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VOL. X.
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Ogletiiokpe Cos., Ga., June 26, 1860.
Dear Brethren :—Having learned lately ‘hit
you were scarce of communications for the Afes
senger, I have concluded again to write, and as I
think of no subject of more importance at. pres
ent, I will offer a few thoughts in connection with
the following words found in Paul’s letter to the
Galatians sth chapter and 11th verse. “And I
brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I
yet suffer persecution ? the*o is the offence of the
cross ceased.”
The impression upon my mind is that the term
“ circumcision” in the text, includes the whole sys
tem of works enjoined upon national Israel by the
ceremonial law, as wcU as every conditional system
of salvation that is preached and be’ieved in to this
day. The salvation that I refer to is the delivery
of sutlers from under the law and its curse justly
incurred)>y the disobedience of Adam which equally
involved all his posterity. Surely every reasonable
person will admit at once, that since condemnation
has fallen alike upon us all by the disobedience of
one man (Adam) that .it is utterly impossible for
*rnv or all of us to set ourselves in the sight
of God by works of obedience to his iaw which we
Jiave violated already, and as to the law given by
Moses it never was intended that by ivndeiingolve
dience to it any should prepare or help prepare
themselves for heaven. This law entered that tire,
offence might abound,and by it was the knowl edge
of sin, and by the deeds ol this law shall no (flesh
be justified. It was not given to the woild of man
kind at large, but was confined to the anrtiou otf
Israel alone* and was conditional, while the bless
ings promised to and realized by the obedient, and
the curses threatened to and realized by the dis
obedient were all confined to this world, and not
to eternal spiritual blessings, nor eternal punish
ment. beyond this world. The priests, the altais,
the offerings, and the benefits derived from such
.offerings, were all confined to this world and to
that peculiar nation, and never could purge the
conscience from dead works, being outward in the
flesh, and typical in its operation. Israel received
the law immediately from God by Moses, written
on tables of stone, representing the gospel church
,or spiritual Israel of God, who received the law of
the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, individually and
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collectively, immediately from God written in the
fleshly tables of the heart, and made known by rev
elation of the Holy Spirit, as to one, even so to all,
hit elect or cho?en ones, for whom alone, Jesus
DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS.
“681$ 8688, 688 IASI'S, AS 681 BAVVISfI.”
COVINGTON, NEWTON CO., GA., JULY 15, 1860.
Christ off:red himself once in the end for all offer
irg-s, and by this one offering hath perfected for
ever them that are sanctified or set apart. While
Paul was so zealous in tiie Jews’ religion, confiding
in his own righteousness which was of the law, and
glorying in that conditional system, he escaped per
secution entirely, but when he experienced the un
conditional salvation of the new covenant, and be
gan, to preach it, those who had before been his
wannest friends now show themselves his bitterest
enemies, not because he had done them any harm
in person or p opei ty, but because he believed and
preached a doctrine that cut off all human boast
ing or glorying, and debased sinful mortals to the
lowest degree, hut exalted, the Author of eternal un
conditional salvation t# the highest degree. This
constituted it the doctrine of the cross, so contrary
to their proud fleshly notions of Gotland religion
their ambition was excited and acted out against
Paul* against God, and Paul had, while,
in Damascus, to be let down from a window in a
basket to make Ids escape from those who before
had been his friends. From that time on to the
time of his departure from this present evil world,
he continued to suffer persecution, because he con
stantly, before small and great, preached uncondi
tional salvation bv grace through* faith, and that
not of themselves, but the gift of God, not of works,
lest any man should boast. The independent sov
ereignty of God, saying, so then it is not of him
that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God
that sheweth mercy, therefore hath he mercy on
whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he
hardened), proud nature is so crossed at that it
•replies, Why doth he yet find fault, for who hath
resisted his will? but the doctrine of the cross re
plies, Nay, but O man, who art thou that repliest
•against God, shall the thing for med say to him that
formed it, whv hast thou made me thus? &c. —
• •
Many claim that they are persecuted for righteous
ness, sake, who are preaching a system of salvation
by works, telling their hearers that Jesus has suf
fered and died for them, but all that will do them
no good unless they comply with certain conditions,
such as coming to Jesus, and exercising faith and
repentance, if this was true, salvation would de
pend not upon sovereign grace, but upon the sin
nei’s work*, ami when the doctrine of the cross ex
poses such false doctrines, they cry out persecution,
yet such realize no loss of friends, worldly pleasure
or profit by their preaching. Let us see how it was
with Paul. But what things were gain to me these
I counted l.ss for Christ, yea doubtless, and I count
all things but loss for the excellency of the knowl
edge of Christ Jesus ray Lord, for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things, and do count them
but dung that I may win Christ, and be found in
him, not having mine own righteousness which is
o e the law, but that which is through the faith of
Chdsf, the righteousness which is of God by faith.
Phil. iii. 7,8, 9. Jesus said to his disciples in ref
erence to sorrows and afflictions that should come
upon them for his name’s sake, “ Then shall they
deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you,
and ye shall he hated of all nations for my name's
sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall
betray one another, and shall hate one another, and
many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive
ninny. Mat. xxiv. 9, 10,11. These, with many
other portions of the Holy Writ, go to show plain
ly that whoever believe*, and contends earnestly
for the doctrine olblke cross, cannot fail to suffer
persecution, because worldly, fleshly, religionists
with their different names and orders, are, and
ever have been vastly in the majority in numbers,
and wor-dly popularity* and while such as make no
pretensu n to religion have never persecuted the
chu'oh of God. The most zealous, popular reli
gionists have been the most latter opponents of the
doctrine of the cross, persecuting and injuring to
the uttermost of their power, such as have contin
ued earnes’ly to contend for the faith once deliver
ed unto the saints. This is not to be wondered at
when rightly considered, because the more spurious
religion a man has, the worse off he is, for just in
proportion to the quantity he has, just in the same
proportion will prejudice, hatred and opposition to
the doctrine of Christ, or the cross, swell in his bo
som. In days past, one in this situation was ex
ceedingly mad against the advocates of the doc
trine of the cross, and verily thought he ought to
do what he cou'd contrary to the name of Jesus of
Nazareth, which he also did, but God stopped him,
and showed him how great things he should suffer
for his name’s sake.
May his mercy be extended to such in this day,
Yours in Love,
D. W. PATMAN,
Autaugaville, Ala., June 22, 1860.
Messrs. Editors —Dear brethren, we propose to
give a few thoughts on the much despised, but all
important doctrine of Election; if you think them
worthy of a place in your columns, they are at your
service, if not, lay them aside, and all will be right.
Your attention is called to the 24th chapter of Mat
thew and the latter clause of the 24th verse, which
reads, “ If it were possible, they shall deceive the
very elect.” Some, by Election, understand no
more than a temporary separation, calling and con
version, but this is the effect of election, and not
election itself. We are called accordipg to God’* pur
pose, and whom he predestinated, them he also
NO. 14