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Brethren Editors— My reasons for not patron
ising and encouraging Sunday Schools as a relig
ouß institution, are first, because’they are irreligious
altogether, and contrary to the spirit of piety ; that
they are irreligious because whatever is without
precept or example in the Scriptures is irreligious.
God never commanded such a thing, Moses never
did, no prophet ever did, Christ never did, the Apos
tles never did, and the Scriptures tell us that the
whole duty of man is to fear God and keep his
commandments. Then Sunday Schools is not com
manded, and cannot be considered a duty, because
the wh(?le duty of man is to fear God and keep his
commandments. And agaio Paul says to Timothy,
Continue thou in the things which thou hast learn
ed, and then speaks of hU having known the Scrip
tures from a child, which was able to make him
wise unto salvation through faith; and then speaks
of the man of God being furnished by them unto
all good works, fuinished by the Scriptures. Then
Timothy was to continue in the things which he
had learned of the Scriptures, not what he was yet
0 learn of men, but what he had learned of the
Scriptures, for iu them truly was all the command
ments of God which points out all the duty of man.
And again, as teachers and ministers of the gos
pel, the great command is to teach them to observe
all things, whatsoever Christ has commanded them.
Then if Christ has commanded that churches with
their children, or communities with their family
should observe Sunday Schools, then they should
do it; but if he has not commanded such a thing
then is it not my duty to do it I But you may ask
is it not a good thing, is it not a good work? If
the Now Testament says so it is, but if not it is
not, for the Scripture says that the man of God is
thoroughly furnished unto all good works by the
Soriptures. But you may say that the reading of
the Soriptures is a part of the exercises of Sunday
School. It is true that the reading of the Scriptures
is a good work, and is the duty of all, but does ihiis
involve the necessity of Sunday School. Could not
each family, or head of each family, cause each of
their children to read achapter every Sunday morn
ing? (for a chapter is about all that is read of the
bible,) I am sure it would not be half the trouble,
to say nothing of the expense, that it would be to
spend all the morning in dressing, and primping,
powering, combing, hurrying and fixing the chil
dren, aud filling their minds with pride and vanity,
and to think that their excellency is entirely in the
appearance more than true piety. So by the time
the family i3 first off to Sunday School, and gets
home again and tell what they saw at School, and
how such an one looked with her or his homespun,
and how such au one look with her new ginghams,
or silk, and I will not go no more if Pap don’t get
mo a nQW dress, for I am not going any more to
be made fun of. By this time the day is gone, and
the Mother is tired, having toiled all day, when the
chapter could have been read in a few moments at
home, and the minds of the children better culti
vated.
I. R. TEAT.
Cobb Co*, Ga., May 29, 1859.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER.
[Extract from a private letter.]
June 20, 1860.
As my letter did not go by the mail yesterday,
I will add a few lines to it.
We receive the Messenger regular, and are well
pleased with its contents, especially with the let
ter of Eld. C. West, on the subject of Feet Wash
ing, in the last number, also with a letter written
by Eld. J. F. Johnson, some time since. But I
don’t know that the reading of the Messenger
does me any real good, for I am so cold and life
less, and so utterly destitute of feeling, I have con
tinually to mourn my base ingratitude, and my
unthankful heart, for all the mercies that are
showered around me with no sparing hand, by
the great Giver of all comfort, and often feel to
say,
“ Os feelingall things show some sign,
But this unfeeling heart of mine.”
And often have to cry out, “ Where is he whom
my soul desires to love?” Let me turn either way,
and I cannot behold him. When I turn back, and
retrace the past, and O that it were as in months
past, is all I can say, and I often think that the
past is nothing but the work of satan, and ray
own carnal mind, and I am but the worse, for ever
thinking at ail on the subject. But one thing I
am sure of, “ If the Lord has begun a good work
in my heart, he will perform it,” for I do not be
lieve he ever leaves his work half completed.—
Sometimes I feel for a few moments a little assu
rance that I shall behold the king in bis glory.—
But the moments are short and far between.
“ But what I feel is just a taste,
And makes me long for more.”
Then again if promises come to my mind, I throw
them from me, or give them to some other person.
While others tell of hopes, I can only speak of
fears, and if I could only boa saint, I would wil
lingly take the lowest seat. Now can you, Elder
Puriogton have any fellowship for such an one as
I ? If you can, I think you have more charity
than I have. Can it be possible that one so un
feeling, and so stupid, can have an interest in the
atoning blood of Jesus. A. V.
IOK*
Irwin Cos., Ga., June 22, 1850.
Bro. Beebe :—I desire your views on Judges
vii. This is also the text that 1 wish
bro. Mitchell’s views on, if it is not too much
trouble, for lam not worthy to be troubled with,
for above ail sinners I must be the worst.
Yours in love,
J. B. DORMING.
EDITORIAL. “
WM. L. BEEBE, ) T?;iitnra
J. L. PURINGTON, J ltors *
COVINGTON, GA. : : : JULY 1, 1860.
Explanatory Remark.
Owing to bro. Beebe’s absence from home, and the
press of business upon our own hands, the usual
amount of Editorial will not appear in this number.
We hope our readers will excuse us this time, hoping
we shall be able to do better in the future, if the
Lord will. p.
Ipsallanjj.
Sacred Mountains.
Mount Ararat, the mount upon which the Ark
of Noah rested.
Mount Moriah, the mount upon which Abraham
offered up his son Isaac—where afterward Solomon
built the temple.
Mount Sinai, the mount upon which the laws
were given to Moses.
Mount Hor, the mount upon which Aaron died.
Mount Pisgah, the mount upon which Moses
died.
Mount Horeb, the mount where Moses saw the
burning bush, and where Elijah fled from the face of
Jezebel.
Mount Carmel, where fire came down and con
sumed the sacrifice of Elijah, and where he slew
the prophets of Baal, and from the summit of
which he prayed for rain and was answered.
Mount Lebanon, the mount noted for its great
and beautiful cedars.
Mount Zion —the literal Mount Zion was one of
the hills on which Jerusalem was built, and stood*
near Mount Moriah, where Abraham offered up his
son Isaac.
Mount Tabor, the mount upon which Christ was
transfigured.
Mount Olivet, the mount where our Savior pray
ed, being in an agony, and saying: “ If it be pos
sible, let this cup pass from me,” &c.
Mount Calvary, the mount upon which our £>a- ,
vior was crucified.
A mind too vigorous and active serves only to
consume the body to which it is joined, as the
richest jewels are soonest found to wear their
settings. s
|)ijetrri.
Experience.
When I was young, I thought of death,
And of a future state,
I oft desired to be retired,
That I might meditate.
I found that my morality,
Was but an empty show,
That I was in a state of sin,
Exposed to endless woe.
I now thought I must pray or die,
I tried and tried again,
But found at length that all my strength,
And efforts were in vain.
For still I found my carnal mind,
Was enmity to God,
Nor could I see how I could be.
Forgiven and justified.
Sometimes I thought that I was net
One of the chosen race,
But given up no ray of hope,
Could ever reach my case.
My heart appeared so strangely hard,
That I could not repent,
I feared that I at last should die,
A wretch impenitant.