[Table of Contents]
[Previous] [Next]		 Alexander Campbell
Candidus Essays (1820-1822)

 

THE REPORTER.
"'TIS PLEASANT, THROUGH THE LOOP-HOLES OF RETREAT, TO PEEP AT SUCH A WORLD--
TO SEE THE STIR OF THE GREAT BABEL, AND NOT FEEL THE CROWD."
      [NEW SERIES----VOL. I.] WASHINGTON, (PA.) MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17th, 1821. [NO. 17.

FOR THE REPORTER.
N E W   S E R I E S--No. 1.

      The object of a christian's faith is the whole contents of the Old and New Testament. Both Testaments are equally true and equally the revelation of God. The patriarchial and Jewish forms of religion are wholly contained in the Old Testament. The dispensation of John the Baptist and the whole of the practical precepts and duties of the christian religion are contained in the New Testament. The observance of the first day of the week is as peculiar to christian's as the Lord's Supper. There is neither command nor precedent in the New Testament for any man to pay any regard to the first day of the week more than any other day but a christian. A christian is one who truly believes the gospel of Christ and follows the examples of the christians exhibited in the New Testament. Or a christian is one who believes the doctrines of Christ and cheerfully obeys his commands. These things premised.

      The following syllogism or argument is inevitable.

Argument 1st of New Series.
The whole of the precepts or commands of the christian religion are contained in the New
Testament.
But there is no precept or command in the New Testament to compel by civil law any man who
is not a christian to pay any regard to the Lord's day more than any other. Therefore to
compel a man, who is not a christian, to pay any regard to the Lord's day more than any
other day is without authority in the christian religion.

      God made man upright, perfection was the duty and privilege of primitive man. Though man has fallen perfection is still his duty and his privilege. But natural or fallen men have neither natural or moral ability to be perfect. Nothing less than absolute perfection can please an infinitely holy and absolutely perfect God. Therefore no natural man can please God--so saith the apostle, "they that are in the flesh cannot please God." "But the carnal mind" or natural mind of man "is enmity against God and is not subject to his law neither indeed can be." "The gospel reveals a righteousness that makes the sinner just." It exhibits all the divine perfection mutually corresponding in the salvation, perfection and happiness of sinners by faith in the vicarious "obedience unto death" of the Son of God. Under this gospel which is predicated upon the utter ruin and wretchedness of all natural men. The first commandment is "believe on the name of the Son of God."--For this fundamental reason "without faith it is impossible to please God." Now the unregenerate or natural man can perform no duty that is pleasing to God. Hence it becomes the first duty or immediate duty of all men to obey "the first commandment" of the gospel. For until this duty is performed--the prayers, and what are commonly called religious duties of mankind, are not heard or accepted of God. "He that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Argument 2d of the New Series, resulting from the above is,
The golpel commands no duty that can be performed without faith in the Son of God,
"whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
But to command men destitute of faith, to observe any christian institute such as the Lord's day
is commanding duty to be performed without faith in the Son of God.

      Therefore to command unbelievers or natural men, to observe in any sense the Lord's day is anti-evangelical or contrary to the gospel. This argument shall be further illustrated in my next. In the same spirit and style will I refute all objections to my arguments.

CANDIDUS.      

[The Reporter, 17 September 1821, p. 4.]

[Table of Contents]
[Previous] [Next]		 Alexander Campbell
Candidus Essays (1820-1822)