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**” *"” “ = ” “ * * “ “ VOL. X. fcmimimtMi 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 - % 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