The Baptist banner. (Atlanta, Ga.) 186?-1???, October 03, 1863, Image 1

The Baptist banner., October 03, 1863, Image 1

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Newspaper Page TextTHE BAPTIST BANNER < BY DAYTON, ELLS & CO. ’ VOLUME IV. . My Mother. A mid the changing a cenesof life, Whatever cares oppress my heart, Wher’er I roam by land or sea, In far retreat or crowded mart; Whatever joys around me throng Sweet mem’ries of home will cling About me like the breath of blooms, That haunt the early hours of spring. And then, my mother, thou whose smile Was ever mine through good or ill, As in my childhood’s days thou art The idol of my bosom still; Os friendship vain and love untrue, • Alas ! I have too keenly known, And I return to thee at last To find them pure in thee, alone. Perhaps some paths that I have trod Thou would’st have had my steps reflat e, Perhaps have been for wealth or fame Too much a laggard in the race; And it may be thy warning words Were not always observed by me— fet, Mother, thou can’st never say My faith was ever dimmed In thee. • Alt, no ! ,when most I went astray, When most I felt existence naught, And seeing little I should seek, I Ceased to prize what I had sought; When most I hated man, and hoped The links that bound us soon might break, Such thoughts and feelings I have curbed And struggled on for thy dear sake. As one who through a deceit roves, At brackish wells doth slake bls thirst, for some sweet palin-girt brook, From whish he drank his till at first; 80 I, though aand’ring far from thee, Oft in my lonely moments sigh, “ O, would I were a child again . To live beneath her gentle eye ” E ‘ A Week with the Promises. 1. Dent. 33/12. The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him ; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long.— Prov. 18: 10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth unto it, and are sale. Ps. Ift :8. I have set the Lord always before me ; because he is at my righthand, 1 shall not be moved. Ps. 112: 7. He shall not be afraid of evil ti dings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. I Peter, 3 : 13. And who is ho that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good ? Job 4:7. Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being inno cent 1 or where were the righteous cutoff! Job 11 : 18. Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope. tj. Ps. 4:8. 1 will both lay me down in peace and sleep; for thou. Lord, only makest me to dwell in safety. Ps. 127:2 He giveth his beloved sleep. Prov. 3 : 24. When thou liest down thou shalt not be afraid ; yea, thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall he sweet. 1 Sain. 2:9. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the ed shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. Ps. 27: 1. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I foir ? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Ps. 34:20. He keepeih all his bones: not one of them is broken. Si. Ps. 91 :1,2, 4, 10. He that dwell eth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almigh ty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress; my God : in him will I trust. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust; his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.— There shall no evil befal thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. Ps. 121 : 1,2,4 —8. 1 will lift up mine eyes to the hills, from whence cometh my help.— My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Behold, heathat keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper; The Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from evil; he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth; mid even forevermore. 1 1. Ps. 124:8. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Ps. 125; 2. As the mountains are round about Jeruselam, so the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth even for ever. Prov. 3:23. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall notj stumble. Prov. 1 : 33. But whoso hearken eth. unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be Suiet from fear of evil. la. 4:5, 0. And te Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assem blies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming lire by night; for upon all the glory shall be a defence. .\nd there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, tor a place of ref uge, and for a covert from storm and rain. •S. Is. 33 : Ift. He shall dwell on high ; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks. Is. 43 :2, 3. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the tire, thou shalt not be burnt ; neither shall the tiame kindle upon thee. For lam the Lord thy Gol. the Holy One of Israel, thy Sa viour. h 23 : 3.1, the Lord, do keep it; 1 will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day. Zach. 2:5. For I, saith the Lord, w ill be unto her a wall of fire round v about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 6. ’Lev. 20: ft. And I will give peace in the laud, and ye shall lie down, and uone shall make you afraid ; and I will {id evil a BKUsim aw® mh.i jbiww®b. beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. Ps. 29: 11. Th Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. Ps. 119 : 165. Great peace have they which love.thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Ps. 147 :14. He maketh peace in thy bor ders. Is. 2ft: 12. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us; for thou also hast wrought all our works for us. Is. 32: 18. My people shall dwell in a peacable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. 7. Ps. 37 : 23. The steps of man are ordered by the Lord ; and he delighteth in his way. P5.'73:24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Prov. 3:6. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov. 11: 5. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way. Prov. 16:9 ' A man’s heart deyiseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps. Is. 28 : 26. His God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. Is. 42 : 16. And I will bring the blind by away that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known. I will make darkness light, before them, and crooked things straight.. These things will Ido unto them, and not forsake them. THE PULPIT AND THE BEECH-TREE, Nearly a score of years ago, a pioneer sought a home in one of the western States. He selected a “ quarter section” in a dense wilderness, and soon entered upon the ar duous work of clearing a farm. He was a man of athletic constitution, and well adap ted to cope with the trials on the frontier. He was then in the prime of life, and in those days “ a man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.” This man soon ranked among the leading characters in that region. He could bear up with fortitude under all trials and pri vations, except those of a religious kind. , Before his removal to the West, he had enjoyed the privileges of a large and well regulated church, in which he had for years been a prominent member. To be thus suddenly deprived of those blessed means of grace caused him many painful feelings, and at times almost incapacitated him for ordi nary duties. This subject pressed so heavily upon his mind, that he often sought relief by laying his wants before God in prayer. One day he enjoyed near access to the throne while on his knees in a secluded place in the forest. He prayed earnestly i that God would make that wilderness and ' solitary place glad with the sound of the Gospel. He asked for the church privileges to which he had been accustomed, and he felt assured that God could grant them.— So much was he engagedin pleading for the blessing, t hat he forgot his work. His fam ily looked for his return to dinner, but he came not. They were alarmed. They made search, and found him on his knees. To this man of God there was something pleasant in the memory of that approach to the mercy-seat. He loved the spot on which he had knelt. He determined to mark it. It was by the side of a beech tree. He blazed it, so that in after-years it might remind him of the incident that I have re lated. That prayer was speedily answered. God put it into the hearts of the people of that region to build Him a sanctuary in the des ert. They have now the stated means of grace. That pioneer is one of the officer/ of the church. The membership is near eighty. The cause of religion seems to be flourishing among them. * Not long since, it was my privilege to preach in their house of worship. It was filled with an intelligent congregation. At the close of the services, the old man gave me a history of his praying under the beech-tree, and with tears in his eyes closed by saying, “ That tree stood only about five feet from the very spot where you stood while preaching for us to-night.” ] How Nkwspahkrs Require to bk Read. —(1) Inorder to read a n?wspaper to ad vantage, we should have a stated time, as : soon as possible after its appearance it may ; be, but it should be a stated time at which to read it. (2) We should read with care. We shall otherwise overlook the very things we would wish to have read. (3) We j should read most, if not all the paper.— When many papers are taken this is not practicable. But when one, or at most two I are taken, it is seldom that all the matter will not bear one persuaL (4) We should digest what we read. It should be connect jed with what before has been w ritten,and its j connection and continuation be kept before our apprehension. We should grow in ’ knowledge that experiences no change in I itself, and we should keep up with knowl ledge that is itself growing. I Now look over a whole State, and see , the thousands of homes and families to which the newspapers comes: rising expee ’ tatious weekly of its arrival; opening up , weekly its fountain of instruction, influen cing the heart, forming the life, establishing t the character. And can we be too deeply u impressed with the enterprise ; or eager to I j j avail ourselves of the many benefits ? ATLANTA, GA., SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1863. HIS BANNER OVER US IS LOVE. ) “ No Man Cared for niy Soul.” This despairing lamentation was uttered • by David when he was forsaken by friends 1 and persecuted by enemies. It is called by the translators, “ The prayer of David ■ when he was hid in the cave.” The signifi cance and necessity of such a prayer is 1 manifest, for in God only could he trust: “ I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that'would know me : refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” The same complaint is supposed to be applicable to sinners when their salvation is neglected by Christians. Happy for them, when human refuge fails, if they are driven to the Rock of ages. Why should unbelievers ever suppose that the church is not interested in »their salvation ? This impression comes from the fact that so many professing Christians, with whom they have daily intercourse, do not speak to them personally upon the concerns off the soul. Discretion and the spirit of com passion are indeed necessary in the perfor mance of this work of love ; but the entire omission of the duty is inconsistent with a profession of faith in Christ. It implies a timidity and a feebleness of faith unjus tifiable, because the admonition, “ Be ye steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,” rests upon this-firm assurance: “ forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” An oppressive conviction of his own im perfections, with the :enr oi repulse and re proach, makes the Christian reluctant to admonish the wicked, or to express his vivid sense of the guilt aqd final ruin of an impenitent life. But such fears und grounds of hesitation often prove to he imaginary, and, moreover, are not to be regarded in questions of duty or benevolence. Men of the world, reckless as they may seem to be of the consequences of transgression, have periods of solemn reflection, when they would willingly converse with a Chris tian friend, and privately ask brance in his prayers. But they are strangely reluctant—it is one evil of the fall—to make known their feelings. they carry the heavy burden of conviction in secret, putting themselves in the way of receiving Christian counsel, and earnestly hoping that the subject of personal religion will be in troduced. But the social interview is occu pied by other topics,-and the one thing need ful is omitted. No wonder if they despair ingly cornplain that Christians feel go epn [eernnor compassion for them. In the hidden depths of their own wounded spirit, they say, and with some reason,too, “Either these professing Ceristians do not believe in their own creed, or they are religious only in‘name. They sympathize with us, and are kind in our temporal afflictions: they are alive to peril and suffering per taining to the present life; but they are silent in regard to the eternal misery which, as they profess, awaits us in unbelief. This is to us incomprehensible. How is it pos sible to reconcile such indifference with a religion v hose very essence is said to be love?” Everything real, or even apparent in the character of professing Christians, which leads to sdeh reflections, is inconsistent with their heavenly calling, and very inju rious in its influence upon unregenerate man. They expect Christians to be'“living epistles, seen and read of all men.” And , this the Gospel requires. Paul had “ great heaviness and continued sorrow in his heart” on account of the Jewish brethren. His “hearts desire and prayer to God fonthem was, that they might be saved.” Some de gree of earnest and manifest desire for the salvation of sinners is essential to Christian character, and the good hope through grace, i The most abandoned sinner should never have reason to say, “ No man cared for my ’ soul.” But there is an error much worse than neglect of duty, for which some professing ( hristians need to be admonished. It is I that ot standing aloof from wicked men. ■ and speaking openly, indiscretely, and per haps extravagantly, ot their vices and character. I his is a manifest violation of i Christian precepts which direct us “ to speak evil, of no man,” but to be “gentle, meek, and patient towards all men.” We must 1 needs infer that they who disobey the pre cepts of the Gospel, do not kindly warn and entreat the erring, nor pray for them. But their presence. Is this “in meekness instructing those, who oppose themselves ! Have we so learned Christ ? A member of the church says, for instance,' " Mr. < is a man of wealth and tai enta, but he is the vilest man in town, a: perfect nuisance. Phis estimate of his character becomes known to Mr. C ,1 and what can be the effect but to provoke ! retaliation, and embitter his spirit the more ! against the name and profession of Christi anity I No ; "in patience possess ve vour souls. Let us pity the poor lost man and seek his salvation. By kindness and earnest prayer, and the labors of love, he may be come a burning and a shining light in the church ot Christ. Is he a vile sinner ? “Such were some of you; but ye ate ' washed ; but ye are sanctified ; but ye are (justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and Iby the Spirit of our God.* 1 Cor. 6: 10. j THE SOLDIERS’ COLUMN. The Confederate Flag. When Roseerans came, with his legions, Athirst for Confederate blood, To desolate beautiful regions, And scatter destruction abroad; — He vaunted the great Constitution, And flaunted the Federal rag ; But his forces were put to confusion Before the Confederate Flag. McCown was all ready to meet them At earliest dawning of day, And Clehurn and Withers and Cheatham Led forth to the desperate fray; And we gave them a terrible Polking, Cheered on by our valorous Bragg; And the Rebels, they found, were not joking About the Confederate Flag. And Carnes, with the crash of his thunder, And the fierce fulminations of Cobb, , Made them Own that their plan was a blunder, And sorely repent of the job ; While Wheeler and’ Wharton, in saddle, At the rear of their wavering rag, Forced the murderous thieves to skedaddle Before the Confederate Flag. Then Breckinridge, bouyant and plucky, With Hanson, led forward the brave, Aud mauyh son of Kentucky, Lay dowu in a glorious grave. Now health to the Chief of the nation! And her Ith to the chivalrous Bragg! Let us hope for the day of salvation, And sing the Confederate Flag 1 [Jbr Baptist Banner.] My First Day in Camps. ORANGE C. JI., Sept, 15, 1863. Brother Dayton: You will allow me space, I know, to express myself in reference to my first visit to the army, if I do so in proper bounds; and if I do not, cut me down. There are times or periods of more than usual importance in the life of most every person. Several that I regard as such, 1 number in my short history, and last Sun day (2d in Sept.) added another to the list. Memorable day to me it will he, my first day in the army. Things agreeable and disagreeable combine to impress it deeply, besides its gr?at novelty. Now, on the principle “of saving the best wine for the last,” let me speak of the disagreeable, the sad, first, then the pleasant. One of the things sad to memory, was the visiting, in company with brother A. M. Marshall, of a young man who was con demned to be shot in a day or two. Sad sight! I care not to see another such, much less the execution of a man. Such terrible necessities are some of the horrors of war. He was quite a young man, and the charge was desertion. Sad interview, solemn the feelings, as 1 bowed and tried to pray for him. Let me mention, among other things, the missing— in the 4th Ga. —of so many noble spirits. Colonel Winn, the noble man, the patriot, was not there. Hines IL Harris, the youth that lost his life in magnaninous ly trying to save others, is not there. And how many more ! But I prefer to speak mord at length of things pleasant. But 1 must mention one other fact that did pain me, that does now; the great need of more Baptist preaching in the army. One little proof—melancholy, I might say- —came before me. Eight or ten young men, converted in a North Carolina brigade, encamped near by, had no Baptist chaplain, no Baptfst Missionary, in their brigade, but had came to brother Marshall • to baptize them. But more, thank God, is there of the pleasurable than of the sad, to be remembered from the last Sabbath.— More than I can express now. The quiet and order of camps astonished me. Step ping out of the cars one mile short of Or ange, I was in Rhodes’ Division. I passed brigade after brigade, till 1 reached Doles’, and not a card did 1 see ; not an improper act; nor till I went to sleep did hear a sin gle oath. I have seen and heard more con fusion on Sabbath at a camp-meeting, than 1 saw and heard last Sunday in three brig ades of soldiers. Then they were so kind, obliging, and hospitable. And to meet so cordial a greeting from friends all over the State, brethren and children of my brethren. But the religious interest astonished me —happy astonishment. Never did the men listen more attentively than did the men of: General Doles’ brigade last Sunday to brother Taylor's sermon. Then what a crowd that went to the place that had been prepaied expressly for such occasions, to see the ordinance of baptism administered.—' Such solemnity through all. Then to see twenty noble young men. Georgia ,and i North Carolina’s sons, " buried with Christ j by baptism.” But at night, the climax of all was to me, at least. Along cherished desire was realized, under circumstances '■ most propituous. VS hen I went to the) place prepared for the brigade, an immense crowd had collected, and by the light of the light-wood-knot fire, on scatfolds fixed tor the purpose, they were enjoy ing that lovely i old chorus, “ and we'll sing Hallelujah, and you 11 sing Hallelujah, Arc.’ Oh! such sweet singing. 1 tell you, soldiers can make sweet mucic without the aid of ladies voices, i whether other men can or not. I preached then mv first sermon in camps,to then"/dest i croicd (and may be the largest) that eter 1 ; preached to, I think. Noble men are our Confederate soldiers. 1 revere them. Heav en bless them ! Gathered in a circle round me they were, the outer limit of which L [ could scarcely make my voice reach, crowd- * < TERMS — Five Dollars a-year. ed thick, no inattention, all eager to hear. Oh! 1 never felt myself such a pigmy be fore. Then when brother Marshall gave invitation, from one to two hundred rushed forward to have us pray for them. Thank God for my first day in camps. W. N. CHAUDOIN. Camp of 35th Ga. Rfg’t., near 1 Orange C. H., Va., Sept. 14, 1863. ) Dear brother Banner: Day before yes terday I went with a large number of sol diers to the bank of the Rapid Ann river, and saw thirty-ninecandjdates go down into the water, and were baptized in the name of the “ Father” and of the “Son” and of the “ Holy Ghost.” Twenty-seven of these were baptized by brother .John J. Hyman, of the 49th Georgia, who is a faithful “ worker in the vineyardthe other twelve were immersed by a Methodist minister. Some others were “ baptized” by sprinkling. It was a grand sight here, I assure you, and is an evidence of what is going on here. They came up “straightway out of the wa ter,” and went on their way rejoicing. We have some glorious meetings here in camps. We are exposed to all the evils incident to camp life, far from home and far from the association of those we love most and best, in the midst of all the dangers that a sol dier has to face, and all the temptations and trials with which we are called to contend. Notwithstanding all this, we are permitted to meet together as Christians and unite our voices in offering praises and thanksgiv ing to that God to whom we all look for salvation and a home in eternity. We have been sZiZZ a little over a month, during which time we have been having preaching nearly every day, and prayer meeting at night. In the mean time the waters have been troubled frequently by young converts going down for baptism.— Many careless and unconcerned sinners have been made to see their condition and seek refuge under the fold of Christ; “ and still they, come.” The anxious seats are yet crowded with those who for more than two years have been good soldiers of the Con federate aimy, and who now desire to enlist under the banner of King Jesus. They are anxious to be received, and are asking the people of God to intercede ibr them, which I hope all Christians will do, and enable them to become good soldiers of the Cross, and follow their Saviour more closely in their new life, than they did their able and efficient General in the old. We read of a time when three thousand souls were added to the church in one day. <)! that we could have such a time now r . Wq have no chaplain in this (35th Ga.) regiment, and are, consequently, entirely dependent on the liberality of our friends for the Gospel. Parsons Moore, of the 14th Georgia, Barrett, ot the 45th Georgia, and Hyman, of the. 49th Georgia, keep us constantly under renewed obligations to them for their services in this respect.— Brother Hyman is now carrying on a meet ing in this regiment, which promises an abundant success to the cause. Many are concerned about the salvation of their souls, and we have reason to Jiope that out of the. number concerned many will in Jesus Christ our Lord. There is, however, some prospect of a disturbance of the peace and quiet that has prevailed for some time past. The Yankee invaders are said to be coming. How far they will come, or how many of them are coining, or how long thsy will stay, are questions which will be easier answered in a fortnight than now. If we are to meet them we hope and trust that with the help of God we shall put them to flight. Our army is healthy and in good spirits, and confident of success if we should meet them here. We are glad to see your valuable paper in our camps,for wealways find something to soothe the mind of the weary soldier as he loiters about his tent seeking something ■ with which to draw his attention from idle ness to a nobler and better object. I hope we will see it more frequently and in great er numbers; and 1 would like to know that it was sent by the friends of those that are here. September 18th. , Everything is now apparently quiet. The ; enemy has ceased to advance, and fell hack. 11 suppose they were merely feelingfor Lee. and when they found he was here, they were satisfied. 1 guess whenever they get uneasy i about him and commence feeling, they will either find him or somebody else that will represent him. The religious feeling is still growing.— Brother Hyman has been sick for two or three days, hut brother Moore is doing his duty. We had an interesting meeting last night, and expect another to-night. Very respectfully, M. A New Story. We expect to havtf ready in time for the beginning of our next volume, a beautiful, thrilling, and instructive denominational Story, which will- possess, for our young friends, all the charms of the most attract ive narmtive, while it will embody a large amount of Bible truth in regard to the or dinances of the church of Christ. NUMBER 46.