f
tiTMmirni
68
ZION'S LANDMARKS
I
>' .
]xwsion on “■ publicans and sinnei's
who were the lower elaases of the
TOmmunity and bated by the self-
righteous. Among these sinners were
many Samaritans, Arhom Jesus bless
ed, and against whom the JeAvs held
a constant hate. See John 4:9; 2d
ivings 17 : 24-41; Luke 10 : 33.—
History informs us that the Samari
tans were the descendants of the ten
tribes. Avho revolted under Jeroboam,
(1st Ivings 12 : 19, 20,) but Avere very
smich mixed Avith foreign blood, and
Jiad at this date became very idola-
tfou.s, and had spent all their sub
stance, and had lost all their j)rivi
leges under the Iuav. Many of theso
were noAV returning, and Avere more
.A'cady to show compassion on a fellow
creature in distress than priests or
Levites. Lukel0:33. The Prod
igal represents these revolted
tribes, or last sheep of the house of
Israel. As they Avcrenow returning
to their father’s house, and Avhen Jev
SOS shows them any respect the older
I'rother i.s envious and je:ilous, and is
not willing that the rebellious should
1)0 forgiven nor blessed. The older
!,»rothcr, the lionse of Judah, Avho
stayed at honro, had all the privileg
sinned against heaven, and in thy | projwsed to carry me out to Brother
sight and am Avorthy of irothingv Bat
God sees him afar off, and in ever
lasting love and divine eompa.ssion
embraces him in forgiving love, be
fore he is brouo-ht into the house of
res
God; strips off hisfiltliy self-righte
onsness, puts on the spotles-s robe of
Christ, slioes Irim Avith the prepara
tion of the gospel, and puts on his
hand the ring of eternal love. Thus
clad he is brought into the house of
the banquet, and there is joy in the
presence of the angels. O vthat eom-
]>as.sion is liere displayed on the part
of the Father, and Avhat unspeakalJe
joy and endless gratitude should fill
the heart of the redeemed simier!
This 2>arable also aa-111 fit the case of
a back-slider in Zion, exactly, but I
have been too lengthy already. The
above fragment is submitted.
I. A. YAKMETER.
Ogi.etiiorpe, Ga., )
March 1st, 1870. \
Elder L. I. Bodenhaaser :—
IX'ar Brother, I Ava.s much disappoint
ed or my arrival at tiigh Point, when
I received your letter stating that
you had declined g’oing with me to
strangvr
stowfil of Idloftsino's; iin- l _ i
Rowe’s house, and immediately scf
out; AA'e soon arrived at his house,
found liim at home, and Avas much
delighted in forming his and Sister
Roaa’o’s acquaintance, who treated me
with much kindness and brotherly
love and affection. I remained Avith
them a few days, dtiring which time
I had the pleasure of meeting with
Elder John Respess and his aged fa
ther, a brother Baptist, and farming
their acquaintance, Avhi(# delighted
me very much ; also, learning some
thing concerning the appointments:
conimeneing on Saturday before the
5th Sunday in January 18T0, and
ending the 3rd Sunday in February,
including CARiy day betAveeu the
time mentioned,—commencing at
Prosf>erity diureh on Saturday. I
tried to preaeli Saturday and Sunday
for them; met a goodly number of
the brethren, not only the church
there, hut brethren from other
churches, Avhom I Avas much delight
ed to meet and form their acquaintance.
IMonday I Avas conveyed to the church
at Bethlehem by Brother Jones,
AA’hom I lodged Avith the previous
iuigry at the bestoAval of blessings up-
bc
on the repenting brother ? Why
filled Avith wrath because Jesus Ava,s
oaliing sinners to repentance ? But
the pi'ixligal also- may represent the
Gentile church, or tlm people of God
among the Gentiles, forsaking idols
and coming to the house of God. But
I cannot close Avithout noticing the
ex])erimental application and fitness
of this parable a few moments. We
see the prodigal sinner Avandering far
JlAvay from the paths of rectitude and
from God, wasting his substance and
,sj)ciiding his time, health, talents and
blessings in riotous living; full of
self conceit, and opposed to. the legal
restraints of his Father in heaven.—
I’nt A^■hcn God aAvakens the soul to
see Avhere and AAdiat he is, he soon be
gins to feel a famine Avithin, and real
ises that lie is destitute of any good
ness of his own, and he
and
Joins himself to a system of Avorks ;
but the famine increases, and the law
gives him no substance, not even
iuisks. lie is mixing Avith SAviue,
AAuth the unclean, but their food docs
not suit his appefite nor relieve his
Avants ; but Avhen ho is brought by
the Spirit to realize his aAvful state of
just condemnation and absolute help
lessness, he then is brought toward
Ins h'atiler’s house, saying, I have
country, net only to the jMioplo gen
erally, b«t an entire stranger to all
the Primitive Baptists. But contemp
lating that our appointments AAure
made in Georgia, I did not feel satis
fied to return home Avithout trying to
fill them, notwithstanding, I at the
same time felt my inability and AA’cak-
nessto undertake the task. I felt
like if I AA'as called'to the ministry
that I should not look back, but
trusting in the- Lord I felt to go for-
AAurd, and trust in tlie Lord for his
sustaining g-race, who I believed Avas
able to sustain mo in Jill my under
taking, and was able to give me light
andjliberty, and mouth and AA'isdom,
and utterance of speech, therefore 1
A\ns encouraged to press forward to
discharge my duty. So Iproceeded on
my journey Avith a prayerful heart.
Kiight; there I met with a goodly
of th§. brqthren besides theveyed ' Brother .Lewis’
clnirch ; -F tried to preaiOis the gospel! near by ; was joi'iied
ant young man, to Good Hope
churcli, where I met with a tew of
the brethren. The day being very
rainy I addressed them lor a short
time, and after serA'ices I wa.s coti-
A'eyedjby Brother Bell to his father-
indaw’s, Brotlier Woodall, a min
ister of the Gospel, who cared tor
me very kindly. Tuesday I met
the church at Mount Pisgah;
'preached for them; stayed Avith
j Brother Highnotes that night ;
found him to be a very precious
brother. Wednesday, had appoint
ment to preach at Harmony church,
but owing to high water I »lid iiot
reaeli there, but was conveyed by
the same. Brother Bell, to Brother
Elder Teat’s, Avho filled my ap
pointment af Harmony. I was very
mucli delighted in meeting Broth
er Teataad f)rming his acquain
tance alsohis wife, Sister Teat. E{t-
on my arrival at their h.ouse they no
tified their neighbors, who come in ,
and vve had a vei?y plee^sant rneet-
ins: that night at Pllder Teat's
ho-ase. Next day, Tuesday, I met
the church at Slaughter Creek, in
eotapany with Brother Teat. I
tried again to preach to them the-
Gospel. From t’sence 1 was coc-
ho use,
tha fr
'agairr
to them. After services I Avas con-
Auyed by Brother S. T. Murray to his
house, to share his hospitality. Next
day, Tuesday, I mot- the church Avith
otlier brethren at Ebenezer; preached
for them and Avas conveyed by Broth-
j. night by Brother Teat, and had
er McArthers to his house, and aaus
beseeching the Lord to prosper roy
journey. I arrived at Butl«r, Georgia,
in twenty-eight hoiu'safter I leftHigh
Point, in ])crfect safety and
health, for which I felt A-nry thankful
to God, for his blessing. On alinh-tin-o'
off the train I immediately inquired for
Elder John Rowe, being informed by
the fpolite agent at Butler, that
Brother RoAve liverl some eight miles
distant. I inquired for conveyance
to his house, and in a short time I
AA'as introduced to tAvo brothers, who
treated Amsy' kindly. Wednesday I
met the church Avith other brethren
at Monut Zion ; tried to preuich for
them; then I Avasconveyed by Brother
English, to his house, Avho Avas very
kind ta me. Thursday I met the
church at Bluff Spring, also, a con
siderable congregation and se'veral
brethren from other churches ; aaois
much delighted witii the brethren..
From there I Avas coru'eyed by
Brother Duke to Brother John Res
pess’ house, Avhere I met with a
kind reception, and enjoyed myself
mucii in conversation with h.im and
_his Father. Friday, Saturday and
good I Sunday, had appointment to preach
at Philippi church ; met a consid
erable number of brethren, al&o
Elders J. Murray and Woodall,
whoEu I Avas much pleased to meet,
partioular Eld. James Murray, Avho
is an old father in the gospel, as 1
believe. I tried to preach two^druys-
for tiiem. On Monday I was oon-
the pleasure of hearing him prea.eh,
wliich was very consoling to me.
veyed by Mr, Se-Avart
as he AATiS the second man that I
had over heard preach in Georgia;
found that he- preachetl the same
doctrine that I was contending for,
which encouraged mo very much.
Friday I Avas conveyed by Brother-
Teat to Mount Olive, in Cusseta;:
there Ave met the churcli with many
brethren from other churches,, with
a considerable number of people.
I addressed the congregation to the
best of my ability ; after Avhich
Brother Teat exhorted the people
for some time, and Ave liad a very
pleasant meeting. I remained in
toAYii that night with a much be''
loved and highly esteemed (by me)
Brother, 12. Bussey and Lady!—•
N"ext day, Saturday, he conveyed
me to Mount Perrin chnrch, Avhere
I also met Avith many brethren,
who appeared: to be interested in my
welfare. After preaching I Avas
conveyed by Brother Wall to- his.
house, a precious brother ;. he also
conveyed me to Country Line Sun
day, Avhere I met a large congrega
tion, and a number of brethren;
I tried to preach to them. Alter
services 1 Avas conveyed by a young
I:-'
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