USA > Ohio > Early history of the Disciples in the Western Reserve, Ohio : with biographical sketches of the principal agents in their religious movement > Part 5
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Mr. Campbell, at the time of his introduction to Scott, was about issuing a monthly, designed to develop the truth of the gospel, and to plead for the union of Christians on Bible grounds. Mr. Scott fell in with the proposition, and espoused the scheme. Mr. Campbell proposed the name " The Christian," as a suitable title for his new periodi- cal. Mr. Scott thought "The Christian Baptist" would be a title more likely to win an immediate hearing. This
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was agreed upon. And in the very beginning of that mas- terly work, the grand , triumvirate, Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, and Walter Scott appeared side by side as contributors to its pages. The appearance of that periodical, August, 1823, forms a marked epoch in the pub- lic announcement of the principles of a much-needed re- formation. Mr. Scott remained yet a few years in Pitts- burgh, where he became acquainted, and for a time asso- ciated, with Sidney Rigdon, then pastor of a small Bap- tist church in the city. The two communions, that under Rigdon and the company to whom Scott preached, united together and became one body.
Early in 1827 we find him in Steubenville, established in the academy, as already related. He had issued a pros- pectus, and was on the eve of commencing the publication of the " Millennial Herald," to be devoted to the statement and defense of the gospel, and to the publication of views of the millennium, in which he had become much interested.
" The heart of man deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps." A foreseeing providence was prepar- ing a far different theater for the display of his remarkable talents, and was at the same time preparing him for that field. This was the work of an evangelist opened for him in New Lisbon ; which, after some persuasion, he accepted with all his heart. His great powers were now plumed for great purposes. Here was scope and comprehension for his gifts of oratory, of argumentation, and persuasion. All his talents for analysis and classification were here to find amplest scope and fullest display. Many and glori- ous events were born the day that the arrangement was completed to send Scott forth to preach the gospel ; the gospel long thought to be a mystery, but soon to come as a revelation to the people.
The history of this extraordinary man is in the pages that follow ; rather, in the mighty revolution in religious society in America, which, like a majestic stream, is widen-
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ing and deepening in its flow ; a revolution to which he has contributed very much by his discoveries in Bible truth, and by his powers of eloquence and argument in presenting and defending it before the people.
His style was chaste and classical. He was a man of great faith, and of a most lovable and gentle spirit. In discourse he was often bold as a lion; yet he as often played among lambs. He came before the world with a mission on his soul ; the restoration of the gospel plea, the "advocacy," as he termed it. He affirmed that the gospel contains an advocacy for converting sinners to Christ. This appeal, with its appointed conditions of pardon, con- stituted Scott's special mission to the men of this genera- tion. Long and faithfully did he conduct the high argu- ment ; and many thousands of his beloved Master's chil- dren will rise up and bless his memory.
He fell asleep, full of faith and hope, at his residence in Mayslick, Ky., Tuesday evening, April 23, 1861, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.
SCOTT AMONG THE CHURCHES.
After his appointment Scott lost no time in prep- aration for his new duty. Giving up both his paper and his academy, and leaving his family in Steuben- ville, he was almost immediately on the territory he was to traverse. Great hopes were entertained of the results of his labors. Yet no man, himself not ex- cepted, had any adequate conception of the great and unparalleled blessings which were in store for the people within that year.
The first of the quarterly meetings recommended in the report of the committee at New Lisbon, was held in Braceville, then the residence of Jacob Os- borne, the brother who moved the association to ap-
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point an " evangelical preacher." Bro. Marcus Bos- worth also resided in Braceville, a young preacher of warm heart and of sweet and winning speech. It was Lord's day, September 16, 1827. It was largely attended, and was prolific in important results. The principal preachers were Scott, Bentley, and Osborne. Darwin Atwater, whose clear, personal recollections avouch this record, was also present, with others from abroad. The principles of reform were making constant and sure progress in many places, though they were yet encumbered and delayed by the cau- tious prudence of some, and by the opposition of others. The leading steps of its march are suscepti- ble of historic record. The first distinctive position assumed was the plea for the union of Christians on apostolic ground. This, as a consequence, directed an enfilading fire against the works in which the creed power was intrenched. Creeds, confessions of faith as terms of membership and communion, articles of church government separate from the New Testament, and distinctive of the sect, with all that pertained to them, were gradually losing ground ; while at the same time, as a correlative part of the plea, the fullness, sufficiency, plainness, and author- ity of the word of God for all the purposes of faith and practice, were urged with a great variety of ar- gument, illustration, and Scripture testimony.
Closely allied to this came, secondly, the whole subject of conversion, regeneration, and evidence of pardon. The theory of metaphysical regeneration, brought into the church by St. Augustine, in the fourth century, formed into system by the equally illustrious Calvin, of the sixteenth century, and lin-
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gering in most of the modern standards of ortho- doxy, was put to the most rigid test of the word of God. This involved the whole subject of spiritual influence and illumination. And while the reform- ers maintained, on Scripture grounds, a firm belief in the converting power of the Holy Spirit, and his actual presence in the hearts of Christians, they as- serted that the work of conversion was wrought through the knowledge and belief of the gospel. As the Holy Scriptures were the only guide, practices untaught therein were repudiated as of human ori- gin, and dangerous to the peace and purity of the church. On this ground, infant church-membership was delivered back to the papacy, whence it origi- nated, with " confirmation," its consequent and com- plement, sponsorship, and whatever depended upon this postscript to the apostolic gospel. Conversion without faith is impossible ; but faith comes of testi- mony-divine testimony, the word of God. Rom. x : 17. But this must be preached ; and so it is the preaching of the gospel which produces faith in Jesus Christ.
A link was yet wanting to complete the theory of salvation. That the sufferings of Christ are the procuring cause of pardon, was clearly asserted. Faith, involving a personal trust in Jesus Christ, was becoming equally clear and well established in the widening plea. But what is the evidence of pardon ? the " witness," the assurance of the penitent sinner's acceptance ? "Experience !" Yes ; but experiences are both variable, as different persons " experience a hope" at different places and by different processes, and fallible as these experiences are formed according
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to the models of teaching under which the convert has been trained. Cases are numerous and painful in which after years of agonizing self-abasement, the load of conscious sins still lies on the heart. A large number of professing Christians are subject to conflicting doubt, and harassed with distressing un- certainty of their acceptance ; very many " seek " on in silent, despairing darkness ; not a few throw them- selves into the vortex of infidelity, while some lose their reason in the fruitless search for the evidence that God has spoken peace to their souls.
Has the gospel, perfect in all its provisions, com- plete in all its appointments for salvation, left this one point without a testimony-without a provided assurance? Does God in his gospel show sinners their danger, arouse them by faith to flee from "the wrath to come," lead them to repentance by the suf- ferings of his Son, and when they come crying for mercy, is this same gospel unfurnished with a pro- vision special to this very need, which shall uni- formly and unfailingly meet them with the needed assurance of pardon ?
The divine testimony had not been explored in vain touching this point. In essays, in debate, in conversations, the unequivocal declaration of the new Institution had been brought out to view, that bap- tism in the name of Jesus Christ was ordained by him, for bringing the actual believer in him, penitent for his sins, into this new relation, and for giving him the knowledge of pardon by the promises of the new covenant. This had been ably set forth from the commission, from Acts ii: 38, and many other New Testament authorities.
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Yet who in those days, having discovered this es- tablished scriptural connection, had ventured to apply this truth to the relief of mourning sinners ?
Theory before practice : yet practice is often tardy and tremulous. It is well; let it be cautious, and walk only on solid rocks, like the priests who stood on rocks in the midst of Jordan, while Israel all passed by into the promised land. A new light was dawn- ing, and a farther glimpse into the light of the gos- pel was obtained at this meeting in Braceville.
After the services of the day were over, Scott, Bentley, Osborne, and Atwater walked out together. Conversation turned on this subject. Bentley had preached on it. He urged that it was intended to bring penitent sinners to the immediate relief they sought, by bringing them into the new covenant, whose immediate and distinguishing blessing was the actual pardon of all past sins. Osborne, turning to Scott, asked him " if he had ever thought that bap- tism in the name of the Lord was for the remission of sins ?" Holding himself somewhat in reserve, he intimated a desire for Osborne to proceed. " It is," said he, "certainly established for that purpose. It holds the same place under the gospel in relation to pardon, that the positive institution of the altar held to forgiveness under the law of Moses ; under that dispensation the sinner offered the prescribed victim on the altar and was acquitted, pardoned through the merits of the sacrifice of Christ, of which his offer- ing was a type. So under the gospel age, the sinner comes to the death of Christ, the meritorious ground of his salvation, through baptism, which is a symbol of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus
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Christ." "Very well," replied Scott, whose thoughts were very deeply engaged revolving the whole sub- ject, "it is evidently so."
After a little, Mr. Osborne remarked to Elder Bentley, "you have christened baptism to-day." "How so ?" " You termed it a remitting ordi-
nance." * Bentley replied, " I do not see how we are to avoid the conclusion with the Bible in our hands."
The second chapter of Acts of Apostles, it will be seen, was under constant and close scrutiny of inves- tigation. It contains evidence of the coronation in heaven of the King of kings, with his royal proclama- tion of mercy, and terms of pardon to his rebellious subjects.
These three preachers were again together soon after the events narrated above, when Bro. Osborne again introduced the design of baptism in public dis- course, and remarked in the connection that the gift of the Holy Spirit is after conversion and baptism, and consequent upon them, citing the inspired words of the apostle Peter in Acts ii : 38, as proof : "Re- pent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
After the meeting, Scott said to Osborne, "You are the boldest man I ever saw! Don't you think so, Bro. Bentley ?" " How so ? " said Bentley. "Why he said in his sermon that no one had a right to ex- pect the Holy Spirit till after baptism." Scott was a genius ; often eccentric, often profoundly medita- tive. It may not be necessary, as perhaps it would
* Words were sometimes used in those days with less accuracy than in later times.
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be impossible to tell, whether Mr. Scott was leading them, or they him, in those views. It is certain, however, that he had now premises sufficient for a generalization, which was soon to produce the most brilliant and unexpected results. In the powers of analysis and combination, he has rarely been equaled. Under his classification, the great elements of the gospel bearing on the conversion of sinners, assumed the following definite, rational, and scriptu- ral order : (1) Faith ; (2) Repentance ; (3) Baptism ; (4) Remission of sins; (5) The Holy Spirit ; (6) Eternal life, through a patient continuance in well doing.
This arrangement of these themes was so plain, so manifestly in harmony with soundest reason, and so clearly correct in a metaphysical point of view, as well as sustained by the Holy Scriptures, that Scott was transported with the discovery. The key of knowl- edge was now in his possession. The points which before were dark or mysterious, were now luminous. It cleared away the mist, and let in the day just where all had struggled for ages, and many had stranded. The whole Scripture sorted itself into a plain and intelligible system in illustration and proof of this elementary order of the gospel. The darkened cloud withdrew. A new era for the gospel had dawned.
So reasoned Scott. Moreover this discovery was most opportune as a preparation for his mission to which the association had called him, of preaching the gospel within its bounds.
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CHAPTER III.
The plea opened in New Lisbon-Co-operating agencies.
E VENTS were rapidly culminating for the work of conversion to open under new and peculiar con- ditions of success. The preachers were astir holding meetings in many places ; not "protracted meetings," for the day for such meetings had not yet come. Many incidents of rare interest are connected with the stir- ring reformatory movement of the years from 1826 to 1832 ; but none, perhaps, more noteworthy than the opening of the great work in New Lisbon, in November, 1827. Bro. Scott felt that the evangeli- cal part of the great commission had fallen into decay, and his soul was burdened with a great weight of duty to revive the apostolic method of preaching the gospel. After the discovery of the system of the gospel items already mentioned, he went to a commu- nity where he endeavored to impress the people with its truth ; but he failed to enlist any souls for Christ. He felt the discouragement, and went on his knees to Jesus. He plead as did the lawgiver of Israel for his people. He was most earnest in prayer. He be- lieved God. He believed his word ; his promise of help. No man more sincerely, humbly, pleadingly, ever lay prostrate before God in supplications. His prayers in public, from a tender heart, melted all hearts around him.
The effort must be repeated. It is the gospel-so
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his meditation ran-Christ's own gospel, blessed by him at first for conversion, and to be blessed by him for that purpose to the end of time. "Lo! I am with you, world without end." Then he will be with his servants still. "This is thy word ; I am thy serv- ant." So " cast down, but not destroyed," he cried ; and, again, with the prophet, "I believed, therefore have I spoken. I am greatly afflicted. I believe his word, and I will preach it again !"
It seemed a blessed providence which permitted the first trial to be a defeat. God had him under farther discipline for a higher work. If he threw him on his back in discomfiture, it was that he might fall on his face in conscious need of Christ's own help for Christ's own work ; that his gospel might be re-announced to the world in self-abasement, in weakness, and with the consciousness of the Lord's presence to aid in his work. He had been in ecstasy with the novelty and grandeur of the newly discovered truth, and with the thought of bringing sinners once more, and at once, through faith and obedience into the joys of salva- tion ; with no less of joy in the gospel as it now flamed upon his heart, but perhaps tempered with fear and trembling, a state of feeling he often experienced, he resolved to go to New Lisbon.
The old Baptist meeting-house, in which two months before he received the appointment of the as- sociation, was honored as the place for the opening of this grand appeal ; a plea which was to shake so- ciety throughout the land. Scott was in his highest key. He realized the peril of the experiment, should it, on the one hand, not meet with an encouraging re- sponse ; and on the other, the results to follow if he
7
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should be sustained in this bold advance step ; but his faith was equal to the occasion. He had examined the firmness of the ground, on which, in his new work he was to take his stand. He opened the plea with circumspection. He fortified his positions with clear and unanswerable arguments from the Word of God. As he advanced he became more inspired, forcible, and convincing. His audience were entranced. He moved on in eloquent demonstration. He was hand- ling old themes, but he was bringing out a new and startling proposition-old as the apostles, but new in this age-that at any hour when a sinner yields and. obeys the Lord Jesus, that same hour will the Lord receive him into favor and forgive his sins ; that par- don is offered in the gospel on the terms of faith and obedience, and whoever believes on him with all his heart and obeys him, shall be pardoned through his blood; and that the promise of the gospel is his evi- dence and assurance of this salvation. A new era dawned when this was urged upon the people, as it was by the preacher on that occasion, for their imme- diate acceptance.
When the preacher was drawing toward a conclu- sion of this scriptural exposition of the apostolic plan of salvation, he noticed a stranger enter the door. This man was a highly respectable citizen, and a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church. He was a diligent and pious student of the gospel ; and had long been convinced that the Savior's command to convert the world was not now obeyed as it was preached by the apostles. He spoke frequently to his wife on the subject, and was so engaged that he sometimes read and conversed to a late hour at night.
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She said on one of these occasions, "William, you will never find any one that will agree with you on that subject." He replied, " When I find any person preaching, as did the apostle Peter in the second chapter of Acts, I shall offer myself for obedience and go with him." This man was "waiting for the con- solation of Israel."
Having prepared the way by showing from the Scriptures that the Kingdom of Christ was to be opened on Pentecost, and from Matt. xvi: 18, that the apostle Peter had the keys to open the door of it, or to proclaim the terms of admission into it, Scott was bringing his subject to a conclusion. Mr. Amend, having entered from the Presbyterian prayer-meet- ing, heard enough to see his drift, and to appreciate him when he repeated the language of inspira- tion, " Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts ii : 38, 39. He was standing on his feet listening with fixed attention. The preacher, all alive to his sub- ject, called out for any of his audience who believed God and would take him at his word, to come forward and confess the Lord Jesus, and be baptized in his name for the remission of sins.
"The time has come at last," said Amend ; "God has accepted my condition ; he has sent a man to preach as the New Testament reads ; shall I fail to fulfill my pledge of obedience?" All this passed through his mind with instantaneous rapidity. "My pledge is on high ; my prayer is answered ; I will not confer with flesh and blood." With a promptness which astonished both the audience and the preach-
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er, he came to the seat assigned to converts. "Who is this man ?" whispered the astonished preacher, who had seen him enter and had scanned his move- ment. "The best man in the community ; an orderly member of the Presbyterian Church."
It was enough. Success sanctioned the appeal. Mr. Scott looked upon it as a divine attestation of the correctness of his method ; the Scriptures being his warrant for the truth of the things proclaimed. Here is a case in proof that the Word of God can be un- derstood alike by all who study it with unbiased mind. This devout Presbyterian loved the truth as it is in Jesus. The doctrine of party is nothing to such men. The testimony of the apostles will have the same ef- fect on all candid men when the doctrines and com- mandments of men are laid aside. From that day, with this seal to his ministry, he was stronger than Ajax. To borrow one of his own expressions, " he rushed in upon the people like an armed man !" Within a few days seventeen souls " hearing, believed and were baptized." There was great joy in New Lisbon. The whole. town was aroused ; some spoke against this way, others were amazed at the new things brought to their ears. The novelty and boldness of the movement broke up entirely the monotony of the customary process of "waiting," "seeking," tarrying at the pool till an angel of grace should trouble the waters of salvation. .
The contrast between the process of conversion, as generally taught, which led the soul through "much tribulation" of darkness and uncertainty, to a faint and flickering hope-and this the apostolic method- was so direct and palpable, that the conflict was im-
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mediately initiated and strongly marked. The one led the sinner up through states of mind and frames of feeling, and upon the genuineness of these was based his hope of peace. The other brings him, with the same conscious conviction of his sins, to trust the mercy of Jesus, and to rely on Christ's promise of forgiveness, which he approaches and secures through the obedience of faith.
It was singular, and indeed inexplicable to Mr. Scott, that the first person to respond to his call, and come forth to obey the gospel, should be a man who had not heard his sermon. If he had heard his premi- ses, and had been enlightened by his argument, the case would have presented no cause of marvel. He had heard only his conclusion. He came. It was a mystery.
Mr. Scott was restless under it. Several years afterward he addressed to Mr. Amend a note of in- quiry in regard to it, and received in reply the follow- ing explanation :
" I will answer your questions. I was baptized on the 18th of Nov., 1827, and will relate to you a circumstance which occurred a few days before that date. I had read the second chapter of Acts, when I expressed myself to my wife as follows: Oh, this is the gospel ; this is the thing we wish, the remission of our sins ! Oh, that I could hear the gospel in those same words as Peter preached it ! I hope I shall some day hear, and the first man I meet who will preach the gospel thus, with him will I go. So, my brother, on the day you saw me come into the meeting- house, my heart was open to receive the word of God, and when you cried, 'The Scripture shall no longer be a sealed book, God means what he says. Is there any man pres- ent who will take God at his word and be baptized for
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the remission of sins,'-at that moment my feelings were such, that I could have cried out, 'Glory to God ! I have found the man whom I have long sought for.' So I en- tered the kingdom, when I readily laid hold of the hope set before me. WILLIAM AMEND."
It is no easy task, now that the position then as- sumed by Mr. Scott has won the victory, and become a distinguishing practice of many hundred thousand Christians, to appreciate the nature or the magnitude of the difficulties which environed him. When we consider his natural timidity ; that he was not em- boldened by the presence, or encouraged by the ex- ample, of any one in modern times ; that the whole land, and, indeed, the whole world had been for ages silent as the grave respecting this peculiar and special plea, the surprise grows into wonder and amazement, and the event takes on the most evident tokens of the hand of God in it.
It is true the "Christian Baptist," in the first vol- ume, had taught the scriptural connection between baptism and remission, in an essay by the elder Campbell ; also in A. Campbell's Debate with Mr. McCalla the same truth was distinctly set forth. But it remained among the theories. Sinners still languished in despairing doubt, awaiting some light, emotion, or sensation on which they might settle as the " white stone" of elective grace, specially im- parted to assure them they were of the elect for whom Christ died. Besides, all the prominent creeds of christendom contain the doctrine of baptism as a pledge of remission, as an item of dogmatic belief. But not one of the sects built upon them carries out its creed, in this particular, into practical result, and
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