Alexander Carson born and died in Ireland (1776-1844): he was an author, pastor-teacher and theologian. He studied in Glasgow and was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. After several years he left the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and published Reasons for Separating. Members of his former church followed him, and for 10 years he preached in barns or the open air until a stone church was built for him in 1814. In the early part of his independent career, while studying the New Testament in order to confute the Baptists, he became a Baptist himself, and thenceforth advocated their views with the exception of close communion. In 1831 he published Baptism in Its Mode and Subjects Considered, a Baptist classic. I think The History of Providence as explained in the Bible was his greatest devotional work. The following is an excerpt from it. “There is nothing that grieves the Christian more sensibly than the introduction and progress of error in religion. Against this he ought to contend earnestly at every risk. He ought not to be ashamed of any part of the divine testimony with the knowledge of which God has honored him, nor to seek the praise of men by concealing or modifying God’s truth. But in doing this he will be greatly supported, if he considers that it is the will of God that heresies shall enter and pervert many. When he has nailed his colors to the mast, and sinks with his ship he can have the satisfaction of knowing that his commander will ultimately have the victory. That even the partial damage which the enemy has been enabled to inflict was a part of the purpose of his Sovereign Lord and Master. “Without this view of Divine Providence, I cannot see any consolation for the Christian on considering the ravages of error. Philosophy combines with fanaticism, superstition with idolatry, to oppose the Lords Anointed. One only comfort is that the Omnipotent Lord reigneth, and even by opposers does His pleasure. “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” He will be honored even in the wrath of His enemies. “Nothing has a greater effect in leading Christians into error than its success. Men in general judge of a cause by its success; and Christians, though they do not recognize it as evidence, yet are often greatly influenced by it. Opinions spread by infection, rather than by a thorough investigation of the evidence. An accurate acquaintance with the ways of Providence, as manifested in Scripture, is calculated to deliver from this prejudice. In the Bible we see that God has often granted much success to His enemies. By this they are hardened in their rebellion. Mere success is no proof of truth; and the want of it is no proof of error.” ~~Terry Worthan, 1938-2022
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