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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.