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<1 izement, and increased their disposition for more exclusive privileges; ali of which goto show plainly that &ch aspirants with their pretended religion, are of this world, and not of our Lord Jesus Christ, for He Las said, 44 My king lorn is not of this world —if tny kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence,” John xviii. 36. Again, lie has taught his followers that they should call no man n earth their father, 44 for one is your Father, even God, and all ye are brethren.” lie has also charg ed them that they should not call any on earth Ih -rr benefactors, seeing they have one Father, even God, and one Master, even Jesus Christ. It is worthy of notice that the Church of Jesus Christ, in her simple organization, have never, since the organization thereof, been known to seek from any law making powers, any religious liberties whatever; but have been satisfied that their God reigns, to protect and defend them, with heaven and earth at His command, and holding the keys of death and of hell; and surely nothing but a lack of confi lence in God and the truth of IJis word could influence professed religious bodies to apply to the puny arm of the laws made by men for more exclusive religious liberties than we al ready have in this highly favored country, viz laws to protect every man in the right to worship according to the dictates of his own conscience.— Being satisfied with these excellent liberties, we Old School Baptists ask no more; but really feel to rejoice that we can heartily believe and public ly proclaim tbe precious truths of our God, a3 re corded in His holy word, which we consider a full and finished rule, both of faith and practice, for all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. While we have been constantly contending for the doctrine and ordinances of the gospel, as once delivered unto the saints, we have had to come in contact with all other denominations, and even with many claiming the name of Baptists, and oc casionally some claiming tbe name of Old School Baptists have been found to call in question some deep and important points of doctrine, not so much because they considered that deep points were false, but rather because they were too deep and mysterious to be easily and readily coinpre bended. I refer to the predestination of ali things, and the actual eternal vital or life union of Christ and his Church. Though there has been some dis cussion and inquiry among the brethren on these points, it is a pleasing reflection that a spirit of brotherly forbearance has been manifested, while those who can heartily receive the dootiine on these points, have shown no disposition to exercise dominion over the faith of their brethren who could not so readily receive the doctrine; the lat ter class seem to manifest do disposition to take dominion over the faith of the former. Ibis is no thing new in the church of God, for in every age there have been some points of the doctrine of the gospel in discussion among the saints, but with proper forbearance they have continued to live to gether in brotherly love, though occasionally some SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER; have become so self-important that they would bear with none but such as conformed to their notions—and away they have gone, and but sel dom have gone out alone, but have taken off all they could get to conform to, and follow them.— The time to discuss doctrinal points has been mostly in times of coldness and declension, and not while tbe church have been enjoying revivals, for liven all are teachable and childlike. 0 ! that such a state of feelings could be once more real ized by all the dear children of God. The doc trine cf the gospel, is the doctrine of the Cross, and the more contrary to all natural human calcu lations, the nearer right the doctrine is—while any system of doctrine that appears right, and easy to be understood by our natural reasoning powers, is wrong J because in such a system of doctrine the offense of the cross would cease. With anxious desires for the peace of Zion, dear brethren, I hope and pray that God may keep us from the many hurtful snares that lie in the way,to entangle our feet, and destroy our peace and use fulness) one to another, but may each esteem others better th&n himself, and all be found striving to gether to keep the unity of the Spirit (not the flesh) in the bonds of peace. Wishing prosperity to the Messenger , as a channel of free correspond ence, and of friendly religious discussion, on all points connected with the gospel of our Lord Je sus Christ, I close for the present, confessing that if lam a saint at all, lam less than the least of all, —the chief of sinners—yet faintly hoping for final deliverance from this present evil world, ac cording to the will of God and our Fath-er, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory, now, and forever.. Amen. Yours in love, D. W. PATMAN. Opelika, Ala., Dec. 2<, 185&. Brethren Beede & Purington: —Having to write for the accommodation of some brethren and friends who wish to renew their subscription to the Messenger , I will say that the church at Prov idence in Russell Cos., Ala., has for a short time past been enjoying a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. On the second Sunday in November, a very cold day, I baptized three, and on the second Sunday in December I baptized two more, others &re expected to join soon. Sev enteen years ago, l was received and baptived at the same church, but there is now but one member there, who was a member when I joined. Some have been expelled from the church fellowship, some have moved away, some have gone to their long and eternal home, but God has still gracious ly preserved the visibility of the church and it is very evident that there is now a work of God’s power and grace, going on in the vicinity of this little church. Sinners, poor lost and ruined sin ners, who have hitherto delighted in sin and folly, are by the mighty power of God, made to see aud feel and know their lost and ruined condition. — They are made to know the exceeding riches of God’s grace in bis kindness towards them through Christ Jesus, in setting their poor distressed souls j at liberty. They come to the church “confessing their sins,” and telling what great things the Lord has dons for them. They tell us they feel very poor and unworthy, but still they feel a desire to follow Jesus, to be burned with him in baptism, to keep bis commandments, and live in union and fellowship with God’s poor and afflicted people. — Ihey tell us they esteem the reproach of Christ-, greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt. Dear Brethren, I am much inclined to believe that there are some few who have an humble hope in Christ around nearly all the churches of my acquaintance, who still linger without, halting, fearing, and trembling. They need help, they need the godly counsel and advice of Christians. They desire to hear Christians talk of the dealings of God with them. They would themselves freely talk at times, if church members wouid only start the subject and mention it to them. But O how careless have we become! llow worldly minded, how full of vain and light conversation, that is more calculated to distress than to-comfort and in struct the little lender lambs of Christ. Let church membeis live lip to their duty and privi leges as Christians, speaking often one to another-, in love, meekness and kindness, each one standing in his place, bearing one another’s burdens, and so fulfilling the law of Christ, and then these little ones who are without, feel doubly anxious to meet with you, to talk with you, to live and die with you. But while church members are remiss, they can afford but little encouragement to others; I remain yours affectionately, W. M. MITCHELL. ‘/ EDITOEIAL WM. L. BEEBE, 1 J. L. PURINGTON, j *aitoTß covin REMARKS ON 1 PETER IY. 14, 15. “If je he reproached for the name of Christ, hap py are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you : on their part ho is evil spoken of: but on jour part he is glorified. But let none of you snf fer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a husy-hody in other men’s matters.” This epistle was addressed to the strangers scatter ed abroad in the primitive age of the church, and who are called the elect of God. Their professed standing as the followers of Christ subjected them to much persecution and suffering from a gain-saying world. Peter wrote to those brethren, who were, probably, most of them Jews according to thefleshjto comfort, and confirm them in the truth amid the fiery trials and temptations to which they were exposed, to direct them to he subject to the Governments un der which they lived; and to warn them to take no part in the insurrections then formed by the Jews against the Roman Government. They were not to •think strange of the fiery trial which was to try them as though some strange thing had happened to them, but they were to rejoice, inasmuch as they were par takers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory should he revealed, they might be glad with -exceed ing joy. Then follows our text in immediate con nection to show that amidst all the reproach they 5