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liar people zealous of good works.” The same pe
culiarity marks tkeiti in baptism, and you cannot
make them believe any tiring else than that John
did baptize Christ in Jordan, that he immersed
Him. They are so peculiar as to contend for but
one mode in that respect, and object to every oth
er mode: but one of the strangest, most peculiar
things or customs is, that these same people will
actually wash each other’s feet in day time while
assembled to worship God, and they contend too
that they are warranted from God’s word thus to
do. I shall not stop to give the Scriptures they
point out in proof, suffice it to say, that I am of
opinion that these peculiarities are easy of proof
from His word. And when told that their customs
will render them unpopular in the eyes of the world
instead of abandoning them they seem to glory in,
them and they even contend that they must give up all
things and consider them loss for the cross of Christ,
and when they have been told that if they did not
improve upon some of their customs and peculiar
ities that they would soon go out; they do not in
any sense try to reform, but point to the word of
their Teacher, and they even date back to Him and
claim his word as their authority, and they are
bold to say that they believe that their doctrine,
that they have learned from Christ will be found
contended for when this earth is destroyed by fire.
Strange people!
They are no less strange in the eyes of the world
and to carnal religionists in the doctrine thev con
tend for. A few j: oints I will notice. They preach
that Christ died for the church alone, that the
church was given to Him in a coveuant, that by
virtue of that covenant all those who were embrac
ed in it are in His own time, and by His power
alone quickened, regenerated, born again ; that it
behooved Christ in view of that covenant to come
in the flesh, live and die for those for whom he
covenanted, that our salvation is the result of that
covenant, that love was the moving cause, that
there was nothing in us by nature that caused Him
to have mercy on us, and that it is impossible that
any for whom Christ died should be lost. That
they are His children. lie has redeemed from all
iniquity, that he beholds in them no spot, and as
He claims them as His bride and hates putting
away as they are in Him, it is impossible that they
should ever perish. They believe in particular elec
tion, of a definite number to grace and glory, and
that the choice was made before the foundation of
the world ; that w ? e are all sinners, became so by
Adam’s transgression, that even so shall all God’s
people be made alive in Christ Jesus. It matters
Bot where any of His children may have strayed to,
yet He calls them by his voice, and that it is Om
nipotent. I could not bring all the doctrine to
view in a communication, this must suffice with
this additional remark, that His people take the
Scriptures as their text book, profess to be guided
in their doctrines by that alone, all it commands
they contend for, what it condemns they reject.
Our heavenly Teacher has regard to the health
of his learners, tells them how to act to enjoy health
bijt if they become diseased, He has medicine to
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER.
purge out all tlieir impurities. Balm acts as a
specific, He watches over them, defends them from
wolves, incloses them in the fold. He teaches them
to pray, to preach and to sing, and exercise
gift that He has given to them, learns them that
without Him they can do nothing, that all their
springs are in Zion. The readers will perceive that
I have kept my promise, for I promised from the
first to be desultory, I have fulfilled it to the letter,
if he will have patience to read this, and one more
article upon the same subject I think I shall close.
The editors will say whether to publish or not, and
I am still, ANONYMOUS.
Ga., July 20th, 1860.
Brethren Editors— ln the last No. of the Mes
senger a bro. Simon after noticing a piece written
by myself, and the duty of churches to their min
isters asks me two questions and desires an answer.
W hile I do not doubt the sincerity of bro. Simon
in asking those questions, yet he is better qualified
to answer them than I am. The article to which
he alludes abounds in imperfections, it was written
when my health was quite feeble. But to his ques
tions :
Ist. At what time of the year should the neces
sities of the minister be inquired after!
Answer. At all times. The minister is the ser
vant of the church while he is serving faithfully,
those served are bound by every consideration of
right to see that his necessities are administered
unto. Suppose the church to which I belong should
call bro. Simon to preach for us, (l expect he is a
preacher,) and he should have no horse to ride, but
come to us on foot, would there be any sense in
waiting until Christmas before we ascertained his
necessities ? Our servants who labor for us in a
literal sense are provided at all times as they need
it with such things as are necessary. But if the
churches would all do their duty there would be no
necessity for contributions more than once a year.
Yet I am not so particular as to the time of the
year, ray position is that we are under obligation to
contribute of our carnal things to those who labor
for us us in spiritual things, or rather that is Paul’s
position, and 1 approve it. It is far better for us
to do our duty once a year than not at all, as is
the case in too many instances. There is a woe
to the preacher if he does not preach, and if he
does not provide for those of his own house, he is
worse than an infidel, and it seems in many cases*
that it is utterly impossible for him to do both.—
Perhaps bro. Simon can reconcile this to me an
impossibility, if he can, please do so. I can un
derstand it if the churches will do their duty. If
the preacher could quit his calling when it did not
pay and enter into some other business that would
pay, his condition might be remedied, but that is
not the O. S. Baptist doctrine, nor the bible doc
trine, but enough for the Ist inquiry.
2nd. If it should be the mind of any of the breth
ren to bestow upon their minister some of the fruits
of their land, which is most becoming, for the giver
to deliver the gift at the house of the preacher, or
to invite him to bring his sack and come after it ?
Answer. The brethren ought to take it to their
minister, then it is a tree gift indeed; if the preach
er gets it on the condition of his going aftef it,- to
that extent he has bought the fruit. Then it might!
be very inconvenient for the preacher to go, and
indeed it might not be woith the trouble of going
after, then the preacher of course is brought in debt
by his brother’s liberality. Suppose that the breth
ren of Macedonia and Achaia after they had mado
a certain contribution for the poor saints, (and
preachers may be called such,) at Jerusalem had
written to those brethren to come after it, the dis
tance was so great and their necessities so urgent.
i • . O “
that it might under the circumstances have been
of no benefit whatever, but they acted wisely in
getting bro. Paul to take it to the destitute, and
their wants were supplied without charge. But it
would be better far for the preacher to go after the
gift if practicable than not to receive it at all.
Now, bro. Simon I have answered your ques
tions briefly, but in good faith, they may not sat
isfy your mind. I should like very much for you
to solve the difficulty that I proposed for you. I
do not set myself up as a teacher, for I know my
ignoiance. All that I aimed at from the first was
to call the mind of the brethren to our duty as
taught in the Scriptures, I hoped and still hope
that bro. Mitchell, Patman, or soma one else, would
take up the subject and treat of its great impor
tance. I am still,
Ga., Nov. Ytb, 1860. ANONYMOUS.
Brenham, Texas, Nor. S, 1860.
Dear Brethren :—I had thought that I would
not send you any more private letters for publica
cation. But the enclosed of sister Hardy’s so in
teiested me, and I was so much refreshed by its
coming, and believing it would be comforting and
encouraging to others, especially the scattered
flock of Christ in Western Texas, to hear that the
Lord is visiting His people, and building up his
Zion, I therefore send it to you without her knowl
edge, yet I hope you will publish it
I hope my dear brethren and sisters in the west,
when they see sister Hardy’s letter, will feel to
thank God and take courage. You know dear
brethren and sisters the trouble we have had ; it
did seem that everything was against us but God.
Now may Israel say, And if God is for us, who
can be against us. We feel assured that the found
ation of God standeth sure, and haviug this seal
the Lord knoweth them that are his. He has de
clared that his counsel shall stand, and that He
will do all his pleasure. What is the use to de
vise means and plans to convert the people, when
the mighty God has said to the North give up, and
to the South keep not back, bring my sons from
far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth,
even every one that is called by my name. There
fore let us feel encouraged and stand fast in th
liberty wherewith Christ has made us free. Hav
ing began in the Spirit, let us not seek to be made
perfect in the flesh.
The deai sister seems to complain of my not
answering her letter, which I received some four
months ago, which I know I ought to have done,
but my health the greater portion of the time has
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