Newspaper Page Text
Vol. 3.
Willingham Ga. Oct, 27th, 1896.
Elder R. H. Barwick, Dear
BROTHER IN CHRIST -As I havc a
long tune neglected what £ think
to be nay duty, I will, in my poor
feeble way, try to tell you what
a burden £ have labored under tor
about twelve ytars.
1 have felt that I have kept my
rr* hghVunder a bushel so as not to
give light. I have felt that shame
of writing to the dear brethren and
sisters, has caused me to be chas
tised until I feel willing to under
take it, altho it is hard to expose
my sorry writing. But that has
been my thoughts for several.years
You know that I lost my dear lit
\ tie babe. I feel that was for my
disobedience, but OmyGodlthat
was nothing to compare with the
death ot one of my little twins six
years old.
He got accidental’y shot on the
15th of Sept, and died in six
hours. We carried him back to
•p bury him.
Robert, I will tell you some of
my thoughts the day before it took
place; —I was so despondent that
I thought I would be glad that
it could be God’s will to take my
husband, myself, and children out
i of this sinful world all at once;
I but did not want one to be taken
I at a time, 01 dear brother I could
| appoint, but God could disappoint.
■>» Instead of all being taken, our
little pet was token and left us to
grieve behind 0! dear brother,
~ pray for mo and mire, and tell
| your wife, and all the dear saints,
pathway of duty' than I have in c
the past; that the chastening rod '
may be removed to some extent. 1
It seems that if I was left alone, 1
I could not bear my troubles, but 1
God has said in his word that we
should not be tempted aboyo .
what we are able to bear; but oh '
my God 11 feel like I must have ’
the punishment of Job, but oh!
' if I could feel willing to bear it
p.nd not gi ve wa Y
Brother Bob. look at the 56th
4?hapt. of Isaiah and give me your
views on the 3rd verse. I don’t
know why, but it was presented
to me during th s trouble. Well
I will close. Excuse all errors, I
\ would not have written only
through fear,
As over your litter sister.
V. D. Bunn.
We can sympathise with you dear
sister for we have bowed under
like afflictions may the Lord bless
you. —B.
Monte, Ga May 1896.
Eld Lee Hanks.
Dear Brother: —As night has
thrown her dark mantle around
the earth, and all nature is hushed
to rest, I sit in quiet meditation
kupon my past, present, and future
existence. And as I meditate I
fully realize that all are of, and
in, the hands of the Lord. When
J look back ove r my past life I am
made to wonder and rejoice, and
exclaim “Surely the Lord has been
merciful to me all tne days of my
life.” When I look at the present
Al feel assured that all the bless
ings that I now enjoy, both tem
poral and spiritual, come from
i |(im. —realizing that God has been
my shield and portion in the past
And I am willing, by his grace, to
, trust my future welfare with him.
1 What a blessed thought, that
when we are overwhelmed with
the cares of thia life, and it seems
we are forsaken by every earthly
friend, we can still look to Him
from whom all blessings flow, and
A feel that we have a friend that
@|je ptlyiiii'a fanner.
“THOU HAST GIVEN A BANNER TO THEM THAT FEAR THEE, THAT IT MAY BE DISPLAYED BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH,”—Psalms 60: 4.
stricketh closer than a brother.
As I write my mind wanders to
a distant woodland upon the hill
side where is a little mound of
clay that covers the lifeless form
of my darling little babe. Andi
feel assured that her spirit is in
heaven to-night. She was sick
three long weeks, and woids fail
to describe her sufferings. I can
think of her nowand the tears wiU
come unbidden ; but what seems
strange, when she was so sick, and
when she died, it seemed that the
fountain of tears was sealed. 1
felt perfectly resigned to the Lords
will. I shall always believe He
prepared me for this trying ordeal
“The Lord giveth and the Lord
taketh away, blessed be the name
of the Lord.”
We have been having some good
meeting at Antioch; several have
joined, for which lam glad. We
are certainly blessed in this com
munity with religious privileges.
Just think of the many who are
deprived of the privilege and pleas
ure of hearing the gospel proclaim
ed.
; I think there are others who
ought, and who would, come to
; the church, were they not afraid
they are mistaken, and so are wait
i ing for better and brighter evidence
i or trying to find some fitness in
. themselves, just as I did before I
• joined the church. But my ex
> perience and observation teaches
t me that the less fitness seen and
I felt in self, the better Christians
they will prove. Bro< Hanks, pray
the
discharge of every duty, nothing
wavering and present our bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, and accep
table to God, which is our reason
able service. Pray tor me and my
family. May the good Lord bless
you and family. Your sister in
hope of eternal life through Jeais
Christ.
Emma K. Durden.
Labton, Ga., Aug. 96.
Elder Lee Hanks Dear Broth
er in Christ :—Again it is through
the mercy of God that I am per
mitted to write you an answer to
yours which I received a good
while ago.
Dear brother Hanks, I dont
want you to think I am trying to
flatter you; no, no, lam far from
that, but sometimes I think some
of the Baptist in this country,—
myself not excepted—think too
much of you ; and I fear the good
Lord will take you from us because
we esteem you so highly. Again
I think that a true, meek, humble,
faithful servant of God —such as I
feel you are—ought to be so high
ly esteemed. You have been a
great blessing to the churches in
this section, for which I am thank
ful to God. And I hope and prayj
that the Lord, who has called and,
sent you to feed his sheep, will be
your present help in every time of
need,
I deeply sympathize with all our
faithful ministers in the hardships
and persecutions they have to bear
But we all have thorns to bear;
but the poor preacher’s road is the
roughest, Sometimes I cannot re
refrain from anger when I hear
people speaking hard hurtful
things against them. Yet I must
remember that “so persecuted they
the prophets” and apostles. And
all the defenders of the true gos
pel have, more or less, experience
of what Paul suffered, and I hope
can say with him, “Cast down, but
not destroyed; dying, but behold
we live; chastened,but not killed,”
&c. Like them, we ought to rejoice
DEVOTE TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
Valdosta, Ga., December 1, 1896.
in tribulations also, knowing that
“tribulations worketh patience;
and patience experience; and ex
perience hope.” But lam some
how, when I hear them saying
evil, false things about the Old
Baptist, I would, if I could, defend
them like Peter, when he drew
his sword to fight for Jesus and
cut off the ear of the High Priest's
servant. And Jesus answered and
said “suffer ye thus far,” and ho
healed the servant. As much as
to say, “don’t do thus —don’t fight
your enemies with carnal weapons
when they persecute you; but, if
possible heal them.” Jesus suffer
ed yer&ecutions of all kinds, and
oven gave his life for us that we
might live. Thon can we not
suffer just a little for him? I
would willingly do so if I could.
Sometimes I think I am not will
ing to suffer anything. How
many times I have said ‘‘l know I
love the children of God ;” but am
afraid, I were brought to the test,
that I would prove false to the
assertion.-
I have been asked, “what makes
you all think yourselves better
than we ar a? You do not esteem
your best friends as you need to,
or as well as the least one in your
church?—This is not true religion,
nor do Christians feel that way.”
I tell them that there are some
worldlians that I esteem better by
nature, than I am. But those who
show they are enemies to the truth,
nor give evidence of a union with
Christ and the brethren, how can
we love the w
of Gdd? For he that is oFGod, lov
eth the children of God. Broth
erly love cannot extend to aliens,
It is impossible to love those who
hate the truth, as those who love
it. What then? Because brother
ly love —which is of God —cannot
embrace those who do not, and
love not, the truth, must we there
fore hate them? No, no; love
your enemies; there is such a thing
as universal love, as well as a spe
cial spiritual love. Christ mani
fested hatred to no man, but went
about doing good to all. So the
children of God aie under the law
ot universal love, and so should
hate no man. But this is very dif
ferent from spiritual brotherly
love that is direct from God, in
deed it partakes of God, who is
love,
“Great and marvelous are Thy
works, Lord God Almighty; just
and true are Thy ways thou King
of Saints.” I wantto praise Him
with all my power; love Him with
all my soul; serve Him with all
my mind and strength; believe m
Him with all my heart. Bless His
holy name for ever and ever 1
Yet. sometimes, I am forgetful
of Him—my best friend that stick
eth closer than a natural brother.
Satan takes the advantage and
buffets me with hard thoughts of
God, and almost makes me believe
there is no reality in his word. I
see myself sunk so low that I am
forced to believe surely now I haye
fallen so low I cau rise no more.
And 1 get impatient and can’t be
lieve that any one has ever felt as
I do. For why cannot I live like
others I see, who seem never to be
harrassed with doubts as I am?
I want to discover in myself—as
well as others— the works and ev
idences of eternal life. This I
cannot do to my satisfaction, I try
to pray, but my heart seems too
hard to feel or repent—too full of
evil thoughts and vain imagina
tions and can neither soften or
cleanse it. Then I realize the sense
of the poet’s words.—
; ‘,l would but can’t, though 1 en-
deavor oft,
This strong heart can ne’er repent
till Jesus makes it soft.
I would, but cannot pray; I’m
filled with deep dismay;’
Oh could I but believe, then all
would easy be:
I would but cannot, Lord re
lievo! all these must come
from Thee.”
All that I can say at such a
time be merciful tome a
sinner’’ And ere I am aware,
peace is in mv soul, and the name
’ of Jesus is precious and strength-
J ening; and right at the time, I
have feltdhat I never would find
myself in darkness and doubt
again. But these seasons are short
they vanish away. Doubts are not
' pleasant, and I want to live with
out th&m, but cannot.
May, the Lord bless you and dear
Sister Hanks both spiritually and
temporally. I desire to be always
remembered in your prayers. Hop
-1 ing to nee you soon, I am
1 Yours in hope,
Maggie Green.
Dothan, Ala.,Nov., 1896.
Elder A. V. Simms:—Dear
1 Brother; —As I have been sick
’ for the last two weeks and so con
fined at home, I feel inclined to
’ write to you. In looking over the
Banner I see a narative that in
’ duces me to relate an incident that
occur ed when I lived right at the
Depot! There came a very old la
’ dy to Sothan from Florida, having
a wriwn recommendation to a
1 MethcAt preacher. And his fami
my asked my wife if
she would take her for the night,
which she did, though I was from
home that night, and thereby miss
ed a feast. When he brought her
from the Depot, she was so old and
feeble that it took two to help her
into the hous.e My wife seiing
how feeble she was, asked her at
once if she did not wish to lie
down and rest? “No, child, not
now” she said. A dear old sister
was with my wife, and began to
talk with the poor old lady, she
soon remarked “they say I am cra
zy, I want to talk some to you and
see if you think so too.” And be
gan and told her experience of
grace: When she had finished tell
ing of her travel from nature to
grace, she asked them if they con
sidered her crazy? They answered
no; and her talk stimulated them
to tell their experience; and when
they concluded she arose from her
chair and embraced each one in
her arms, and said “Thank the
Lord ! I have found some who be
lieve as I do!” She then said, that
becaqse she believed and talked
that way t people had called her
crazy! She then stood there on
her feet for about four hours and
talked of the goodness and mercy
of God to the poor, needy and lost
and of the things of his kingdom,
&c. When she had finished, they
had to help her, she was so feeble.
And when the time came for her
to lease t° take the train, she wept
bitterly to part from them. This
preacher had made up money in
the town to take her to North Ala
bama to her people. But I have
forgotten her name.
I hive written this to show that
the Lords peonle know one anoth
er when they meet,though the world
may call them crazy. And they
calle® 6l craz y for the fruits of
the very ® ame spirit that manifests
them^ ll^ren °f God, to the spir
itual, Th© B Ph'it of the Lord in
themb ears witness with our spirit
that w® are aklu - And this rela
i tionshlP 0I " k°d 8 People draws
them together as one. For the
fruits of which same spirit, the
people said Paul was “beside him
self’ and some said “mad” and the
Apostles were even call “drunken ;”
acting like crazy people ; and even
Jesus brethren thought he “beside
himself.” And all in the very
same spirit and sense in which we
of to-day are called supersticious
and ignorant. And yet this same
spirit manifests the children of
God to one another, and draws
them together though, strangers in
the flesh.
I am so often made to think of
the dear brethren and sisters whom
I met in your country, that I nev
er had met before, and never will
meat agan in this life. Yet my
poor soul goes out in love to them,
and has hope that if we never meet
again in this life, we will meet in
the better; yes, I have a sweet
abiding hope that we will be free
from toil, and pain, and all sins
and sorrow, and the Sabbath of
rest will never end.
Brother Simms; —I see some
brethren are agitating the question
of Associations. What does that
word mean? If the brethren will
closely difine it to associate, and
put no other meaning to it; no
one will object to it. To associ
ate does not mean to come togeth
er to make laws for Zion, or declare
non-fellowship for the children of
God. And so notwithstanding
many of the people of God think
associations ought to settle all ques
tions of doctrine, I think that the
church as organized in conference
is the highest tribunal that ever
has, or ever will be, iffthis earth;
and alone has the right, to trans
act all church-business.
And even there, before declaring
non-fellowship for a dear Saint,
we should first examine our own
selves, and see if we be in the faith,
and the right walk, or have not
been guilty or greater wrong, and
be sure that we are without sin,
before we cast the first stone at
another, And then we will go off
like the woman accused did.
If disorder gets in a church, or
churches, or among brethren; let
all the brethren labor together to
settle it, and heal the breach out
side of church-conference, if pos
sible , it not, then labor in love,
and not try to devour one another.
Ife brother be overtaken in a fault
let him that is spiritual restore
him. Such alone will labour in
love to reclaim an erring one. The
carnal need not try. And that
one tries and fails, it proves that
he, or the erring brother, one or
both, were not spiritually-minded
at the time. If brethren will do
thus—follow the teaching of God’s
word that always agrees with the
spirit, all trouble would soon be
adjusted, and peace and love reign.
And as to Association—To asso
ciate together—to assemble our
selves—in love, to worship God
and keep up a correspondence with
one another as churches, leaving
disciplinary business with the
churches, where it belongs is the
association the bible warrants, and
I approve, So may God guard,
guide, and keep us all in the path
way ot peace and union that will
cause brotherly love to continue,
is the prayer and sincere desire of
your little brother in hope,
E. D. Ivey.
Dear Sister Phillips :—By re
quest, I will try to write some of
my thoughts for the Banner.—
“Be ye therefore followers of God
as dear children : and walk in love
as Christ also hath loved us and
hath given himself for us an offer
ing and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling savour,” Ept. 5,-1,2.
Os all thejchildren of God, those
of the Primitive Baptist faith
have the greatest reasons tor man
ifesting their love for God by fol
lowing him : believing as they do
that Christ, in order to save his
people, bore their sins, and only
theirs. And“that the satisfaction
he made for sin is limited, both in
design and effect; so that he died
for allfwhom he saved; and saved
all for whom he died. There are
many of God’s children whose
minds are beclouded in reference to
the extent of its design and effect
upon men. They cannot see how
a limited atonement can consist
with God’s goodness, justice and
mercy ;-4t don’t give all a chance.
Those who hold for universal
atonement and limited salvation
believe also that none, are saved
but such as hear the preached gos-
pel. They say it is an imputation
upon God’s goodness to say he
made provision for only a part
ot mankind, while all stand in
like need of it. But God is under
obligation to save none; "or ter
vide an opportunity for a salva
tion to any. There can be noth
ing contingent in the matter of
God’s salvation.
But admiting that his nature
obligates him to provide opportun
ity and give one individual a
chance; then he is under equal
obligations to all mankind, which
we know he has not done. For all
will admit that there are'millions
who never heard the gospel, nor
heard of Christ. . It is no proof of
goodness to ma,ke
all of mankind/and
greater portion in gross ignorance
of it
No, he gave himself an offering
and a sacrifice to God for us; (his
chosen people) and for his great
love wherewith he loved us, he
hath quickened us together with
Christ.
To better understand the great
ness of God’s love for his people,
we should measure it by its sacri
fices he spared not his own Son
—he—after the immeasurable sac
rifice of his glory and bliss with
the Father—suffered untold ago
nies on the tree of the cross. For
whom? For his friends? No, “for
while we were yet enemies, Christ
died for us.” “He hath washed
us from our sins in his own blood,
and hath made us kings and priests
unto God”
Then is it an unreasonable ser
vice for us to present our bodies a
living sacrifice unto God? The
Lord never trifles in any matter;
but has a divine purpose in all his
works. He made us priests that
we should discharge the duties of
our priesthood, being consecrated
with the garments that are “for
glory ai.d for beauty. ” As Aaron
must be clothed in all the splendor
ot his pontificial robes, even so
must those whom God has made
priests in the gospel day be cloth
ed in the proper raiment of his
high and heavenly calling, in or
der that his offerings and sacrifi
cer be holy and acceptable to God.
Then clothed with humility, hav
ing on the garments of praise,—
clothed with the garments of sal
vation ;—with the whole armour
of God. Such is the robe of our
great high Priest; and such has he
provided for his priests;—spotless
with the purity of Christs own
perfection. How glorious the
spectacle I
The Christian is thus prepared
to show forth his praise who hath
called him out of darkness into
his marvelous light. Pure reli
gion and undefiled before God is
like nothing in nature, its great
(Continued on fourth page.)
No 22.