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BY HORNADY & ELLS.
VOL. HI.
’ Ilf § §3i|tist,
DEVOTED TO RELIGION AND LITERATURE,
Is published evevy Saturday, at Atlanta, Georgia, at the
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HORN AD Y & ELLS,
Editors and Proprietors.
11. O. Jlornady.] [James N. Ells.
A Day In October-
Ok 1 glorious the morning dawns,
The soul is steep’d in blissful calm ;
While heaven from or', a golden urn
PoursVer the earth ethereal balm.
My heart is full of quiet joy,
A peaceful, tranquil, dreamy bliss,
As when I take my mother's hand—
Receive her blessing with her kiss.
The care, the wear and tear of life
Are all forgot, while blissful test
Comes like a dove from heaven dow r n,
And builds within my heart her nest.
O, life is like elysium,
When days like this their glory bring;
While in my over-happy heart
Exultant joy-birds sit and sing.
My soul is full of tuneful praise
For this sweet day of dreamy biiss;
And queries if, in Paradise,
There can be rarer days than this.
Too full my heart has grown for song—
The music dies within my breast;
I can no more the strain prolong;
O, glorious day! here will I rest.
'Passages in tlie Life of an
Old (Georgia Preacher.
NUMBER I.
The writer of these “ Passages ” belongs
to a generation of preashers, nearly all of
whom have passed away. Ho writes in
the hope that the dealings of God towards
him may encourage and strengthen some
who may come after him. At least he may
be indulged in thus calling to remembrance
the goodness of the Lord, and recording
Mis mercy and grace towards one who of
ten feels himself to be “the chief of sin
ners.”
1 am a native Georgian —was born of
poor parents, whose education was so limit
ed that they could barely read and write.
My father was a profane man. My moth
er , I can scarcely trust myself even
now to speak of her. I know she was nat
urally sinful. But she became pious when
I was an infant in her frail arms, and my
earliest recollections are associated with
her pale, sad face, a racking cough, and her
patient, uncomplaining manner. It is with
difficulty I can bring myself to think of her
as a mere mortal, i regarded her then,
and do now, as almost an angel.
But I record it, with shame ami sorrow,
that even the influence of such a mother
could not control the depravity of my na
ture. At an early age l began to indulge
in profane swearing, Sab bath-breaking, and
other sins. For years, as I thought, I had
managed to conceal these things from my
mother. But I was mistaken. And when
she would take me into her closet, admon
ish me and pray for me, 1 would bo deeply
mortified, and make to myself many pro
mises of reformation.
I lor pray ws prevailed at lust, for in my
sixteenth year I was brought to see myself
a lost sinner. For months the struggle
was tearful. But Christ conquered at last,
and the wayward youth was found sitting
at the feet of Jesus, “ clothed and in his
right mind.” It was all of free, sovereign,
abounding grace. In the first moments of
the blessedness of one whose .sins art for
given, my heart was drawn out in fervent
prayer for the salvation of sinners; and a!
most before l dared to confess that 1 loved
Christ, l found myself exhorting my com
panions. Under the advice of that pious
mother and other judicious Christians, 1 of
fered to the church, was accepted and bap
tirnf in November, 1822. It was ft season
of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
I have known but few conversions, except
in times of revival.
We had the company of several thought
less young persons at my fathers the night
after my baptism, visiting my three sisters,
who were also irreligious. After supper
my mother took me aside and told me she
wished me to pray with the family. Said
she had consulted my father, who made no
objections. With a trembling 1 went for
ward. 1 had been hut recently delivered
from the horrible pit and miry clay. My
heart was full of the love of Christ.—
Around me were an ungodly father, three
a, ysisMi nwsf&s’is.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, OCTOBER 18, 1862.
lovely sisters and other friends, all stran
gers to God. I poured forth my soul unto
God. The Spirit came down with mighty
power, and all. were melted around me.
From that night my father’s house became
a house of prayer ; for—at his request 1
kept up family worship as long as he lived.
He never made a public profession of reli
gion, though he was a greatly altered man.
My sisters were soon converted and bap
tized, and fny mother died two years after
wards, in the cenfident hope that all her
family would follow her to the better land.
In a few weeks after I had “ put on
Christ,” at a young converts’ prayer-meet
ing, it was made my duty to exhort and
pray. These services were performed with
many misgivings, but with an earnest de
sire to be useful. In a few months the old
ministers would have me go into the pulpit
and exhort after they had preached. The
wonderful effects which seemed to be pro
duced by these exhortations I think now
were, in a good degree, the results of sym
pathy for my extreme youth. Yet the Lord
owned those weak efforts, and f have learn
ed therefrom that the usefulness and happi
ness of young Christians depend much upon
the older members of the church.
Harrison.
Elder Dwight Hays.
BY REV. W. N. CHAUDOIN.
The subject of this sketch was born in
the State of North Carolina, August 23d,
A. D. 1803, and died August 12th, 1853,
at his residence in Mitchell county, Georgia,
wanting but eleven days to make him fifty
nine years old. He was for thirty years of
that time an ordained minister of the Gos
pel. Ife commenced his ministerial career
in his native State, (we think,) North Car
olina, but the larger part of it was in South
Carolina, from which State he moved to
South-western Georgia six or eight years
ago, or possibly longer. W e propose now
to sketch, briefly, his character and minis-
try :
i. His character. Brother Hays was an
industrious man, in the fullest sense of the
word. He could not be idle, physically or
mentally. He labored very hard in his
old age, and his illness, congestion of the
brain, which was unto death, if not in-ought
on by, was contracted during great exer
tions and exposure, in assisting a married
daughter whose husband left home for the
war the day before her father died. Am
ple proof that he was mentally active, was
given to ail who knew his ability as an ex
pounder of the Scriptures. Pew men,
with such limited opportunities, ever be
came as proficient. And originality was
stumped upon almost every idea. Elder
Hays was likewise a conscientious man; and
regardless of consequences, he said and
did what he believed right. Mis was a
firmness and persistency in the prosecution
of right , and was not intimidated by the
voice of public opinion. W hen once he
took a position he was immovable to a
fault ; for, if wrong, he could hardly ever
be convinced.
But not. less remarkable waft he as an
honest man— i the noblest work of God.’—
With an extensive knowledge of human
nature, with all its corruptions, he never
theless spurned everything low or mean in
himself or others. He was open, out
spoken and high toned.
Besides these clear!) developed traits in
his character, it may be truly said, there
were few equal-- t<> him in the various
relations of husband, father, neighbor or
citizen, in ft word, aside from the preju
dices which he, iu common with most men
of his time and training, imbibed-—he was
a model man.
2. But we must notice him in his offend
character, and while the writer feels incom
petent to do him justice as a man, he is
much more so, to wreak of his true merits,
u as a good minister of Jesus Christ.’
As such, he was a faithful minister. Ile
preached —he would preach. Though in
• the beginning of his ministry and through
: most of his career a poor man, and very
poor, yet he continually preached.
If organized churches did not invite him,
with promises of salary, he would act as
pioneer missionary, ami still preach, in
open air, under trees, often breaking the
(ice, if not able to bear him, and often
[swimming streams to preach to his little
congregation by hr* * n ’T 00 ft * r<
“his banner over” us is “love.”
Would that the writer could relate now his
labors, as he has heard from the lips of the
venerable man!
Father Hays was truly a sober minister—
a minister “ not given to any wine.” He
was, notwithstanding the customs and
views prevalent in his early ministry, al
ways a arm and tast friend of every tem
perance movement. And to his honor be
it said, on this as on other subjects, he
practised what he preached.
He was, likewise, a missionary. Per
haps no one minister in this or any other
State, ever came more frequently in con
tact with, or more firmly contested the
anti-missionary principle. This was so, for
the two-fold reason, that he made it his
practice, as it was his principle to combat
error wherever he met it; and a great part
of his ministry being that of a pioneer mis
sionary, it led him into the more supersti
tious, unenlightened, and one-idea commu
nities, where are the strongholds of anti
missions; and the generalship and strategy
with which he fought those battles, were
truly praiseworthy.
Elder Hays was also a Baptist minister—
a Bible Baptist, a Baptist fi-oin principle.—
He loved their peculiar tenets, not merely
on church government and ordinances, but
especially the doctrines of grace. lie
preached what he believed, fearlessly, faith
fully, plainly, but in good spirit. He was
consistent and decided, made no compro
mises, and while as a Christian, a man of
catholic spirit, as a Baptist minister he min
gled officially only with those he would
or could commune with. This he has fre
quently told the writer was his course from
the day he entered the ministry. His con
ception of consistency would never let him
act otherwise.
Let it suffice, to add to what has been
said, that Bro. Hays was a Gospel preacher.
He preached not the wisdom of men, nor
did he preach the gospel with man’s wis
dom. He was not an educated man in the
common acceptation of the term. When
he entered the ministry he was not able
scarcely to read, but by energy and perse
verance, he made himself a fair reader, and
by diligence in the study of the Scriptures,
and a few choice religious books, an active
and original mind, and a most extensive
knowledge of human nature, he became a
plain, sound, Bible preacher. He was in
some respect' an able minister. His mind
took hold of some of the deep doctrines
with a strong grasp, and hence he was very
clear, often, in their elucidation, fastening
them on the mind by suitable and original
figures or illustrations, and plain language.
The character of his preaching was to give
God all the glory for grace in election, ef
fectual calling, repehtance, faith, justifica
tion, perseverance in everything, and leav
ing the sinner helpless and dependent on
the grace of God. A’s an evidence of his
Theological views, 1 may simply state, that
he was exceedingly fond of “ Dagg’s Man
ual of Theology.”
Motes on the Cio-pel by Mark,
With a Decision of the Vommon English Version,
BV ft. M. CKVWrOHD.
Chapter. Viit. 1 In those days, the mul
titude being very great and having nothing to
eat, Jesus called Ids disciples and saith unto
them, 12.] 1 have compassion on the multitude,
because they have now been with me three days
and have nothing to cat; [-t ] and if I ssnd them
away to their homes fasting, they will faint by
the way, for divers ol them have come from
far. pI.J And the disciples answered him.
From whence can any one satisfy these men
with bread here in the wilderness ■ [•'*] And
he asked them, How many loaves have ye 1
And they said, Seven. [6] And he command
ed the multitude to lie down on the ground;
and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks,
and brake, and gave to Ids dbeiples to set be
fore them ; and they did set them before the
multitude, [lj And they had a few -mall
fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set
them also before them . (%] And they ate and
were filled; and they took up ot the fragments
that were left seven baskets, [hi And they
that ate were about four thousand; and he sent
them away.
[lo] And immediately he entered i- ' - the
ship with his disciples, and came, into the parts
of Daftnanutha. [lt] And the Pharisees came
forth and began to question with him, seeking
of him a sign from heaven, trying him. (12] —
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith,
Whv doth this generation ask for a sign ? Veri
ly, Isay unto you, there shall no sign he given
unto this generation. [l3] And he left them,
and entering into the ship again, depot ted to
the other side. -
[l4] And the disciples had forgotten to take
bread, and had with them in the ship only one
loaf. [ls] And he charged them, saying, Take
heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and
of the leaven of Herod. [l6] And they reasoned
among themselves, saying, We have no bread.
[l7] And Jesus, knowing it, saith unto them,
Why reason ye, that ye have no bread ? Do
yc not yet perceive nor understand ? Have ye
your heart yet hardened ? [lß] Having eyes,
see yc not? And having ears, hear ye not ?
And do ye not remember ? [l9] When I brake
the five loaves among the five thousand, how
many baskets full of fragments took ye up ?
They say unto him, Twelve. [2o] And when
the seven among the four thousand, how many
baskets full of fragments took yc up ? And
they said, Seven. [2l] And he said unto them,
How is it that ye do not understand ?
[22] And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they
bring a blind man unto him, and beseech him to
touch him. [23] And he took the blind man by
the hand and led him out of the village; and
having spit on his eyes he put his hands upon
him, and asked him if he saw any thing. [24] —
And he looked up and said, I see the men, for
I perceive them, as trees, walking. [2s] Then
lie put his hands again upon his eyes, and made
him look up : and he was restored and saw ev
ery man clearly. [26] And he sent him away
to his home, saying, Neither go into the village,
nor tell it to any in the village.
NOTES.
I. Very great. In spite of all the oppo
sition of the Scribes and Pharisees, Jesus
was still very popular, as is shown by the
multitude following Him under circumstan
ces so unfavorable —having had no regular
meal for three days, and at a distance from
home.
4. Whence, Kc.: forgetting the former
miracle when a larger number was fed from
a less store. 0:38. Wilderness, in De
capolis, but its precise locality is unknown.
5. Seven. This was the provision which
they carried for their own use.
0. See n. 6 : 39. Gave thanks. As God
gives us our daily food, we should, with
thankful hearts, recognize Him as the Giver.
7. Blessed. 0 : 41.
9. Four thousand, besides women and
children. Matt. 15:38. Sent them away.
We must not expect our natural wants to
be supplied in a miraculous manner. ‘ln
the sweat of thy face, thou shall eat bread,’
is the general law.
10. The ship. 3: 9. Dalmanutha , a
town near Magdala (Matt. 15: 39), on the
western shore of the sea of Galilee, north
of Tiberias.
11. A sign from heaven. As if the proofs
given in Ills miracles were not sufficient,
they demanded some visible prodigy from
the heavens. Trying him: urging Him to
attempt a wonder for which there was no
necessity. If He succeeded, His mission
would be no better attested than it already
was; if He failed, it would disparage all
that He had done.
12. This generation. The Jews who had
already received so many signs and won
ders. both in former times and now in the
ministry of Jesus. JKo sign : no such sign
as they demanded. Matthew 16: 4.
13. Other side , the eastern.
15. Leaven of the Pharisees. ■ As leaven
alfeets meal, so the teaching of leaders af
fects the character of their followers. The
teaching of the Pharisees was bad, foa it
was hypocrisy (Luke 12:1), and for the
commandments of God substituted the tra
dition of the elders. Of Herod: i. e., of
the Herodian party who were Saddueecs in
religion.
U>. Another evidence of the dullness of
the disciples who were still ‘slow to be
lieve.’ Luke 24 : 25.
I 17 Knowing it, by His divine omnisci
jence. , ,
IS. Wot remember } . e., the miracles ot
| feeding the multitudes.
19. 6; 48, 44.
20 v. 8, 9.
21 How is it, dec J viz., that He re
ferred to the instructions of the Pharisees
Led Sad-iueees. Matthew 16: 12.
*>9 Bethsaida. This was Bethsaida
| s„ called in honor of Julia the
I laughter of the emperor Augustus, n. 6:
}5 Touch him , i. e’., with a view to his
I being cured.
23. Out of the village. The blind man
j not a resident of Bethsaida, and as
Jesus intended to send him immediately
i home He cures him outside of the town.
! Cy, if There was no virtue or healing elh*
caev in this, but Jesus chooses to make it
1 the medium of 1 lis grace. He continues to
| ma ke use of the humblest means. 1 Cos. 1: j
128; 2 Cos. 4: 7.
TERMS —Three Dollars a-tear.
24. As trees, walking. He saw the men
imperfectly, and distinguished them from
trees only- by their locomotion.
25. Again. Probably his sight was re
stored gradually that he might see Jesus
and recognise Him as the author of the
miracle even before it was completed.
Clearly. —The cure was now perfect. As
in this case, so in the spiritual sight which
Christ bestows, it frequently happens that
the believer at first sees but dimly ; but
his light ‘ shineth more and more unto the
perfect day.’ Prov. 4 : 18.
26. Sent him away , doc. He had no
use for the immediate service of the man,
and besides He was now avoiding the
crowds ; but He does not forbid the man
to tell every one at his own home.
V. A. Bell’s Report.
Acwortii, Ga., Oct. 3, 1862.
Dear Brother Jlornady :
1 now make my report for last month :
l went up as far as Knoxville, Tenn., in
tending to visit General Smith’s army in
Kentucky, but, in consequence of having to
cross the mountains on foot, I declined go
ing and came back to Loudon. There 1
found several sick soldiers, to whom I gave
what tracts I had with me. While there,
I witnessed a scene which showed the secu
rity of the Christian and the insecurity of
the sinner. In one of the hospitals lay a
noble looking young man ; a smile lit up
his countenance; he had been very sick,
but was slowly recovering. ‘Are you a
Christian?’ I asked. ‘I hope so,’ he replied;
‘ I feel perfectly secure in the hands of my
Saviour, and His spirit gives me great
comfort.’ By his side lay another young
man ; groan after groan escaped his lips.—
When 1 asked of his spiritual welfare, his
reply was, ‘ No hope, no hope, without God
and without hope in the world.’ Thus we
see the difference between the sinner and
the Christian in the hours of affliction. —
Many instances could I enumerate of the
same kind, had I the time and space.
From Loudon I went to Tunnel Hill,
where I found many sick, and had quite a
pleasant meeting with the convalescent. I
then w T ent to Ringgold, where I finished the
labors of the past month.
I have collected 817.50, preached fifteen
times, delivered three exhortations, and
held one prayer meeting; the balance of
the time I spent in private conversations
with the soldiers. I have witnessed one
conversion, and found many who were in
quiring the way to Heaven. My field
seems to he widening. Pray for me, that
God may continue to bless the labors
which, through weakness, l am trying to
dispense among the soldiers.
Yours, in Christ, V. A. Bell,
Give Your Child a Newspaper.— A
child beginning to read becomes delighted
with a ne vspaper, because he reads of
names and thin, s which are very familiar,
and will make progress accordingly. A
newspaper in one year is worth a quarter’s
schooling to a child, arid every father must
consider that substantial information is con
nected with advancement. A mind occu
pied becomes fortified against the ills of
life, and is braced for any emergency.—
Children amused by reading and study, are
aro of course more considerate and more
easily governed. How many thoughtless
young men have spent their evenings in a
tavern or grogshop, who ought to have
been reading ? How many parents who
have not spent twenty dollars for books for
their families, would have given thousands
to reclaim a son or daughter who had ig
norantly and thoughtlessly fallen into
temptation.
Anecdote of the Triers. —There came
a learned man and one of the weak breth
ren, and contended for a place. Saith our
deceased brother to him that was learned,
< What is faith ? ’ Who answered him dis
creetly according to the learning of the
schools. Then he demanded the same
question of the other, who replied, that
faith was a sweet lullaby in the lap of
Jesus. At wh'ch words our deceased bro
ther, lifting up ht s hands to heaven, cried
1 Blessed be the Lord, who hath revealed
these things unto the simple. Friend, thou
shalt have the living.’— [Peter's Pottery.
Wise men make more opportunities than
they find.
NO. 48.