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might experience for the name of Christ, they were
to be happy and rejoice in it, for the Spirit of glory,
and of God rested upon them. By this we learn the
blessedness attending those who faithfully and bold
ly contend for the faith nce delivered to the saints,
and whose life, conduct, and conversation correspond
with their profession. The reproach heaped upon
the followers of Jesus for righteousness’ sake, is a
part of the legacy they must have in this world, and
is an evidence in their favor. And when they do
well, and suffer for it, and they take it patiently, this
is acceptable with God. Even servants are directed
to be subject to their masters with all fear, not only
to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For
this is thank-worthy, if a man tor conscience to
ward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. There
fore to be reproached, and to suffer wrong for Christ’s
sake in obedience to the laws of civil Government,
and also to the laws of Zion’s King, is a source of joy
and rejoicing to the saints. While the enemies of
God and truth will speak evil of the saints, vilify, and
misrepresent their doctrine and faith, it is virtually
speaking evil of Christ, for what is spoken against
the followers of Christ in doctrine and practice, is
spoken against Christ. In this way the name of
Christ is spoken evil of, and blasphemed in our day.
But the part borne by the saints in all meekness, hu
mility, and lowliness of mind,when suffering reproach
for Christ’s sake, glorifies God, and honors the name
of their Lord and Master. They are not to render
evil for evil, or railing for railing; but contrariwise
blessing: knowing that the saints are called to in
herit a blessing. The saints in our day should re
member to keep their tongue from evil, and their
lips from speaking guile. Also to shun evil, and do
good, to seek peace and follow it. For the eyes of
the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open
to their prayers ; but the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil. Happy and blessed, therefore, is
the people that have sanctified the Lord God in their
hearts : and are always ready to give an answer to
every man that asketh them a reason of the hope
that is in them, with meekness and fear ; having a
good conscience; that, whereas, they (the enemies)
speak evil of them (the saints) as of evil-doers, they
may be ashamed that falsely accuse their good con
versation in Christ. Thousands have suffered mar
tyrdom for Christ’s sake while in obedience to civil
government, and the laws of Zion’s King. Their
pei’secutors were exercised by a murderous spirit like
the Jews who crucified the Lord Jesus, and persecu
ted the prophets and apostles even unto death. The
saints, while suffering martyrdom, have in numerous
instances, prayed and sung praises to God, thereby
exhibiting to their merciless enemies, their innocen
cy, and that the grace of God was sufficient for them
amidst all their sufferings and distress.
A mui’derer is one who, in possession of his reason
unlawfully kills a human being, with premeditated
malice ; but if a man suffer as a murderer, he receives
the just demerit of his crime, and is dealt with as he
should be. The vengeance of God upon the Jewish
nation as the murderers of the Lord Jesus, and as
rebels against the Roman Government, was in truth
and justice. A murderer is, in reality, a man-hater,
an enemy to God, and civil society.
A thief is one who takes unlawfully and feloaious
ly the property of another, either secretly, or by vio
lence. If he suffers for his crime there is no reward
in it. He only meets with what he deserves. lie
has no reason to complain.
An evil-doer is one who does evil, commits sin,
crime, or any wrong. When such a person is brought
SOUTHERN BAP TI ST MESSENGER.
to justice, and receives summary punishment, the
dignity of the law is unstained, and good order es
tablished and maintained.
A busy-body is a meddling person : one who offi
ciously concerns himself with the affairs of others-
Such a one is a pest in society, and never hears any
good of himself, from the fact that he never does any
good for any person to speak of.
Either, or all of these, are condemned by the apos
tle in a clear and expressive manner. For a person
to be a follower of the meek and lowly Jesus, and
yet be guilty of all, or any of the above-mentioned
crimes, is a monstrous incongruity . The instigators
f treason, insurrection, and murder, may call a man
of such principle when brought to justice, a martyr,
but the laws of God and man, in accordance with the
Scriptures of truth, condemn him as a murderer, a
thief, an evil-doer, a busy-body in other men’s mat
ters.
If any man suffer as a Christian, or follower of
Christ, let him not be ashamed ; but let him glorify
God on this behalf. To love mercy, do justly, and
walk humbly before God, comprehends the life, and
walk of a Christian.
P.
The Year 1860-
The revolving wheels of time, according to
chronological records, has ushered in the five thou
sand eight hundred and sixty-fourth vea of time
since the creation of the world, and eighteen hun
dred and sixty years since the birth of the Redeem
er of sinners. During that period of time what
momentous scenes have transpired, the rise and
down fall of nations and kingdoms of the earth,
which now sleep in the dust. Prior to the advent
of the dear Redeemer, the nations of the eai th were
engulphed in heathenish darkness, and had been
so for centuries. The antediluvian world [wished,
the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Ad mail and Ze
boim were destroyed, the powerful Assyrian, Mcdo
-1 eisian, and Macedonian empires, alternately, rose
and fell, until the Roman Empire had arrived at
the zenith of its strength and power in the reign of
Augustus Caesar. \et during the long night of
darkness which prevailed for thousands of years
over the Gentile nations, there were some of the
antediluvian patriarchs who knew the living and
true God, and had the faith of God’s elect, and
loved, seived, and obeyed Him. Some of the post
diluvian patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and
others by faith had a view of the Promised Mes
siah, and trusted in Israel’s God before the intro
duction of the Mosaical dispensation. During the
length of time that this dispensation existed until
the coming of Christ, holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost, which proves,
incontrovertibly, that the light of revelation shone
into surrounding darkness. At last on that event
ful night wh;n shepherds watched their flocks, an
angel from the heavenly world bore the glad ti
dings to the shepherds of the birth of the Lord Je
sus. From that period commences the dale of the
Christian era, the beginning of the introduction of
the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ among all na
, tions. The gospel wixs/irst preached to the Jews
so far as it relates to its proclamation by the apos
, ties, then among the Gentiles. Since the setting
lup and establishment of the gospel church and
kingdom unto the uttermost parts of the earth, God
has been calling his sons from afar, and his daughl
- from the ends of the earth. Thousands, yea
millions, of the fallen race of Adam have been call
ed to sing matchless, surprising grace, and the
eternal purpose of God is rolling on to the accom
plishment of the final deliverance of all of the
elect of God from sin, death, hell and the grave.—
The church of God has lived through all the per
secutions of Pagan, Papal and Protestant anli
christian domination, and will live forever, for the
mouth of the Lord has spoken it.
The year 1859 is now numbered with the past,
and 1860 has commenced ilscourse, and thousands
who now see i!s beginning will never see the end,
but will before twelve months roll around, be num
bered with the dead. How solemn the thought!
How fearful the tragedy of human life ! One o-en
eralion after another passes on and off the stac-e
<>t action. The sun that shines on us. and encircles
our path, shone on the countless millions who have
returned to dust. A few days, months, and years
at most, we, and all the present generation will he
gone, and while our bodies crumble back to earth,
our spirits will try the realities of the worid which
is now unknown to us.
The commencement of this year presents to out
view some alarming indications relative to the
peace and quietness of our country. Fanaticism
has, evidently, run mad, and the elements of strife,
insurrection, treason and murder have foamed forth
with maddening fury. We, however, hope and pr*y
that the God of heaven will interpose in the be
half of our beloved country, that j istice may be
done, and that the Union of the States may be
presei ved in truth and equity, and that the saints
of God may yet continue to live a quiet and pea
ceable life in this present world.
We rejoice to have the privilege of saying, not
withstanding the present unfavorable appearances
in a national point of view, that the Primitive or
O. S. Baptists North and South, East and West
are one people, and that WITH THEM there is no
North, South, East and West-in the things of the
kingdom of our God. They can associate together,
sing, pray, preach and commune without any dis
cord or lack of harmony between themselves.?—-
They do not, nor never have joined with fanatics,
murderers and treasonable persons, against the
quietude and well being of our common countrv.
They Tlesire its peace and prosperity.
We still feel encouraged to continue the publica
tion of our paper, and therefore have issued the
first number of the tenth volume. It is for our
readers to say whether we shall be sustained in its
publication. We hope to be able to make the pa
per profitable and instructive to the lovers of truiK
If we fail to do so, it will not arise from a lack of
desire to subserve the cause of truth. The majori
ty of our subscribers are in the Southern States,
therefore the chief source of encouragement ia the
continuation of our paper is from the South. We
expect our agents and the brethren and friends in
general, will do the best they can to increase our
circulation. We anticipate, therefore, that our sub*
scription will be greater this year than it has been
any preceding year.