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170 FayettS Cos.. Tenn. Brethren Editors —If you will indulge me, I will offer a few thoughts on the following portion of Scripture, 2nd epistle to Timothy, 3rd chapter, beginning with the Ist verse to the 9th, inclusive, ■“This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come,” <fcs. As all Scripture is given Ivy inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine etc., that the man of God may be thoroughly fur nished unto all good .works. Ist. It appears that the apostle prophesied and spoke of events in the future ; then shall we do violence to the subject if we say that bis protection are being verified in this day and time in which we live? Suffer me to advert to the History of the world, and especially of our country for the fast fifty years, when such a thing as bible, tract or mission societies and their appendages, had no ex * ence. What was the state of societies then? socialities, confidence, friend- : ship. Pistols, dirks, bowie knives, were unknown. . But since the inauguration of these societies, which are based upon money, div sions and sub divisions of sects, and verily every scheme th cou be in vented to ma e roselytes have been resorted to, and as the apostle says, they have a form of god liness, but denying the power thereof; in conse quence, men have become heady, high-miuded, proud, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Without natural affection, man takes the life of his fellow being without the least remorse of con science, covetous, yes, preach for money, beg for money, rob for money, disobedient to parents, false accusers, des isers of them that are ood. What a picture drawn of professors of religion, and last, thought not least, our happy government is brought in jeopardy by th i same principle of false benevo lence, the popular c have divided the nation re ligiously upon a subject Jiat is secular and world- ly in its bearing, and b g with the kingdom of our Sav -r, for he said my kingdom is not of this world, and therefore not divided, and it is consoling to me to know that tbe Primitive Bap lists are of the same ind and judgment, and I pray that they may be en bled to keep tbe unity of the Spir nth onds of peace, that they may live soberly, righteously aDd godly in this present world, looking or t tbt ss and hope, and the glo rious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. For the kingdom of God is not meat and dr n'*, but righteousness and peace, and joy hi the Ho’y Gho . We brought nothing into this world and can carry nothing out; having food and raiment let us be content, first seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto ; for the love of money is the root of all evil, (yes, brethren, it is tbe root from which all their monied societies have originated,) which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many s rrows. Oh, bret reu, in the ministry, let me e ho you as the apostle his son Timothy, Thou, man of God flee these things and follow after ri hleousness, godliness, faith, love, pa tieuce, meekness, etc. And now brethren, if what I have written will be any barm either to SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER. the household of faith or the Messenger in the least degree, by no means let it find a place in the Messenger, for it has been my study to give no <. ffbnca to Jew or Gentile, nor to the church of God. Brethren, may the Lord bless you and enable you so to conduct the Messenger as to make it a social messenger to the children of God scattered abroad as strangers and pilgrims, is the ardent desire and prayer of the least of all, if one at all. Yours I hope iu gospel affection, PETER CULP. Rome, Geo., Nov. 25, 1860. Dear Brethren Beebe and Purington—l con eluded to write you for publication, if you see prop er, some of my ups and downs in this world of sor row. I was born in Habersham co., Ga., in the year 1837, was born in sin as all of Adam’s race; was raised by Methodist parents, and at the age of seventeen years, I became burdened on account of sin,and thought 1 would seek religion,and finally con cluded I was a Christian, and thought I was as good as anybody, and thought I would join the church, as someone told me I would have a better evidence of the same. Accordingly I was initiated into the Methodist church bv - prinkling, which I thought was baptism, for I was so taught by my mother, who l believe was a pious Christian, and still think so; but I was disappointed in ray expectations of the evidence of my being a Christian, and felt worse than before; more under condemnation of the righteous law of God, and lost all hope of being a Christian. I tried to pray three times a day to get rid of my burden, and that God would show me the worst of my case, for I felt I was justly con demned, and could see no way that God could save such a sinner. I became a most ■■ despair. So one evening in June, in 1854, I thought every thing looked more gloomy and sad than usual, and that I would go in despair, and that I soon must die, and that unprepared to meet God in peace.— So I thought I would go once more in prayer to ask his pardoning mercy for tbe last time. There was a small grove a little ways from the house, where I used to play when I was small, I went thither to pray, wSen I got there it seemed I could not get down on my knees, it was such a cross, and I could not pray; but finally fell on my knees and cried, Lord have mercy on me. I got up, went back to the house feeling no better than before, ex pecting not to live to see another rising sun. I lay down on a sleepless pillow thinking over my condition, when all at once I thought I heard a voice saying the same thing three times, redeemed ! redeemed ! redeemed ! I thought I knew it was the voice of the Lord, who I did not know before, at the last voice my burden left me. 1 felt calm, serene and delightful in feeling, and it then came to mo tnat I was sure Christ had died for me or my sins. I rose early next morning without any doubts on my mind, told mother my feelings. A short time allerwards I got into doubts and fears and thought it might be a dream or imagination, and svisued I had my burden back again that my evidence would be better when it left me again, but I never could get it back any more ; so I got along in the Methodist church for five years, sometimes in doubts and fears, and then again some evidence of my hope in Christ. Some lime in the year 1859, I got acquainted with some connections I had in the vicinity • f Rome who were members of what was called Hard Shell Baptists, they invited me to come out and go with them to feet washing meeting, a thing I never saw before, nor heard one of their ministers preach.—< Accordingly I went about nine miles from Rome. I was still satisfied with the Methodists, and took no interest in going to the Hard Shell meeting, only td be with my connections. While they were washing feet a serious rt flection came to my mind with this Scripture that i never bad before, “If I wash thee not thou hast no part with me.” In leaving the meeting I had a love for them that I never had for the Methodists; but I did not want to leave the Methodist, because mother and sister were Methodists, and nearly all my comrades in Rome, but I never could rest contented until I for sook mother, sister and comrades and went to Rock Dale church, Floyd co., on the third Satur day in October, 1859, and was baptized in Coosa River by Eld. David Knight, after telling the church what is here written. I feel better satisfied in so doing than ever before. Yours in Tribulation, JOSEPHINE TILLY. Walton Cos., Ga., April 6, 1860. Brethren Editors —l desire to speak through the Messenger of my little experience to the breth ren and sisters. It I have not been entirely de ceived, I have a hope in Christ our Savior, though it seems very small at times, though I am satisfied with my Master’s will, I have thought if I had the experience that somechnstians have related,l would uot be backward in having it published before the people of God. I was born in Newton co., Ga., on the 25th of December, in the year of our Lord, 1829, I was like all the rest of the human family, born a sinner. In my seventeenth year I hope it [leased the Lord to show me my sins. I was sick in bed with the fever, I thought I was going to die, I had serious thoughts about my condition how it was to die without being acquainted with God. I commenced praying to Jesus to have mercy on me a poor, helpless sinner. I prayed to the Lord if he would have mercy on me and spare my life, I would try to do better. I prayed to Jesus to for give my sins, 1 could not help begging for mercy, for I knew I was a mean sinful wretch. . But all ray prayers did seem to fall to the ground, though I cried the more to the Lord to have mercy on me. It did seem to me that I was lost and that I would be damned forever and forever. I could not see anything I had ever performed that would justify me iu the sight of God. But thank the Lord, whilst I was apparently sinking down into ever lasting punishment, I was stopped, and a voice said to me, here is light, at that moment everything ap peared bright and new, and apparently I was short of a burden. I felt light and free as I never did before in time. Brethren and sisters, I never have been able to ,