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“the the means.” BuFl found iu the word of the Lord that “the man of God”—the church,, and child of God—was “TfloKWonlfr furnished to all good works” with a command of Jesus, who also said that he that was not for him, was against him. Then there was no compro mise, or middle ground. My will was to find the Mission aries justified by scripture; but as a Servant, my will was not to be cousidered —I must know, and do the will of my Master. In my long diligent search for truth, I found there was but the one true church of Christ; I was made to believe the Primitive Baptist v as that true church. And now 1 told them I could not stand identified with them longer; not that I loved them as Christians less,but the truth more. But I had a long time of troub le and search and prayers and groanings in proving first this,and then that, unscriptural. And when all ehe was out of my way re-bap tism still stood, seemingly, insur mountable ; and mainly from the tact that the,mode and ceremony Were according to the gospel letter, and I had felt the answer of a good conscience. This last was the most ‘difficult. But finally, in —" reading how Paul, in persecuting the church, verily believing he did G:d«? service, had “a con science void of offense,” relieved me,for so I, verily believing I was doing his will in thus being bap tised, felt a like good conscience springing from thia belief. I then supposed those sprmKled received the same as believing they were obeying Gcd. But to be re-baptized? That was contrary to the bible assertion — “one Lord, one faith, and one bap tism.” The thought of being bap tized AGAIN was repugnant. So after much worry and thought I concluded to stand still and wait for clearer light. r ‘ But thus I only realized the more unrest, and a feeling Benso cf getting further and further away from my Savior—my abid ing love for whom was often my sole solace—till at last my heart did ache with longing fcr that sweet secret, and restful commun ion with Jesus once had; as also withjthe fear that the Lord had cast me off to receive me no more Then this scripture came to me with power. “Come out from among them and'be ye separate saitn the Lord, and I will receive you." I had thought that having ob tained,and was holding my church letter. separated me from them, and hence relieved me from bid ding tnem God’s speed, and being rartaker of their evil-unscriptural deeds. But now the above sent me searching this point. And 1 saw that holding my letter did not dismiss me from them, nor in the k-astealler my relation position toward them, or relieve me from sharing their responsibilities; that so long as not actually separated from them by death, or as joining a church of another faith and or der, I was virtually One of them, and stood as though willingly— bidding them God’s speed, and hence was partaker of their deeds; and that nothing, save the above, would, or could separate me from them. My mind and heart was fixed in the belief, and. so was drawn to the Primitive Baptist; but they ajone would not receive mew my baptism; and how could I be re baptized?, After air my worry it seemed there was no escape from this.- Bu 4 I was taking a Mission ary Baptist paper. “The Tennes see Baptist, edited by J. R. Graves, to which'! have referred, in which alkiut this time, was an article from J. M. Pendleton of Ky.,—if I mistakenot ;in defense of their rep udiation of Pedo-Baptist baptism, and in givivg their reasons why they could not recognize and receive it (sprinkling, <tc;,) as valid or gos pel, be illustrated the principle by a martiage ceremony. My mind caught the idea and analysed it in’ a moment; and the truth flashed out clear and unmistakable that I had never received gospel baptism, and hence, for me to be baptized by the Primitive Baptist, would not be re-baptism, but gospel bap- 1 tism for the first and one time. And in relief and exultation I ex claimed alnud—“Saul has fallen on ms own sword!—l will behead Goliah with his own weapon!” For truly in showing me what in validated Pedo-Baptist baptism, he showed me what invalidated Missionary Baptist baptism. But before I proceed, let us re member what constitutes gospel baptism; it takes ,-three things— the subject must be a Believer; — the mode and ceremony must be scriptural, or by immersion in the name of Jesus; and the aAdminis tror must be vested with the offi cial authority ot the one only church of Christ. A lack of one of these invalidates the whole. For the validity of official acts, whether civil or religious, rests in, and springs alone from the vest ed authority conferred, and not otherwise which authority, to be valid in itself, must be conferred by the power and prerogative of the one only true Church or State. To illustrate —there is but the one true executive department of the State of Georgia; but suppose a few remote counties should pre sume to claim to be the State, and pretend to establish a like depart ment, and each claim to be the true. The so-called officers of such could go through the legal form and ceremony of official works, but it would be spurious, as sprung from a spurious department. And not only would the true not recog nize or accept as legal, this work, but would prosecute the unsur pation as treason against the State. We know by the word of the Lord that there is but the one true church of Christ, to whom alone he has given the keys—in dicating the sole prerogative —to execute his lajpa. But alas! we also know thas*Ui«HW sre many so called church®b claiming to be that one true church; and of course, claim io perform official gospel work, Yet, however all this may be according to the letter of the gospel as to mode, manner, name, cermony &c«, we must know it is all spurious—counterfeit, as authorized by a counterfeit church. The fearful nature of this assumption and usurpation of the sacred, blood-bought right of Jes us to build and establish his church on earth, is hid by a long familiarity with, and congeniality for these so-called churches by the world. Just think what patriotic in dignation and protestations would follow such a civil usurpation. But who cares, or even thinks of this dishonoring infringement up on the dear-bought rights of Jesus and his kingdom, whose divine laws forbid litigation. Right now let me pause and ask you who love Jesus, would you have him, as one with his church, recognize this usurpation of his divine right, by receiving us valid, the official work of such so-called churches? Had you b,een baptized by one of these, and had become dissatisfied as convinced it was not goapel baptism, and as craving a home in the true church, could you ask her to thus bid God’s speed to this usurpation against the Kingdom of heaven, and com promise her position and princi ples by asking her to receive your counterfeit baptism? Surely not. Would you’not rather, as repudi ating this and these and as owning and honoring Jesus and his church as the sole source and authority to administer, demand baptism at herffiands? Beside, on your own account, vould you not demamd baptism of the true church, as now so plainly seeing that to be such, it must be administered by an officer —-Elder —vested with authority—ordained —by the one church of Jesus Christ to whom alone, I repeat, Jesus gave the untransferable keys of the kingdom whereby she alone may loose you-, or any, by gospeb baptism to the blessed immunities of this kingdom? Now to return to the idea sug gested by Pendleton; from which I reasoned thus,—suppose I had been married, or the ceremony had been performed, by a J. P., yet who in truth was not one, as by mistaker, or otherwise. Yet the ceremony and every form be ing according to the letter of the law, and I verily believihg he was legally authorized to perform the ceremony, receive the answer of a good conscience toward the law, and go and live with my supposed husband and the good conscience continues, But after a time lam convinced that this man that per formed the marriage ceremony, was not vested with the proper authority to afficiate thus; and from this one thing lacking,—the supposed marriage is null and void. Will I now say “because I re eived the answer of a good ccon science, my marriage was legal— I cannot give it up?” Or “because the mode, ceremony and all things in connection were according to the letter of the law, therefore the marriage is legal, and must stand?” Or shall I say “I cannot have the ceremony performed by a legally authorized offices, because it will be marrying again—twice—or I will be RE-MARRIED?” No, DO, AO, to all. For it would -not be re marriage, but a marriage for the first time. Well, knowing this to be true, will I do violence to my conscience—to morality, and to the laws of my State, by refusing to have the marriage ceremony le gally performed? No, I would never rest till legally married. Then, convinced that my bap tism was not gospel baptism, shall I do violence to my fatyh and dis honor to the laws of my Savior by refusing to be baptized according to his law? Surely not: nnr will it be re-baptism, but gospel bap tism, and for the first time. I I wish I had ipace to dwell on the 'faff that, to refuse to repaid illegal baptism is to the rights and laws of Christ; as to refuse to repair an illegal marriage is to the rights and laws of the State. Under the pressure refered to, I had searched the scriptures to base the Missionary system of works, etc, on a command of Jes us, and more than failed; for I not only found I could not do this, but that her claims to be the true church were without script ural warrant, and that these very works condemned, were her foun dation sills, as that but for these she never would have separated from the Primitive Baptist; hence these as her distinct features, were her cause and foundation for a separate—so-called-church; which remove, and she was baseless; — retain, and she stood' a modern monument to the invention of men ; —as it were, the over-grown child of discord and division, born about the time I was. That her claim was false, was a grief to me; but, as said, I was not my own to do my will, but the will of my Master who became such to be my Savior. And whose voice ever and anon was sounding in my heart, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Did I love him? Obedience is the proof, I saw clearly that if any baptism aside from the true, would answer, that of those twelve at Ephesus, (Acts, 19) so lately altogether, and now so nearly, right, would have been received: yet which as done in the name of John, instead of Jesus, made it necessary for them to be baptized again, in a •literal sense, yet as for the first time according to the gospel. But the Primitive Baptist! Just think how the world regards them! “You have made one mistake through ignorance, be careful about the next step,” said pride. You who are wanting to take this step, yet are wanting to make a more thorough search oi God’s will and word, I want you to know and receive the benefit—that after a long time of search and re-search, well watered by •my • tears, and nursed by my groanings and pray- ers, often, the while, tossed on un certain seas, beaten by the billows of dire perplexity—sometimes verging on infidelity—-as blown from the' clefts in the mysterious rock of God’s predestination, which I dared encounter in the presutaptious hope of understand ing, the better to determine God’s will, find my duty before taking that step.; and that thus I labour ed, tin instead of emptying the mysteries of God in the lap of hu man reason, I was myself—as it were-r-emptied from vessel to ves sel till so weak and awed I reeled and staggered as a drunken man. Then ceased—became still, —to know that to do the simplest act required, is better than all knowl edge;-—that the Spirit of Jesus, and not learned re-search, leads to truth, and prompt to duty; and that to fellow this guide in sim ple implicit trust, not knowing whitljer, is the most exalted work a mortal can do; in short, that to fear God, and keep his command ments, is the whole duty of man. Also that Primitive Baptist — however like Israel of old, she may have spots—by all externa] and internal evidences is the one true church of Christ; and as the Bride, is the counterpart of her Husband, in that, as he was, so is she m this world, —an uncomely root out of dry ground not to be’ desired by the world. And hence, for one to esteem the reproach of being identified with her, greater than the treasures of the world, prov/s a like faith with Abraham, and fellowship with the Father and with his Son, that ensures the gospel right to be so identified. Thus learning and unlearning, faltering and longing, I stood where I believe many stand to-day, with but that one step between them and the church —that one step between them and the un speakable reward found in taking ic;—that seep that leaves the dark, dangerous, barren, shelterless, where are dogs and and wild boasts of prey, and no refuge, and that enters them into the kingdom of heaven —the secret palace of Jesus and his obedient saints, to find the joys of his presence and direct hand of his protection. “If ye love me keep my commandments,” and enter in, and go out no more. I took that step, and found love joy and peace in the Holy Ghost, and a “quiet habitation” all the more sweet and blessed from my long weary wanderings in the wilder ness of confusion. You to whom Jesus is precious, go and do like wise. R. Anna Phillips. • “CIRCULAR LETTER/ 1 HV ritten by Elder (J. A. Parker of the Harmony Baptist Associa tion In the Year 1842.» Dearly Beloved In The Lord : The time having again arrived, when it becomes our duty to ad dress you in the form of a Circu lar, and as a foundation, we refer you to the first Corrinthians, 9th chapter and Ist clause of 13th verse. Do you not know that they which minister about Holy things live of the things ot the Temple; they that minister about Holy things in the Temple services un der the former dispensation, where the priests of the most high God, called of him to serve in Holy things exclusively, and the Lord ordained by a statute forever, that they should live of the things of the Temple and as partakers with the altar designated their portion, in the sacrifices there off ered, Numbers 18 chapter • And from the consideration that the Apostle predicated an argument in favor of the support of the gos pel ministry, upon the above stat ue we are at no loss in coming to the conclusion that it is equally right that ministers of the gospel should also live of the things of the Temple; and of this temple we will speak more particularly. That the temple at Jerusalem,, in 'all its magnificence and glory,l beautifully, yet plainly typified and ; shadowed forth the gospel church, spiritual temple, we think none will deny. It may not be amiss however, to offer some, quo tations ot scripture in support: of this idea. ' “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Ist Cor. 3rd and 16th. “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost,” 16 and 10. “Ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath said. I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.” Second Cor. 6, and 16. “Therefore are they before the throne ot God, and serve him day and night in his temple;. and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them,” Rev. 7 and 15. Having as we think, proven the church to be God’s only temple now on eaith, it remains for us to show, that they who minister in the church or temple, and to do this we will adopt the language of inspiration. When Jesus sent out his disciples first, while as yet their ministry was confined to the land of Israel, he charged themffO take neither scrip nor purse, nor two coats, etc. The laborers is worthy of his hire, Luke 10, and 7, and the workman worthy ot his meat, Mark x and 10. When they returned, being in terrogated by the Master on . the subject, they answered they lacked nothing. But now, said the Mis ter, he that hath a purse let him take it —which readily implies that something is necessary for the support of the ministry, and. that it is the duty of the church es to administer to their necessi ties. We will more fully show by the following quotations of scripture. “Who goeth a warfare at his own charges.” Here notice the Expense of all wars, of which we have any knowledge, is defrayed by the government, for whose defence <he soldier’s life is in jeopardy and all at homp neglected; and to de fray this expense all the citizens of that government ot kingdom are required to assist. But we will proceed with the Apostle :. ./‘ Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof, or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Say I these things as a man or saith not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shall not muzzle r the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care of oxen? or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt this is written, that he that plow eth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partakers of his hope—-it we have sown unto youI’spiritual 1 ’spiritual things is it a great thing' if we shall reap of your carnal things? Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the thingj of the temple, and that they which wait at the altar are partakers with the al tai? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. First Cor. 9th chapter. Dear brethren we might swell spree in multiplying- quotations to prove that they which minister about holy things should live of the things of the temple—but we forbear—We have brought forward one risen from the dead the only King and Law-giver in Zion, together with the testimony of his faithful witness, if you will hear them. It only remains for you to show your faith by your works, that your minister may live of_the things of the temple; that they may be Jess encumbered with serv ing at home, that they meditate upon holy things, and give them selves wholly to them, that their profiting may appear to all. They are required to be apt to teach. If they would do this tfyey must first know how to hence the ne cessity of their giving themselves to much reading, to exortation and doctrine; rememember that we are professors of unshaken faith in the rordained purpose of God and the, certainity of their final accom- plishment; but do we remember that the Lord has as fully ordain ed and as clearly revealed that they which preach the gospel as he ever did, that Jeremiah should be a prophet unto the nations as-- do wq rdmember when we fail to hold up the bands of our minis-, ters according; to the means with > which God has blessed us, we act in violation of God’s sacred decree, and come short of the blessing promised. James Ist chapter and 25th verse,< “But who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, fie being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed. We should not be afraid of being burdened in these things. We should recollect that if there be first a willing mind, it is ac cording to that a. man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Every man according as he pur posed in his own heart, so let him give, for God loveth a cheerful giver, and he that givethis to do it with simplicity. Indeed, "deaf ’ brethren, we should beicareful to practice all the principles we pro fess, and as we claim the word of . God as the only rule of religious action, we should search it min utely, .and doing this you will dis- , cover, that we are all to abide in,- our calling and do the work as signed us. ■ Dear brethren, we should rem member tt at ministers are hot called to minister in holy things, so much for their benefit as for the benefit of others, and especial- ; ly that of the church. They arppet in the church for the perfecting of the saints, for ,the work pf the . ministry, for the edifying of the " body of •Christ."' They are sent « to minister to them who shall be heirs of salvation, and have to.en-r.- dure all things for the'elect’s sake, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory, and it is a gr'eat* thing that tfyqy should liye of the . temple... The scriptures„ include all that minister about holy things" whether prophets, apostles, evange-- '■ ■ ' ■■' ■ :tv I lists, pastors or teachers; those who have discharged their’ sadred duty well are entitled to, so far as this duty is concerned, the blessed plaudit, „well done thou good and faithful servant, as thou hast been faithful in a few things, I will make you ruler over many things, i enter thou into the joy of the ' Loyd/’ “Inasmuch as ye did it unto one the least of these my brethren ye did it unto me.” Here we should recollect that as we have treated our ministers we have treated Our Savior. Eyen the gift of a cut) of ' .A11... ■■ J cojd ./water, they shall in. no case lose their reward Finally, when we faithful unto death, there is a crown of life promised, afid that welcome invitation will be heard';." 1 come ye blessed of my Father, in herit the kingdom prepared for, yotffrom the foundation of the. world,’’ there in the presence bf God is the fullness of joy and at I thy right hand there are pleasures forever more, there we shall have no need of the light of.the sun to., illumine our eternal day, the Lord shall’be our everlasting light and* f our glory, —Amen. Stephen Parker, Moderator, James P. Ellis, Clerk. The Lord’s Work. How many realize as Hannah, did, that the Lord weighs our' ac-. tions? —that they that stumble Are girded with strength—that ' the Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich; he bringeth low, and lifteth up, and that by strength shall no man,, prevail. Therefore says “Talk no man so exceeding proud ly : let not arrogancy come out of, your mouth.”—P.