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with an attar iidA ls 1 ' lk ? Remember vour pi? ls .P. arc ? t ? *° have 5? d> lihen at evening yd," J o,ne<l the ro!ld ' ng ■Lthe Bible anS V JP r *- vr (°, r mfcU ßLyon collect ~„r household and ask a Hfv blessing harness of life? ' ' --f Hmttr itnii Baptist. “Holy Bible,—Book Divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine.” 11. C. HOMADY, ) P ,| fftls JESSE M. WOOD, j-EaitOM. J. 8. BARER. I A - , t w, . D P EVERETT \ Kdxtors. ATIjAISTTA, aEORGTA: Saturday, June SI, 18BS. The True Ground of Acceptance with God. Earnest inquirers are often troubled and perplexed in their minds when seeking to be reconciled to God. These difficulties are not, as we believe, inherent —in the nature of the case—butresult from improper teaching upon the subject. Theories have been adopted and uiged which serve only to darken counsel without knowledge, to! perplex and distract the minds of honest inquirers who, if left to the simple teaching of the Gospel, would speedily arrive at the truth. There is a sort of mongrel theology float ing about upon the surface of the great public mind —a mixture of grace and human merit—which sometimes offers very stub born resistance to pure unadulterated truth. Prejudices are entertained until they become a sort of second nature, so that, while the teacher of the Gospel is battering away upon them, the individual is but too prone to consider the blows levelled at himself, and hence prepares to act on flifl 'Wfuniyp, rtrtt WlTfttever opinions or prejudices may be entertained with reference to the great and vital subject placed at the head of this article, we must, as religious journalists, insist upon it : that the only way of accept ance with God is through a crucified and risen Sav ***■**•- The sinner can be justified before God only by having his sins imputed to Christ and the righteousness of Christ bnputed to him. ‘Tor by grace are ye it is not only an act of justice to of mercy to tlu- sinner. Nor do tlreH views afford any encouragement to Anti nomianism, for Paul, who taught the same truths, very pertinently asks ‘Shall we continue in sin because we are not under the law but under grace ? ’ Not so, but i we continue in sin it proves most conclu sively that we are still under the law and not under grace. The Gospel esteems good works as the fruits of grace, and not as the procuring cause of it. Good works are not the meri torious cause of justification, but the accom panying and necessary proofs of it. But the question may be asked, Will God justify and save a sinner unless he come to Christ? By no means, for ‘ whosoever believeth on Him shall be saved.’ But there is a vast difference between coming to Christ and throwing ourselvesentirely upon 11 is mercy, and incoming to Him under the impression that we deserve to be saved because we x>me. As to us, we deserve nothing but eternal death, whether we come or stay; but the grace of God provides that we may eome.not BANNER AND BAPTIST. withstanding our ill deserts. There is no more merit in a sinner’s accepting the salva tion of God in Christ, than there would be in a condemned criminal accepting a pardon which had been procured for him by his friends. If he deserved death before pardon he equally deserves it after his acceptance lof the pardon. And so it is with a sinner | who believes in Christ: The fact of his i guilt is not removed, but God accepts the righteousness of Christ for him, and the guilt is transferred from the sinner to the Saviour, and in Him and for Him it is can cancelled, so that the saved owe all to Christ —nothing to the merits <>f their own per formances. Hut having been accepted in Christ, and pardoned through Him, the work of sanctifying them—of changing their nature —is, carried on by the Holy Spirit with direct reference to what Christ has done for them. These may be to many unpalatable t ruths, but we believe them to be truths notwith standing. OCCASIONAL TALKS. WHOSE FRIEND ARE YOU ? ' To your country, many of you are un flinching friends. This you have proven by your devotion to its cause. Vour sons, your money, and yourselves, yon have placed upon your country’s altar. Nothing has been too dear to.give for freedom, and for the relief of your native land in these times of her calamity and danger. But are you friends to Christ ? Have you, with the same ardor —the same readiness of mind —made sacrifices for Ilim and His neglect ed cause? Have your children, and your means, been placed upon His altar? Are you friend* of Christ? Your parents you love, and no one dare Reproach them in your presence. With them you would divide your last biscuit — your last comfort. But are you friends of Christ? Your wives, husbands, brothers, sisters, and your little ones you hold in warmest sympathy, and are ready to do and suffer any thing for their comfort, hap piness and reputation. But are you a friend of Christ ? When He is reproached, i do you feel reproached? When His cause | suffers, do you suffer? Poor friend is he; who feel s but little concern for the Saviour’s cause, and that mourns not when Zion; weeps. What has country, companions,! kindred, children, done for you, compared to what Christ has done ? TTnrgrcn;try.Tti li. . i... tka uu iverse is,, that Christ laid down 11 is life to save you ; : and yet you must be asked, do you love flirn ?—are you Ilis friends? “ And have I, Christ, no love to Thee, No passion for Thy charms ? No wish my Saviour’s face to see, And dwell within His arms? A. very wretch, Lord, I should prove Had I no love for Thee ; _ Rather than not my Saviour love, O, may I cease to be ! ” Whose friend are you? W. j t'olportugc for the Soldier*. I The following sums have been received : I CVlissE.Miller,*l 00 D.M.Houston, 50 [A. T. Holmes, 1 00 Capt. Brewster, 50 ICher. 8.C0n,. 15 d0 Mrs. E. Barnes, 50 [Miss M. Smith, 1 00 B. Johns, 00 Mrs Blood worth 1 00 A. Tuning, 25! Mrs, Orme, 1 00 W.A. Powell, 501 Prof. Willett, 10 00 Dr. Hamilton, 50 j Mrs. McKee, 50 E. T. Hunnicutt,fo T.G.Creswell, 50 J. W. Med look, 50 ILL. White, 100 Cherokee Baptist Convention —for Banner land Baptist forhospitala—%B 00. I Mrs. R. T. Marsh—for Tracts or Testa. Intents for sick soldiers in this city- #5 00. Tract Depository. Brother A. E. Dickinson has established la Tract Depository in this city. Those de- Isirous of distributing Tracts in our hospitals lean obtain them by apply ing at the office of [The Banner and Baptist. Forsyth. The ‘ present,’ from the sisters of For syth, has been received, and is hereby acknow 1 edged. W. Notice. The next general meeting appointed by the Coosa Association, for the first district, will be held with Bush-Arbor Church, on Friday before the second Sabbath in July, jIBG2. Brethren appointed to w rite upon selected subjects will be expected to have their articles prepared. All are requested to attend. Visiting brethren will be provided for, and we hope much good will be accomplished in our Redeemer’s cause. I). B. Hamilton', ) M. G. Garker, Committee. B. F. Hooper. S All letters containing remittances, or art icles or the Paper, should be directed to the Bahner & Baptist, Atlanta, Georgia, and not to the Edi. tors by name Personal. ROME, Ga., June 4, 1863. Brother Wood: It is a deep source of regret to the many friends of brother Ryerson, that you should think proper to attack his character in your last issue. We are familiar with your charges, and their origin; and repeated ex aminations into the proof have but strength ened our confidence in him. We wonder at the frequent repetition of these charges, and the force with which they are pressed, when certainly no good can be accomplish ed, and much evil is sure to result. In this community, at least, your publication of them has impaired your influence, and that of your paper, and has caused feelings of bitterness to arise in the hearts of those who love and cherish his memory. W hile in Rome, brother Ryerson inspired in us the utmost confidence in his piety.— b aults we could see, but are not these found in every true child of God ? We believe! him to be a true disciple of Jesus; his sig | nal success in leading souls to the Gross, I establishes our convictions. We hope the brother who, we doubt not, furnished you with “proof,” will feel wil ling to lay this work aside, and employ his talents and energies in that only which'shall redound to the honor and glory of God. In the absence of our brother, and his in "TO TTTPei tin m. VVMW > * .M. . -f—l-1 this to be a required tribute from those who were converted under his ministry at Rome. B. The above communication was written by a young brother of the Rome church, and indorsed by another. 1 know nothing prejudicial to their character, and appreci ate the motives v hieh prompted the com munication. In relation to the article of which they complain, they are hereby informed that there were two controlling motives which induced its publication : 1. The cause of the Saviour, as repre sented by the Baptist denomination, was suffering on account of the bad conduct of J. E. Ryerson. Baptists were j ustly charge able with winking at conduct for which any minister ought to be excluded. 2. Home good brethren were suffering for having dared to express their opinion about his course. Not until fully convinced of his repeated drunkenness did I get my consent to publish the warning to the churches. As regards that part of the article which refers to Canada, 1 shall have nothing more to say—as G. C. Connor has published his card regarding it. Of his conduct in Augusta and New Or leans, I have testimony of persons who saw him,inid of those who have lived in those places. As to what occurred in Rome, for the sake of others, I have heartily desired to have nothing more to say. But in rela tion to (hat, us well as what occurred in the two former mentioned places, if it becomes necessary, 1 shall not hesitate to give names; and if any one evades or denies, I will prove upon him what he has said regarding the matter. I wish, at present, not to parade names before the public—with the hope that no one will make it necessary. These young brethren are mistaken when they say “ We are familiar with your charges, and their origin ; ’’ or else they are persistently unwilling to receive testimony. Regarding the loss of influence of which they remind me, I have to say that a man ought not to desire influence only so far as it enables him to do good, and the best way to secure that kind of influence is to keep trying to do good. If thirteen years of toil and acquaintanceship in that section of country have not secured a lasting influ ence and secured friends who will stand by me, then, as a sober man 1 will take my chance single-handed against one who has disgraced the ministry by drunkenness. J. M. WOOD. Crumb*. SO. VIII. “ UV are the destroying army of God.'* — There are vast numbers of locusts in the Eastern countries. The Moslems have a fancy that they can read the above quotation inscribed on their wings—so destructive are they. . There are a multitude of little things in the pathway heavenward which God com bines and employs to destroy our indolence, forgetfulness of Him, and false security.— We have to be “ on guard,” night and day. Like Abraham, we have to watch our spirit ual sacrifices, and drive away every little I disturber. God designs that these little hurtful agents shall make us more watchful and energetic. In the kingdom ot grace the good and the bad are employed to de ; velope our characters. We dread human armies, but God’s scourges are indeed “destroying.” Brethren, make the application. __ WILL Change of C orrespondence. The correspondents of Elder G. W. Sel vidge, will address him hereafter at Dalton, Ga,, instead of Corinth, Miss. Elder S. is one of those who have been driven from their homes bv the incursions of the enemy. To do good, and wish people to know it, is not true charity. The Memory of a Dear Frieiul. BY MARY A. McCKIMMOX. Deep hidden In my heart there is a shrine Fair as ihe pearly eaves that lie concealed Beneath the waters of the Indian Sea. A still and holy grot it ls, bedecked With many precious gems, suc-h as have dropt From spirits rich in thought, while sailing o’er The restless stream of time. No jarring sound Or angry tone, like those ol outer life, Gan And an entrance at its folded doors ; But softest music ever murmurs there, Like that the sea-shell whispers to the sea: And in its pure refrain ®ne trembling note, With sweeter cadence than aught else, repeats Thy name. Fair faces, dim and shadowy As images upon the summer clouds, Look down from off its walls. These are the loved And lost portrayed by precious memory. But one there is on whom the hand of time Hath lightly laid his soft and mellowing touch— A speaking face, whose deep dark eye reveals The lights, and shadows, and emotions, which Together blend and struggle in the soul. Time, who may rob us of our richest gems, Can never take this image from my heart; And when, at eve, I steal'away from all The rude and hollow tumult of the world, To hold communion with the spirits pure That come from ’round God’s throne, ’twill Upon me oryorrr- - - Then, while the light of reason shines williln The temple of my mind, no thoughtless hand Shall rudely touch, or Borean blast deface, The brightness of its much-loved lineaments; But evermore, where'er I go, ’twill he My own —a relict of the fleeting past— That neither time nor fate can ever take From out the hidden shrine within my heart. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rev. B. Manly, Jr., J). D., sends to the Christian Index, from Greenville, 8. C., the following account ol the annual com mencement of this institution: The Commencement was observed in a very quiet way, but the occasion was in teresting to all concerned. Over twenty students had been in attendance during the session, but all except seven had left, before the close of it—the larger number of them in order to enter the army. The purpose of several of those who remained was to enlist, either as soldiers or as eolporters, so soon as they had completed tiie year of study upon which they had entered, and which they were reluctant to leave unfinish ed. One of the professors, brother Boyce, has been acting as chaplain in one of the South Carolina regiments on the coast, his duties being attended to by other officers —chiefly by brother William Williams, formerly of Georgia. If the former stu dents and the students of this session be counted, to say nothing of those students who were coming but for the war, it will be seen that both the pupils and the faculty of the institution have been very fairly repre sented in the ranks of the army. Rev. W. B. Johnson delivered the annu al commencement address. lie touched upon the previous history and present pros pects of the seminary, and then proceeded to discuss the sentiments proper to a Chris tian man in the present crisis of our nation. His venerable appearance, and the faltering tones of a naturally clear and distinct voice, brought vividly to mind his long and la borious services; while the ardor and ear nestness of his address showed that age had not dimmed his love for the cause of God, nor his patriotic zeal for his country’s welfare. Rev. J. P. Boyce, as Chairman of the Faculty, addressed a brief but impressive valedictory to the students, and conferred the diplomas of the seminary on those who graduated in the several schools. One brother, Rev. George W. Hyde, of Missouri, having graduated in all the schools, was declared a full graduate of the Seminary. Only one student, Rev. J. A. Chambliss, pastor at Sumpterville (now engaged in laboring for the soldiers), has obtained this distinction before. The grad uates in the particular schools are: 1. In Biblical Introduction—G. W. Hyde. 2. In Old Testament Interpretation— English department: John M. Roane. He brew department: R. W. East, John M. Roane. 3. In New Testament Interpretation— English department: R. W. East, G. F. Williams, W. 11. Williams, A. B. Wood fin. In the Greek department: John M. Roane, G. F. Williams, W. 11. Williams, A. B. Wood fin. 4. In Systematic Theology: F. M. Dan iel, R. W. East, John M. Roane, W. 11. Williams, A. B. Woodfin. 5. In Polemic Theology: None. G. In Homiletics: A. B. Woodfin. 7. In Ecclesiastical History : F. M. Dan iel, G. W. Ilyde. 8. In Church Government and Pastoral Duties : F. M. Daniel, R. W. East, G. F. Williams, W. 11. Williams, A. B. Woodfin. The next session of the Seminary, it was announced, would commence on the first of September , instead of-October as heretofore; but of course the future of the Seminary will depend on the war—as every thing now seems to do. If the war continues, unless theological students are exempted from the ‘conscription, there can be no stu dents, because the ages of eighteen to thirty five, would take in pretty certainly all that might be expected at an institution of this sort, and all between those ages are regard ed as under orders of the President. He who has struck his colors to the pow er of an evil habit has surrendered himself to an enemy, bound by no articles of faith, and from whom he can expect only the vilest treatment. Bodily labor alleviates the pains ol the mind, and hence arises the happiness of the poor. THE GRAVE. Elder U. M. Matthews departed this life, at his residence in Franklin, Heard county, Ga., on the 15th November, 1861, after an illness of eight months with an en largement of the liver. He died as one going to sleep. Brother Matthews was a pious, devoted Minister of the Gospel, and his churches were generally revived and built up. Ihe Lord blessed his labors to the conversion of many souls. He was born onthe*lflth January, Ittll, in Oglethorpe county, Ga. Joined the Baptist Church at Cloud’s Greek in ISdi), and was baptized by Elder P. P. Butler The brethren soon took notice of his minis terial gift, and knowing that his education was limited, they sent him to school at Penfield. lie moved from there to Chero kee Georgia, and was set apart to the Gos pel ministry, by the authority of the Bap tist Church at Lafayette, in May, IS6O, the presbytery consisting of Elders .1. C.Gunn, E. Dyer and Z. FI. Gordon. Brother Matthews left a wife and nine children to mourn his loss. He was truly widow and the orphans, and prepare each one of them to meet him where parting will be known no more. R. 1L and. Brother Lewis 11. Homahd is no more He departed this life the 22d of May, 1862, at the Borax Hospital in Savannah —a member of the Early Guards, 13th Georgia regiment. The deceased was born December .28th, 1834; was baptized by Elder W. S. Leg gett, into the fellowship of the church at Blakely, in 1855. He leaves a wife and two children. He went into the* hospital to nurse his brother who was wounded in the White marsh battle near Savannah Brother Howard loved and served God at home and in the army. His death whs trium pliant. Several ministers \isited him in his sickness, to whom he gave every evi denee that his faith was in Cod. The wri ter had the pleasure of his acquaintance for ten or eleven years, and can say he was a model young man, possessing an unusual share of good qualities. His father, brother Peter Howard, was with him when he died. Oh, what a solace of joy such a sun as Lewis must be ! And though hard to give him up, it is yet a joy to know that he is basking in God’s glory, freed from all the troubles of earth. May God sanctify this of Ilis providence to His glory, and to the salvation of the bereaved, is my prayer. w. w. o. Died, in Richmond, Va., on the 25th of May, 18G2, Riley M. Millioan (son of Thomas and Louisa Millican) in the twenty third year of his age. The subject of the above notice was born in DeKalb county, Ga r , 10th Sept’r, 1830. While young he removed with his parents to Carroll county, where, at the age of fit teen years, he professed that God, for Christ’s sake, had pardoned his sins, and was baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist church at Carrollton, of which he continued a pious and consistent member up to the time of his death. When the war broke out, he volunteered in the first company that went from Carroll (Captain Burke’s company, 7th Georgia). He was in the battle at Manassas Plains ; also that of South Mills, near Yorktown— in both of which he did his duty as a soldier and- a Christian. When the enemy laid siege to Aprktown, he was placed on guard in the rifle pit at night, where he received h wound in the knee by a ball, which made it necessary to amputate his leg, which pain ful operation he bore with the fortitude of a Christian soldier. He was placed in a hospital in Richmond, where he appeared to be doing well for near five weeks, when a fever ensued and soon put an end to his mortal career. He believed from the first that he would not recover, expressed a wil lingness to go, told his brother to tell his friends at home that he was prepared to go, and felt resigned to God’s will. Agreeable to bis request, his remains were sent home, where he was interred with military honors. A large concourse of his neighbors and friends followed his remains to their last resting-place. On arriving at the grave, a few appropriate re marks were made by Elder 11. Hamrick, followed by prayer. The body was then lowered under a military salute. Thus was paid the last tribute of respect to our de parted friend and brother. May brother and sister MilJican he con soled with the thought, that although they can see Riley no more on earth, he is gone tu that upper and better kingdom where they may ere long join him in singing praises to God and the Lamb forever. Ihe Church adopted and placed upon record suitable resolutions relative to the death of our brother, and request The Ban ner and Baptist to publish ‘an appropriate obituary notice thereof.’ M. [The Christian Index and the Chronicle and Sentinel are requested to copy.]