Means Still Taught In 1875

The following was written in the Baptist Watchman for Feb. 6, 1875. Elders R. W. Fain and J. B. Stephens, both medical doctors and leaders of the Primitive Baptists at the time, were editors. In the issues for this year (1875) that I have read so far, I notice that elder W. P. Throgmorton was a subscriber and that Elder Lemuel Potter is mentioned. The latter fact is significant but I cannot go into why now for the time is short.

The following citation shows that the orthodox view of the first PBs was a belief in means for salvation but it also shows that there were still some of the anti means side promoting a heterodox view, connected with the views of the "Two Seeders" or "ultraists" (like we saw in Zion's Advocate for the 1850s), being the no means view. I say that this is more evidence that the means view was still the leading view of the Primitive Baptist church as late as 1875.

In the following citation, the highlighting is mine. It is a letter to the editor by a Wm. L Stegall from Henderson Station, Tenn. Dec. 1874.

To the Editors of the Baptist Watchman

I am pained, also, to see some differences among some of the Primitive Baptist, on doctrinal points. Some (a minority or majority? - SG) holding what is called "eternal children doctrine," (associated with "Two Seedism" - SG) which I cannot see that the scriptures justify. I believe the church stood complete in the purpose of God in Christ from the beginning of time in the covenant between the Father and the Son, for he spoke of things that were not as though they were. Again, some (a minority or majority? - SG) say he works without means. I just as well say that Jesus did not open the eyes of the blind man without the clay and spittle, or that the fish was not used to carry Jonah to land, or a Jonah to preach to the Ninevites; or that God did not use Ezekiel and the wind in resurrecting the dry bones of the valley. To say that he does not use man to speak to man, and his purposes not carried out by it, is strange to me indeed. The Apostle said he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God unto salvation (not the power after salvation) to every one that believe. If then it is the power of God, we ought not to limit it. The book says, "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake." (Feb. 6, 1875 Issue)

Obviously this writer and the supporters of the Baptist Watchman believed that God used means in executing his eternal and saving purposes.

Another thing that Stegall said in this letter that is interesting is this:

"The "Old Baptist Test," a book written by our lamented Dr. Watson corresponds with Osburns writings. The editorials of the Watchman also contain the doctrinal principles, etc., of Osburn; also, many of the correspondents of the Watchman write the same things. Osburn was regarded as foremost among the best preachers of his day."  

By "Osburn" he means James Osbourn, who we have cited many times in this blog. We have surely shown how he believed in means in the eternal salvation of the elect, as did the Kehukeeites that he had great influence over in the 1832 split and thereafter. He wrote many works. I have read several.