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vol. 2. Practice What You Preach, Then who doth teach thy hearers each The law from day to day, Doth not thou find that law to bind Thee too, as well as they? Then why should they teach all to vow, Their promise not topreach? Whitest thou doth break one halt you make, Still thou doth them beseech. Thou that propound it doth redound To the Glory and to good, For thou to practice as thou preach, And preach as preachers should. For we are taught all is ought. If works are left behind, Then work you should; for that is good In body or in mind. MORGAN BROWN. Baiwick, Ga., July, 1895. Dear Brother Simms: I send you a scrible, but do not ask you to publish it unless you think it profitable. I leave it entirely to your judgment and will not think hard in the least if you do not publish it. Really I think it is very poor?I know it is the truth, but it is so poorly got ten up. How was your meeting at the constitution. Brother Simms I ask you again. Can’t you come to our yearly meeting? I want you. I need you, and must have you if I can get you. I have a special need for you-but will tell you then. Dear soldiers of Jesus Christ, and fellow laborers in His king dom. You who have been called of God as was Aaron, who are set the kingdom pf.GQ.d_ - Servants. To you the dear Apostle says: “No man that warreth, entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath called him to be a soldier.” How natural is it for us as other men to be swal lowed up with the cares of this present world, and to forget the injunction of the scriptures to not be entangled therewith. Many times in my life has his sacred de claration of the Apostle come into my mind reverberating in thunder tones, and as many times have I been shocked and astounded at my disobedience and made to cry “O! Lord lam guilty.” As a watch man, you are set upon the -walls of Zion to look for the approach of the enemy. Israel is not prepared to watch for she is busy with her own affairs, and she has not the commanding view of the surround ing country and its attendant evils,.that you have, for God has given you an eagles eye to discern where Israel as a whole cannot see. Many times she has been resting quietly, not suspecting any danger, when you would cry to them “to arms, 0! Israel.” What a respon sible place lor a smner to occupy. As anoverseer you are to watch over them and see that they are all lively working members, and each one filling his own place, and not trying to fill the place of an other. You are to have the authority over them, but not to Lord it over God’s heritage, for this is His fold and His sheep, His workmen, and if you cannot per suade them to keep themselves unspotted from the world and humbly bear His cross daily. You are to report to Him, and in His written instruction, delivered already to you; you will find the penalty to be executed by this officer, the church. Every specie of disorder is described and the penalty fixed for every violation of. His law. Israel may not always heed the watchmans warning | * @ljc Hilgrim’s |Jflnner. ... - ——— ■■ - ■ p 1 ; '■— —■ ' ' ■■■ ■ - - . , _ , ♦. . “THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE, THAT IT MAY BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH.”— Psalms 60: 4. voice, nor Lis reproofs, rebukes and exhortations, that is administered in the fear of God, but whether they forbear the watchman is clear of his oath and their blood will be required at their own hands. They will work out their own death. ButO! if you should go to sleep, or become coveteous of this present evil world and be come entangled therein, hofv solemn and awful is that declara tion : “Their blood will I require at your hands.” As a shepherd you are to love the sheep and care for them. If your object in serving churches is temporal remuneration, you then would be au hireling whose own the sheep are not, and would not care for them when trouble comes, but would flee and leave them to be destroyed. The true under-shepherds that God has placed over the sheep of this pasture, feel their responsi bility to their flocks greater than all duties because God requires it of them. They love their flocks well enough to cast their lots with them, to walk among them, to speak words of comfort and cheer to the weak and sickly ones, to ad minister reproof in love, when necessary and to let them know that he does love them and that it is his business to serve thsmi How many pastors to-day have gone to their farms,' vineyards, and their merchandise while their flocks are scattered, perishing, drooped and sickly for want of faithful rebuke and their little ones crying around JJynfaM W tn Im fed, and, comforted. The servant of God must be gentle, must not strain or try to rule his flock by force, but by love, must be apt to teach, and in meekness must instruct those that oppose themselves. There are many children of God to-day in the church and out of it who are clinging so tenaciously to tradi tion, and hold so sacred the cus toms of the fathers, that they do not search the scriptures and de sire to know God’s will as much as they desire to keep up tradition to the letter. Our fathers were flesh and blood and were no more in spired to fix rules and customs in our forms of worship than Chris tians are to-day. There is no safe ground for the church to occupy outside of the scriptures as regards faith doctrine and the Christians walk here, hut there are many rules and customs among the church that the scriptures are si lent upon. Who then did fix them? Our fathers for their best convenience and to suit themselves, fixed and changed and rechanged, and so it has been all along. Some things among us now might be changed for the benefit of the Church and the glory of God, and the servants of God must labor in meekness to right the wrongs, and instruct those who oppose them selves by believing for doctrine the commandments of men. In view of all the laborings and watchings and selfdenials and many requirements of a servant of God, how reasonable does it seem that he should be loosed from the affairs of this life, and in view of this Paul told Timothy to give himself wholly to these things. The servant of God must set his face as a flint to hear the re proaches of the world and the evil sayings of many disobedient and evil minded brethern. He must be bold enough to declare the whole Counsel of God. He must preach, against all manner of disorder andi irregularities that he sees creeping in among his charge and if need I e DEVOTEDTO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST VALDOSTA, OA„ AUGUST 15, 1895. he must give his own life in defense of his flock. He is pledged them in spirit his time, his talents his affections, his all is laid upon the altar of their service ,for God has taken him prisoner and given him to them to be their servant and minister. What a high and holy calling, 0 pastors, everywhere, can’t you turn loose the world and put your Lord’s money to usury? I know by experience the many questions that will confront and confuse you. I know your great concern for your wives and children, and the many heart aches and bitter groans that you have to witness, but go, go, go. Jesus says, “and lo! I am -with you alway even unto the end of the werld.”Can’t you be lieve him? Can’t you trust him? Were it not for this blessed prom ise I would have gone down in despair before this. Arise dear soldiers of Jesus and go, and preach Him the Way, the, Truth, and the Lifo. Boldly declare his truth in the face of a wicked and gainsaying people. Boldly tell your churches their duty to God, to themselves and to you. If you had been preaching constantly the duty of the Churches to their pas tors and the poor of the church there would not have been so many preachers entangled with the world and so many poor, neglected and down troddened ones in the churches. The fat ones are push ing and horning the poor ones, and all things are not equal and com mon among us, and .The insult is cold-churches, dfe mfcm astray, rusty preachers with their hands tied to their little ones’ at home, our children being drawn away by the dazzling, blinding re- I hgion of Satan and paying their I money for that which is not meat, and which will not stay the ap petite,a px>r hungry Christian, the waste places increasing, Zion lan guishing and bleeding and the cause of God being trampled under foot by the messengers of Satan, and many children of God giving their consent there to. 0 watch man wake up? declare the rights of the church and the cause of God Turn loose the world; cast your selves at the feet of Jesus and upon the mercy of God. Answer the call of that blessed spirit in your own bosoms as Samuel did. “Here am I Lord,” I want to extol and magnify and honor the name of God, in that He has raised up an army of servants in these lat ter days who are stand ing shoulder to shoulder, squarely upon God’s truth, and are trusting in his promises, dear brethren, I know what you are having to suffer for-the truths sake and 0 how my poor heart gows out in sympathy for you. I love you and may God bless you, and give yougrace and strength to I fight a good fight, to keep the faith' to finish your course with joy apd with a clear conscience. Now dear soldiers, keep sacred that which is committed to your Lrust.Can you love me? If I can be assured that I have your sympathies I can bear my burdens better. Your brother in bitter trials. R. H. Barwick. Editors of the Banner. I have been requested to give my views on the subject of the duties of churches to their pastors. If these views disappoint those who have heard me speak on the sub ject heretofore, I have only to say,' .'that I have carefully examined the Scriptures, and in the light of experience h ave come to the con- , elusion which is here given. It. appears that the churches in j' the other stateshave conidered it > their duty to contribute to the j suppur >■ of their pastors, and even herey deacons are charged at their ordihati.on with this; but while this is true the churches (or most Jit them) in this association seem averse to giving temporal support to their pastors. I do not think th is .proceeds so much from covetousness as from a fear that it is o’ dangerous example. In my opinion the aged minis ters who have just passed away, did their duty in going on preach ing without requiring temporal support/ bnt whether the deacons and brethren did their duty te them in#their poverty or not is matter for serious and profound thought/ One thing I know, that while th>y required nothing, they would have received donations if they had been tendered in the Spirit oCiove. This 'seems to be in accord with the .-spirit of all the Scrip ures beai ing on the subject, that while may not properly de maud carnal things of another there is great virture in giving; provided it be to those who are in need. ; , Man seems to be on extremes. If we flee from one extreme we usually go to the opposite extreme. For doing something that savors cdjmissionism, we may even neglect widow and the orphan. Moderati>u should attend all opr duty lies* between find the we shall find the right way Under the law, the priests were supported from the offerings made by the people. This was an ordi nance of God and after noticing this the Apostles goes on to say. ‘Even'so hath the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel, should live of the gospel.” (ICor. 1-9-14.) This should not bo spirit ualized as is often done, for the context clearly shows that natural things were ment. Paul had direct reference Ito the language used by “the Lord” (Math, 10-10 and Luke 10-7) when he sent out his disciples to preach. Take neither gHd nor silver nor brass” and “For the laborer is worthy of hia meat” It particularly applied to the apostles who were to travel and spread the gospel. I do not find in the Scriptures that bishops (who are supposed to be local preachers with families: Tim. 3-2 .) differ from others ini respect of temporal things (except as I hope to show in another place but that with others they are en titled to the benefit of having all things common. In the early chuch the desciples sold their pos session.and made common their, c. property, and. deacons were ap t pointed a to make distribution as EVERY ONE HAD NEED. This put all on a level. The poor broth er should not be taxed to give to one who is better off than he, but is himself an object of temporal notice. The widow also if she posseses certain qualifications is entitled to support. Indeed they had “all things common.” I do not hold that we have a commu nity of prosperity as they did in those days. We hold our proper ty in severalty, like other people but we have covenanted togethei to give “ourselves and all we pos- 4 seas to Almighty God to be order - ed and disposed of by him accord ding to his holy will.” This ques tion is from the covenant of Mt Olive church, and is in substance the same as “selling our possesions ' and laying at the feet of the ! church the price thereof, as they did in the early days of the church. 1 This we have in a true gospel sense to devoted all we possess to “pious uses.” This is our form;but have we indeed from the heart pledged all our possessions for the general good of the church, or have we not rather, like Ananias kept back part (if not all) the price? Are we indeed willing to minister carnal things to those who are in need as we have cove nanted to do? I do not believe it was ever intended that the churches should be burdened. But were informed that those who min ister Spiritual things to the breth ren are entitled to carnal things from them. When we do our du ty we have the promise of the Lord’s blessings, and we ought to honor him with our substance. “Honor the Lord with thy sub stance and with the first-fruits of thine increase, so shall thy barnes be filled with plenty and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” (Proverbs. 3-9-10 ) I do not mean that this epistle to ministers more than others, but I do believe that where people are liberal with their substance to assist the needy, they will be blessed so that more shall be burdened. It is when we are enjoying the Lord’s power that we may have nothing and abound, otherwise we may have all, and suffer need. I stated above that I would show in Another except' tion in fegard to the pastor. Paul says,“let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor etc.” “For the scriptune saith thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the Corn.” and the laborer is worthy of his reward.” Even upon a principle of charity, a poor man who is call ed to devote his life to the spirit ual good of the brethren, should be cared for. We reason that the Lord is able to sustain him and so he is, and indeed if the Lord did not do so his lot would be hard indeed. But I ask the brethren if it may not be a cause of our bar renness, that we call him Lord, Lord and do not the things he says. He has told us to honor him with our substance, that is, to minister to his poor saints, and especially as I think, to his poor Minister-, ing servants. We easily say to the brethren, “Be ye warmed and be ye fed” etc. But we can easily find in the Scriptures that all this is' vain unless w’6 give the things which are needful. A minister may be maimed or blind orafflict ed, and besides having to attend the churches he has to support a family. He often goes bowed down feeling like he was forsaken ed of God and man, yet no one thinks of ministering to his neces sities, Is he not one of those -who “have need”? (Acts 2-45) May brethren who have abundance and yet never coommunicate to their pastor who perhaps is in dire dis tress on account of debts and want of the necessaries of life expect him. to be in a proper frame of mind to communicate spiritual things to them? I speak altogether in re spect to such as are afflicted or’ so poor as to be proper objects of charity; for I greatly admire the course of a minister who makes him self chargeable to notice more. But? ithe thing I most particularly de-* sire to speak of, is the “fruits” of imparting temporal things. >. I believe every pastor will agree i with me in this one thing, that a ‘ pastor needs tangible evidences r from a church, that he is profita . ble to them, and that he is hon- I ored and appreciated by them, and > that his spiritual communications are edifying. Without experience we would suppose that kind words ■ and assurances would answer the purpose. But by experience we know that words do not amount to “fruits.” Words do not last a month. The writer is always sus picious at every meeting that some one or all, are tired of his minis ry. Now the apostle in his epis tle to the Phillipeans (4-15 to 17 •had this in view. They communica ted with him as“concerning giving and receiving,” and he called it “fruit” which he desired might abound to their account. There is just the same difference between speaking words of comfort to a poor minister, and that of communica ting such things as he needs as there ’is in saying to a hungry man “be ye fed,” and not giving to him such things as is necessa ry to satisfy his hunger. Paul said he desired fruit that might abound to their own account How could their giving carnal things ennure to their own good? Or how could the same abound to the good of any church? Simply by building up the pastor in the Spirit, so that he might be in such frame of mind as to impart scriptual things to them. A sis ter told me on last; Saturday that when the pastor was down ,_li , imparted death to the “members and when he was cheerful it im narted life. I have no doubt that churches might so act as to so cheer up their minister that they would realize more abundantly the blessings of spiritual life and light. I know that it is a very delicate thing to speak of. Breth ren are apt to suspect one of writ ing or speaking such for person al motives. I have thought that it is right to teach the proper thing in relation to this subject, but I believe that when brethren are in the line of obedience their own inward imprssions is the pro per admonition to follow. So then if this view be right, private communication of this sort ( which Paul calls sanctified with which God is well pleased) abounds to the good of those by whom they are made. Again, causes thanksgiving to Gcd. So sayskhe apostle. This phase of the matter is of no little importance. When one in distress or poverty is relieved by the hand of a brother, he feels that God wrought it in the heart of the broth er and he therefore thanks God for it. Now then what I have most aimed to write is this. As a household we ought to so minister to each other’s necessities as to make all things common, that min isters on account of their greater burdens are worthy of particular attention that private gifts from the brethren abound to the good of the churches and to the glory of God that min isters ought not to make them selves burdensome to the church, but should even labor to support themselvefc and families while this is so the chutch though their dea cons should look after their tem poral wants, as they have covenant to do. If the pastor be poor and all the members poor t hey are all on la leval and one should notbe charg able to another except as they may (Continued bn 3rd page.) No. 17.