“COLLEGIATE STUDENTS.”

            “While on this subject, I hope my brethren, the ‘Disciples of the Lord Jesus,’ will receive the word of admonition. I think you will acknowledge that, for a few years back, there has been a spirit of growing conformity to the maxims and precepts of men manifest among us ‘reformers;’ and, for fear we may, as a body, fall under the ‘mark of the beast,’ I conceive it my duty, while addressing you, solemnly and affectionately to warn you against the inroads of the ‘Man of Sin.’ If I could raise my voice so as to be heard through the length and breadth of this land, and was certain it would be my last address, I would say, brethren, ‘give not heed to seducing spirits’—‘heap not to yourselves teachers,’ who, for their own gain, would make merchandise of you, and teach you that to support them, you should sell your property, and make great sacrifices; and all, too, under pretence of contributing to the advancement of Christ’s kingdom. Remember what Christ said of the Pharisees in his day:

‘They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they will not move them with one of their fingers.’—

Matthew 23: 4.

Who ever heard or read of an Apostle dictating to disciples how much each one ought to contribute per week, or month? or demanding of a Christian congregation a salary for doing what Christ has commanded all to do to the best of their ability? When a congregation of disciples employs a brother to proclaim the Gospel to the world, he ought to be sustained by it; but to give a stipend to any brother in the Church able to support himself, that he may occupy the time for lazy or carnal professors, who care more for eloquent speeches than they do for the edification of the body by its own members, agreeable to apostolic injunctions, is, in my humble judgment, anti-Christian, and dangerous to the true interests of Zion. It matters not whether the stipend be one, five, or ten hundred dollars per annum—whether it be in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington, or Richmond—the danger is the same; the duty of exhortation will be set aside, and the ‘one man system’ be put in its place; then follows, as a natural consequence, a learned ministry, collegiate students in preparation for the ministry, the abrogation, so far as men are concerned, of the apostolic declaration,

‘God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in his presence.’—

1 Corinthians 1: 27-29.

I am not opposed to educated men, but to their elevation above the congregations and institutions of my King. I would have all to be educated, and especially in THE BOOK. Brethren, be warned—set your faces as a flint against such innovations; stand fast in the liberty with which Christ has made you free, and submit to no yoke of bondage. Bring forth the fruits of righteousness, and ‘Sow to the Spirit,’ not dollars to support a clergyman, but that which is equivalent to ‘walking in the spirit,’ ‘bringing forth the fruits of the spirit;’ then, when the glorious King appears you shall be found, having on the wedding garment, and you will hear the welcome sound, ‘Enter into the joy of your Lord.’”

            The above is extracted from a pamphlet published by J. L. Rees, of Philadelphia, who signs himself “a Christian Elder.” It was written in 1843, about a year after the commencement of Bethany College; and being a very scriptural annotation to the preceding presidential magniloquence, we have deemed it fit that they should appear together, for the admonition of those, who once set out from Babylon, but have unfortunately ran past Jerusalem in mad haste to Jericho!

EDITOR.