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Vol. 2. Doubts and Fears. A sinner far away from God, O Lord thou knowest weil, How loath I am to kiss thy rod, No mortal tongue can tell. r Death’s deepest shades doth oe’r me lie, To hide from me thy love, Which makes my trembling spirit cry Bfc For light from thee above. ' Vile, sinful, Satan makes me b’lieve I nave no life in me, His darkness doth such kindness give In things I love to see. He doth me fill with unbelief, When he doth me deceive, And when I seek to*find relief I find none to reieave. \ O Lord do take me from his snare, In which he hath me caught, Leaf I should sink in sore despair, And give all up as nought. Morgan Brown, A New V ersion of an Old Case. . 2 PARTI. Once on> time, date and place , wanting, but once on a time acer- * ’ . , tain Church got into great difficul- ’ ties, and had great confusion, as H Churches sometimes unhappily do. Brotherly love gave place to , alienation and coldness, and har mony to confusion, and mutual crimination. As might well ’ be supposed, Christian enjoy- ment was unknown. The ® spirit of prayer silenced, and a spirit of unchristian bitterness, and gfe-J animosity reigned. The of the Church to do good was par ■ alyized. Their minister preach- but he might as well have talked in the midst of a tempest I when he inculcated the duties | Bk of Christianity, and spoke of its I benign influence on its subjects, | some graceless unbelievers in the | gallery would dart a glance down F-. upon some of the members below, z and then with a malicious smile and look the good man right in the face; as much as to say.Dont try to | impose these fictions on us! yon der sits forty staunch witnesses, all Wr members of your church, who tes- tify against the truth of every word you say.” Thus the word of divine truth fell powerless at the feet of these sinners like arrors striking the iron. Friendship be came less known, and enmity be- E came more deeply seated; so that L’ it became a common remark a- mong. the surrounding population whose eyes and ears were wide I’ t open.“ See how those christians( ?) hate each other!” If this be chris l-' tianity give uS in preference to fr it the worst, form of Paganism or i the most naked system ofinfidel- ity,” ; Things were rapidily approach- ing a crisis. Appearence seemed to indicate the speedy disolution of the church as unavoidable and even desirable, and the pall of B I death seemed likely to rest on the BlLfea murdered cause of Christ. Many. g. I hmdly exulted. The sons ofße- | j lial in their drunken orgies, and B> I mighty revels indulged a fiend triumph over the bleeding HOga body, pouring contempt and insult 1 on ose who bad troubled their hearts by their piety and their pray ers; yet there were a few names >-B- I even in Sardis Vr’hose garments ■. f ’’"l were undefiled, who wept and sighed over the desolation of their I beloved Zion, and who stood Br~ *1 dmlybetween the porch and the ■'* .1 alter, crying, “Spare thy people R r I 0 Lord! and give not thine heri tage to reproach. • Do good in thy I unto Zion; build @lje |lilgrtmo fanner. L— -- 1 ' - •' T .48,, ‘‘THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR TREE, THAT XT MAY BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH ”—P«alms 60: A - --- - - ■„... -m. ism?. jMr l ~ -—i—' '—- -- .... . thou the walls of Jerusalem.’* These faithful souls prepared, a letter addressing it to their-pas tor, who had been their pastor in earlier, and better days asking his advice and council. * The minister was deeply pained on hearing the sad state of the Church and with all forcible dispatch pre pared a suitable answer to their re quest. W e have no copy of the letter he ontended for them, but the substance was probably some thing like the following; ”1 sincer ly lament, brethren, the unchris tian state in to which you are fall en. How contrary is it to the let ter and spirit of that Gospel you profess to believe! How opposite to your own covenented obligations? How grievous to thatHolySpirit by which you are quickened; how ruinous to to the souls of men around you, many of whom know nothing of the gospel but what they learn from your walk and conversation. I, therefore ad monish you first of all, and beseech ’you to walk worthy of the voca tion wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one an other in love, endeavering to keep the unity of spirit in the bonds of peace; let all bitterness and wrath and anger, and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted for giving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be It is as ye thus love one another that all shall know that ye are the disciples of Christ.” From this brief specimen, the readers can easily imagine how the letter went on, and how it concluded. Pity we think the Church* never got it. But not to anticipate. Now this good preacher owned a good farm some distance from his resi dence, |obtained most probably by inheritance or marriage) and it so happened that just as he had folded the above letter, and before he had directed it, word was brought that certain mischief was being done on his farm, and«jvhicff required Jds advice. Whereupon he took up another sheet of pa per, and wrote the following la conic order for his overseer: “Mend the fence, and keep the black bull out.” This sheet he also folded up as the other and by sheer mistake directed it to the Church, and away it went, and the Church letter to the farm, at which we might well suppose the overseer marveled greatly. But before the mistake could be cor rected the letter had gone past re call, which brings our story to PART 11. Church met for business, pursuant to adjournment. The . Moderator took the chair*, and the Clerk his seat at the table, with the aforesaid letter in his hand, sealed, and duly, directed to the Church. He commenced break ing the seal with a gravity be coming the occasion and his office. A profound stillness reign ed over the assembly, such as had not been witnessed for months before. All waited with breath less expectation the council of age*and the advice of experience and wisdom. The Clerk opened the letter. The first thing that struck his flying vision was its< brevity. But without salutation or note he proceeded—“ Mend the DEVOTEDTO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST VALDdsTA, OA.,#UNE 1, 1895, fence, and keep the black bull out.”He looked, was jure he had made no mistake. He turned over a leaf, but there was nothing there but a blank; and it was mani fest he had reached the end of the epistle. He colored 1 and looked at the Church, and the Church looked at him, and then they looked about among them selves. It was very evident they were all taken by supprise and thrown back. After some time spent in silent musing, some of the members be their feet, qnd one of the nreuiren recovered/himself sufficiently to askthat the letter be read again. Whereupon, the clexk “Mend—the—fence, and—-keep— the black bull - out,” On which the brother aforesaid, rose and delivered himself much as fol lows: Brother Moderator:"^— I am astonished! Utterly astonished! I don’t know what to make of it; nor wfiat to say, or think about it. What does? what can the man mean? We wrote to him out of the depth of our afflictions for council and advice, and we are here answered with this impertin ent and vulgar trifling. The man, old and esteemed as he is, de serves our rebuke; if not scorn.” Having said the above with all resentment, he sat down. An other of the brethren of the forty qpposed to the last speaker: “I said he, “to what the brother just up has said. It ly provoking. It is utterly un worthy of the character of the man, and of the respectability of this church. Something spiritual ought to be done.” He ended and gave place to a third brother,, who, through the course of the long difficulty had been a silent mem ber. He remarked very calmly. “I am heartily glad to hear my brethren who have just spoken, for once express an agreement. For to my certain knowlege it is the first time they have agreed on anything for the last twelve months. lam also of the opinion that something ought to be re plied to chat strange letter,” de cidedly disapproving it. “Though as to the respectability of this Church, of which mention has been made, the less we say about that under our present circum stances the better. However, I e, jf I can get a second, that a, letter be prepared and sent to Elder Good, expressing our dis appointment, and our disapproba tion of the one he has sent us.” The motion was instantly seconded; but just as the Moderator was about to put it,, a somewhat un obtrusive brother rose and asked the privilege of making a few remarks. Now concerning thij brother, who is about to address the conference, we would Just promise that he had a remarkable tact and turn at allegorizing and spiritualizing. *And*it was amaz ing, unpretending as he was, how he would sometimes make a great dea) of just nothing at all, greatly to his own edification, and.the wonder of others. This peculiar ity in the man’s genius was ac counted for, in part, by the fact that in his younger days, when impressions was supposed to be the strongest and most durable, he attended the ministery of an. Elder Wiseacre; a famous preacher, who also had great skill in allegorizing and in which it was thought his main strength lay. Elder Wise ! acie could prove the doctrine of th| Trinity from the three‘white baskets on the head of Pharoah’s Baker; the same doctrine, together with “the decrees” from Solomon’s chord.” Also he had a which proved to his owb satisfaction the universal hismry ofthe Church in all ages from the seven Apocalypic letters. Suqh were the early advantages of now on the floor, who spoß, and said, “Aftd I am also, astonished; not SM. much at the lettdr in question, as at the views whi< the brethren have taken of it. Wiiy,it is just the thing. A bet ter J-dter could not have been You chTI it “importinept,”» I saW is ol: e appreciative You sly it miling,” I sayi t.iplies h sql a and ,.und contwis a most important piece of advise, to which we do well that we t>ke heed. I* can explain it accosting to the method of inter pretation which I learned many years ago from our good minister,” (Here the recollections of past days,j and of Elder Wiseacre his sensibilities, and his emotions produced the following reflections) “Ah, we had preaching then., ; He knew how to explain the hardest part of Leviticus, and the JUvelations. We have no such preaching now. But to the “Mend'the fence, and keep twoapk bull out.” “Here,” said he, “it is plain; the fence means manage it with Christian love. This fence was Apostles to keep tjie bad out, and the good in, and it ought never to be down. Then fl at black critter evidently means trie wicked one; that okhserpent, waich is the De vil; who goeth about like a roar ing lion, as. saith the Apostle; seeking whom he may devour. Now brethren, our fence is broken down and trampled under toot; Gospel discipline is neglected, and brotherly love banished. The Devil is among us, and we are be come hateful and hating one an other. He has set brother against brother, and husband against wife, and children against their parents. He his made sad work. He has the Holy Spirit to with draw and leave us almost deso lute. He has made us a reproach and a by-word among our neigh bors; land our enemies rejoice amongthemselves, saying, ‘Aha! So wuM we have it.’ Now brethren, lhe letter means tHat we shpuli banish this bad, unchris tian spirit from ouf hearts—that we slwuld make strait paths for our fjet— that we should confess to and to one another our evil ways and forsake them; and that we should thus drive the Devil out of our midst, and let him no more gain .advantage over us. Then brethren all will be well; and God will again delight to bless us, and make us a blessing to others.” Here he ended. But the effect of of his good speech, founded on al legory .was wonderful. The eyes of the church were opened, lhe letter became light itself. It was excellent, oracular. They all saw it, and whariwas better, they felt it. I’hey saw their evil state. There was the Devil before them. They shuddered at their danger. Their hearts began to relent. The fountains of deep contrition were Brotherly love began to glow in their bosoms. They began to “Mend the fende,” each one his own length. They confessed -■■■ r to each other with weeping their' unchristian conduct and spirit. They mutually asked and obtained forgivenness. They knelt to gether before God with weeping, and supplication. They rose with renovated feeling, and soon it was like a little on earthly ground and glory in the earth. After some further profitable ex ercises v all joined >iT *53-- and sch.l* a sinj g f so .owing hymn,. .ch. had not beui heard among them before in many, many months: ■ “From whence doth this union arise, That hatred is*conquered by love?” Here many voices followed, over come by deep feeling; and many ; ey t-s were dimned by the gushing Argos mingled penitence and jvy. they recovered and went on “It fastens our souls in such ties, That distance and time cannot re move.” After this they all cordially shook hands, and every man to his home wiser for letter.” each resolving henceforth to look well to the fence, and “keep the black bull out.”—Se lected. ? ■■■ h " May the above lesson be re membered by the saints.—Ed. '..Xn-... _ “Not every one that saith untb me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doetb the will of my Father which is in heaven.” The £rst thing m order to enter is life. Natural life can do, see, and say. the things of nSturp. Na turally, its theory of salvation is jjpnditional, and of short dura tion, from natural birth tb depth; fience it requires fast workeia to teach how to comply with the so called terms asd conditions of the gospel. That will suit the fancy and taete of natural life subjects to bnter kingdoms of the same rela tion of life, of their own choosing, as to the name, for while they have quite a number of names, but one in principle, so the will of Father and subjects, all the same natural ly said and done. Acceptance—no trouble-—in fact the good work(?) is carried on by all kind of pull ing and pushing the Devil after them in a frightful manner by the rivers of Babylon in the time of a big freshet called by them a“re vival,” the waters muddy, spreads wide takes in all the trash and filth as far as it reaches, some of God’s little ones are caught in it, and have to hang their harps upon the willows in the midst thereof, sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. Ps, 137 and 1,2. Poor things! no place to sing one of Ziens sbngs, made to say, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” Come out from among those Babylonians and follow Jesus and ye shall find a resting place to sing with joy of soul, gladness of heart, un The theory of Babylon has all the way through, took right for wrong, and wrong for right; hear ing, seeing, continue in perform ing the conditions in order to life. What did the first man Adam do as to natural life, that is our life, and all we have naturally? If their doing proved any thing, it in order to death, at first, by reason of sin and disobedience, and first in order to doing, and is equally true that eternal lite is first in or der to hear, see, comprehend and do spiritual things. The Savior says: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” By this second birth he is made alive and willing with joy and gladness of heart-to enter, heavily impressed, but feels poor little and unfit, too unworthy; yet the mind, life, will, desire, and love is there; they see the beauties and sweets of the gospel of Christ, can say witn Paul, “Lord what wilt thou have me to do?” Can say, “Lord, Lord,” understanding!]? ” and evidence the fact that they have spiritual or eternal life, haye beep born again, born of God, and : living characters, proper subject* . ate r the kingdom, the Church o Christ; not in order to obtain life, but because of life. Jesus the foundation principle, the supporting power of all spiritual - blessings promised to the living and not the dead, and he says, ome unto me all ye tha£ labor. a. d are heavy laden arid* I will give you rest, take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly m heart and ye shall find* rest to souls,” Deas? • children of God, it is right to obey Jesus, to live in the Church a doer * of the work required of you as his children. Continue therein, you have all the promises of a growth in gr|ce,jiseful, full of seasoning— the*salt of the earth, a city upon a hill, full of light, stroiikin the Lord, injoying all spmSSl bless ings in the heavenly place in Christ, and reat, but no promise of sweet rest in the wick ed places in Adam. . J. W. Pabkkb. Ozark, Ala., Mar. 21, 1895. Leliaton, Ga., Feb. 5,1895. Elder A. V.Simiiis— I ual desire*m iny mind I attempt to write a little Banner. /“As we have thdrefoTO: opportunity, let us dMgSml unto men, especially to the household of faith.” (Gal. vi. 10.) Now it is very evident that we are pre pared of the Lord to do good unto all men. Yes, we are born of the uncorruptible seed of God, which liveth and abide th" forever. God does not command, or place duties upon His people which they cannot perform. He has redeem ed us from under the law, has taken our feet out of the mire and clay; put a new song in our mouths and bids us follow Him. He has ena bled us to sing “We’re a happy * pilgrim band,” etc. We are left without excuse. There is nothing that will kill a Christian but giving place to the adversary. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. It is not the duty of a Christian to do good to the brethren only. They are the light of the world. “This I say then, walk in the spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” When a man gives railing for railing, and returns evil for evil, what evidence have we that he is bom of God? When we transgress do we not receive the stripes? *We learn obedience by the things we suffer. It is reasonable to suppose that God’s people are a very disobe dient people for they are whipped for every disobedient act. Then when we see a brother so often engaged, or indulging in wicked ness our confidence gradually les sens and weakens till our soul is so faint till we believe he is dead, and it therefore becomes, the duty ‘ of the Church to bury him. We believe the Lord has turned him . over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. This is offered to • your better judgement. Your brother amidst trials and hopes. L. M. Guthbib. No. 11.