BY J. E. BEEBE & COMPANY MIDDLETOWN, ORANGE CO., NEW YORK, To Whom all letters should be addressed, and money orders made payable. EDITORS: Elder F. A. Chick, Hopewell, N. J. Elder H. C. Ker, Middletown, N. Y. ORUDEN'S COMPLETE (STUDENT'S EDITION) CONCORDANCE TO THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, (Which enables any one to readily fi- any passage of Scripture of which they can call to mind two or three words.) With a complete table of Proper Names, with their meanings in the Original Languages, a Concordance to the Proper Names of the Old and New Testaments, a Concordance to the Apocrypha, and a Compendium of the Holy Scriptures, &c. The above described book of 719 pages, 64x94 inches, we will mail postage paid for one dollar and fifty cents; or FOR ONE DOLLAR we will mail, postage paid, the same book without the Compendium, &c. HYMN BOOKS. (BEEBE'S COLLECTION.) These books contain 800 pages and 1311 hymns carefully selected by the late Elder Gilbert Beebe, especially for use in the Old School or Primitive Baptist churches of America. Also an alphabetical index of the first line of each hymn. Our assortment of the small books embraces : Cloth Binding, per copy, 75 cents; per dozen, $6.00. LARGE TYPE EDITION. We also have an enlarged fac-similie of the small Although the cheaper book is just as good for refer-books, being about twice the size, in two kinds of ence, we would recommend the one dollar and fifty Both these books are in good substantial cloth bind- Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y binding at the following prices, viz: Cloth Binding Blue, Marbled Edge..... $1 00 1.50 At the above prices we will mail the books, postage SIGNS OF THE TIMES. DEVOTED TO THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CAUSE. "THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON." VOL. 74. MIDDLETOWN, N. Y., OCTOBER 15, 1906. CORRESPONDENCE. REGENERATION. I HAVE been thinking some of late of the meaning of the word "regeneration," as used in the Scriptures, and of the way I see and hear it most frequently used among our people. NO. 20. wrong, they ought to strengthen us in our positions. If we see we are in error we ought to be free to confess it and abandon it. If we feel strengthened and confirmed, we may still in a brotherly way contend for our idea, but we should ever remember that our guide book says, "The servant of God should not strive, but be gentle," &c. It is with no desire whatever to elicit controversy that I attempt this evening to write some of these thoughts for the consideration of my brethren; if not deceived in myself I feel a sincere desire that the Lord may enable all who read to judge rightly as to the correctness or incorrectness of these thoughts. It is evident that we may at times be advocating right principles, and yet use passages of Scripture to sustain them that do not to the "spiritual birth" seems to my properly belong to the subject; about this it seems to me we should all be careful. We ought to be helpful to one another in the brotherly expression of our views, not only as to what the Scriptures mean, but also the right application, or the proper division of them. If our writings and conversations are not to be helpful one to another, then of what profit are they? If adverse criticism of our ideas does not convince us that we are The word "regeneration," as perhaps most Bible readers have observed, occurs only twice in the Bible, and both these times in the New Testament: Matt. xix. 28, and Titus iii. 5, and while it appears to be most generally used as synonymous with the "spiritual birth," yet neither of these places seem to bear out that idea. The relation of the word "regeneration" mind to be about the same as the relation of the word generation would have to the natural birth. We know that generation is not birth; then why should we conclude that regeneration is re-birth, or being born again? I would not contend that it is improper, or contrary to Scripture principle, to use the word regeneration with reference to the quickening or impartation of spiritual life to the poor sinner who is "dead in sin," (although BY J. E. BEEBE & COMPANY MIDDLETOWN, ORANGE CO., NEW YORK, To Whom all letters should be addressed, and money orders made payable. EDITORS: Elder F. A. Chick, Hopewell, N. J. Elder H. C. Ker, Middletown, N. Y. CRUDEN'S COMPLETE (STUDENT'S EDITION) CONCORDANCE TO THE HYMN BOOKS. (BEEBE'S COLLECTION.) These books contain 800 pages and 1311 hymns carefully selected by the late Elder Gilbert Beebe, especially for use in the Old School or Primitive Baptist churches of America. Also an alphabetical index of the first line of each hymn. Our assortment of the small books embraces : OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, (Which enables any one to readily fi- any passage of Scripture of which they can call to mind two or three words.) With a complete table of Proper Names, with their meanings in the Original Languages, a Concordance to the Proper Names of the Old and New Testaments, a Concordance to the Apocrypha, and a Compendium of the Holy Scriptures, &c. The above described book of 719 pages, 64x94 in- ¦ copy, $2.75. ches, we will mail postage paid for one dollar and fifty cents; or FOR ONE DOLLAR we will mail, postage paid, the same book without the Compendium, &c. Although the cheaper book is just as good for reference, we would recommend the one dollar and fifty cent book to those who feel that they can afford to pay the extra fifty cents. Both these books are in good substantial cloth bind- Middletown, Orange Co., N. Y Cloth Binding, per copy, 75 cents; per dozen, $6.00. LARGE TYPE EDITION. We also have an enlarged fac-similie of the small books, being about twice the size, in two kinds of binding at the following prices, viz: Cloth Binding Blue, Marbled Edge. $1 00 150 At the above prices we will mail the books, postage SIGNS OF THE TIMES. DEVOTED TO THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CAUSE. VOL. 74. "THE SWORD OF THE LORD AND OF GIDEON." MIDDLETOWN, N. Y., OCTOBER 15, 1906. CORRESPONDENCE. REGENERATION. I HAVE been thinking some of late of the meaning of the word "regeneration," as used in the Scriptures, and of the way I see and hear it most frequently used among our people. NO. 20. wrong, they ought to strengthen us in our positions. If we see we are in error we ought to be free to confess it and abandon it. If we feel strengthened and confirmed, we may still in a brotherly way contend for our idea, but we should ever remember that our guide book says, "The servant of God should not strive, but be gentle," &c. It is with no desire whatever to elicit controversy that I attempt this evening The word "regeneration," as perhaps to write some of these thoughts for the most Bible readers have observed, occurs consideration of my brethren; if not de- only twice in the Bible, and both these ceived in myself I feel a sincere desire times in the New Testament: Matt. xix. that the Lord may enable all who read to 28, and Titus iii. 5, and while it appears judge rightly as to the correctness or in- to be most generally used as synonymous correctness of these thoughts. It is evi- with the "spiritual birth," yet neither of dent that we may at times be advocating these places seem to bear out that idea. right principles, and yet use passages of The relation of the word "regeneration" Scripture to sustain them that do not to the "spiritual birth" seems to my properly belong to the subject; about mind to be about the same as the relation this it seems to me we should all be care- of the word generation would have to the ful. We ought to be helpful to one an- natural birth. We know that generation other in the brotherly expression of our is not birth; then why should we conviews, not only as to what the Scriptures clude that regeneration is re-birth, or bemean, but also the right application, or ing born again? I would not contend the proper division of them. If our writ- that it is improper, or contrary to Scripings and conversations are not to be ture principle, to use the word regenerahelpful one to another, then of what profit tion with reference to the quickening or are they? If adverse criticism of our impartation of spiritual life to the poor ideas does not convince us that we are sinner who is "dead in sin," (although the word is not so used in the Scriptures) have been the establishment of the gosbut it is neither scriptural nor logical to pel church, or that system of worship use it as applying to the spiritual birth. that pertains to the new covenant disIn Matthew xix. 28, we have the lan-pensation. This is the "regeneration," I guage of our Lord, thus, "Verily I say conclude, in which those (the twelve unto you, That ye which have followed apostles) who had followed Jesus should me, in the regeneration, when the Son of sit upon twelve thrones, judging the man shall sit in the throne of his glory, twelve tribes of Israel. Thus that which ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, was spoken by the prophet Isaiah was judging the twelve tribes of Israel." fulfilled: "Behold, a king shall reign in From the days of Abraham to the estab-righteousness, and princes shall rule in lishment of the gospel kingdom in the judgment."-Isaiah xxxii. 1. Again, world, Israel had the only God-given Jesus said to these disciples, Luke xxii. system of worship, "unto them were 28-30: "Ye are they which have concommitted the oracles of God." "To tinued with me in my temptations. And whom pertaineth the adoption, and the I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my glory, and the covenants, and the giving Father hath appointed unto me; that ye of the law, and the service of God, and may eat and drink at my table in my the promises." But they were a figur- kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the ative people, and their forms of service twelve tribes of Israel." "That ye which typical; still they were the visible king- have followed me," in Matt. xix. 28, and dom, nation or people or church of God "ye are they which have continued with under that covenant. But that estab- me in my temptations,"-Luke xxii. 28lishment, which had its shadowy forms 30, are beyond dispute the twelve aposand ceremonies set up by Moses, accord- tles, and it is "in the regeneration, when ing to the pattern shown him in the the Son of man shall sit in the throne of mount, (Hebrews viii. 5,) also had its time and place, and end appointed. According to covenant purpose, and as the substance of the types and shadows once in the end of the world, (that system and dispensation) hath he (Jesus) appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Thus by divine appointment one system and dispensation goes out and another is ushered in. Of the first the apostle to the Hebrews says, "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were ing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on offered both gifts and sacrifices, that us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our could not make him that did the service Savior; that being justified by his grace, perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; we should be made heirs according to the which stood only in meats and drinks, hope of eternal life." Here the apostle and divers washings, and carnal ordin- is teaching the necessity and profitableances, imposed on them until the time of ness of good works, works consistent reformation." This reformation must with the profession of a belief in God, his glory," that they should "sit upon twelve thrones, [divine power and authority] judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Which is exactly the substance of what he tells them in Luke xxii. 30. We read in Titus iii. 4-7, "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renew |