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OM H n

Ttje Fourllj Unqiversary of llie Openiiig of Ibe Spriqg Garden i{oad {tome
of the First Baptist Giiurcti, Halifax, N. S.,

LORD'S DAY, APRIL 12, 1S91.

Have we a Mission ? Are the Baptists needed to-day ?

ADDRESS BY THE PASTOR, HENRY F. ADAMS.

A cliiucli 111' .Icsus Cluisi, is M visililo society <il' Ix'licvci-s, imiit'd Inr tlic iJiirpusi' nT |]rnmiiliiiu- ilirii' own <_nowili
ill <ri'iii;(' i\n<l pcisoiiMl holiness, miiiiitiiiiiiiii; tlic oriliiiiiiu'iv (if tlii' ^'()s|ifl. iiiiil cxtfiiiliim- tlic kiniiildiii of .lisus < 'in ist
ill tlicc.iitli. Tiic liiidy uf cliristiiiiis wlin iiifct in tliis nuilii'iu'c rimni t(Mliiy. mssmiih' to lie sncii, iiccuiiJiMi: Id tlic
lOiicliii)}; nf tlic New 'i'cstiinicni. Doiilitlcss most oi' ynn iirc riiniiiiiir with the oiiirin, ci-avth mikI toiin;iti(Hi ot the
First I'Mptisl ('linrch. as iiiiiiatiMl hy Dr. E. M. SmuihIci-s, Th.it was ii happy day lor Hniil'a.x, when Lord DidlKMisic's
Cliiiplaiii |iro("lailiied the irlorioiis lio.'Jpcl ol the hlessed (iod hi-re. He was at least to one "a liiiLihl and shiniiiL'
light." for thi'oniih his preach inij .h'siis " the power of tiod. and the wisdom of (iod. " ^^l■. .1. T. TwininLr, M 'iir.-iic ,,1'
St. I'anl's) was hrouirht into the iilierty of tlie Lrospel. As a natural consci|neiuc of his conversion. Mr. Twiiiii'.ir
pleached the same jj;ospel. and throiiy:h his [ircachiii;^. the ji;os|)cl jirovcd to he the power of (iod nnto salvation, unto
many that hclievcd Mcintj iiroliahly jcalmis of the urowini; popularity of his converted Curate, the Kcctor, ^^l•.
Iiifliis, dismissed Mr. 'rwininir fn in his service. Xoik can wonder th.it most of the reirular attendants .it St I'aiiTs si
far symiiathiseii with Mr. Twiiiiiiu. as to follow him. Aftei a hiicf consultation, he ;nid they decided to ciiirairc a
luiilding where they could woishi]! (ioil according to their coii.>!cicnce. and have the irospel preached in its piirilv.
The telii|ioiai\ slriii'tlire heiiiuovcr-flciwcd with cargcr listeners, the .secoders coiiimeiiced to erect tor themscUes a
pcrniaiK'iit hoiiie. This oliject was reached in the erection of thi' (iiaiiville street <;ha|)ei,at a ciist of si 1,250. Most of
the aeeeilers returnintr to St. Paul's, hefore the huildiiiu: was linished. It was purchased hy those wi,,, had
liecome convinced that iJaiitisiii hy imiiiersion was the only scriptural niotle. and helievcis the proper siihiects. ( )i the
'arge miiiiher who originally came out from St. I'aiirs, oiil\ ahoiit twenty stayed out. part of whom were the consti-
tuent mcmhi is of this Baptist i'hiirch. , I.

-The Uird's Day oi Septemhei%otii 1827, was a' great day, for it was the hirtliday of the Granville Street Baptist
Church. Ill tlie morning Profeaeor piiuse, of Newton Tlieolo{!;ipfll Semin.iry, haptined .six believers in the BeHtord
Basin, wliich was a most solemn and impressive «cene. In the afternoon, 'the hiiilding erected hy the secedert* and
linislied by the baptised portion, was opened for the first time for public worship. This first pnblio meeting was the
recognition service of the new Baptist Church, consisting of 16 persons. Prof. Chase, reprt«enting the American
Baptists, extended the liand of fellowship to Dr. Lewis .lohnson, who represented all the members of the Churcli.

Fr(ini that day onward, the new and small church had evident tokens of the divine approval, that the right step
had been taken in tlie lormation of a churcii after the pattern of the New Testament, and one week after the recogni-
tion service, the cliurch met to ordain a Pastor and Deacons. From tlie first day, the Lord sealeil the truth
proclaimt^l, siails were saved antl added to the church, cliiistian character was built up. and the developoient of the
energies of the members secured. A Sabbath School for instruction in the word of God, attende<l hv old and
young, was vigonuisly carried on. This young church gave birth to the most effective form of Home Mission work
which has since grown into its present .•<troiig aii<l inter-iirovincial character. Foreign Mis,sions also have ever had a.
large place in the church's benevolence, wliich iias been also practically illustrated in the connecration to tlie work of
Mi« DeVVo'f and M!!»« Wianlit. members of this cliurch. To tli- talent and inHuence of thii^ church, thedeuniniuation
is indebt(>d lor the founding and nian.igement of tlu; "Ohmlian MesKeniier" which for maiiy yeiirs h(!l(i a prominent
place in the cbiistinn jourimlieihi of tiie provinces We could m-cupy a large space in sketchini; the birth and growth
of our bel.ived and honored Acadia College, to which has been devoted much of tlie thought, lime and moiiev ol the
nieniliers of this chiuc.ii. ,. ' , <

Last but not luilsfj^we wvv'd m<. ''-^n th, f,-,;.. i.io:i .. ilu' Noriiiuil l/.utiii.)iitli chu: he*, o,' which this (diiireh
is I ne liioilier ; she also aided in toimding the " Baptist Hook Room."

For ueiiiiy sixty Ncars ihc^ church worshipped in the old stone building on (irauville Street, where amidst storm
anil sunshine, sometimes within and son. etimes without, she accomplished a <;oo(l work for (ioci and bnmaiiit v, the
fruits of wliicli we enjoy li -day. Many have been the changes through which the church has passed, yet, she has not
swerved in her lidelit> to the doctrines of grace, nor departed from the .New 'reslanii nl church polity esponsr'd bv its
founders

The extensicMi ot the city staith and west, made it necessary in the judgment of the cli;irch to occupy a more
i'eiilral position in ordiT to reiudi a wider constituency, and thus increase its usefulness. X\\v first step towards this
end was laki'ii in 1S70, when the grouinl was purchased on wdiich this building stands. Then after a few years tb«
vestry was erected, and linally this spacious and handsome liouse of worship was begun in 18H6, ainl completed in i><S7.

The 1i»tal expenditure ainiKHit* to i54^.o:^l.OO. ('out of the I -and SS.^Hq.oo. ("osl of the Vestry sH.ooo.oo. Cost

of tin' AiidieiKH' Hnoni ?i •6, 096.1)0. Cost of tlu' ()r<;im 52.300. T'ost of Pnlpit mid otlier Fiirnisliinjjs 51,250.00. Grand
total 543,0^1.90. Piiid ;?3o,93i.90. Jifiiving ii dolit to dny of 5' -,100.00.

Wlien this House occupied in April, 1887, tiiore wtis a mortgage on the whole of 515,000.00. On the lirst day of
()ct((h('r of the three following years, 1880, 1H89, 1S90. 51,000.00 were paid, and it ouglit to l)e the very lowest aim of
this coiigregation to do the same every year till the whole mortgage is cleared oil".

In order to aeeomplisli this very desirahle end, it is necessary that we raise $250 every quarter, and this caHnot he
done unless we contnhute systematically, a given sum a(!e()rding to our ahility. Are we equal to the task? I.s tliis
congregation linancnally aiile lo carry out this proposition ? 1 do not think that thi're is any douht iss to oiU' ahility,
and I cannot question our willingness. Ac(|uaintance with a very little of yom- history, convinces me that wlien a need
lias heen demonstrated as right, reasonahlc, and attainatile. you liave ever heen willing to undertake its accomplishment.
It is certainly scri|)tuial for a church or a christian to '"owe no man anything," it therefore ust he a right thing to jiay
oH'this delil. As a matter of commerce it is not the hest policy to pay 5600.00 a year interest, if tliat sum could hi^
devuteil lo heuev ilent purposes. .\nd it is crrtainly reasonai)le tiiat we shouM undertake to<lo that which we aie ahle
to ac(Mimpiisli. 'I'herelore 1 ask you to study the following propositions. ■

1 am not fnify aci|Uiiiiited with the 'iaiieial ahility of all wiio compose this congregation, hut I l)eli(>vt' f am sah'
ill sayinu that the lollowing division of eonlrihutors is within a j)o.ssihility :

foN'rUllUToliS

In
U)

t^rAliTKHI-Y AMOINT.
520.00

IC.OO

5.o<}
2.50
1.60

qrAUTl'.Kl.Y AOOHIOdATI

5 1 oo.ocj
50.no
50.00
25.00
I 5.00
10.00

52.5o.GO

r think that .some such easy and systematic plan for reducing our deht. is called for to-day, in the place of an
occasional spasmo(lic effort, in the form of a Bazaar, ("oncert. &c. I iisk the ladies of this congregation, ' would you
not pn.'fer to give one dollar, (a- 5<j cents a (piarter regulnrly, than make an occasional huge effort in the form of a sah;
or Bazaar?" Of course this plan is simply propositive, and is suhmitted as tiie lietter one in my humhle judgment. If
yiai have oiu' that is lietter and more in liarinony with the wishes of the majority of the menifiers, you have the same
liliertv to propose it as I liave this one. I am only one of \()ur iiumhiT and (Usite to a.ssume no more rii.'ht to say
liow vou sliall rcHJuce the deht, than the poorest and the weakest in the church, (ftlu; church decides to liave a
Sale or Bazaar, or tn adopt any niher method lor r.iising money I have no pnwer 10 prevent tiie execution of niie
or all nf thcin. --» -- . - . ^ _ _

But this I would like to say, as iheiesult of experience and ohservalion. I linnly i>(>lieve that tlie Oliurch of
God is coming lo see, that lh(- only way liy which she can raist' money for religious and henevulent works, and pre-
serve her s]iiritual |>ower, is hy free-will olleiings. She has jiroved hy hitler e.xiierience, thjil money iaise(l through
methods, liy which t-he has sacrillced her e.xalted char,. cter as '• Chiisl's Bride ". has l)een a very small gain at an
almost infinite loss (^Micstinnahle ways of getting money have often involved yeais nl spiritual weakness, and have
made her a '' reproach and a hy word "in tlie moiitli,>* of ( 'hrist's enemies. I'heiel'oie whatever plan you ailopt for tlie
attainment of this desirahle ind, 1 trust that il will lie one, that will not he incoiisi,>;teiil with the spirit of Christ's
teachings, that it will lu' one that will not hiirdeii a few willing hearts, .and ease ihe inaiiv. and that it will he eaiy,
e(|uitahle, and right.

Has tiiis Church a miss-inii? Is there an ahsnlute necessil>- I'or its (>.xistence? I'iaiited on thi.s site, is there a
hilile reason wliy wi' should live? If thi'se questions can Ik answered in the attirmative, then the questions we must
put to ourselves are, .Vre we willing and prepaied to cany out our mission, to demonstrate the need for our existence
ami to hring forth thihililc! reason why we sluaild lixeV

What is the great princip'.' that forms the l)asis of o'lr separate d(>noniinaiional stiuctiire '! We helieve tiiat the
fathers and founders ol tliis ' First Baptist Church" had a clearly delined kmsoii for which they willingly sacrilieed
iinich that was dear ami pleasunihle. wlien I hey seceded from St. Paul's (;hurch. Now what was that |)rinei|)le that
led them to contend for tlie laitli caice delivereil lo th" saints? I might answer it hy askintr another (luesijon. viz. :
" Wliat is thai one element that runs all through the .Savimn's and the .\postle.>.' teaching, without attention to which
the New reslan|<'nt is fully followed or understood, and which we claim is the distinctive principle of the " Begular
Baptist Dinoinination " of this conliii' lit ? ' «

Is it Bapiisin hy immersiun Y B>' no means, lor there are humlre(|s of lliiiiisaiids and scores of millions who have
heen ha]itized hy imniersioM, who.ne not in our denomination nor do they adopt our distinctive ]irinciple. There
are nw.oix) of " Camphe iles " on thi>! Continent, ami 65,01 ■n.mx) ut l!ll^sialls wh<i have as truly heen haptized hy
immersion as I have, and yel Iheir Ba)iiisin no more involve!* the Baptist principle than does the " ehrisli ning " that
I received in ' .\l' Soul's" Kpiscopal Church. Liaidon, F.ngland, in ni\' infancy, I know that many jieople who are
ignorant ol 1 he rundamental principle on which intelligeul Baptists iiase their argument for a separate denominational
existence, suppose that it is simply tlu^ f|Uaiility ol water thai divides us from other hodies.

Baptism hy immersion, is involveil in the B plist principle, hut the Baptist priin-iple is not involved in Baptism hv
immersion. .\ man may he haptized hy ininiersicai, and yet not he (|ualilied for admission into a regular Baptist
church : ther lore ha|itisin, with all its divin(> teaching, was not the prime principle I'or which the 16 constituent
menihers of ihis <'hureh handed louelher on Sept. 30th, 1S27.li) contend fia'and to extend. Neither is that the

"*-: » *• ' 4 -

principle for wliicli tho baptist hrotlierliocKJ contends to-day. And yd both many pcdo-liaptisis and i!in(.iiinl Hapti'ls
tliinlv that baptism liy immersion is tbc atjiha ami omega of tlie ciiiises of our separation fnjm all other churches.

It is not a tenacious attachment to any one |)art of scripture— whether it teach the nece.s.sity of the new birtli.
justilication liy faith, the inspiration of the bible, Itejievers' baptism, or any other one doctrine — that we contend loi .
But the fjreat principle tliat luiderlies them all, and no one more than another. And it is this principle tiial, to ever>'
intellijjent Bajitist, forms the ground of every dnctrine he holds to, whether or not other (((nominations accept all his
reasons for his faith and prju'tice. The Baptists <;reat guidiiii,' priiHnjile, was, is, and evci- must be nothint; more nor
less, nothinj; broader nor narrower than "Obedience tt/ Christ in all tilings."

Not olx'dience to any one doctrine or prec(^pt, but otiedience to all tlie teachinfr>< and conunaiidnients of the iiord
in their spiritual sij^uiticance and their literal order. Others hav(> paid a j)rofound ,iiul reverent rejjard to certain parts of
the Word of God, scrupulously fullillinir the letter, because ol an hereditary belief, or in siqiporl of a theorv they
cherish in the heart. But to take the whole of the \ew IVstament sis the Holy 'Spirit has r(i('..)rded it, airl reu hw
obedience to its conuiiands, both with regard to the individual believer and the orifanizcd church, this is the principle
that has ever been the watchwia'd of, and is still the mission of the Baptists.

Oiiedience ir. Ixjing baptized by imnun'sion, and (hsobedieuce with reu;ard to the dortriiie of " .Instilicatiou by
Faith " would at once invalidate our claim to "Obedience to Christ " as the distinctive i)rinciple ot our mission, and
we would rightly be reduceil to a mere ritualistic body as 'Immeisionists." But b(>e.uisesiinie other del lomi nations olicy
in the doctriiu^ of being justiliecl by faith, and di.soln'y in the diH!triu(^ of believers' FJaptisni. we are made to appear as
if baptism by inuuersion were the |)riiieiple tliat divides us from other denominations Whereas our mission is to
obey and get others to obev, not only these two great truths, but all the related truths that eoinpise ;lie sublime sys-
tem of revealed religion.

When will our Bretlucn in other denominations cease to charge us with being specially bigoted witii regard to the
Lord's supper'.' We have no desire to be diti'cu'ent from them in conserving this ordinance to immer.«ed believers, but
the restrielinL' of the table to regeiier.ite and inuiicrsed believers, is the natural and legilimite comsimiuimuu' of oiu'
having adopted " obedience to Christ " as (an- distinctive principle. If we adopted anotlier principle, such as F]pis-
copacy, or MetlaMlism. I'reshyterianism or Congi'egationalism, not one ol whicli involves obedieiiC(! to (Christ in all
things, and tlien C(a)ten(l lor the spri'ad of any one of tiiose forms of churcli government, a close table at the Loid's
Suppei' would not and eiadd not be a natiual .«e(|Uence .\n(l wliy'? Because obedience to Christ in all things would
not be the point at issut^ between us and other bodies: but we and tiiey would simply he having a 'ace for nunu'iictal
supremacy. But becaust' we have made it our distinctive mi.ssion to obey, and gt>t others to obey . the pr(;cise onler
ol oui- Lord's eoUHuandsas lie has given them to man, therel'or«! we have tn diirer from tho.se whodo not make this th(>
fundamental principle of their (.haiominational existence : and because of our obligation to carry oiu this principle
regarding tlie Lord'a Supper, we are semetini's called bigots.

We are called " Baptists", sinrply because we obey in being ba[)tiz((l tlie way our \a)V(\ was baptized. Our b(>ing
called Bajitists ini]ili(s that those who are not immersed are not and caTinot be eall<'(l Baptists. But wt' nvi^ not -o
nuich •' Baptists" as we are " Obidientists." For if all men were inuuersed, and yet were to disobey the coiHrnaiKl
to rejuMit and believe, before being immerse(l, iliiii we would la' called by another name, and that name would rcpie-
sent tlie docrine in which we olieyed and others pa.ssetl by as iKai-essential, We would then probably be called by the
name of " Kegenc'atists " ; because we would refu.se professors of other denominations the privilege of coming to tlu!
Lord's Table, Itecause they were nut converted, though they had been ba[)tiz(Hl the same way as we, by immersion.
In tliat case you can plainly see that Baptism would not be a point at i.^sne, betw«;en us iuid other bodies, for
everybody would be a Baptist, and the name "Baptists" (hop out of e.\istence. But we might still be (Mlled bigots,
because we lefnsed to invite otheis to the Lf)rd's Tai le who had not obeyed the command to r('p(ait and believe
the gos]iel.

Even il a '' regenerate ehurch membership" were the point at issue b(>tween others and us, thai p.articular tenet
W(aild not lie tlie Baptists' distinctive principle : biU it would still be nothing broad(.'r nor narrower, nothing nioic nor
jess tlian " obiedence," though of course others would narrow the dilference hetwe(Mi us to the (aie thing, viz..
'' regeneraliiai" as they do to-ilay to "baptism." The enormous "Oi-eek Chureli '' of Hussia, and the Baptist
<lenominati(ai of this continent, olfer an illustration of tlie point I am trying to logically prove. I have given you
aigument. now just look a* the illustration. The Greek church and the Baptist body both baptize by inuuersion
If I were discussing the cause of separ.it ion between these two bodi(s with a priest of the Russian ('liiuch, vould we
spend a single minute on tiie subjeel of baplizini: by immersion ? Decidedly not. Why not '/ because just her( we
would both be Baptists. When I baptize I put the body under water, and when He baptizes. He also puts the whole
i)ody under water. But when He baptizes, the subject is an inl'ant, tlierel'ore our argumentation would not he on the
Dioilr of baptism but on the xiilijccl. My task would be to show him from the Word of ( lod, that he is disobeying the
order of the biblical ritual, which always and everywhere demands that faith in Christ as the Saviour of the soul,
shall jireeede baptism; whereas He baiilizes his sidiject before this (]Ualilicaticai can take place;. So that if We were
in Hussia to-day, we w<aild not be contending fur the faith (ai(!e delivei'e(l to the saints as t the scriptural 7niiil>> or
baptism, but as to the jiroper nHbjfrls for baptism. In thin country we have to Ooth.

.Ml authority centr s in Christ, and between Ilim and us we allfiwno Pope, Bishop, Synod. i'reshyt(>iy, I '(Wifereuen.
or any other human antliority to e.xercise any power over us eithiM' as individual christians, or as organized churches.
His words come to ul« with no vuicertain sound, but have behind them all .a " Thus s.dth the Lord," when he
commands, it is subject neither to our apjiroval nor revision, but it comes as tlu' unalterable, irrevocabU?, ,iiid
imjiera ive word of tlie Maji'sty of Heaven. He does not ask our oliedienci^ as a cold duty, and as such he never

■iDiiiiwi 'wwwvmmm'immm

accL-pls il. liiil lie iisks lis to ii'iider olx'dipncc lo nil liis eonmiMiuls iVoni tlic sihik' iiiDtivc tliiit jjininiitcil llim to olicy
His Faltier's will. He snys " if yo love M(>, kc'c|) My (•oimiiimdnu'iits." Since! " lovo is tlic I'lilliliiig of the law,"
there can lie no liinitalioii of our ol)e«lieiiee, while love is deep, and fervi'iit and .strong imt oiir love to Christ cannot
he deeji, and fervent, and .stnaifj;, if we deliherately prefer the authority that is merely human, iiefore his au'liorily in
His Word. There is no .such thing a.s loving Chri.st, and disregarding Hi.s eommand.s: for a love that fixes itself on the
person ol Christ, hy tliat same act avows eternal loyalty to Hiw revealed coinniands. Therefore necaiise our Supreme
]»r<l lom'nauds us to ol)ey, We chose " ohedienee to Christ " ii>' the <ine and only governing principle, that we call
tlie Baptist princi|ile. Not because we like or <lislike what He (jommands ; not lie<'ause it ministers to our comfort or
distingnishi's us from otheis, hut hecause tli(> King Eternal, hnmortal, Invisihle, the only wise fiod lias (^omniiinded us
to ohey. Therefore taking His eiimmauds in tlu'ir spiritu:d siuuiiicance and their natural order, and , renderinu' then)
the <ihedience |iidmpted hy love, we stiuid hy this old doi-trine for which our foret'atliers in the fiuth contendi-d so
e.iriKislly, ami loi' tlw conservation ;iud advancement ol which this old church meets here to-dny.

If a mail declines ohciiieiice to tlie |)l.iin oomm:lnd^' of Chiisi.he enters on i ci)ms ■ of llisllll(^l■encl^ that may
lead him. as i( has done miiny ethers, to the aiitipodes of Divine (ruth, lund from the mililei* forms of orror, many
hiive giavitateiri(i\v:iri|< rnilaii,iui<m, Univer.salism, H itionnlism, Deism. I'uithci^ui, inUii l(i<t in the va<t r(>alui
ol uuIm lieving indillereiilism. If yoii clioosi^ anothei' jirinciple thiit does not involv(! uiiconiiitional ohedi(>nc,(! to the
simple woi'd of (iod. you niiisl have a foimulated cre(>d, in which to emhody yoiu' belief and defend your practice.
In the Haptist denomination, without a cast ir. ai crceil, strappeil on the memhers and ministers, almost invariably they
are charact(>i'ized bv lo\ ally to. and al)iding enjoyment of tlie great truths of the -rosix-l. We are the only great body
ol christians that can mainl.iin uniai among ourselves, fidelity to the Word of ( iod, and succeed in the advancement of
our mission without a wiitteii creed. We are the laily deuomiuiiliou in al ("hri^lend in tint can alForil to stay in.side
the covers of the liible for aiUhoi'ily for all we believt^ and practise, hecius(! of o;n' ho'din'j; as the omi C(;ntriil priu 'iple
■' obeilii^nce toChrist "

If any sh.'ill siiy ' The First Baptist Church of this City hn'. in'j; secure! :i la^intiful Home, that therefore she
ouuhl to settle down to a <iuiet. easy, .-ind comfi rtable life, eu lini; her days in |i' ic"." li'f m- her- and now remind
you, thill immeili.itely this Church does that, sue at onci> iihiouHtes her claim to the principle of iibedieuce to C^hrist,
as her dislinctive one. l''or this principle involves not only per.-caial obeijience l)Ut also its pei-petu,ition through,
others. II by others neglecting the c^ mmmal to b(> bajilized ;is was our Loi'<l we are imidi^ lo feel lh;it w are set for
llie defence ol th.-it partii'iiliir Cdiiimand. let us leiiieniber that the I'lul of our ohlig.itiiai is not leaelieil. when we dliey
in baptism. The .-a me Lord who commands us to obey in bnptism, also commands us to ti>a('li others to obey in
l)aptism : " (io ye into all the world ual pi'cach the gospel to every creature, he ttint believ(>th and is baptized shall
lie saved, but be tliiii helievelh not shiill be (Hinilenur d. " Is this ,)u obs<ilete comm^ind ' 'I hen so is Baptism. If w(>
obey in being baptised, and ibeii ceasi to teach otheis to obey 'oo. we at once surrender the Bnplist principle, for we
cease to be obivlieiit to Ciiri.~l. But let us not suppose that our missi m begins amt ends in getting people baptized,
possibly it m;iy begin lower down, and end higher up. For there are .some things that iire irreater as well as some
things thnt are h sser than bnptism. If yon are biouglit into contnct with a sfiiil that is unsaved, evidently your work
in that (Mse is not to extend the doctrine of believers' baptism, but the •' I'nplist prineii^le." whii'h is ''obedience to
Christ." Witli such a |>erson vou will urge the command to repent and believe the gospel, and tiial if He do not
obey, he will peri-^h eternally.

In thiit way you will exieinl the'' I'aiaist |)riiicip!e," fcir you will be ti'.-u'hin'..c Him to do ' the gr(>atest thing in
the worlli " iiiimelv, to obev ( 'hrist. If you meet a man who h;is been crjaiviTled and baptized according to the oril(>r
of the .New Testiimeiit, out who is neglecline family worshi|i ami his church relations, then you will not talk to
him abdiit Haptism. nnt about those things in whi;'h ii(> is remiss, for in those things he has ceased to be obedient to
Christ, and it is your duly to help to restore him lo obedienci to kiioivu cdinminds. If you icfiisi- to reclaim that
baptized brotlier from his hillen state, ymi refuse to (wieiid the " Bnptist principle " for in that work yon refuse to
obey I ",uist.

Brethren ami Sislers —If I have succeeded in provini; our riglit to live ; I hnve shown tlmt this church has a.
di.-linct mission in haiinony with the New Testament : If yot lire truly convinced that llie work the fonndeis of this
c.iuu'ch acc()mplislied. is needed to-d:iv. then let us conseer.iti' our^elve^ aiiewt'i tliis eri';it and holy task ' .MidiU a
century ;igo tile Baptist- on the whole of this continent numberel y.i.oyy. to-day the membership of the ii",;ular
Baptist Cburcbes is three millions and :i (|U;irter. with .some ten millions of ndbereuts. Beholil ' what (!od halli
wronglil b.v I be Irce and full distributinu of his uwn pure Word 1 lunl thei'c are yet grc^ater triumphs in stiu-e for that
pi.werlnl gospel. The wea]ions of can- warfare are not carnal, bnl mighty through (iod, to thi' |)ullinu down of st rong-
nolds, casting down imaginations (i. e. reasonings) and every high tliinir lti;it e.Xilleth itself against tlie knowledge of
(iod, and bringing into cMptivit.\' every thought to the obeilience of ("hiisi ; our st reiigtli is gotten by prayer ; .ind oiir
object is tlie ulor.N of (iod. lirethren ami Sisteis, be strong in the Lonl an 1 in tin power of his might, know the Iriilli. s(»
:i- to be lillecl with the word of Christ in all wisdom :ind spirituil nil ier-f in ling iiid whoever for-^iikes the ninks. or
vviinever wavers in that battle, do voii

I »aie lo ilo right d re to be true.

'^'oti have a Work that. n<i other can do.
Ddil s(( bra.vi'ly — .so kiiidlv - so well,

.\s Id i;laden all heaven, and silence all hell.

Dare to do riiiht -dare to be true.

K(M'p the ureiit .jmlgment seat alwavs in view ;
Look It your life, as you'll look at it then.

Scanned bv .lehovah, and angels, and men.

Dare lo do riulil dare t<i be t rue,
Other nii'ii's Inilnres can never save you ;

StnntI by your conscience, your (iod, and your faith.
Stand like a hero and battle till dt ath

Dare to do iii:ht — dare to lie true,
Ciimiot Omnipotence carry you through?

('itv, and mansion, and thnaie all in sight.
Then \)\HK to b I'lU'K -ves. \)\\{K to .lo HKiHT.