Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / May 1, 1877, edition 1 / Page 2
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90 lion’s Landmark, Social Circle, Ga., .Jan. 20th, 1877. Elder P. D. Gold—Beloved Brother: I have thought much of lateot the ’difference between false, and true, re ligion. r speak in common parlance, false religion imposes no restraints on its votaries ; true, certain things are required, but they do not crucify the flesh nor its lusts. If they lo'^e any of the supposed earthly pleasures, they are made up by sensational .songs and anecdotes. If theater going is denied, the nearest ;ip])roach possible is jjresented in the style ot their preacher, his jestures, the modula tions of his voice. If reading novels is forbidden, it is made up by relig ious fiction in the shape of tracts, or bv drawing on the imagination in the telling of pathetic stories, calculatfd to arouse the passions, and make men forget them.selves in religious enthu siasm, Instead of order and deco rum, sobriety aud reason, the wildest scenes are enacted to appal the .seri ous beholder. Yet the more extrav agantly they arc carried on the bet ter the meeting. False religion is al ways aggressive ; it always strives to make jiroselytes by compa.ssing sea and land. It is in continual dread le.st the devil may spoil its work, or capture some one that ought to be its subject. For this jnirpose the in fant mind is taken in charge, and there is a race gotten up to see if “Je .sus” cannot be written on the blank mind before ‘'devil” is written.— Proving that they think iff/ieycan get the first start that salvation is se cured, thereby a.ssuming that Jesus the .system. Hard names are attrib uted to those who oppose false posi tions, and ignorance is said to be characteristic of the opposition ; these appliances are studiously used to make them appear as rediculous as possible, and to frighten the young from their company. They arc held up in their pajicrs as opposed to ev- ery good word and work; but they thank the Lord that there are but few of them left, and but a short time will suffice for the earth to be rid of them and their hateful doctrine. It looks rather ungenerous to heap such vile epithets upon such a weak and expiring foe. And yet when they are attacked witli the word of God, and the mask of deception is attempted to be removed, that is call ed “fighting.” All hate that, as it hurts feelings. If one is not misrep resented, but the truth is told in love, how could that be “fighting?”— When they themselves are quoted from their own j)ublication.s, and that com])ared and exposed by the word of God, there could be nothing more fair nor legitimate. Upon this principle truth has in all ages of the world contended with error. The danger is in SLq>{)re.ssing truth by the strong arm of the law, and not let ting it be free to combat error. But perhaps enough has been said on false religion, of its effects, and means to sustain itself. True reli gion is the gift of God. It does not depend upon man for its inception nor origin. He is in no way nor man ner the means, instrument, or agent — ^-A. “^1 Jyo- precious blood, unlass by their assist ance, which of cour.se proves that the blood of Jesus is not, of itself, suffi cient to clean.se from all sin. This theorp, too, suppo.ses that the power of the devil is equal to that of Christ, and without their aid the devil is greater, tkdvation, on this princi ple, is entirely uncertain to any, and to those who are not taken in youth, nnel brought into their system, train ed up for Jesus, there is but little hope; for the chief of sinners, who are of adult age, there is scarcely any. If this sy.stem is of God, and they are to be believd, then for over 5,000 years the true .system was nev er heard of, nor even was it ever thought of until about 1,600 years after the scriptures were written.— What a long night of darkness for the world to grope on in with the scriptures in hand I What became of the children then witliout the modern nurseries? And yet this is the most corrupt age that the world ever saw ; yet at no time w^as there so ma ny professors ; never so much money made up to keep in motion a system not only entirely unknown to the scriptures, but prohibited by them. It is no wonder that the young are pressing into this false system ; they are naturally fond of the novel aral the marvelous; have not tlie power of rea.son and argument and are easi- Ay captivated by speciouswe.ss. The meetings must all be as attractive as po.ssible to insure their attendance, every means and appliance must be used to get them under this false, working system, all are represented as tlieir enemies, the enemies of true religion, who, in any manner oppose but whicli is .sent abroad in order to helj) God do what he cannot do with- ()ut it. It has no religions fairs, pic nics, or any of the m uiy other mod ern devices, gotten up to order, in the name of l)cnevolence. True re ligion is quiet and unobtrusive; is willing to suffer persecution, tlie loss of all tilings, in order to be accepted of him. But it is needless to try to show all the differences between the two ; but they are as marked and palpable, as distinct and different, as light is from darkness, as heaven is from hell, as truth is from falsehood. The scri[)tnres represent the one as of God, the other as of the devil. Each has its own father Their impre.ss is stamped on tlieir offspring, wdiich are as different as their parentage. Is it not strange that intelligent men, even though they nutke no pi’ofes.sion, should be so deluded as not to see the difference? But stranger still that those w'ho profes to be born again, to be the follower.s of the meek and lowly Lamb, should be so bewitched, so infatuated, so confident that tliey tioual ; the condition miglit fail, and man would be lost. Xot for want of desire on the part of God to .sa ve, but for want of faithfulness in man. True religion makes its votaries love God for the sake of wliat he has done for them. It discards all exciting scenes, all pathetic song.s, set to music to in fluence the passions. It makes man humble, poor in spirit, willing to be counted the offscouring of all tilings for Christ’s sake; willing to be a fool, and to be killed all the day. It makes them desire, above all things, to be guided by the unerring word of truth, to abstain from every thing it condemns. They feel confident that God has all power both in heaven and earth, that he will do all his pleasure, that he can and will save all his people, whether infants or the hoary headed, independent of their natural, depraved will, independent of hovv man may feel called upon to a.«sist. “ His own arm shall rule for him.” True religion wants no out side aid from the government. All it asks is to be let alone, to be allow ed its lovers to lead quiet and peaca- ble lives, in all godliness. True re- iif»-ion delFhts to visit the widow O O and orphan in their afflictions and poverty, to visit and encourage, not to bt‘g, and then demand a part of their scanty store to suj)ply, as they .say, the empty treasury of the Lord. It looks to God alone for the fulfill ment of all he has promised, being sure that he is able to perform. It has no swarm of hungry beggars fill ing the land, in order to extort from the hard, honest earning of the cred ulous that which is needed at home, are doing the will ot God, while do- was, then salvaTion would be condi- ing the very things he has forbidden, and not be able to discern it. Xot content- with this they are made to believe—l)y those who ought to know better—that it is their duty to train up their children to worship their dumb idols; train them up to believe that God is well pleased with them, even while setting at naught the blood of Christ and substituting their own righteousness in its stead.— .Staarwe that rn£u Wi^ujd spendjJiop- f s^ uUf 11 j1 WWIS^IPf*if*’HyslWrof' beggary and oppression/lere, in order to drive out idolatry in heathen lands, and yet make an idol of their sv.ffem, their own inventions. The Chinese, over whom so manj jiious tears have been .shed, .so much money expended, who are said to be hmth- en.s, far outstrip our nation in much that is useful. I will stop. Was much pleased to receive your short precious favor.— Such tokens of love from one whom I so greatly love are truly grateful. Yours in love and union, Wm. S. Moxtgombry. am. simply for convenience, as he could not attend his cFurek ineetiings regu larly. The c-hurch granted him a letter, expecting him t« join at Great Swamp, or at Grindle Creek, in Fitt countv, which were in his immaliate neighborhood. Kocky Mt., N, C., March 23rd, 1877. Bear Broiher :— Having a knowledge of some trans actions of business, done by some of the churches of the Contentnea Bap tist As.sociation, X. C., in point of discipline, I think it woidd be best to have them published for the good of the cause of Christ. I will simp ly state some of the circumstances and leave it to your better judgment to manage for the pre.s.s. Sometime during 1875, I think, a ctJored brother, whose name is Abram Wooten, then a member of the church at Autrey’s Creek, Edge- co-ml>3 county, X". C., applied for a letter of dismi.ssion to join some chureh near him, of the same faith order. His object, he said, was Sometime during the year 1876, I think, l will not be positive in re- o-ard to the date, the church made inquiry in regard to this matter, ano on Saturday before the 4th Sunday in July, the church appointed a com mittee to visit this member and cite him to attend the ne.xt meeting that they might know what disposition he had made, or intended to make ot his letter. His answer to the com mittee was, that he should not attend their meeting unle.ss his church .said so. Me had gone to Washington, I). C., and offerctl Ids letter, there be ing, 1 understand, an organized body of colored Baptists, who have a man by the name of John Bell (col) as their jnstor. The church entered a charge against said member for dis sembling anil obtaining a letter nu- der false pretenses ; and he was ex communicated from their fellowship. There was also a member of Spar ta church, Edgicombe comitv, X. C., named E. Pitt (col), who had a let ter granted him by the church, that he miglic join a church nearer which wmdd be more convenient to attend. I was present with the cbnrch when Ephriam’s letter was granted, and was also present when he pre.scnted a note, signed by John Beil, Moderator, stating that he had been receiwl l>y tiiat ehnreb, it being of tlie same faith and order. The question was asked Ephriam if he went to Wash ington city. He said tliat he did not, but that he sent his letter by Abram Wooten. Tlie clinrch entered charg es against him of getting a letter un der fd.se preteijse.s and oxcommnni- ‘cafod him from thefr fellow.sliip. My main desire in having tin's published is, that the chnrelies and brethren with whom the church at Washington city corre.«[)onds and holds in fellowship might know how thing? are being carried on. If said John Bell is an ordained minister, and a man of intelligence, as I have heard he was, he snredy does know that a member could not be received into tlie church without being present to receive the right-hand of fellow ship. I will add also that said Abram Wooten is going about con- tinneing to preacli and causing divi.s- ions in many of tliechurclies betweein the white and colored members, some- prefering to follow liiin than remaini with the church. I believe thafi Chri.st has but one dove, one iinde- filed, the only one of lier m&tl»r.— The ministers ot God, li keli.evo>. should preacli peace and: Jw jieace,. such alone as Jesus can give. The eminent apostle Paul admua^ies.; tlie believers in Clirist to follo'NV' hltri' a?> he followed Christ. So preachers of God’s grace should; si»ow themselves patterns of goed' wonks and be en- samples to the flock,, otherwise* how could one rebuke a sbiiiceL ©r a« pri vate member. SfeoeJd a man go. and preach peace wisest there is no peace? Should I preach to others to live honestly and I n>yself steal? Of what benefit could sadin preaching be?' li believe and ifeel that there is a great responsibiliity restiirg on Giod’k minis ters, so muck so I Goncliidie l am- in competent &*■ the task. I will' close,, snhmitti-ng what I have wrrtteiai tO' your dispo.sal. May grace, me?ey„ and truth be multiplied
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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May 1, 1877, edition 1
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