FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER.

NEW SERIES.

VOL. V.	B E T H A N Y,   V A. APRIL, 1841.	NO. IV.

Lunenburg county Virginia, February 22, 1841      

      The progress of the reformation among us, though it seems to be slower than the brethren desire; yet, so far as soundness of the faith once delivered by the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostles, is concerned, advances so as to make us rejoice and hope that the time may not be far distant, when scores will flock to the banner of the Lord. O that such a refreshing season may flow from the presence of the Lord! But while the Christian is rejoicing in anticipation of the fruition of heavenly things, bitter waters will spring up to mar his enjoyment; but being such, he may expect nothing else than tribulation in some shape; yea, whilst sojourning here under existing circumstances, things of a strange and novel character, especially considering the general state of society in this present century, will arise, and to you no doubt many have presented themselves. But, to be short, I will put what I allude to in the form of a question, and request you to reply to it as soon as you can, and show whether a thing of this sort be scriptural or not.

      Query.--Has a brother the right to withdraw all congregational responsibility, and yet claim the right of fellowship with the general body of Christ?

A DISCIPLE IN PRINCE EDWARD.      

      Might it not as consistently be asked, Has a member of the human body--the emblem of the body of Christ--a right to withdraw all corporal responsibility, and yet still claim the right of fellowship with the body in all its special enjoyments? Let the Apostle's emblematic exposition of the relation and relative duties of Christians, answer this question. See 1 Cor. xii. 12-27. Now if the Apostle's reasoning will justly apply to the Christian's at Corinth, surely it will equally apply to all such throughout the world.

T. C.      

[The Millennial Harbinger (April 1841): 192.]

      Thomas Campbell's Answer to Query by A Disciple in Prince Edward was first published in The Millennial Harbinger, New Series, Vol. 5, No. 4, April 1841. The electronic version of the essay has been produced from the College Press reprint (1976) of The Millennial Harbinger, ed. Alexander Campbell (Bethany, VA: A. Campbell, 1841), pp. 192.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. I have let stand variations and inconsistencies in the author's (or editor's) use of italics, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling in the essay.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 22 March 1998.
Updated 9 July 2003.