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66 would not entirely discontinue, should I find it •roucb niore laborious, and besides, I wish to be one walking with his disciples, ever ready to bear part <of the burden* and so keep his commandments.— Said Jesus unto his disciples, “If any man will come ■after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Matt. xvi. 54. When I took up No. 2, Vol. 10, to read, I was saying, “My leanness! my leanness! wo unto me ! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously : 0 yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt rery treach erously.” But before I had finished it through, I was made to forget my leanness, and say, from the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. I thought I then feasted on what the Scriptures call good things full of marrow. Brother Trott’s letter to sister Jane Luce, came to me in time of need. I did not wonder at the gratification you expressed, at hearing again from the tried old veteran of the cross. His words have been better to me than silver or gold; they have so lifted me up in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, that I, like the lame man, who laid at the gate of the Temple, have been made to stand and walk through faith in his Dame, have been made strong. I think I did understand by experience, the brother’s ex planation and application of the words of uis text, “ And shall rebuke many people.” I certain ly have gone through years of hourly rebuke— and more lately than ever before. So bro. Trott’s letter found me learning the very lessons, which he described, and very tired of such schooling too, tired of being so humbled in our own eyes, and esteeming others better than When I found my travail of mind so accurately described by my dear father Trott, I was exceedingly rejoic ed ; I could hardly believe there was any one like me, none who so felt the workings of the flesh— worldly mindedness —and the mingling of self, in all their religious exercises and doings. Oh ! no wonder I have to be rebuked, “ Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love.” Before I read bro. Trott’s letter, I did not see so much about it; I hardly knew what kind of a warfare was going on; since I read, all looks plain. When I found there was one who could doctrinise my experience, I cried tears of joy and gratitude, and took fresh courage ; we do love to have our Christian experience all proved up by the word of truth. “Through thy precepts I get understand ing ; therefore I hate every false way,” so says the Psalmist. My rebukes have been many, but while I was reading—before I was aware, they all turn ed to me for testimony. Luke xxi. 13. Then I could say, “ Our light afflictions which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen; but at the things which are not seen ; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen, are eternal. 2 Cor. iv. 17, 18. At that time, I think I saw the top of the mountains* and above the hills. My troubles and trials all turned into one too many. SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGEB. Then I saw that no trial for the present is joyous, but we rejoice in the firuit we gather, whether it be little or much. When the ancient children of Israel gathered their manna, they gathered, every man according to his eating, some more, some less, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little, had no lack. Ex. xvi. W® understand that they were sorely tried with hun ger, before their manna was given. They were in the wilderness of sin, where they could find no bread ; they hungered and were fully ready to ac knowledge the sweetness of the manna which we learn, tasted like wafers mr*de of honey. 0, are not the spiritual Israel led iia likeness to their type. I think I have learned Christ in this wav—first * emptied, in order to be filled. Then seeing the promises to all such, as have nothing of their own, my rejoicings have been unspeakably full in Christ Jesus my Savior. Then there’s no confidence in the flesh. Very seldom am I allowed to claim much of the commendation religion, which bro. Trott described—Adam or the natural man re formed. No, I think I can see more and more of his deformity—which often makes me fear that I am not born again—forgetting that it is light that maketh manifest. 0 how often I have coveted to live, and so walk in obedience, as to feel approved before God, and my own conscience; but have found nothing but rebukes against myself, which has often made me enquire, why is it so ? I think bro. Trott answered this question in his let ter to the Messenger, so did brother Paul, in his letter to the Romans, 7th Chap. We delight in the law of God, after the inward man. I had been going over this lesson most of the past win ter, when I found thatlbro. Trott’s pen had beefr moved on the same subject. I asked mentally, what spirit did move him, just at this time, to write on the very subject which had occupied my mind so much ? The pure law of God written in the heart, by which we saw our natural deformity, which often made us cry, 0 wretched man that I am. Well after reading bro. Trott’s letter, and having a great feast, next came bro. A. Tomlin’s on the brotherhood : Let brotherly love continue, which I felt was another important lesson. Sweet admonition, precious too. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Often, when all other evidences of our heirship is out of sight, and we feel left alone, company for no one, and no one company for us, at such times we take up the Messenger , and before we have finished one communication, we feel brotherly love warming our poor cold hearts, and by the time we have read through, our rejoicings are inexpressible, and we are feasting on the com munion of saints. “ We do not wish to rove abroad, We have a feast at home.” So we say with bro, Tomlin. We do hope that brotherly love will continue among us, who are the weak and the poor in this world, but rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom of Christ, for him to continue his exhortations of love and good works. And bro. Purington will extend with all the ability which our dear Master has given him. Next in course, comes bro. J. R. Respess, with his explanation of the Pharisee, which is interesting and profitable. It brought vividly to my mind, a lesson which I learned more than ?0 years ago, about the additions and traditions of our religion, (of our worldly religion.) I would like to write a little to this brother, if I had the ability, for J have very particularly read with much interest, all his letters which have been published in the Mes senger. But as I have filled my sheet, I believe I will defer for the present. I have been quite un well since I commenced this, and am now so fee ble, that I can only write a few lines before stop ping to rest. If brethren Editors, you think this worth printing, I may again write soon. I wish to be always found in that blessed company of Jesus, who do bis commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Yours in Christian love, ANN JOHNSON. Newton Cos., Ga., May, 1860. Brethren Editors: —Feeling lonesome this, evening, I will write a little, and if you have noth ing better you can publish it, if you see nothing in it that will injure the Messenger , or cause of Christ. There was one who was called to be an Apostle, who said, “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteous ness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteous ness.” Rom. i. 18. The wrath of God is not al ways eternal punishment, or the everlasting pun ishment of the wicked ; but he deals his wrath up on his disobedient children, IftJr"their disobedience. When he withholds his blessing from them, and they are made to acknowledge it is for their trans gressions, and thus deprive themselves of the bless ings that his obedient children receive, and in the absence of the blessings, they receive the wrath of God ; for what is not blessing, is wrath, and apart from the worship of God, is the service of satan. The wrath of God is revealed against us, when we are disobedient, and thus we bring down the righ teous judgments of God on our own heads, and are thereby chastened for our iniquities and ungod liness. Failing to discharge our duties, is holding the truth in unrighteousness. For what is not righteous, is wicked ; there is no middle, or half way ground ; we must be cleared, or condemned. When the children of God forsake his law, aud keep not his statutes, he says, “ I will visit their ti ansgressions with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes. The word is gone forth out of his mouth, and shall not return void. But his children are in the possession of a sinful and carnal nature, which prefers to worship the creature more than the Cieator, of which comes coldness and barren ness, and causes us to hold the truth in unrigh teousness, even in the church of the living God. Alas carnality! Again, around almost all the churches, there are some of the children of God, who have never followed ihe Savior, and put him on by. public profession. Such are holding the truth in unrighteousness, because that which may be known of God, is manifest in them, for God shewed it unto them. Dear reader, if you are one of those, come and tell what the Lord has doDefor you, and confer not with flesh and blood. Paul said he did not, but went forward in the discharge