1.    A very general disposition to disregard the Bible as the standard by which all differences among Baptists must be settled. That there are differences is too plain to be mistaken. There are those that hold to the doctrine of church succession. There are those that deny this doctrine. There are some that hold that authority from the church is essential to valid baptism, and some that deny this doctrine. Now if this dispute is ever settled it must be done by an appeal to the Bible. But you will notice that those who hold to the negative of these great Bible truths do very generally keep silent upon these doctrines and one of the first evidences of decay in the faith of the individual is silence. You must not discuss these questions. Much harm comes from discussions; or if they do discuss these questions the appeal is made to history and from these old musty records the writer or speaker can find nearly anything he wishes, and especially is this so if the writer or speaker is hard pressed. Look at Dr. Vedder.

2.    Mark of decay, is a disposition very generally to hold the commands of the Bible of very little importance in the line of Christian duties. Often do we hear men say: these little differences we should not discuss, discussions are productive of no good, and a minister that is bold enough to "contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." Is apt to be accused of being a hobbyist, almost the first mark, if not quite, on the part of a minister being his slide from regular Baptist (Bible) teaching on church perpetuity from the days of Christ till He comes again, is silence, after a while you will begin to hear him say, "O, I used to think it to be my duty to teach this doctrine, but I do not think so now, and then that old landmark doctrine is worn out and I intend to let it go." You may look out when you hear such remarks from your preacher – decay has set in – these are certain marks of decay. The next thing you know of that minister he will be compelled to change his field of labor, especially so if he has laboring among Regular Baptists. I Think my readers will begin to think, what next? Well this will be, what next: In his sermons you will hear him announce that universal church theory that the different and differing churches (so called) are the churches of Christ, set up by Him. While it is a fact that the great majority of churches so called only claim to have been organized by some great man.

Not a great while ago, while the church of Christ was organized by Him in person over 1800 years ago. Now I must close, or my letter will be too long, but I close on this text, "Beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you and exhort you that ye should contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," Jude 3^rd verse. This text covers the whole ground, the faith means the whole gospel, and nothing short of preaching the whole gospel will cover the ground of obligation given to the church by the Lord Jesus Christ. These are questions that excite ridicule in the minds of the populace; and that fact shuts the mouths of some ministers of today – in fact I doubt whether any minister can maintain his standing with the people and preach the doctrine of church succession, not because I doubt the truth of the doctrine. I no more doubt the purity of the doctrine of the church of Christ, than I do the doctrine of the resurrection of His body without seeing corruption – again I question very much whether any ordinary minister could hold a fair audience and preach that the authority to administer the ordinances of the church belongs to the church, and to the church alone, and that all immersions administered without authority from the church is worthless, and yet it passes through the world as pure gold, and why? Because of that spirit of which I am speaking. Public sentiment is so poisoned with error that they will not hear the truth; having "itching ears". Just think of it – a man goes out and preaches and baptizes at the same time he was sent by the church, in fact never belonged to the church and never was baptized at all; and notwithstanding these facts, those baptized by him are received into the Baptist churches. I no more believe such baptisms are valid than I do the baptism administered by the Mormons, and yet the practice of receiving baptism from other orders is quite common among the Baptists of this Coast – decay has certainly gone a long way among our people.  May I not safely conclude that we are where the Revelator places us in Rev. 3, and on to the close of that letter? Please read the letter to Laodicea.

 A.B.A. HISTORY & ARCHIVES COMMITTEE
MICROFILM COLLECTION

 Printed by permission from
ROBERT W. CULLIFER,  PASTOR
LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH
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