The Pilgrim's banner. (Valdosta, Ga.) 1893-1918, August 15, 1895, Image 3

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the church.” The church of Christ has never looked to modern Sun day Schools for h?lp, but. to the Lord. The Lopt said to Israel. In me (tho Lord), is thy help.’* “Vain is the help of man,” says David. Hence our friend is de-' pending upon a vain thing for his help; for the Sunday School of man Man originated it. It grew out of a gketieaJ idea in man that God w&4 , not able k> teach us. A? he sail: “All thy children be taught of the Lord: hence invented the Sunday School to” help him. The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for thee.*' Hence all the auxilliarv,that the church needs, is grae? and that will be sufficient. Our friend claims the Sunday School “prepares the mind, leads to soul-culture and to soul saving. We are anxious to know what be come of all who died from Abel ( till the advent of out blessed Sa vior: they had no Sunday School, and hence their mind was not pre pared, their souls were not cultured. 1 and their souls were not saved, if the Sunday School does this gra- 1 cious work; for Paul says, “There is one faith,” Hence the faith that saves one must save all, and if our ( cc j ' minds are prepared today, our : souls cultured and saved by the f Sunday School. Abel must be saved ) by the same faith; and as there j was no Sunday School for Able ( and the couhtless millions before : christ, and even after christ, for J the apostles and faithful disciples ’ had no Sunday School, and the f church fled into the wilderness c twelve hundred and sixty days c (years), and endured severe per*f 4 . J aecution and. the beast Was in POWb aud the second beast arose >{] e ami- t tqplied into quite a number, till t Robert Raises started the Sunday J School in 1781, is all this done ' without any minds being prepared ; souls cultured and saved? Mr H.’s argument would damn all perior to the advent of this Savior? the ; modern Sunday School. Are not £ those people who are filled with ecstahc joy over this “New discov- « ery” glonfiingit as the god that prepares the mind, cultures and saves souls, defying the Sunday ( School, and making it a god save their souls? Is not this heath enism? How couled poor infants, • ' idiots, the deaf, dum and blind and the sevenrtenths in heathen lands who die without this new” god, without their minds prepared;souls cultued and saved ever reach heav en? Many dear children of God are there among these people,and We regret to see them denying the plain teaching of the Bible which positively says: “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Hence the Spirit of God prepares the mind leads to soul-culture and soul Sav ing and not the Sunday School. Baptists should not allow their children to go and be taught in such doctrines as are taught in those Schools. “Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is hone other name under heaven given among men whereby We must be saved Acts 4; 12. Paul says “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves etc.” Dear Christian, your experience teaches you that your salvation ■ is. 'not based (ipon anything outside of Christ ahd his If yor are in babylon come out of her and touch not, taste not, ban die not, which all arp to ppyish with their using alter the command' inents and doctrines of men.” “Thou shall have no gods before me” His own brought Salvation “When he had by himselj purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high .” Jesus does all this work and does it by himself.” so that tho scales of eror could be removed from the eyes of the dear saints who are blinded by the gods of this wolrd and that they could come to the knowledge of the truth—ll. APOLOGY. Our absence from home and be ing unable to read and correct the proof of the first and las*: pages of this issue is our apology for so many mistakes and blun ders appearing therein. We hop? Elders Blanton, Barwick and others whose articles appear in that part of the paper will not be hard on us. We hope up such thing will ever occur again.—S. GOOD MEETINGS. At our annual meeting at Anti och church last Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we had Elders Thom as of Ala., C. W. Stallings, I. A, >Ve the rington, Aaron Parrish and R. M. Gilbert, all of whom came richly laden with the gospel of Christ, and preached with great ability,reviving our poor drooping hearts. One was baptized Sunday aud too precious ones joined by letter, and a poor heart broken one joined by experience in the close of the meeting.l never enjoy ed a meeting better and the whole family of grace were filled so over flowing and were loth tn leave the place. Elders Stallings and Tom as preacjhed to an attentive an re rxc<r at my an ! ton Sunday night and many said tho “best wme way kept till the last,” I heard many say that they never saw more love abounding than among our dear little band. There were many dear ones who left with burdened hearts be cause of a failure to do their duty. . May the Lord enable them to soon come home and live with' us, for we love them, and our prayers go up to Almighty God in their behalf. Their sorrows are our sorrows and we would help them if we could, but no rest is found only in obedience. Pray for us at Antioch and visit us for we love to hate the saints vis’t our precious little band.—H. Eider Barwick, baptized twelve at Pleasant Grove last meeting. Elder Harden baptised nine at Ramah in Pike county Ala, last 4th Sunday; we learn that six’ joined at Hebron,six at long creek and several at other churches at their last meeting in the Upper Cannoochee Association. Praise the Lord for his mercies. —H. We had the sweet priviledge of visiting our precious sister Fannie Shuman recently. We are glad to state that though she is quite fee ble,she is much improved. Her afflic tions have been intense for years, but she, like her blessed Savior, patiently endures her sufferings without a murmer. May the Lord continue tc bless her.—H. We taveled much this year and . the churches seem to be in a health ful condition and many accessions to the Lord’s people in every di rection. We can praise the Lord for the pleasant summer and;faith-' * ful harvest, but winter 'will come * again. Let us not sleep as others s do but awake and be sober—H. EXPERIENCE. Blays, Ga.. July 21st, 1895. Elder Lee Hanks. Dear Brother:—as 1 have felt impressed for several years to write what I hope has been tho dealings of the Lord with me. When I was small 1 would have serious thoughts about death, and uly future destiny. I thought (hat when I became a man I would quit my bad babbits and get relig ion, and God would save me for my good works. When I would hear any one £ay that they were not saved by works, I did not believe them, and '.aid if God did not give us a chance that there was no justice in Him. I went on with this be lief, till I was about twenty-one. Early in the spring of 1878, while riding along the road, thinking about some worldly disappoint ment, all at once, it appeared to me that 1 was a lost sinner, an I that I had sinned away the day ot grace and there was no chance for me to be saved. It seemed that there had been a time there was a chance for me, but it was too late then. Oh! I can’t tell the trouble I was in! I could not pray, but I was made to grieve. I could not help crying. All I could say was, “O Lord, 0 God.” 1 felt that God could not be just and save me, 1 was so great a sinner. I went lionie, and could not help crying though I did not want any one to see me. I hid myself ti could be more composed. That night :he dear old aunt where I staid asked me what was the matter, 1 told her nothing much. When I would go to bed I was afrai 1 to go to sleep for fear I should die C knew if I died that hell was my doom. I went on in this way till some time in the summer of the same year, when one night I dreamed that it was said to me that tis bound in heaven as itig on earth. I don’t know Why it was, but this scripture gave me some . ifijief/but could not claim it as a hope. When I attended church, after this, and an opportunity was extended for members, I could hardly stay away,l went on in this condition for about one year, try ;ng to pray for the Lord to save me and give me a little hope. One morning, about day, I had a vision, I thought I was at Rosemary church and there was a large crowd and Christ was in the midst, and there was a man that the Sa vior Was to take his life with the sword. I thought I followed the Savior begging him to h ive mer cy on me; and brother Thomas La nier asked me in what way I want ed him to have mercy on me, and he said he would have mercy in any way that I wanted him and isked him if he would not and he said he would. I told him I wan ted Him to save my soul. We went to where the Savior was to take the man’s life and He was above us with the man in his arms and he died without a struggle. There was a stand in front of the church which Ithought was to show me I ought to join the church. I then awoke could praise ( God with all my heart. I felt then that I could praise God with all my heart. I felt like I would have no more doubts and fears, and that I would go to the Primitive Baptist and offer myself to them; but it soon came to me that I was mistaken and that it was only a dream, then I would look back and see the relief I found and I would not take this world for it. I put off joining from time to time for a better ev idence, but felt that I was doing wrong and feared that some ca lamity would befall me for my disobedience. One joined and told my wife ( if she would carry my cloths that I would be baptized and she did so, but I failed* I ever got a whipping for mj' disobedience I got it then. I think I joined tjhe next opportunity and 1 there Ityfa hurdeji that had giv en me so inuch trouble. I would say to who have' - .a HRle hope that thefcooner they go, the better for thdiu. You can publish this m the Banner if you think it wor thy. ‘ ? A. A. Tvrn.br. TRIBULATION. ‘.‘ln the world ye shall have tribula tion : but be of good cheer, 1 have over come the world.’’—John xvi. 33. These were among tho last words of the dear Spn of God, before his suffering and death, to his sorrow ing disciples. Ho had been with , them, to cheef and comfort them; but now he was about to go to the Father, and leave them yet awhile in the world. Just after speaking these words to them, Jesus prayed for them, and said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the word, butthat thoushould est keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”—John xvii. 15 16. This will apply to all who are Christ’s, fi’he Father gave : them to him, that he might be glo rified in them, and they in him. But they must be as he was in this world, and through much tribulation enter with him into his Father’s king. “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” And .this is because they are not of the world, do not belong to it, and are not at hjime in it. Therefore the world hates them, because he chose them out of the world, and does not know them. As tfio sons of God, the world know eth therfi not, because it knew him not. For they are made partakers of Christ, and his Spirit dwells in them. And as the Father sent his into the world, even so has he also sent them into the world.John — xvii. 18 Therefore they are pil grims and strangers on earth, and heaven is their home; for God is their Father, and the Mau of sor rows fe their Brother. And as ' the Son of God he said, “I came heaven.”—John vi. 38. TbflHßEo true of them as the children of God; for their spirit ual and eternal life is in the Son of God, and it is their Father’s gift to them. He blessed them with all spiritual blessings in Christ. So they are truly his breth ren, and he is not ashamed to call them brethen, Therefore they are of God, and belong to Christ. Yet they are in the world, as men and women, and are partakers of flesh aijd blood. As such they are the people of God, and he is not asham ed to be calted their God. This brings them into very peculiar complex and two-fold relationship. A relationship to heaven and to the world—to the flesh and to the Spirit. For they are both tbe children of men and the children of God. So our Lord is both the the Son of God and the Son of man. Therefore while he was in the flesh and dwelt upon earth, he was also in heaven, and lived in the Spirit. So it is with his brethren. Hence both he and they are in antagonism with the world, the flesh and the devil. The doctrine of the world arc opposed to the doctrine of God our Savior, and the men of the world cannot receive a word of Jesus our Lord. On the other hand, the disciples of Christ can not join in and agree with the world in the doctrine and com mandments of men; for God has called them out of the world, and separated them unto the gospel of his Sod. Thus the children of the the kingdom and made to feel that the world knows them not, and they have not where to lay their heads. For while the whole world lieth in wickedness, and is warring against God and his truth, they are made the righteousness ot God in Christ,and are reconciled toGod and love his truth asr it is in Jesus. And not only sc. but these oppo sing heavenly and worldly nature and principles enter into the very being of every disciple of the Lord Jesus,therefore they not only fight ings withoutjbut also fears within, • Yea they are troubled on every side.- They are strangers to thi world,and a mystery to themselves. They often wonder whetace came, and whether th6y are going. . The children of men, and in the world, yet emotions and deep log ings possess their souls which carry them far above and be yond tho world and which the world canjiot satisfy or fill. Deeply concious though they are of their owninborn fleshly depravity, corruptions and sinful ness, yet they see tho beauty ot holiness,and long for that which is perfect. Therefore they sorrow and morn, not only for the good which they find not, but also over the plague of our hearts,and the evil state which they are in. So truly they are “an afflicted and poor peo ple. The poor of this world,and the poor in spirit. The Lord has chosen them out of the world, to be a peculiar people unto himself, and that they should show forth his praise and glorify him. There fore he is cutting them off and re moving them from the world, and bringing them nearer to himself, and thus is he making them meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, and prepar ing them for the kingdom which he lias prepared for them. The effect in them of this work of the Holy Spirit is, they that are made to feel and say, “Woe is me! for I am undone.,’ “0 wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Each one would say, O is there any one like me? Surely I am alone, and there is no sorrow like my sorrow. And often the cry is extorted from the tried child of of God. “Mv God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” How truly, then, the words of Jesus are fulfilled. “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” Others may es cape tribulation in the world, but not so the disciples of Jesus. Then, ye heirs of tribulation, who groan, being burdened, know that these great tribulations are appointed unto you, because you are the ' children of God, and are de- : signed to refine and purify yo u, that you may be conformed to the image of the Son of God. He has chosen you in the furnace of affliction, that you may be puri fied and made white, and offer un to the Lord an offering in right eousness. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial irhich is to try you, as though’some strange thing happen ed unto you; but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when his glory is revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”—l Pet. iv.ll, 13. “But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” This, no less than the first part of the text is to the diciples of Jesus, and for 1 them. His victory over the world is theirs in him. And in all these tribulations and fiery trials in the world, they are more than conquer ors through him that loved them, Jesus the great Shepherd of the sheep laid down his life for them that by means of his death, and ■ by the power of his resurrection unto justification and life, they might have life more abundantly and a triumphant victory' over the world and sin and death, and a glorious immortality beyond the ; the grave. For sin and death are in the world, and are connected with tribulation; but these are . overcome with the world. For Jesus made an end of sin, and swallowed up death in victory. This putting ' away sin, and victory over deatn was accomplished in relationship with his people, and for them. He died, he rose he overcome the world, he ascended up to God and heaven, for them. Therefore by him they shall overcome the world arise above all its tribulations,and follow him unto glory. O then “be of good cheer I” Ihe battle is • fought,the enemy is destroyed, the world is overcome, the victory is is yours. “Fear not, little flock for it is your Father’s good pleas ure to give you the kingdom.” — Luke xii. 32. “Though afflicted, tempest-toss’d, Comfortless awhile thou art, Do not think thou canst be lost; Thou art graven on my heart. “Al.l thy wastes I will repair, Thou shall be rebuilt anew; And in thee it shall appear What the God of love can do.” Dear brethren, editors the above is submitted to you. From a deep sense of the tribulation, and a great need of the good cheer, it was written with tbe desire that it may be a word in season to some faint and sorrowful one. Your brother in tribulations, D. Bartley. Crawfordsville, Ind. —Signs of The Times. Four were baptized at Concord last Sunday and five at Sardis on 14th Sunday in July. (Continued from Ist page desire, to do so for the sake o. th'it may there abound. 21 all that can be said ofi the sub ject Ibejtevea minister ought to follow tho e’xamfle of Paul’in labor ing that he might not be dhargable to any, 1-Thess 2;j9.2 Theas 3.8 9) Because the churches may owe certain duties to their pastor is no reason why he should demand them, and I am sure there is a better reward in a faithful discharge of minis terial duties than is ever found in temporal things. Paul says “what is my reward then”? Verily that when I have preached the Gos pel I may make the gospel without charge that I abuse not my liberty or power in the gospel.” Now I ask the indulgence of the reader. I know there exists every shape of opinion on this subject, and if I fail to understand it rightly it is no more than many others do. I began to write this months ago, and have written many pages which I have distroy ed. I have at last decided'to offer it for publication in the present form. If any, one finds fault, they may communicate it to me privately. If it be kindly received this will be my reward. J, E. Blanton. Lee, Fla. July, 1895. Blitch, Ga., Aug.lst 1895. Elders Simms and Banks. Dear brethren in Christ: I have received two coppies of the Pilgrim’s Banner and I must say that your paper is bright and newsy and I trust it will infuse energy into the Primitive Baptist every where. While we are divided and subdivided and like sheep gone astray every one to his own way, I am made to cry “Oh that my head were as waters and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night over the slain of the daughter of my people.” I do hope and pray that God may bless you in so no ble a work in publishing the Ban xer for the truth sake. Xoarsto serve Andrew J. Brown*. Manassas, Ga., May Ist 1895. Elders Simms and Hanks Dear and much Esteemed Brethren: I am glad to state to you that the Lower connoochee Association has nearly united again. Seven of these churches which were stand ing out, have returned and we are looking for two more by the asso ciation, and there is new life man ifested among the brethren, and they seem to be working for the things that make for peace. While I was with the ones that went off I know it was a carnal fleshy spir it that divided us and while we had the sympathy of brethren our stubborness drove them from us. 1 fear our love had grown cold. Yours faternally, J. R. Calloway. We are glad to learn that the good brethren are returning. The Lord’s people ought not to be di viding in such a manner. The flesh divides, the Spirit unites us. —H. Brackin, Ala., July 5.1895. Eld Lee Hanks, Boston Ga. Dear Brother: The Lord willing’ I will be with you at Ramah the 4th Saturday and Sunday in July, and you will please publish the fol lowing appointments for me. Bethel Barbour Co. Ala. Monday July 22nd. Mt Enon Tuesday, „ .23rd Antioch, Wednesday „ 24th Pisgah Thursday „ 25th Ramah, Friday and Saturday 27th and 28th. Phenix City at night, 29th Mt. Gillead (Lee Co.)3otht Mt. Olive „ „August Is. Mt. Pisgah (Chambers Co. 23 and 24 th. Mt. Zion. Ala. Monday August sth. Mt Hickory,,, 6th Emmeaus, ~ 7th Macedonia „ 9th 10th and 11th From there Eld T. J. Bazemore will arrange through the Primitive Western in Ga. And Eld J. G. Murray in the Upatoi embracing the Upatoi in sesion. Dear Bro ther remember me in your prayers that I may have grace in the hour of temptation, for I feel weak and helpless. May the Lord bless you Dear brother, and all the dear lit tle ones who love the Lord in Ituth. Your little unworthy Bro ther in affliction. Lewis H. Stuckey*