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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 141