USA > Ohio > Early history of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio : with biographical sketches of the principal agents in their religious movement > Part 3
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Seizing on the evident analogy between light and knowledge, and using the former, as the Scripture every-where does, as a metaphor for the latter, the eloquent preacher exhibited the gradual and pro- gressive unfolding of divine revelation under four successive periods of development, which he charac- terized as, Ist, The Starlight Age; 2d, The Moon- light Age; 3d, The Twilight Age; 4th, The Sun- light Age ; and employed these respectively to ex- plain, Ist, The Patriarchal; 2d, The Jewish Dis- pensation ; 3d, The ministry of John the Baptist, with the personal ministry of the Lord on the earth ; and, 4th, The full glory of the perfect system of sal-
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vation under the apostles when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them, after the ascension and coronation of Jesus as Lord of all. Under his remarks, and applications of his theme, the whole Bible became luminous with a light it never before seemed to pos- sess. The scope of the whole book appeared clear and intelligible ; its parts were so shown to be in har- mony with each other, and with the whole, that the ex- hibition of the subject seemed little else to many than a new revelation, like a “ second sun risen on mid- noon," shedding a flood of light on a book hitherto looked upon as dark and mysterious. The style of the preacher was plain, common sense, manly. His argumentation was sweeping, powerful, and convinc- ing ; and above all, and better, his manner of preach- ing formed so pleasing and instructive a contrast with the customary style of taking a text merely, or of sermonizing, in which mystery prevailed and the "darkness " became " visible," that the assembly listened to the last of a long address scarcely conscious of the lapse of time. At the conclusion of the ser- mon, after dwelling with earnest and thrilling elo- quence on the glory of the gospel dispensation, the consummation of all the revelations of God, the Sun of righteousness "now risen with healing in his wings," putting an end to the moonlight and star- light ages, he proceeded :
" The day of light, so illustrious in its beginning, be- came cloudy. The Papacy arose and darkened the heavens for a long period, obscuring the brightness of the risen glory of the Sun of righteousness so that men groped in darkness. By the reformation of the 17th century that dark cloud was broken in fragments; and though the
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heavens of gospel light are still obscured by many clouds- the sects of various names-the promise is that ' at evening- time it shall be light.' The primitive gospel, in its effulgence and power, is yet to shine out in its original splendor to regenerate the world."
That discourse was never forgotten. It never will be. It formed an era in respect to the gospel on the Western Reserve. The shell of sect-sermons was broken. The Bible was a new book; its meaning could be comprehended ; its language could be understood.
Early in August, 1823, was issued from Buffalo Creek, Va., (now Bethany), the first number of the " Christian Baptist." It was edited by Alex. Campbell. It was a monthly, devoted to the promulgation, expo- sition and defense of the Christian religion as it is expressly revealed in the New Testament. Its bold exposition of prevailing errors, and uncompromising defense of the "faith once delivered to the saints," will be at once perceived by the Scripture motto which stood at the head of every monthly number for the whole seven years it continued to be published :
" Style no man on earth your father ; for He alone is your father who is in heaven ; and all ye are breth- ren. Assume not the title of Rabbi ; for ye have only one teacher : neither assume the title of leader, for ye have only one leader, the Messiah :" instructions of the Lord Messiah, in Matth. xxiii: 8, 9.
The sentiments and positions of the "Christian Baptist" were so fresh, so free from the shackles of doctrinal form peculiar to any sect, so rational, man- ifestly so scriptural, and enforced by abilities so varied and commanding, that the work increased its
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circulation every year. It paid no deference to reign- ing customs. Following its motto, it owned no mas- ter, no leader, but Christ. Its editor was unsparing in his denunciations of the clergy, who, as he averred, had usurped the thrones of the Holy Twelve. The exclusive right of the inspired apostles to the twelve thrones of Christendom, was asserted and vindicated with great power. It was the peculiar feature of the " Christian Baptist" that it put forth no doctrinal basis on which to unite the disciples of Christ, except what the apostles proclaimed at the beginning.
The boldness of its bugle-blast of reform startled the slumbering camps of the half-sleeping Israel. Gideon's cake, which smote the tent and laid it all along in ruins, was not more significant nor decisive in its portent of the issues of the coming contest.
Mr. Campbell's visits to the Western Reserve, not only at the annual gatherings of the associations, but at the ministers' meetings also, gave great impulse to the views of reform propounded in his periodical, and thus prepared the way for a mighty breaking up in things ecclesiastic, and the revolution soon to follow. These ministers' meetings among the Baptist preach- ers were much the same as the preachers' associa- tions more recently established among the Disciples. It seems, from best obtainable information, that Elder Adamson Bentley was chiefly instrumental in establishing them. Being himself a gentleman of culture, possessed of more than the average edu- cation and reading existing among the Baptist cler- gymen of that day-having, with other advantages, had the benefits of association with the celebrated Dr. Stoughton of Philadelphia-he felt the need of
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elevating the standard of ministerial qualification among his Baptist brethren. He accordingly en- couraged them to meet statedly for mutual improve- ment.
In June, 1821, the ministers' meeting was held in Warren. Mr. Campbell attended, and this was prob- ably his first visit to the Western Reserve. His rep- utation had preceded him. William Hayden and many others came to the meeting, desiring to hear him and make his acquaintance.
When Hayden entered the house, Mr. Campbell was speaking. He had never seen him, but was fa- miliar with his name and his history. " Who is that?" he said to himself-" so tall and straight, with such piercing eyes ! What a shrill, penetrating voice ! That must be Campbell." So he thought and so it was. He was far in advance of the preachers present in learning, ability, and acquaintance with the Christian institution, yet he declined asserting any superiority among them, leaving them the fullest liberty of discourse and investigation.
Some one propounded the question "Whether the apostolic preaching and mode of establishing churches is an example binding on us?" "Certainly," re- sponded Mr. Campbell, in his turn, " in all cases pos- sible." The subject of election, a doctrine held by all the Baptist ministry, came up for remark, as one of the sermons was under review. Mr. Campbell affirmed "that preaching the doctrine of election never converted a single sinner to God." " Astonish- ing!" retorted Elder Freeman, "Astonishing !" "Where are they ?" inquired Mr. Campbell. Mr. Freeman replied, "all around you!" "I very much
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doubt it," responded Mr. Campbell ; adding, "you have preached election, foreordination, effectual call- ing and perseverance; and along with it you have held up the love of God to lost sinners, the death of Christ for their salvation, his resurrection for their justification, the final judgment and eternal glory : sinners were converted, and you have attributed it to the Calvinistic 'doctrines of grace.'"
The right interpretation of the Scriptures ; that they were to be understood; that the same rules · of interpretation were to be applied to them, as to other writings ; that no new rules were to be coined for their benefit ; that they were not to be applied to the building up of any sect; that the word of God, rightly interpreted and applied, would put an end to religious controversy, and restore the primitive union of the church ; these, and kindred themes, as novel to many as they were convincing, came up in state- ment and illustration.
It is necessary in opening this history to present a short biography of some of the men through whose instrumentality God led his people into a clearer knowledge of his "ancient paths." They were men of no mean abilities, and descended from a race not unknown in history. The Campbell clan of Scotland and the North of Ireland was once the most nu- merous and among the most powerful of the races which in feudal times disputed for the mastery of Scotland. Inheriting the high, ambitious, and cher- ished traditional honors of such an ancestry, when the heroic Knox rescued that mountain land from the grasp of Romanism, and established there the Ge- nevan reformation, they enlisted in the defense of
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Presbyterianism with all the enthusiasm wnich, in former times, distinguished the tournament and the profession of arms; and even when that form of religion was shattered by the shock of religious strife, and riven into fragmentary sects, the world witnessed, on another theater, a display of the char- acteristic qualities of this race of noble men :
BIOGRAPHY OF T. CAMPBELL.
THOMAS CAMPBELL,* father of Alexander Campbell, de- scended from the Campbells of Argyleshire. He was born in County Down, near Newry, Ireland, February 1, 1763. He was the oldest of four sons. His father, Archibald Campbell, who served as a soldier in the British Army under General Wolfe, and who was at the capture of Que- bec, gave him and his three brothers, James, Archibald, and Enos, the advantages of culture and an English edu- cation in a military academy.
Thomas Campbell began in early life to exhibit the serious and meditative dispositions of heart which in all his life were so manifest to all who knew him. The rigid formalities of the Episcopal Church, of which his father was a strict member, failed to satisfy the deeply religious feelings, which were early awakened in him. He fled to the gospels. He found more congenial, spiritual aliment among the warm-hearted and zealous Seceders. Among this people-a branch of the Presbyterian Church, a se- cession from the Kirk of Scotland-he became deeply anxious for his soul's salvation. He passed through men- tal struggles of indescribable anguish. The coveted peace at length dawned on his soul, and in the raptures of grat-
* For the materials of this sketch of this excellent man, I am chiefly indebted to Prof. Richardson's learned and admirable work, " Memoirs of A. Campbell;" to which the reader is referred for fuller information.
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itude for so great a deliverance, he resolved to consecrate himself to the public service of the blessed Redeemer, to whom his soul now clung with the ardors of a most de- voted love. He was soon rapidly on the road to the min- istry. Being an excellent English scholar, he engaged for awhile in teaching. In the University of Glasgow he completed the usual classical studies, and also a course in medicine and lectures in law. He next completed the theological course in Divinity Hall, under Archibald Bruce, D.D., a master of profound abilities, and was com- missioned, under the rigid and thorough examinations of the Scotch Seceder Church, with the full credentials of the Christian ministry.
In June, 1787, he was united in marriage to Miss Jane Corneigle, whose ancestors were of the French Hu- guenots, the Protestant reformers who were driven out of France by the bloody persecutions of the papacy under Louis XIV. She was a lady of equal dignity and gen- tleness, with mental and moral endowments fitted to be a queen. With this superior Christian woman, the faithful companion of all his cares and toils, Elder Thomas Camp- bell spent the greater part of his laborious and useful life. She was the mother of eight children, four sons and four daughters-one son dying young-and lived to impress her own virtues upon all.
Mr. Campbell served for some time as a pastor of a church near the city of Armagh. His habits in that ca- pacity were ordered by the same rules of exactness, thor- oughness, and affectionate kindness which marked all his course in life. He visited, conversed, taught the people privately the duties of social life, prayed with them, re- lieved them, in which benefaction his wife was ever his cheerful assistant, and in many ways labored for the in- crease of the piety and the personal improvement of the people under his charge.
He cultivated early and ever that deep reverence for
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the Bible which made him so familiar with its meaning and its language, and, which, by exalting the word of God into such incomparable pre-eminence above all hu- man compositions, laid the foundations for the attempt to discard all human creeds as bonds of union, and to unite all the true followers of Christ into the 'unity of the spirit and the bond of peace.' His faith was equal to any demands upon it from that infallible, divine authority. Simple trusting reliance on the Lord, and childlike obe- dience to all his known requirements constituted the whole of his religion practically viewed.
An anecdote related of him by Professor Richardson, so strikingly illustrates this admirable trait of his religious life, and displays so well his calm self-possession, that I do not withhold it.
During the political agitations, embittered by the heated antipathies of Catholics and Protestants, by which so- ciety was rent and life made insecure, ".Mr. Campbell was one day preaching to a congregation, when the house was suddenly surrounded by a troop of Welsh Horse, no- torious for their severities and outrages on those they con- ceived to be rebels. The captain, conceiving that in this remote place he had come upon a meeting of the rebels, dismounted, and in a threatening manner marched into the church. It was a moment of awful suspense. The audience were panic-stricken, expecting every moment to be subjected to the fury of the soldiers. Just at this mo- ment, as the captain stalked up the aisle, casting fierce glances on all sides, a venerable elder sitting near Mr. Campbell called to him solemnly : ' Pray, sir !' Where- upon, in response to the call, and in a deep, unfaltering voice, he began in the language of the forty-sixth Psalm : ' Thou, O God, art our refuge and strength : a very pres- ent help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be car- ried into the depths of the sea.' No sooner was the
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first verse uttered, then the captain paused, and, appar- ently impressed, bent his head, listened to the close, then bowed, and retracing his steps, mounted his horse and dashed away with his entire troop."
Under the united duties of the care of the church, and the work of teaching, his health was impaired. A sea voyage was resolved upon as the necessary means of re- covery. Accordingly on the 8th of April, 1807, after bidding an affectionate farewell to his congregation, and leaving his school in the hands of his oldest son, Alexan- der, he commended his family tenderly to God, and sailed out of harbor in a vessel bound for Philadelphia, into which port he entered after a prosperous voyage of thirty- five days.
In the emigration then flowing from the old world to the shores of the United States, many of Mr. Campbell's intimate friends had preceded him to this country, and some of them, as the Hodgens and the Fosters, came soon after. Among these, Mr. Campbell found the most hospi- table welcome. He began at once to urge the claims of the gospel-the undivided gospel of God upon the people. His charitable spirit, with his able expositions of Scrip- ture, drew around him the pious of different church com- munions. As no reason appeared for their separation, but rather many for their union in worship and work on Bible principles, they agreed to form an association of Chris- tians, to meet statedly for personal advancement in knowl- edge and duty. They soon felt the importance of diffus- ing for the good of others those principles which they found so congenial to the word of God, and such an en- largement of their own hearts. Thus come into being the " Christian Association," of Washington, Pa., which issued the very first document of this reformation, which now girdles the globe, and holds a membership of five or six hundred thousand souls ! That document written by Elder Thomas Campbell, is a pamphlet of 56 pages, titled
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"Declaration and Address of the Christian Association of Washington, Pa." It is a remarkable production-for its catholicity, its supreme exaltation of the word of God, its clear, unequivocal statement of the true and only practical ground of union, and its enunciation of all the principles of this rising religious movement. It came from the press in the autumn of 1809.
In the same fall he was joined by his family. For more than forty years he plead for the religion of Christ among men. He traveled extensively, and was every- where listened to with marked attention for his distin- guished abilities, and for the dignity and urbanity of his manners. He died at the age of ninety-one, honored of all.
BIOGRAPHY OF A. CAMPBELL.
" ALEXANDER CAMPBELL was born September 12th, 1788, in the County of Antrim, Ireland. But though born in Ireland, his ancestors were, on one side, of Scotch origin, and on the other, descended from the Huguenots, in France. Inheriting a vigorous and well-balanced physical and mental constitution, and trained from his earliest years, by his learned and accomplished father, to habits of severe application, he grew up to manhood a constant and laborious student-completing his course of education in the University of Glasgow. Blessed with an exceedingly intellectual and pious parentage, and reared in one of the strictest schools of Presbyterianism, he early formed and cultivated habits of piety, and a taste for theological stud- ies, which gave shape to his entire life. A profound rever- ence for the Word of God, was a marked feature of the character alike of the boy and of the man.
"Coming to this country in 1809, and settling in West- ern Pennsylvania-whither his father had preceded him-
* This biography of Bro. Campbell was published in the first is- sue of the "Christian Standard," for which it was written, by the editor, Isaac Errett.
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he closely scanned the condition of religious society. Both father and son became deeply impressed with a conviction of the evils and inherent sinfulness of sectarianism. Their first movement, as reformers, was the repudiation of hu- man creeds as tests of fellowship, and a proposal to unite all the disciples of Jesus in one church, with the Bible as the only authoritative standard of faith and practice. Pur- suing the study of the Scriptures, as free as possible from party bias, they, and those in association with them, were soon convinced that infant membership in the church, and sprinkling, were unauthorized of God. They were accord- ingly immersed, on a confession of faith in the Son of God, and united with the regular Baptists-stipulating, however, that they should not be required to subscribe to any creed or articles of faith other than the Bible. The prejudice and passion of some excitable and intolerant men who then held a leading influence in the Redstone Association, rendered it prudent for Mr. Campbell to withdraw, after a few years, from that connection. Against his own wishes, he was compelled by the force of ecclesiastical opposition, to act separately from the Baptists, seeking fellowship only with those who were willing to be governed by the Bible alone. Thus cut loose from his former connections, and with a fierce opposition stirred up against him, he gave himself supremely to the advocacy and defense of his plea for a return to primitive Christianity. For half a century he gave his strength to this work, making tributary to it all his treasures of learning and eloquence. For forty years-from 1823 to 1863-he never failed to publish, monthly, a religious magazine, laden with varied informa- tion, rich thought, keen argument, and pious sentiment. This was published, the first seven years, under the name of The Christian Baptist. In 1830, it appeared in en- larged form, under the title of The Millennial Harbinger. These publications, although enriched with contributions from many gifted pens, were principally occupied with ed-
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itorial essays ; and on this mainly depended their popular- ity and power. The earlier years of his editorial career were distinguished by lively and earnest controversy-the arguments and criticisms of his opponents being given in full on his pages, and the replies exhibiting a completeness of information on the topics discussed, ripeness of judg- ment, strength of argument, keenness of retort, and with- ering exposures of sophistry, that render them admirable models of polemical theology. Seldom is such playful- ness of wit and keenness of satire joined with such gentle- manly dignity and logical power. We have always re- garded the correspondence with Bishop Semple as one of the finest specimens of the epistolary style of discussion, anywhere to be found.
" Afterwards, when the heat of controversy had some- what abated, there is traceable, in his journalism, a gen- tleness and mellowness which, while admitting of no com- promise with error, dealt more forbearingly with opposi- tion, and delighted more in the sweetness of piety, and in the practical aspects of Bible doctrine. Seldom, however, even in the hottest of the strife, were sentences written unworthy of the dignity and benevolence of the religion of Jesus. We doubt, in going over these forty volumes, and noting the wide range of subjects-doctrinal, critical, ethical, historical, and literary-whether the same amount and variety of writing can be found in any controversial author with less which, when dying, he would wish to erase.
"In addition to these forty volumes, Mr. Campbell published several other works: A Translation of the New Testament, by G. Campbell, Doddridge and Macknight, with Prefaces, Emendations and Critical Notes of his own ; the Christian System; Infidelity refuted by Infidels; Bap- tism, its Antecedents and Consequents ; a volume of Lit- erary Addresses; a life of his father, Thomas Campbell, etc. He also held several public discussions, which were
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reported and published : A debate on baptism in 1820, with Rev. John Walker; one on the same subject in 1823, with Rev. W. L. McCalla ; one on the Evidences of Chris- tianity in 1829, with Robert Owen ; one on Roman Ca- tholicism in 1837, with Bishop (now Archbishop) Purcell ; and one on the points in dispute between Presbyterians and Reformers, in 1843, with Rev. N. L. Rice. This last discussion occupied eighteen days. He had also a written discussion with Dr. Skinner, on Universalism. In all these he maintained a high reputation for learning, dignity, and logical and critical acumen.
" He was not less laborious as a speaker than as a writer. During all these years, he traveled extensively, traversing most of the States of the Union, and visiting Great Britain and Ireland ; discoursing every-where to crowded audiences, on the great themes that occupied his heart, and coming into contact with many of the best minds of the age, from whom, whatever their difference of sentiment, he constantly challenged respect and admi- ration. His discourses were extemporaneous, often ex- ceeding two hours in length, but were so clear in state- ment, cogent in argument, rich in diction, and forcible in illustration, as to hold his auditors in rapt attention to the close. His was not the highest style of oratory. In- deed he rather despised oratory as an art, relying on the inherent attractiveness of the truths he uttered. We have known him, in his prime, stand for two hours, leaning on a cane, and talk in true conversational style, with scarce a gesture in the entire discourse. But to a fine personal appearance and dignity of manner, he added a clearness of statement, a force of reasoning, a purity and sometimes a pomp of diction, a wealth of learning, a splendor of imagination, and an earnestness often rising into impas- sioned utterance, which clothed his pulpit efforts with a high degree of oratorical excellence. His habit of extem- poraneous speaking never caused him to degenerate into
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slovenliness of style, but sometimes led to undue diffusive- ness and discursiveness.
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