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tfefi it as it appeared to me, nor do I think I could %vith a thousand such tougues as mine. I have prayed to be satisfied as I have told it. The Lord knows rov heart, it is deceitful and wicked above all things. I thought I was no longer troubled, I would have no more wicked thoughts, though it was not long until old nature seemed to be just as mean as ever; it seemed to be a mistake in me, 1 had caught at the substance and caught the shad ow. I thought it was right to live a moral life, and it appeared it was my duly to go to meeting and pay strict attention to the preacher. 1 did think I liked to hear Old Father Colley in preference to any one else, it might have been because I went to hear him more than any one else. I thought there was something interesting in his diseouise. I wan dered along trying to wear it oft; I was as rude a young man as common, or worse, l have thought since, I was meaner than anybody, for I tried to hide my faults, whilst it seemed that others acted theirs out, and it looked like they got along the best. 1 finally settled it in my mind that when 1 was grown that I would marry and become a member of the church. So in the twenty-second year of my age I aid marry, thinking I would be come quite a different man, but after some time, thinking of my condition, I found myself to be as mean as ever, no better than I was when I was a sin gle man. It surely did seem, that I was fit for nothing. The wheels of time rolled on, and I had many serious thoughts of my condition, and in the year 1 858, when I hope it was the pleasure of the good Jjord to give me a spiritual understanding of his divine words preached by Wm. M. Mitchell. 1 think the words of his text was as follows : “ Go tell the king’s household what great things have been done for you.” These words struck rue with great force, my heart ached, I felt to tremble, and my mind leaped back to the time I have above men tioned, it seemed that every thing appeared as bright as it did when 1 first had a view of my Sa vior Jesus Christ. Tbts has been so with me the Lord knows and none other. Brother Mitchell im pressed it upon my mind that it was the duty of every poor soul that was changed l>y grace to no longer confer with flesh and blood, but go forward rind tell what great things the Lord has done for ns. I was made willing to go at the first opportu nity and relate to the Christian people my travels, though I knew mine was a bad case; but it was not long before I thought if I did everybody would say he is no more a Christian than I am ; he just wants to make some people think he is something, and at the same time 1 thought that would bo theii conclusion anyhow, and I would try it. I then was fearful that some ouo would question me on the subject. 1 found my wife had began to notice me and said something to me about being a chang ed man, but 1 denied it to some extent to her. At last my old mother-in-law said to me, I would be glad to hear you talk some to-night, I said to her, 1 could not say anything, or someone may know my feelings. On going to bed that n'ght my wife said to me, why did you not talk to mother^to -1• ? T !.*• r nothing to tell, but before SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER. I went to sleep 1 could have told her all about it. The time passed on with me for several months, and very unexpected to me I and my wife, and T. T. Sawyers and his wife, went home with cousin Wm. S. Montgomery from Harris’ Spring the third Saturday in Oct. 1859, and soon after supper, very unexpected to me,cousin William said to me, I would be glad to hear you tell your expe rience. I was struck almost senseless, I scarcely kuew whether 1 was sitting in the chair or where 1 was, something said to me tell what you know. I then commenced, told my little travels, and 1 thought it was very poor, aud I was confident the crowd thought so too, and after my wife ands. T* Sawyers related their little hope, I wished I had never said a word, for I thought theirs was superior to mine. Cousin William then said to us three, if he had a Christian experience we surely did. After that night I saw no more peace until the next meeting at Harris’ Spring in November following. When the door of the church was opened for receiving members I went forward and related my little hope to them, and was received among them and bap tized next morning at nine o’clock by Isaac Ham by, the pastor of that church. Brethren and sisters, I hope that I have discharged my duty, and it is my desire that I may live like a Christian ; this is my earnest prayer to God, and that I may never dis grace this great cause. lam a poor, helpless and dependent creature, and if saved at all it is by g. ace alone. THOMAS B. HARALSON. Jasper, Hamilton Cos., Fla. Dear Brethren —I have often thought of wri ting something for publication, but feeling myself so limited in every sense of the word, have neglect ed it. But there are some preaching brethren be longing to another Association who differ with me on the gospel, and the use of the gospel. And as it is a matter of great importance Jhope the breth ren who write for the Messenger will give their views on that subject, perhaps it might be the means of enabling us more to see eye to eye. They hold that that word which was in the beginning with God is the gospel, and also that the gospel is Spiritnd Life; arid that the gospel is the means that God has appointed to beget faith in the hearts oj sinners. Ido not view it in that light, if I did I would join the modern missionaries. Dear baeth reu, I do not want to write anything that would in the least wound the cause, but the glory of God and the good of Zion is my object. Ido not hold the gospel to be Jesus Christ himself, but that it (the gospel,) is a true declaration of Christ in all His saving benefits; and that He is the author and finisher of the Christian’s faith, and that lie, by im putation bore the sins of all that llis lather gave to Him ; and that He has paid all that justice de manded. Here He purchased Life for them, and that Life is in Himself. John v. 26. Neither is there salvation in any other. Acts iv. 12. Mine own arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury, it upheld me. Is. Ixiii. 5. And you hath he quick ened who were dead in trespasses and sins. Lph. ii. 1. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quick- ened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.) Epb. ii. 5. I hold that no one has the control of that life, for His glory He will not give to another, neither his praise to* graven images, neither does any man control the voice of the Son of God, and it is his voice that gives life to poor dead sinuers, for the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Sod of God, and they that bear shall live. John v. £5,. Sinners in. a state of darkness, blindness and death cannot un derstand the gospel. We have no evidence that gospel gives life to them. Jteus says all things are, delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whom soever the Son will reveal him. Matt. xi. 2*7. But as it is wiitten eve hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath promised to them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God. Ist Cor. ii. 9, 10.— Hence we see that Jesus who is the life of his bride, from a principle of love to her, notwithstand ing she is dead in sins hath quickened her to life, and now she iseapable of feeling her lost condition, and thereby is made to mourn on the account of her sins. For they now see that they have violat ed God’s Law, and without a Mediator they must forever perish. Now here is a gospel character, there is a poor needy creature, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them, and they are inter ested in the gospel, because God’s Spirit is iu their hearts, and that Spirit desires the things ot the Spirit; and the gospel being the product of the Spirit, ibis character can receive it ; but the natur al man reeeiveth not th© things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him ; neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned. So we may see the use of the gospel, it is to feed and comfort these little lambs and sheep. The command of Jesus is to feed His sheep and lambs, hut I have not found any command to make Sheep. And the Lord gave to the church diversity of gifts by the same Spirit for the pei feeling of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ until we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measuie of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Eph. iv. 12, 13. But it is to be lameuted that some get so wise in the min* inistry that they cannot be taught, and when such get in possession of a false notion, if you cross them they become offended, and if you go to their meet ings you can see a coldness manifested, Dear brethren, these things ought not to be. Dear ren, I have given my views and they are at your disposal, if they are so scattering and badly writ ten that you cannot do anything with them, or they would in your opinion be injurious to th© cause throw them by and publish my request, but if you think they are worth publishing, please cor rect all errors and all will be right, So, dear ren, I subscribe myself yours in the bonds of th© gospel. JOB E. W. SMITH, 171