Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / June 15, 1876, edition 1 / Page 6
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Zion’s Landmark: Wilson, N. C. pray for mercy, with an aching heart. I said then that I never would try to play again. I dropped it off, but my troubles got no less. I got to looking at my sins so much that I came to the conclusion that they were not pardonable, and that I had pass ed the day of grace. I feared that I had blasphemed against the Holy Ghost. Ifthis is not enough to make a poor sinner try to pray, I know not what is. I was now in deep dis tress ; I would try to pray, and often would go to some secret place and try, but it seemed to make my case worse—my cries seemed to be fruit less. I was in so much trouble that frequently, in going from place to place, I would lose knowledge of what I was going for; and then and tliere would fali down with my face on the ground and pray for mercy.— (I have not time to say much about these things.) I got so out of heart with myself, and all hope seemed to l>e gone, I thought if I could ex change rny condition with either bird or beast I would gladly do so. I saw that God would be just to banish me from bis presence. I seemed to l>e looking for death, and was as near without hope as any one gets to be. After retiring one night—whether asleep or awake, I know not—I saw aa evil spirit at the door, and a voice said, -That evil spirit is your tormentor! Then I thought that nothing but prayer could rid me of its presence. So I tried to pray again. I could pray deliberately, for it seem- that God heard and answered my pe tition, and caused me to pray the prayer of the righteous, which great ly relieved me. Everything now be came light; my trouble was gone and joy came in the place of it; joy in deed it was, for then 1 thought I was holy and blameless before God, and that I would never liave any more trouble. But soon I doubted and feared again. I called my wife and began telling her of the joy I had experienced; but before I finished telling her, I thought I was deceived. I then stopped talking to her, and began to think, can it be possible, that hut a short time ago I was sure my sins were forgiven, and now know that it was all a mistake ? So after this, when about twenty-eight years old, I received a hope, but was not baptized until I was forty-nine years of age. I was like the old preacher who stopped preaching (both living out of our duty); I suffered greatly on account of it. Now I can only give a few hints about what disobeying brought me to : About a year after this, my family visited my aunt, and my wife decid ed while there that she would not live with me any more ; it seemeil that this would kill me. I have not space enough to say much ; but, if you knew it all, you would want to live in the discharge of duty. I pray that you may exhort the people to live in the discharge of their duty, but not to oat and drink unworthily. I must close. My prayer to God i.s, that you and otiiers may prav for me when the .spirit of Elijah’s God intercedes for you. I hope, brother, you n)ay see enough in this to cause you to write me a few lines. Visit us at our next Association, if you can. I want to live to .see you once more, and then, if I don’t see you any more in this life, I hope to meet you in glory where we will praise God forevermore. Yours truly, John B. Kersey. Pa'terson, Pearce Co., Ga., Dec. 13, 1874. Dear Brother in Christ—By a living faith, as I at times hops:— I will now send you the above a letter directed to me, from brother John Kersey, of Emanuel County, Georgia, for publication, if you think it will be beneficial to any of the lit tle lambs of God. It appears to my mind to be the truth. I think it would b6 consoling to God’s people ; for I feel sure that they are all taught of Ihe Lord, and all know the word of Canaan or Jesus, when it is spoken. They all know by faith thatsalvation is by grace, by the free and unmerit ed favor of God. They know that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself; not imputing their (the elects’) trespasses unto them, but has ever loved them with a love that is as unchangeable as God is : “Therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Dear brother, if you see fit, publish the letter after correcting mistakes, and pray for one that licpes to be saved by grace. Kespectfully yours. John Donaldson. Belleville, E.ssex Co., N. J., Jan. 27, 1876. Dear Editor and Brother in the Ever lasting Covenant Love of Jehovah, E'ather, Bon, and Holy Ghost, and ^ these three are one:— I I have just been lookingover a let ter you so kindly sent me, bearing date of Jul)' 15, 1872, with your ad vice to see and hear Elder Hartwell, of Hopewell, N. J., for myself. I am sorry tliat I did not attend to it, but my prejudices were so dee^ily rooted against the falsely charged Arian, Two-Seed, &c., &c. Old School Baptists, that I could not go, and I wondered how you could mingle with them -, but in the providence of Him who ruleth all things after the counsel of his own will, He directed my steps to Illinois, in Sept., 1874, to Elder Goforths, in Knox Co., who intro duced me to Elder E. M. Simmons who, on hearing my views, clave to mo, and baptized me into the faith of the Old School Regular Predestinari- an Bapti.st Church, of which I am now a member in full standing, but holding my letter which I requested from them to anotlier church of the same faith and order.— I had read letters in Zion’s Land mark from brother Chick, of Marv- land, and believing him to be an hon est strait-ont man and brother, I tending the Delaware, and Delaware River Asssociations, where I heard many of the Old School Baptists preach, and converse, and if any poor sinner ever felt blessed, I answer, I did. The charges made against them are not true. Since that time I have also had the privilege of meeting with the New Vernon and Middletown Old School Baptist Churches, of which Elder Beebe is pastor; truly I had a feast of fat thinejs, notwith standing I was somewhat afflicted in body and mind, yet I can say bless the Lord. On account of providential circum stances I cannot travel around to vis it or meet with the churches as I de sire. My time is passing swiftly away; I am here almost alone, and often feel, “O ! lhat I had wings like a dove, To visit and meet rny brethren in love ; To tell them my travels, so dark and so light. And point to the Sun of righteou.sness bright.” My desire is that I may be kept so as to “stand still and see the salva tion of the Lorrl.” I have been a member since October, 1864. I would “cry aloud and spare not,” &c. I am like Jonah spewed out on dry greund. I think I have written enough for this time. Dea>’ Editor, I am behind for the paper. I cannot pay just now, but will as soon as I get the money ; for I think yon can not afford to wait. If you think proper stop sending it. I have more to say, but will ’wait. Yours in everlasting, covenant love. James Fackrell. ’f ij i 1 D r i a I. (“Remove not the ancient land-\ \ mark, which thy fathers have set.” j STATEMENT. wrote to him, making many inquiries about the Old School Baptists, for f wrote, corres- fouiid that what they ponded with my scriptural views, as I hope I have been taught by the Holy Ghost, whether in the Land mark, tlie “ Baptist Watchman,” cr “ Zion’s Advocate;” for which I have been writing several years. I take great pleasure in saying to you that I attended the Baltimore Association, being invited by broth er C. I had the pleasure also of at- A colored man, that was free before the war, left North Carolina with a white woman and went to a free state; but since the surrender they have re turned to North Carolina, bringing a marriage certificate. The man has a certificate of church membership, and is still living with the woman. Question: Should the church r(?ceive him into fellowship ? and, if any such have been received, should they be retained in fellowship ? Please answer the above through the Landmark and oblige a BROTHER. Answer: While it is true that Baptists are opposed to divorces, save for the one bible reason ; and while it is true, as a consequence, that parties joined to gether in marriage should live to gether until death parts them hold is also true that should be entered law'. By the lasvs of Nordi Carolina white people and black people are prohibiled from intermarriage. If people can marry just as they please, in other States or Territories, and then move into this State; becoming citizens of this State thereby, and can live here in a marriage which this State forbid.s, thus receiving the pro tection of this State; then a Mormon, with his dozen wives and concubines, can immigrate into this State and live here receiving the protection ol law, as a citizen of this State, and yet every moment as a citizen be violat- we marriages into according to ing the law. While the law of com ity should so far prevail between these co-ordinate States that each should regard the laws and rigliks of the other, yet this would not allow' of the palpable and gross violation of law in a matter not merely of form—as in the manner of a marriage—but of substance itself. North Carolina does not object to another State tor legaliz ing a marriage between parties as that State may prefer, but which would be illegal here, so long as the partit% thus married remain in that State: but North Carolina expects that if citizens of other States come into this S^ate and adojit this State as theirs, thereby bocoraing citizens of our State, that they become subjects of her law’s. If a marriage is void in its beglnoing no length of lime clasf- ing can legalize it. It would not re quire a divorce to declare void a marriage which was illegal from tho first. But another and higher view is be taken of marriage. Suppose the State law should not prohibit it, then are we bound to fellowship such mar riages ? The Bible treats marriage as among its most important subjects, in relatior^ to the interests of mankind while in this world. It makes it typical of that wonderful union betw'een Christ and the Church. But in the propa gation of the race of men, the peace and quiet of families, and the govern ment of society it lays the healthy, solid foundation in proper marriage. In the beginning, God took a rib out of Adam .and made a woman.— Well might Adam therefore say elw is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. Well might he deduce tlla great trutli—therefore shall a man forsake father and mother, and cleave unto bis wife, and the two shall be one flesh. For a marriage therefore to be proper there should be a onetiem —not of differeiit races that are |to opposite that there is no unity.— While the marriage of a very young and a very old person may not be condemned in scripture, yet how un fit, how mis-matched it seems. But what relation of this earth can bfs more pleasing than the proper mar riage of persons congenial in age, character? &c. He tliat would vio late this relation—that would alien- iate that affection of either one of these, that Avould invade the fellow'ship thus existing, is guilty of a great tres pass. Any that foolishly enter int® marriage commit a blunder that per haps an age cannot heal. Early in the history of man we find a violation of the spirit and nature of marriage. The sons of God begin to marry the daughters of n%en and soon a sweeping flood drowns that wicked race. Speedily afterffli* flood Abraham, a man of God—a son of God—having the proper view of marriage exacts a binding oath of his steward to take a wife for his son Isaac of his own kindred, and not of the Canaanites agnong whom hv dwelt. Isaac and Rebecca feel tho same abhorrence to such unfit mar riages, and command Jacob to to go to their own kindred or race of peo ple for a wife. Esau wishing^ alter his fleshly v'^ay, to please them too, also goes and takes himself auolher
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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June 15, 1876, edition 1
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