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Vol 2. THE OLD FASHIONED PREACHEB. . By Mrs. Minerva Garner. How often it is, as in church I am sitting, My mind wanders back to the days of my youth, And faces and forms before me are flitting, .Os those who then preached the plain gospel truth; In fancy I see the good pious old teacher, Who urged me the way of salva tion to know: The plain honest face of tae pioneer preacher, Who preached on the border,a long time ago. The plain simple nreacher,the good honest preacher, The old fashioned preacher of long time ago. That old fashioned preacher, I’ll never forget him; But will ever remember his kind ness to me. Full well I remember the first time I met him, When I was a girl infold Illinois; But now I am old, many years have passed o’er me, And he is asleep on a far distant shore, But olhim be As I saw Sim in Iv ' ne g 0» | The fefIMHEKnH F The dK who prea ILIU L It denial, And often con trasthim with men of - Through odd thouglggteat was He toile®|h the vifoiflHwt ask ing foWggrai The poor and the In sickness and sorrow,had reason to know. In all their afflictions that none were so speedy, Relief and assistance, on 'them to bestow; As the plain earnest preacher, the , good Baptist preacher, The old fashioned preacher of long time ago. Bat few of those old fashioned preachers yet linger, Bnt few now remain, and those few are ignored, For men of more learning, and scorn, with her finger, - , CT'-J Oft point at the men,who so much ' have endured. More tallented men are the bread of life breaking. And their words of instruction more plentiful flow. But are they more useful, more sin-forsaking Than the ignorant preacher of long time ago? The plain humble preacher,the well meaning preacher, The old fashioned preacher of long time ago? When now on the Sabbath the old church I visit, Where his plain admonitions no longer I hear, Tis strange, very strange can you tell why is it. His words to my mind so often occur, While eloquent men in language quite burning. Are preaching the gospel of pence and of truth, My mind id do vagrant, it still will be turning pilnriino Panner. “THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE, THAT IT MAT BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH.”-Psalns 60: 4. To the old fashioned preacher I heard in my youth. The plain gospel preacher, the pioneer preacher. The old fashioned preacher I heard in my youth. Tis said that the age, and the world are progressing— That old fashioned preachers are needed no more, — That men are more learning mere knowledge possessing Must now take the place of those gone before. Ah! well, with the world I must not be contending. •Perhaps it is so, but there’s one thing I know, While the greatest D. D.’s arc their tenents defending, I think of the preacher of long time ago. That ignorant preacher the plain simple preacher. The old fashioned preacher of long long ago. —Church Advocate. Dear Brother Thompson :As I have a great desire to hear your views on 1 Peter, iv, 17, 18. I will ask you to please write on it through the Monitor at your earliest convenience, and oblige an enquirer. Yours in hope of a better life, Flint, Ala. June 16,1895. REPLY. The scripture refered to by our highly esteemed sister reads: “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where wwd thrr 1 ‘'gTTiTrgF ‘ appear?” Without offering apol ogies or excuses we give such views as we have for the consideration of sister Maukby and the readers of the Monitor in general. We have had some thought on this subject and have felt at times that we could see what it taught, and deri ved benefit and comfort from it. The gospel day, the reign of the gospel church, is a day of judgment, for the apostle here says that judgment must begin at the house of God, that is, at the church of God. The church founded by our Lord Jesus Christ is the executive body of the kingdom of heaven, that kingdom that is not of this world, that shall not be taken down, nor given to other people, “But the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom forever, and ever,” Dan., vii, 18. This executive body is to sit m judg ment, says the apostle, and the time was then, and is now, for the same church is yet in existence in the fulfillment of our Savior’s words “and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it;” Mat., xvi, 18. The church is a spiritual body. They are said to worship God in spirit and in truth. They are said to have the mind of Christ and to judge all things:” 1 Cor, ii, 15. They are to judge with righteous judgment. Says Paul, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and it the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels— [ministers] how much more things that pertain to this life?” 1 Cor., yi, 2, 3. The church is vest ed with the right and! the ability, is judge, and is the highest tribu nal on the earth. Her judgment, is final; from it there is no appeal. She has no presbytery, bishop, or pope above of ovef lief,- Christ is fief King sind her only “And if it begin at ttg, what shall DEVOTED TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST VALDOSTA, GA., OCTOBER t. 1895, I the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? If those who s have come through such great tribulations and cruel mockings, 1 are only judged worthy of such privileges as are by them enjoyed 3 in the house of God, what then, oh what shall become of those who 3 refuse to obey the gospel of God? Will they not be judged as alto- 3 gether unworthy on account of their disobedience? Let me say , just here that I understand the un godly and the sinner, here spoken -of, to be the ones who obey not the gospel, and that these two I I classes are children of God, born of God, and therefore have eternal . life dwelling in them. But they are disobedient children. They . deceive themselves. They realize not the high and soul-inspiring privileges enjoyed by all those who obey the blessed gospel of our God. Dear child of God, do you not know what comforts, what joy, what holy delight come into your souls by obedience to the glorious gospel of your salvation? What shall we then say will be the end of those who obey not the gospel of God, who says to all bis children “This is the way; walk ye in it,” will not the decision of the church of GodJ as she sits in the righteous judgment, be against the disobe dient? But the apostle continues: “And if the righteous scarcely be saved”. This is not to ba con strued as teaching that it is with difficulty that the Lord saves his people. We will not so speak . of his ability to save lost sinners. Not scarcely, or 1 “eFoesTne braveiysav® them from" Eternal death. There was, and is . the greatest ability in him to save unto the uttermost, every one be predestinated to save, and he will do it. To doubt it is to doubt his word— his oath. There is abund ance of grace given in Christ Je sus to save all his people. There fore he says, “All the Father givath me shall come tome,and him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” Sal vati >ll from sin and death is of God who has all power. David said, “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” Jonah. said/T will pay that 1 have vowed. Salvation is of ihe Lord.” Peter said, “Nei ther is there salvation in any other.” We know that our salva tion is of him, for we could not save ourselves. But the language does show that it is not without dfficulty that the righteous attain to this salvation refered to m the text. If the righteous scarcely be sawd, says inspiration, that is, barely, with difficulty, but just saved. This denotes that there are obstacles in the way, hindrances barries that make it difficult for us. Who of you have not realized painfully that it has been with great struggling you escaped some sore temptation. You have found the world, the flesh, and Satan to contend against. Fierce has been the struggle. Barely you have gained the summit and lojk back at the many dark and yawning chasms that stood open to receive your unsuspecting feet. Surely bow difficult is the way! Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? They can not appear with the righteous. They are only (barely) saved. They receive the wine of the kingdom, ihe milk and the honey was in the land that God give. Israel had to go and possess the land before they could eat the fruits thereof. The obedient are blest. The dis obedient ate God ; g house' affords plenty for aIL Hilt do all fits children dom'd to enjoy ite rich provisions? Do a ]j who have ' enjoy the most of it? ' How remain disobedient ‘•obey nit the gospel of God.” And the end be of them that obk not the gospel of God?” Importttt question. There |tre two classes had under ungodly and the sinnX There must be some some wav This I will re the T jgß^' r iunderßtand is meant who are living privileges in the church. |fhe gospel speaks to them iU -® lious P ronj ißeg. It tells them will bless in obedi ence. arOmy shall be a fruitful bough w® abide in him, the vine. But it ala|tell 3 them he will chas tise the The guilty shall in Nowise go unpunished. If ye sow |p the flesh ye shall of flesh reapCcorrupcion; Gal., vi, 8. ‘As many as I love, I rebuke, and • chasten: fee zealous therefore and s repent Jfehold, I stand at the : door, and knock ; if any man hear> my voice,-and open the door, I; will comeßi to him, and will sup with him ; ,and he with me. To j him that uvercometh will I grant: to sit with|me in my throne, even ■ as I also overcame, and am set down will my Father in his throne;”>v.,iii, 19-21. But if they repetißiiot, confusion of face is sure to follow them sooner or later. If lhey are not bearing fruit the pruning is sure to come and the end will be sad to their souls. shaO.be saved; they shall nW be eternally lost as some say. work is no fail ure. But they will come short, of that salvation obtained in obe dience, that satisfaction of soul that obeying the gospel of our sal vation through the Spirit, that approving conscience that rests sweetly in every promise of God. Then there is the sinner. Where shall he appear, and what shall we say of him? There are two clas es of sinners. The sinner dead in sin, dead to God. Then the sinner who feels and knows he n a sinner, who mourns on account of sin. Who hung>rs and thirsts (the evidences of life) after right eousness. This one, not like the other, is dead to sin and lothes it. This one is not doing so well as the ungodly man however. He is still living without, in the world and “without are dogsand sorcerers and whoremongers and era, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie;” Rev., xxii, 15. Besides he is not doing the will of his Savior in taking up his cross, denying self, and follow ing him as he should. He, too, is a child and shall not go unnunished for hisj sins. Such persons may think 5 they can live out of the church. That tuey can attend the meetings, enjoy the preaching, and get along as well as to go into the church. Not so. God knew best. Think you he would have set up that in stitution on earth called his church il believers could liv* as well out of it as they can in it? By such reasoning men deceive their own hearts. Ask those who have sweet fellowship in the church. They say, How could I live without the church? The church is home for God’s children, but many, far too, many live away from home. Where shall they appear? What shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of d-dd? They ffiust stand cdpddffiti6d ; Deaf cflild", come home. i)o riot disregard longer your Savior’s command—. The brethren all extend to you the hand of welcome. Their hearts beat in sympathy and love for you. The apostle concludes this sol emn Warning in these impressive words: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their gouls to him in well doing, as unto a iaithful Creator.” Let the un godly—that one not living godly as he ought—and the sinner do this and they will never regret it. Is it not said, dear one, “Blessed are they that do his command ments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates intoihe city?” Rev., xxii, 14. Here the right to the tree of life and entering in through the into the city is made to dep md upon God’s children doing the things he has This is net to be in terpreted as meaning the heaven of ultimate glory. There are gates to this city, this beloved Zion, a city set upon a hill. These gates conduct us into the blessed priv ileges in God’s house, even the tree of life, and they stand open to God’s dear children day and night and no man can shut. Obedience brings us into the sweet enjoyment of all these. 0 how great! how wonderful 1 And who would deny himself of it all? —Primitive Monitor. Sparks Ga, Sept 12th, 1895. Elder A. V. Simms. , Brothel -—As a lerri- 15tP loss and sadness, has overshad owed our hearts and home', I turn to you for cheer and comfort It is so sweet to have a sympathizing friend. true our greatest com fort is Jesus. My dear sister An nie has entered the home of the blest. We have just received a telegram that she was dying. So we know she is’at rest, sweet rest ere this, but 0! how hard to give her up. Mother and fal her was with her, and my sisters have gone, to be at her burial, except sister Florie. 0! dear brother how I crave to see her face once more. But alas! the boon ig denied me surely the Lord tries me in many ways, but I know He does all things for the best. The cup may be awful bitter from which we of ten drink, but sweet will be its effects. How grand—Low con soling to us to be assured our dear departed one, is at rest. See was willing to go, lay waiting the sum mons home Yet we will often, so oflcn miss her in many ways. How often ,do I wonder why God has spared me, a great sufferer, and I often feel a burden, while so many with brighter prospects and it seems to me could be mors useful, are taken away, while I yet am (Spared, only to suffer; vet God wills it so, and He never makes mistakes, never forgets, all His ways are just and right. Sometimes I feel my sorrows are more than I can bear, that surely I wis “faint by the way” but when I grow weary and faint God gives me strength, His loving, hand holds me up. It seems so bard, that not even in death, can I take the farewell look upon my dear sister,- while for months we have not seen each • other, but God sends the blow, I can only bow and take it., lam not so strong I was a while f fhoagh pot rapidly getting wutso, J list' fiqt sb wel l in some ways; Jisthf Moore’ wtofe ng tl’Ht. sister Siniffis wag sick. I hope shsfe bet- ter ere this. lam so nervous, I must. close. Remember each of ue at a throne of grace. Our hearts are so sad. Your little sister in many trials. Fannie k. Shuman. Arlen Ga Sept the 6th 1895 Dear Brother Simms:-—I am go ing to start to the Ebepezer associ ation to-day as I have a li, ■ . ■ il Ji New Union associations. I very poor in spirit and uneaqnal to the task that is before me, yet I hate to complain for I be lieive that the Lord will give His servants and people strength to do everything that he requires Os them. I feel that the Lord has blessed me beyond my deserts in every station of life and under all circumstances that I have been thrown in. I have been confined at home all this « year. The four churches that I try to serve, have been on the trav ail all thte year, and I beiievo have brought forth sons and daughters to the honor and glory of God. We have baptized sixteen (the name of the Lord be praised) and brotherly love seems to abound throughout our churches with so me ingathering. How it makes my heart rejoice when I look at my feeble efforts. They appear very poor but when I look and see how great the Lord ia in His blessings to me, I am ashamed that I have ever complsmed, and think I never will any more, but before I know it I am right back where I thought I would not go Many have be«n my trials, and some, ot the severest nature, but I have this witness, that the Lord .has delivered me out of them &H and Ims given me favor in the eye* of “J brethren and so that I bave not lacked for food and raiment for my sell and fem but I find th get there too. Brother Simms I have thought much of late op the sub ject of covetousness, and have got it up in all its forms as best I can, and judging the Baptiste by the churches that I try to serve, I nave come to the conclusion that there is not much of it among us, or not as much as some would suppose. There is a difference be tween covetousness and neglect I And that ministers often get care less, or I do, so much so that when the usual degree of concern re turns, I feel like a man that had been asleep, and am comoelled to say with Paul, that I have left off the things that I ought to have done, and I think it is so with the most of the Baptist. To speak of taking care of the minister and to see after the poor of the church, they all agree that it is right, a very few receptions, and hold to it as a Bible doctrine. Then the question may arise do they do it? I can answer for my churches and say yes, they take care of me and mine. Sometimes they get indiffer, ent but 'they turn again and do all that could be asked for, so much so that I feel to be under obliga tions to everybody and nobody under any obligations to me at all. I think that there are many good • intentions among our people nob manifested because the pastors do not take the right coutsa all the time. He may intend to be faith ful but do it in such away as to beget an indifference in themind of his brethren. It is something that I do not understand to my satisfaction. I gee «<ome c-f mybroth er preachers almost Un noticed by their brethren in the way of a support, that I think is more wor thy than lam, yet I am compelled •to say that my brethren look after more than any other man I ;know of. I cant think it ig any thing but the favor the good Lord ;,bas given me in the gigrtf the jpaophh Brutha? SiffiYiig I win Ciose ting sori b bld * I fo'meef yoti it oar astfscTiatifffi October' Ifeminyaiitefo §e y W No. 18.