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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 165