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Deacon Cognatus

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 7, 1858

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 11, No. 9.

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Deacon Cognatus

By J. Clarke

CONSULTS HIS PASTOR THEOPHILUS EXPEDIENCY D. D., CONCERNING THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF HIS SON.
Dea. C. I have a matter to bring before you Dr., which has given me much uneasiness.
My son, Investigatus, whom you know I intend to educate for the ministry, has started some queries in such a manner as rather startles me, as I cannot but wish him to remain in the orthodox ranks.
Dr. E. Indeed! I did not know he was of sufficient age to hold independent views.
Dea. C. You are not aware of the depth of the boy's mind; before he was ten years of age, he manifested a disposition to think for himself, in regard to the same thing which now burdens his mind.
Dr. E. Is it a matter of vital importance? Does he doubt any of our main articles of faith?
Dea. C. He has imbibed the idea that he ought to be baptized, and that the seventh day of the week is the true Sabbath.
Dr. E. How old is Investigatus?
Dea. C. About fourteen years of age.
Dr. E. Has he attended sectarian preaching?
Dea. C. No indeed! Never! I have not allowed him to associate outside of our connection.
Dr. E. How has he got this notion?
Dea. C. When he was nine or ten years of age, I was hearing his recitation in the Catechism, when this question came up, (59th, Shorter Catechism,) Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath? Answer. From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath.
Investigatus pressed me hard with questions, as I had directed him to test all doctrines with the Word. I finally told him that the Bible was not very explicit on this point, and that the change was mainly of church authority.
Dr. E. What! at that early age was he versed in the Bible?
Dea. C. I took pains when he first learned to read, to induce him to read the Bible by giving him premiums, and thus he was posted in Scripture at a very early age.
Dr. E. Did he carry the matter to any length at that time?
Dea. C. He seemed shocked and grieved when he heard that we were not keeping the Sabbath that Adam, Enoch, Abraham and Moses kept; his mother and myself had difficulty in pacifying his mind. He inquired if any now kept the original seventh day. We told him the Jews did. He asked if any Christians kept the seventh day. We told him of the Seventh-day Baptists, and he longed to see them. I finally told him that infant baptism rested upon church authority, and that if he threw away one he must both.
Dr. E. Rather injudicious I should think.
Dea. C. I know it now, but I did not dream of anything like this. We used all the arguments we could think of, such as the insignificance of the Seventh-day Baptists, the meanness of the Jews, and the like. The fact is, I am not a theologian. My Bible is the only book I have really studied as authority, and the thing took me by surprise. I think, Dr., you ought to preach more doctrinal discourses; we are not indoctrinated on these difficult points as we need to be. I wish you would take up these subjects, and present the evidence, and I do not doubt that my son will be satisfied; this is what I have come to request you to do.
Dr. E. Has your son commenced his classical studies?
Dea. C. No; I wish him to become well posted in his primary studies, before taking up the dead languages.
Dr. E. I think I should put him upon a classical course as soon as possible. When his mind is once taken up with Virgil, and Homer, I'll warrant you he will drop his heretical notions.
Dea. C. Do you think it would be right to weaken or destroy his taste for the Scriptures?
Dr. E. Most certainly not! By no means! The Bible is our only rule! But you must be aware that the best influences are thrown around college students. I speak from experience. When I was young, in my early Christian experience, I was tempted in a similar way; but as soon as my mind began to expand under the benign influence of the classic Cicero and Demosthenes, and the ancient Latin and Greek authors, and seeing the beauty and excellence of our educational, civil and religious established arrangements, I soon laid aside my whims.
Dea. C. What! Did the same objections present themselves to your mind?
Dr. E. O yes. These matters are of common occurrence with independent minds, and they often come up in the theological course; but this is the beauty of college training, it fits the mind to appreciate such evidence as the "fathers."
Dea. C. I have often wished the apostles had been more explicit on these difficult points. Don't you think it would be well to state the evidence clearly, and thus my son would be satisfied at once, no doubt. He is quite orthodox on those points where the scripture is clear; but in those matters where other evidence is wanting, I have not been able to furnish him, being uninformed.
Dr. E. Most certainly: I will do so, soon; but I think that for the present you had better treat your son's heresy with a little indifference. Affect not to notice, or care particularly about it.
Dea. C. I am rather surprised that the Bible is so silent upon these points. I had supposed until Investigatus took up the matter, that these practices, rested upon the best of evidence: please to tell me where the evidence on these subjects may be found, and I will place them in my son's hands.
Dr. E. It requires labor, time, and research, to set these matters in their proper light; and we who have drunk deeply of the waters of a pure literature, are not carried about by these loose notions, in theology, which ruin the prospects of so many for time and for eternity. The early Christians well knew what was required by the gospel, and we do well if we follow in their footsteps.
Dea. C. Very true, my dear pastor, very true; let us follow the primitive church, and we are safe. I think I shall send my son to Oberlin soon, if I can raise the funds. J. CLARKE.