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166
Zion’s Landmark: Wilson, N. C.
Avlio were getting the paper gratis be
fore you became editor,* but I think
all who are not paying ought to re
port forthwith. Perhaps some are
able to pay in this time, and if they
arc they ought to do so.
The pa[)er was given to me in
1871, and I have been much comfort
ed by it. I am still very poor, and
would like, by all means, to have it
continued j but, brother Gold, do as
you think best for us both.
Brethren and sisters, I want to
write something for your comfort,
but I feel that I need some one to
teach me—I hope the Lord will be
my Teacher. Brethren, I think
when we write, we ought not to
throw unlawful chunks in the camp
of the saints ; I think we have enough
to fight outside of the camp. Breth
ren, we ought to be looking at our
own conduct. [ think a faithful
Christian is dying every day, and a
dying man has enough to look at his
own case. We should remember our
Lord when he said to his disciples,
“ My peace I leave with you.” Now,
if we have not his peace, how can we
l)c his disciples? We rnust have
that peace, that love and union of the
Holy Ghost, or we have no right to
the Tree of Life. We must be faith
ful to the cause. Let us put on our
whole armor and be at our post.
Brethren, I have thought often
about our duty, but am not able to
express myself; but will say some
thing in regard to what I feel.
I will first commence with deacons,
as they are, or should be, foremost in
airrying out Church ordinances. I
would say, you should be faithful to
your post; you should^ have a calm
mind and act coolly, aitd not harshly ;
you should look around, and see if
you have not left something undone
that you should have done. If you
have poor members, why not visit
ihern ? if you have sick members why
not visit them also ? If you have
poor members who need help, it is
the deacon’s, business to first know
the case and then carry it before the
Church, and let them instruct him
what to do. I think the officers of
the Church should be first in busi
ness, and see that its ordinances are
strictly carried out.
I would like to say something to
the ministering brethren, as I know
that your troubles are great, and that
you have many hard trials: I can
only say. Be faithful and make full
proof of your ministry, for there
awaits a crown of life for you; and
not you only, but for all who look
for his appearing, for he will certain
ly come the second time, and he will
not come in vain. Brethi'cn in the
ministry, it seems, at times, we aie
almost ready to surrender, but the
liord ahvays appears in time to give
courage to our poor souls—he knows j
what is best for us. But we some
times think our case is the worst one,
and think if we were the servants of
the Most High, it would not be thus
and so with us. But, our trials here
are not worthy to be compared w'itli
the glory which w*e shall receive. j
I hear something said now and
then about paying preachers. I don’t
Iwlieve any g(X)d preacher wd 11 charge
anything for his preaching; but it
looks rooeouablc that the Church
sliould administer to his necessities:
and if they don’t, it causes much
coldness, and gives them a reason to
think they arc unprofitable to the
Cluirch. Some would say, How shall
we give—publicly? No! The Lord
says, when tliou givest thine alms,
sound not a trumpet. Some may say,
I am too poor and not able to give.
Brethren, if you are poor, and give
one ten cents, you are as much reck
oned as if you had given ten dollars.
It must all be given in the right
spirit or it is not acceptable with the
Lord. I do not like so much cry in
the Church for money. I knew a lady
on one occasion, to hand a preacher
something wrapped nicely in paper,
it looked like a dose of quinine, but
when a proper time came, he exam
ined it and found that it cemtained a
two dollar bill. Was not that giv
ing in the right spirit ? Brethren, I
believe when w*e want to help the
poor, we should give the necessities
they mostly need. If we administer
to the wants of the saints, I think it
is giving to Christ in some manner.
Brethren, I have not used much of
the written word, for I know you
know it better than I do.
Brother Gold, I want you not to
print this if you think it hurtful to
the cause.
A POOK, LOXB WANDEREPv.
Editor Zion’s Landmark, and Us read
ers :—
I have been thinking for semetirae
of writing a little for the columns of
our paper. I ho]
examine what I w*rite, and if li^
any thing that he can not endorse he
will lay it aside and all will be righ^
I hav^e never troubled you imr your
readers with my scribblings before,—
I intend to confine my remarks to the
household of faith. When I say the
household of faith I mean the Prim
itive Baptist denomination. For I
believe they are the people of the
Lord. I wish to say a few words to
the household in reference to lier
duty. What is duty ? It is an ob
ligation resting upon some creature
to perform. Christ says, If you love
me keep my commandments. There
is one neglect of duty that I wish to
confine myself to, and that is the sup
port of the ministry. Much has been
said on this subject by way of exhor
tation, and perhaps the readers of the
Landmark had rather see something
o
else more to their taste. But there are
some who need the rod, and we hope
those who have a clear conscience in
this duty will bear with us, and those
whose consciences are not clear must
remember that “ he that knoweth his
Master’s will and doeth it not shall
be beaten witli many stripes.” I have
been made to wonder if every mem
ber feels that ho has discharg:ed his
duty in this respect. I fear ma
ny have a dead fiiith in tills duty.—
Faith alone is dead. James says,
“Show me your faith without your
works and I will show you my faith
by my works.” Well, if there is any
thing neglected which God has com
manded, there is a blame somewhere.
And who is to blame in the neglect
of this duty? I think the ministers
are to blame in a great many instan-
ce.s for not telling the churches in
plain teAfinyieir duty os did Paul.
There were deacons appointed in the
apostles’ day to serve tables ; and, the
Baptist have deayons now to serve in
the same office; but, I think they
ought to use more influence than ma
ny of them do. Would it be wrong
to deal with a member for covetous
ness ? The same Law-giver who for
bids to steal forbids covetousness also.
I believe the deacons should visit the
families of their ministers, and poor
members too, if any are afflicted and
not able to make a support, and in
quire into and find out what their
necessities are, and then report to the
church; and the church should re
lieve such necessities, by all bearing
their part. But the deacons say, some
will not bear their part, and that oth
ers will not do anything for the sup
port of the ministry. What must
we do then ? We ought not to have
the whole burden to bear : surely not.
But I-think the deacons should use
their authority in their office, and stir
such members as are careless and neg
ligent UD to their duty. And if so
be that they will not take heed to the
deacons, and remain obstinate and
uticoncerned in the matter, I think
they should be brought before the
church and dealt with, as (dead
branches;) faith alone is dead. If
any man see his brother in need and
relievetlr'' not his necessities, how
dwelleth the love of God in liim.—
Perhaps many of the members think
they do all they are able to do. Let
me ask such members if they have
not got species of idolatry about
iheir houses, such as pictures of no-
to ornament the wall. Some
are vain enough to buy the pictures
of our Lord and his disciples, so-call
ed, and have ticwln hung upon theii*
walls: (how presumptuous.) Stop
and think for a moment of the idola
try that is in our land. Baptists, are
you today with a clear conscience.—
Don’t tell me yes, v/hen your minis
ter is so much neglected, and your
houses adorned with vain pictures.—
Perhaps you may think you bought
them with your own money, and that
it is no one’s business. Stop and
think, Christian. “The earth is the
Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.”—
“ The Lord giveth and the Lord tak-
eth away.” Dost thou not fearGbd?
Knowest thou not that thy earthly
goods are a gift from him. Yea, thy
health, strength, and thy life also,
are portions of his goodness. Nev
er say you have done all you were
able to do, while you have the
above mentioned idolatries attached
to your houses. We think you had
better take them down, and reduce
them to ashes, and not have such
trifles a witness against you.
We have said we think tlie dea
cons should visit the families of their
ministers and see what their necessi
ties are. Yes, see if they lack food
or raiment: see if his buggy is bro
ken down so lie can’t carry his fami
ly to preaching. See if he rides a
saddle, to attend his appointments,
that you would be ashamed to be
seen riding. (I am a living witness
to-day to some of the above neglect.)
Some ohurches have a way of mak
ing a yearly contribution of a few
dollars to their preacher, and perhaps
feel that they have done their duty
till another year rolls around, not
knowing any thing about what their
preachers’ needs are. Some ministers
have to go in debt to supply tlieir
families, and all unnoticed by the
churches. The preachers are the
churches’ servants, anel they ought
to see that their ministers don’t suf
fer for any thing. If a preacher has
calls enough to fill np all his time,
then it requires more to keep him up.
We think a minister who has not
calls enough to fill up all his time
should observe Paul’s example, la
boring with his own hands as raueli
as he is able for the sup[>ort of his
family. But we must remember that
some of them are too old to labor
much, (we should respect old age,)
and we should see tint thev do not
•/
suffer for attention. It is an easy
matter to relieve a minister’s necessi
ties when every member is willing to
discharge his duty : for when one is
willing to do any thing it is an easy
matter for him to do it. No wonder
there is so much leanness, coldness,
and barrenness of Spirit, so long as
there is so much neglect of duty.—
Wc believe coldness begets coldness.
So long as a Christian lives out of hl«
duty he need not expect the smiles of
his Lord and Master. God has prom
ised to bless his children in duty,
not for it. Why should a Christian
shrink from his duty ? Does it not
argue unbelief, and a distrust to God’s
word ? Is not unbelief the condem
ning sin of the world ? What a fear
ful condition for a Christian to be in.
God has promised u- a blessing in
our obedience. Yea, he promises to
pour out to the obedient a blessing
that they shall not find room to con
tain it. Yes, we believe
were more instant in duty wanid
be blessed in a two-fold sense. But
we are such weak-minded beings w«
are sometimes afraid to put our wliols
trust in God, having no confidence in
the flesh. Oh, how corrupt the flesh
is; it is contrary to all holiness, to
every thing that is God-iike. It it
always seeking its own glory. It is
too often puffed up with pride and
self-conceit. Oh, how we should
strive to keep these mortal bodies un
der. What excuse have we for not
discharging our duty? Shall we
plead ignorance with the word of
God in our hands? a poor excuse in
deed I There is tco much pride
among some Baptists ; too much con
forming to the world. We should
remember he that is a friend to the
world is an enemy to God, Fear God
and keep his commandments, for this
is the whole duty of man. Then let
us relieve the necessities, not only of
the ministers,but of all others in need.
Never be afraid to do well. Never
! give grudgingly. Never think w®
■ are not able; for tlie earth is the
Lord’s and the fulness thereof. May
all be at their posts in this day of sin
: and iniquity, W. Hardien,
f i t Jj f i a I .
i (“Remove not the ancient laud-')
j \ mark, which thy fathers have set.” j
I HE MUST WOT STRIYE,
Preachers are men of like passsions
With other people, and are liable to
be misled by them. One of the ways
of being wrongly influenced by bitter