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Elder Z, T Marsh of Berth a
Ala.,was ordained to the full func
tions of the gospel ministry July
17th by Elders P. L. Thomas
J. W. Parker and J. J. Byrd as
presbytery. Elder Marsh is a gift
ed minister and is much appre
ciated wherever he goes. May
the Lord bless him—H.
“It is done Rev.” xx. 1-8.
In these blessed words we see that,
that salvation that Obnst -came to
work out for his people, “is done.'’
Types and shadows are all at an
end in the substance—Jesus. The
law with all its rites and ceremo
nies “is done” in Jesus. He has
by one offering perfected forever
them that are sanctified, hence this
work of the atonement “is done”
for the election of grace and is
done forever. He has made them
righteous by his obedience, hchce
the work of justification “is done.”
He put away ein by the sacrifice
of himself, and she now stands
the “undefiled dove” with no spot
in her. The Lamb has been slain
and she is now redeemed to God by
his blood. No more sinners will
be saved for all that work of eter
nal salvation “is done” by the off
ering of Christ for all the chosen.
This work was done for nobody
but the sheep, the bride, the all
that were given him, and they
shall come to him. He is the Sa
vior of all the elect and they en
joy the benefits of the eternal
Salvation, but the believer enjoys
the special blessings in tins lite.
While all God’s children are saved
eternally, many of them are not
saved with the common or ’time
salvation. Many fall in the wil
derness because of unbelief, see
Heb. iii chap.
The eternal salvation of all the
church “is done” and tbc mission
of the Holy Spirit is to reveal to
the heirs of promise, this salvation
and what Christ has done for them.
Man is not required to make any
heirs to God. The preacher and
' Bible are not required to make
Spirit not_re
quired. to make heirs, but simply
reveal to the chosen heirs that
they are heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ
The work is all done for poor
sinners, and you can look back,
and praise God for what».'‘is done”
for you through Christ Jesus your
Advocate. Soon the Ist tie will
be fought and the war ended and
you will be called home and glori
fied and there bask in his sweet
smiles forever. Then how sweet
to sing with ecstatic joy“lt is done”
—H,
Savannah Ga., July 23rd 1895.
Elder A. V. Simms: Esteemed
Elder; Since last addressing you
I nave fortned a more close rela
tionship, and now have the honoi
of addressing you as “Brother,”
and right glad am I of it
Your kind and enteresting apis
tle wai received, lor which I thank
yoa. I had asked my fattier s opin
ion of the same Scripture, and his
reply was about the same as yours.
Both very good, I believe, I also
received the Bajoster which you
sent me, but on account of the dis
eased condition of my eyes I have
not been able to read but little of
it, However I have read some
copies of it which I believe were
well worth reading' Formerly
when alone and with a hungering
soul Umristing after truth, I could
find comfort in leading my Mes
senger and the holy Writings, but
have been deprived, for reasons
known to God, of this privilege for
some time past by defective right.
Being dissatisfied with amfiniau
preaching I decided to seek and
find a convenient place to hear the
Old Baptists. But wheal tried
I was sorely disappointed many
times, either by not finding a
preacher or finding a poor one,
and even when I found a good one
I. was unable to digest his saying
and thug receive comfort, Sa I
might say that my lients for
dreaching were nearly all a failure
In the meantime 1 somewhat re<
luctantly went, to the ’ Mission
Baptist church an Bull street. The
first Sunday I went to this place
I had been feeling sad. on account
of an expected death in the
family. The text was, “No man
saith Where is God my Maker that
giveth songs in the night.” It
seemed that there was not a text
in the Bible that could have suited
my case better. The preacher
talked right well on at for a few
minutes, and I went away feeling
better. Still I believed I had not
been to the church.
Again I was feeling quite sad
on account of the unsociability of
the people here, and’having noth
ing else to do, I went to hear the
same preacher again, the text be
ing; “The saints at Rome salute
you, especially those of Ceasar’s
household.” This- seemed another
time when he found a text to suit
my case, He talked a few minutes
to the people about their unfriend
ly ways one towards another, and
contrasted the great disadvantages
under which the saints of Cesar’s
Household 1 labored as compared
with the liberty which the people
of God have, and added that If a
person could live a Christian life
in the house of the wicked Nero,
emperor life in City of Savannah,
“It is the grace of our Lord and
Savior Jesui Chist that you need.”
said the preacher.
I went home feeiing much bet
ter than before; By hearing the
preacher on such Occasions as this
paeach so much to my comfort—
notbringing in any of his armiman
talk, I become much impressed
with the Mission preacher. The
other arminian preachers here
have not been able to put the feel
ing on me that this man did. La
ter on he commenced vi little,
“Freewillism, which I had not be
lieved in. This put me to think
ing and I soon found that I was
“On the fence.” and knew not
what to believe.
Now in such matters we have
W rule to go by, and that is
the divine Word. But I did not
know what is said about the mat
ter, and was unable to read and
find out, Oh! miserble wretch that
I was; Jt seemed like I was now in
toe same condition I was in
before I received my hope. The
first question was: Is the Bible
infallibly IrueSAnd the latter was:
Is the Bull Street Baptists Church
tho proper church for me? Finally
I deceived, as my mind would not
become clear, that it would I e best
for me to stay and of all churches
until I knew what was right.
Just about this time, Elder
NcDonald came ta Savanna h and
preached too beautiful Sermons
which convinced me that be was
a faithful minister of our Lord: so
I said in my bean, I will arise and
f Alow Jesus. So Elder McDonald
baptized another young man and
myself into fellowship of Spring
Grove church, though an arm ex
t ended here. My mind was now
relieved and I found rest. We ex
pect to constitute a church soon.
There seventeen Baptists in Sava
nnah that we know, besides a num
ber who have received a posspori
into Ganaan but have not crossed
You will see I have addressed,
you a long letter bfit my brother
if it is too long please excuse me.
Your Baby Brother.
Georgs, &, Cajxull-
Josie Ala, Joly 1895.
Editors of the Pilgrim's Banner
Dear Brethren; I have had a mind
to write something for your paper
for sometime but have failed from
a feeling sense of unworthifless, I
am wboly dependent upon the e
temal God for anything that would
be profitable and consoling to
his Spiritual children: hence tho
light aud liberity that is required
in order to render acceptable ser
vice to God is unmerited, for it is
not by might nor by power but by
my spirit saith the Lord of
hosts. s ....
After' reading * one- hundred
questions propounded in the
Banncr, I was animated, I wish
to say to all who may read these
remarke, that the one who |pro
pounded those questions is send
ing on a sure ioundation. I believe
that he has been throughly strip
ped of his grave clothes and pre
pared to give God all the glory
that is due his high exalted name
I will now present a scripture for
your consideration feeliug that God
is able to bring light out of dark
ness. “ And I heard a voice from
heaven as the voice of a great
thundea and I heard the voice of
harpers harping with their harps
and they sung as it were a new
song before the throne and before
the four brest and the elders and
and no man could learn that song
but tho hundred and forty and
four thousand, which were re
deemed from the earth. Rev. 14: 23
That voice was the voice of Jesus.
As the voice of many waters, and
as the voice of thunder, so is the
voice of the Son of God, and thes
that hear it shall live. The voice
of many waters Is powerful inso
much that it cant be hushed.
The voice oi a great thunder, is
powerful in its nature; it is above
all the voices that are common to
the natural organ of hearing; It
works independent of human will
human efforts cannot produce it,
neither can they perventit, so is
that voice that is heard from heaven
It is not heard according to human
will but according to the will of
the eternal God. It was after life
was imparted that he said “Lazrus
come fourth,” and you herd this
heavenly voice.
“I heard the voices harping with,
their harps and they sang as it were
a new song.” This is new only with
time beings: this the song of the
covenant of grace which brings
salvation by grace.
Hence this new song is salvation
by grace.
Yon remember what the old. r sfing
was my brethren salvation by
workers, by the deeds of the law.
This song of salvation by grace
is a glotions one and is new be
cause one has said in the scriptures
I never saw it after this fashion,
before. This song i 8 as old as the
plan of salvation, but ic new be
caus it comes after the old.
“No man can learn that song but
the hundred and forty and four
thousand which were redeemed
from the earth. Notice dear doubt
ing child, that none can learn that
song but the redeemed, so when
you find yourself singing this song
in your experience you may know
that you are one of that redeemed
family. I know satan tries to
counterfeit that little hope and tells
you that it is all fiction, the works
of your own Hands, but which will
you believe, words of truth or the
lying tongue of satarn May God
give you grace and faith to over
come the wickedness.
“In their mouths was found no
guilt for they are without fault
before the throne of God” I under
stand the one hundred and forty
and four thousand, and to be the
remnant which Paul says shall be,
saved according to the election of
grace, saved in a temporal salva
tion saved by the foolishness of
preaching. This is of grace also
lor the preaeher must have grace
to preach and the hearer must have
g*ace to hear and to receive it.
This does not embrace all the heirs
of promise for they are as the sand
of the shore. Surely this people
hundred forty and luurthousand
do put their trust in Him,
They ’’ely wholly upon him for
Hfe and salvation in so much that
they are without fault before God.
They are so well upon practical
goodness and duty that there is no
guile in their mouths they are
tree from rites, and ceremonies
of the law. They are not defiled
with women representing the work
mongrel system and everythingelse
that tends to rob God of his glory®
which is emulated to
people. Then let us take heed ufo
to ourselves and the doctrine that
we may save ourselves and them
that hear us. Again that they
may keep from the strange
woman, from the stringer which
flattereth with her words.” Prov
vii. 5. 1 his is one of the same
women which is mentioned in
Revelation, lying in wait at every
corner. I sometimes go to hear
these women tell of their good
performances and in a boasting
way, they claim many wonderful
works. I have peace offerings
with me this day. I have paid my
vows, I have decked my bed with
tapestry, with carved works, with
fine linen of Egypt. This is time
that she decked her bed with carv-,
ed works and carved them herself.
Jesus is not there and is not
wanted. This is done in Egypt
in the flesh—down in the depths
of hell. She has cast dowm many
wounded; strong men have been
slain by her. Her house is the way
to hell, going down to the cham
bers o. death.” A little more
about those who keep his com
mandments.
“And I heard a voice from heaven
saying unto me, write blessed are
the dead, which die in the Lord
from henceforth saith the Spirit,
that they may rest from their la
bors and their works do follow
them.’ Here we have a death un
derconsideration which awaits the
children of God. This death
proves a blessing to those wtob re
alize it, and that blessing is rest.
God’s people are brought to view
in a dead live state, working and
resting at the same time. The
word “rest” may have different
meanings, but in this case it means
re ty or lean, stop sewing fig
leavdT together and put on the
Lord’s garment made of skins
and rest in Jesus our Sabbath
which we are to keep holy. We.
mist die in order to’find t hat given
is contrary to the hu
wan will
choose deWm Death comes ac
cording to the will of God. He
killsand inakes alive, then good
works follow as a fruit. Then
let them who believe in God be
careful to maintain good works.
Yours in hope of the salvation
of God.
J. E. Fincher
(Continued)
Again I pleaded to be taken to
it’s home before it passed away,
not be as the other little one cal
led before that only in death could
I see the baby form so pale—so
still But again the boon was
denied me. The loved ones dar
ed not let mo take the ride, besides
I was so ill myself. Day after day
I awaited the news from the
little one, and after days of much
suffering it was spared to us/Sure
ly God is good.
The weeks passed away until
June. Sometime I would be bet
ter, but oftener worse. In Jun
I again ralapsed and for weeks I
never got a moments ease or rest
from pain. Only God knows
half my suffering, I seemed to trof
fer in most every way a human
could, but after unfailing attention
and skill of the kind physician,
and the best of nursing, God blessed
me to improve again. Time with
its trials and conflicts has brought
me to the ©resent time. “Sent. It
is now over eighteen months Since
I have been confined to my bed
and room. I can walk a little in
the house, with the aid of some
thing to lean upon, but my trials
c- utio.ue to come, besides my own
body suffering. My dear mother
has been away from me nearly six
weeks, staying at the bed-side of
my dear sister which she has been
called too so often Since my long
illness. My sister is very low
•with that dreadful disease con
suihption.Oh; dear pitying chil
dren of God, pray for me. Again I
| must lie and wait the sad news,
that death has borne away another
-I— 111- • . . #4 » ........ 1 ■
love’d one. }(ever again, shall we
loot:' into each others fact?, or clasp
each others hands. Each member
of the family has visited her bed
side accept myself, for her home
is over 20 miles away, and I have
not the strength to go to see her.
Sometimes it seems more than I
can bear, but when I can hive
faith to look “heavenward” 1 I
know that God will give me
strength to bear every trial “tfeo
bitter be the cup from which I
must drink.” He wounds, he
alone can heal, and while I
have suffered untold agony, almost
the pangs of death, and been tried
in the furnace of trials and afflic
tions, yet I have often been m ide
to feel it ■was “good to be afflict
ed” yea I have felt it was an h in
or, a blessing, to suffer for Jesus
sake | that may be He did love
me,by noticing me enough to afflict
me. I have been made to enjoy
sweet communion with Jesus (as
I hope) often up®n my bed of
affliction. I have been made to
forget cares and pain and disip
pointments, by His holy presence.
Tears fill my eyes when I remem
ber some of the heavenly visions
I have seen. I have been enabled
as I hope, to see deep and hidden
mysteries, I never saw before. I
have seemed to soar away from
earth and earthly things, and hive
a foretaste of the joys I hope await
ing me in that “home beyond the
skies.” Often looking oat just
through the width of a door or
window from my bed, I have seen
the hand of God and His power in
the boughs of the trees, and hear
it in the songs of the birds. How
oft have I been reminded of the
Psalmist language where be sa’d
“0 that man would praise the
Lord for his goodness and wonder
ful works to the children of men”
I know David’s heart, must have
been full of melody when he ex
pressed those words.
Many times I have felt that I
would not exchange places with
the heal th rat, queenhest of wom en,
were it possible for me to do so.
While their life may be grander
or more exalted than mmA
I had far rather have my afflictions
and trials with the sweet little vis
its of Jesus, and little rays of sun
shine from his presence, than all
the wealth or power of earth. I
would not if I conld undo a mo
ments pain or hours of sadness.
Earth has taught its lessons. Of
ten while bowed in sorrow and
pain in my terrible afflictions, I
have wondered why I must suffer
so? But already I have begun to
see tho “silver lining” and to re
alize that all my trials and heart
aches has been for my good. And
could I know for the glory of God
I could rejoice; though the way
is often dark and gloomy, and I
feel forsaken, feel that I have no
guide for my wondering feet —no
light for my weary eyes, no hand
to lead me gently along. Then
again the clouds drift apart and
tile sun shines again, and I cuu
see the little light that points un
to an “Eternal day” and can tru
ly feel that the Lord is my shei>-
berd. There are many things I
would love to mention, but space
forbids. But unto all the dear
saints and friends who have min
istered to me bpth temporally and
spiritually I thank you all, and
your deeds of love and kindness,
will ever be ohenshod by me un
til my ayes »re closed in death,
aud my hands folded in peace. To
each their gifts may look small,
bnt to me it means much. I pray
Gods blessings on all. If I had
been a child of wealth or fame it
don’t seem that more love or deeds
of kindness, more Words of balm,
more tender eatresses could ’have
been mine to receive from rich
and poor, great and small. Ol
how often have I wondered why
God is so good to me? Why does
He bless me in so many ways? I ma
so vile,so forgetful of his goodness,
so slow to sing his praise. But Oh
for a heart of praise, that I could
praise Hid name forever and ever.
Surely .God is good to enable me
to be well as I am. My hears is
so full Os gratitude—too full
-foFlitteriance for of
the dear people of God, and jpy
kind and faithful physician, who
has done so much for me; and
unto my,blessed Redeemer I want
to bow in humble submission.
Ever giving Hi,m the praise that
is due his holy name. Now in
conclusion I thank you dear bro
ther Simms for your forbearance
and kindness in giving these I
(fear unprofitable) lines, spare in
the Banner. And if one sad heart
has been comforted or cheered, I
am. repaid for all my suffering and
trials. To God be all praise.
I suffer yet, and perhaps always
shall, but I rejoice to have a hope
I have a home “Eternal in the
Heavens” where no trials, no pain,
or death ever enters. I ask the’
prayers of God’s people, for I feel
to be the weakest of the weak,
the poorest of the poor.
Lovingly your little sister in
affliction,
Fannie Shuman.
Sparks Ga. Sept, 9th 1895.
Homerville Ga July 19. 1895
Editors Pilgrim’s Banner, VaL
2 Dear Brethren in the
Lord:—-Having just received the
Banner for July 15the, reminds
me of the many blessings received
of late at the hand of the Lord
among the churches. After a long
and very dark cold winter, the
sun has again shined . upon ns,
most all the churches having
received some precious brethren
and sisters by experience and bap
tism. I must mention our last
meeting at Bethany. It was a
time of love more especially at the
close of conference. A little 14yr.
old girl came and O! she could
talk of the love and mercy of God,
to the great comfort of all present
who knew the truth. She was
1 eceived, and baptized next day
by the writer.
Again one of the most refresh
ing seasons of our pilgrimage
was a visit to Mt. Olive church,
(Elder Tomlinson pastor.) By
special request of a dear brother,
A. M. Tomlinson, brother to the
pastor, I was with them the first
Saturday, and Sunday* one dear
sister was received for baptism.
After the close of the cmvforene®
but thanks and praise to fnegood
Lcrd. His presence still contin
ued. At the waters edge two
other sisters were recived into fel
loship, one of which was baptised,
so there was three of the dear
children of God received by the
church at that meeting, and the
brother Tomlinson olso baptise d
The Lord be praised for his spe
cial presence. The Sunday’s mee
ting was one of much interest Our
poor hearts were made glad, our
poor feeble mind was lightened
up so as to speak with much free
dom and ease. Tlie many tears
of praise and joy will be long re
membered. One more instance;
we must not-forget the* last month
ly meeting at Red bluff (Alapaha
Association) Perhaps brother 8.
you know of her very law state,
but praise the Lord there are a few
faithful children there that are
realy to condemn error and sustain
truth. While they haue had Con
siderable tronble for two years past
the Lord has delivered them from
it all. Peace aud love exist among
them, and as the Lord has promised
to add to the church &c they re
ceived one dear young brother by
experience and baptism. There
is no visible trouble nor even cold
ness existing among them now.
Dear brethren, more especially
preachers, visit us at our meet
ings for we are very poor and nee
dy. Now in concfosion, let me
admonish the dear saints that may
chance to read this scnbble, to a
faithful and humble discharge of
your Christian duties. I know that
we often almost despair but if the
Lord Tarry wait for Him. Tho
dear saints are tried as by fire and
die Lord knows sdl ora needs, and
if it is the fire of God’s love that
burnes us, remember, the chaff on
ly is consumed, and by that pro
cess the wheat is parged. In love
o all the little ones that fear the
Lord, and in hope of this life
wrought out by the precious blood
of the Lamb, I close. May the
Lord enable you brother Editors
to faithfully contend forth e faith
once delivered to the saints, leav
ing off all that would tend to
confusion among the saints, is the
sincere desire of your litile broth
er.
J. A. Osteen