Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / April 15, 1869, edition 1 / Page 1
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DEVOTED TO THE DEFENSE OF THE PRIMITIVE PTIST8. TO the: ^ETID to the TESTHvIOISTY.” Volume II. Wilson, North Carolina, April 15, 1869. IMBSE -—/■ The Fount of Life. T. J. BAZEMOKE. Thou art the Fount of Life, Great God, So thou dost tell us in Thy word; Then speak the word, that we may live, And freely all our sins forgive! Tea, Lord, enable us to live That life v/hich Thou in Christ dost give, That 'WO may live, and never die, And live to praise Thy name on high! “We know if we are Thine, oh Lord, That Thou dost tell us in Thy word. That thou to us the boon dost give. Because Tho u livest we shall live. The truth with joy our hearts doth greet That Thou dost say in accents sweet, “I, I am God and changeth not. Therefore iny ehos’n are not forgot. • While they’re on earth I’ll be their stay. And watch and keep them ev’ry day; And when I will. I’ll call them home, And cv’ry one shall surely come. Their lile is hid with Christ in Me, So where I am thoro they shall be; Ih'.'y’JI-lI'.'-?'whh id‘. a.’fovc, Sale in rny everlasting love.” Who are these chosen ones of God, So often mentioned in His word. The special objects of Ills love, Who’ll live with Him, secure, above? Who shall, though earth and hell oppose, Beach yon bright world of sweet repose, And sing God’s praise forever more On Canaan’s peaceful, happy shore ? Not those who say they are not dead, And thus ignore life’s Fountain-head, Because they are too proud at heart To let self-righteousness depart. 3^ot those who boast what they can do, Tet say they trust in Jesus too ; Who only cling to Jesus’ tiame To take away reproach and shame. Not those who do, pervert the word. And say that they can help the Lord; Who scare and fool an Jehmaelitf, And make of him a proselyte. Not those who beg and preach for mon’y, And boast that they convert so many; Who preach and print old Satan’s lies. And claim the world t’ etangtliit. But they are those whom God doth “ call Who claim dear Jesus all in all; Who, of themselves, in sin are dead, Tet live, by faith, In Christ, their Head. Who loathe themselves, and love tho Lord, And feast upon His precious word; Whose hearts are bumble and contrite; Who praise God’s grace with great delight. Who know the truth, and preach it too, 'But leave tlie work for God to do ; For they can't change the sinner’s heart. Nor can they to him life impart. Then let the truth be treasured still ,Thnt God gives life to whom He will { And let all cease from their vain stfifa, for God alone give life. ShellYviLLE, Tenn., ) February 15,18GVj j* No. 2. Soon after the burden of trouble that bad long been upon my mind was removed, as I hope, through the mercy and goodness of the Lord, I began to fear that I was mistaken,; and 60 I very soon began to feel greatly alarmed. It v/as in the night, when all alone, lying on my bed, that I.hope the Lord revealed to my mind the way of life, through the merito rious righteousness of Christ. Soon I began to fear that I had been asleep, and had only been dreaming. I thought if it had taken place in the daytime, I would have been bet’' ter prepared to comprehend the re sult. I could noAv see how God could remain just and be the justifier of poor sinners, through the ri’viie of Christ; and So 1 spent til that night in deep meditatioii, with frequent spontaneous outbursts of soul to God for merev. 0 ! Lord, if I am mistaken, I pray Thee to guide me in the right way. 0 ! that I could see some one that knew tne w^ay, that I might tell them the con dition of my mind, and ask them for advice. Up to this time, I did not want any one to know of my trou bles, hut my mind was now changed in that respect. I loved God; and 0, how I longed to see some of His children, that they might speak some kind word to me, and give me some comfort. And thus the night passed off; and as day came, I rose from my bed and refreshed myself by taking a walk to catch the gentle breeze of the beautiful April morn ing. The sun rose clear and beauti ful and shone soft and lorely, and the sweet notes of cheerful little birds seemed to chant the praise of God. I felt almost ready to join in the hearenly song. All nature seem ed new, and all creation seemed to be praising God. 0 ! what a change; yesterday all was dark and dismal, to-day all is bright and glorious; yesterday my heart ached, and I was sad and lonely ; to-day my heart is easy and I am cheerful. I felt like singing, “ Aroazing grace, how 8\veet the sound, That saved a wretch like me; I once was lost, but now I’m found, Was blind, but now I ace.” And thus the morning past; often during the day, I could help saying, and not 0, that I knew that this change was of the Lord. If it had not occuiTcd in the night, I thought I vfculd have been hetter satisfied. With great anxiety I took up the Testament and opened it and began to read. I found it to read quite different to mo to v/hat it had on any formor occasion; it seemed to be full of sweet and precious pro mises, that gave me much comfort. The place I Nicodemus came to CA'ist by night. was reading, was where being in the night, interesjjji to..T>Cr words : “ Tilt The fact of its made it the more V xlea A read these wind blowoth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, or whither it goeth ; so is every one that is born of the Spirit,” my heart was filled to overflowing with love to God; I could scarcely hold my peace. I then felt sure it was the Lord, and I could say, with one of old, “ My Lord and my God.” There was seated in the room where I was a lady friend; she began to interrogate me, seeing that I was somewhat excited, and I began to tell her my travels for the last five years, and what I hoped the blessed Saviour had done for me. She then gave me the reason of the hope that was in her. That evening was spent in singing, talking and re joicing. It is one of the days that I shall never forget. I, a poor aban doned sinner, elevated to be a child of grace—an heir of God, a joint heir with Christ—rich in faith, happy in love. 0, that day, that joyful day ! Time passed sweetly for several days, and verily I thought I should never see any more trouble. But alas, alas, I soon found that I was sadly mistaken. I often yet find myself in mind gone back to the fourth Sunday in April, 1844. The joy of my heart that day is far beyond the ability of my pen to tell; hut the sweet peace of that ever memorable day was not to last all the while ; soon itvfas dis turbed. I began to think it was my duty, if I had been truly born of the Spirit, to let it be known by putting on Christ by baptism. For informa- tion on this subject I went to the New Testament. It was my com;^an- ion by day and by night; my whole desire was to he guided by the coun sel therein given : “ Come unto me all yc that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and }mu shall find rest to your souls; my yoke is easy and my burden js light.” “ If you love me keep my command ments ;” “If you love me you will keep my words.” These and majrvL. ^ ■'bore heavily upun my miiui, until it was again distressed with a heavy burden, and again I would excuse myself; there were so inanv different churches, ail claiming tho Bible as tlie 7nan of their counsel, and having no fellow ship for each other, this seemed to' perplex me very much; consequently I wmuld conclude I had as vrell re-^ main where I was, and not be driven to such extremes ; then I could go to hear them all and enjoy all their preaching, for I thought surely they were all Christians, all following Christ. So I went to all their meet ings (the old order of Baptists among the rest) and I soon found that no kind of preaching was food to me, but sovereign, free and unmerited grace, and found also that they did not all preach unmerited grace—ma ny preached merited grace. So I was compelled—yes, my dear bre thren and sisters, I was compelled to cast my lot with the old order or Primitive Baptists, because I found their God was my God ; the doctrine they preached comforted me, and I thought I could see in their body the marks of the Lord Jesus. I felt con fident that I bad found the Lord'^ house ; but alas, I was not fit to dwell therein; I was not worthy, an4
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
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April 15, 1869, edition 1
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