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their religious exercises. A great desire for the
coo version of a husband, wife, a lovely son or
daughter, may cause them, sometimes, to say and
do what the Scriptures do not warrant or sustain.
Yet, upon sober reflection,they have experimentally
to acknowledge that “ it is not of him that willeth,
nor of him that runneth, but of God that shewelh
mercy.” This Paul testified, notwithstanding his
great desire for Israel’s salvation. The unworthy
writer of this article has had some experience on
this subject himself, and even now, at times under
goes some conflict of rnind in reference thereto,
lie canuot at all times sufficiently discern the dif
ference between the vvoikings of the flesh and of
the spirit in his own exercises, but often exclaims,
“0 wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ?” I still have a hope
in the mercy of God, if I am not egregiously de
ceived, and dare not for a moment indulge any
confidence in the flesh, or in any of my fleshly exer
cises.
Os course! cannot tell whether my views of the
text will be satisfactory to Sister Simmons or not,
but I have tried to comply with her request, though
not so soon as I should have done. In passing
through scenes of advesity and trial, without fight
i'-'gs, and within fears, I hope Sister Simmons, and
the dear saints in general, scattered abroad, may
have giace given them sufficient ; for “as thy day
is, so shall thy strength be.”
JOSEPH L. PURINGTON.
■cggfr I-*►► m
Oglethorpe Cos., Ga., Jan. 1, 1802.
Dear Brother Beebe:— Often, in reading and
hearing false doctrines, I am animated, and become
more anxious for die truth to ho published or pro
claimed, and having not long since read with some
interest two small books, written by a “ Methodist
Clergyman —one entitled Cliurc.lt Government , and
the other The Doctrines of the Bible , my anx
iety to proclaim the truth became unusually t-x
cited.
In both these works the writer labors hard, and
disnlavs considerable ingenuity in withholding the
truh, and giving falsehood f*ir colors ; and after
all he bad said to make the B ptists —the doctrine
they believe—their practice in the execution of
discipline, with close communion—look as con
temptible as possible, because they will not invite
Methodists, and other denominations, to their com
onus ion laldcs, lie calls them an illiberal, bigoted,
self Important even claiming infallibility. In
closing one of his Dull finding chapters, he says,
.*• If, however, they (the Baptist.*-) are satisfied, we
need not complain; nay, we ought to let them
alone in their glory, and disturb not their pleasant
revelry ard repose.” Wonder he had not thought
< f that before, and then he would not have made
inch awgil ct niplaiiiLs because the Baptists would
not invite him into their pulpits, and to their com
munion table*. The very fact that he, aud those
mul rung his opinions, are so anxious to be invited
to commune with us is, alter all a plain admission
..n tneir part, that, they consider the Baptists the
h. -i a rcl of Oh list in gospel order ; it not, strange it
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER.
is that they should be so anxious to commune with
them. He also takes considerable pains in gather
ing up several fabulous authors to piove that Christ
and his apostles practiced sprinkling, and even in
fant sprinkling, for baptism ; which he dated not
attempt to prove by the New Testament writings;
yet he never claimed that Christ or his apostles
were sprinkled, or called Methodists. No; solar
from it, he knows, as well as he knows Anything
written by divine revelation, that John'the Baptist
(not John W.,lhfc Methodist) baptized,or immersed
Jesus himself ; who there left an example for all
believers to follow, and which no man, or set of
men, are at liberty to alter or change till the end
of time. And none are entitled to church nnviicg s,
but believers baptized in the same manner or mode
that Jesus was.
This writer says that the Methodists are a part
of the Church of Christ in gospel order, and calf*
upon the Baptists to disprove it. Wonderful in
deed, that, while no authorized court in heaven or
# ‘
on earth has ever required a negative to be proven
this complainer takes the tesponsibility on himself.
It he had succeeded in proving that the Methodists,
as a body, constituted even a part of the Church o<
Christ in her gospel organization, then the matter
would have been settled. But this he does not at
tempt to do by tbe Scriptures, but only from the
writings of uninspited men, like himself. None
who ate desirous of following Jesus Christ should
notice for one moment such practices as valid tes
mony in proving any point connected with the
taith and practice of the Christ, since all Scripture
is given by tbe inspii atiou.of God, and is profitable
for doclrne, for collection, for reproof, for instruc
tion in righteousness, that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly tu#idalied unto all good work*.
To this infallible rule lie would not attempt to
come, knowing, as he must, that it would certainly
expose him, and them that he was striving to
olease. And 1 nn cotdioentlv inform him that
A *•
the Baptists, so shamefully misrepresented by him,
claim no infallibility but iu their God and Savior,
with Lis ILdy Wotd ; aud their aim is to imitate
him, following the precepts and examples given in
the Scriptures of divine truth, whicii directs them
to keep no company (religiously) with suoii as will
not obey this tule. Tuey would make themselves
| most insulting tiansgressois to invite such disobe
fdieiit protessois to come with them around their
j Master’s table to partake of the elements with them.
| And though, because of laiiibliity, the Baptists
j iiaYc been ot.eu imposed upon by nominal proses
t sors, and though tuey often fail to live up to
I the rule their Master has given them, yet
| failures do not spoil the rule, nor give them liberty
nor inclination to go farther into ttausof cession or
disobedience ; but on the contrary, it makes it ap
pear more important that they should strive to live
moie fully up to i'.
I shall not take time and pains to prove that the
Baptists (l mean those of the Primitive faith and
practice) is the Cntirch ot Christ in gospel order
3.,-eing this is not denied by this wiiler, bis breth
ien, or any other denomination, but is acknow
ledged by : 11, in that they are willing at.d anxious
to commune with thet; and they frequently Live
been known to plead jstitication in some thing*,
when imitating the Bajists. Other proof for them
would, quite likely, beidicuh and, a> u any of them
ridicule the doctrine o,God’s predestination aud
election, so plainly taugt iu the N-„ w Testament,
and as this writer riditles the dv-cltiueof man’s
total depravity, aud hisutter inability to do anv
thing spiritually good, cly as God works in the
heart both to will ud Ido of hi* good pleasure.
But, says Lie, the SpiritJ God strives with eveiy
man, teaching him his uiy, and ydt can accom
plish nothifig unless theiiuner will. Now, if the
success of God’s Spirit, t its strivings and teach
ings, depends upon matk wid, it docs not depend
upon the will God worse in sintmr*. Such doc
trine represents God as iflerior to man : Sovereign
man holding the key, aid a poor, teasing, striving
Goa begging for enirace. If he mm come out
and owned the truth, tint all men in a fallen state,
have no will but to go from God in disobedience,
and that when God legius a goud woik of grace
in the heart by his Spirit, it is to will of a holy aud
heavenly character, and the effect in the sinner is,
to do goou, and cease to do evil ; and iu every case
of tliis kind, God continues to perform the good
work he has begun until the day of Jet-us Christ,
and.there can be no failure, because God Las un
dertaken the case, then he would have written in a
manner honoring to God aud his word, and safe
for helpless sinners.
It this writer happens to read this, he may con
sider me meddlesome in Noticing his two little
books, if so, then we are even, for so I first con
siueied him. But I can assure him that, so far as
i know myself, I have uo other object in view than
that tho lullh iuhv iuu unci La glorified.
Yours iu love, D. W. PATMAN.
Oglethorpe Cos., Ga., Feb. 10, 1562.
Dear Bko. Beebe: —Having been admonished
by your kind and welcome letter of the 3 1st ult., I
now proceed to write, and with this send you two
other communications, previously written, but
which, tli tough negligence or indifference, 1 had
neglected to send you. Please excuse me, and I
will not promise how I will do hereafter.
iiirough the abundant metcies of tbe Lord, I
ha\e enjoyed leasouable health, thomdi I have de
creased iu weight some twenty five pounds. Reli
giously, i have been tor a long time in a very cold
aim baiieii stale, iu all religious devotion, whether
public or private, it seems that 1 have the form
and led but little, it any of the power of god
siuggish aud short-sighted, feeling assured that my
tioful, deptavtd nature, with ail its abominations,
still remains , }el I fear they’ are not seen and ab
hoiied by me as they should be. So l can tiuiy
say with David, ** leach me lire measure of
my days, that 1 may know how frail I am.” I
know that iniquity abounds, and my love, so far as
I can sensibly lealize it, has waxed cold. Yet if I
have any Jove it is for my poor, afiheted brethren
and sisters ot the Primitive faith aud practice. —
evud cau it be so that I love thetu, and have .RO