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VOL. I. Ctimmmtications. Decatur Cos., Ga., Oct. 2, 1860. Bro. Beebe :—I have for a long time felt the impression of addressing a few lines to you, and the brethren and sisters who read the Messenger ; not that I feel qualified to comfort my brethren and sisters, but as I can hear through vour paper from all parts, so many testifying to the goodness of God in delivering them out of nature’s night, into the marvelous light and liberty of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it causes me to rejoice to hear them telling what the Lord has done for their souls. Although I have never seen them, it draws them near my heart, and kindles a flame of love in my breast towards them, Jbr if I am not deceived, I do love the brethren. I will try to tell you something of my trials in life. As you have heard so many tell their travels from na ture to grace, I will omit that, for others can tell my travels better than I can myself. I received a hope if not deceived, that God for Christ’s sake forgave mv sins, and was enabled to rejoice with that joy that is inexpressible and full of glory, in the year 182*7 ; and brethren, I have to acknowl edge that I have Leeu a disobedient child of grace, if one at all, for though I felt it to be my duty to go and tell the brethren what I hope the Lord had done for my poor soul, and to follow the blessed Savior down into the watery grave, and to live with his dear children, I would quench the spirit, but God who cannot lie, says, “My people shall be a willing people in the day of mv power, and brethren, I believe that God with the chastising rod for my disobedience made me willing to take up the cross and come out from among the world, and put on Christ, by an open profession in the year 1835. On the fourth Saturday in July, my wife and myself both went down into the water, and were baptized by E!d. C. A. Tharp, at Slone Creek church, in Twiggs Cos. Brethren I thought I had discharged my duty, and my troubles were all over. I had never Jieard of but one sort of Baptists, but alas! it was not long before the cry was, Missionary, and Anti missionary. It was not long before the Association came on, and the ques tion was taken up, and a separation took place) and I was left with’ the Missionaries, for there was not a Primitive church in the county ; I was very well satisfied so that I was a Baptist, I did not know the difference. I did not feel like it was my duty to be trying to send the gospel to the hea thens. But at length there were two preachers, (so called) that came to visit us, and when they were DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS. COVINGTON, NEWTON CO., GA., OCT- 15, 1860. preaching, they had their little god, that they said the heathens worship, and they told a lamentable tale, and that it was all for the lack of the gospel. I was then converted into a Missionary, and was willing to do anything to send the gospel, (so you may know that I was in ignorance,) but it was not long before I became dissatisfied about it. I was then at a loss to know what to do. I saw it would not do to depend on man. So brethren, if I ever did pray, I then plead with God to show me the right way, and I do believe that God an swered my request, for I then became satisfied that it was of man and not of God, for I was then able to believe that the Eternal God was able to do his own will, and that none could hinder.— Now brethren, you that were never placed in that condition don’t know how I felt ; for the place I once so much delighted in, then became a prison house to me ; for instead of hearing the preachers that I once bad so much confidence in, proclaim ing to a dying world, Jesus and him crucified as the only way given under heaven, whereby dying men and women can be brought to a saving knowl edge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus ; the plan was revesed. They would tell the people that the heathen was starving for the lack of the gos pel, and the only way to save them, was to raise money to pay Missionaries to Uirry-the gospel to them, and if we did not provide the means to save their souls, that their blood would be required at our hands. 0 brethren, that was an uncertain sound to me, for if I ever knew anything of saving grace, I was made to confess with Paul, by the grace of God 1 am what I am, and not of money, nor any act that I had done. I was now as one alone, I knew not what to do ; the old gospel bell was lost from me, I could not hear it on the right, nor on the left. But O for a heart ever to be thankful to God that he enabled me to continue in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith. While I tvas iu that lone condition in 1844, I came down to this country on business, and I heard the old bell rattle, and I knew the sound, and it was like food to the hungry, and as water to a thirsty soul, and as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. I returned home and sold out, and moved to this country, and united with the Primitive ’Baptists, who are earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, &c. Brother Beebe, I must come to a close, for the more I write, the more 1 want to write, but I don’t want to intrude on your patience, nor be in the way of that which is of mord importance. Now Brother Beebe, together with all the breth ren and sisters that read the Messenger, I desire an interest in your prayers to Almighty God, that I may always be able to adorn the profession, L have put on, ever looking to Jesus who is- the au thor and finisher of the Christian faith, for I have doubts and fears, for if I am a child of grace, I am the least of all, and pray the Lord to send faithful laborers in this part of the vineyard. May the Lord bless you, and enable you to feed the* sheep and lambs, both in the stand and in the Messenger. I submit the above to your disposal, if you think it worthy of a place in your paper, you may publish it, if not, pass it by, and all will be right. Yours in bonds of brotherly love and affeeton, CORNELIUS HOLLINGSWORTH. Bren ham, Texas, Sept. 6, 1860. Brethren Editors :—I send you these letters of sister Whitcomb’s for publication. I have ob tained her permission to send them to you. Yours in fellowship, NANCY DUTTON* Jewett Centre, N. Y., July 8, 1860. My Dear Blessed Sister in Christ :—Through the super-abounding mercy of a covenant keeping God, I am still preserved and traveling on through this wilderness world, sometimes rejoicing, some times sorrowing and sighing deeply. Sometimes I have felt as if there was none like me, so changea ■fble, so pro ire to wander. Then at other times the Spirit whispers in my heart, and tells me that it is through much tribulation that we shall enter into the kingdom. Many are the afflictions of the righ teous, but God will deliver them out of them all. The beloved Apostle says, “ Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised them that love him.” O yes, he knows how to succor all of those that are tempted, and make a way for their escape. For he has been tempted in all points li'kef unto his brethren. Think it not strange concerning the fiery trials that is to try you, as though some strange thing had hap pened unto you ; but rejoice insomuch as ye are partakers in Christ’s sufferings. Dear sister, the beloved of the Lord, the Savior has told us plain ly that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice, and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. He also says, “ And ye now therefore have sorrows, bat I will see you again, and your hearts shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” Beloved sister, it is a dark and gloomy time with me at present. I feel somewhat sorrowful and sad, but I feel and trust in the Lord, for mercy, and to hope in his word, as in by-gone days. Although lam pass ing through deep trials and sore afflictions, I have not been left without a witness tbnt tbe kord wss NO. 20