Memoir of Rev. Joseph Badger / Fourth Edition

by E. G. Holland

"My mind has often flown from the crowd of new friends and acquaintances that surround me, to the enjoyment of those old friends with whom I have taken sweet counsel in years that are past. Was I coming into trials and conflicts, I should be constrained to say of my new acquaintances, as David did of Saul's armour, 'I have not proved it.' Friends whom we have proved, friends who have merited our confidence, are priceless in value. Solomon knew the worth of this truth when he said, 'A friend loveth at all times.'"

Also, under date of October 16th, he writes,

"My health is much better than when I left this country, and never did I enjoy my mind better than now, and never did I experience greater freedom in preaching than on this journey. Amidst all my misfortunes I have a world of felicity in view. It is a time of reformation in this county (Cayuga). I shall speak next Sabbath evening in the Court House at Auburn, and the first Sabbath in November I will preach at our chapel in Mendon."

Letters from many quarters and from leading men in community, came in, soliciting him to come and preach, and not unfrequently did the leading members of other denominations second these requests by offering their chapels for his use.

A plain, concise, and kindly letter to Rev. Mr. Patching, in which he vindicates the ordinances of the Gospel against the denials of Mr. P., who had, by Mr. Badger's recommendations, been preaching to his congregations, belongs to this year. The main object of the letter seems to have been to call out investigation, and to throw some conservative influence around a boldly speculative mind. The following extract will show its spirit and its point:

"Very dear and affectionate Brother,—With the warmest affection and from a clear evidence of duty, I hastily pen a few lines for your consideration, hoping that it may not only serve as an introduction to a familiar correspondence between us, but that it may lead us to discuss, investigate, and harmonize our views relative to the doctrine of the Gospel and the ordinances of the New Dispensation.

"I was not alarmed relative to the suggestions you made in my presence concerning a 'new light' you had received, which led you to deny the ordinances of the Gospel, as I thought your experience would soon teach you your error, and the impropriety of annulling what Christ and the Apostles have established—what both primitive and modern Christians have rejoiced in. But when I discovered a division in the peaceful flock of my charge, and at our last communion, three of our once happy brethren stay away, their seats vacant which have been so faithfully filled for years, persons whom I have heard praise God on such occasions, I cannot refrain from giving you my sentiments, and from assuring you that after carefully reviewing the subject, I must still 'Teach and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,' (Luke 16:15, 16; Matt. 28:19, 20,) and shall continue 'steadfast in the Apostles' doctrine and in breaking of bread and of prayers,' Acts 11:41-46. Your 'new light,' as it is called in this region, to me is an old error, agitated by the Quakers two centuries ago, and more recently adopted and taught by the Shakers.

"Water baptism and the Lord's Supper are the two main ordinances of the new dispensation. I think there was no such practice as either of these among the Jews previous to John, who came to prepare the way for the Messiah. At least, the Scriptures make no mention of any such practice under the law. Baptism was first practised by John, was subsequently sanctioned by the precepts and example of God's holy Son; and since it is comprehended in his Commission to the Apostles, it must continue to be as lastingly and as extensively observed as the Gospel itself. It is no more local or temporary than the mission which contains it. The Supper also was first introduced by the Saviour on the night in which he was betrayed, and even after his resurrection he sanctioned it by appearing at the head of the table. It is very evident that the custom was continued among the disciples, and shall we say that the Apostles and the ancient Christians generally were under the delusion of the devil in coming together on the first day of the week to preach and to break bread? If not, where is the impropriety of our following the Apostles in this thing? Are they and the holy Scriptures our example, or are we to be governed by imagination? My dear brother, what can be your motive in this great stir? Do you think your labor on this subject essential to the conversion of souls? Or is it possible that pride and vanity have joined to induce you to become the author of something new, to be at the head of a party? My charity forbids me to think this. I hope for better things. As a gentleman of science, as a Gospel minister, you have entered upon the very responsible stage of public life. Your station is high, your position is critical, and it becomes you to walk gently before the Lord. This is a time in which we should pray fervently, think soberly, and act with deliberation. We should write the words of God with carefulness. Br. Millard informs me that you intend to publish a work on this subject. Allow me to advise you to be cautious, as an error once sent forth to the reading world can only with great difficulty be recalled. A blunder at the commencement of one's public life may cause perpetual injury. I advise you to lay your views before some enlightened council, or to correspond with able ministers on the subject. If you have a true light, others can see it; if not, you will be assisted in season by the wisdom of others."

Mr. P., it would appear, was a minister of the Freewill Baptist denomination, had associated some with Mr. Badger[32] in public life; but instead of adhering to the suggestions of his friend, it seems that he published a small volume, in which he sent baptism, the Lord's Supper, ordination, and the divinely inspired character of the Scriptures, into endless banishment, with certain broadcast allegations against the fraternity to which he had belonged. In 1823, Mr. Badger wrote six strong chapters in reply to his volume, apparently at the request of the denomination from which the author of the book had previously hailed. The title of Mr. B.'s manuscript read thus: "A Plea for the Innocent; and T. Patching's Writings against Baptism, Lord's Supper, Ordination, and the Holy Scriptures, criticised. By Joseph Badger, Minister of the New Testament." Among the mottoes of the title-page is this: