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Vol. 3. poetry. ■ ’ SOME DAY. 1 Some day,—when death’s cold icy hand Hath stilled this weary heart to rest, — Will come some too late started friend With full-armed sympathy’s behest Os loving deed and kindly word That thbn will fall, alas! unheard, That now, that heart so lone and drear, Breaks with the longing need to hear. 2 Some day, the silence of neglect — That passing, only looked and passed, Nor stayed to bind or sooth the heart, Shipwrecked by disolations blast When death relieves will then provide. Rare wreaths, that living, were denied. 3 Some day, the shafts of envy born— That pierced this heart, already torn with thorns of sorrow over-much, And sore opprest —when past the bourn, Touch by remorse, may quickly change, And sweetest tokens fair arrange With ieparations hand, to heal The wound that still to life appeal, But ah! the conscience—now at ease— Alarmed, will wiite on a[l of these. Too late! —a living heart or wound f Cannot in death be healed or bound. So loves dear voice, not on the dead, But living, let its light be shed. 4 Some day wherein the Lord will come In His exceeding power and love To give rhe homeless one a home In that eternal home above — Then you that saw her homeless go, Nor gave a word to sooth her woe, Or cheer her on. Ah! will you bring ■ To her loves tender offering? Beware! lest that cold silent face liiy peace destroy, aud in its place An ever-haunting fear bestow, Lest thee, or thine, shall homeless go. 5 Some day, ah yes! when I’ve attained The fullness ot my God —no more To want or need. But now, this day, Is mine of need; yet I deplore, In some, that tenderness all fraught, with hnman kindliness and cheer. Ohiriends! againts me having aught Perhaps a myth it will appear; Or yet, from error makes demands, And stranger to intentions stands. E’vn thus, or else, forgive, nor stay They friendliness till deaths dark day I so much crave for living light— I so much crave and need to-night. P. “Where Are the Nine.” Ten lepers stood afar off and cried: “Jesus, master, have mercy on us.” Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest at Jerusalem. “And as they went they were cleansed, and one of them when he saw he was cleansed turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God; and fell down at Jesus feet, giving him thanks, but Jesus answering said: “Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God save this stranger.” Luke 19: 13-19. Where are the nine? This aggrieved rebuke was as much as to say that all should have _ turned back, as the only way they could give glory to God or thanks to Him for their cleansing. And this questioning cry has ccme down through all ages since as it were, from heart to heart of friend or parent for straying child ren, whu thus cleansed “as they went,” have either stood still, so to speak—stayed with the world —or gone on to Jerusalem to give glory to law, and thanks to works for their cleansing. Yes, how many parental hearts have ached with the sorrow of that unspoken cry? especially when some one unex pected—some stranger heretofore, stranger ta our assemblies, faith, and practice; and Samaritan, as to any religious dShlings with us— 13 miner. “THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT EEAR THEE, THAT IT MY BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH,”—Psalms 60: 4. has come to our church fcr mem bership, while our children have gone on to legal Jerusalem . One is naturally on the way to Jerusalem, which answers to all those so-called churches that hold to the doctrine of salvation by deeds of the law. And to go on and join one of which, as thus sub scribing to their doctrine, is to give glory to law, and thanks to human works for salvation. While to “turn back” and join the one true church—the Primitive Bap tist, we believe—as thus subscrib ing to the doctrines of salvation by grace, is to give glory to God, and thanks to Jesus Christ fir salva tion. How many of our friends and children have given us evidence that they were born of God ; and yet have never come to the church ! Where are they? Mostly gone on to the legal Jerusalem. And why? The most of them simply because “as they went they were cleansed. ” a But the ten were not cleansed immediately, nor did they 'eel the touch, hear the voice, or know it was Jesus; rather, perhaps, they felt like they were going away from Him. And “as they went th«y were cleansed.” not here at the well,where so thirsty, they stopped to drink, nor there by the log or tree, where they prayed, but every where along the way as they went; as if they had started with a bag of sand that gradually, little by little, wasted from an unseen rent, till all Was gone. Btit-of eleven leper,cleansed, one only could point to a particular time and place, and claim imme diate cleansing. And out of ten cleansed “as they went,” one only turned back and g*ave glory to God for it. So about the same propor tion to-day of those born of God. But where are the nine? Did they say, because we felt not the touch, nor heard the voice, nor knew it was Jesus, therefore are we not cleansed? Or,because we, like the other, were not immediately cleansed, therefore we are not cleansed? It would be just as reasonable and true as of some who say to day ; “Because I had no great, miraculous manifestations like some,l have heard, therefore I am not born of God.” Or “because I can point to no particular time and place when my burden of con demnation left me, like others 1 hear; therefore I am not born o! the spirit.” And thus doubtful, not more than one in ten will turn back and give glory to God and thanks to Jesus for cleansing. And thus, again and again, will swell in the hearts ot fathers and mothers in Israel that aggrieved question— ‘Where are the nine?”—where are our children? Alas! gone on to legal Jerusalem—to other denomi nations, cr standing still, as it were, or in the world. Aud wherefore? Ido verily be lieve that the main reason with most of them,as already intimated, is because their burden of condem nation was removed“ae theywent,” . or in away they cannot tell how, or when; leaving them with no great i or immediate manifestation, or a . “nig experience,” that many think the Primitive Baptist require. But . this is a mistake. - Thus many go to other denomi -1 nations, thinking their experience is good enough for them ; but not for the Primitives. A few, per haps, go on thinking the priest will , perchance do “some great thing” - with which tnfcy may comfe back DEVOTED TO THECAjJSE OF CHRIST. Valdosta, Ga., March 15,1896. aud give glory to God before they die. While others, more wordlj’ minded, confer with “the world, the llesh,” and perchance the devil; all of which encourage them on, as shunning the daily cross and self denial involved in turning back. But many of this class are in the world, dissatisfied, yet afraid to venture on their little, dim, uncertain exp r'en e. Several of these have told me they felt they had not suffered enough for sin. This, with not having any special evidence, nor that rapture on relief that many speak of, make them afraid to go to the church. Not a great while since a mid dle aged gentleman who had half way claimed a hope for twenty years, told me he did not believe in, and hence could not go to other than the Primitive Baptist church, and had all along been afraid to go to that, as fearing and feeling without the right of a Christian exoerience, and from the fact that his conviction had not been as deep and pungent as he thought Christians had; nor could he tell when or how this feeling of con demnation left him; that the best he could say for himself was, that Jesus was so precious to him that he would not reproach his cause. I told him “the wind bloweth where it listeth, we hear the sound thereof but cannot tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth; so is every one born of the spirit; that thus Jesus had made the wind, in its varying forces, to Tiwwer to the operation of spirit in oifferent people. That in proportion to the greater work to do, and to suffer for Jesus sake, were spiritual manifes tations; for instance, Paul, who had greater things to do, and to suffer, had in proportion, greater manifestation of the spirit than any of the apostles. And that these manifestations ranged on down to those who simply “gladly received the word” when preached to them. How many just simply know and love the truth, whereas they once did not! And you will notice that those who 1 ive the truth always carry that infallible evidence of a spiritual birth —love for the brethren. The man born blind could only say in evidence “Whereas I was blind, now I see.” He did not even know it was Jesus who opened his eyes; yet when he had given glory to God for it, Jesus came to him. And such, like those who “gladly received the word,” were baptized into the same death of Jesus and fellowship of the church with Paul. For as it is the same wind, operated by the same God, that drives the mighty storm to the uprooting and noisy crash ing to the earth of some mammoth tree, to-day; that to-morrow but gently stirs the lowly plant.! So those born of the spirit. A young lady once told me she loved the Primitive Baptist broth erhood and the doctrine of salva tion by grace, and Lated sin. I asked her,why she did not join the church? Oh, she desired it above all things, but was not fit; she had felt condemned as a sinner, but it wore off and left her without an experience, without a change. Yes, she was changad, too; but not in the right way, she feared. I asked her how came her loving Christians and salvation by grace, and hating sin? that no natural or ether spirit in her, or in this world, and only the spirit of Jesus, did love Christ ians, and that doctrine, and hated sin; that it took the spirit of God to love Jacob and hate Esau. For all that she wanted better proof 01 again. We were at the a dish of green corn was near tie. I said “Show me this corn,* you need not prove to me th re was a grain that fell into the g-ound to die, then a blade, then ? stalk, and then a silk, tas sel, et;., the corn here is infallible proofpf it all. So your love for the brethren is like proof tc me, and spuld be to the church, that you hy.ve passed from death unto life.” I Oh ;ye, our friends and chil dren, Answering to the “nine.” and that you gone on to legal Jerusalem and given glory to the law, and thanks to human works tor yciir cleansing; did you know God.’spurse is on that proud city? that if is doomed to destruction in the end? In life do you crave comnckinion with God? You will it there. But “come out apd be ye separate, saith the I will receive you.” Did’ you knew you can never give |lory to God there? And that so give it at all, you must, like t;jat one obedient leper, turn back?; And you, whether in Jeru salemf or in the world, that are prayikg and waiting for that “one more hianifestation” from Jesus to confirjn the first, do you know you will get it, though you wait twent r or forty years as some have done J till you turn back, so to speak and give glory to God, as Jesm Commands, for your first evidences, or spiritual cleansing? An | yowthat have been seeking and t .Mowing for the face of Jesus jjqjM fh,en. and there, you will tfiid it. And had you, like the oile that turned back, and the once lllind man, have given glory to Gojl when first healed, you would havewmnd His face right then; but you would reverse the com mand of Jesus; you would learn first, and then take his yoke, in stead of taking His yoke and then learn of him. Remember, that to turn back and give glory to God and thanks to Jesus for your salvation, is to take this yoke, or join the church that holds to the doctrine of salvation by grace, through Jesus Christ. And remember it was Jesus who asked “Where are the nine?” Otnthat the full spiritual import of aggrieved, loving rebuke in the question may reach and touch the heart of every one of His straying children, and that they heed his words to “flee from Jerusalem to the mountain,” that is to the gos pel church. Also remember that this writing is as the voice of a heart in unison, though by the hand of a poor, old sinful, way-worn, Weary Pilgrim. Let the beauty ot the Lord our God be upon us: and establish this paper, the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. Jerusalem was encompassed by high, rugged mountains, they were as a chain around the city, and thus stood as her immovable, in vulnerable shelter, refuge and wall of defense against all outward en emies. And “as the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people hence forth , even forever.” It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to sing praises unto Thy name, Most High. To show forth Thy loving kindness in the morning and thy faithfull ness every night. Cox, Ga. Jan. 1896. Editors of the Banner. Dear and Beloved Brethren : By your kind permission, I desire to present a few thoughts for the consideration of your readers, trusting to indulge in honesty of hi art in offering such things as may be of interest and benefit to God’s afflicted people. lam glad to learn, as I read of the faithful labors of some of our dear editors, that God has raised np true and bold servants to “crj aloud and spare not,” for in \,nese perilous times of divisions, heresies, tra ditions, pn judice, covetousness, lack of individual sacrifice, and general worldly mindedness, God’s people need to be warned of dan ger. It is pleasant indeed to meet in correspondence and sweet com munion, those who are associated with us in church relations. And could we never learn of the indi vidual and official departures of the spiritual family, then might we cast off the spirit of fear and mourning for Israel and wrap our selves in estatic joy and contin ual admiration, believing that full ness of obedience and unbroken fellowship prevails in all the bor ders of Zion. But taking a retro speotive view of our surroundings and beholding the inroads of the enemy pouring in upon us corrup tion and distress, captivating in fluences of the world,has led many from the path of faithfulness, to follow in perincious way—covet ousness and indifference prevail ing to the neglect of the tired and oppressed pastors and the poor of the church, —priae and vanity reigning to the destruction ot hu manity and the overthrow of the apostolic principle of having “all things common,” —heresies, strife, fleshly ambition, resulting in di visions, factions aud general dis tress. Oh I for Heaven’s blessings to rest us, separate us from our darkness, light our souls with the fire of God’s love and His Ho ly spirit to “guide us in the way of all truth.’’This sad and threat; eniug situation brings grief to the humble watchful servant, and in labor and trials he vacillates be tween hope and despair. In cor recting practical errors, casting out heresies and healing divisions, we find a vast field in which to labor; and in this connection, I wish to call attention to the faith ful la Dors of our much esteemed brother, Elder S. Hassell, who has toiled hard in this vocation, I trust to much profit. Especially do I appreciate bis timely efforts to restore union and correspond ence, where division prevailed with the associations in Va.; an account of which he gives in the Gospel Messenger of Dec. A sep aration has prevailed in that sec tion over forty years. Extreme doctrinal positions occupied by their leaders, as understood by the opoosite side, seemed to have been the origin of the difficulty. Elder H. hit upon a very wise and sure plan, as seems to me, to begin this undertaking, writing out a resolu tion, embodying the most impor tant points of difference! The same being presented to,and adopt ed by the associations involved, with an earnest declaration of fellowship for, and Invitation to all brethren who agree with them upon the doctrines set forth in said resolutions. This mode of settlement will set aside the tedi ous, unpleasant and uneasy task of bringing up the numerous per sonal imperfections and idividual dissatisfactions which always pre vail. in _■ separations, no matter what the cause may have been. It is also the most direct way of sep - aratnig the church from disorder, , whether practical or doctrinal, as , the basis of settlement is placed upon clear, concise principles, and ■ all may then know, the position ! taken, and grounds occupied by , the church. It is a lamentable fact, that notwithstanding the nu merous division—some ruinous— which have occured in our midst, yet the whole proceedings have been so wrapped in obsecurity that but few of the brotherhood know anything, comparatively, of the principles involved; so the error, whether doctrinal or disciplinary is not permanently separated from the church. To illustrate this matter; some churches, under a bad influence, in a certain associ ation, began to exercise rude, un scriptual, “lynch law” discipline, - which was working great injury in that section: the other churches seeing the iniquitous consequences, sought a correction—held a con vention or council and removed this impertinent mode of govern ment. But this rude, self-willed spirit, was determined not to be conquered. So the association divided, and those faithful church es were now tauntingly styled“con vention Baptist”and came near losing their life, according to all human appearance, for their fidel ity to truth. After a wearisome conflict, the breach was practical ly healed by mutual confession and the righteous denunciation of the “convention” against “lynch law” discipline was not known in the settlement, and now the same cruel enemy, with daring presump tion, is at work in the midst of Zion, to the sorrow of many of , God’s little ones. Let ue meet the enemy with firm, positive action,X’ clearly set forth on a scriptural basis. Still let charity abound and brotherly love continue. We see the movement of Elder H. in the trouble above refered to, was fairly upon this basis—rejec tee “maoism” “eternal-vital unionism,— “no change in the soul in regeneration” and other obsurdities, and defining the true doctrine, upon which all Primi tive Baptist, are invited to unite. May not others ot our division be healed in a similar way? May the Lord direct in the way of all truth. Affectionately, T. E. Sikes. When Jesus was on earth he wen t and was the guest with a sinner. And the pharisees murmured at it, just as those,good,people do to-day when we professed sinners claim Him as a guest. They don’t be lieve it. But what would we do if Jesus would not visit us? Jesus said “except ye bo con verted and become as a little child ye shall in no case enter the king dom of heaven.” Also, “Whoso ever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall in no wise enter therein.” This is the only way to be saved;and all want to be saved. Yet how few men are willing to be converted from their manhood and self-sufficiency of moral reason to plan and ability to work out their salvation? A little child is an infant. To be converted or turn from depend ing on human will and works, and become as a little child, is to be come helpless and passive, neces-* sarily involving salvation by grace. Therefore the gospel plan is an in fant plan, or adapted to infants . ' . • . V. \ .. •< » only. • - ' No. 6