Page 3 Advertisements Column 4

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4020, 6 January 1875, Page 3

PUBLIC .NOTICES. J3LYMOUTH BRETHRENISM. To those represented by-the wordsof 1 Corin. i. 2. Dear Brethren---" There «as-no room Sot them (at the bit th of Jesus) ia ihe inn.? (Luke ii. 7.) And much li*e this it would be for "the Church of God " did she assert and vindicate herseli in all tbopecuii.uii.ier> ot her heavenly character. Because the sutjeetof this letter is net a public one, Irather issneit a-, .in advertisement—common newspaiier correspondence hem.'an appeal to the bar of public opinion, at which bar we have no chance. lam induced to write uy the notice of a lwok on «k> above-subject, srlreh in a recent number of the N. Z.CliFi,tian Record. We vie told to be always able to give a reas mi for the hope that is m us, which exhort, tion -may be heldas applying not only to the great fundamental truth of- Cnristian hope, but also to whatever is eonnectedwith our walk us Christians. And in proceeding thus to cive a reason, I must speak, _ First, a word on the name "Plymouth Brethren." It suggests ihat those so tailed h Jd -their-views under some fountain-head of authority in Plymouth : but ire only seek to follow the teachings of the Spirit of God, as found m Scripture. Thenamo, however, is of very little import, since even the false name, Jesus of Nazareth, seems to have been accepted by l'oter, even after Pentecost. (Act iii. 0.) Then we are gravely said to "steal sheep" from other denominations. I. wish we werj more expert thieves. But. to speak soberly, we do so, only as we may, in God's grace, be us.-d »s instruments in teaching the Word of God more deeply, Jt is the fcpirit of Cod, and h« a one, through the Word that really leads lorward, until those so led find that they must fd-e itbertg for that action which, is demanded of them by the Lord. The only way. to stop this so-called " sheep aaiig is to keep back or warp the free study of the Word, and hinder the action of theSpiritof God.. But these things, and others of. Keve ation, cannot be judged of by the world ; for it is 0.,1y those who have lioeu born ayaiu" who dan know them (i Cor. ii. 14)• that is, those who believe and rejoice that they luxce 1 oa/ (l-f<le''t> '>? Jcsns's death, having paid it. men what constitutes-one to he a Plymouth Brother? That is to say, what causes one to get that name train those who give it? The greatdktingtiishliijr point is ihat of meeting without a une-iuau ministry or a pre-arranged order. Of course " ministers" must either prove that this is wrong or resign their position; hence their severity; and they are right in regard to meetings for " public worship,': seeing that in them the distinction is not made-between the Church and the world. But when the words are reeoguized and obeyed, •' .Not.forsakiiig the assembling if oursrlreg-to-getber ;" when the meeting ii held as one of Christians, then the word respecting the way of ineetiu" may be obeyed, and must be obeyed for Wie sake of order'and life. Jiut I would show that the way so blamed is the way of the Bible. The most prominent portion for provin" this is m 1 Corin/xii. and xiv.; .but to seket a word or two as the key-note not only of those chapters but also of the whole Testament, let mo quote (1 Corin. xiv. 24): "If all prophecy," &c, where we are told that it is in the exercise of this very libcrtv that.con.--versions to God take place. .Is not-this remarkably illustrate! in Scotland at present ? where the American victors have for the time being set aside ths barriers Winch existed. Also, in verse 31, the.Holy Spiris expressly sajs: "Ye may all .prophecy ;-.' and, in verse 39, the command is, " Covet topnijihecy." But it may be objected that these directions.- were given for Corinth only.as beinga.Chuich in confusion,, and that Corinth should not be regarded as a typical Church; In reply: First -From the generality of the a.ldressof the Epistle, Corinth ii evidently to- be regarded as a typical Church... Secoiid^The-exbortation. does not stand as pr vate to Corinth, seeing tliat the basis of it is made to rest on a principle mo^t.uiii--ver.-al, viz , the oi.eness of the tody otCiuist vitali-ed by the in-dwelling of the lioly Spirit actuatiu" all the. members. Third—Othn- portions of Scripture teach, the same, such as Romans: xii. and Heb.. x. 25: " txhorting one another," &c, &c But the strongest apparent, objection to this-wayof; things is expressed in these words---' If ait are thus at liberty to minister, what place is left fur those elders of, whom wo icad V This objection throws the Bible at the Bible. We read, ?• Obey t ,em th »t .have the rule " and surely they would rule by the.Wor.i, and prevent one from crushing all the rest into a forbidden subor-- | dination. Then another point often indica.tcd.as wrong is doing away with what is by some called " ordinatiou." But, 1 the ordination of . the reformed-: Churches - requires to be explained; for either it is- deji ed from [ the ordination of the Church: of. Rome, or. el<e it is the ordination of the laity. If * the former i then the superio ity.of the Church .of Rome is adl mitted, and dissent from,it .stultified ;if the latter, then the laity are gie.iter tha-> the clergy whom..they ordnin, seeing that "without all. contradiction the less h blessed of the greater.'! Where, theu, is'the ordination of the. reformed Chnncbos •>_. If .the ordainers are not ordained, where are the ordained: Do 3'ou reply to me, " Where; then, is ihe Church? V Verily gone, if dependent on the ordination of. man. But' blessed be God,. "The foundation oE.Goa.standeth sure." The mercy seat of grace is still open for: all comers. The one offering efficacious still. The Holy Ghost is powerfully working in and .dwelling in men's hearts still; and hence " the Church Of God," though, broken and feelile, is in existence stilL And this earnest of the Spirit shall not be removed "until, the redemption of the purchased possession," and the Comforter will abide with.the Church for. ever, till;the Church is rewired to Himselfi,and.until it shall become 'a perfect man," and thus.-a ministry and eldership and all nceJed., services - are produced by God himself,, and it., is ours to.. reuo^nise>;them and support them . with alh honour, u-ing the Scriptures which indicate their qual fixations and marks as our guide whereby to-distiu'ijuish and know them. One Scripture being; " They ace of the world, I therefore speak they of the world, and the world hearcth them., We ( U believers) are of .God. He tbat knowetli God heareth. us; .he that-is not of. God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of errur.V-(l John iv. 5, .6.) 'J he movement on which I write is a reaction towards Scripture caused by the strong tide,for some years, and still (2 Thes. ii. 3) sweeping in the opposite direction. It is an effort to lice" tbe.Churuh.of- God." (1 Cor. x. 32.) Those brethren themselves .will be the most prominent in avowing that thece has been great failure. But with eye fixed on «/?, /«?/Vr-tbe coming of Jesus—each one of them would say in David's language to those.who blame, "If it,be t vile to pursue' this path, ' I will ;be.yet more vile than, thus.'" (2 Sam vi. 22.) WALTER. PATEESOST. Saddle Hill, 2nd Jauuary, 1875., THK MOUNTAINS Ivii AXES OF OWAGO. SUMMER KXCURSIOXS TO THE WAK.AT.IjSI. ■ Under tlie patro!iage.o£i I |Eis Excellency Sir James. Fergussou,. Bart., Sir Geo. I 1 P. Bo.wen, Bart., Sir Geo..Grey,. JfcC.B. (late j i Governor of New Zealand), Lord Buri Icigh, Mr Antliony.TroKopo, • His .HonourJudgo- ■ Richmond, I .laiige.Eello,»-s(of. I • Victoria),.. Mr,Dennestan I j Wood (late.Attorney-Geaejal cf Vicj toria), the Hon. Major., Richardson, Dr Heo]tor^sr.R.S., and numerous othoy.djitinguished visitors. teICHAR;D.T'S HOTEL, I Q TJ E E -IT,S^G> W N "Riis Hotel is situate, on .tba margin of Queenstown |Bay, and commands..inpst magnificent viuwsof Lake ;an(i Mountain Scenery, j Private Apartments Jpr,'Pottrists and Families. 2n>. Q DEB aE B, and C 0., liEpoiters of CHINA, GLASS, EA&THEN, and LAMP WARS, Hereby beg to intirjsatie that during the alterations to their Premises, business will be carried on in, the STORE recently, escaped the late Mr HA^EN, STAFFORD STREET. Now Opened Out— THE FIRST; SHIPMENT OF EARTSENWARE, ASD A SPLENDU). LOT OF BOHENTAN GLASSWARE AND- FANCY CHINA ORNAMENTS, Suitablo for the approaching Season. NEW 2EALAXD VARNISH AJO) POLIaH. rTHHESE Varnishes are pronounced b.\ JL ojl -who have used them to ba equal, if no superior, to any Varnishes which are imported. Wli liam Gilchrist, having a barge stock of these Vamishe and Polishes on hand, is prepared to etpply Hoos - Painters, Ccach Painters, and Cabinetmakers, at th lowest possible price. - Th£3e yarnishea are made from the finest Kauri an East India gums. WILLIAM GILCKSIST, 3APAN AJTB VARNISH M;ASUrACTCTJB.ER, IMPORTER OF PA-PEitHANGUSGd, . GLASS, OILS, COLOURS, BRUSHES George strskt^ Duxedis. \ TAILORS. ILLUM SINCLAIR TAILOR AJG> CLOTHIER, ' I KC3S STREET, (Opposite Criterion Hotel) HAIRDRESSER. NOTICE. JUST OPENED, the BEST ASSORT- ** MENr •» DUNEDIN, HEAR DRESS PINS, in Crystal, Stseli Pearl, Shell, aivl Jet, at ' F. BEISSEfc, ' . Hairdresser, Princes street. ENTIRES. O STAND THIS SEASON, AT DODSON"S FARM, -SAWYER'S BAY, The Thoroughbred Imported Entire CASSIVELLADNUS. CASSIVELLAUNUS is a bright bay, black points, five years old, stands sixteen hands two inches high, possesses immense power, and shows great quality. As & two-year-old he won two two-year-old races at Newmarket, beating a Inrge field. He was imported into this Province by Mr Thomas Connor. Cassivellaunu is by Caractacus, dam Campanile, by Stoekwoli. Caractacus by Kingston, son of Venison, out of Defenceless by Defence, son of Whalebone, winner of the Epsom Derby, 1562, value £6520. Parties intending seuding mares will )]lease communicate at once, as the list is fast filling up. First-class Paddock ccounnodation for Hares, Service Fee £t0 10a, OrOQmage, sa. ; 21