Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

158 duty of masters to their servants, and this wo will endeavor to do in the same unreserved and candid manner in which we have written the foregoing. — And first we will remark, it is to Christian mas ters that we write —for as Christians we have no power or authority to enjoin gospel rules on the world or on ungodly men. The divine law provid ing and regulating the relationship of master and servants under the old dispensation allowed He brew mastures to rule with rigor their servants which were bought of the heathen nations, but not those which were of their brethren. If by rigorous treatment, the servant even die-under his master’s hand, the master shall be punished ‘; but if he con tinue a day or two, the master shall not be punish ed, “ for he is his money,” or property ; see Exodus xxi. 20, 21. But let it be remembered that this was the ligor of that law which gave an eye for an eye, a hand for a hand, and a tooth for a tooth, as the same chapter provides. But a very different course is enjoined on the disciples of Christ in his ; sermon on the Mount, and throughout the New Testament. In Eph. vi. after enjoining upon ser. vants to serve their masters cheerfully, and as do ing so from a solemn sense of duty to their Master in heaven, the apostle says: “ And ye, masters, do the same things unto them.” That is, Let your de portment towards them, and government of them be in like manner with a conscientious regard to the will and teachings of yonr Master in heaven ; for as he adds, “ Knowing that your master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.” Eph. vi. 9. Your Master in heaven has the same love, care, and regard for his children who are in bondage as for their masters ; for he has redeemed them with the same precious blood, loved them with the same love , and chosen them to the same spiritual inheritance in glory. He will therefore judge the master as well as the servant, the parent as well as the child, the husband as well as the wife, the rulers as well as the ruled. These distinctions of authority are to continue only dur ing our time state, but in the ultimate glory of the saints, the bond as well as the free, shall be raised up in the perfect image of the glorified body of the Lord‘Christ. From these considerations the apos- tle .commands the master to forbear threatening, and to treat servants with that kindness which you would wish them to show to you, if your relations were reversed. Again, “ Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Col. iv. 1. As ta what is just aud equal, there may be difference of judgment, even among Christians; but let the Christian master remember that his Master in heav en is the judge between him and his servants, and will not pass unnoticed any injustice done by the master to the servant. As .God in his holy provi dence has cofnmitted them to your care, a solemn responsibility rests on you ; from their birth to their death, you are bound to support and provide them food and clothing, and, if sick or lame, to provide good nursing, medicine and care ; and for all your vare and expense, you are entitled to their faithful .ervice as long as they have ability to serve you. SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER. Their living is an equitable remuneration for their faithful services, and this should not be withheld from them. The epistle of Paul to Philemon, whose fugitive servant was brought to the knowledge of the truth, under the ministry of Paul, and whom the apostle would not detain without Philemon’s consent, and although he needed his service, jet as a matter of right sent him home to his master, shows a spirit of pure Christianity, and the kind manner in which Paul exhorts Philemon to reinstate the returning fugitive, not only f.s a servant in the flesh, but, now that he was manifestly a subject of saving grace, to receive him also in the love and fellowship of the gospel of Christ, that he might now be prof itable to him, both in the flesh and in the spirit. — Ye masters, agreeably to the instructions of the gospel, treat your servants with kindness, tender ness, and with a conscientous regard for their good, in the fear of the Lord. “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and of fences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches de ceive the hearts of the simple.” Rom. xvi. 1*7,18. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, what soever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, pure, lovely, and of good report, think on these things. . Phil. iv. 8. - And the God of peace be with you all. Amen. — —- Carroll Cos., Miss. Dearly Beloved Brethren and Sisters— lt is through the tender mercies of our Heavenly Fath er that I am spared to take my pen in hand again, and surely if you could but know my feelings, you would wonder why I do write, but from some cause I feel a desire at this time, although I feel less than the least of all saints ; yet it is enough for me, if I have been made to know the Lord and the things that are freely given to us of God. While the Scriptures declare that this is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent, which is an evidence to me that I have been made to know the truth and believe in Jesus, for when in distress, and justly condemned by the righteous law of God, I could see no way, how God could remain just and save such a sinner as I saw myself to be. It was then, I do hope, the Lord opened my eyes to see Jesus, and to believe in him ; not with my natural eyes, but with the eyes of my understanding. And oh, how easy to believe ! I would have given ten thousand such worlds as this only a minute be fore, but when the Lord gave me faith, how easy to believe that Jesus had died for my sins, and that God had been reconciled all the time through the death'of his Son. My dear brethren and sisters, the knowledge of this filled my poor soul with joy, which I cannot describe, it was joy unspeakable and full of glory. I then thought I never should see any more trouble ; all things appeared new, the bible seemed entirely new. I felt free from con demnation, indeed I could exclaim, bless the Lord O my soul, all the powers within me bless his holy name, he is my God in whom I trust —my Lo'rd, my Salvation and my -ail. Dear brethren and sis ters, I sometimes am like Martha, careful and trou bled about many things, and get in a state of doubts and fears, till I almost lose sight, fearing I had been deceived, and all hope seems ready to de part. Yes, I leel ready to give up all for lost, when suddenly my mind will retrace my steps as it were when the Lord in his goodness, as I hope, turns my sorrow to joy by enabling me to claim his promises to believe in him. Oh, how sweet are his word'?, it is I be not afraid. Beloved brethren and sisters, is there any of you that can witness these things will you let me hear from you if you please?- Brethren and sisters of the Primitive order.it is to you I write, for I trust your God is my God, although I am an entire stranger to many, very many of you, yet when I read your writing I feel an endearing,, a knitting together, a love which time nor r haca never can destroy. We read in days of o’. cl, they that feared the Lord spake often one bo another,, and the Lord hearkeued and heard it* And as we are so scattered at this time we c&n only converse with or by the use of our pen, let us not forget the goodness of our God to us> but let us talk of his goodness and of his grep.tness while we have the privilege to do so. Dearly beloved brothers and sisters, let us cry unto the Lord our God to remove the curse, which seems to threaten us by day and by. night as a nation, for it is our God that can bring peace out of trouble, and has delivered his people out of the hands of their enemies. Remem ber his mercies of old, and let us pray to him for help; let us read the nineteenth chapter of second Kings, fourteenth chapter of second Chronicles, al so twentieth chapter of the same, with many oth m’ chapters of holy writ, and may the good Lord give us hearts to pray acceptably in his sight; guide us in every path of duty, enabling us to love him and serve him with all our hearts who hath done so much for us. To him be all praise, domin ion and power forever, so farewell beloved in the Lord. Yours in tribulation, JANE Y. HARMON. P. S. Brethren Beebe and Purington, will you please to correct the mistakes in the above if you should publish it, for I see so many imperfections, I am almost ready to commit it to the flames, and if you should, in your judgment see anything hurt ful to the cause of God and truth, please do not publish it, for I do hope I love my God and his cause above everything on this earth. I read the Messenger with great pleasure, and much to the comfort of my poor soul, as I can hear but little preaching that has the joyful sound salvation b grace in it. Oh, that the Lord would send laborers into his harvest to the joy of his little ones. J. Y.H. 1 “ . ... 111 ‘lll. 1 “ MARRIED, By Eld. E. B. B. Shaw, Mr. JOHN L. CALLO WAY, to Miss ELIZABETH BAKER, both of Gwinnett Cc., Ga. By Eld. E. B. B. Shaw, Mr, JOHN W. NASH, of DeKalb Cos., Ga., to Miss SARAH E. IIAMBY } daughter of Eld. Isaac Hamby of Newton Cos., Ga.