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REVIVAL SCENES AND INCI
DENTS.
In a letter, just taken from the post
office,an esteemed brother says :“I have
read your letter in the Index (of the
14th inst.,) with tears in my eyes, and
could but exclaim, glory be to God for ,
the mighty working of his power in the |
salvation of sinners! I shall never
forget the sermon you preached on
Sunday afternoon in the Methodist
church, at Fort Valley, from Che text
“Never man spake like this man.”
And now, my dear old brother, I trust
you may be spared yet many years to
speak words of encouragement and
comfort to his flock, for whom you
have labored so long.” The fact that
my efforts for their good are approved
by some of the saints, prompts me to
persevere till the end shall come.
‘•Fight on my soul, till death
Hhall bring tnee to ihy God ;
lie’ll take thee, at by parting breath.
To his divine abode?'
The year 1834 is memorable in the
history of some < f our churches in
Middle Georgia. For several years pre
vious, much contention and strife had
prevailed on account of missions, Sun
day-schools, ministerial education, a id
kindred subjects. In the Ocmulgee
and Flint Bivcr Associations,the Hard
shells wore largely in the majority, and
were exceedingly proscriptive and in
tolerant, frequently excluding their
members for participating in these
benevolent enterprises. Several chur
ches had withdrawn from them, and
had organized the Central Association
in February of that year. I think it
was in March following that Rev. A.
Sherwood and Lott Hearn, (the found
er of Hearn High School at Cave
Spring), on a certain Saturday, were
passing the residence of a Capt. W., a
wealthy farmer,bn their way to church.
Dr. Sherwood said to Hearn, "I feel
impressed to call at this house, and join
sister W. in prayer for her family,” to
which Mr. Hearn cheerfully assented.
Finding the house full of visitors, they
sat only a few moments. Upon rising
to leave, Dr. Sherwood said, "we called
to unite with you in prayer for your
family. But, as you are engaged with
your company, we will pass on.” Mrs.
W. replied, “No, brother Sherwood, I
can’t consent for you to leave without
praying for us. These many years I
have been praying for my husband,
whose case seems more hopeless now
than ever before. And then, our son
has just graduated,and is at home with
—tt* —He-rtlso is fur from righteousness.
Please, brother Sherwood, to pray for
/if.” Prayeiwvas.otlbwd, anditke good
■men wont on their way.
At noon Capt. W. camo from his
plantation. His wife noticed an unu
sual gloom on his face, and inquired
as to the cause. He gave an evasive
answer, and was soon at the table wait
ing on her guests. Complaining of
feeling unwell, ho retired to his room.
His wife soon followed, and found him
reading the Bible, an unusual thing
with him. Again she said, “husband,
I know there is something the matter.
Tell me what it is?” "Matter enough,
he replied, "lam a lost sinner. There
is no hope for me. Wife,pray forme!"
They fell on their knees, their guests
joined them, and there was “joy in
heaven” over a repenting sinner. It
subsequently transpired, that at the
very hour when Dr. Sherwood and Mr.
Hearn were praying with his family,
the spirit of God arrested him in his
field, and sent him off into the forest to
pray—which he bad not done before
in twenty years.
In the latter part of April following,
I attended a meeting at Indian Creek,
Morgan county, (now extinct) where
it was thought the prospects for a re
vival were encouraging. Capt. W.
mid his son were the first to join by
experience. Others soon followed, the
work increased, and many were added
unto the Lord. Members of neighbor
ing churches, drawn to the place by
the glad tidings, imbibed the revival
spirit and carried it home with them,
and the work spread till every church
in the Association experienced the
heavenly influence—not one having
been left out.
The preachers had a laborious time
that summer and fall. Travis, W. A.
Callaway, John E. Dawson (a new be
ginner), and the writer. Protracted
meetings were held in all our churches,
and hundreds were brought into the
kingdom. When we closed a meeting
at one place, many of the members
(especially the young converts), would
follow us to the next place, and this
way we carried the revival influence
with us wherever we went. Many of
the "mourners in Zion” pursued the
same course. We would part with them
reluctantly one day, to meet perhaps
lie very next, “faint, yet pursuing.”
With us preachers, it was a time of
awful responsibility and earnest work.
God seemed to’be saying to us, “The
fields are white unto the harvest—
thrust in your sickles and reap.” “They
that had wives were as though they
had none, and they that wept were as
though they wept not.” Our homes
were deserted, our secular business
neglected, and our time and energies
exclusively devoted to the work of sav- 1
ing sou's. And lam glad to say, that
the same spirit pervaded the hearts of i
The Christian Index and South-western Baptist: Thursday September 4, 1879.
the . brethren generally. Wherever |
meetings were held, all worldly busi
ness was made to yield to the interests
of religion. 4 <
It was under this state of things that
the Central’ Association met at Anti
och, Morgan county, in 1834. But an
! account of that meeting must be re
served for another paper.
P. B.—Since the foregoing was writ
ten, the news of Sherwood’s death has
| reached me. It occurred in St.Louis,Mo.,
August 18th. At the request of Mrs.
1 Sherwood, I shall prepare an obituary
’ notice of the event for the Index at an
i early day.
J. H. Campbell.
Columbus, Ga.
MINIS TERS~ANd'dEA C ON S'
MEETING.
Dear Index : I could not attend our
last Ministers and Deacons’ meeting
on account of an important engagement
I to preach at the Capital of the Creek
! Nation—Okmulgee; but I send you the
| following account, written by a Presby-
I terian, Sister Constant, which I hope
you will publish. H. F. Buckner.
Eufaula, Creek Nation.
, The Ministers and Deacons’ meeting
j of the M uscogee Association met at the
Wewoka church, Seminole Nation,
Tuesday, 2 o’clock p. m., August sth.
After reading the one hundred and
thirty-third Psalm and prayer by the
I Secretary, the meeting was called to
i order by the President, Elder Win.
I McComb. Minutes of the former meet
ing were read and adopted.
At a previous meeting the Rev. P. 0.
Brock was appointed to deliver a lec
ture on “The Destruction of Sodom and
I Gomorrah, and the Cause of its De-’
[ struction,” which was delivered at Elder
I Factor’s church, Tuesday, 3 o’clock i>.
m. The address was unanimously
adopted, and a copy was reques’ed to
Ibe forwarded to the Texas Baptist. He
was also solicited to prepare a lecture
Wednesday, 10 A. M.,on “The Prophecy
of Daniel,” which was received with
marked attention by a large audience.
Rev. Mr. Brock is a self-made man,
an earnest missionary, deeply imbued
with the spirit of the Master. Elder
Factor’s camp meeting commenced im
mediately after the adjournment of the
Deacons and Ministers’ meeting. He
had erected a spacious arbor about
eighty feet long and forty-five feet wide,
with sittings for five hundred people.
There were seventy-five wagons, one
hundred and fifty tents and small ar
bors, and about thirteen hundred per
sons on the grounds, seven-eighths
of whom were full-blood Creek
and Seminole Indians. The people
consumed six beeves, eight head of
hogs, two sacks of coffee, two barrels of
seventeen hundred pounds of
one_ hundred and fifty nonnqa of
"Hie” people cultivate rice'on
their farms. The good ladios gave
twelve and a half dozen chickens.’ Os
the above articles the pastor gave six
beeves, three head of hogs, five hundred
pounds of Hour, besides many other
things. Their tables were spread free
j to all, and a more beautiful hospitality
I was never enjoyed by so large and or-
I derly camp meeting in this part of the
| Seminole country.
The expenses amounted to $316;
I amount collected on the Sabbath,
$18.75. There were present thirty-five
1 ministers, five of whom were Missiona-
I ries, including the Rev. Mr. Beard and
! lady of the Sharonee Mission, who are
j acting under the auspices of the
j "Friends.” Rev. Beard addressed the
audience Sunday evening from the |
| parable of “The Lost Sheep,” beauti
fully illustrating it from personal
scenes while a missionary in Southern '
Asia.
A generous flow of Christian feeling
seemed to pervade the entire meeting.
All felt it was good to be there. There
were twelve accessions to the church,
ten of whom were back-sliders and two j
baptized on public profession.
Mrs. Nettie R. Constant.
Wewoka, Seminole Nation.
LETTER FROM MILNER.
Dear Index : We have been enjoy-j
ing one of the most refreshing seasons
from the presence of the Lord that it |
has ever been my privilege to witness.
Our July meeting was protracted a few ,
days, when the membership were gra-1
ciously revived and many anxious ones I
sought an interest in the prayers of the 1
church. One was added by letter. Our I
August meeting began on Saturday '
before 3d Ixrrd’s day and continued |
until yesterday, closing in the after- j
noon at the baptismal pool. The re-.
suit of the meeting is five received by |
letter, one restored, and six by expe-,
rience and baptism. Four of the six j
baptized are members of our Sabbath
school. Love and unity prevail among j
us. We love our dear, faithful and able
pastor, Brother A. L. Moncrief, and we
are striving to procure his services j
twice in each month. We are heartily j
tired of these once-a-month meetings, i
I The meeting dosed with a large num- 1
tier anxiously seeking the prayers of
I God's people. And we shall confident
. ly look for future additions, as we know
of several who entertain hopes in Jesus.
To God be all the glory, now and for-
I «w. John G. I’oi.hill.
Milner, Gn„ August 25th, 1879.
I If anger arise in the breast, instant-1
jly seal up thy lips, and let it
. forth ; for, like fire, when it wants taut, i
| it will suppress itself.
FROM THE CHURCH AT MADI-
SON.
The Committee on the state of Re
ligion submit the following:
While we have had, as a Church,
no marked manifestations of the Spir
it’s power among us, during the pres
ent year, we feel that we have had his
peace and comfort. By the agency of
the Spirit we have been made a new
creation, and by the same agendy we
are daily sustained and kept. The.
Spirit teaches, leads, reproves,
reclaims, comforts and keeps the child
of God. If we realize such to be hfe
dealings with us, we may know that
he is still among us. If we have hu
presence, why is it that we have no
more evident tokens of his power to
save lost sinners? for, after all, Christ
established his Church on earth, that
through it men might be led to him,
and the desire of God's people has aT
ways been that his kingdom should be
set up in the hearts of men. As one
of the Churches of Christ, it becorqps
us to ask ourselves, why is it that his
power is not realized more in our midst
in the salvation of souls? Wherein are
we lacking? This question let us brief
ly consider. Ist. We need a higher
Christian life; one that is never “al
lied with present attainments in grace;
we need to realize in our lives, that we
are in, but not of, the world ; that the
line of demarkatiori is more plainly
drawn as we advance in divine life.
We need to realize that we are growing
in grace from time to time; that sin
has not the power over us that* it had
when we entered the Christian race;
that temptations do not overtake and
overcome us, as they have in times
past; that we are, by the Spirit’s help,
getting the better of the conflict. The
battle is a fierce one; the old Adam in
the Christian dies hard, and succumbs
Only when the last enemy has been
met. Many have lieen the conflicts,
brethren atid sisters, and more await
ns. Is our spiritual man being devel
oped? Do we realize that we are the
soldiers of Christ? Our Savior describ
ed his people as the light of the world ;
light reflected from the great Light.
Do inert see in our lives something like
unto the perfect life of Christ? ts so,
we are his lights, placed here by him
towin men to God. The traveller on
the dark highway needs a steady light,
lest he fall into the pit by the wayside.
Oh! brother, sister, hold a steady light
for Jesus. Christians often say, “what
can I do for Jesus—show me some
work I can do for the Master?” Do
you see that light; it neither moves,
nor works, nor speaks—it simply shines
and gives light unto all who are in the
room. If we can find no work to do
for Jesus, we can at least alwaysWiine
as lights. Yours may be a flicWiug
light; guard it all the
Aith thcAril JiAus has
gleam east across the sea of life
be seen by some wanderer in thelßk
ness, whose feet may be led to the great
Light of tho whole world. We need
to take a walk with God, day by day.
Enoch, Noah and Abraham walked
with God—the former for three hun
dred years. These long years were
made up of days; not a day of the
whole time did Enoch lose his heaven
ly company. We love to dwell on the
thought suggested by “walk.” Attain
ments in divine life are not rapidly
reached ; they are secured by the slow,
steady steps of an unbroken walk. “Ye
did run well; who did binder you”—
says the inspired Apostle. As steps
are necessary in a walk, so the child
' needs his Father at every step. “The
[ steps of a good man are ordered by the
I Lord.” We should preach Jesus at ev-
I ery step; preach him by what we say
i and by what we refrain from saying;
by what we do and by what we refrain
from doing; by places visited and by
places shunned; by company kept and
by company avoiiied. These are some
jof the needs of the child of God—of us
'as the children of God. The ways by
; which these spiritual needs may be sat
| isfied are old and beaten ; let us come
1 back to them and leave them no mote,
| and then we will see the power of the ,
I Spirit, as well as realize his comfort
! and peace. I commend unto you my
; brethren, tho word of his grace and the
i throne of his grace. Here we may '
have our spiritual strength renewed '
1 God grant us grace to come evermore '
, to these sources of help.
! Due other need will be briefly refer
i red to. We ought to realize the truth
1 more than ever, that salvation is all of
I grace ; that eternal life is the gift of j
, God. The work which Jesus has done [
I needs neither to be supplemented nor
substituted by anything we can do. It
!is a perfect work. When the Jews
! asked the question, "What shall we d<?,
: that we might work the works of God?"
Jesus answered, “This is the work of
God, that ye believe on him whom he
1 hath sent.” And this is all—simply
believe. It is a difficult thing for us to
divest ourselves of the idea that we
must do something to make God think
| well of us and save us. “1 came to
I call not the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.” He is the Savior of Sin
ners. He is the Savior of sinners. He
is the Savior of sinners. A man in the
mire is in no condition to be a Savior,
but he is in need of a Savior. Breth
ren, our Father is able to satisfy all
our needs. When we come together '
( on the Lord’s day, and at our meetings J
| for prayer, as wo ought all to do, when
i possible, let us come simply believing
i his premises. They are rich and ex-
I eceding precious. Oh! let us lay hold
»i! . hv>'- ~.J; fljj,,. • ,
on them with all our heart, and then
shall this Church be blessed, and souls
born in the kingdom of God.
Sam’l. A. Burney, Chairman. :
WOMAN’S MISSIONARY SOCIE
TIES.
The fitst woman’s foreign misionary
society in the United States, was form
ed in 1801, by the ladies of the Bap
tist and Congregational churches of ,
Boston, Maes. There are now, in tile !
Baptist and protestant churches of the
North and Northwest, more than nine
thousand of these societies.
The first society in the South was
organized in 1813, in Virginia. The
first in Georgia, in 1828. The num
ber of societies in the South is not
known to me. There are, in South j
Carolina, as many as seventy. In '
Georgia between forty and fifty.
At no former time have the ladies j
oi the South had so much to encour- *
age them in their noble work of organiz- j
ing and sustaining missionary so-|
cieties as at present. The Southern |
Baptist Convention, at the last two see-1
sions, recognized the importance of
the work being dope by these socie
ties, and urged the fortnation of others.
If there existed a society in each
Baptist church of the South, or even
in each one of Georgia, what a vast
stream would be formed by these little
rills; what “an ocean of love to water
the sin-wastes of our own and heathen
lands 1”
One of the most distinguished
preachers and writers of the South has
said : “The reasons are not only valid,
but urgent, for the special work of
ladies’ missionary societies. We find
that this precise method of extending
the word of God, has ample vindica
tions and impressive claims.” Another
prudent and trusted minister has said:
“As an educating, enlisting agency, 1
hail every advance of woman’s mis
sionary societies. I regard them as
the best and noblest of many expe
dients for supplying a deficiency in
church interest and effort.” One of
Kentucky’s finest writers recently
said : “Not a few of the best Christian
women of the South have long felt
that there would be no sacrifice of
female delicacy, or propriety, or good
taste, in a quiet and yet concerted ef
fort to build up the Master’s kingdom
at home and among their benighted
sisters in heathen lands.” I have be
fore me a sufficient number of extracts,
from sermons and articles of many of
the most prominent preachers of our
denomination, on the subject of wo
man’s missionary societies, to fill sev
eral colums of The Indjjx. I will,
however, add only one other, and that
is from a gifted Alabamian. He says:
"Hitherto the idea that there is noth
ing for women to do, nothing that she
.can .accomplish, hai prevailed j*huo«4
universally. But we are proud to know
that those days of ignorance and do
nothingism are past, 4»d a knowledge
of duty and responsibility is reigning .
pre-eminent in their stead.”
“Daughters of Zion, arise, shine, put j
on the beautiful garments of righteous
ness, and come forth in the strength j
of your true glory. Organize y-our so- |
cieties, bring to bear all your armor,
rear the banner of work, and unite
your companions in rank to the rescue,
to conflict anil to victory.”
Satan would have every Christian j
woman fold her hands and do nothing
-for the promotion of Christ’s kingdom ;
but the Lord would have all become
active workers in his vineyard.
A Georgia Lady.
PROGRAMME
Os the Rehoboth Sunday-school Convention
to meet with the Perry Baptist Sunday- i
school September 16th, 17th and 18th,
1879.
Tuesday, 3 o’clock p. M. —Praise meeting
8 (o’clock p. M. —1. Address—How m»y
the Sunday-school counteract the evil influ
encei that surround the young —Dr. B. F.
Tharp. Discussion.
Wednesday, 9 o’clock A. M Devotional
exercises—Conducted by Rev. B. L. Ross.
2. Report of district vice-presidents.
3. Reports of pistors and superintendents.
4. Appointment of committees. 1. On
general business. 2. On reso'utions.
5. How to promote the Sunday school
work in our association—Rev. T. C. Boykin.
3 o'clock P. M. —6. Object teaching—How
:to use the black-board—Rev. S. Boykin— I
C. B. Eliis.
7. How to make the Sunday-school more
attractive—C. C. Smith —George H. Staley.
Discussion.
8 o'clock P. M—B How can we indnee
the young to love and study the Bible?
Rev. A. J. Chevrs—R. T. Asbnry.
Thursday, 9 A. M— 9. Reports of commit
tees.
10. The qualifications of a good teacher
Rev. W. H. Rice—B. W. Brown.
10:30 o'clock —ll. Children's mass meet
ing—Conducted by Rev. T. C. Boykin. •
12. Brief addresses by brethren Rosa,
Nottingham, Hillyer, and others.
3. o’clock p. m.— l 3. Our International
Leeson system—lts advantages and disadvan
tages—H. M. Holtzclaw—Rev. B. H. Ivey.
14. Preparation of the lesson and teachers’
meeting—R. J. LeSeuer —Rev. F. M. Bla
lock. Discussion.
8 o’clock P. M. —15. Sermon by Rev. A.
L. Moncrief. Rev. B. tl. Ivey, alternate.
Leading speeches will be limited to thirty
minutes. Remarks in general discussion,
ten minutes.
' It is earnestly desired lhat every school,
and where there is no school, every church
will be represented by two or more delegates
in this the last convention of this present
year. L. O. Niles, President.
R. J. LeSeuer, Acting Secretary.
There are times in the history of
communities, as well as of individuals,
when silence is sin, and submission a
crime.
A DEACON’S REQUEST.
To all Baptist preachers in Georgia, who
are subscribers to or readers of The Chbistxan
Index:
Read carefully once a month for six
months Dr. Tucker’s editorial on
“wholesome food with a spiritual ap
plication” in The Index of 21st. Aug.
—last week’s issue.
The regimen must be changed, more
• variety is urgently demanded. Ema
ciation, in many cases, is alarming.
Neglect in the culinary department,
the writer suggests, is the root of the
evil The proportions of osmazone
and gelatine must be closely looked
after. ’
’Many thanks to the Doctor for his
timely rebuke and suggestions. Oh,
1 for deliverance! Deacon.
The Sunday-School.
International Sunday-School Leasona,
j Lesson XII-—September 21, 1879.
THE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN.
Tit., iii, 1-9.
INTRODUCTION.
Titus, who was a Gentile, (Gal. 11. 3) was
con ver ed through the mini-try of the apos
tle Paul (Ch. I. 4). When the ap: stle and
I Barnaba* were sent from Antioch to Jeru-a
leai to consult the apostlex there as to the
question whether drcuinc si on was binding on
<ieiUile converts Titus accompan.ed them,
(G.d. 11. 1., Acts. XV. 2 ) He was sent at
leist twice to Corinth on important missions.
Not long before the epistle was written to
him,he with the apost'e wasin the island of
Crete, now Candia, where churches existed
probably before their visit. Finding much
work to be done there, Paul, on departing
from the island, left Titus to further organ
ize and instruct the churches, and shortly
mterwrote this letter containing directions
how lo [terform the work for which he had
been left there. This was probably in the
year A. D. 66 or 67. In our lesson the
Christian is presented to us in his relation to
the government under which he lives and
lothe community in which hedwells .n it
we are taught how God’s people should con
duct themselves towards those who are out
side the church. This we are taught in the
following
OUTLINE.
I The Christian’s duty, v. 1, 2.
11. The Christian’s motive, v. 8-7.
111. The Christian's influ nev, v. 8,9.
EXPOSITION.
I. The Christian’s duty; (a) to rulers, (b)
to all men.
V. 1. “Them,”believers. "Put them to
mind," because they needed to be thus re
minded. “To be subject to,” they were will
ingly and cheerfully to cultivatethe disposi
tion to submit to all’ law ui authority “Prin.
cipalities and powers,” all lawfnily constitu
ted governors. “To obey,” the external act
springing from the submissive disposition
•i.entioned above. “To be ready to every
good work,” whatever good work the govern
ment demands of ift subject*. If the com
mand in this verse was proper under such
government as the Roman, how much more
under a government such as ours.
V. 2. “To speak evil of no man,” neither
of ruler nor of subject. The ii. junction of the
Apostle How becomes general* “-No brawl
ers;” rather, not contentious, which the
Cretans were disposed to be. "Gentle,” fair,
reasonable, yielding, a gentleman. “Show
ing all me knees to all men,” a disposition to
I peacr—opjiosed tb angrv contention. From
what follows it is evident that the Apostle
. had in mind the application of this general
rule to their treatment of the heathen.
11. The Christian’s motive.
V. 3. "We ourselves,” who were once like
others but have received the kindness of God,
ought to be lenient snd forbearing to others.
“Also,” like the heathen around them.
“Sometime,” formerly. “Foolish," unrea
sonable in actions “Disobedient" to mag
■ istratesand to God, "Deceived,” going astr -y
from the right path. “Divers,” changing.
"Living,” passing our lives. “Malice and
envy,” judging others by wickedness «nd
themselves by envy. “Hat-ful,” provoking
hatred. A terrible description of unconvert
ed men in which the Apostle includes- him
self.
V. 4. “But,” a delightfill contrast. “Af
ter that,” when. “Kindness," benevolence.
‘Live toward man these three words are
one in the original, or philanthropy. Kind
ntss refers to benevolence in general, and love
to man to a particular exhibition ot that lie
nevolence. “God,” the Father. “Appear
ed” at the coming of Christ, in his life of
kindness and in his death on the cross.
V. 5. “Not by works of righteousness which
we have done,” not by the merit of our
pood works “But according to his mercy,”
independent of any foreseen goodness in us.
Salvation is in no sense the result of merit
on man's part. “He saved us,” the moment
we believe we are saved, yet we are sancti
tied by various processes, and completed sal
vation will come only after the resurrection
of the body. “The wishing of generations,”
the inward cleansing of the soul produced by
regeneration. This ides of cleansing runs
through the whole of the temple service and
is equally prominent in Christian worship.
The sinner must be cleansed as well as par
doned before he is completely saved. "Re
newing of the Holy Ghost,” the new life be
gins with regeneration, and the “renewing”
•is the continuous growth in that life. Os
this the Holy Spiiit is the author.
V. 6. “Wnich,” the Holy Ghost. “He,”
the Father. “Shed on us abundantly,”
literally, poured on us richly. The Apostle
refers here to the influence which the Spirit
exerts on individual Christians, an<| not to
the dai of Pentecost. “Through Jesus
Christ,” through his mediation and interces
sion. The Ho'y Spirit is here said to renew
the believer. “Jesus Christ our Sav or ”
In verse 4it is “God our Savior.” The
Father is the author of salvation; the Son
the mediator of it; and the Spirit ihe efficient
catt*e of it.
V. 7. “Justified,” regarded as righteous
(as in lesson 1, Rom. v. 1.) “His grace.”<?
God rather than of Christ here. “Made
heirs,”connect with these words, the words
“of eternal life," and read thus, “made heirs
of eternal life according to the hope.” That
is, wc are made heirs of eternal life really
but as yet wait in hope for the reception of
the complete inheritance. The believer
thus contristing hit past and present condi
tion. will be compelled to treat all otbera with
kii dnesa.
TH. The Christian’s influence.
. Y. 8. “A faithful saying” a saying wor
thv of belief. Compare 1 Tim., I. 15. \
reference to what is contained in verses 46-7
“These things," these things concerning sal
vation through Christ. "Affirm constantly ”
strongly and repeatedly presents to the
churches, “That," in order that. “Careful
to maintain good worksthe doctrines of
grace are the great producers of good works.
“These things,” the teachings of verses 46-7.
“Good” in themselves and “profitab e” in the
results. They are not mere matters of spec
ulation.
V. 9. “Avoid,” keep away from. “Fool
ish questions,” “curious inquiries in respect
to things wnich are of no consequence to
Christian faith and spiritual life, and are even
a hindrance to them.”—Van Oosterzee. —
"Genealogies,” probable question# of tribal
descent among Jewish converts, which in
themselves were of no importance. “Conten
. tions,” discussions. “Striving about the
I law” which would lead to angry discussions.
; “Unprofitable and vain” to those who en
gage in them and to those who listen. We
■ have known such discussions to waste the
i time o! a Sunday-school class.
remarks.
i The Christian citizen is the best citizen.
. The Christian is law-abiding. Speak evil of
I others only when absolu'dy necessary in or
-1 der to prevent a greater evil. A considera
! tion of the change which the grace of God
■ has eflected in us, prepares us to do well our
duty to the unconverted. We should never
i forget that we are saved by grace, not by
' works. The most practical preaching is
I preaching the doctrines of grace. Avoid all
| trifling discussions about the Bible.
MISSIONARY CLIPPINGS.
!
Will and Way.—“A good many of
j our church, together with the pastor,
are anti-missionary. Here is my way:
i 1 will cover congregation with The
i Church and School. Our pastor re
fuses to preach missionary sermons?
Here is my way: I intend to lecture
the Sunday-school on missions.” —Mid-
I die Georgia Brother.
Yes, give them the Church and
School ; read it to them, if they will not
i read it. Preach missions to the Sun
day-school, if your pastor will not to
the congregations. The only hope is
’to raise up missionaries. Those who
. are advanced in life are settled, fixed,
i rooted and grounded in their notions.
I May God show them their error, we
| cannot. ’
j 60,000 Converts.—Within a few
days the glorious news has been re
ceived from India, in Madura district,
that in some places 3,000, 6,000
and 10,000 had been converted to
Christianity. The whole number ag
gregates more than 60,000. — Boston
Traveler.
What a host! All for Jesus, and
brought to the knowledge of the truth
through the preaching of missionaries.
Is this labor lost ?
Power of Presence.—The presence
of our people here is having a salutary
' influence upon the feelings and opin
ions of this people.—Robt. Meriwether,
Brazil, S. A. '
The Baptists in South America are
“living epistles known and read.” The
people take “knowledge of them that
;thfey have been with Jesus.” They
show the power of a life, the potency
of a presence, the eloquence of a char
acter, the logic of a deed. How the
presence of a true soldier, though he
be unarmed, nerves the wavering com
rade. How the presence of a great
' man, though he utters not a word, ex
! cites our aspirations. How the pres
ence of a friend, though he may be
helpless, strengthens us to “endure the
cross.”
Strict Discipline.—A candidate for
baptism, while awaiting the ordinance,
I abandoned his old employments because
i he thought they were sinful, got in dis
tress, hunted for work and failed, then
j bought a lottery ticket, carried it to
j God in prayer and prayed that it might
win, was denied the rite of baptism
because his brethren thought this was
unchristian conduct. —R. H. Graves,
, China.
How many churches in this land
j would be as strict ? Some of our
brethren “Dike chances” in the lottery,
some engage in the financial gambling
? of Wall Street, and some select, as they
think, the fortunate figure in cotton
futures, and do not pray over it either,
as did the converted Chinee. Yet they
are not disciplined. Our missionaries
are keeping up a strict discipline
abroad. It would also be well for us
to draw the lines a little tighter at
home.
Ready for Sprinkling.—Whole
villages in the famine districts in China
are ready to submit to sprinkling. M.
T. Yates, China.
There it is again. “Who can un
derstand his errors ? Who can tell
where they will end ? “Sprinkling” in
China ! Baptism perverted before
the church is planted, the doctrine cor
i rupted before the gospel is preached.
[ 1 r "lyfalsehood will go a league while
truth is putting on nis boots. Baptist
missionaries are needed in China.
The M idow s Mite.—A widowed
sister handed me seventy cents for the
most needy missionary object. I send
it to you.—C. J. A.
A little thing truly; but suppose
i every "widowed sister” should send
' seventy cents, it would aggregate a
I thousand dollars or more. They doubt
less feel they have lost much—hus
i band gone, property gone, old
time friends gone, but still they
, can do much, and the obligation is still
upon them according to their ability.
, I his class generally are benevolent and
j liberal. If half the men were “widow
i ed sisters” there would be no lack for
I funds.