Clay Creek Baptist Church (Cooke County)
At a meeting held with this church in January last, by Elders J. Manning and P. H. C. Hale, Bro. R. M. Backner was ordained to the work of the ministry. The meeting resulted in twelve baptized and three approved for baptism - six joining by letter. One converted at this meeting joined French Broad Baptist Church.
Pleasant Grove (Cooke County)
Elders John B. Denton and L. L. Branson (of N. C.) held a ten day' meeting with this church, commencing second Saturday in February, with the following results: Sixteen additions to the church, and several persons converted - not yet baptized.
Eld. Noah Coram
writes us that at a meeting held by him, in connection with Elders Wm, and P. M. Atchley and Elders German and Haggard, with the Alder Branch Baptist Church, there were seventee conversions - sixteen baptized - one Methodist. This meeting was in September last.
Palestine Baptist Church
Of this church, Bro. Coram writes:
"In November last, Bro. A. P. Smith, Bro. Janeway (licentiate) and the writer held a meeting of sixteen days. Resulted in twelve baptisms, two Methodists. This little church (three years old), in the midst of Methodism and Campbellism, struggling "against the tide of opposition, was much revived - gained a complete victory." - M
Baptist Tabernacle [From the Appeal of the 13th.]
Dr. [S. H.] Ford's church was, as usual, well filled yesterday, though not as crowded as it sometimes is. The singing in the church is entirely congregational. Dr. Ford has been its pastor for some seven years.
His text yesterday was from Deuteronomy: "And the officers shall say to the people, what man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? Let him go and return unto his house lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his heart."
The preacher defined the Hebrew word for officers to be overseer - which, in Greek is episcopos and in our own current language, bishop - that each church had its overseer or bishop or pastor - all meaning the same thing.
The sin and shame of faint-heartedness in the Christian warfare was his theme. A courageous, confiding, hopeful heart was demanded, was deserved, should be sustained, and would be blessed with victory.
Faith is courage, unbelief is faintheartedness, doubt makes the eye swim with irresolution, the arm tremble with fear; the unbelieving are unfit for the battle; let them go to their ease, and their doom.
Obedience gives strength; to obey is better than sacrifice; courage to obey makes heroism a habit. To obey is better than sacrifice. The gospel has precepts to be obeyed as well as propositions believe. To shrink from obedience, fearful, faint-hearted, because it is a cross, became something else may be thought by you or others to do as well - all this is fatal cowardice. "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you," said Christ - true, wholehearted friends. None but his friends are wanted in this journey. Say to the faint-hearted, "Go and return to his house, lest his brethren's heart faint as well as his."
Public profession - on finding mercy, on joining the church, in the action of baptism, in all appropriate ways; public profession, to enlist, to be on duty, to wear the uniform, to enter the battle, or stand picket, in the darkness - this is courage. Those who are fearful or fainthearted may return.
The preacher next presented the reasons why none should be faint-hearted. The purpose of God - he has determined a final victory. The promises of God - "I am with you always." My church, my people, all who aid and follow me, "the gates of hell shall not prevail" (Sin and Satan) against that rock or those resting by faith on it. Other foundation can no man lay. But this is all-sufficient - like the throne of God, immovable, forever. Fear not, little flock.
The watchcare of God - he watches the materials, the workmen, the life and death of his people. Who is faint-hearted, said he, when the purposes, the promises, the oversight, the gracious aid, are all with them? And as the pile, the grand edifice, rises, angels burst forth into new songs, and Jesus drinks of the joy set before him when he endured the cross.
Who - when purposes and promises gleam like the star-worlds, like gems oracular on the breast-plate of the eternal Melchisedek, King, Priest, forever; who - when he has said, fear not, little flock, I am a wall of fire round about them, and the glory in the midst; who is faint-hearted?
Sacrifies - read the part of the chapter: "If any man has builded a new house, let him return." That is, If houses, land, family, have his heart - let him return - he will tremble in battle. Man that have cut loose - who can afford to lose - who have naught they cannot sacrifice - are wanted in the army.
"The fearful and unbelieving," says Christ, shall not enter into the city out of sight. They spread the contagion of faint-heartedness. They induce inactivity and panic. They have neither faith nor courage, to give, to act, to sacrifice, to struggle, do or dare. Clouds are they without water; on the muster-roll not in the battle, they taint the flock, they weaken the force and paralyze the strength of a church. The preacher closed with a description of the lion-hearted, fearless, self-sacrificing soldier of Christ. Men may despise alike his conflicts and his victories, his endurances and his hopes; but there is an eye that watches him - there is an arm that sustains - there is a being who smiles on him, and when the heroes of fame and the records of their triumphs are wrapped in oblivion, he shall be recognized, exalted, rewarded, crowned with the victor's chaplet, while the "Well done, well done!" caught up from the lips of Jesus shall be echoes by myriad voices thorough the boundless realms of light.========= [From The Baptist newspaper, March 18, 1871. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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