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. ‘ \:’ ‘- ‘ = “* ‘ “ ‘ .... VOL. X. [p©^^ WHAT IS THE BIBLE? J TiB a fountain ever bursting, Whence the weary may obtain* Water/for tiie'soul that’s thirsting, And shall never thirst again. ‘Tis a lamp forever burning, By whose never-dying light, Sinners from their errors turning, Are directed through the right. ’Tis a mine of richest treasure, Laden with the purest ore, And its contents without measure, You can never well explore. ’Tis a chart that never fails you,. Which God to man has given, And though rudest storms assail you, Will guide you safe to heaven. ’Tis a tree whose fruits unfailing, Cheer and stay.the fainting soul, ; And whose leaves the nation healing, - Scatter joy from pole to pole. ’Tis a pearl of price exceeding . . Everv gem in ocean found: To its precepts ever listening, la its truth may I be found. g| (Lommumcations. Oglktuokfe Cos.. Ga.,.March 28, 1860. Dear Brethren Editors Being so extreme ly glad to read the communications of the many brethren and sisters writing for the Messenger; I conclude that likely they would be pleased to read from me occasionally. J'wo or three reasons how ever m ike me backward to write tor the public* One is, a sense of my incompetency, having but a limited education* and a more limited knowledge ia the mysteries contained in the Scriptures of di vine revelation. Another reason is, I fear that when I have used words or phrases the best I'can, to express such views as 1 have of God, and the truth of his word, that some scrutinizing brother •r sister may take exceptions, not so much, .be •ause the words or sentiments are contrary to truth, but because the identical woi'ds in their immediate connection, are not in the Scriptures. Ido believe it best to use, as near as possible, the language of the Scriptures, but if some other words are used to convey truth, entirely consistent with the doc trine of divine revelation, it strikes me that breth ren should not strive about words to no profit, ktrf to the subverting of the hearers.” 2 Tim. ii* Devoted to the service of the old school baptists. “OHS SOSO, OHS AHO OSS SASSSSaS.” COVINGTON, NEWTON CO, GA., APRIL l, 1860. 14; smile coupler 24, 25, and 26th ‘ei>es, read as fb’lows, “ And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, pa tient. In meekness,.instructing those that oppose themselves if God, peiadventure will give them re pentance to the acknowledging of the truth. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the uevd, who are taken captive by him at hi* will. The servant of the Lord is restricted and not at liberty to preach any thing that comes in contact with the doctrine of the gospel, to please tiie reasonings of his own carnal nature, nor that of his hearers, for if he yet please men, he. is no longer the serv-mt of Christ, hut becomes a trans gressor. The doctrine of the cross of Christ, is always contrary to the reasonings ot depraved hu man nature, which the saints as well as all unrfc generate men Have; therefore I conclude it tenot impossible for the saints under the influence ot the flesh to - let human nature exercise its judgment in opposition to the doctrine of tha cross, when the truth iv, if human nature with alius reasonings and glorying, is not ciunified and brought to si lence by the doctrine advanced, it cannot be the doctrine of the cross, which always exalts God, and crowns him Lord of all, and debases poor mor tal worms in the dust. With this the saints are alwavs pleased .niter the .rew tma created ’lftev God in true righteousness and holiness ; while the old man, created and born after the flesh, is forever Complaining against it,if speaking at a!!. To this last nature, belongs strife, and every evil propensi ty. Therefore every saint or servant of life Laid should be careful not to strive against his God, or the doctrine of* the cross;'for ibthey do, it proves that they are ensnared by the devil,and taken cap tive bv him at his will. And particularly ministers of the gospel, the servants- ofuhe Lotd, and/of . his church, should take cure that they, under the influence of the flesh, do not strive against their Lord, the doctrine of the cross, and against the besfinterest ofuhe church ; but beep under their bodies*, a rid-be gentle unto all, not harsh and rig; orous, as lords over God’s heritage, but as servants of his church, gentle even to such as cannot, fir want of age and experience, use strong- meat, but use milk rather. By meat 1 mean deep and mys terious points in* the* doctrine,, while by* milk I mean the points of*doctrine partaruing: to Chris tian experience, the precious promises of the gos pel, and their application to poor, weak, doubting trembling saints during.their first exercises. If the se'Vantof the Lord strives-io make all eat strong meat alike, some might be- contused and distrac ted in mind, not being able to digesj. it, while oth ers could truly suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock:* The servant of the Lord, apt to teach both those who are of full agf, and those who are not so much experienced, must necessarily, expect that all w ill not bejsO well pleas ed with iitl services at all times. How important that he should have patience, and not hastily 8-trivo for conformity on every point of doctrine, but if some even oppose the doctrine of the cross in soma of its deep points, and by so doing oppose them selves atid their own spiiitual interest, instruct them in meekness, with the confident hope that God will give them repentance, (or turning- from their opposition to the truth) to the acknowledg ing of the truth. There is a great difference in opposing the truth for want of age and experience, and opposing it from fleshly natural reasonings,de siring something more popular and congenial with human nature. Those in this situation, if they have sufficient age and experience, should be pray ed for, and patently borne with, and instructed the servant of the lie id,* that they’ iwa-y deliver themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. lam aware that some think this text alludes to sinners dead in trespasses and sins; but L think no’, became sin is- the element of natural men and women, and darkness the place of ilieir choice, while if oue • vvh has l delivered jVom lots power pf dmk :•! ness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, through the woikirigs of the fl. j sh and lb* devil, becomes so ensnared as to deny any, or all of the points contaifted in the doctrine of ilie cross, or turn to dissipation or to walking disordeilv, such a one is uuly a captive, or taken by the devil* at'his will ; and the evidence that they are a cap tive*, is-t Hat all enjoyment is gone fiom them, they* realize the buff-tings ot satan, no enjoynieul with the wicked, and none with the saints. Such need to be delivered from the snare of the devil,* ami repentance, or turning again to the place of their spiritual enjoyment, and the acknowledging of the truth, or they may be delivered to satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may b saved’in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, if the seivant of'the Lord gets to striving from selfish or fleshly motives, he cannot please himself nor hi* brethren, and he has no forbearance towards such* as d.ffer with him in sentiment, not easy to be en treated, self-willed, not backward to find fault with,, and denounce others, and well -pleased with erery* thing that seems to give him praise, while if he or** his sentiments are spoken against, the flesh with its strivings may be discovered.* Now if Timothy* and God’s servants all, while* in* the flesh, were not’ subject to these selfish evil strivings, why say to them, “ and the servant of th* Lord must not . NO. 7