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VoL 2. If Saved—By Grace. Awake ye ransomed of the Lord, And sing in accents strong, The praise of Jesus, —blessed “Word,” The author of our song. To see idankind bowed down so loW Beneath God’s righteous frown, As dead and aimless creatures go, Like bubbles drifted round. And yet God doth remain as just As justice e’er has been, No charge laid to him by this dust, For who can lend to him? Poor sinful worms that doth assay, To make themselves as God, What blindness doth they thus display To force their Maker’s rod. All power on earth and worlds com bined, Can never justify Mortality, for God designed It’s soul to never die. Thus fruitless is, all man’s best works, To justify his soul, Before this sovreign, righteous God Whose law demands the whole. Thus wake ye ransomed of the Lord, To songs more sweet, more loud, Unite in praise with one accord, While on his footstool bowed. For it hath pleased him to forsake His glorious home abovo, That he might make us to partake Os bis eternel love. —Morgan Brown. “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” The woman unto whom this was spoken was a sinner, or as I under stand a lewd woman. She had done more to Christ, however than his own disciples; at least more than Simon. They had given him no for his feet, but this woyan wet his feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair. Simon gave him no kiss, but this woman kissed his feet, Simon did not even anoint his head, but this woman anointed his feet. Jesus ex plained that her sins were many, but being forgiven, she loved ac cordingly. Then he said to her “woman; Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.’’ Faith is the fruit of the Spirit. ‘‘Make the tree good and the fruit will be good.” “Men do not gather figs of thistles.” Her faith saved her. May every person be thus sayed if they will, is the question. I an swer as an Old Baptist, (Hard shell if you prefer) yes, if they Z will, be thus saved. All who have such a will, may be saved. Is it not in the power of every human being thus to will? No, I answer, because this will is from God. “He camo to his own and his own received him not, but to as many as did receive him, to them gave he power to become the sons ofGod which were born, not of the flesh, nor of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God.” He that will be saved is born of God. Did not Christ come to all? No the text says he came to his own, and his own received him not, but to as many (of his own) as re ceived him, to them gave he pow er to become the sons of God. None of his own received him, but those who had a will to receive him; and none had a will to re ceive him but those born of God. When they were born of God they had a will to come to him, and they received the will or desire to come to him in the new birth— in regeneration, after they had been raised from the dead, and quickened unto life. It was that life that sought Christ, and she could not seek him until she had received it. Then, and not till then? did he have power to be come the sou of God, or enter in the peace and joy of li son of God, he was a son before he. received JJilgrim'o Sanner. “THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE, THAT IT DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH.”— Psalms €0: 4. it, but in the purpose and fort • knowledge of God, but had nol entered into the joy of it. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of his j son into your hearts, crying Abba } Father,” is what is written. Thai woman went to Jesus because she had been born of God. The spiri! of life m her, called on him; and having been a great sinner, she loved him the more. She was like one who was very hungry, from very long fasting; when an oppor tunity to eat is offered it is more appreciated than in one who is j not hungry. “Thy sins be forgiven thee; thy faith hath saved thee.” She was a very sick woman, blind lame, deaf, dumb an very leprous. She had always been that way, but now being quickened into life, she knew it for the first time. This knowledge brought her to Christ, and having faith in hie power to heal her, when she found him, she cried with unspeakable joy,and her tears of joy wet his feet, and with those tears she washed them, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Her faith was the fruit of the spirit of life which she had received from God. Un till she received that spirit she was “dead in trespasses and in sins.” The quickening into life showed her she was in trespasses and in sins, and made them hateful, dreadful to her, and made her to say, “Who shall deliver me? Where may I find a physician who can heal me? who can recover me from thia terable state of leorosy and death?” The spirit in her said,“Go to Jesus: lie can heal she went to Jesus, and when she found him, she was joyful accord ing to her sins, and her wretch ness. She was a believer before she went to Jesus for healing. She knew too, he was the balm in Gilead. Ah: she said, here he is. Bless him, oh my soul. I have found him, set me down at his precious feet. What can Ido for my love, my dove, my all my Sa vior. His feet are so sweet, let me kiss them while I wash them with my tears of joy, and wipe them with the hairs of my head. Oh my sins were so great so black, so terible, and you my precious Jesus, took them all a way. Excuse me in my excessive manifestations of gratitude to you, for all your loving kindness to me. Suppose, in that moment when she was kissing his feet, a question hap been raised by those who were looking on that scene : Why did this woman come to Jesus? She was a sinner, yes such a sinner as makes it disgraceful for godly peo ple to allow her to touch them. And yet she comes to Christ, while these godly people look with con tempt on her. How is this? “The whole need not a physician.” She was sick, and therefore needed him. They were not sick in feel ing, for they were too dead to feel their sickness, and therefore they did not need him. She and all those godly peonle were in the same condition in truth, before she was quickened in to life, and made to know her sickness and death. That quick ening sent her to Jesun, the others remaining in death, were at ease, at peace with themselves, and . therefore not needing him, did not seek him. Can a dead man quicken him self? If not how can a dead man seek Christ? Are all quickened into life by the death of Christ? “As in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.” The first DEVOTED TO THE CALT§(: OF CHRIST VALDOSTA, GA., SEPTEH JER 1, 1895. “all” refers to all Adam’s pos terity, and now unto whom does the last “all” refer? Does it in like manner refer to all of Christ’s posterity—those chosen in Christ before the world —the elect accord ing to the foreknowledge of God? His sheep, which he said his Father gave him, and which he said none could pluck out of his hands; for the Father, who was greater than all, gave them to him and none were able to pluck out of his Father’s hands? Does it refer to the generations of Jesus Christ, as death refers to the generation of Adam? as death reiers to tne generation of Adam? Mathew, the first scribe in the order of the books of the New Testament, opens his gospel with this expression: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ.” Did he say this by accident; or I did he intend to teach that Jesus Christ had a generation running through David, who was the son of Abraham, to Mary of whom was born a son who is called Christ? The generations from Abraham to David are fourteen, and from David to the carrying away out of Babylon fourteen, and from the carrying away out of Babylon to Christ, fourteen generations. Adam’s generation was universal, and he was a figure of him who was to come, who was Christ, and as in Adam all his generation died so in Christ all his generation are made alive. The seed of the wo man shall bruise the serpent’s head, so the seed of the generation of Christ was in the woman. Adam begat his generation, and he is the father ot his generation; but God begat the genera tion u£ Ctrrtst—in the woman also, and God is there fore the father of the generation of Christ. Therefore the genera tion of Christ are the children of God, the sons of God; and be cause they are his sons he sends forth the spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Therefore God sent the Spirit of his Son into the hearts of his sons, the generation of Jesus Christ, and they, as he did, cry Abba Father. Therefore Jesus said unto them “After this manner pray ye, say, Our Father which is in heaven” etc, —come to him as your father, as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ; of whom he is only the first fruits of them that slept. Being heirs of God, the children of God, joint heirs with Christ, they are a royal priesthood, and everv one of them a king and priest unto God, To this priest hood, this royal family, this this chosen ' generation, of whom Christ is the first fruits —to them he said, “Be of good cheer, it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Do you believe this? Then you have hope, and have for a city, “whose maker and builder is God.” Now remember “every man who has this hope, purifieth himself, even as he is pare.’’ Do you puri fy yourself? Do you purge your mind of evil thoughts? Or do you give them loose reign, saying, “I am a believer in the doctrine of election and predestination, and therefore all my wickedness, and all the wickedness of men is a mat ter of predestination, and I there fore yield myself to them as unto God’s predestination and purpose m me, and I don’t care what I do, whether I am pure or not; God has predestinated that I should commit murder, and I don’t care to make God out a liar, by defeat-- ing his pursoses, and therefore I - want to’nit murder, if he has s so predesti ,ed.” i The wo* ts came to Christ be s cause she j Jed Christ, and not t because ClT’ist needed her; and - she came because God had ? sent forthJJ& spirit of his Son into 3 her heaat, God sent the spirit 3 of his Son Into her heart because 3 j she belonged- to his generation, 3 and her I°^ ! for was the i fruit of the Spirit, begotten in her, p because if&|first loved her, and • lifer her because it was > bestowed on Ter while she was yet i a sinner. As it is written, “But God commenteth his love toward 1 us, in that whjle we were yet sin ners, Christ for us, and recon ciled us to God, justified us by his blood; and now being reconciled, we shall be savW by his life; by - we received the I atobement.” W We have this atone ment and all ifr /riches, by faith, the fruit of lie Spirit, and the gilt ot God. And this faitfTis manifested by works. It the fruit of works, but works are the fruit of faith s as faith is the fruit of the Spirit. If our faith produce no fruit, then it is dead; so works are the sign of thjgjpith in us, and without worxs, toith is dead. * C. G. Bussy. Columbus, v \\ - iMp M* ces ‘ Elder Lee IlankkL ( It is with fear and much tremb ling that I write the reason of my little hope, if I have any. From my earliest recolection I have had serious thoughts about death and desired to live a Christian life, though thinking I was too young to think about such a thing. I tried to put that thought out of my mind, thinking it would be time enough to get religion when I got older, but I could not put it ofl. It was not left with me, I would oiten find myself in some secreted place trying to pray, but could not say anything only, “Lord, nave mercy on me a poor sinner.” About this time papa was taken sick with pneumonia. I thought he was going to die. I went off to myself to try to pray and promised myself if he got well I would try and be a better girl. My promise was soon broken and instead of getting better I got worse all the time. I thought it was all imagination. I went to dances to enjoy myselt with the world as best I could, as many other young people did. I soon found that I was in the wrong place, I soon found I could not enjoy myself with them as I had done. One night, while at a dance, something came to my mind. Why are you trying to dance? It is all nonesense. I did not think I could ever get home. When I reached home and retired for the night I could not sleep. It was the most mis erable night of my life. I tried topray if the good Lord would spare me to live until morning I never would go to another dance while I lived, though my promise was broken as before. It seemed that I would break all my promis es. I went on from lime to time, in much, darkness,, begging t’qe Lord for mercy.. . A Late one Saturday, evening, 1 well remember my trouble came with greater force than ever be fore, it was like mountains before me feeling that I was the poorest creature on earth. I felt like did not have a friend on earth nor in heaven. I watched the sun go down for the last time, as thought. I did not think I shouh ever see the sun rise again. Oh! what a miserable being I am! Is there anyone like me? I retired for the night and lived to see th? sun rise again clear and bright. Everything, for the next; week, seemed to be praising God. I thought my trouble was now over; but alas! ».I was in trouble again, but different from what it was be fore. Am I deceived or not? Il I am deceived, Lord undeceive me. I now wanted to join the church, but thought I was too young to join the Primitive Baptists, as no young people ever joined them. I would often fry to pray, Lord, if I am deceived undeceive me. These words would often come to me: “Awake, my soul, in joyful lays, And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song from me, His loving kindness, O how free.” I thought I would offer the next opportunity whether received or not. I had beard it said, “Stay away as long as you can.” One Saturday before the second SunA day in October, 1893, an oppoir tu.iity was given for the recep lion of members. I could hard y 1 stay away any longer. I almo s’ ‘ had to hold to the bench to kec j> , from going. I left dissatisfied; < thinking’ I would inin the nokt ( time. ■ — fccipb it. off Irafci. time to time until Saturday before second Sunday in last April. Af ter preaching I offered and to my surprise was received and baptized Sunday by Elder H. Temples. This was one of the happiest days I ever spent. There I left a bur den that I had been carrying about four years. I would ad monish all who have a hope to come home to their friends and be baptized then arise to walk in newness of life. I sometimes, fear that I am deceived, and feel like if I am a Christian I am surely the least of all; and if saved at all, saved by grace and not of works. Onething I do know that I love the brethren and sisters, and where they live I want to live, and where they die I want to die, and be burried with them. May God in his mercy keep us in the good and right way. May he guide and guard us by his uneering Spirit, and finally bring us off more than conquerer though him that loved us and gave himself for us. I ask an interest in the prayers of all who may read this. Pray for me. Your little sister in bonds of love. Arsula Cartee. Porta 1 , Ga., July 22nd 1895. Elder Lee Hanks—Dear Brother. With much fear and trembling, I will try to write the reason of my little hope. I have a good Papa, and had a good Mama and two step-mamas. They were all members of the Primitive Baptist Church. But our three Mamas have passed away to be with Jesus, and we are left alone to mourn for them. Ever since my early childhood I have had serious thoughts about my condition, and would wonder what what would become of. me were Ito die. As time jpassed by my thoughts grew more serious. I would get to the place that I did - not think I could live much longe e under such a heavy burden, and knew that if I died, my poor sou would be lost forever! I did no i want to leave home to go anywhere I could not enjoy things like I onc< did. People that was once company to me, was now none, and I woulc ! be afraid to ever speak to the 5 good old people, for feaj- thal [ somebody would say that I was • trying to be good, and for that reason I would stay at home. They , would often tell me that I wanted people to think that I was “mighty ; good” because I would stay at home with the little children, (that was after our first step mother died) but it was because I could not enjoy myself. My oldest sister yould very often say, “Jincy, come go with me to-day, and I know you will enjoy your self.” Sometimes I would go to preaching, but I could not under stand it and I would go off with a heavier heart than I went there with. I would often want to tell papa what an awful condition I was in and ask him what to do, but was afraid he would tell my brothers and sisters and I felt sure they would tease me about it, and for that reason I would not tell him. Last August papa married again and he got such a sweet lit tle wife, and she was such *a good Baptist, that I felt sure she could advise me, but when 1 would think I would tell her my feelings, it seemed that something would say, “don’t fool that good woman.” On .Saturday before the fourth Sun -1 day in October, 1894 I went with her to preaching at Upper Lott’s Creek, and it seemed that every word the preacher, (Brother J. L. Smith) would say, it would con demn me. T left the meelinir J x lUIL LUO 1A1OVV1L1& bouse with a heavy bui-den, and it seemed to get worse. f felt like it was all I could do, to breathe and when dark came I felt that I would never see the light of day again. I slept in the same room, with papa and “Little Muzzer” (a name we fondly gave papa’s last wife) did for I felt like 1 wanted to die near them, but the next morning my bad feelings were all gone and I felt like praising God. When Brother Simms made his last tour through here, he spent one night with us; Brother Smith spent the night, also several young people. The young people decided to go over to a neighbor’s house . to see some of our old friends that had come on a visit. When we were nearly ready to go, Little Muzzer asked me, (but I dont 1 know why,)if I had not rather stay and hear Elders Simms and Smith talk. I told her I had, and I stayed, and how I did enjoy hear ing them talk, and Oh! if 1 could only have told them my feelings, but all I could do, was to hide my self and shed such bitter tears. I use to think that anyone could • not join the Primitive Baptist Church until they got old, and you don’t know-how much it help ed me when I read that little girl’s experience in the Banner last summer. Brother Hanks I can not tell you my feelings on Saturday when you were at Upper Lott’s Creek, when we all went up to the house. Papa, Grand mama and all the rest of the good brothers and sisters went up and spoke to you. I felt like one in the world alone, and you preached such a good sermon and when the door of the church was opened I could not help offering my-self to the church and to my great sur prise, was received. After bap tism Sunday was the happiest day of my life, but it was not a week before I felt like I had de ceived the best people on earth the Primitive Baptist; still I would not be back again like I was for all the wealth of this earth. I will leave these scattered leaves to your better judgment, whether it is a true experience of grace, or not. Remember me in your prayers Your li,ttle unworthy sister. Jincy NicholS. z ■ No. 18. ,