Page022

Page022

NON'RESISTANCE,


This is a migh ty suhject, nnd requi res the


en ergy of a g.. ea t lIlind to hrillg 1111 unhel iev iug


world 10 look Ilpon it in itll Im e · Iight. f


wOllld p.. ese nt n few th ou gh ts in re latio n IU il.


h opiu~ so ule ahl el' pen will ullfi , ld il in its I'll­rious


hearil; gs. Non · ... esis lllnce is new to the


worl, I, and is not recoglli zed hy th e ch urd . ;


yet it wns tllught hy J eslls of Nllzerelh, ] 800


years ago, and is n main pillnr, a vitul ' pl'ill Ci­pic


in th e sys tem of hi s reli gion. It is t ru e the


church e ~ ists without it. ' But is it uo t a \\ nl' ·


milking, lIilll u slnve- hold illg ch u.. ch? Does


1I0t b.. other go 10 IllW' wilh llrotll cr for fillhy


lu cre's sllke , or 10 gmti ( v ~ o u l e evil passioll ?


Is th er e ' not co ve to uslless th ere? Anlln.. e not


th ese th e g.. ea tes t ev ils which IIffliel lllallkillll ?


mill whi le tllCy ex ist , ill Ih e chu.. c h, ca n th ero


he th at hr Olll1 di stinction hetween it and tho


world which ch rislia llily I! as . ies igned to


' mulie ? S lIre ly IIut. Null' th eil, is lIut tho


want ' u f Ihi s p.. in ciple th e gmnd defect which


gi\' e s rll~ 1Il fol' all th ese el'i l ~? 1I11d ca u Ih e


c hu re h eve r ur ise to a ny IOle.. nhl e degrec of


perfecti ou \\, ith oul it? S lIre ly tbis sllhject is


worthy th e 1Il0st se rious co n>! ide rlltiun of 1111


\ vlll) wo uld be, fo'llo we rs of lhe meek und 1011'..-


Iy J esll s. .


Bllt 1I 1lMlYar e d ispose d to inlJ ui re whllt this


new doelr ine is ? like ' ev ery innovation it is


set dOlVn hy sOllie as a fillluticul deillsion. ­'


Vh ut ? shitII we ( lOt resistut a ll? The 8/ 1\' ­iour


cOllll/ I/ lnds li S ( 0 rellisl th e dC\' il ; lind tho


eo nllnOIl O (; llul'utio~ s of Iifi, ca nnot he ea~ rieit


on witholll till'Cll. SlIdl ohjell lions arc IIctU­all


y Irrollgllt filrwu n l ; ulld tlrey sh ow how


g rellt is th e \ V/ l1I1.. f light 011 thi s s ll hjei~ t, lIIHI


how grollt puin s mll st be tali en to make , it un­tlerstoorI.


It wOllld see m lllllt eve ry cUlHlid


mind mll st perceive \ ut first tho ughl, thut it


lIleans 110 ' lIIore nor less lhun relil sing to re­lIIrll


injury to u fellow bein g for injury rec eiv­ed.


, The devil is to be ': esist ed truly, hilt not


hy ph ysicnl violence. We cun n either shoot


nor illlpri~ on him. He is inc? rporeltl. Tho


only way to lesistthis Rllir it is, firm ly alld fiJI' ­ever


to a hstuin from sin: \ V e lise for ce upon


mullel' and inanimate ohject8 ; hut to iufluen ee


moral uge nlS, we appeal to Ih ei r morul fllclIl­tie


s. ' fhe doctrine is hoth philosophical IIl1ll


scriptuful, and should' not he obj ected 10.


Neither sho llid any other doc trine or practice,


NEXT CO ~ F En R N c E.


' Ve regret to ulln oull ee, thut on accon nt or


SOllie un an ticipated itw4" l'lllfienccs, the Qllar­terl


y COll li' rence, which sh ould have tak eu


pl! we on the lust \ Vedl feS\ llIY III ld ' l'hur"" llIy


of tllis IIlOlllh, will he omit/ ed. 1::; 0 we s hllll llo t


Ull: llt iu CO ll liJre lH ~ e till Octuher. ' Ve reCllll­c


ile oursel ves to thi s OIllissi oll , e hh , flv ill CO li ­sidera


lioll of se n~ ra l ill l!' ortlllltl'uh lil; nleet iu gs


10 h" ho ldell in Aug us tlllld S '~ l'le lll 1Je r, wl, ich


IIllr hr etlJren will desire to all elld .


o:: l'" Se vel'llla rt ides, Itmel's , & c, frofll out"


corres pond elJls, illl'm de d till' t bis No. IIua\ ' u id­lIb


ly d'\ ferreu. T he y Sllllll llppcn l' iu our neXI,


COm:: m: UNICATIONS.


a nrl pro claim thi s joyful gosp el to adying, lost


andruined world. . My Dear Sir, ex c use this


lan guu'ge ;, for Illy soul is so filled with , rap­tu


re, ' to think of finding tru e beli ev ers in the


gospel, thut it runs away with my feelings.


I find it is very difficult to obtain any ho oks


conce rui ng th e Rcstitut iou, 0" th e milleuniuru,


I ha ve hy uccid eut found Winch ester's L ec­lures


on th e Prophecie s, lind hi s Dinjogu es. 1


ha ve sent fo.. Paul Seige volk's E verlasting


Gospe l, hut cannot find it a uy wfiere. I


should lik e ({ l ge t son: e such hooks lit nny


price; nud Si r , if you th ink th ey cun he ob­tnln


ed, I should he ghul yon would iuform me


huw.. I also huve been inform ed th at you


so met ime since h"' d a discussion with a min­iste


r' of th e Univ ersalist ord er. If you cnu


sc ud thi s D iscu ssion hy mnil 10 me, I s hou ld


be very thuu kful for it, 1 11111 co nside red ave­r.


y s tra llge bein g hy ull den oruiuati ous of tho


dlly ; Illl I hold fiJ.. th suc h s tnt uge ' doct rinc ,


( for st raug e it is ab uut he.. e), 1 hnve mu ch


0l'po~ ilioll , nlld 1II11lly pu hlic all d p.. ivllte ( Ie­ha


les on certllin po illts, Illor e es peci ally wilh


U ll i l'e "~ lIl i s ts . 1\ ly DellI' Si r, if )' OU will send


lUll all a ns wer on th e receipt o f tb is, you will


co nfe.. u g.. em filvor on a he lie\' cr iv the glo .. i­ou


s go>! pe l uf J esus Ch'.. ist ,


I relllll in with IhlC resp l: ct yo. urs,


J OII: l' J ORDAN.


An ea .. ly rep ly wus mllde to the fo.. eg oillg.


Itnd we t.. IISt our H...\~' ill he lJuco ufllged in the


LonJ.- ED,


Le\ · ercu,. June 4, ] 840.


scribe." Probably 1 shall contribute occa sion­ully


to th e COIUlllIIS of YOllr puper., ' It is my .


heart's desire to see the I'rn cti cul principles of


eluist luuity d ruwu out, ex h ibite d and en forc­ed


: Bow e lse cun men he led to live the di­vine


life? Wilh 1II0st per son s, it seems to file,


th e gos pe l is n . i~ I~ ec t o f~ s l ~ ec u lu l io ll mere ly,


.' It plays round theheud. Lut comes n~ t to the


heart. "


\ Vm. S .. Tild en is U youlI g ship ca rpe ute r,


wh o hus for so me time pust been turnin g hi s


th ou ghts to th e ministry of th e word. He ha s


preach ed . torjue, uud lor most of th e min ist er s


ofthi s Ass ociation, ' and very nccep tahly, or ru­th


er I s ho u ld say very illlp ress ively. lie is


much int er ested in your vie ws of christiulli ty ;


an d if pracri cable we ' s ha ll toge the r uu eud


y uur next , Q11arterly Cu ut erence.


Yours utfecuo ua te ly ,


SA: llm: l. J . rrJ Al'.


• \ Vltt ertown, June 8, 1840'-


1\ 11'. Ball ou : ,


S ir,- I hop e yo u will e xc us e th'e


lih ert y I take ill addressiu g tllCse lin es to you.


And I helieve you will, \ yh eu youure ae qllu iu.


ted ' with th e ohje ct i hav e ill view in writ iug


to y ou, I have been infi) rmed Ih : 1Iyou ur e u


preadlel' of Ihe do ctrine of th e Bill ie, us fiel d,


a nd preacl ; ed hy th e \ Yllrthy aud piou s EIlIlI ­nan


Winch est er.' If lili~ be tru e, 1 IUII'st love


you as a hr oth er, wllitin g fiJI' th e co rn ing of the


Savi our of all lIIen. And Illy Deal' f; l ir , it is


' lilYsince re desire to ' h uve u cOllllll uuieai ion


wi th sOllie true heli el' er ill . Ch rist, th at I IIII'y


ga in s ou le ' llIIow lerlge of things apl' e rtnilli I1g


to his kil lgd llm. I ha ve lut,: ly come to II knowl­ed


ge o f th e trllth, ( wi th in the space of IWO


ye ars ); 111111 sil1l'e, t1ll1 t time, I lIav e felt joy ullII


peace in th e glo riOlis gospe l. I huve Iwen ,


guide d by my God, til nlllhnll: e i:, itS ifhy nc­cid


ent. .. hav e but ol1e tiJilllflll hrother iu


Christ, Wilh whom I a; 1I p er ~ on ItIl Y ' u eqll /{ i n l ­eu


in thi s world; and a lll o lle n led to say " Ill


Elijuh did of old ,-" 1 ollly alll len ." But


blesse~ he God, the spirit s till alJsw ers , " lhel'e


are y~ t seven thol1sa llll thut , ha ve not bowed


the 11IIec to Haal." .


And now, lily Dear Friend, if you al'e a


t~ lIch er se nt fl'o'm God, llnd full y believe his


divine word, it rej oic es my sou l,- and may I


receive un an sw er from you, which will pro ve


thi s to be th e ca se. I bave been informed Ihat


you nre'lIn able advoc ate of th is ever bless ed


d octrille. ] f ihis be s o it rejoices my 80u l e x­ceedingly;


and wby? becllu se it · revives the


hope within m~ tbat through · yOIIl' . in ­strumenuility,


1 shall yet be able tn go f? rth


" ' Ve have s ince rel'ei ved tb e names o f a


good ly IIIll1lbel' of ~ ub~ cribel's li'olll Br, 1\ 1.[ En.


. From allo/ hel' of JUlle 22d:


1\ l y Dear Broth er:


Yours uf the ] 9tlo CIIIIIIl


to hand Sllt ul'duy el'eu iug , 111111 I\ U8 r e Ji'e~ h i u g


to me, 1 wish ollen llllcl' ea rne lltly Ihut I lived


nea r , yo u. I hav e p lways fuund . COIIIlUIIUiou


Wilh yo ur ' so u, l good for IlIilll:, If , IllY dll ties


a t home wi ll permit, I sba ll be Wilh yo u at


tlte Co nlc reuee, llud Br. Tilden will aCCOlllpa­ny


me. Hut I want 10 s it , Iown wi th you


sumewlw re llione, or with on ly one til' tw o


lIlur e, 111111 go overtbe wh ole circle of qu es­tions


which re volve al'ouud C b r i~ t us th e ce u­tr


e, J mlJlll, l to IIC a cOlll ributo l t. o yo ur , co l­Ulllns,


llUlI IInl . · willing yo u shollid suy so if


you wis h. YOUI'll uffecti ontJtely.


SA3IL. J. M AY, .


Dr. Brotb er :


I sincere ly ho'pe yOIl will pro s-lier


in tioisauelllptto diffu se IIIIl priucipl es of


lhe gosp el througb thp darknesS, erro l' alld su­per


sti tion , Ihllt ninv I: overs th e lund to suc h 11Il


Itllll'llli llg d egree , ( th e pr ofessed ch risli lln


_ churc h uot exceped ). It I'., ally ~ eems , 1O IlIe,


th at liS a IIntion our cup of'iniquily is lIearly


full- thnt th ejudgmellls uf God ar e reudy io


hlll'~ t upon ou r guilty himds, unl ess s peel] y


ulld dee,') rep entnnce pre · l'ent. But still tbere


is hope, that the re IIIlly be right eous souls e u ·


ou gh to >! lIve our land; lIt1d rnllY you, Illy 131-.,


, aUfI ~ Ioe little hand of bretlll'en who tlln'e luk- ,


e n th eir s ta nd up on th e Rock, he nlJle tllere to


s tftnd, anrl shcd a light so brill iant, that it may


lJe seen llhove the rag- illg \~ ll V eS of sin Hnd


du rkness, lIIlIl conduct IIll1l1y It care - worn lI1ar­ine


r to th ~ huv en of e tel'lla I rest.


YOllrs ill fi'iendship,


B. ' VILMAR'l'U.


THE PR\ CTICAL CHRISTIAN.


I


THE PRACT- ICAL CHRISTIAN.


EXT RACJS OF LETTERS.


. Having occupiell quite too Inl'l: e a portion of


this worl" thus far , with articles fro m onr own


pen, we che erfully llevot e, what mi ght be con ·


side re rl lhe tditprial ,~ pace oft~ e present No .,


to th e publ ication o f ex tra cls from th e lellet s of


co rres po nde nts ; all whicb we conimend to


the perusal of our readers, not doubting Ih at


Ihey will filid th e'same both pleasing and flrof­itable


to the soul.


Sonth S cituate, Ma y 22 , 1840 .


1\ 1yD eliI' Brother.


T o- oay has hronght me


th e 211 No. ofyuur Practical Christiun. Yon


kn ow 100 well my inter est in YOllr views lind


purposes to suspect that my" sile nce since th e


uppearance of your ] Sl No. was owing to any


indiffer en ce to your suc cess. 1 huve' COlll­mended


your pllp er to not a fe\", and several


h nve e n co u rage(~ me to hope they will suh-faithful


Ahraham, who for th e , t rial of Ii~


fuith WIlS commanded to sac rifice hi s OIly


son I saa c, a nd th en Was conunande d, for wi: e


and gooc, l reasoiis, to s pnre him. " L et us le


faithful lik e Abraham j but let us not imn gi: e


that we a re command ed to do the \' ory SMl~


outward uet s ; neither let u. s arraign th e ,\ I ·


migh ty lit o ur impotent bur for ha ving can­manded


a nd forb idd en th e same act s unt er


differ ent ci rcumstances. He wasalike wise uid


I


good iu both requirements, as he ulways is; in


all his d ealings and judgments, fi'orll e ver lest­ing


to everla sring . ,


But some will ask perhaps, why God 4ili


nut I: eveal all he ev er intended 10 at once, with


pe rfect clearness and certu inty, instead of gi l"


ing first 1I preparatory, and nfierw ards a , t:. f)~ i­pl


ete revelation, A lthough suc h qu estions Ire


so me times pr op ounded with greu t assuran ce ,


lh ll)' seem to me t ' l he extre uiely imperlin Oli,


j ust uhout as ch ildish as tei ask: Why clues I'ot


Gu d clIuse e very I\ lIlU to sflri ng iuto tp: i ~ te lce


full grown? why d oes he not bring on hun'est


witho ut see d time? ' Vhy not pl'o du ce e ~ .. ' y


creu lu re of all gen er atiou s III ollce ? Why liot


order tb ings so th at Si r Isa ae NewtlllJ Ulld


Lord Bnl: ou , s ho uld huv e kn own as lIIuch at


three years old as ut fiJrly ? Why not have it


noon at sunr ise? ' Vh)' , so order th inS:: Jllllt


th er e . sh uul d I:\' e r he IIny c h'mge, IIny I'llr ia; y,


lIny growth , any pr ogr e''', ally impro vc llle lltllt


all ? I an sl \' er th e whole ouce ti,,' all,- lle­CUUBe


he kn ew beller holV to pr om ote th e IIl! p ­pines>!


of his IIl1 ivnrSll. " Even, so F'al he r ; for


so it seeme'd goo d in Ihy sight." -


I con c lllllc hy obsel'\; illg, th at if, as hqs heen


' lllainta incd , th e a ut hority uf the New , T esln- ,


me nt su per sedes ihat oftlie O ld on nil q'ues­tiuns


of do ctrin e a nd moruls, 110 rcli gious


t" ncher or reason er has I{ r ight to quote th e Uid


T estnmellt ill su pport of IIny d oct rine 01' flrnc­lice


in cou si stent with the christian revelation.


It is not at ullllncoullllon to find men resurlin g,


in de li! l1ce ofSlime error or s in, to th e Old T ell­tament,


quite regar, gless of the New, allli d ~ ­rnan


ding th e admiss ion of iii II weight to tlleil'


proofs, on the gro un d th at tlley have tnllen/ it


Ii'om th e Bible. " 0 ," slIY IlIe}', " the, nti ~ l e


tell(; h es us thul! alld so. You bel iev e th e Bi­hie,


I trust." In th is munller truth is tr odd en


I .


Ullder foot,- und iniquity eilher just ified, or


excused, hy a IlIl1l1 ilestli lluse lind perv er sion of


div ine I'el · eiati on . . The Bihle is ne\' el' mor e


olllmged on ll insulted, thu l; wh en it is shufflell


logeth er ( l ike u pllck of curd ~ in th e h nnd ~ of H


flrel end ed fo rtl. ln ete lJer ) unll lIIalle to s; IY whllt


u sop his t wish es, without regnrd , to , the rela ·


tive pusition and au th ori ty of its se\' ernl l'" rts,


Neitlle r it5 enemies. no l', its fri elllls CUll do it a


gr eater iujury', Let it he our s tndy not to


wulk in craftiness, not to handle th e- wOrll of


God tleceitfully, not to cll llfilllnd thin gs which ,


arellislillct, not to use th e s,', ril' lures Olll of


plac e , hut rightly to dil'ide th e word of tr uth,


tllllt we may all rec eiv e a portion in dll e llea­so


n, nnd he made wi~ e nlllo salvalion ., T o


th is ell, I, let { IS ~ I n i l y search th e scri ptures,


like th e cnudi ll Ber enll s of old , with ' ea rnest


pl'ayel' to God lor th e light of his s pi rit, alld


wi th a firm ' I'esolu tion tlllIt we will heli eve and


obey what evi den tly appears to be d ivine lruth


IIII! I duty. By ~ u ch I'n~ ulls mn y we all oll all y


alluinto th e full fruition of elern81 Iife ' in th e


' hlessed llin gd olll of our Lord Jesu s Christ, •


2'~


he1II0y alone time I'f. quire, and at another for.


bid, the same 8{~ tS , whh th e same hol y des ign,


8n, 1 consistently with his own uuchaugeuble


fnora l perfections,


BUl it. will be ask ed - ClAre t'; e Q-! mlamental


prlncipl es of the div in e 111\\ 1 und go ve rn me nt


th e sa me in the Old alld New ' I'estarneut- c- is


th eir splrit the slime ?" ' 1 answer, yes. sh e very


same. It is oul y the letier, th e details, and th e


extem al form, that differ. Fundamental princl ­pies


continue foreverthe same., Look III the ten


c oma ndrne nts, and th e two in wh ich the tena re


briefly comprehende d. Look at them and see if


th ey do not bear th e impress of'immutuhility.


Look again" allli se e if J esu s Chrisr in the gos­pel


tak es away on e jot or tittle from them , S ee


if he ' does 1101 rlevelope allll cu rr y th em OUlto


perfection . But you qu ote me certnin llilrli c­ular


comma udments , which requ ired th e th en


people of God 10 pu n ish , kill and dest roy wick ­ed


nIHU. The, e nre not primary, pen UIlIll: ut


comlllllnlh uc nts, hu t oll ly llcea sion ul, iu ~ icl elllal


re quire lJlellts, T hey do not helong to th e IIn­changeahle


d e c lll og lll~ ; th ey we re special, / rm­pomry


d irec tiolls , Ildllpted 10 liarticll lllr lim es


mill l'i rClllJIsta uces. ' T his is th ei r ehlll'llllter.


Clln we lll\' cstlhclJI wilh nil th e uuthurityof


p rilJlnry" fillldlllllen la'l, u lliv,: rsa l laws? By no


me alls. T hey hecllme ohsolcle with th e pe eu- "


. Iillr l i, lles and cimumslIlIIces \ vh ich clllled


them forth . No w liS God . lIlone is eOlllpetelll


to detennin e the filll e~~ o fsueh ,~ p ceilll req llir­melJlS


to tinl e nllll, ci reu lJlsfnnce, it is nol left


wi th man tn j udge, li e \ lIay uot p resume to


lIpply parliclli ur locnl lelJlp orm: y reqll i r~ nr e llt s


to hi lllse lf, 011 the grollllll thnt God alice ap­pl


ie, l them to the Pa lri urch s, l\ 1os e~ , Sn lllui, 1


Itnd the Prophets. lI e mU, st ncilw nJ cl o~ cly to


th e gre llt primary, fi llld a m elHal, ull iv e r~ a ll uw s


of God. Hen ce, if solll e zeal olls cl. ll\ lIll'ioll of


C hr istian ity s ho llid III tack Allner K ileeland ,


allll hew him in pi eces with a swrm ); it ;" ; lul. 1


not he a slIffici ellt jll stifica tion ofhi s blll e her}' ;


tbnt he could quole the case of Sallluel hew­ing


Agng in pieces, nOI e l'e n ifKneelnnd were


' 11 wor se man than 0111 Agng. Il i~ very true


, that God onc e ' made use of his servu llts to


pl\ \ l i ~ h and Ilest r" y lh e wicked ill th is wo r ld .


There is no d ouhttbal those iudividuuls aud


luuions whom he cOOllllnnde d hi s people thus


to punish uud dest1' lJy were preemill entl y . Ie­llervi


uH' e ver}' e\' il iufl icted up un them . ' fhe


e no rmity DlIlI nggrn \' a tiou of th eir w ickm l lle~ s


b ecllm e intolerahle. Jf God hllli pnnish ed


them by fir e , wuter, earthqu a ke, ' p estil en ce, or


- nny oth er nrituralmenns, pro bahl y few wOllld


ever huv e qu est ion ed the rect illld e or pr opriety ,


of hi s jlldgnll'lIts, Bnt sillce he IIlnde nRe of


his chosen flf'opl e to ,10 th is wo r!", the cllse is


d eemed perplexing. ll en ce , llIan y co nc lude


t~ i t he r t hilt he hilS hee n belied by tb ose who


flilltheir own lDill in his · nallle, or e lse thut he


d id a ~ reat wrong, or else th nt it is uow righ t fOl'


h is professed people to ,10 th e sa ln': things. I


see no good reason for eit he r of th ese con clu ­sions.


They ar e all fim: ed. Let three poin ts


h e grunted, allli all is clenr; viz, ] , Thnt Hod


has II right to illluish th e guilty , whet her lIa­tiOIlS,


or iudividlllll s, as ' he sees tit. 2, That


th ose nations and individ ua ls, s Jloke n of in


tb e Old T estument as suhjllcte d to death lind


destruclion hy th e hands of God ' s peoJlle,


wer e re a lly deserving ofsllc h inflict ions. Alld


3, that th e ' ge nera l di sp ensation und er which


the Patriur ch s, Prophets & c. lived was tem­porul"


y, ad apte< l to Ii barharous age oCthe wod d,


and wnsintend ed as preparatory to a llIore


glorious disp ellsation . Now I cons ider ~ hese


points sell led beyolld 1' lItionai co ntroversy.


And ifso, surely we need conclncle, neither


thftt God hns been belied hy his own professed '


people; nor that he f! i, llDrOlfg in hi s require­ments


under those p oculiar circ umsta nces' j


nor y et thnt it is now right for chr istians, under


their more glorious di sp ellsatlon, to fighl, kill


and maim tbeir widled fellow men . If th ey


are sllre God has specially directed them to do


th ese works of blood and deatt; , let Ihem by


a ll means y bey him! bllt ' not on the mere


ground · that good men, three thousnnd yea rs


a go, nmid the darkness and harbdri sni ofre- ­I\


lo! e ages, ~ e re sOliJetimes spec ia lly com­mnnded


to do so. The Darkness is past, lind


the true light now shineth, which lighte th


ev ery lIlallthat com eth into th e world . Let


us read and profit by the'records of anci ent


times, bllt tak e th e ru les of our elmy from


Him by whom GOII hath in th es e last times


spoke n unto th e world . - It is good to read of

Page 22 from Volume 1 of The Practical Christian 1840-1841

Ballou, Adin

1840