmurings and disputings are alone quelled as they were with the Apostle:"My grace is sufficient for thee." If I am a child of God I am so by the will of God, and by him chosen in Christ before the worlds were framed. If I am called of God to preach his everlasting gospel, no agency nor instrumentality of men nor angels can qualify me for the task, seeing it is the special gift of God to me, determined by him so to be in eternity. All those doubts and difficulties with me, death will soon decide for me, since I am fast approaching my eternal destiny. I have been striving in my weak and imperfect manner for about forty years to preach the gospel of God's grace, and yet consider myself but a feeble pupil in the school of Christ.
Brother Beebe, through the Advocate and Signs of the Times, I send my christian love to Sister Esther Barlow, whom I love in the Lord for her able defence of truth. Brother Jewett apologizes in September Advocate for publishing so many communications from the dear sisters. Indeed I think none is necessary, since I at least consider them the best writers on religion in the world, all their communications with few exceptions being of an experimental cast, or abounding in practical knowledge without a resort to vain philosophy or opposition of science, falsely so called. I find in the Signs of the Times the letters of Sister E. Barlow, E. Preston, Mary Culver and others, all of whom are excellent writers and sound advocates for the faith of the gospel, with others whose letters are published in the Advocate and Monitor. May more such able advocates of primitive christianity swell their list and wield their pens in the defence of the truth as it is in Christ.
I tender my unfeigned love and christian fellowship to all my Old School Baptist brethren and sisters in Christ, and subscribe myself yours in the best of christian bonds,
WILLIAM DOWNS.
