Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / Nov. 1, 1873, edition 1 / Page 4
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^F- • ' ,' ^ :'':.v'.r:t\ ’TVaV'T' '■ *Sli#b . .. - '‘yy.tj ■ >)7 • £a\ ()M'S !b»-^«j^w:P3Br_^*3atrtie'i .1 go;oJ M'ay and out my views, by following .yv Jjord and master, prayerfully ooking to, and trusting in Him, and .tting tlio dead buij their dead, lath. viii. '21:22, Previous to my mug so I dreamed that I died a ;itnral death without .any pain, dan ;at .1 stood by ami looked on mv nor mortal bodv with little or no re- ■ret. This cirenmstance seemed to ■'main fresh in my mind fora season, md 1 could not coneiove the mean- ng or intention of it; till it was for- ;ibly interpreted to me thus. 1 must nrsakc self, and resign all carnal in- 'ercst, and devote myself, my time, ay talciits, my all toth.c work, where- mto the .Lord by his spirit laid call- ,d me.—Acts iii. 10, and though my ilfectious and devotion for my dear iimily were, and are, of the jaurost aid most fervent kind, yet there was nid is still, a love, and power liigher, deeper, purer, v'arnier, more fervent. paths, where is to walk therein. Jeremiah, vi. 10. Put it has come to pass now, that in order to Iceep in with the brethren . and be ])opular we must feel, to a certain extent, what will iahe, and . th('u ])r(‘aeli it. 1 have witne.ssed in nearly all our ehurches the uniform ])ut unsci'ipturai pracliee, of the fc'v | beina made to Ix'iir the burden of the , many; and this is well known to be ! in direct opposition to common sense, ■ reason,, justice, ar.d the s(.Ti])ture which j'eads as f)!iows; “Pear ye one another’s burdens, and so fullill the la w of Chrht.” Galatians vi. 2; and because 1 h.;ive candidly and hoiu'stly comhanned this.and similar practices 1 have, been made to sutler in charac'tcr and feelings, by being misre[>resenied, ignorantly and inno cently bv some, :uul no doubt wilful ly and maliciously b}' others;! am ]iot the .servant of men to that degree vet, to study to know first, what will iahe, and then j)rcach it ; but 1 have ]u’av('rfullv and (ureiully read the scriptures, ami ()ther things in c-en- uectiou with them, and studied to show myself a])])roved unto God, a ■workman that needeth not to be ashamed, riglit dividing the word .of truth, 2nd Tim. ii. lo, ami I know that there is not one single man in the State, who h:is imale more and greater saevitiees, in feelings, as well as pecuniary interest, to preach f >r the eondbi't :md editieation of the clmreh- es, than I have, a.nd still I don’t for mnoment jU’etcjKl th.nt ! havedoncany- _!ii.ing-,UJiil-p .,tlian, i.aui}Hl,jny duty, and f'Jd a ima’c unprohtab'le servant at that, lada'. xvii. 10- It wa.s my setth'd opinion when T first went in to the GosiK'l field, that I ought to fdve myself wliollv to the work. 1st Tim. iv. 15, ^Gid it seoined to me to liavc once been in former days, the nndiyided opinion of our brethren generally. 1 thought and felt ,so in mv younger days, but am fullyc.stah- lished no'vv in the eorrectnc.ss of my views, and I, deemed it a matter of too jiineh importance to I'C fidvcn u]-) and t;:onc into, as’a merely .secondary con- ideration. I have m-ted and am ac- aud nn(|neiielmble, propelling me and compelling me, on to a duty, once ■ac companied with the most nuno'-cut convic.'iiou, distress of mind, and deep '.gony (rfson!; yet now, lliough I have still to suifer under weakness, fear and much tremhliug still when I am blessed with liberty from thospii'- it of the Fan'd, it is to me the j'uo.st deiiglitfnl, soul eheering, lieai’t grati- tying employmei.(t which lu-art can conceive, tongue .speak, or pen ^■t■^ite, to speak of tlic glory ofCIirist’s king dom and talk of His power Ls. xiv,v 11 ;md preach the unscarchahlc riches of CTrist, Kpli. iii. 8; and 1 have clearly jirovcn fb ail unprejmlic'cd minds.and to my„own. conscience spe- cirdly, npy nm.lying dcvniion to the cause of God, by the very many .sacri- ticc.s .1 have, made as ndreadv m^ition- ed, in serving the'divers brantfJie.s of tlie church to which I helong, and I know very well, as do many oti)ors, that by attaching mysclfto the church of Ghi’ist and defending, the .same I have demonstrn.ted beyond a doubt, that I esteem the reproach of Christ gi'cater riches than the trea.surcs of Egypt and the world combined. I Feb. xi. 2(E\,nd 1 do most humbly and devontlv be.scech and nrav tiic Lord • 1 to enable me, the very few remaining days allotteil me in time, to bear up under my light affliction, 2nd Cor. iv. 17, and sore di.scotiragcmcnt.s, witli ehrlstain fortitude a.nd resignation, and to continue in the liiithfnl dis- peaoo, tlio conifort, .the edification ami building up of his dear 'diikhen i')! theii' iiio.st I'oly taitl). When along some lonely, weary road I am medi tating and liondering over the.se things, I rejoice to'nicrcly hope, tha.t my light-ailliotlon,S' are emiered by the : Leu'd, and will but .serve' to bring me : to the feet of Jesus, whci'c Inxestinp', ; i.s excludcei ; Horn, iii. 27, and I wlu.'rc every poe)r trembling child of I God finds succor and su]y)ovt aiul , where I am .made ashamed of miir- ; muring anel repining at my lot which ! is better for me than I deeserve. If I Paul, that fifithful, eluesen, called, . inspiroel A])ostle, endnre'd with long ; aulforing afflictions, disti'csscs, iicce-s- I siti(-.s, .stripes, and impri.sonmonts, 2d I Cor. vi. 4:5, how dare I a 'poor vile I useless worm to com})lain of mv ve'ry. ’•—very light affliction,s when ineured 'too in part, by my own indi.se:retions? I “.The afflictions of the go.sj)eI” as well ! as the comforts, eoirsolations, hope.s benefit to yon at le:;st; and if the Lord should sec fit to c:;]! von to the; im])orta;!t work in which 1 eon try ing to serve Hinp, mnv ^■ou^■ rcetli be kss thorny tlum ininr-, ami ma\- voit be as is best for all faithful serv;:nrs to be, and. .that is, “a.s wise :-:,s ser- jtcjiL.s, and harmlo,ss ;:s do\'C: anel joys ejf God’s minister.s, :t,rc inteai- eiiarge of my eliitie.s, with more }>a- tience, more (lilige'iice, and mo'-e c'l tu «■:•■•*> Oil •. the inner man,- so tiiat I m:^.. cnomv hardne.ss as a good soldier of .Tevas i (h.'d for those tvho hea.r, as well as j those who preach, .so that they that I sow and they that reap,may rejetice to ; gether, John iv. 35, and he that is : not thus lertd about and imstmeted,- I canh .sympathise with poor mourning ; souls, coumsel the temjeted, encoirrage I the dejected and cast down and bear I tire infirmities of the weak. In this i same .school e.)f experience tve are I made to learn mceknc;s.s, humility and j fortitude and to be patient in tribula- , tion, Horn. xii. 12, in order that wo i . . i iiiav be abb'ro comfort with The eorn- 1 have not give-n you the '.ietc'S cf my Pa})tism, emdinaiion to li; ' miii- istry, aT)d the mune of ii;e rrwln(S) who oliie'iated, La't it is '.vritUm ami will be reserved fin- ivnoiiser time-.— ; 1 fee.'! to say tliat I a;n well nigli ; done writing, and th'.ne witli tinm and .sense nearly. I have ralvamccd from intanev to yonth, from youth to manliootl, from nundioeHl to old age, Tookingnow Irere, mriv tlrsiy in vain : for contentment or ])le;;isnre, till i alas ! I am tottei'isg down the slep i of a PC \vith the impressie.-n fixed in- jelelibly iii my he:-art liiat, “ali isvan- 1 ity and vexation of .spirit. Ecele.sia.s- Tesiv, 6:1,2:8. Peing very mirvems,. lUod having suifore'.el con.siderafbly with I Pheumatism in my riglit iiand and I fin go ns, I have writfon this haJiy to I say the least of it. And the verv : cold weather that was at ham! when I I wrote most of this my experience, ynaeloitata.sk ineleefl on me-. If ] could w'rite over and correct it, j)ro!)- ably it miglit look and reuel better but I can’t undertake it. I leave it optionary witli you to ]irint, or not. gosjiel. .11. P. IlAirr; Tours to .serve in the go.sjiel. Chri,st. 2d Tim,!i 3. And in me'ck- iicss and humility to bear reproach for the name eh'Christ, tliat the .spirit of glory and of C’hri.st may rc'st njam me. 2d I’eter iv. 14. When not walking in darkne.ss, I feel somewhat confident tliat my cro.ses, disap]ioint- ments, trials doubts ami team have been sent upon me in mercy, by a kind and heavenly benc'factor, in or der that mv faith which is much more piecious than gold that pcri.sli- eth, (1st Peter i. 7,) might be triofl with tire, so that my weakness, frailty, vileness, and corruption and nothing- ne,ss might be discovered a'ld ])lainlv exhibited to my poor, ignorant, bcr nighted heart, and mourned o\'er. And when I find my,self in thus con dition, I feel to address my Ixird and master in theloilowing words: Althoiigli some times tlioii seemest tlty face to Iilcle. As if thou lifidst witliclraivu tliy love from me Tis that my faith miglit to the full he tried, Ami tliat therehy J miglit more fiillv .see How frail and weak I am when not liehl up bv thee. My motives and designs have been very often impugned by my breth ren, and often, no doubt, in diver.s instance.s from the purest motives; hut it does my poor drooping heart good to know’ that the Lord knotvs all my purposes, intentioms, de.signs, and that my utmost desire ha.s ever been, and is now, the honor and glory of God, the discharge of my duty, the t 'ivmrfcNi'lT n weoarseUAis arC corator- ted ofGod. 2(1 Cor. i 4. After having I written miich of whatIe;on.sidermy cx- I I'lOricnce, 1 foci to.say in conclusion that j although I am pa.ssing through., and - must continue to ])a.s.s through, .sore I trials, much tribulation, jierplexities ^ and di.sconragc'ment.s, which fall to i the lot of the servants of God general- i ly, yet a comscioiismss within of my ; renewed devotion to the cause of God, I together >\fith my lionesty and mteg- ' rity will I trust, neutralise and over- i come all the sorrows, trials, and per- .seentions, which I have fallem. heir to; ; and I trust likewise, that I have a I wcllgronuded hope that Jesus has : born all my sorrow’s, removed all mv I iniquities, and is ney blessed surety; wind that I am justified by Ins righ- I tcousne.ss, e:dlc(l by the effectual op- ' enition of His grac'c, which will ena- ; ble me to ]ias.s through all my cor- i rujition, all my infirmities, fiery temp tations, dark ]irovidences, and the I hidings of Gexl’s conntenanee, and at I last, to be glorified and eternally sav- [ ed in Christ, beyond this vale oftears fovliere .sin, sorrows, Satan and sc//will i deqire.ss me no more, hut wliere Christ ■ will be all in all, and the da vs of my ' mourning will be ended. Isa. GO. r ■ 20. j I have addressed yon, my de?ar j young brother, at a mueh grader length than I intended, or you expec ted w'hen you requested me to do so, but I have written only a part of my experience, and my sincere praver is, that it may prove to be of some little j t'v ■ - the PCtelLui-; apTlIE m,).I>Y -IX tniAYiftt. Our attention has been ca.Iled t.» this subject by a beloved sister in Chri.-t, and altliongh eomparativelv it may be :i triva! matter, yet every thing that })crtains te,> the w’orship of j God, both as to the letter anel /spirit, I form anel reality, i.s ot c )!i.se{|n('iicc, and should iu>t '00 disregarded or lightly estecjued. In all matters of taith and pnietice, what the Scrip- tui’cs teach, should be our rule and directory, and to them we apjieal a.s the umpire to dexide and .settle every question that may arise in tlie milit ant kingdom of Christ. The p,iees- tiou IS wliether accordiiig to that rule, ^ is it proper to stand, sit, or kneel i>i I prayer? not wliether one may pray if ! the heart is right! for tiie coar.sest I bodily position will not snpjily that i deficiency, as we may truly say with I the poet: “.For God al>liors the siu'riftce 'Wfiere not tfie heairt is foiiml and the scriptural inquiry will show that kneeling, o.r bowing down he^fbre the Lord is the true position for all true w’orshipem to ;i.ssnme, and noth ing hut th-e pride of the hc;u't, that liatclhl S.L11, that sjiirit by God ab horred, that cr'eeps .secretly iu and fills a haughty worm, a.-s i'larfc says prevenfo all from a cheerful camjili- anee with it. The :Scripturar p-ro- copt and examples in support of that, position are abundant, both in the 01(1 ami Tew Testaments, a few of which we will present for the cousid- enition of our brethren, on ‘The true
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1873, edition 1
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