Excerpt from The Baptist Memorial, and Monthly Record, 1851, Vol. 10: Devoted to the History, Biography, Literature and Statistics of the Denomination

Aside from the influences of the Holy Spirit, it must be admitted that the preaching of the gospel stands highest as a divinely appointed instrumentality in the conversion of the world and all plans adopted for the attainment of this sublime object, by making other means more prominent, have been unsuccessful. Still subordinate to this, there are other instrumentalities, without which the preaching of the Word would be much less efi'ectual. The prayers and personal efforts of the church, considered as a body of individuals, are indispensable to the herald of the cross. Those efforts have put in operation that mighty engine of moral power, Tia: Press, by which the word of God and millions of pages of other precious truth have been scattered, like the leaves of the forest, over many of the darkest regions of the earth. Ever since the invention of printing, the press has been the principal instrumentality in establish ing the doctrines of the Christian religion, and defending them from the aspersions of infidelity. The rich mines of Theology and Metaphy sics - the foundation of all our codes of morals and religion - are laid Open by this means of disseminating truth. We may add, that thejuridical press performs an important part in advocating the funda mental principles of our religion. Probably there is no other influence in politics or religion, which effects as much as this, in forming and directing the public mind. The religious periodical press is, to say the least, a very important medium for the defense of Christian doctrine.

In view of this fact particularly, have we chosen the theme of our present contemplation.

There have been two principal sources of opposition to Christianity with which its advocates have been obliged to contend, viz moral sua sion and secular power. The latter has generally been connected with regal authority - the influence of splendid courts, and, not unfrequently. With ecclesiastical tyranny. Sometimes physical force, almost entirely, has been employed to subvert Christianity; but generally, there has been a show, at least, of argument to justify the use of the military arm. Until modern times, indeed until a comparatively brief period, physical force has been made to bear upon the decision of moral and religious controversies. Even in the nineteenth century, royal and senatorial authority, in some nominally Christian countries, has attempted to con trol the conscience; but we may safely assert, that there has never been a time in the annals of fallen humanity, when reason sat so firmly upon her throne in the Christian world as at the present moment; and this constitutes the chief advantage of the modern advocates of the Christian scheme over those of ancient times. Let reason, baptized in the spirit of apostolical Christianity, once gain the ascendency over blind, cruel, diabolical force, and there is hope. True, such a Spirit of mental inde pendence and freedom may sometimes be abused, and become the occa sion of ushering into a brief existence the vagaries of transcendentalism, rationalism, or Open infidelity. Still we say, let reason and conscience be free, and man will rise to the true dignity of his nature. Then the miraculous light of Revelation, and all the confirmatory evidence of its Divine authenticity, arising from the investigations of modern scholars and divines. Can be brought to bear upon minds untrammelled by fear or compulsion.

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