Gospel Herald, 1859-08-20

              SPEL HERAI
De^voted to Oliristiarrity, Morality, the interests of Sfibbtitli Schools, Social Improvercient, Tempei-ance, Bducation, and. General News.
"BEHOLD,   I   BRING   YOU   GOOD   TIDINGS   OE   GEIAT   JOT ....  ON   EARTH   PEACE,   GOOD   WILL   TOWARD   MEN.'
VOL. 16.
DAYTON, 0., SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1859.
NO. 16.
ORIGINAL POETRY.
WriUenfor'Oie Goapel Ha-ald.
Lines on the deatli of Bro. J. Philips.
Come aid ?.ie lioavonly inuae, insiiire my tongue to toll.
Of one that was moat iovuly, yet by discaBes fell; Four yiKirs ago iu triumph, ho bid thia world adieu. Yet left -without a titruggle, for heaven apijeared in view.
His father early settled ami hore a nohle part,
With Alleu'b hardy pioneers, with head aud hands and
heart; He was a man of honor, fnigality and truth, Of energy and entorpriae, o'en from hia early youth
The showcra of heaven doBconded, hia fields abundant bore, His crjbfi and barns were crowded, till thoy could bold no
And evoryUiing seamed fruitful except the human heart, Which did not bow to Jqbhb nor chouse the better part.
Yet John had lived a christian and like a ohristian died, Exhorting with deep fervour tboae standing by his side, From tather and from mother a promiac must he given ; !ProB3 brothers and from sisters, to moot that child in heaven.
Tbat solemn pledge we trust will never he forgot, And for that aged parent wo have a solomn thought; Like him who now is writing thy head is silvered o'er, A hands-breadth or a moment and you'll bo no more.
I pray hia dying couuEel may sound within thy e^-Vj "When even Khade^'s departing or morning rays appear; I pray it may be carried in every gentle gale, That blows across the landscape or throngh tho lonely vale.
Should evil spiriU tompt you yet longer to delay, Before you how to Jesus and to your Maker pray; Eomember tiien the counaol that by your child was given, Also the solujiiu promise to meet the lov'd in heaven.
ORIGINALITIES.
Written for the Gospel Herald.
"The Sabbatii."
BY aUNESEE.
Bro. Ellis :—Under the above cap¬ tion I notice an article (in the Gospel. Herald So. 6, ¦p'A.ge 5,) which I think ia worthy ofa passing notice^—at least it seems so to my mind—living as I do, within tbe influence of a people who eonrioct the keeping ofthe seventh day ofthe week with salvation; and taking a different view of the matter myself, the article alluded to would seem rath¬ er to strcnthen my opponents views. After reading and revolving the sub¬ jeot through my mind, I thought by your permission, I would offer a few thoughts, which, (if you th ink proper,) you can insert in yoiir excellent paper. I wish it understood, however, that what I may write is not for controver¬ sy, but for truth and in hopes of elicit¬ ing abler pens.
Sow allow me to quote one passage from the article under consideration:
"Our observance therefore of Sunday, as a SabbaUi, stands neither upon di¬ vine authority, ancient custom, or apos¬ tolic sanction; but ia purely accident¬ al;" again, '^The Sabbath was kept for several hundred years on the seventh day." The above sentiments seem to cross tho track of history somewhat If we have no better aatboritj'- than the "Eoman religion," or mere accident for making a reat-day of Sundaj'-, would it not be bettor to return to the Di vinely appointed time, and keep the seventh day?
Bat whal saith history? We quote Since thou, there was such a variety m the ritual and diciplineofthe primitive churcheSjit must be difficult to give siteh an .account of.the worship, manners, and institutions of ancient christianB,a8 will agree with what was practiced m all thos3 countries ."where the Gospel
flourished. Th ere are notwithstanding certain laws whose authority and obli¬ gation were universal and indispensa¬ ble amongst christians; and of these we shall here give a brief account. All Christians were unanimous in setting apart the first daj^ ofthe week on which the triumphant Savior arose from the dead, for tho celebration of religious worshij). This pious custom which was derived from the example of the church at Jerusalem, was founded upon the exjircBS appointment of theapostks who coBsecrated that day to the same sacred purpose, and was observed uni¬ versally throughout all the christian churches, as appears by the united tes¬ timony of the most credible writers. The seventh day of tho week was also observed, not by the christians in gen¬ eral, but by such churches only as wei'e principally comprised of Jewish coh- verts. (Mosheim's church history, page 27.) If Dr. Mosheim is correct, the ob¬ servance of tho first, and the non-ob¬ servance of the seventh day, was of ear¬ ly origin. Again the Sabbath "chang¬ ed by the authority ofthe Apostles to tbe first day of the week." ('Religious Encyclopedia page 1038.)
We might add to these aud likcpaa- sagee, in the language of Moslieim, the testimony of the most creditable writ¬ ers, in support of the change—^bwt it would make our article too long. We will close therefore, by offeriug a few arguments in favor of the Lord's day, as a Christian Sabbath.
Ist. On this day, Christ arose from the dead, and brought life and immor¬ tality to light through the trospel. On this fact hangs the whole superstruct¬ ure ofthe christiaTi religion. Paul s.ay8, "if Christ be not risen ii-om the dead, then is our preaching vain, your faith is vain also, ye arc yet in your sins, and we arc found false witnesses," &c. These facts make this a great day; and in keeping of it aright, wo honor Christ. God haa designed that all men should honor the Son,. In honoring him, we honor the Eather. Surely aro wo just¬ ifiable in making a rest-day of the Lord's day, thereby showing our fiiith in the creation and redemption of man.
2d. Experience, as well as the word of God, proves it good to spend one Boventb portion of tho time in serving God. This fact being established, the qucstioft is, which seventh shall beded- icated to God. Ihe first.,—Ahei offer¬ ed the first of the flock, and God ac¬ cepted the offering;—Christians live by faith and not by "Right;—let ua there¬ fore offer unto God the first of our labor. We are not arguing tho destruction of the law ,but simply a change. "For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change in tho law. Eor the law made nothing perfect, but the bunging m ofa better hope did "
T^iittenjgr Ihe Gofrp I Herald
Christ made Plesli. ,{
	
BY T   WniTM IA
Bfotatr EiiLis —Sot longsincejiib- tened to a sermon on the sutferm^ And death of Chi ist, which was said to be the SGutimont'i of the christian chyrch, denominationally, but rt did notjinglo just right to me' The propositions as¬ sumed wore as follows
1st That the Ditme Son of God which was with the Father before the worlds weie, bywbom theworldftweri
made, in order for him to become a sac¬ rifice for the sins of a ruined world, was made literal Flesh.
2d. And he become a physical being entirely.
3rd. This was Essential in order for him to die a physical death.
4tli. And when ho died the whole Christ went to the grave.
5th. And remained there for three days and nights (in a state of uneon- tiousnesB.)
Ml- Editor, if those are our sentiments as a donomination, I must confess I have not thus understood them. I will, now offer a few reiison.s why I do not endorse the theology embodied in the above propositions;
1st. Was the only begotten son of Grod who had an existence with the Fa¬ ther before the worlds were and by whom all things were created,—that aro in heaven and on earth—who- sus¬ tained a higher relation to God bis fa¬ ther, than any morning star, or any son of God, or cherub of glory, through all immensity—was he mado literal flesh? If he was he became a mortal being— if a mortal being then wo have a mor-' tal sacrifice. This would be Socinian- ism, or the lowest grade of humantari- anism. I do not believe in a human sacrifice. There is a distinction kept up in tho scriptures between Christ and thcbody that was prepared for him..i torn. 1 chap. 3, 4:, "concering Ma son, Jesus Christ our Lord, which was mado of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to he the son of God, with power according to tho spirit of hiDli- nesa." That body whieh was of the seed of David is not the only begotten son which is iu the text said tobe his son with power according to the spiriit of holiness. Therefore,.theDivine son of God was not made literal flesh. Again Heb. 10, 5. "Sacrifice and offering thqu wouldst not, bat a body hast thoiipre- pared me."
In this text there arc three things to be noticed by the reader r first the "me" that is speaking: second, the "thou," that is addressed, third, the "body" that is prepared for the "me." If there is meaning in language thi,s text shows that the me, was not the body that was prepared. Then instead of Christ be hig mado flesh in the full acceptation of this term, a body was prepared for him Then that body could not bo, the Christ for whom it was prepared. Therefore, Christ was not litarally made flesh, but took upon hirn that body that was pre pared for him by his l^^ather. Again 1st. John 4, 2, ".Every flpirjt that con fesseth that Jesus Christ came in tht flesh, is of God."
This text don't say that every spirit that confesscth that Jesus Christ was made flesh is of (lod Again Ilcb 2 li, "For asmiich then pb the ehildrei iuo partakers of fle&h and blood, he al Bo^hnuholf likewiR«>^took part ofthe >a,me " How did Christ take pait of tho/arne" answrr,—In hiB miraculous conception h\ the Holy Gho&i Then "himselt' that took apart of flesh and blooil, "vvas not that part of flesh and blood which ho took a part of Or again, verse 16 For verily lie look not on liim tho nature of angels b«t the seed oi Abraham That seed^of Ibrahim which Christ took upon him could not be that Christ whieh took it n him.
Then Christ was not made the seed of Abraham.
Again, 2 John, 1, chap. 7: "For ma¬ ny deceivers aro entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is eome in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an anti-Christ. Then if Christ came in flesh, he conld not be that flesh , ho came in; Again: 1, Peter, 4,1, "For¬ asmuch then as Christ hath suffered foi;¦ us in the fleah. If Christ suffered in the flesh then the flesh did not suflTer alone, but the Divno son of God. That Christ wMeh had glory -with his father before the worlds wero, who was with tho church in the wilderness became the-soul and real sufferer in that body. Tliese plain declarations of scripture show in wliat sense the Pagos or word was made flesh according to St. John 1, 14. Pleader you will discover that we have a .sacrifice, higher than men or angels., Iflamrtst right thieolog- ically I wish some abler pen would net me right.
" WriUenfor Che Gospel Serald.
How are we to Regard Christ in Re¬ spect to Qiir Salvation ?
  1 ooii. 1: 30
BY J. L.  TOWNER.
Man is^ a physical, intellectual and moral being. He was created upright or perfect. In his creation God pro¬ nounced him, aa all things else, "weri/ gosd." Evidently God designed the proper dii'ection of all tho faculties.— Si'n then, is the a.bu.?e of. them. Tho first thing that developes in the child, is the animal; then the intellectual; then the moral. None of these are sinful in themselves, As laws or rules are necessary to ai good mechanic, so law.s or rules are a necessity to the jH'ojcr developement of man's na¬ ture. Adam and Eve were placed im the garden, surrounded with all tho isources of essential happiness and complete developement. They failed. They did not partako of the tree of life. From tliem our race has flown in a stream of mortality. Like them, in many respects, we find ourselves in a world of variety ;—virtue and vice, truth and error, light and shade, joy and sorrow, ease and pain, niisery and comfort, life and death—all are parts of God's groat plan for man.'s ultimate enjoyment and perfection. Froii'our present observatory wo look back Wer the period of ages, and we behoId:two Adams—the one is " of the earth, earthy," from whom flows all that'per- tains to an e.arthly life;—:the other is the "Loi-d from heaven," from whonii flows all that pertains to an heavenly .existence—to ¦ennoble the x-ace, and immortaliM) a human being. And hence the xipostolieal instruction, "If ye live to the flesh, yo shall dir,"—die physically, iirtelleitually and morally
But if ye nioitify tho deeds of the body ye bhall hve, '—live to youi selves, to others, and to God Moses -(vas faithful m all hi=i house, but it was not a spii'itual house .(osuua couhl load tho people mto the land of promiso but not give them rv,i~t, Rut Christ caa bestow both rest and eternal hie. He accomplishes a t^vo lold woik, a moral aud physaal ri.'iurucxKiu 'in the accom])lnh!ncnt of those, theic aro seveial things done tor us, and several things we do foi oursehts, llirough his duectiou    Ho somn toe seed-—'i^is