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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, one

Preface

A THOROUGH examination of the subject of the following pages, has long been a desideratum Doth in this country and in England. And the duty of undertaking the task, having plainly devolved upon the v^rriter, he has labored to perform it in such a manner, as first to present a condensed viev/ of the system of Mr. Campbell, and then a canvass of its pretensions. Facts in both cases are copiously stated, and the reader is left to his own conclusions.

Ever since the publication of the essay on this subject in the American Biblical Repository of 1839, the writer has been urged to give it to the public in another form ; but his numerous professional duties left him too little time, until recently, for the accomplishment of the task in the way which he thought circumstances required. For under the allegations of his opponent, that the writer had misrepresented him in his statements, he felt that duty required of him to give his authorities a patient and thorough re-examination, before re-publishing the essay from under his own hand. And as it had been republished in various parts of the country, and in England, without his being consulted, he felt that no imperious necessity as yet required of him to neglect other important duties to attend to this. But a request from some of the students of one of f>ur most respectable Theological Seminaries, (whose professors had done the writer the honor to recommend the essay as a satisfactory refutation of the dogmas which it controverts,) as well as a recent appropriation of the essay by an individual who thought proper to copy a great part of it without any acknowledgement, have, together with the demand for such a discussion at the West and South, induced the writer to undertake the task anew ; and the reader is here presented with the result.

The original essay is in the general incorporated with the present work ; and its positions are fortified by many references and quotations not found in that. There is added, also, a discussion of some other important topics. And as Mr, Campbell has ventured to accuse the writer of misrepresenting his views, (though he has furnished no instances corroborative of the accusation,) the quotations from his writings in the present work, will be found to be so numerous, and so full that every reader will perceive that a reiteration of such a charge in relation to the topics refered to, will be as preposterous as it would be unwarrantable,

Mr, C. has also accused the writer of disputing for victory, and of opposing him " from corrupt motives," that so the writer " might bask in the smiles of an adoring multitude, and domineer over them for his own advantage." Such charges are easily made : but when their author does not condescend to sustain them by any reference to fact, are not to be regarded. The writer may be permitted to remark, however, that were he capable of such consummate folly, as to waste the precious hours of this life in a dispute for victory over a frail erring mortal like himself, he should certainly select an antagonist, over whom victory would be more diflicult, as well as more glorious than he should find it to be in the case of Mr. Campbell.

Mr. C. after having challenged the v/riter to this discussion, finding himself unable to meet and refute his arguments, threatened both the writer and the publisher of the essay, with a civil prosecution for damages. But the absurdity of a man's challenging another to a discussion, and thus reducing him to the alternative of either being branded as recreant to the cause of truth, or of being prosecuted, should he accept the challenge and vanquish his adver sary, was so glaring, that Mr. C. has, with reason, become heartily ashamed of it. And he endeavors to palliate so gross a procedure, by asserting that it was not what was said of Ms writings, but of himself that led him thus to threaten. But the futility of this plea is manifest For the same personal allusions of which he complained, had been previously pubUshed in Dr. Cleland's " Strictures," Dr. Jennings' " Debate," Mr. M'Calla's " Review," and in a little work entitled " Campbellism Unmasked;" and yet Mr, C. never threatend a prosecution. His threatened resort to law was a mere pretext by which to relieve himself from the force of

4 PREFACE.

arguments and statements of fact in reference to his system and " New Version," which he could not meet.

It is scarce necessary for the writer to say that he entertains towards Mr. C. and his followers, no other than benevolent and kind feelings ; for he has given no reason to suspect the contrary. He candidly confesses that in handling such errors as are here exposed, he cannot speak in that excessively mild tone which might lead the reader to suppose that the writer deems the error to be but trivial. But aside from this, if the reader find any evidence that the work has been written under the influence of prejudice or animosity, or from a mere desire of victory, he will doubtless do most ample justice to both the writer and Mr. Campbell. In such a case, the writer alone would be the loser.

That the representation of the system has beeii perfectly fair and candid, can be proved by testimonials without number, from such as reside where its features are fully and practically developed. Private letters could be quoted, as well as public declarations to this effect. Yet the writer will make but a single quotation from the Amer. Biblic. Repos. for April 1840, p. 469, where, speaking in reference to the essay, the learned editor remarks, as follows : " Those of our readers who possess the first numbers of the current series of the Repository, will readily recur to the article on ' Campbellism ' by Mr. Landis, That article was read with much interest, and several of our most intelligent correspondents in the Werstern and Southern States, who are much better acquainted than ourselves with the peculiarities of Campbellism, and their practical influence, have taken occasion to express their high sense of the ability and justice of Mr. Landis' discussion." And yet Mr. C. has ventured to assert that the writer has misrepresented the Campbellite system !

In preparing his work, the writer has, also, (as the reader will see,) had an eye to the growing corruptions of Popery and Puseyism in this country. The errors advocated by these sectaries on the subject of faith, justification, regeneration, &<;., are substantially the same as those advocated by Mr. C.

After presenting a full view of the leading features of the system of Mr. C, (which will be found in Chapter II,) the writer proceeds to examine it in detail. Its primary proof-texts are thoroughly discussed ; then are considered the doctrines of faith, justification, conversion, and regeneration. After refuting the errors of Mr. C. on these points, a plain, popular and practical view of the same doctrines is given from the Bible. The writer hopes that this part of the discussion will not be thought irrelevant ; for in such a case, he deems it important to accompany the refutation of an error with a plain statement of the truth. This branch of the discussion, is followed by a chapter of " Direct Arguments " against the system. Then are considered the unitarian nature and tendencies of the system ; and this is followed by a thorough review of Mr. C.'s "New Version." The whole is concluded with a history of the Campbellite controversy, and a review of all the exceptions which Mt. C. has taken to the writer's former essay.

ROBERT W. LANDIS.

Sidney, New Jersey, contents;

PAGE.

CHAPTER I.— Introduction, 7

CHAP. n. — The Fundamental Principles of Campbellism pointed out.

Section I. Mr. Campbell's views of Baptism, 11

//. His view of Saving Faith, -13

" III. His view of Conversion, -14

" IV. View of Justification, ------------- 15

V. View of Regeneration, ----- I7

VI. A brief summary of the foregoing views, -------22

CHAP. HI. — The Proof-Texts which the Campeellites urge in favor

OF THE foregoing VIEWS, EXAMINED, - 23

CHAP. IV. — Examination of Mr. C.'s System.

Section I. Can baptism be performed by immersion ?------ 37

" //. What is the Saving Faith ? 42

" IIL The grounds briefly stated upon which a sinner obtains justification before God, 48

" IV. Conversion, Scriptural view of it, 54

" V. Regeneration, Scriptural view of it, -------- 62

CHAP. V. — Direct arguments against Campbellism, - 77

CHAP. VI. — The Unitarinism of the Campbellite sect, ----- 83

CHAP. VII. — Their version of the New Testament, ------ 99

CHAP. VIII. — Review of the Campbellite Controversy, ----- 106

Conclusion of the v/ork, - 130

Appendix, .----. I33

RABBAH TAKEN.

CAMPBELLISM.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction

By CampbellisTrij I mean the system of theology promulgated by the Rev. Alexander Cmipbell, of Bethany, Brooke County, Virginia. I disclaim all intention of using this term as a term of reproach, though Mr. C.'s followers object to it as offensive. It is employed simply to avoid circumlocution in discriminating this sect of religionists from other professors of Christianity, And it is as foreign from our wishes to offend the Campbellites by this appellation, as it is from theirs to offend others, by using the terms Lutheran, Calvinist, Arminian, and Papist, for a similar purpose.

The leaders of this sect boast that it is very numerous. Mr. C, himself, in 1830, affirmed that he had 150,000 followers; and another of their popular writers in 1833, estimates the number at 200,000. And, in his reply to me, Mr. Campbell, referring to the same subject, remarks in 1840 : " An unexpected, and indeed, in these days, an unprecedented success has attended our humble and imperfect efforts, and many myriads of the excellent of the earth, of all parties, (we bless the Lord,) have united with us on the high and holy ground of apostolic precept and authority, so that hundreds of churches all over these United States, and some in Great Britain and her Colonies, have been formed on the ancient platform."*

The number of this sect cannot now be ascertained with precision ; but it is

* See Am. Bib. Repos. for April, 1840, p. 474.

considerable in the Southern and Western States.

Mr. Campbell was originally a Presbyterian clergjrman, and after emigrating to this country from Ireland, (of which he is a native,) he united with the Baptist church. But upon his embracing and continuing to promulgate the peculiarities of the system which he now advocates, the Baptists refused to have further intercourse with him ; and in the general, they have repudiated both him and his system.*

In an able letterf which the Author received from the Rev. Dr. Fishback, of the West, a clergyman of the Baptist church, (and an advocate of Robert Hall's principle of free communion,) who has been an opponent of Campbellism for many years, the origin of this sect is referred to and illustrated. The following is an extract : " Campbell's doctrine is, that sinners are justified or receive the remission of their sins by and in a believing immersion ; and of course that true believers in Jesus Christ, among all the sects, are still in their sins, and out of the kingdom of Jesus, and cannot be recognized as Christians. This is the new and great discovery which he professes to have made or disinterred from under the rubbish of ages and generations, under which it had been lost since shortly after the Apostolic age.

* We give a single instance illustrative of this. By the Appomattox (Va.) Association, in 1831, then comprising 24 churches, 14 ministers, and 4 licentiates and 4000 communicants, the following resolution was adopted :

'■■•Resolved, That in view if the distracting ravages of Campbellism, in the bounds of the Meherrin Associa. lion, this association will cease to correspond with that Association, until the old leaven be purged out ; and that this Association will not, knowingly, correspond with any other, holding in fellowship Campbellite churches or Campbellite preachers."

t Dated Lexington Ky., April 1840.

" His design was, in setting out with his new discovery, to do great things for the Baptists. In their close communion, the Baptists acted as though Pasdobaptists were in their sins, and out of the kingdom of Christ, without assigning any other reason for it than their practicing PsBdobaptism. Campbell's design was, to justify the Baptists in their practice by giving them a reason for it, which is, as above observed, that Psedobaptists are actually in their sins, by reason of their not having had them remitted in a believing immersion, and that they are also out of the kingdom of Jesus Christ.— This view of the subject took at once with a great number of the Baptists, who united with Mr. Campbell, and was the occasion of dividing nearly fifty Baptist churches in Kentucky."

Dr. Fishback has been acquainted with the Campbellites ever since their origin as a sect, and this statement respecting the design of Mr. C, can, also, be otherwise abundantly established. — And starting from this point, Mr. C. not only advocates the sentiment here attributed to him, (as the reader will see hereafter) but all the obnoxious doctrines which it necessarily involves.

For myself, I do not suppose that all the truth contained in the Bible has been already elicited. If Mr. C. therefore, either has discovered or can discover any thing therein which has not yet been developed, I, for one, will rejoice. But surely, the way to do this, is not to begin by gathering up the old fragments of ancient exploded errors, and passing them off as new discoveries.

It is a trite remark, that errors in theology are no longer new — and that what, in the present day, is regarded as such, is nothing more than the resuscitation of error which existed, and was exploded in a former age. Were we disposed to elucidate the truth of this remark, we should look in vain for a better, or more confirmatory instance, than the one now under consideration. Though it may be true, that the whole system was never before advocated by any single errorist, it is still a fact, that there is scarcely a weatherboard or a tile, which Mr. C. has fastened on his singularly heterogeneous structure that cannot be shown to belong, appropriately, to the demolished fabric of some other opposer of the Gospel in former days.

Errorists, where the Bible is acknowledged, when they set out to establish a favorite theory in religion, invariably claim to be supported by the word of God, and manifest an anxious desire that this claim should be acknowledged by others: — or, at least, that their opinions, however wild and extravagant, should be admitted to be the result of honest conviction on their part. Public sentiment, to an extent that is truly remarkable, sanctions this claim, and regards it as uncourteous and uncivil to doubt whether such an individual honestly believes that his views are sanctioned by inspiration. No matter how hallucinary, or preposterous, or abhorrent to the dictates of scripture and common sense, the sentiment in question may be, we can express no doubt of the intelligent sincerity of the convictions in the mind of the errorist, without subjecting ourselves at once to the imputation of bigotry or uncharitableness. — The same fate, also, pretty generally awaits us, when we venture to pronounce such sentiments repugnant to Scripture and to common sense. To such an extent did the late erratic, though transcendantly gifted Irving urge this claim, that he considered himself harshly treated and persecuted by his opponents, because they affirmed that his views could not be supported by their Confession of Faith, — a measure which he even seriously attempted. The Mormon prophets of our own country, and the Christyans and Campbellites, furnish other and not less remarkable instances.

It is not our intention to speculate upon this topic. But this abuse of public confidence appears to us, to annihilate the distinction between truth and error, at least so far as respects everything that pertains to its discovery and profession. It makes it equall}?- meritorious for an individual to profess and suffer for error, as for truth. It assumes that man is not culpable for error, and loses sight of the fact that Paul has placed " heresies^^ along with other ^^ works of the flesh" with " lasciviousness, idolatry, hatred, envyings, drunkenness," etc.; and involves the absurd supposition that the Atheist's honesty ought not to have been doubted when he affirmed that he could " prove

AND REPUTED.

anything by the Bible, except that there is no God."

It is clearly a doctrine of the Bible, that error in religion is, to say the least, much more the result of depravity of heart, than of honest and conscientious mistake. And though we cannot here pause to ascertain it, yet, there certainly must be some principle which will justify an individual in speaking decidedly, in terms of reprehension, of that which is clearly contrary to the word of God, without being justly the subject of censure. Surely if there are errorists, and if mankind are furnished with the means of ascertaining truth ; if Christians are called upon to contend earnestly for the truth originally revealed; there must be some principle that justifies them in peremptorily refusing all such demands upon their christian fellowship and charity as are thus made by every one who chooses to represent himself as inspired of Heaven.

But errorists themselves practically concede the existence of such a rule or principle as the one referred to. The Mormons, the Christyans, the Puseyites, and the Perfectionists, perpetually admonish all the churches in the land, hitherto regarded as Christian, that they are in dangerous error, that they are not Christian, but are corrupt, anti-apostolic, and have nothing to look for at the hand of God but his uncovenanted mercies. The Campbellites assume precisely the same position, as we shall see hereafter. Nor is this all : for, if we except the fact that the Campbellites and Christyans have, within a few years past, professed an agreement on all the essential points of their systems, they, with the utmost bitterness denounce each other. Of this denunciatory spirit, we shall present here one brief example, from the writings of Mr.' Campbell. He is speaking of the Mormons, (who, we doubt not, it w^ill be admitted, before we are through with this discussion, have quite as valid claims to be regarded as Christians, as Mr. Campbell himself,) and thus remarks : * " I would say nothing to the disparagement of this deluded people. But 'tis a disgrace to the christian character, to the name, to any man who has ever read a

* See Mr. CamphelVs Millenial Harbinger for April, 1834, Vol, V. p. 148.

Bible, to believe that absurd book, called ' the book of Mormon.' It is a matter of astonishment and grief, to think of a man in the exercise of reason, for one moment to give credit to this wretched bundle of lies. It must have been written by an Atheist, who did not believe that God would ever call him to judgment for lying in his name. A Yankee trick to make money. The author must have studied barrenness of sentiment and ex- ! pression, a poverty of style, without an equal in the English language for the purpose of deception," etc.

Mr. Campbell, therefore, in the most unequivocal manner, admits the existence of the principle, or rule referred to. We also admit it. He clearly and fully, in this extract, asserts the doctrine of accountability for our opinions, — for he says that •' it is a disgrace to any man who has ever read a Bible to believe that absurd book called the Book of Mormon." He says this, while he knows at the same time, that multitudes have received that book as divine. He denounces them as a " deluded people," and affirms that the Mormon book " must have been written by an Atheist," that its fabrication was " a Yankee trick to make mo- ?iey." Thus does he arraign the sincerity, and impugn the motives of a sect which is certainly as sincere and as respectable as his own. Nor has he, to my knowledge, ever been threatened with a civil prosecution for doing so. But w^hen I, after having been abused by him and his followers, and challenged to discuss their peculiarities, presented a calm statement of their views, and employing therein language in no way as denunciatory as the foregoing, the only argument with which I am met, is a threat from Mr. Campbell of a civil prosecution ; the rest of his reply is all abuse and scurrility.

Now I am as sincere as Mr. Campbell could have been (in his foregoing remarks on Mormonism,) when I say, that agreeably to the word of God, the Camp-= bellite system of theology, in all its essential features, possesses no just claims to be regarded as the religion of the Cross : that it is essentially " another Gospel ; and that they who are its adherents, are guilty before God, for sustaining a system of pernicious and soul-destroying delusion.

That it is a shame for christians to suffer themselves to be deluded thus, by a system which has no more valid claims to be regarded as the religion of Christ, than Mormonism. And that the translation of the New Testament by Mr. C. is as gross a deception upon the credulity of the public, as the Book of Mormon itself And my right to make these statements (which I do in perfect good nature,) is the same with Mr. C.'s right to say what he has said in the foregoing extract. If I can sustain these statements, all will admit that they ought to be made, and that the public ought to be disabused. If I cannot, the public will not be slow in awarding to both Mr. C. and myself ample justice. The subject at the present time, and especially in those parts of the country where Campbellism prevails, is of the deepest importance, and demands this investigation. And all we ask of the reader, is a patient and candid attention to the facts and arguments which follow.

Had we even employed the most bitter invective and denunciation in treating upon this subject, Mr. C. is the very last man who ought to complain. For never was more cruel and unprincipled denunciation employed by any one, than he has employed in speaking of the ministry, and evangelical denominations of christians in this country. Because he and Rev. Wm. Kinkade, and Joseph Smith (the Mormon,) have set up for Reformers, they think that they must employ abuse and scurrility, as Calvin and Luther did. But we yield to Mr. C. all the advantage that such weapons of controversy can afford ; and shall proceed with the discussion without them.

Because Mr. C. entertains some doctrines in common with evangelical christians, he endeavors to represent those who controvert his peculiarities, as controverting every doctrine which he professes to believe. But this is most uncandid ; and it is too easily seen through to do much injury. I freely admit that he does hold and advocate some precious truths of the Bible — truths, which, if carried out to their legitimate results, would utterly explode his pernicious peculiarities. But the same remark may be made of the Mormons, of Socinus, of Priestly, and of ail errorists.

It is a matter of regret, that the propagators of erroneous doctrines in a christian community, are in general, so very reserved or ambiguous in their communications, that not unfrequently a considerable length of time is suffered to elapse, before even their most constant auditors become fully acquainted with the distinctive fundamental principles of their system. This fact is notorious to all who have ever had an opportunity to notice for themselves. And while it is a fact, that such errorists uniformly agree to villify other denominations, and to misrepresent their doctrines, it is rarely indeed that they venture immediately and unreservedly, to make known their own sentiments, or even to give a tangible statement of the points whereon they do differ from those whom they decry. They are fully satisfied with making the general statement that other denominations are corrupt, and the like ; leaving it to be inferred, that of course, they are the very reverse.

We are led to these remarks by having observed the silence, respecting many of their distinguishing tenets, which is observed by the advocates of Campbellism. This silence is indeed surprising, if we consider the numerous declarations made by them to the effect that " the gospel as promulgated by Mr. Campbell is the same as was propagated by Christ and his apostles ;" * — that " all other protestant churches are daughters of the mother of harlots ;" — and tkat " altogether they constitute the Babylon of Revelation, out of which all true Christians are commanded to flee." Such declarations as these are teeming in their writings and discourses. Yet they keep their own sentiments concealed, either by not declaring them openly, or by the employment of a phraseology so ambiguous that few can be found, aside from their own denomination, who can give a rational account of even a few of the distinctive features of the system. Hence the frequent enquiry, " What are the sentiments of this people ?" Distinctive indeed must be their sentiments, if they alone entertain in its purity the true gospel of Christ, while all other denominations lie exposed to the wrath of God.

* " I do most unhesitatingly avow my conviction that not one single truth or fact of the gospel, as taught by him (Mr. Campbell) can be disproved." See Mill. Har, Vol. V. p. 174.

AND REFUTED.

Of later years, however, Mr. Campbell himself has become somewhat more emboldened in the advancement of his views. Backed as he is by a numerous host of followers, he no longer feels that restraint which formerly held him in check, and prevented his coming fearlessly before the public with his sj^stem in a tangible form. Thousfh it is still true that his doctrines are, to a great extent, crude and undigested, and wrapped in a tedious verbosity, yet any one who has the requisite patience to wade through his tomes, may reasonably entertain the prospect of ultimately detecting his sentiments.

That we may avoid misrepresenting this denomination, (a conduct of which they constantly complain, and often without the least reason) we shall, as far as possible, employ their own language in the expression of their views.

Before proceeding, however, to a more extended presentation of the sentiments of Mr. C. and his followers, it will be proper here to give a brief synopsis of their peculiar views. As remarked above, we have no controversy with them on any other points but these. They are as follows :

1. Immersion in water is essential to Christian baptism.

2. Faith is only historic ; and saving faith is simply a recognition of Christ as the Messiah.

3. Conversion to God is by immersion.

4. Forgiveness of sin, or justification can only be had through immersion.

5. Regeneration is essential to salvation, and in Bible language is the same thing as immersion.

These views we shall consider and refute. After which we shall consider the Unitarianism of this sect ; review their version of the New Testament ; and conclude with a review of the Campbellite controversy, especially since the publication of the Essay on Campbellism in the American Biblical Repository of 1839. And if in any of our statements, we do Mr. Campbell the least injustice, and he will point out our mistake or misapprehension, we shall at once thankfully retract it, and make the correction publicly. We should be sorry to do him a thousandth part of the injustice which he has done to us. For though his scholarship is neither extensive, nor accurate, his talents are respectable, and his influence considerable, and ought not to be underrated.

CHAPTER 11.

THE PECULIAR AND FUNDAMENTAL PRIN- CIPLES OF CAMPBELLISM POINTED OUT.

With regard to. the subjoined extracts^ the reader will observe that they are not merely repetitions of the passages quoted in the Biblical Repository in our former essay. Some of those are retained, but to give the public the fullest proof that no injustice has been done to Mr. C, we have taken the pains to read over, among others of his w^ritings, a publication of his, which was issued by him subsequently to any quoted in my former essay. Following the example of the Socinian Servetus (the great calumniator of the Reformation and of the Lord Jesus,) he named it " Christianity Restored.''^* It has been latterly re-published under a new title ; but it is the same book ; (see Mill. Har. July, 1839, p. 336) and asserts all Mr. C.'s peculiar views, as presented in the subjoined passages.

SECTION I

Mr. CampbeWs view of Baptism.

With Mr. C. there can be no baptism without immersion. He, in his version of the New Testament, generally translates the w^ords Baptize and Baptism,, by Immerse and Immersion. And in his Mill. Har. of April, 1834, p. 177, he says, " No man of learning and candor, can, in the face of this generation, say that immersion is not commanded ; nor can he, by any mode of reasoning, find even a probability that one infant or adult was sprinkled— (and no one pretends that it was commanded) by Jesus or his Apostles." In fact, his whole scheme, and the analogies by which he illustrates it, generally proceed upon this baseless assumption.