18 Peacemakers
18. Peacemakers Autobigraphy - James H. Oliphant
CHAPTER XVIII.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." By being peaceable ourselves, and striving for peace, we show the spirit of our Master. By introducing new things in the churches we become peace-breakers. It is certain that a man is not a peacemaker that presses customs on the churches that tend to division. Efforts have been made all along to change our churches so as to be more popular, and every effort has been a failure. Persons who have observed these efforts, and seen the results, ought to know it is a vain thing to try to modernize or change the Primitive Baptists. I saw it tried in 1860 to 1870 in central southern Indiana, and it proved a failure. Had those preachers gone to the Missionaries at once, it would have been better for all concerned. But they pressed new methods and sentiments, and urged it was consistent with Primitive Baptists for them to do so, and thus widened the breach and increased the trouble. This has been true of all the divisions I have known. Should I become dissatisfied with the customs of our people I would not try to change our people to my way of thinking, I would go over at once to where I could have these things without trouble. An organ will not trouble an Arminian church, and if we want it we can have it there without any trouble, but it will distress our people to press it on them. I am sure there is room with us for lawful improvement; we ought to be more devoted, more prayerful, more attentive to our church and duties; we ought to exhort each other more to love and good works. Improvement in these things will not cause trouble, nor division; they are scriptural and right, and will be attended with good results, and if those who are favoring the organ would use their efforts to improve our churches in these ways they would do good and not harm.
If we can make up our minds to be plain Primitive Baptists, and be content with it, we shall be happier and more useful. I am wishing I could see peace among our people in all places, and a union in an effort to encourage true piety and devotion, and to encourage our children to seek a home among our people. It is said that "Those that love may prepare to suffer." I have loved the Primitive Baptists from youth, and I have grieved for our people when I have seen efforts to reform them. I have grieved over the coldness that has been among us from time to time, but it is good to trust the Lord, and I believe the Lord will save His people and His truth, and preserve it to time’s end.