Newspaper Page Text
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Newton County, Gsl, Jan. 1, 1860.
Brethren Editors —As this is the day we style
New Tear, there are a great many things that will
claim our serious and candid reflection. We have
th rough .great mercy, been permitted to see the i>e
ginfiiog of another year, while hundreds and thou ,
sands of rational and intellectual human beings
Lave gone to that bourne from whence no traveler i
hath ever yet returned. One question necessarily !
arises in our miud, is there not a supreme being
that rules and controls the destinies of men ? how
could time roll on apace without this Supreme
Governor cf the universe? can mere man of earth
do this great work ? We answer no. The Leop
ard can as easily change his spots, or the E'hiopian
this skin, as for man, a mere worm of earth, to con
trol time, but to the reverse, man and every living
creature that creepetb upon the face of theeartb, are
dependent upon the Great Personage, the God of
heaven and earth; with whom nothing new or old
ever takes place. lie hath declared the end from
the beginning, and he will do all his pleasure, des
pite all the efforts of wicked men. Notwithstand
ing all the wicked imaginations of men, God moves
on undisturbed, the Language of the Poet is applic
able—
'God moves iu a mysterious way,
llis wonders to perform ;
He plants bis footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Then considering bis wisdom, power and perfect
knowledge, why should a living man complain ?
We,d fear, are too olten disposed to want things
cur own way, and if we cannot have them pretty
much ®o, *vc wi]J murtuuf und eoxijplain, while at
the earae time, we are showing the imperfections of
the flesh, and onr w icked, corrupt and fallen na
lure rwill be sure to show itself in our everyday
walk and conduct Had we not ought to be very
humble and submissive to the ways of Providence!
vve are so sure to think our case is a great deal
worse than other people’s are, when at the same
time, they might have been worse; so we see again
the corrupt nature that we are possessed of, and
the reason that I assign is, that we are in posses
•eion of the coriupt nature of our Old Father Adam,
lit lias been handed down from Lira from generation
to generation, and will be, as long as time shall
last. There is no 6uch thing as children being
born holy, as some seem tenacious to contend, such
an idea is blaspbemay. And the only reason that
II can assign is, that those that seem to hold out
that idea are not killed to the love of sins, and
have never seen their awful condition as it really
. How could such a thing as that take place and
the Holy One above be free bom having his word
made false, when he said I am God, and I change
not, therefore, ye sons of Jaeob are not consumed,
m something to that amount; there could be, if that
doctrine be true, no Savior who could save such a
one, from the fact, that it is born holy; we are not
one that believe in such false doctrine, we say it is
built upon a sandy foundation and will not stand
the test of Jehovah. Christ says, I came not to
mil the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Do
-SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSBEGEI
you suppose that any person ilisa wae horn bok-.
could repent as a sinner? Sack an ioeaas find
when applied to graceless men and women, ys inwt
in the abstract. But we hope we awe eff ihsc num
ber who believe we are bora in -sin, and slurps®
iniquity, and if God does not have mercy, and
show us bow vile and rebellions we are from-siui
a state and condition, and without him weenx or
nothing in point of salvation, or oiherwHa, aaftael*
undertakes for ns, we will be consumed surt^ —
Then we should feel under ten iboesand
obligations to bless, thank and adore lam, for a®
glory, honor, power, wisdom, in fact every iking
that pertains to him should he reverenced, werdu
without end. Amen. Now anollrer reflection nisses..
some of us have jast witnessed id® -iff iite
past year, while many busi.rands and wives, wrens
and children have had to part, ike smb hew string,
but the summons has come, they must id*y.unci
the question arises, why was it not I* The an
swer is at hand. Even so Patliera, for so it sssro
eth good in liis sight. 1 know llact it Is nut hr
any thing good that 3 have dcom,can tfU,rMr
will do, but I think that it is all through 3jsgrfiic
mercy. God is not under any obigatnin is any
person. Then if it is tbe pleasure of Uod ikic I
shall see the last day of thfe New Tear all ifee
glory I want to give him. 3 hope 3 may 3*e kept
humble by his mighty power through hath, nead*
to be revealed at the last time; enmeliie flriieaiu.
principalities or power, flight or chalk, on- any x*tb
er creature, I want to be found at the last day—ikt
great day of the feast—with a robe sis l igkTemsnew
that will out shine the sun at noonday, nrmdtemc
with the redeemed oat cf every laud, kindred,
tongue and people, to vwori&e U jwnfrif wntl
tion now and forever more, is the tksrre offeme
the least of tbe flock. If one ai all, * -mere
S&JGTidKm.
Flint Hill, Gjeo., Dec. 22, 2SSS.
Messrs. Beeue axl Hoaxero*—Below I send
you an extract from a letter lately received inn® an
able and aged Baptist minister cf England, webusk
I take the responsibility to publkL, if you liriukaff
interest, if not throw it under the table.
Yarn* Imly,
nuk.
3 do not understand the -shades off diflkrenst
among the Baptist brethren in your land. Saab
things are permitted by out Great Head, m n.n3y
for some wise end which we shall know
I am connected with the Piiasitwe Baraks- L tr
land. We are but few iu number, coanijared waiL
tbe body.
We hold what ate called CUdviwariewjsßS. state
communion, and require change cf heHJt, *
pre-requisites for baptism. Tuegrea: hour n
tists with us, are great men, of grail tohhir greUt
salaries, and unite with the great. We xm at Hand
ful, and are constantly in wut far the troth aadoxF
der of the Master’s house. 3 haw® zikt armoir
on for more than forty years, and do amt see ™
prospect of polling off ll*e coat of anil.
* a * * * * *
TMxtxm muhenar war wader the son. The gen
era’ Ssaßjr l**pasts are gjarng the same round of
ihsroy m*r®sa£iffigs as resulted from the school of
box to Gospel simpbet
fly. TH!ie educating system was tried by Rome and
Grecom churches. Ail the reformed establish -
mams- Hava- tried the same classic system, and all
lam- Seen: left; fly God tu reap barrenness. We are
rrnrt^tfle*same path,, and all will end in a settled
r
ifeFsmrfaKfigiau. Pie men of car denomination
made grek: by a popular voice, and if they
wrfl te great*, they must please worldly men ; and
as -mei u€die work! cannot be brought to the Gos
geh why the standard must be lowered to
iflawi. These- self seefery. money-banters, clap-trap
ffkd A min ran rsm the minced meat of
lannaL men t base adopted the doctrines to prevent
sasse&y reserving them as narrow-minded, tight-
maaw shod men. Yatr keep in the Mas-
naraiwr way. Let this,, says the Lord, regu
a£® was® in ah things Be bible Christians.—
Itsra- &t- She swgdb*. Act ant your principles.—
Ife as the the he goat and gtey honnd, that
nsssr turn oat of die way.
* •
I*teßr hfletkreiy we shall meet on yon shore to
3*21 rs lii®- and redemption, and how your poor
was saved by sovereign and distin
giisuinggnaefc.and then all praise shall be given
3i Jiisus bjr yours in the Lord.
Lk xesutos, Dee. fB, ISo 9.
jfkaxEEiKHs Bsshh <jc PtimiNffrQs—As the past
wwlas(dosed and we are about entering a
uw wfiuy. sandy we are under the greatest obliga
iuos- 32- toe Gad of aar salvaLioa r not only for the
rndL c£ his unchanging mercy and grace,
mvmgiour Lurd Jesus Christ, but for all the
uamnoiai he has candnixed to bestow up
mm. Si ® his gaud pleasure, according to His
iffit±Wr Nineteaith Century, that we should
mangy saad upon this globe;, in this world
df went and misery, in these United States, where
*£&£ has hithegto- mads known his power and
a very miraculous manner, iu our de
.&B3BW Dtunt tyrannical oppreaKon, and in our pro
oirmiix as m. hand e€ bretloen, politically; all
i-maily eaudedtn reCgrous to worship
jciiunffisgfitt the dielates- of our own conscience,
whnit mt- oe has had a right, even if he had the
interfere with, the religious devodons
ass anutflet. Lx the fml enjoyment of these sacred
irvht-ges. the ggnstitutian and laws, of our highly
&am£ protect every individual so com
i.eHEay that there is no manner of use for any of
■s an- agply 0® legisladve hodies to give us any
□sum rfergraus privileges than w already have ;
jgik surety none hapej. or will apply te the secular
am of the law to git mare religious liberties and
pmmcsiiH*- hut those who wish ta proscribe, and
gs:, m, ‘jtgal advantage of their fella ws, and that, too,
5b the name, and under the cloak of religion, and
■domeemsse eseduave religious liberties have bee#
graced hy l^Tifative to churches, or othar
imitate*! wfigraus bodies, it has invariably result
e£ 5b their exaltation, nr prids and worldly aggran-