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pcending to reason with me. I ought to have, be
lieved his word and not been disquieted by the
suofffestion of the wicked one, for I saw that those
suo-a-estions were from the devil to worry me, and
mar my peace. I saw that the Lord had rebuked
in love and mercy, and I believed lie was my
friend, and like Thomas I said, My Lord, and my
God 1 and I felt that same sweet comfortable feel-
I had before, and thought I would never doubt
his goodness to me again. But alas! it was not
long before Satan found his way in at another gap,
and transformed himself into an angel of light,
and persuaded me that it was wisdom, to try to be
sure in this matter. It was all important, as my
eternal salvation depended on my being right, and
perhaps I had caught the shadow and missed the
substance, and caused me to fear again. Thus I
was worried, between hope and fear, until our
church meeting came on. I went to hear preach
ing and honed to be resolved in this matter. Our
preacher took the>e words for his text, “ Who is
this that coinelk forth as the morning, fair as the
moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army
with banners.” lie compared the church to the
moon, and said the moon was subject to changes*
and at its brightest time, had what we called the
old man in the moon ; so it was with the Chris
tian, they had their old nature to contend with,
and were subject to doubts and changes in their
feelings, but they were as clear as the sun through
the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ; and
here my sister, my doubts were all removed again*
I saw my way clear, and rejoiced with that joy
that is unspeakable and full of glory. I thought
I could show every body the way it was so clear.
1 gave the Church the reason of my hope, and
was received into fellowship, and was baptized the
‘next day by Sanders Walker, and united with the
church at Fishing Creek, in Wilkes Cos., Ga. —
Thus my sister, I have tried to give some of the
troubles and joys that I witnessed some sixty
years ago. But I have passed through many tri
als and conflicts since, of which I cannot write
now ; read this if you can, and tell me if you can
see anything like the work of the Lord in it.—
Write me another one of your good letters, and ac
cept of my Christian ‘-egard and fellowship in the
best of bonds.
Your unworthy sister,
NANCY T. DAYIS.
Autauga Cos., Ala, July 1, 1860.
Brethren Editors : — I have been reading the
Messenger for some months, and when I read the
communications of my brethren and sisters, it
makes my heart glow with love toward them. I
feel like I cannot refiain from throwing in my
mite, unworthy as I am. I was raised by pious
parents. Ido believe my father was a Christian ;
(Elijah Baker was his name.) he instructed me for
my good, but I was carnally-minded, and that is
death. I was very much affected at times : when
I would get into the Ball Room, it was all gone,
and I had to grieve over broken promises. But
Oh, friends, when as I hope the blessed Lord
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER.
shined his light into my heart, so that I could see
what was there, I tiied to pray, but my prayers
seemed to fall to the ground ; the enemy ot souls
told me that time had been, when I could have re
pented, but now it was too late; my burden
got so heavy day by day, that the devil could not
keep me from praying, for all I could do was to
to try. O, fellow travelers to eternity, my soul
was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. I
thought I must die, and hell was my portion. —
There being no one present but my little children,
I thought if I died, I would die a praying. Oh
friends that has been twenty-six years ago, but it
makes me shudder yet. The second day, at night,
I thought I should never live to see the sun rise
again. I laid down to try to rest, but it appeared
that I sunk lower than the grave. All was dark
within and without, when by the eye of faith I
saw the beautiful light rise from behind a dark
mountain ; it arose so high and shone so bright,
it shined away that mountain of sin and guilt
that was ready to crush me. The beautiful sweet
voice ran through mv feelings, and into my heart
the words was, Go tell the world thy joy. I was
made to rejoice exceedingly, to think that the Lord
had taken my feet out of the mire and clay, anti
set them on the Rock of Ages, and put anew song
in my mouth. All ye redeemed ones, help me
to praise the Lord, a poor unworthy creature as I
am. I had a great desire to follow my Savior into
the water, but a thought came in my mind, that I
had better wait ana see how I got along, and find
out whether it was real or not I thought if I had
that burden back again, and could know next time
how it left me, I could be more certain. I did not
want to deceive tbe cburcfi or anybody else ; and
so I got along for six years. The devil had a good
chance to sift me as wheat, but I hope my Savior
prayed that my faith failed not, as he did Peter. —
Sometimes my hope is so .little, that I thought I
would throw it by, and at other times it seemed
sufficient, if I was called to die.
Myself and family went to Kingston, to see my
parents ; there was a protracted meeting going on ,
the last day of the meeting, my father was ‘very
much affected, and said he believed he had chil
dren there, that had a hope, and intended to be
baptized ; he felt that if he died without seeing
the sight, he should die dissatisfied. I had no
longer to wait, I went up and told them what I
hoped the Lord had done for poor unworthy me,
and was received and baptized by Thomas Arm
strong. I remained there for three years, when
my husband moved to Bibb Cos., I took my letter
and joined the Primitive church. When the split
took place, I believed in the Free Will doctrine,
and contended for it. I can’t tell you or any body
else the foundation of my believing it. I went to
hear old brother Robert Martin, and Jacky Walk
er preach ; they both preached on doctrine, and
the blessed Lord gave me light on it, and I believ
ed it with my whole heart, but I could not see
then how I did believe as I did before. The Lord
knows the Primitive Baptists are very much scat
tered in this part of the world. We have some
preaching, beside the word of our blessed Savior
to read, we also get the Messenger to read, and St.
James says, “ If any of you lack wisdom, let him
ask of God tLat giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not, and it shall be given him.” Dear
brethren and sisters in Christ, bear with mv im
perfections, and when it goes well with you, re
member me a poor afflicted creature, for if a saint,
I must be the least of all.
Broiher Beebe, if you think this scribble wiM
injure the cause of my Master, or any of his little
ones, throw it aside, and all will be right.
SUSAN C. SHEW MAKE.
(continued from page 131.)
Aes my brethren, this is the food that your
Shepherd feeds you with ; and it is the same food
that he has commanded all of his servant that he
has called and sent to feed with. They have no
right to try to feed tbe flock of God with anything
else but the food that he has given them. If any
of you should think different, let me ask you one
or two plain questions.
Ist. Is not the flock his, and has he not pur
chased them with his own blood ?
2d. Is not the minister one of the flock, that Le
has set as watchman over them ?
Then as watchmen, is it not their indispensible
duty to keep the flock from taking anything that
is unsound or poisonous, far as it is in their
power ; that is when new Shepherds visit them
they ought to watch these new shepherds, to see
what kind of food they are disposed to feed them
with. If the food is not precisely the right kind,
they ought to be faithful enough to warn the flock
against them, and their food also; for they may.
be feeding themselves, and care nothing for the
flock, no farther than they can use them to their
own profit. Therefore they are not good shep
herds, but dangerous ones, and should be watched
and dreaded too. But the good Shepherd will feed
them on good food, and in a good pla e. “They
shall feed in the ways, and their pastur shall be
in all high places.” Isa. xlix. 9. “He eaall feed
them, even my servant David.” It is evident the
name David applies to Christ, and not (he King of
Israel. He is, however in the Scriptures used as
a type of Christ. David, the son of Jesse was a
good faithful Shepherd, and was blessed with a
great deal of wisdom and skill, but he could not
fill the place of spiritual David, the Shepherd that
God set over his spiritual flock, to feed them with
spiritual food. Some of my hearers may be at as
great a loss to know how he could be God and a
servant at the same time, as the Jews were when
the Savior was on earth. True, my friends, it ever
has been one of the great mysteries, how he could
be God and man. It is still a mystery we cannot
solve, but God has revealed it in his word for the
comfort of his children. “I thank thee, o,father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid
these things from the wise and prudent, and hath
revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so
it seemed good in thy sight.” Matt. xi. 25, 26.
The word servant, applies to Christ in his hu
manity, as referred to in the Scriptures. Just let
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