This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for C. NASHVILLE: W. H. DUNN, Publisher. 1838. THE BAPTIST. This Gospel of the kingdom sha'l b› preached in all the world, for a wie ness u to all nations." VOL. IV. NASHVILLE, JANUARY, 1838. TO THE PATRONS OF THE BAPTIST. Brethren and Friends: NO. 1. •The providence of God has, unexpectedly, placed me before you, again, as the Editor of The Baptist. Brother Lyon, who presided over its columns during the year just closed, has, as you learned from the last paper, retired. I have found it impracticable to obtain the services of another, suitably qualified, to take his place. You will a'l, I am confident, agree with me in the conviction, that The Baptist is of indispensable importance, at present, to the cause in Tennessee, and the South West. It ought not to be, and must not be, abandoned. Deeply impressed with the necessity of such a work, I labored two years, assiduously, without pecuniary remuneration, to originate and establish it upon a permanent footing. When I had, as I supposed, succeeded in my enterprise, I placed it under the guidance of my friend and brother, whom I commended to the blessing of God. and to your kindness, and took my leave, officially, cherishing the hope that the paper could then proceed, and, with the divine favor, accomplish the designs of its friends without further sacritices from me. The existing crisis, however, presented before me the alternative, either to see this little bark, launched under auspices so favorable, founder in the flood, or again to take my stand at the wheel. I could not long hesitate, which to choose. I am pleased, I confess, with the duties of an Editor. I should take reat pleasure in their performance, if I could command a sufficient amount of time to do justice to the subjects discussed. But this I cannot do. The numerous and pre-sing obligations connected with my beloved charge in Nashville, and my relations with the State Convention, the Ministerial Conference, the Bible Association, and the interests of the Church generally, devolve upon me an amount of labor fully equal to all my powers. Still, a sense of duty forbids me to see The Baptist go down; and I add this, also to the load already on my own shoulders. I will, relying upon God for his aid and blessing, do the best I can under the unfavorable circumstances in which I am placed. I ask the prayers and co-operation of all those throughout our country generally, and the South West particularly, who love our Lord Jesus Christ, and desire to see truth and holiness prevail in every part of our fallen world. And I trust it will not be considered out of place here to say, that if, at any time, The Baptist shall appear dull and uninteresting, and the work, in any respect, fail to reach the summit of excellence desired by its friends, I shall expect to find a sufficient apology, in the facts I have stated, for every defi ciency. ers, The Baptist will continue to advocate the principles it has heretofore avowed and maintained. What they are, I need not, at this late period, enumerate. They have been before you for the three years last past. I have not changed my ground in any particular. My position was taken, deliberately, sixteen years ago, after protracted investigation, and earnest prayer to God for direction. It cannot be expected, therefore, that I shall be blown about, as some othby every wind of doctrine. I have been, from the beginning, still am, and ever expect to remain, a Baptist of the "Old School." I do not mean, by this, that I believe in the mummeries gotten up within the last twenty years, mainly by the agency of the noted Parker of "two seed" memory, and dubbed, for effect, with this name, now so rife in Tennessee. No-far from it. The Parkerism, Campbellism, Mormonism, anti-effortism, antinomianism, and every other similar fantasy, which has originated, or been maintained, by wrong-headed enthusiasts, in Tennessee, or elsewhere, whether through ignorance, from motives of interest or ambition, or because their imagination has gotten the better of their judgment, and their religion, I totally repudiate. I cannot consent to follow any of these fables, however cunningly devised. I adopt in good faith, and to the utmost extent, the noble aphorism of the learned Chillingworth"The Bible, the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants." Whatever is not revealed in the Bible, I shall never regard as a religious obligation; but the will of God there made known, I receive in the love of it, practise in the spirit of submission and reverence, and shall advocate to the extent of the ability with which I have been endowed by my heav enly Father. A few years ago the Tennessee Church was like the Dead Sea, still and silent. Only here and there a ripple was to be seen. No tempest lashed its billows, but neither did it bear upon its bosom a single bark freighted with the rich treasure of the Gospel to bless the poor and the destitute. But the scene is now changed. We have renewed proof that where the true Go-pel is preached the ignorance and bigotry which drive en into antieffortisin, fly before it like the shadows of night before the rising sun. We have reason for the profoundest gratitude to God for the demonstration that truth will prevail, where there are honest hearts, in despite of all the demagogueism in the Church and out of it. The Captain of our salvation has said to his ministers, "Speak unto the people that they go forward." They are publishing the word. The camp of Israel is up, and ready to move. Many, it is true, will not rise from their couches; some crying, "A little more sleep, a little more slumber, a little more folding of the arms together in sleep"--and others storming, and denouncing us, because we have disturbed their dreams; but the ark is upon the shoulders of the Le vites, the banners of the tribes are floating in the breeze. the clangor of the silver trumpet is heard sounding the march, and the sacramental host of God's elect" are moving for ward, and they will leave, if they must, the angry, the disaf fected, and the loiterers behind them, in the deserted plains. I think I may congratulate my brethren, and the friends of truth generally, upon the improving prospects that surround us. I trust that the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land." I take great pleasure in announcing to you that the present prosperity of the Baptist State Convention is unparalleled by any former period. We have three Agents, one for each division of the State, and numerous missionaries among the destitute, all of whom are in the field, and from them all our information is flattering. The cause of education gen crally, and ministerial improvement particularly, are rapidly gaining friend. A College, at Paris, has recently been chartered by the Legislature. Several other schools of a high order, and for both sexes, are in progress and contem plated. About a dozen young ministers, some in Nashville, some in other parts of the State, and some in distant semina |