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102 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.