lion’s Landmarks : Wilson, N. C.
r
home I was about like I was A^hen I
left. After a while I got able to ride
a little on horse-back. One day I
rode over to the field where the
hands were'At work and sat down on
a stump in sight of them; took the
Primitive or testament out of my
pocket (for I generally carried it) and
commenced reading. My feelings
changed instantly and I thought I
was gone. I got on my feet as
quick as possible and thought I would
call the hands, but I had not told the
secret yet and I knew they could do
me no good, and I knew if I died
tliey would take my body home. I
could not stay there so I started for
home, and as soon as I got home and
put my feet on the ground these
words came to ray mind ; “Unbelief
is a damning sin.’^ It seemed to me
t^hat that made we worse if po.ssi-
ble. On another occasion I went
over to a neighbor’s house near by,
after sitting a wPile I commenced
grabbling for home; w'hen I gotabou^
half wvay home I thought right then
^d there that I was going to breathe
last. I thought I wmuld try and
[back, and if I did not die before
)t there then they would knov/
iomething was the matter with
J again. started for home. I
lis conclusion ; That the
to show me what
was and then
^?6?id my soul
[eserved
Tape of a half moon ,
part seemed to be resting
rth ; the top of it in the
[each way seemed to be
I’ll as the Sun is in the
aliout three hours before it
d, the Saviour seemed to be
nd it at the center near the top
. I then saw that any more ef-
011 my part Vr’as useless. (I for-
to say that this body seemed to
be as sraoothe as a slate and perpen
dicular.) I could say “if thou
wilt thou canst come to me,” but,
Thou hast plainly shown me that I
ean’tgo to Thee. I -would often think
that I w'ould stop begging for mercy
but I could not help it. I concluded
one morning that I would go to my
place -where I had so often beon and
fallen on my knees—it was in the
carriage house near the lot. I had
never fallen prostrate -vidth my face
to the earth; so that morning before
light I ivas there on my face, and
said ; “Lord, what must I do to be
saved ?” Instantly the ansiver came
—“take up thy cross and follow me.”
Lot yet relieved, still rolling and tum
bling on my bed from side to side
while every one el?e tvas asleep, and
everybody seemed happy but me. If
I could have been anybody but my-
.self I felt like I would be easy. I
had been expecting to sink down in
to hell for some time. One night I
went in my room (for I prefered be
ing alone) and lay down, pretty soon
it seemed to me tliat there vras an
end of all things here with me, more
so than common, if possible. There
seemed to be an opening in the earth
about the size of a common well, it
extended through the floor and there
was nothing between me and it but
my bed. I thought I had to pass
through that dark space down into
heil. I did not a.sk for help but felt
perfectly resigned to go down. I
think, I then and there, at the mouth
of hell, as it seemed to me, saw the
justice of God in my condemnation.
I did not think that he would pun
ish me in hell more than I deserved.
It did seem to me that in an instant
after I became perfectly reconciled to
his will concerning my case, yea, in
all things besides, that the Saviour of
sinners was standing by the door near
my bed. At his appearance this
opening disappeared. I was easy as
soon as I saw what a great thing had
been done for me. I then went to
sleep, and wdien I awoke the next
morning what a happy creature I
was. I remained so for a few davs
and could sing
“Amazing grace, how isweet the sound—
That saved a wretch like me,” &c.
When in that condition I thought I
was prepared to live without sinning,
but I soon got disappointed in that.
Then I commenced thinking that I
w'as deceived and would sing
“Am I a soldier of the cross 7” &c.
I began to think that there was
being any change
merij
but cannot
nee it cometh or -whith
er it goeth.” So is every one that is
born of the Spirit. I will quote one
passage that did me a grSit deal of
good and then I must begin to close:
“Ihere is therefore now no condemna
tion to them that are in Christ Jesus.”
I went to hear many denomina
tions preach, but the first Old Bap
tist that I heard after this told me
more than I thought any man could
tell. Oh, how glad I was that I had
found company ! Soon after this my
impressions were to go to the chnrcli.
I went to meeting often and promised
myself that I would not let another
chance pass, but my unworthiness
kept me back until I got miserable
in my feelings. At length I went
forward and was received, and w'as
baptized by Elder J. H. Wilson.
I am, your unworthy brother, if
one at all. J. C. Barboue.
"**Signs of the Times copy.
Blacxsheak, Ga., Sep. 3rd, 1874.
Elder P. JJ. Gold .—
I make the suggestion to you to
publish the controversy that took
place between you and Mr. Hooper
and brother Eowe. I have heard
many of our brethren express great
desire to see it publi.shed in pamphlet
form. I think it would be "Valuable
to us and the rising generation. I
would be willing to pay two or three
dollar* for it before I would do with
out it; and, if it was in a pamphlet it
could be preserved, aud I think it
would be of comfort to the saints
that may live on earth for ages yet to
come. I would to God that a copy
of it was upon the mantle of the
household of every saint in the land.
I think if you will request the breth
ren generally to send you a copy con
taining the controversy—of the
Lahdmaeks or Primitive Baptist—
you will be likely to gather it all.
I am glad to say to you, that a
lady of the Missionary name, bor
rowed a few copies of vour paper
from me, and among them was the
one that I recently received con
taining yours and Mr. Hooper’s first
letter; and, on returning them, she
particularly requested that she might
keep that one. She stated to me
that she had long been between the
two (not knowing which one was
riglit).
Hear brother, there are many in
quiring souls that are desiring to
know the truth as it is in Jesus, and
may God send his watchmen forth to
cry to them : “Come but of her, my
people! Oh, that these precious
souls might dwell in Zion and drink
fi’eely of the waters of Jerusalem.
Lot long since I was thrown in
company with this lady and a lady
friend of hers, at a neighbor’s house,
and knowing my profession, she re
quested me to explain some of God’s
Avord—where he speaks of election—
and- while I was trying, in my weak-
ne,ss, to speak of God’s chosen peo-
ple and kW inheritance, I beheld
ilie oil-fi Juy m the counte
nance of her friSnd, while tears were
plainly to be seen. It made my heart
rejoice while I spake with the liberty
of the Spirit, and, after her departure
I learned her remarks concerning the
conversation, which were: “Miss
I do love to hear that man
talk, and, likethe Psalmist I can say,
^Blesssed is the people that know the
joyful sound.’” Oh, how comfort
ing and coiisoling, dear brother, is
the voice of the shepherd ! It is a
voice that c^^mes from above, it is not
an earthly voice, but it is the voice of
the Son of God, and one thing often
comforts ray poor soul, and that is
because every one of the sheep knows
that voice; and, we rejoice to see
that tlie voice gathers tlie sheep to
gether in one fold.
Brother Gold, I believe I love
Zion’s children, I love the glorious
gospel of King Jesus. Oh ! it is my
delight, I do feel to rejoice in it as
my life, and when I see manifesta
tions of the knowledge of Jesus in
my fellow-meu, it makes me love
them freely, it causes my soul to long
after them, and while my poor heart
yeanis towards their souls these
words come to my mind with sweet
ness :
I am but a young convert,
Who lately did enlist:
A soldier under Jesus—
My Prophet, King and Priest.
I h.ive received! my bounty,
Likewise my marital dress,
A I’ing of love and favor,
A robe of ri|flsite£»u8ness.
I regret to see so much trouble
among the children as I have seen
31
here. Babylon has a very nice look
ing daughter here—her name is Miss
Temperance. Some of Zion's chil-
children married her, and no later
than a few minutes ago I had thc'
pleasure of writing out a divorcement
for one of the children from her.—
She is a harlot, fem she will not onlv
marry Christians but she will marry
liars and drunkards, and more ihan
that, “I cannot find a thu.s saith tlie
Lord for her, in all the Avord ;” so,
the Lord has not sent her, and if he
has not, -then the Devil ha.s, and it
would be the best for all Israelites to
beAvare of her because she is a snare.
I love the paper’s contents; mv
soul has often been made to rejoice
AAdiile reading the communications of
the dear brethren and sister.s; and,
may the Lord bless them and sancti
fy all their sorrows to their good,
and .save them in his heavenly king
dom, is my prayer, for the ever
blessed Pedeemer’s sake! May grace,
mercy, aud peace be wu'tli yon—
Amen!
I remain, as I hope, your brofher
iii the gospel aud in much tribula
tion.
H. Parrish.
Eocky Mount, jV. C., Aug. 29th, 187-t,
Dear Brother Gold:—
It seems that I AA'ant to say some
thing but hardly feel that I can .=:ay
anything AAmrth your attention ; liut,
can say, I hope all is going tolerably
well Avith us here as a church and as
a people, for, I feel to hope in
o rT f IA z
rour
- ^ . — ... — u > i •.! 1 1 > • t A tA I
truth preached unto us. I heartl
brother Bland last Sunday at Pleas
ant Hill aud I have all reason to be
lieve that he did preach the go.spel to
the poor : for, I Avas poor in Spirit
Avhen I went there but I Avas built
up to rejoicing in that Jesus Avhoin
I delight to servo, and aaIio is so able
and so kind to feed us and give us
our portion of meat in due season,—
Thanks be to his lioly name that avc
may trust in iiim and not I>e afraid.
Brother Gold, he has siid. Trust
and not be afraid, for it is vour
Father’s good pleasure to give us tlie
kingdom ! and, I feel that the Lord
has given us this kingdom. Me arc
aAvilling people to serve him Avith all
our might, soul and strength ; for he
says. In the days of my power my
people shall be a Avllling people, for
they shall be taught of the Lord.—
What are they taught? That naked
and blind and hcljiless as little chil
dren, and made to sec the corruption,
of tha heart, and I believe are made
to cry out over and ^again. Lord, lie
merciful to me a sinner, in this con
dition. Lor “except ye become as a
little cild ye can in no Avise enter thc
kingdom of heaven.”
Here ke'isa an infant, with hig eves
Opea-e^ tao, Beliold what (loes he see ?
Hfm.self tlie chief of sinners,
and vile and full of corruption, and
fully exposed to the vengeance of
God’s holy- laAv, And here Ave are
made- willing to- say. That
“If my poor soil! wa.s .gent to Ifell
God’’s righteou.s law wonld approve it well?’
but, be Avill still plead, Go^l, be tm-T~