DEAR BRETHREN:
As personal piety sustains an important relation to the character, happiness, and usefulness of Christians, suffice me to call your attention to some thoughts upon the subject. The Scriptures are full of important instruction for Christians upon individual piety. But what do we mean by personal piety? We answer, we neither mean Denominational Earnestness, nor do we mean what by some has been termed Christian Perfection. The first frequently exists in persons that give but little evidence that they are Christians. And the second js utterly unattainable, and can exist alone in the mind of the infatuated enthusiast. In speaking of personal piety, we mean a practical reality, and such every Christian may have. An attainable moral qualification which is absolutely necessary for all who profess to follow the Savior. In this particular, the Christians in the time of the Apostles, differed greatly from those of our age. They had an earnest desire to make full consecration of themselves, their property, and their talents, to the interests of the Kingdom of Christ. They fully realized the sublime truth that they had been purchased by the blood of Christ; and that they were not their own, but belonged to him, and they felt solemnly bound to glorify him in their souls and bodies, which were his. As they did then, so we should now. If we are Christians, we have been purchased by the blood of the same Redeemer, and we sustain the same relation to Him in every particular that they did. The same interests have been committed into our hands that were committed to them. The same responsibilities rest upon us that did upon them. And it is solemnly true, and every observing mind will be forced to admit it, that, with the present luke-warmness and want of piety upon the part of those claiming to be thedisciples of Jesus, the world must continue to increase in moral degradation and wickedness. The churches of the Savior, being the moral light of the world, fail to let their light shine with sufficient brilliancy, to win the attention of mankind to the investigation of truth; and consequently men will continue as they have been, bitterly and unyieldingly opposed to God. It is evidently true that our Savior provided no other instrumentality of evangelization, except his churches. But can the true follower of the Savior fail upon this point? or is it possible for us to have true faith without showing it? It seems impossible. We can as easily imagine a living being without breathing, as a soul believing in Jesus without religious action. James, in his Epistle, evidently settles this question, and proves conclusively that those that have genuine faith, will exhibit religious action. He says: "What doth it profit my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother, or a sister, be naked and destitute of daily food, and are [any] of you, say unto them; be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding, ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." This extract of James, we conclude, teaches plainly, that if there be no piety in one who professes to be a follower of Jesus, it is not because of a defective faith, but because there is a dead faith, which the Scriptures teach is no faith at all. Again, can anyone really love the Lord Jesus Christ, and not keep his commandments? We conclude that such is impossible. Indeed, Jesus himself, settles this so unequivocally that we need be left in no doubt upon the subject. He says: "If ye love me. keep my commandments." That is, if ye love me, give me the evidence, and this you may do by keeping my commandments. And again he says: "If a man love me, he will keep my words." Then the language of the Savior expresses the truth - without a doubt - they who love Jesus, will keep his words. How important, then, that the disciples of Jesus, should be careful to be personally holy, personally devoted to the discharge of all the duties imposed upon them by their Great Leader. It is important, because of their moral relation to Him and his Kingdom. It is important, because of the interest the Savior has in them - they are his by redemption, by adoption, by care and preservation. They are not their own. They don't belong to themselves. It is important because holiness alone, will make them happy. The wicked can't be happy. God is happy because he is holy. Angels are happy because they are holy. And it is important, because of the interests of the churches of which we are members. They will be efficent, active, and morally strong, in proportion as their members are pious. And it is important that we have personal piety because of the moral condition of the world. If it is ever evangelized, it will be through the instrumentality of the piety of the disciples of Jesus. Seeing that these things, are true, let us, dear brethren, "let our light so shine, that others seeing our good works, may glorify our Father in Heaven," and as an Apostle has said, "be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." =============
[Editor's note: The following is in the Minutes, p. 13. - Jim Duvall]
Proceedings of the Ministers' and Deacons' Meeting Proceedings of the Ministers' and Deacons' Meeting of the Bethel Association, held with the New Hope Church, on Friday, Saturday and Sabbath, May 29th, 30th and 31st, 1868.
The Introductory Sermon was preached by Elder F. C. PLASTER, 1 Corinthians, XI chap., 2d verse.
Elder O. H. Morrow was elected Moderator, and J. W. Rust, Clerk.
The following Ministers and Deacons were present: Elders W. W. Gardner, F. C. Plaster, G. W. Featherston, S P. Forgy, S. Borthick, L. M. Horn, R. B. Dorris, H. Blankinship, W. C. Shannon, G. W. Trenary, J. J. Felts, A. C. Traughber, T. W. Willis, W. W. Wright; Deacons James Small, G. W. Dawson, E. Burr, T. J. Willis, D. Jones, W. A. Willis, D. Ashabranner, G. E. Jones, E. C. Beasley, W. P. Price, C. Read, W. S. Simmons, J. R. Angel, S. H. Clark, Joseph Felts, J. N. Conn, A. Baker, B. M. Moody, J. Page, W. H. Jones, L. Moore, C. T. Edwards, A. F. Berry, G. Noe, Wm. Conway, N. Gillaspy, and S. Fuqua.
Essays by Elders Gardner, on Inspiration; Felts, on the Discrimination between Sacrifice and Atonement; Forgy, on the Use and Abuses of the Sabbath; and Horn, on the Faithful Steward, were read and discussed.
The Committee on Themes for the next year, report Elder R. A. Massey to preach the Introductory Sermon, Elder W. G. Inman, Alternate. Those failing to comply with their appointments this year, were continued on the same subjects for the next meeting, as follows:
Duty and Importance of Seeking out and Qualifying Young Men for the Ministry - Elder L. J. Crutcher.
Design of the Lord's Supper - Elder T. G. Keen.
Qualifications and Duties of Deacons - Elder W. B. Walker.
Church Discipline - Elder S. A. Holland.
Parable of the Talents - Elder James Lamb.
Parable of the Unjust Steward - Prof. E. N. Dicken.
Discouragements and encouragements of the Ministry - Elder W. G. Inman
Duties of a Pastor to his People - Elder R. A. Massey.
Duties of a Church to her Pastor - Elder A. D. Sears.
Parable of the Great Supper - Elder G. W. Featherston.
Uses and Abuses of Wealth - Deacon B. Winston.
Benefits of Sunday Schools - Deacon T. N. Lyne.
Skeleton of a Sermon - Elder J. T. Barrow.
Skeleton of a Sermon - Elder C. M. Lowry.
Skeleton of a Sermon - Licentiate Thomas S. Gardner.
Exegesis of Hebrews vii: 7-8 - Elder S. S. Mallory.
Exegesis of Romans vii: 1-5 - Elder M. G. Carney. ============ [From Bethel Baptist Association Minutes, 1868, pp. 13-15. The document was provided by Philip duBarry, Addyston, OH. Scanned and formatted by jim Duvall.]
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