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VOL. XI.
Commumattions.
New Libertt, Amitie Cos., Miss.,
March 4, 1862. }
Bro. Wm. L. Beebe :—Having a small remit
tance to send you, and not knowing that I will
ever again enjoy the privilege of addressing you, I
desire to write a few lines to those who read and
love the doctrine taught in the Messenger. Not
that I feel able to write anything that would com
fort, edify, or iustruct, by Ray means; but I do
think that if I could fully describe my feelings, my
doubts and fears, and the sharp conflicts l have
experienced in my bosom for the last few years,
between the old and the new man, l would gain at
least one feeling of sympathy from every child of
grace, who may chance to read these lines. Paul
describes my feelings when he says. “For I know
that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dweileth no good
thing. For to will is present with me, but how to
perform that which is good l fiod not. For the
good tha # t I would I do not ; but the evil which I
would not, that do I. And notwithstanding 1 de
light in the law of God, after the inward man, I
6ee another law in my members, warring against
the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivi
ty to the law of sin, which is in my members. O,
wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me
from the body of this death ?” Sometimes I feel to
i t
say with the Psalmist —“ Will the Lord cast off
forever? and will he be favorable no more? Is
his'merey clean gone forever ? Doth his promise
fail forevermore ? Hath God forgotten to be gra
cious ? hath he in his anger shut up his tender
mercies ?” And shall I spend the remainder of
my days in darkness and never again enjoy a fresh
manifestation of the fearful presence of Him in
whom I trust my soul delighteth# O that mine
eyes were a fountain of fears that I might weep day
and night over my leanness of soul, and barrenness
of mind, and that I might be led by the Spirit to
the foot of the cross, and there plead for, and ob
tain a small portion of the crumbs that fall from
the Master’s table. I often feel to inquire, have I
ever been taught by the Spirit to know the truth
as it is in Jesus ? Do I know what it is to be dead
in trespasses and sins? and what it is to be con
demned by God’s righteous law, without hope, and
without God in the world ? and have I any hope
that I have been freed from the demands of the
law, and made a subject of saving grace, and no
longer under the law, but under grace ? Yes, dear
brethren aud sisters, I humbly trust I do. I think
that I remember the wormwood and the gall, and
the distress l experienced when I found that my
DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS.
“©33 4©BB ©S3 14173, 43© ©3a 84tf113.”
COVINGTON, NEWTON CO., GA., MARCH 15, 1862.
law righteousness was but a fig-leaf dress, in which
I was justly condemned, and subject to the wrath
of God. But God, who is rich in mercy, bad com
passion upon me, bid darkness and sighing flee
away, and set my captive soul at liberty, giving
me to view Christ by faith as my Savior, putting
anew song in my mouth, even praises unto our
God. Instead of expecting justification by the
deeds of the law, as I had previously, I was now
prepared to adopt the Apostle’s language —“ For
by grace are y saved, through faith, and that not
of yourselves ;it is the gift of God. Not of works,
lest any man should boast.” And if the unworthy
writer is saved, it will be an act of free, sovereign
and unmerited grace.
Bro. Beebe, I was well pleased with your re
marks on the Chaplaincy, and think that your
system, if carried out, would prove effectual. Is
not the modern mission system chargeable with
the present distressed condition of our once pros
perous and happy country ? And if so, is not abo
litionism the link in the mission chain that has
been the means of bringing this awful calamity
upon us ? and are not the popular religionists of
the South clinging to this chain of Anti-Christ,
(with the exception of the abolition link,) with as
much fanaticism as are tbe fanatics of the North ?
questions I would like to see answered
by you or some of your able correspondents.
I expect in a few days to shake the parting hand
with my dear wife, seven little children, parents,
brothers and sisters, and other relatives and friends,
to leave a peaceable and quiet home, for which I
am to receive the hardships of a camp life. I go
for the war , expecting to remain (if I should live)
upon tie tented field, until the enemy acknowl
edges and respects the rights of our country. Igo
trusting in Him who woiks all things according to
his own will, and who declares that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose. He
has preserved me through past life; and if God be
for us, who can be against us ? Who shall lay
anything to tbe charge of God’s elect ? It is God
that juatifieth. Kind reader, do you sympathize
with the poor of Christ’s k ingdom ? If so, when
it goes well with you remember poor, unworthy
me and mine.
Btloved brethren and sisters, allow me, a poor
worm of the dust, to entreat you, who remain at
home, to forsake not assembling yourselves toge
ther in the manner that some do, but meet, speak
oft one to another, and pray for one another, and
forget not to pray for the poor in camp, and our
beloved country. God, who at suudry times, and
in divers manners, spake in times past unto tbe
fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days
spoken unto us by hia Son. Verily, verily, the
hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall
hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that
hear shall live. Then beloved brethren and sisters,
as those that are alive from the dead, let us give
the more earnest heed to the things which we hare
heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. —
The Eldtrs of the Primitive Baptist order I would
entreat as fathers, “ Preach the word; be instant
ia season, out of season ; reprove, rebuke, exhort,
with all long-suffering and doctrine.” For perilous
times are upon us ; tbe people cannot endure sound
doctrine, but have turned their ears from the truth,
and have turned unto fables. “But watch thou
in all things ; endure afflictions ; do the woik of an
evangelist; make foil proof of thy ministry ;” and
may we all be so happy as to be enabled to adopt
the language of Paul—“ I have fought a good fight
I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord the Righteous Judge
shall give me at that day : and not to me only,
but unto al'l them also that love his appearing.”
I remain your brother, I hope, in much tribula
tion. J. C. WILKINSON.
Moc v Gx., March 2, 1862.
N r .w J.
Bro. W. L. Beebe I would willingly write
for the Messenger , if I were calculated to do so;
but when I consider my incompetency to write,
and tbe barrenness of my mind, I am compelled to
shrink from the task.
I w’as born in Wilkes county, Ga., on the 15th
of August,-1815, and, like all of Adam’s race, was
born a sinner, and did not- know the exceeding sin
fulness of my nature until I bad arrived at my 22d
year. Previous to this time I thought that I was
a sinner to some extent, but thought that at some
future day, I would get religion, and be a very
good man, and would be highly esteemed by every
body. I txpected to know that I was a Christian,
and could waft my way to heaven in a most de
lightful mauuer. But in all this l have been sadly
mistaken.
On the 18tb day of November, 1837,1 witnessed
the death of a brother. When a few minutes be
fore he breathed his last, he turned his eyes to a
sister who was weeping by the side of the bed, and
said to her. (calling her by name,) “ Don’t weep
ft.r me; you had better weep for yourself,” I was
struck with such force that \ was obliged to shrink
down by the side of the bed, where I could not
refrain from wetping. I there viewed myself as a
•poor, lost, and ruined sinner; and from that time
I commenced trying to pray, but could only say,
NO, 24
