Landiiiarks,
COMMUNICATED.
HAJiii/i'ON, October 8th 1873.
Elder F. J). Gold :—
Deaii Bkotiikh,—I liave conclud
ed under a feeling sense of my un-
\vortlunes3 to try and tell yon and
the readers of the Landmauks how
I first came to fall in love with the
Baptists. 'When I first gretv np to
manliood I read in the Bible that
the wicked should be turned into
hell with all th(^ nations that forget
(fod. This made me have serious
thoughts, and I was also informed
■of the blessings of righteousness.
Of course I did not wish to be lost
when I died. I thought that it
would not do for me to get religion,
for I thought that I could do that
when I got ready. I thouglit that
when I became to be settled in life
:and liada family I would then get
religion, which I thought consisted
in praying, and doing good—and the
fjord would save my soul for being
good. Of course I was an Armini-
an, as all others in nature. At twen
ty-two years of age I was married
and commenced keeping house but
forgot my promise to my God. My
business then was to take care of my
family, which I tried to do and was
very attentive to the things of this
w'orld. I wished to sell some land
and concluded that I would go to
Church on Sunday and see tlic man
that was goyig to buy, ^md there make
the bargain, as I did itot wish to lose
anv time in the week. I wont to
Church and went in as usual—I did
not think it right to be out at preach-
Jno- time. The Preacher was Elder
John H. Daniel, and though it has
been thirty-five years since. The
text was—“Comfort ye, com
fort ye my people, saith your God,”
Ac., and there I bei'ame in deep dis
tress. I did not think of selling the
land any more then but came to the
conclusion that some dreadful disea.se
had seized me and that 1 • was going
to die. 1 then commeneed thinking
what would become of me in that
condition. I very (piickly concluded
that I would pray and do the very
best I could, and then the Lord
would, for my good works and prayers,
foro-ive mv sins, and tlien I com-
menced in earnest, and then my dis
ease seemed to get worse. I was
fearful that I should not be prepared
when death came. Of course you
may know I worked in earnest, but
every day of my life when night
came I found there was something I
had done WTong in thought, word or
action, but have as often concluded
that it should not be so the next day.
Tliis was ■ the case for four long
months—my condition growing worse
and worse all the time. I tried to
pray three times every day, and at
the end of four months I thought my
fate was scaled, for I fancied that I
could not do what I first thought 1
could—then wliat to do I did not
denow. I had done wdiat I could and
my ca.se was getting worse all the
time. My burden was sin (for I have
ooneludcd since that v/as what was
the matter w'ith mc,)though I thouglit
that it was a disease that would cer
tainly kill me. One morning I
aro.se from mv bed and went to tlie
feelings
want to write some of my
but I fear .somebody will say some
thing about it. And .sometime.s we
hear a per,son .say, [would join the
our treasures are there will our hearts
be also. We arc sorrv tog'C the con-
,Y-t
, troversy between broth'' . Dent'-n
j and P.irkcr. Let us ail liiimble
Avood.s, with as much as 1 could ear- J Cinirch but .somebody ^ill say that I
rv, a.s I thought. It seemed to me i am not a Christian. Christians will
that I was bent down with a heavy * find many oppositions, and if we
load. When I got out of sight of i listen to what somebody say.s all the
every body I feel down upon my | time we shall not do many duties
knees and asked the Lord, a.s best I i that the Lord require.s. Me think.s
could, to have mercy upon mo, for I j it best to hearken to what the I>ord
dis
could do nothing for mv poor
trc.ssed soul. I arose from my knees
and started home with no relief.—
While going home tlie.se words came
to my mind —
Come liumtlo siiir.er.s in who,se brea.«t
A ihou.^^aml thmiglit.s revolve,
Come with yonr I'nilt and fear oi>i)ressed
And make this last resolve.
The first thing I thought was that
I was not touching the ground, and
sttirted to turn around to ascertain
if I had made any tracks—am!
found that I had. I felt perfectly
happy, and all things looked beauti
ful around me. I loved everybody,
and the Baptists .seemed nearer to me
says “But to do good and to commu
nicate forget not, for with such sacri
fices God is well pleased,” Ilcb. V
1(). To the lav-mcmbcrs I will
.«av,
I hope you all will con.sider what the
word of the Lord .=;ays concerning the
can you .sit
!iome amidst
mini.stry. Brethren,
down in ea.so at
plenty and never think of the preach
ers who labor for you in the gospel,
and some leave a }ioor afflicted wife
and children at home with .scanty
means, while neces.ssty i.s laid uiion
him and the love of God calls him
from home, leaving his wife to battle
with the cares of life, and sometimes
than ail other.s—and they do to this thinking it will be the
very day. It was then four years be
fore I joined the Cimreh. I am
comparing myself to one thatBunyan
‘Pilgrim’s Progress.
spoke of in his
lie .said that he thought the man was
afraid of his own shadow, and also
said that he verily believed that he
had the root of the matter at heart—
it is sufficient for me. I would like
the duty
to srw .sovnoithinii-. upon
christian.s, as I have mis.sed it so
I have heard some say, the IjoGI’s
time is the right time. I’ll tell you
when I think the Lord’s time is —
after one has a hope in Christ—it is
aiway.s from then as long as he lives.
Christ says “If you love me keep my
commandments, and you shall abide
in my love,’ and again, “If you then
be risen with Chri.st seek those things
which are aHove where Christ sitteth
—on the right hand of God.” Hun
dreds of other seriptuies prove the
same things and my own experience
ako.
Brother Gold, I have been a very
neglectful Christian, if a chri.stian at
all, and if I could say anything to
urge the young Christians to do their
duty it would well pay me for all the
trouble and heart-burnings that I
have had to encounter with since I
have been hobbling along. I have
been loving the Baptists, but whether
I love them right or not God know.s.
AMur unworthy brother, in hope
of eternal life,
Arciiibalp Statox.
Chatham Couaty, N. C.,- "(
September 21st, 1873. J
l~>ear Brother Gold;—
I once more take my pen in hand
to drop a few thoughts to you and
the dear family of God, and if 1
should say anything to hurt your
feeling.s, it will bo an error of the
head and not of the heart. As I
have a desire to say something to the
family of God, and feeling my un-
wcx’thine.S3 and nothingness, I some
times feel like omitting it. MT .some
times hear a brother or sister say, I
last time she will .^ee him. In time
how heart-rending a scene, while we
lay-members can enjoy our people at
home and think it hard to be separat
ed from them a few days. I hope
the Baptists will consider these things
and arouse from slumber—woe to
them that are at ea.se in Zion.—
Ijct each one d® his duty and not
laA’c the Minister burdened with all
tlii.s, and have to write Ao much on
the subject. A'ou all have the Bible
and can read, the mo.st of yoR>
those that can’t can get somebody to
read for tliein. We arc afraid that
bv ffivinir a little of this wmrld’s
good.s—what profit is it to gain the
whole w'orld and lose our own .salva
tion ? What w'ould you have given
in the time of your distre.ss about
vour sins—to have peace with God ?
Would you not have given this wdiole
world had it been yours? Yea!
doubtie.ss the dear Saviour paid the
debt On the Tree of the Cross, forgiv
ing our sins. He calls the preacher
of the gospel to preach glad tidings
of peace, and causes us to minister to
them of our carnal things, and W'e
are not doing our duty if we don’t
obey. dVe should give of a ready
mind. I .«ee some difference in the
views of the Baptists. Christians are
all taught of the Imrd. Do vou think
he teaches us differently on the .same
things? I think not ? We .should
be careful to usk the Imrd to teach us
and if Ave ask in a right and accepta
ble manner he will teach us. I hope
I desire the peace of the Lord among’
the Baptists and wish we could all be
of one mind. I have as little use for
hireling preachers as any person on
the globe—there i.s a difference in a
preacher of the gospel of Christ, and
that of Anti-Christ. All thy chil
dren shall bo taught of the Lord and
great shall be the peace of thy chil
dren. Some times I think I Weary
the Baptists Avhen I am talking with
them, but my treasures I hope are
among the people of God, and where
j self a little more ;nul a-;k llie Lord to
j teach us for we all sliali stand before
I the iudgment se:it wIutc tlicri' isiiodi-
! vision and .strife. There is somebody
! wrong—ire often hoar a man preach
and before we get home hear p)Cople
passing .sentence on the proa-oh.ing b-
fore they have time to g(> to the word
of the Lord and see wiu'thcr lie i.s
supported by it or not. A’e should
be careful to soarch. the scnjituns
and take them l‘or our guide. A c
.should accc]>t the truth ami reject
that whicli i.s not. tlomctim'' it’s the
case that we are not prepared io liear
as well as at otiu'r times—the fiudt i.s
in as and not the preaclmr. It m
easv to iind fault when we give Avay
to fault-findiiig. It is (ki.sy to tall
into sin, bceanse the ailversary wlucii
is the Devil, i.s going about a.s a roar-
iiicr lion seeking Avhom he mav de-
vonr. Christians have manv .strange
trials. After I received a hope, tor
some time when I heard preaching
mv ■‘eeliugs would bo tender, I could
shed tears freely, hut after a while I
would sometimes liavc such a hard-
heart it .seemed thatpre.icliiiig took n)
etfeet. The Devil jxersuaded me I
had no re.igion ; say.s he, you know
if you tiad religion you would De.
melted down in tears, and then I be
came most miserable. I would try
to get ruA’ burden l^ick, thinking, I
could repent better ne.xt time. 'T
went on in this way for some time
mourning over a hard heart, until I
believed I Avas no Christian. Vi hen.
I heard preacliing I wonld listen at
tentively to see it I couM gather any
more hope. It seemoil that i had a
little hope, but very little. I went,
to Deep Greek to t!u‘ Association,
and brother McDowod ot A irginia
was jAreachiiig, ami when lie began to
de.scribe the feelings and travels ot a
Christian be said that they would get
so Imrd-licartcd at times that if any
of their ])eople were dead they svould
not shed a tear. Ho described my
feelings better than I could have done,
and before he was elone I could have
said that if he was a ehristiaii I aa’as.
I shall ncA-er forget that sermon Avhilo
memory serves me. I Avill say to
yon, brother Hassell, the sermon the
Lord preached through you (that
Avas the introductory sermon at that
place) is fresh in my mind to-night.
It seems to me that the Lord preach
es the same to me somotiines Avhen
I am at my work alone. I Avould like
to .see you and hear you preach
again.
I would say to you, brother Gold,
that your views on dram-drinking
and dressing are mine. I would be
glad if our Missionary friends
Avould oppose dram-drinking more.
If you think this Avill do no harm
give it a place in your “little mes
senger.” Don’t let it crowd out bet
ter communications.
My love to you, brother and .sister
Dameroii, brother nnd .sister Oakley,
./
rm
/