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Schbol t)Ooks f ir a part of the machinery which is used to deceive and draw away the minds of many from the truth. Tradifibfi ah’d the writings of men are made more the standard of religious belief than the Scriptures of truth. The distinction of clergy and laity is observed to mark the superiority of the clerical fraternity, and the inferiority of the private members of the church. Modern missionism is estab lished without any Scripture proof, and hundreds of honest people, for aught we know, will contribute fchffir sabstance to its support, and think they are do ing that w r hieh Is acceptable to (Jod. Large monies are raised to expend for religious purposes, so called, mid to evangelise the world through the means of Bi ble, Tract and Mission Societies and Sunday School Unions. A large portion of the preaching of our day is on these subjects, and all those who will not eon tribute their substance to sustain such societies and men, are charged with robbing God by withholding their money from what they profanely call the Lord’s treasury. Sometimes they will use the text which tire have at the head of this article, and pervert its meaning to carry out their selfish purposes, and oc casionally trouble some of the dear saints with their pernicious application of the Scripture. Much more could be said in the w 7 ay of describing the hvpocrisy, and wickedness of the age in religious matters, but it is not a pleasant subject to dw ell upon. In our early experience we endured a great fight of afflic tions, surrounded as we were by the elements of scho lastic divinity, and aristocratical religious popularity with which New England abounds. Pride, fashion, ▼ain-show and popularity is the order of the day, and we speak of it, not to ridicule and to stigmatize any •lass of people, but with grief we express it. In the New Testament it is recorded that Christ is the Head of the ohoreh. the King that reigns in righteousness, and the twelve Apostles are the Prin ces that rule in judgment. Furthermore, Ohristand his Apostles are seated upon their thrones in the kingdom of God or gospel chtl?ch. All power in heaven- and earth is given unto Jesus, who called, qualified and sent forth his Apostles to perform the work assigned them. On the same principle yet he •alls whomsoever he will to preach his gogpel. He •alls sinners by his grace, and his church is composed es living members. He pours out of his Spirit and revives bis work when it is his pleasure. And it is the duty and privilege of his people to do w T hat be has commanded them. And the Scriptures are plain to show the way of duty as far as the Holy Spirit teaches. And as there is no record that Christ and his Apostles ever approved, sanctioned, or authoriz ed any other society in religious matters but the •hurch of Christ, the saints and inquirers after truth, need not heed what men and false teachers may •ay. To withhold anv part of the doctrine of the gOßpel which is revealed from heaven, simply becau.se fall en man squirms under it, and may call it unprofita ble to be preached, is robbery in the sense of our text. God is glorified in the faithful ministry of the word. To be governed by a covetous worldly mind ed spirit as the professed followers of Jesus, and neglect church privileges, and do as the world does, loan money at usury and take unlawful per cent for ’ the sake of gain, is another species of robbery. Lov ing the praise of men more than the praise of God, seeking for h nor, popularity and wealth, is an ac ttrsed thing among God’s people. Drukenness and debauchery, slandering,tattling and backbiting, is de grading not only to the world at large, but is espe ially so among the professed people of God. It is SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER. robbery in a Serijrtufral seftstf tb depart from any principle of truth eith’er iti 'doctrine or practice which God has commanded, for God vs glorified in his pur pose of love and mercy in his church when the saints walk in the truth’, ffnd love one another. The holy things of the kingdom of ottr God relative to the peace and prosperity of Zioft art bestowed upon the church for his declarative glory and honor. There fore we should not rob or w ithhold from Godßhe glbry due to his holy name. If the tithes and offerings have any figurative ap plication to the gospel church in any respect, we conclude it must be in reference to the ministration of the word, the administration of ordinances, and the practical observanceof the rules, precepts, duties, privileges and discipline of God’s house. An attendance upon what God has commanded is in the way of self denial, and bearing the cross of Christ, and is accept able only as the- heart and soul are engaged in it, •pd is not grievous to be borne. When faith and hope are in exercise, and the love of God inw T ardly abounds, the saints aie satisfied with what God has declared, and it is a privilege to them to bring their tithes and offerings into the store house or gospel church. The gospel church is a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Je sus Christ, and is not a house made of brick, stone, wood, or such materirls, but is a building of God, a house not made with hands, whose workmanship is not of men but of God. It is saerilege, blasphemy and robbery in the fullest sense, to withhold or add to the worship of God in his house or church, either in doctrine, precept or example, contrary to the statutes and commandments of Zion’s King. The saintp are a Riyal Priesthood, and the Lord Jesus is Great High Priest, and they (the saints) are kings and priests unto,God and his Father, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. As sister Wilson of Jackson co., Ga., requested 7 oar views of the text treated upon in this article, we have done about the best w T e could under the present cir cumstances, realizing as we do our inability and lack of understanding in the Scriptures of truth. P. Appointments. Brother Isaac R. Teat of Cobb Cos., Ga„ will preach, if the Lord will, at the follow ing places, viz : Friday, June Ist at Shoal Creek, Newton Cos.; Saturday and Sunday at New 7 Salem, Putnam Cos.; Monday at Crooked Creek ; Tuesday at JEnon; Wednesday at Mt. Gilead ; Thursday at Hebron, Jasper Cos.; Fri day at Murder Creek ; Saturday and Sunday June 9th and 10th at Holly Spring in this County. (Slritam From the Signs. No. 92 Sixth Avenue, New York, April 8, 18G0. Brother Beebe— lt becomes my painful duty to inform you, as well as the numerous circle of friends who have been w r ont to visit our house from time to time, that my beloved wife, Louisa Ow en, is no more. She had been laboring under disease for some years past know T ri as Jaundice, until at last it set in with more than usual violence, turned to the kidneys, and, death ensued. She fell asleep on Wednesday even ing, March 28,18G0. She lived beloved by all who knew her, and I trust our loss is her eternal gain. I have no and esire for flattering notices, but those who knew sister Gilmore, will remember her, and her ever kind and affectionate welcome. From yours, in affliction, JOHN GILMORE. ffbifz, Gibson county, Ind., April 2, . . Brother Beebe —By request I send the following obituary notice of sister SARAH, daughter of broth er William and sister Anna Lankford, who died of Typhoid Fever in September 1857, in that tWentr second year of her age;. Sarah made of religion, and joined the New Salem Regular Bhptist* Church in this county, in April 1857, and was bap tised by Elder Elisha Hblcotirrtr Mhy following. . Sister Sarah was ayounglady of remarkable piety, a devoted Christian, a dutiful child, and highly es teemed by all who knew her. Site leaves a largecir-’ cle of Connections, friends and acquaintances to mourn tlieir bereavement. But their loss is her eternal gain* S; M. HOLCOMB. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Let us bt glad and rejoice, and give honor to him ; for he it clothed with majesty and with strength, and hit throne it established of old, even from everlasting. He reigns in righteousness over heaven and earth, working all things after the counsel of his own will. Not a sparrow falleth on the ground without his no tice. For behold! the heaven, and the heaven of heavens, is the Lord’s, the earth also, with all that therein is. The Lord killeth and maketh alive, he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. In his glorious reign of divine providence, he has taken from the shores of time, our much esteemed young friend, JOHN ABNER WIIEELESS; and as we believe, from the evidence given before his departure, his immortal spirit was borne on wings of everlast ing love, to a world of peace and joy, where it will forever remain in the bosom of its redeeming Lord. This is indeed a glorious consideration, from which the troubled and bereaved mind may take sweet con solation, and from which, under divine influence, it may be raised into aspirations of praise to God. John Abner was the second son of Thomas and Lucinda Wheeless, and was born Oct. 1, 1853. He lived under parental guardianship until about the age of seventeen years. His mother died when he was about this age, leaving her family in very destitute circumstances. He, with his three brothers and five sisters, w*re taken by William; and Tabitha Wyatt, (his grand-father and grand-mother) with whom he lived the most of the time, until the day of his dea*h lie was kind and affectionate to his grand-parents, and waited on, and served them faithfully, as an obedient son. lie was married Dec, 29, 1859, to Miss Hannah Jane Garrott. On Tues day Jan. 31, 1 ‘6O, (one month and two days after his marriage) he was violently attacked with what was called by his attending Physician, the Peripneu mony, and departed this life, on Tu ‘sday following, Feb. 7, 1860, at 8 minutes past 2 o’clock in the morn ing. During the last two years of his life, he devo ted a large portion of his spare time to the reading of the Bible, Signs, and Messenger, frequently com ing to bis grand-mother, w ith the Bible to get her to explain to him certain texts of Scripture. lie was. while in this life, a good singer, and seemed to enjoy a great deal of delight and pleasure in singing. * * * * *• * * * May the Lord oomfort the dear companion, togeth er with the relations and friends of deceased, w r ith the gracious assurances cf the gospel of the Son of God, if in the counsel of Ilis will, and to Ilis name be glory and honor forever. GEORGE W. WRIGHT. April 8, 1860. Sign* of ike Times, pltase copy.