,the ,gospel ,day2 ,or1 ,the ,light ,of ,christianity4 ,by ,charles ,e4 ,orr4 #aijd3 ,gospel ,trumpet ,company1 ,moundsville1 ,w4 ,va4 ,,contents ,preface4 ,introduction4 ,part ,i4 ,the ,morning4 ,chapter ,i4 ,christianity ,a ,light4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,sin4 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,salvation4 ,chapter ,v4 ,the ,way ,from ,sin ,to ,perfect ,salvation4 ,chapter ,,vi4 ,fruits ,and ,the ,two ,works4 ,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,church ,of ,god4 ,chapter ,,viii4 ,the ,ordinances ,of ,the ,new ,testament4 ,chapter ,,ix4 ,divine ,healing4 ,chapter ,x4 ,the ,soul4 ,chapter ,,xi4 ,spiritual ,culture4 ,chapter ,,xii4 ,the ,course ,of ,the ,world4 ,chapter ,,xiii4 ,the ,domestic ,relation4 ,chapter ,,xiv4 ,evil ,habits ,and ,injurious ,indulgences4 ,chapter ,,xv4 ,the ,trinity4 ,chapter ,,xvi4 ,miscellaneous ,subjects4 ,part ,,ii4 ,the ,noonday4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,date ,of ,the ,beginning ,of ,noonday4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,scriptural ,predictions ,of ,an ,apostasy4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,false ,teachings ,of ,the ,apostasy4 ,part ,,iii4 ,the ,evening4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,apostasy ,in ,two ,days4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,time ,of ,the ,evening4 ,footnotes ,,preface4 ,our task is finished4 ,it has not been a disagreeable1 unpleasant one1 but joyous4 ,many times our soul was blessed and lifted up as the ,spirit set before our mind the wondrous beauty of ,christianity4 ,in our soul we experience a deep sense of gratitude to ,god for his aid and guidance in this work4 ,many were the prayers we offered unto him for the aid of the ,holy ,spirit in the prosecution of this work4 ,he has heard and answered our prayer1 and we are satisfied4 ,praises be unto ,god6 ,we lay no claims to literary ability2 we have not studied to display such talent in this volume4 ,we have only endeavored to give simple1 plain truth respecting a holy life4 ,we have endeavored to lift up true ,christianity to its proper plane and to remove as far as possible1 the clouds of error that have long obscured its beautiful1 pellucid light4 ,how far we have succeeded we leave to the reader4 ,this work would not be much of a production for some minds1 but for ours it is quite an achievement4 ,it is much more original than we at first intended it to be3 however1 we have selected from the ,gospel ,trumpet the following subjects3 8,woman's ,freedom10 8,eating of ,meat10 and 8,the ,sin ,against the ,holy ,ghost10 which were written by ,geo4 ,l4 ,cole1 ,russel ,austin1 and ,a4 ,l4 ,byers1 respectively4 ,all other selections are1 we believe1 properly acknowledged where they appear4 ,seventy-six pages of the original manuscript were lost in the mail4 ,this1 at first1 presented itself as a discouragement1 but we at once remembered that all things work together for good to them that love the ,lord1 consequently we concluded that the ,lord wanted some truth brought out that was not contained in the first writings2 so we set to our task of reproducing the lost pages with a will1 and ,god has crowned our efforts with a much greater satisfaction to ourselves4 ,we now feel we have done what we could1 and as this manuscript leaves our hand it shall be with a prayer that ,god will make it a rich blessing to many hearts4 ,should this book be the means of lifting up some weary1 despondent soul1 or succeed in turning some sinner from the error of his way1 or helping some deceived one out of his deception1 or inspiring some fallen one to a truer1 nobler life1 ,i shall be many1 many times repaid for my labor1 and shall indeed give ,god the glory4 ,if some one detects an error in this work do not be hasty in condemning me1 but write me1 thus giving me opportunity of explaining the supposed error1 or of humbly confessing my fault4 ,with deep affection in my soul1 ,i pray the ,god of heaven to bless every reader of this book1 and kindly ask all who pray to pray that ,i may do all the good ,i can in this world and gain an eternity in the blissful fields of heaven4 ,yours in ,christian love1 ,chas4 ,e4 ,orr1 ,federalsburg1 ,md4 ,,introduction4 ,in ,jesus' name we are here to unveil before the reader the picture of a beautiful virgin1 whom we shall call ,christianity4 ,never was there a character seen upon the earth half so beautiful as she4 ,in her loveliness she has won the heart of many4 ,the proud and noble have been brought down to worship at her feet4 ,the lowly have been lifted up to admire her gracious charms4 ,peasants have invited her into their humble homes1 where she reigned as a queen of light and peace4 ,gloom and darkness is driven away by her sweet angelic smile4 ,she has lifted the despondent out of the vortex of despair1 and by her animating presence encouraged them to bright hopes and a happy life4 ,the bitter lot of the poor she has sweetened1 and the burden and care of riches takes wings and flies away at her approach4 ,she has been brought into the presence of kings and almost won their hearts4 ,men have sacrificed the world to gain her love4 ,she is a ray of heavenly light in this dark world4 ,the words of finite man are inadequate to describe the true character of ,christianity4 ,in our description we shall exalt her only by the words contained in the book sent down from heaven4 ,that alone is worthy to eulogize her name4 ,when the reader has followed our delineation to the close1 and inspected every feature of this virtuous queen1 we trust the decision of his heart will be yet deeper than his who said1 8,almost thou persuadest me to be a ,christian40 ,christianity should be full of interest to all mankind4 ,she not only cools the heated brow1 cheers the drooping heart1 and strews life's pathway with flowers of peace1 but she deals with man's eternal destiny4 ,she will smooth the rough places all along his journey of life1 and when he has come down to the end1 it is she that will bear him across the valley and welcome him to the home prepared for his eternal inhabitancy4 ,since the day of her nativity she has had a bitter obstinate foe1 ,satan1 and wicked men have combined to bespoil her white robes and mar her fair form4 ,they have struggled long and hard to bring her low4 ,they have endeavored to extinguish her radiant light and defame her true character4 ,we have only to take a stroll through the halls of denominationalism to learn how far they have succeeded4 ,to many pews and pulpits our virgin has no excellence or beauty4 ,in the pulpit orator's exposition of her she is not exalted one whit above the coarse1 vulgar world4 ,satan has succeeded in veiling her fair form and true virtues from the hearts of many4 ,in the opinions of many she is reduced to a mere nothing4 ,angels weep to see her fair robes trailed in the dust4 ,those who pretend to love her have brought her to shame4 ,the low1 degrading opinions entertained regarding her throughout the realms of sectarianism grieves the souls of her true admirers4 ,they have brought her down from her pure1 high throne and mingled her with the lives of ordinary sinful men4 ,they have stripped her of her clean1 white garments and covered her with a cloak of many colors4 ,they have robbed her of her virtues and have stained her fair name until to-day all that is seen of ,christianity in the aristocratic circles of ,christendom is a maiden weeping over her stained vesture1 lost virginity and reproached name4 ,thank ,god1 such is true only in appearance4 ,true ,christianity is seen by her few devoted followers to-day the same pure1 spotless virgin1 the same queen of peace and light1 as when she crowned the brow of the lowly ,nazarene and his immediate followers4 ,she has lost none of her virtuous charms4 ,she is true4 ,she reigns a lovely queen1 glorious in power1 pure in principle1 8,clear as the sun1 fair as the moon1 and terrible as an army with banners40 ,satan has robed a harlot and named her ,christianity and succeeded in imposing her upon many in the world4 ,they are fondling with her4 ,she indulges them in sensuality1 while encouraging them to hope in a peaceful immortality4 ,the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her4 ,they are reveling1 feasting and banqueting with her1 crazed by her seductive charms4 ,she has neither purity1 peace1 nor power4 ,her robes are denied by sin4 ,she scoffs at pure ,christianity and calls her old-fashioned4 ,this strange young woman is using every device to allure souls into her wanton chamber4 ,she is most subtle of heart4 ,she 8flattereth with her words4 ,in the twilight1 in the evening1 in the black and dark night1 she walketh in the streets1 and lieth wait at every corner1 that she might catch and kiss him who is void of understanding40 ,with a beguiling1 impudent face she says to him3 8,i have peace offerings with me2 ,i have decked my bed with tapestry1 with carved works1 with fine linen of ,egypt4 ,i have perfumed my bed with myrrh1 aloes1 and cinnamon4 ,come let us take our fill of love until the morning3 let us solace ourselves with love40 ,such is the gay1 fast1 frivolous ,christianity of the popular present day religions of our honored land4 ,the generality of denominational membership 7we speak in love7 desire a ,christianity that will go with them to the halls of pleasure2 that will dine with them at the banquets2 that will smile on them as they walk in the ways of sin and worldliness1 calming their fears with her flattering words and peace offerings4 ,primitive ,christianity1 they consider1 was good enough for primitive days1 but she would be a horrid enough old maid in these days of progress4 ,in this fast driving age the ,christianity that crowned the life of the holy apostles is altogether too antiquated4 ,she drew men from the world1 she crucified their lust1 she taught them to practise self-denial and keep their body in subjection2 she brought them in humility at her feet2 she led them in the paths of virtue and honor2 she upbraided them for sin1 and told them of the vengeance and wrath of ,god against every evil4 ,the world to-day1 in general1 is saying1 8,away with such an old-time ,christianity2 she has no charms for us4 ,she is too common and plain1 too grave and sober4 ,we will not walk with her2 give us the gay and dashing young harlot that we may walk with her amid the pleasures of the world1 and with her gratify our lusts4 ,she never chides us for sin1 nor troubles us about the anger of ,god nor the torments of hell4 ,she invites us into her bosom and gives us a sweet opiate draught of #8stolen waters and the bread of secrecies1' and bids us take our #8fill of love4' 0 ,dear reader1 8go not after her40 8,let not thine heart decline to her ways1 go not astray in her paths4 ,for she hath cast down many wounded3 yea1 many strong men have been slain by her4 ,her house is the way to hell1 going down to the chambers of death40 ,the mission of this volume is to exalt true ,christianity to her proper plane and reveal her true character by relating to the reader the teachings of ,christ--her beloved consort--and the experience and teachings of his inspired followers1 and thus tear off the sacrilegious robes of the harlot of false religions and expose her shame to the gaze of every honest soul4 ,christianity is not a mere profession1 but a principle4 ,every being is possessed with a principle4 ,satan has a principle1 which might properly be termed devilanity2 ,christ has a principle which is termed ,christianity4 ,when this ,christ principle is instilled into man's soul by the ,spirit of ,god he becomes a ,christian4 ,he possesses the ,christ-life1 nature1 or principle4 ,now ,christ was the truth4 ,then the ,christ nature or principle is according to the truth1 whether it be in ,christ or man4 ,we have only then to lift up the whole truth1 which by the wisdom and grace of ,god we shall do in this work1 which will reveal true ,christianity and expose every imposition4 ,christ is the vine2 ,christians are the branches4 ,the vine and the branches are of the same nature4 ,the branches retain life by abiding in the vine4 ,they who abide in ,christ walk 7or live7 even as ,christ walked 7or lived72 that is1 the vine and the branches bear the same kind of fruit4 ,this is the philosophy of true ,christianity4 ,anything bearing fruit in nature contrary to the truth or ,christ principle is not ,christianity1 but is devilanity4 8,ye are of your father the devil1 and the lusts of your father will ye do20 or sinful fruit ye will bear4 ,christian ,power4 ,christianity--stately queen1 ,virgin--loveliest ever seen1 ,fairest art thou upon the earth1 ,and of a higher1 nobler birth4 ,when king ,agrippa heard thy name1 ,and how abroad was spread thy fame1 ,and saw thee lovely as thou art1 ,thou almost won his heathen heart4 ,when in the midnight's gloomy hour1 ,the ,romish jailer saw thy power1 ,when thund'ring tones his ear did greet1 ,he trembling worshiped at thy feet4 ,when kneeling down beside the dead1 ,in sacred1 solemn tones1 thou said1 8,dorcas1 in ,jesus' name arise10 ,and opened were the woman's eyes4 ,when man our days in death had lain1 ,thou gavest him back his life again4 ,when woman did her sin deplore1 ,thou whispered1 8,go1 and sin no more40 ,when wicked ,simon saw thy power ,he strove to win thee with a dower2 ,within his sinful heart he thought ,thy power with money could be bought2 ,thou spurned his offer and made bold1 ,to bid him perish with his gold4 ,they lied to thee and lost their life1 ,both ,ananias and his wife4 ,such was thy power in days of yore1 ,and such 'twill be forevermore4 ,christian ,purity4 ,fairest art thou among the fair1 ,thy graces none but thee can wear2 ,in trailing robes of snowy white1 ,thou art on earth a gleam of light2 ,thy cheeks are comely as the rose1 ,thy neck as white as winter snows2 ,thy lips are like a scarlet thread1 ,thy locks like silver on thy head4 ,to him who with thee is in love1 ,thou'rt meek and gentle as the dove2 ,virgin1 so pure and bold and free1 ,no spot is found at all in thee4 ,such was thy purity of yore ,and such 'twill be forevermore4 ,the ,gospel ,day ,seen ,in ,prophecy4 ,upon reading the account of man's creation in the first chapters of ,genesis we conclude that he enjoyed perfect peace and happiness4 ,from the beautiful description given there of the garden of ,eden--man's abode--we understand that ,god was interested in his felicity4 ,in the nature of created things he could retain this happiness only by obedience to the ,creator's laws4 ,by a subtle foe he was induced to transgress those laws and thus became acquainted with sin and sorrow4 ,after the transgression he hid himself among the trees of the garden from the presence of the ,lord because a fear rested upon his conscious being4 ,man in sweet felicity was made1 ,but sorrowed when ,god he disobeyed4 ,the man was turned out upon the world to earn his support by labor4 ,the ground was cursed for his sake4 ,it brought forth thorns and thistles1 and in sorrow he must eat of it all the days of his life4 ,cherubims and a flaming sword prevented his return to the tree of life1 which stood in the midst of the garden4 ,the apostle ,john in his revelations beheld this sad scene4 ,he saw the book of life--tree of life--to be sealed with seven seals1 and he saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice1 8,who is worthy to open the book1 and to loose the seals thereof8 ,and no man in heaven1 nor in earth1 neither under the earth1 was able to open the book1 neither to look thereon10 and he wept much4 ,rev4 #e3a-d4 ,how sad the scene6 ,man was created in holiness and happiness4 ,he dwelt in the garden of ,eden and had access to the tree of life1 the very source of peace4 ,but sin entered his heart4 ,he was driven away to be in sorrow all his days4 ,no man in heaven nor earth could secure his return4 ,god saw his wretchedness and that his 8wickedness was great in the earth0 and 8it grieved him at his heart40 ,gen4 #f3e1 #f4 ,sin swayed its scepter over the heart of man and he groaned beneath its tyrannical power1 but ,god's mercy was not 8clean gone forever40 ,they cried unto the ,lord because of the oppressors and he promised to send them a 8,savior1 and a great one10 to deliver them4 ,isa4 #ai3bj4 ,man was encaged in the prison-house of sin1 but ,god promised to send a deliverer 8to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound40 ,isa4 #fa3a4 ,the beloved apostle ,john1 in the vision before mentioned1 wept because no man was found worthy to open the book2 but one of the elders said unto him1 8,weep not3 behold1 the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah1 the ,root of ,david1 hath prevailed to open the book1 and to loose the seven seals thereof40 ,praise ,god6 ,john in his vision saw the man fall from his pure and happy state into sin and the book of life becoming sealed4 ,he also saw that no man in heaven nor earth was able to restore him to his original place and holiness1 and it caused him to weep4 ,but in his vision there appeared one who prevailed to open the book and 8redeem us unto ,god out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation40 ,in the prophetic days of ancient ,israel men who walked with ,god and trusted in his promises were permitted a visionary look down through the centuries to behold the dawning of a day glorious in the effulgency of its light and the greatness of its power4 ,even in those dim1 remote days the wondrous glory of a day when the 8,prince of ,peace0 should come was foreseen by the prophets1 who break forth in beautiful strains of music1 expressing their joy and admiration4 ,isaiah in speaking of that expected day says1 8,arise1 shine2 for thy light is come1 and the glory of the ,lord is risen upon thee4 ,for1 behold1 the darkness shall cover the earth1 and gross darkness the people3 but the ,lord shall arise upon thee1 and his glory shall be seen upon thee4 ,and the ,gentiles shall come to thy light1 and kings to the brightness of thy rising40 ,isa4 #fj3a-c4 ,it is a day of wonderful light4 ,when the prophet speaks of the ,gentiles coming to the light the reader begins to understand the time of the dawning4 ,he further says1 8,violence shall no more be heard in thy land1 wasting nor destruction within thy borders2 but thou shalt call thy walls ,salvation1 and thy gates ,praise4 ,the sun shall be no more thy light by day2 neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee3 but the ,lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light1 and thy ,god thy glory4 ,thy sun shall no more go down2 neither shall thy moon withdraw itself3 for the ,lord shall be thine everlasting light1 and the days of thy mourning shall be ended40 ,isa4 #fj3ah-bj4 ,the prophet by a long stretch of faith passed through the gates of ,praise to within the walls of ,salvation and beheld a light above the brightness of the sun and the softness of the moon4 ,we quote these texts1 and the following1 to impress the reader's mind and heart with the greatness of the light and the wonders of that coming day as seen in expectation by those ancient holy men4 ,after a while we will come to the dawning1 then the noontide1 then the evening of this great day and we will find the glory and the wonders to be as the prophets foresaw and described4 ,what can the holy seer mean by saying1 8,violence shall no more be heard in thy land1 wasting nor destruction within thy borders08 ,we have only to turn to the eleventh chapter1 where we have this clearly explained4 ,let us read3 8,and there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of ,jesse1 and a ,branch shall grow out of his roots3 and the spirit of the ,lord shall rest upon him1 the spirit of wisdom and understanding1 the spirit of counsel and might1 the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the ,lord2 and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the ,lord3 and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes1 neither reprove after the hearing of his ears2 but with righteousness shall he judge the poor1 and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth3 and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth1 and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked4 ,and righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins1 and faithfulness the girdle of his reigns4 ,the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb1 and the leopard shall lie down with the kid2 and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together2 and a little child shall lead them4 ,and the cow and the bear shall feed2 their young ones shall lie down together3 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox4 ,and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp1 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den4 ,they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain3 for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea4 ,and in that day there shall be a root of ,jesse1 which shall stand for an ensign of the people2 to it shall the ,gentiles seek3 and his rest shall be glorious40 ,who does not know who is referred to by the words 8the ,root of ,jesse10 whom the ,gentiles shall seek1 8and his rest shall be glorious08 ,we hear of one saying in the ,new ,testament1 8,come unto me1 all ye that labor and are heavy-laden1 and ,i will give you rest40 8,violence shall no more be heard in thy land40 8,the wolf shall dwell with the lamb0 in the day when the ,gentiles shall seek rest in the ,root of ,jesse4 ,this prophecy will never have a literal fulfilment1 as some erroneously teach4 ,it only exalts the salvation of the ,branch of ,jesse to deliver men from the wolf and lion disposition4 ,it is the peacefulness of ,christianity4 ,in the day the prophet is speaking of there shall be peace on the earth4 ,man can find deliverance from sin and obtain a peaceful rest--not being disturbed by evil and ill dispositions4 ,isaiah in again beholding this glorious rest-day discovers a way which is called the way of holiness4 ,he says1 8,the unclean shall not pass over it2444 no lion shall be there1 nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon1 it shall not be found there2 but the redeemed shall walk there3 and the ransomed of the ,lord shall return1 and come to ,zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads3 they shall obtain joy and gladness1 and sorrow and sighing shall flee away40 ,isa4 #ce3h-aj4 ,any one can understand that a literal beast is not meant here when he speaks of a lion1 but that wicked1 unclean men can not walk in the way of holiness--only the redeemed can walk there4 ,earlier in this chapter he speaks of the eyes of the blind being opened1 and the ears of the deaf being unstopped1 and the lame being made to leap as a hart1 and the tongue of the dumb being made to sing4 ,we have only to read the ,new ,testament to learn of the fulfilment of this prophecy4 ,in that day men of unclean1 ravenous1 and lion-like natures shall find deliverance and be made gentle1 lowly and humble--8,the wolf and the lamb shall dwell together40 ,what a wonder and expectation must have filled the hearts of those devout men in those days of darkness and gloom1 as they looked forward to that time when the blind should see1 the deaf hear1 and the lame walk2 when there should be no more violence nor destruction nor wasting1 but there should be songs of everlasting joy1 and sorrow and sighing would flee away4 8,in that day shall this song be sung in the land of ,judah2 we have a strong city2 salvation will ,god appoint for walls and bulwarks40 ,isa4 #bf3a4 ,in that day salvation's walls shall surround the people of ,god4 ,in the time of this prophet it was stone walls that surrounded their city1 but he looked forward to a time when the walls of salvation would surround the city of ,god4 ,salvation means deliverance4 ,in that day the people of ,god should find a deliverance or cleansing from sin4 ,it is the gospel day when ,christ should offer a sacrifice for the whole world4 ,the people cried unto ,god because of their oppressors1 and he sent them a ,savior1 and a strong one1 to deliver them4 ,isa4 #ai3bj4 ,were we to turn to the first chapter of the gospel by ,luke we would there learn who this deliverer was4 ,there we read3 8,blessed be the ,lord ,god of ,israel3 for he hath visited and redeemed his people1 and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant ,david2 as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets1 which have been since the world began3 that we should be saved from our enemies1 and from the hand of all that hate us2 to perform the mercy promised to our fathers1 and to remember his holy covenant2 the oath which he sware to our father ,abraham1 that he would grant unto us1 that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear1 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life40 ,by reading the whole of this chapter you will learn that this horn of salvation1 this deliverer1 was the child ,christ ,jesus4 ,this deliverer was to appear in that day4 ,the most simple will at once understand that the day foreseen and foretold by the holy seers was the ,christian dispensation1 or the day of 8grace and truth40 ,the prophet again exclaims3 8,and in that day thou shalt say1 ,o ,lord1 ,i will praise thee3 though thou wast angry with me1 thine anger is turned away1 and thou comfortedst me4 ,behold1 ,god is my salvation2 ,i will trust1 and not be afraid3 for the ,lord ,jehovah is my strength and my song2 he also is become my salvation4 ,therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation4 ,and in that day shall ye say1 ,praise the ,lord40 ,isa4 #ab3a-d4 8,in that day shall the branch of the ,lord be beautiful and glorious1 and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of ,israel4 ,and it shall come to pass1 that he that is left in ,zion1 and he that remaineth in ,jerusalem1 shall be called holy40 ,isa4 #d3b1 #c4 ,the prophet ,joel in contemplation of that day of great blessings says3 8,and it shall come to pass in that day1 that the mountains shall drop down new wine1 and the hills shall flow with milk1 and all the rivers of ,judah shall flow with waters1 and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the ,lord1 and shall water the valley of ,shittim40 ,joel #c3ah4 ,zechariah in beholding this fountain exclaims3 8,in that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of ,david and to the inhabitants of ,jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness40 ,zech4 #ac3a4 ,wonderful ,fountain of cleansing1 ,the prophet did foresee1 ,deep ,fountain of peace and glory ,opened to all shall be4 ,the prophet again in beholding the glory and purity of that day says3 8,in that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses1 ,,holiness ,,unto ,,the ,,lord40 ,zech4 #ad3bj4 ,the prophet did foretell a day1 ,through which extends a holy way1 ,where walk the ransomed of the ,lord1 ,made pure in heart1 through ,jesus' blood4 ,another man of ,god is permitted to look down through the darkness and see the glory of this day of cleansing4 8,but who may abide the day of his coming8 and who shall stand when he appeareth8 for he is like a refiner's fire1 and like fullers' soap3 and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver3 and he shall purify the sons of ,levi1 and purge them as gold and silver1 that they may offer unto the ,lord an offering in righteousness40 ,mal4 #c3b1 #c4 ,in that day there shall be a fountain of cleansing1 or a fire of refining1 when hearts shall be made pure as gold and silver is refined and made pure4 ,it is the day in which ,isaiah says1 8,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow2 though they be red like crimson1 they shall be as wool40 ,isa4 #a3ah4 ,the day foretold by this holy train of ,old ,testament prophets was spoken of as a day of 8peace and rest02 a day of 8praise and salvation02 a day of 8refining02 a day when a 8cleansing fountain shall be opened02 a day when 8scarlet stains shall be made white as snow02 a day when 8the lame man shall leap as a hart1 and the tongue of the dumb shall sing10 and the deaf ears shall hear1 and blind eyes be made to see2 a day when the ransomed of the ,lord shall return and come unto ,zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads2 a day when 8the desert shall blossom as the rose02 a day when the wolf and the lamb shall dwell together2 a day when the 8,branch of the ,lord shall be beautiful and glorious40 ,praise ,god6 ,that day seen so far away by those righteous men awakened songs of praise in their hearts4 ,they were not speaking of the eternal day in the glory world2 neither of a supposed millennial age1 but of this present glorious dispensation of grace and salvation4 ,it requires only two texts to clearly prove this4 ,the first is ,isa4 #di3h3 8,thus saith the ,lord1 ,in an acceptable time have ,i heard thee1 and in a day of salvation have ,i helped thee40 ,the second is found in #b ,cor4 #f3b4 ,paul here quotes this promise the ,lord made1 and then says1 8,behold now is the accepted time2 behold1 now is the day of salvation40 ,again in ,rom4 #ac3ab the apostle speaks of his having arrived at that day4 ,he says1 8,the night is far spent1 the day is at hand1 let us therefore cast off the works of darkness1 and let us put on the armor of light40 ,how beautiful6 ,the ,christian's armor in the 8day of salvation0 is one of light1 the darkness is flown away4 ,the ,old ,testament writer said that in that day ,god would send a ,savior4 ,in the ,new ,testament it is recorded that 8unto you is born this day in the city of ,david a ,savior1 which is ,christ the ,lord40 ,the ,savior ,god had promised was the ,christ1 and the day was now come4 ,all hail the glad gospel day1 ,peace and good will to men2 ,the darkness has flown away1 ,and grace has conquered sin4 ,by many a prophetic ,old ,testament text that day of wonderful light and glory was spoken of as a day when ,god's salvation should appear4 ,in the second chapter of ,luke it is recorded that there lived in ,jerusalem a just and devout man1 who knowing those prophetic sayings concerning that great day of consolation1 waited for its dawning4 ,it was revealed unto him by the ,holy ,spirit that he should not see death1 before he had seen the ,lord's ,christ4 ,he came by the ,spirit into the temple3 and when the parents brought in the child ,jesus1 to do for him after the custom of the law1 then took he him up in his arms1 and blessed ,god1 and said1 8,lord1 now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace1 according to thy word3 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation40 ,simeon1 as he looked upon this young child1 saw the salvation the ancient prophets saw only by faith4 ,the day of which they prophesied the ,holy ,spirit witnessed to his heart he should live to see1 and he saw it4 ,it was the dawning of the day of ,christian power and purity1 in which we shall find came to pass all the prophetic wonders of salvation4 ,you need not look forward to some marvelous coming age in which to find a fulfilment of these prophecies1 but 8to-day if ye will hear his voice1 harden not your hearts40 8,how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation80 ,for convenience and clearness we have thought best to divide this work into three parts4 ,part first to consist of the revealing of ,christianity as seen in the life and teaching of ,christ and the teaching and lives of his followers during the first few centuries of this ,christian era1 which is termed the morning of the gospel day4 ,part second will consist of the apostolic prophecies with possibly a few ,old ,testament prophecies concerning an apostasy during the middle centuries1 or1 the noontide of the gospel day2 also showing that these prophecies find an exact fulfilment in the customs and doings of the popular religious denominations of this present time4 ,part third will consist of the prophecies relating to the restoration of the glorious truths of ,christianity1 or a return of ,god's people to the apostolic plane of ,christian faith and power and teaching in the evening of this day of salvation4 ,with this introduction we feel confident the reader understands the plan of this work and will readily comprehend its teachings4 8,consider what ,i say2 and the ,lord give thee understanding10 is my prayer4 ,,part ,i4 ,,the ,,morning4 ,or1 ,christianity ,in ,the ,first ,centuries ,of ,this ,gospel ,age ,as ,revealed ,in ,the ,life ,and ,teaching ,of ,christ ,and ,the ,apostles4 ,in this division of this work we desire to set forth in a clear1 comprehensive manner the true character and principles of ,christianity as seen in the teachings of the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,the ,bible is our only source of knowledge respecting the true nature of a ,christian life4 ,man may presume1 but the ,scriptural declarations are in verity4 ,the ,new ,testament sets forth in such clearness the nature of a ,christian heart and the conduct that naturally issues from such a heart that none need be deceived as to their spiritual standing4 ,christianity is in absolute and perfect accord with the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,this is a fact that all must concede4 ,no matter what may be the philosophy and theory of man1 ,christianity is just what the ,bible plainly declares it to be4 ,a life that is out of harmony with the sacred truth can not be a ,christian life4 ,for this reason we desire to set forth the principal teachings of the ,new ,testament respecting practical ,christianity4 ,chapter ,i4 ,christianity ,a ,light4 ,throughout the ,scriptures ,christianity is spoken of as a light4 ,the ,christian era is referred to as a day4 ,a day is when the light shineth4 ,in speaking of the beautiful dawning of the ,star of ,christianity the prophet says3 8,and the ,gentiles shall come to thy light1 and kings to the brightness of thy rising40 8,arise1 shine2 for thy light is come40 8,the sun shall be no more thy light by day2 neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee3 but the ,lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light1 and thy ,god thy glory40 ,isa4 #fj4 ,it is not meant to say here that ,christians have no need of the light of the sun or the moon1 but to teach that the light of the sun and the brightness of the moon is not to be compared to the transcendent light of ,christianity4 ,whose heart has not been touched with a feeling of admiration as they beheld the bright dawning of the round1 red sun1 or the beautiful rising of a full moon8 ,these are not to be compared with the 8brightness of the rising0 of the gospel day4 8,to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up40 ,mat4 #d3af4 8,through the tender mercy of our ,god1 whereby the dayspring sun rising--margin from on high hath visited us1 to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death1 to guide our feet into the way of peace40 ,luke #a3gh1 #gi4 ,jesus says of himself1 8,i am the root and the offspring of ,david1 and the bright and morning star40 ,rev4 #bb3af4 ,christ speaking to the church at ,thyatira1 says to those that overcome and keep his works unto the end1 that he will give them the morning star4 ,rev4 #b3bh4 ,he will give them the true light and glory of ,christianity1 or his own light and nature4 ,all will do well to take heed to do his works 8until the day dawn and the day star arise in their hearts40 ,in the natural world there is a literal solar system consisting of the sun1 moon and planets4 ,the sun is the center around which all the planets revolve1 and from which they receive their light4 ,the moon borrows its light from the sun4 ,when some object interposes between the moon and the sun the moon is left in darkness4 ,in the spiritual world there is a spiritual solar system consisting of sun1 moon and stars4 ,as in the literal system1 the moon and stars revolve around the ,sun and borrow their light therefrom4 ,the ,spiritual ,sun ,or ,light4 ,it is not difficult to glean from the ,scriptures the knowledge of the true center of this spiritual solar system1 or the true source of light4 ,the last writer of the ,old ,testament ,scriptures1 in his last chapter says3 8,but unto you that fear my name shall the ,sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings40 ,all understand this text to refer to the ,lord ,jesus4 ,his visitation to this world1 through the mercy of ,god1 is termed1 8,the sun-rising40 ,luke #a3gh1 margin4 ,christ is the ,sun and true source of light of the gospel day4 ,the church of ,god collectively is the moon of this spiritual solar system1 and its individual members are the stars4 ,in the ,savior's prophecy as recorded in ,mark #ac3bd1 #be1 the term 8sun0 is a metaphor1 signifying ,christ2 the 8moon10 the church1 as a whole2 the 8stars10 ,christians1 or especially the ministry4 ,this darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars we will clearly explain in part second of this work4 ,the church of ,god receives its light from ,jesus4 ,he is 8the light of the world40 ,in the language of ,isa4 #fj3a the church is addressed3 8,arise1 shine2 for thy light is come40 ,christ is her light4 ,the church shines by the light of ,christ1 as the moon shines by the light of the sun4 8,out of ,zion the church of ,god1 the perfection of beauty1 ,god hath shined40 ,the church as a whole is a brilliant reflector to reflect the light of ,christ to this universe4 ,every ,christian is a bright spot in this luminous reflector4 ,amen4 8,let your light so shine40 ,a few years ago1 one beautiful ,sunday summer evening1 as we were on our way to an appointed meeting1 we observed the moon rising in the splendor of its fulness4 ,it shed its soft1 peaceful rays over the earth in marked beauty4 ,after a short time we became aware of a gathering darkness4 ,on looking up we saw a dark object gathering over the moon4 ,slowly1 but surely the dark object crept on until all was darkened4 ,not one ray of light fell from the moon4 ,the sun had ceased to shine upon her4 ,we understood that the world had come in between the sun and the moon and obstructed the sun's rays4 ,the same is true of the spiritual moon1 the church4 ,in the first few centuries of this ,christian day it shone with the light and glory of ,god1 but the time came when the 8moon church ceased to give her light10 and all because1 as we will learn1 the world came between it and the ,sun 7,christ74 ,christian ,power ,and ,purity4 ,christianity is a light in this world because of the greatness of its power and the excellence of its purity4 ,john1 who is denominated the forerunner of ,jesus1 or the heralding star of ,christianity1 said that 8he was not that ,light1 but was sent to bear witness of that ,light4 ,that was the true ,light1 which lighteth every man that cometh into the world40 ,john #a3h1 #i4 ,of whom speaketh the prophet then8 ,the ,son of ,god will answer this question in these words3 8,i am the light of the world3 he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness1 but shall have the light of life40 ,john #h3ab4 ,jesus was the light of the world because of his power and purity4 ,all power was given unto him in heaven and in earth4 ,mat4 #bh3ah4 ,he was holy1 harmless and undefiled4 ,heb4 #g3bf4 ,the ,lord ,jesus lived a pure and holy life4 8,he did no sin1 neither was guile found in his mouth40 ,he had power to open the blind eyes1 to unstop the deaf ears1 to loose the dumb tongue1 to make the lame man leap as a hart1 and to heal all manner of diseases1 and to raise the dead4 ,there is no sin in heaven2 there is no sickness there4 ,he brought the light of heaven to this world in displaying his power over sin and disease4 ,glory to his name6 ,we wish to impress this fact upon the reader's mind that he was a light because of his purity and power1 and because he was the 8,truth40 ,and now if you will but believe it1 that is the true light of ,christianity4 ,the ,lord ,jesus was only a visitant4 ,his stay on earth was transient4 ,he came from heaven1 and heaven soon again received him4 ,referring to his departure he said to his disciples3 8,yet a little while is the light with you4 ,walk while ye have the light2 444 while ye have light1 believe in the light1 that ye may be the children of light40 ,john #ab3ce1 #cf4 ,again he says1 8,as long as ,i am in the world1 ,i am the light of the world40 ,john #i3e4 ,we learn the sad story of his crucifixion1 then the glad news of his resurrection1 and then his ascension in a cloud to the glory1 from whence he came4 ,is the light of ,christianity gone from the world8 ,is this world left again in darkness8 ,no2 thank ,god6 ,jesus now says to his devoted followers3 8,ye are the light of the world4 ,a city that is set on a hill can not be hid40 ,mat4 #e3ad4 ,it is the 8city of ,zion1 the perfection of beauty10 out of which ,god doth shine4 8,the glory of ,god is risen upon her40 ,jesus told them to believe in the light while they had the light1 that they might be the children of light4 ,paul1 in exhorting ,christians to a holy life1 said3 8,that ye may be blameless and harmless1 the sons of ,god1 without rebuke1 in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation1 among whom ye shine as lights in the world40 ,phil4 #b3ae4 8,for ye were sometimes darkness1 but now are ye light in the ,lord3 walk as children of light40 ,eph4 #e3h4 8,ye are all the children of light1 and the children of the day3 we are not of the night1 nor of darkness40 #a ,thes4 #e3e4 ,this is the spiritual moon reflecting the light of the ,sun4 ,it is 8,god that shineth in thee40 ,they are 8light in the ,lord10 and they are commanded to 8let their light shine1 that ,god might be glorified40 ,this is beautiful4 ,oh1 what a privilege ,to be a vessel transparent1 ,clear as the crystal sea1 ,letting the glorious light of heaven ,brilliantly shine through thee4 ,beloved saints1 take heed that there be not one spot in thee to obstruct the light of ,god4 8,let it shine40 ,submissively place thyself in the crucible and there be polished and refined and purged and cleansed until thou art 8purer than snow1 and whiter than milk1 and more ruddy than rubies40 ,how can the ,lord now1 since his ascension1 shine through his church8 ,the ,scriptures make this very plain4 ,jesus told his own that he would not long be with them1 but said1 8,i will pray the ,father1 and he shall give you another ,comforter1 that he may abide with you forever2 even the ,spirit of truth2 whom the world can not receive1 because it seeth him not1 neither knoweth him3 but ye know him for he dwelleth with you1 and shall be in you4 ,i will not leave you comfortless3 ,i will come to you40 ,john #ad3af-ah4 ,in verse twenty-six he tells us the ,comforter is the ,holy ,ghost4 ,in the second chapter of ,acts we have the account of the ,holy ,spirit's coming4 ,if you will again look over the quotation from ,john #ad3af-ah you will notice he uses 8,comforter0 and 8,i0 interchangeably4 ,he will give you another ,comforter4 8,i will not leave you comfortless3 ,i will come to you40 ,the ,holy ,spirit's coming on ,pentecost was ,christ in another personage4 ,christ in the ,spirit has now come to dwell in the midst of his people1 and to be a light in them4 ,jesus was here in the body on a mission of mercy4 ,he tasted death for every man4 ,he comes again in the ,spirit to 8reprove the world of righteousness1 of sin1 and of judgment40 ,in ,heb4 #aj3e ,jesus says1 8,a body hast thou prepared me40 ,a body in which to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the world4 ,he now has a body in which he dwells in the ,spirit4 ,christians are 8a holy temple in the ,lord1 in whom they are builded together for a habitation of ,god through the ,spirit40 ,thus ,god inhabits his people1 8dwells in them1 and walks in them40 ,the church of ,god is now the body of ,christ4 ,he is the 8head over all things to the church1 which is his body40 ,eph4 #a3bb1 #bc2 see also ,col4 #a3ah4 ,in speaking of saints in #a ,cor4 #ab3bg the apostle says1 8,now ye are the body of ,christ and members in particular40 ,he was the light of the world in his incarnation1 and now the church1 his body1 is the light of the world4 ,incarnate he was a light because of his purity and power1 and he lives the same pure life and manifests the same marvelous power in his body1 the church1 as when here in his personal ministry4 ,he healed the sick1 cast out devils1 opened blinded eyes1 unstopped deaf ears1 and raised the dead4 ,after the ,holy ,spirit's coming he performs the same wondrous works in his body1 the church4 ,through the apostle ,peter he healed a lame man1 restored to life a dead woman1 etc4 ,he is 8the very same ,jesus40 ,when he was here in the flesh he could be seen and his marvelous works witnessed by the natural eye4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is imperceptible to the natural eye1 and therefore can only reveal himself to the world as he works in the midst of his people4 ,it is thus that ,christians reflect the light of ,christ4 ,in the sixteenth of ,mark the ,lord commanded his disciples to go 8into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 ,and these signs shall follow them that believe2 in my name shall they cast out devils2 they shall speak with new tongues2 they shall take up serpents2 and if they drink any deadly thing1 it shall not hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover4 ,so then after the ,lord had spoken unto them1 he was received up into heaven1 and sat on the right hand of ,god40 ,ver4 #ae-ai4 ,in verse nineteen it is said the ,lord was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of ,god4 ,in verse twenty it is said1 8,they the disciples went forth and preached everywhere1 the ,lord working with them1 and confirming the word with signs following40 ,the ,lord worked with them2 then he must have returned4 ,he did in the manner we have told you4 ,he returned to be a light in the midst of his people by confirming the truth wherever it is lifted up4 ,he did do it1 and he now does it4 ,god bears witness to his truth1 both with signs and wonders1 and divers miracles1 and gifts of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,heb4 #b3d4 ,for ,christianity to be a light there must be the performance of signs and wonders and divers miracles4 ,such is true ,christianity1 and such is her light1 a queen swaying her scepter over the works of ,satan1 setting at liberty the captives1 breaking the bands of ,satan asunder1 healing the diseased1 and scattering peace and bright hopes in the hearts of men4 ,glory to ,god forevermore6 ,the ,beauties ,of ,christian ,character4 ,not only does the ,lord dwell in the midst of his people to perform deeds and signs of wonder1 but he dwells in them in all the beauty of his holiness4 ,in their hearts he rules a 8,king of peace0 and purity4 ,those in whom he dwells 8walk even as he walked10 and 8as he is1 so are they in this world40 ,a certain writer speaks thus of the beauties of ,christian character3 8,live as we may1 age dims the luster of the eye1 and pales the flush of the cheek1 while infirmity mars the human form divine4 ,but while this is true1 dim as the eye is1 pallid and sunken as may be the face of beauty1 frail and feeble that once strong1 erect and symmetrical form1 the immortal soul1 just fledging its wings for heaven1 may look out through those faded windows1 as beautiful as a dewdrop on a summer's morning1 as melting as the tears that glisten in affection's eye1 by growing kindly1 by cultivating sympathy with all mankind1 by cherishing forbearance toward the follies and fribbles of our race1 and feeding day by day on that love of ,god and man which lifts us from the brute and makes us akin to angels40 ,christian character is the same whether it be in ,christians or in ,christ4 ,the character of the ,savior is also the character of those in whom he dwells4 ,their nature is the same1 and their outward life is the same4 ,this is what is meant when it is said3 8,we should walk even as he walked40 ,for the clear proof of these few assertions we will arrange in parallel columns a few texts of ,scripture describing the character of ,jesus and a few describing the character of ,christians1 and we will find that not anything more is said of the ,savior with respect to a holy life than is said of his devoted followers4 ,character ,of ,christ4 ,character ,of ,christians4 ,lovely4 8,his mouth is most sweet3 yea1 he 8,behold1 thou art fair1 my love2 is altogether lovely40 ,s4 of ,sol4 behold1 thou art fair2 444 thou art #e3af4 all fair1 my love2 there is no spot in thee40 ,s4 of ,sol4 #d3a1 #g4 ,lowly4 8,take my yoke upon you1 and learn 8,better it is to be of a humble of me2 for ,i am meek and lowly in spirit with the lowly1 than to heart40 ,mat4 #aa3bi4 divide the spoil with the proud40 ,prov4 #af3ai4 ,obedient4 8,for as by one man's disobedience 8,wherefore gird up the loins of many were made sinners1 so by the your mind1 be sober1 and hope to obedience of one shall many be made the end for the grace that is to be righteous40 ,rom4 #e3ai4 brought unto you at the revelation of ,jesus ,christ2 as obedient children40 #a ,pet #a3ac1 #ad4 ,compassionate4 8,but when he saw the multitudes1 he 8,finally1 be ye all of one mind1 was moved with compassion on them1 having compassion one of another1 because they fainted and were love as brethren1 be pitiful1 be scattered abroad as sheep having no courteous40 #a ,pet4 #c3h4 shepherd40 ,mat4 #i3cf4 ,faithfulness4 8,faithful is he that calleth you1 8,and the things that thou hast who also will do it40 #a ,thes4 #e3bd4 heard of me among many witnesses1 the same commit thou to faithful men1 who shall be able to teach others also40 #b ,tim4 #b3b4 ,forbearance4 8,whom ,god hath set forth to be a 8,forbearing one another1 and propitiation through faith in his forgiving one another40 ,col4 #c3ac4 blood1 to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past1 through the forbearance of ,god40 ,rom4 #c3be4 ,meekness4 8,take my yoke upon you1 and learn 8,but let it be the hidden man of of me2 for ,i am meek and lowly in the heart1 in that which is not heart40 ,mat4 #aa3bi4 corruptible1 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit1 which is in the sight of ,god of great price40 #a ,pet4 #c3d4 ,long-,suffering4 8,and account that the 8,with all lowliness and meekness1 long-suffering of our ,lord is with long-suffering1 forbearing one salvation40 #b ,pet4 #c3ae4 another in love40 ,eph4 #d3b4 ,humbleness4 8,and being found in fashion as a 8,likewise1 ye younger1 submit man1 he humbled himself1 and became yourselves unto the elder4 ,yea1 all obedient unto death1 even the death of you be subject one to another1 of the cross40 ,phil #b3h4 and be clothed with humility3 for ,god resisteth the proud1 and giveth grace to the humble40 #a ,pet4 #e3e4 ,spotlessness4 8,but with the precious blood of 8,pure religion and undefiled before ,christ1 as of a lamb without ,god and the ,father is this1 ,to blemish and without spot40 #a ,pet4 visit the fatherless and widows in #a3ai4 their affliction1 and to keep himself unspotted from the world40 ,jas4 #a3bg4 ,mercifulness4 8,the ,lord is merciful and gracious1 8,blessed are the merciful3 for they slow to anger1 and plenteous in shall obtain mercy40 ,mat4 #e3g4 mercy40 ,psa4 #ajc3h4 ,harmlessness4 8,for such an high priest became us1 8,that ye may be blameless and who is holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 harmless1 the sons of ,god1 without separate from sinners1 and made rebuke1 in the midst of a crooked higher than the heavens40 ,heb4 and perverse nation1 among whom ye #g3bf4 shine as lights in the world40 ,phil4 #b3ae4 ,guilelessness4 8,who did no sin1 neither was guile 8,jesus saw ,nathanael coming to him1 found in his mouth40 #a ,pet4 #b3bb4 and saith of him1 ,behold an ,israelite indeed1 in whom is no guile60 ,john #a3dg4 ,sinlessness4 8,for we have not an high priest 8,whosoever is born of ,god doth not which can not be touched with the commit sin2 for his seed remaineth feeling of our infirmities2 but was in him3 and he can not sin1 because in all points tempted like as we he is born of ,god40 #a ,john #c3i4 are1 yet without sin40 ,heb4 #d3ae4 ,thus we could go on to a much greater length1 showing by the ,scriptures that the character of a ,christian1 or his nature or life is the same as the life or character of ,christ4 ,christianity is ,christ in us4 ,the life of a true ,christian is one of great beauty4 ,it is a light in this world4 ,it is far above the ways of sin and worldliness4 ,it is the ,christ-life in man4 ,the self-life of man has ceased1 is crucified2 nevertheless he lives1 yet not he1 but it is ,christ that liveth in him4 ,the ,christian life is inspiring1 ennobling1 clothed in humility4 ,it points the way to ,christ and heaven4 ,it is a brilliant ornament1 which in the sight of ,god is of great price4 ,god places great value upon a ,christian life4 ,it is worth more than ten thousand worlds4 ,is it not a shame that it is trifled with as it is8 ,thousands are taking the name of ,christian1 when it is impossible to distinguish them from the world2 they emit not one ray of light4 ,esthetics is the science of the beautiful1 and treats of the feelings produced through the senses by objects of beauty4 ,the most vile and dishonest admire honesty in others2 thus gentleness1 kindness1 meekness1 produce pleasant feelings and are called beautiful4 ,god is the source of meekness1 gentleness1 and love4 ,he is the source of the beautiful4 ,christianity is ,god in man1 exhibiting his beauty4 8,lord1 let thy beauty be upon us40 ,the dewdrop sparkles like a diamond as the sun's rays fall upon it4 ,the life of man sparkles with an unsurpassed beauty as the rays of light and salvation fall upon it from the throne4 ,as we behold the beauty of ,god assimilated into the life of man and thus revealed we think what a pity that all in the world are not ,christians4 ,christian1 oh1 may thy tribe increase1 ,thy light and glory ne'er decrease2 ,shine on and magnify the ,word1 ,and point the world to ,christ and ,god4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,we have said before that ,christianity is in perfect accord with the ,bible4 ,the ,word of ,god reveals ,christianity to us4 ,it is an infallible expression of its doctrines and duties4 ,jesus is the way to everlasting rest2 the ,bible is the guide4 ,some one has said1 8,both are equally certain1 equally divine4 ,let us be thankful for such unspeakable gifts4 ,next to the mercy of a ,savior1 able and ready to save to the uttermost all who come unto ,god by him1 is the book of inspiration of ,god1 which as a lamp to our feet1 and a light to our path1 conducts us to such a ,friend1 and teaches us the way of salvation40 ,the ,word of ,god is a lamp and a light to guide to everlasting bliss1 8,the entrance of thy word giveth light40 ,the word is written in the ,christian's heart4 ,in his conduct he adorns the doctrine of ,god our ,savior and thus reveals the light of the gospel4 ,christianity is therefore a light1 because it is a product of the truth4 ,we can understand at once then that anything that is in opposition to the ,scriptures can not be a light4 ,the nearer the life accords with the whole truth the greater the light4 ,the ,scriptures contain all that is necessary for the formation of a perfect ,christian4 ,whosoever submits heart and life to the ,word of ,god and walks in obedience to its commands will be transformed into the glorious image of the ,son of ,god and made ready for that better land4 ,the apostle says1 8,all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness3 that the man of ,god may be perfect a perfect ,christian1 thoroughly furnished unto all good works40 #b ,tim4 #c3af1 #ag4 ,tradition is unnecessary for the production of a true ,christian character4 ,the ,scriptures contain all the doctrine1 reproof1 correction and instruction needful4 ,the ,scriptures have but one true interpreter1 and but one interpretation4 ,all who rightly understand the ,bible understand it alike4 ,we are aware this is contrary to much of the present day teaching4 ,many are now saying that 8we can not understand the ,word of ,god the same1 therefore just as we understand it so it is unto us40 ,this is very loose and robs the 8two-edged sword0 of all its sharpness and power4 ,it leaves man to interpret it in a manner that will not condemn his sinful life4 ,a class of grammar students1 if allowed to analyze sentences and parse words each according to his understanding1 would never become perfect grammarians4 ,one may parse a word as a 8verb10 another the same word as an 8adverb10 another as a 8participle10 and if each were right according to his understanding1 how could we have any fixed rules of grammar8 ,all would be confusion and no one would know what is proper speech4 ,students to become efficient scholars must understand mathematics1 astronomy1 botany1 etc41 alike4 ,every volume written by man if understood rightly must be understood alike by all4 ,to allow every man his own private interpretation of ,scripture1 or every religious society its interpretation is to admit of no certain1 no fixed rules governing a ,christian life4 ,we can illustrate it better in this way4 ,a certain rich man has a number of circulars printed4 ,these circulars he distributes among the poor of a certain neighborhood4 ,on these circulars he tells them that at the end of twelve months he will give one thousand dollars to each one complying with the conditions given below4 ,the conditions are these3 ,you must not steal4 8,lie not one to another40 ,do not render evil for evil4 ,love your enemies1 and pray for those who despitefully use you4 8,if thine enemy hunger1 feed him2 and if he thirst1 give him drink40 8,speak evil of no man40 8,return good for evil40 8,as ye would that others should do to you1 do ye even so to them40 ,if a man smite you upon the right cheek1 turn to him the other also4 ,prefer others before yourself4 8,do all things without murmuring40 ,do not wear gold or pearls or costly array4 ,pray when you are afflicted4 ,do not jest or talk foolishly1 but have a sound speech4 ,greet one another with a kiss4 ,wash one another's feet4 ,you must all speak the same thing4 ,you must be of one mind4 ,if ye do these things you shall receive the inheritance1 but he that offends in one is guilty of all4 ,now who of a sound mind could not understand as plain and simple language as this8 ,but suppose one man or woman does not want to lay off their gold and pearls1 so they decide he meant that for women of ancient times and not for us4 ,another thinks the command to greet with a kiss means to shake hands4 ,another thinks to visit my neighbor when he is sick is washing his feet4 ,to pray when we are afflicted is meant for the people of olden time4 ,one man whose heart is full of hatred against a neighbor decides no man can love his enemy1 therefore this command does not mean what it says1 so he will go on hating his enemy1 but expects to get his inheritance4 ,one man decides one command means one thing1 another that it means something else1 each one making each command to mean that which is most pleasing to do4 ,who would receive the one thousand dollars at the time appointed8 ,you can at once see the folly of their entertaining hopes of receiving the inheritance4 ,thousands are thus treating the ,word of ,god1 saying this and that commandment does not mean what it says1 but means thus and so1 or1 it was for a people of some other time1 etc4 ,at this present day there are many who are taking the traditions of men and customs of some religious society for their rule of life and duty4 ,recently while passing through a strange part of the country we stopped at a farmhouse to inquire our way4 ,it became convenient to tell the lady1 who came to answer our inquiry1 that we had come into her neighborhood to hold a few religious meetings4 ,she invited us into her house to see her four weeks' old baby which was sick4 ,while talking with her she said that she became afraid that her child was going to die1 so she sent for the minister and had it christened4 ,i asked her if she believed that if the babe had died without being christened that it would have gone to hell4 8,no10 she said1 8,i do not believe that1 but ,i believe that it would have gone to heaven40 ,i then asked her1 ,do you not believe that if your little child lives that it will go into sin and some day will have to repent and be converted in order to get to heaven just the same as if it never had been christened8 ,she said that she believed it would4 ,i then asked her what good the christening had done her child4 ,she answered1 8,i do not know40 ,i then asked her to give me one commandment in the ,bible obligating her to christen her child4 ,she said1 8,i know of none40 ,i then asked her why she had her babe christened4 ,she said1 8,because most all the people do around here40 ,she like thousands of others was taking the custom of the neighborhood1 or religious order1 and never searched the ,scriptures to know what are the commandments of ,god4 ,we need to be doers only of the ,word of ,god4 8,not every one that saith1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven2 but he that doeth the will of my ,father which is in heaven40 ,the ,god of heaven has given laws and fixed rules and recorded them in the ,holy ,scriptures to govern our daily life4 ,these laws we are positively commanded to obey4 ,to disobey is a sin4 #a ,john #c3d4 ,sinners do not go to heaven4 ,there is not one text in the whole ,bible encouraging us to hope of going to heaven if we are knowingly disobeying any commandment of ,god4 ,in this present day a mighty concourse of people are passing on down the way to an eternity1 professing to be children of ,god1 but living careless and negligent1 doing many things they should not do1 and failing to do a great many things they should do4 ,this greatly reminds me of the way the people regarded a certain stock law that was passed by the legislature of our district in my boyhood days4 ,this law forbade the running at large of cattle1 hogs1 sheep1 etc4 ,now there was in our neighborhood much of what was called 8commons40 ,it was unfenced land1 and was used as a common pasture land for all4 ,consequently the enacting of such a law was obnoxious to nearly all of the citizens of this neighborhood1 and it was almost unanimously violated2 and because it was violated by so many it was never enforced4 ,cattle1 sheep1 and hogs continued to run at large the same as if there was no law prohibiting the same4 ,after a time most people had forgotten there was such a law4 ,the same is true respecting the ,word of ,god4 ,people have gone on in their own ways1 violating those holy laws until many are doing things1 and do not know there is a law of ,god forbidding it4 ,god's laws are not held in the high esteem they should be4 ,they are his power unto salvation to all that believe4 ,they are able to save the soul4 ,they are to be kept in remembrance1 to be kept in the heart1 to be obeyed4 ,they are to search1 to meditate upon1 to trust in1 to rejoice in1 to delight in1 to taste1 to long after1 to stand in awe of1 to esteem as a light1 and to be let dwell richly within us4 ,it is the ,word of ,god that shall judge us in that great judgment-day4 ,they that love ,god and keep his words1 8against such there is no law20 consequently they will 8have boldness in that day40 ,god's law is eternal2 it shall never pass away4 ,the ,lord ,jesus says1 8,heaven and earth shall pass away1 but my words shall never pass away40 8,the word of ,god which liveth and abideth forever40 #a ,pet4 #a3bc4 ,the earth and all that therein is shall pass away1 ,but ,god's pure ,word shall live and stand for aye and aye3 ,man runs his race of life1 then1 passing from the scene1 ,returns to dust1 and is as though he ne'er had been-- ,this is not spoken of the inner man1 the soul-- ,this1 says the ,word1 shall live while ceaseless ages roll4 ,the city with its walls and towers of granite stone1 ,shall be to dissolution brought by rain and sun2 ,the ships which round the world on crested wave have flown4 ,go down amid the storm1 and never more are known2 ,the daring mountain peak1 all covered o'er with snow1 ,shall mid terrific blast descend to depths below2 ,the proud empire whose scepter sways o'er land and sea1 ,shall fall and pass away ere dawns eternity2 ,and haughty finite sovereign power no more shall be1 ,the stars in firmament above shall quit their place2 ,the waning moon shall cease her still nocturnal race1 ,and earth no more sail through immensity of space4 ,because of sin all these shall pass fore'er away1 ,shall melt with fervent heat in that avenging day1 ,but ,god's pure ,word shall live and stand for aye and aye4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,sin4 ,the time was when there was no sin in this world4 ,at that time it was an ,eden4 ,by man transgressing ,god's holy law sin entered this world4 8,wherefore1 as by one man sin entered into the world1 and death by sin2 and so death passed upon all men1 for that all have sinned40 ,rom4 #e3ab4 ,this is the origin of sin in this world and the awful consequence4 ,god's design was that his creation be sinless and pure1 but by disobedience sin has marred the scene of ,god's creative purity4 ,the following texts will acquaint the reader with the characteristics or nature of sin4 #a4 ,sin is defiling4 8,there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes1 and yet is not washed from their filthiness40 ,prov4 #cj3ab4 8,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow2 though they be red like crimson1 they shall be as wool40 ,isa4 #a3ah4 ,here we see the defiling nature of sin4 ,it stains the soul as with scarlet4 ,white is the emblem of purity4 ,the pure soul is spoken of as being clothed in 8fine linen1 clean and white40 ,sin stains those robes with crimson1 or scarlet spots4 ,though you wash with niter1 or with much soap1 those deep-dyed marks of iniquity can not be thus cleansed away4 #b4 ,sin is deceiving4 8,but exhort one another daily1 while it is called to-day2 lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin40 ,heb4 #c3ac4 ,one sin has opened the gate or way to many more4 ,there is a kind of opiate power in sin that renders its victim unconscious of its awful magnitude1 thus its deceitfulness4 #c4 ,sin is reproachful4 8,righteousness exalteth a nation3 but sin is a reproach to any people40 ,prov4 #ad3cd4 ,we can not enable you to see that sin is a reproach in any better way than by placing two pictures before you4 ,one picture is that of a community where all the citizens1 old and young1 love and fear ,god4 ,they live together in peace and love2 there are no quarrelings or contentions1 envyings or unkindnesses among neighbors1 neither in home life4 ,there is no stealing1 lying1 cheating1 swearing1 drunkenness1 fightings1 backbitings1 vulgarisms1 unholy revelries1 etc4 ,such manner of life exalts that community1 and all good people are desirous of making their homes there4 ,the second picture is that of a community where neighbors are quarreling1 hating and lawing with each other4 ,in home life there are angry words and bitter feelings and estrangements4 ,there are lewd revelries and wanton pleasures4 ,there are stealings and lyings1 cheatings1 fightings1 swearings1 drinking1 chewing and smoking1 slang phrases1 etc4 ,such is a reproach1 and thus we learn how righteousness exalts a nation and sin becomes a reproach to any people4 #d4 ,sin gives death its horror4 8,the sting of death is sin40 #a ,cor4 #ae3ef4 ,many a thing in this world carries a sting by which it inflicts pain4 ,death and the thoughts of death are painful and cause a shudder and fear because death has a sting4 ,it is sin4 #e4 ,sin excludes the soul from heaven4 8,then said ,jesus again unto them1 ,i go my way1 and ye shall seek me1 and shall die in your sins3 whither ,i go1 ye can not come40 ,john #h3ba4 ,heaven is a pure and holy place4 ,no sin will ever enter there4 ,if we die in our sins heaven is lost unto us forever4 ,what ,is ,sin8 ,many people have become confused concerning a sinless life because they did not understand what sin was4 ,a temptation or trial is not a sin1 but it is the yielding to temptation that is a sin4 8,all unrighteousness is sin40 #a ,john #e3ag4 ,all that is wrong is sinful4 ,there are but few people that will not confess that we should live right in this world4 ,to live right in every way is the fruit of righteousness4 ,james says1 8,therefore to him that knoweth to do good1 and doeth it not1 to him it is sin40 #d3ag4 ,to refuse to do a good thing known unto us when we have opportunity is wrong and displeasing to ,god4 ,solomon says1 8,the thought of foolishness is sin40 8,in a multitude of words there wanteth not sin40 ,the apostle ,john clearly and positively defines sin in these words3 8,whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law3 for sin is the transgression of the law40 #a ,john #c3d4 ,to transgress or violate any known law of ,god is sin4 ,this is clear and comprehensive4 ,for instance1 a man knows it is wrong to steal1 therefore if he steals it is a sin4 ,a man knows it is wrong to tell a falsehood1 therefore if he speaks falsely he commits a sin4 ,a man knows it is wrong to become intoxicated1 and yet he does become so2 he has violated a known law of right and wrong1 and has therefore committed a sin4 ,who is the man of common sense that does not know it is wrong to lie1 steal1 swindle1 defraud1 curse1 drink1 get angry and cross2 to refuse to help a needy neighbor when he can1 to talk foolishly1 to tell unseemly tales1 to backbite1 slander1 commit adultery1 hold enmity against another1 or to be proud and vain1 etc48 ,all these1 and many more1 the ,bible says are wrong1 and man knows them to be wrong2 therefore to do them is a sin4 ,sin brings man into bondage4 ,john #h3cd4 ,man is unable to liberate himself from sin1 but ,god has sent a ,deliverer4 ,praise his name6 8,if the ,son therefore shall make you free1 ye shall be free indeed40 ,john #h3cf4 ,of this glorious deliverance we shall speak in the following chapter4 ,chapter ,,iv4 ,salvation4 ,salvation is the song that was to be sung by the redeemed in that day4 8,behold now is the day40 ,our salvation has come4 8,glory to ,god in the highest1 and on earth1 peace1 good will toward men40 ,salvation means deliverance4 ,a prophecy concerning the ,christ--our salvation--says3 8,he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound40 ,isa4 #fa3a4 ,christ our ,savior came to deliver us from the prison-house of sin4 ,in the preceding chapter we learned that sin left its crimson and scarlet stains upon the soul4 ,salvation cleanses the soul1 removing the stains1 making it as white as snow4 ,washing in 8niter and much soap0 will not prove effectual1 but the blood of ,jesus will remove every stain4 ,sin reproaches1 but the salvation of ,jesus exalts4 ,it lifts man up from the coarse1 degrading1 shameful life of sin1 and exalts him to integrity1 nobility1 and purity4 ,it removes the discontentments1 uneasiness1 condemnations and fears1 and brings joy1 peace and rest4 ,salvation breaks the strong fetters of sin and man rejoices in the beautiful light and liberty of this gospel day4 ,the scepter is wrested from the cruel tyrant1 sin1 and righteousness in quietness and peace sways the scepter1 and man rejoices4 ,sin is dethroned and ,christ is crowned ,king of glory1 and his triumphant reign is in the heart and life of man4 ,sin no longer has dominion4 ,christ hath made us free4 ,o ,god1 thy vict'ries ,i extol ,with all the freedom of my soul4 ,salvation removes the awful sting of death and allows man to approach the last hour 8,like one who wraps the drapery of his couch ,about him and lies down to pleasant dreams40 ,a ,present ,salvation4 8,behold1 now is the accepted time2 behold1 now is the day of salvation40 #b ,cor4 #f3b4 ,the present dispensation1 or gospel day1 is the salvation age4 ,it is the accepted time1 or the time which ,god has accepted for the salvation of man4 ,that there is another dispensation of time beyond this present ,christian era in which man can be saved is ,satan's falsehood to cause man to neglect salvation in this 8accepted time10 beyond which he knows there is no escape4 8,how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation80 8,to-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts40 ,the apostle ,paul says1 8,the grace of ,god that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men40 ,titus #b3aa4 ,it 8hath appeared40 ,this is the time when salvation has appeared unto all men1 and all men must accept it in this time or lose it forever4 ,in ,titus #c3e1 ,eph4 #b3e1 ,rom4 #f3bb1 ,jude #a1 #a ,cor4 #a3b1 and many other texts1 salvation is spoken of as having been received4 ,beyond controversy salvation is a present attainment4 ,salvation ,by ,grace ,and ,not ,by ,works4 ,salvation from sin is by the grace of ,god4 ,the word 8grace0 is defined by lexicographers as favor or mercy4 ,grace is a characteristic in the nature of ,god which offers mercy or favor though wholly unmerited by the recipient4 ,man is an offender against ,god4 ,through repentance he finds favor or grace in ,god's sight without any worthiness1 excellence or meritoriousness in himself1 but because of the merciful nature of the ,lord4 8,for by grace are ye saved through faith40 ,eph4 #b3h4 8,by grace ye are saved40 ,ver4 #e4 8,who hath saved us1 and called us with a holy calling1 not according to our works1 but according to his own purpose and grace1 which was given us in ,christ ,jesus before the world began40 #b ,tim4 #a3i4 8,being justified freely by his grace40 ,rom4 #c3bd4 ,if man could attain to salvation by works1 then he could plead his own merits2 but we are taught that we can only plead the mercy of ,god4 ,the apostle says that salvation is 8not of works1 lest any man should boast40 ,eph4 #b3i4 ,if it were by works man would have some cause for boasting2 but because it is wholly by grace1 he has nothing of self in which to boast4 ,again he says1 8,not by works of righteousness which we have done1 but according to his mercy he saved us1 by the washing of regeneration1 and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,titus #c3e4 ,salvation ,perfect4 ,there is no weakness nor incompleteness in ,god's salvation4 ,it saves to 8the uttermost40 ,heb4 #g3be4 ,salvation is so complete that man requires no additional cleansing or purifying to fit him for heaven4 ,the salvation to which the apostle had attained made him 8ready to be offered40 ,there is no cleansing beyond the gates of death1 but in this life we are commanded to make ready4 8,though your sins be as scarlet1 they shall be as white as snow40 ,this text proves the efficacy of the blood or the completeness of salvation4 ,also the following texts magnify the preciousness and perfectness of redemption3 8,then will ,i sprinkle clean water upon you1 and ye shall be clean3 from all your filthiness1 and from all your idols1 will ,i cleanse you40 ,ezek4 #cf3be4 8,purge me with hyssop1 and ,i shall be clean3 wash me1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow40 ,psa4 #ea3g4 8,ye are complete in him40 ,col4 #b3aj4 8,the blood of ,jesus ,christ his ,son cleanseth us from all sin40 #a ,john #a3g4 8,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness40 #a ,john #a3i4 ,it is sin that excludes us from heaven4 ,it is salvation that saves us from sin1 therefore we1 when saved1 are ready for that better land4 ,future ,salvation4 ,there are a few texts of ,scripture which teach a salvation yet in the future4 8,and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake3 but he that endureth to the end shall be saved40 ,mat4 #aj3bb4 8,wherefore1 my beloved1 as ye have always obeyed1 not as in my presence only1 but now much more in my absence1 work out your own salvation with fear and trembling40 ,phil4 #b3ab4 ,these texts do not prove that there is no salvation only at the end of human life1 else what could be the meaning of the many texts that speak of a present salvation8 ,these two texts are very easily harmonized with those teaching a present experience of saving grace4 ,as long as we are in this world it is possible for us to lose our salvation4 ,though we are now saved from sin by grace it is possible for us to be overtaken in some way and lose this experience4 ,as long as we are here we must endure temptation4 ,but if we endure unto the end when this mortality puts on immortality we pass beyond the possibility of losing salvation1 hence1 we are saved eternally4 ,by resisting temptation1 by praying and watching1 we 8work out our salvation40 ,the time comes when there are no more temptations to resist1 and we are safe and saved forever4 ,i am saved now from all sin1 but to keep this experience ,i must watch1 pray1 work1 resist and endure unto the end of my life1 and then my salvation receives the seal of eternity--saved in glory forever4 ,amen4 ,wonders ,of ,salvation4 ,when man the wonders of creation ,beholds in deepest contemplation1 ,adores not the ,almighty ,one1 ,must have indeed a heart of stone4 ,thou mortal6 seest not the sun ,his daily course so proudly run8 ,the moon in her nocturnal race1 ,with sweet and tender1 smiling face8 ,the stars in pale but beauteous light1 ,twinkling1 shining all the night8 ,stupendous ocean1 wild and free1 ,bold image of eternity8 ,the mountain cliff that checks the storm1 ,and sheds its tears on valley farm8 ,poor soul twice dead indeed must be1 ,and plucked up like uprooted tree1 ,or dulled by sensuality1 ,or lured by prodigality1 ,which does not bound with admiration1 ,or feel a warmth of true devotion ,upon beholding this creation4 ,all nature smiling sweet and tender1 ,sun1 moon and stars in wondrous splendor1 ,and mortal man1 a bit of sod1 ,reveals the handiwork of ,god4 ,howe'er there is one work divine1 ,excels all others of my rhyme1 ,the making of a world like this1 ,sent circling through so vast a space2 ,bright worlds above in glory streaming1 ,can not compare with this remaining4 ,it claims all ,heaven's admiration1 ,it moves all ,hell to disputation1 ,excels the glorious translation ,of ,enoch from his brief probation ,to higher plane of situation4 ,all that's been done in whole creation ,is naught1 compared with man's salvation2 ,saved from the scarlet stains of sin1 ,by power of ,god been born again2 ,then by the ,holy ,spirit's power ,made pure in instantaneous hour4 ,oh1 new and wonderful creation1 ,exceeds by far the old formation2 ,sun1 moon and stars and mountain's plane1 ,the dark and deep blue ocean's main1 ,do not ,god's power so much display ,as when he takes man's sins away4 ,old things are gone1 all things are new1 ,all heaven by faith is now in view2 ,and peace1 sweet peace fills all the soul1 ,and rest1 though stormy billows roll2 ,such is man's happy situation ,in this most wonderful salvation4 ,chapter ,v4 ,the ,way ,from ,sin ,to ,perfect ,salvation4 ,we have learned that sin entered this world and that all mankind have sinned4 ,we have also learned that ,jesus came to save man from his sins4 ,now the question may arise in the mind of some1 what must ,i do to be saved8 ,we hope in this chapter to quote such scriptures as will plainly teach you the way of salvation1 or how to be fully saved1 and also the scriptures describing each experience4 ,repentance4 ,the first step for the sinner is to repent4 ,when on ,pentecost men were pricked in their hearts and cried1 8,what shall we do80 ,peter answered1 8,repent40 ,it is in accordance with ,god's plan of redemption1 also with nature and reason1 that man should repent of his sins in order to receive pardon4 ,repentance was the theme on which ,john preached in the wilderness of ,judea4 ,it seems also to have been the first subject on which the ,lord preached4 ,mark #a3ae4 ,it is the will of ,god that men should repent of their sins4 8,the ,lord is not slack concerning his promise1 as some men count slackness2 but is long-suffering to usward1 not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance40 #b ,pet4 #c3i4 ,it is here implied if man does not repent he shall perish4 ,jesus says1 8,except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish10 even as did those whose blood ,pilate mingled with their sacrifices1 and those eighteen on whom the tower of ,siloam fell4 ,the first round in the ladder that reaches to eternal rest is repentance4 ,if man never takes this step upon the way he can never reach that happy end4 ,because repentance includes so much1 many men would gladly overstep this first round and begin their ,christian life on some round higher up4 ,this they can not do2 they must take this first step1 or perish4 ,and should they strive to climb up some other way they are dishonest1 and the ,savior calls them 8thieves and robbers40 ,when the ,pharisees and ,sadducees came to the baptism of ,john he said unto them1 8,bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance40 ,mat4 #c3h4 ,there are fruits of repentance4 ,the tree is known by its fruits4 ,when man really repents of his sins1 by his fruits or manner of life it will be made known4 ,one of the fruits of repentance is sorrow4 ,we might have said that repentance is sorrow1 for 8godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of2 but the sorrow of the world worketh death40 ,a well known politician became an embezzler of the county fund1 and was sentenced to a few years in the state's prison4 ,after having received his sentence he1 in the sheriff's charge1 passed out of the court-room1 and with tears flowing from his eyes said1 8,my reputation is gone forever40 ,that was a sorrow of the world and is not the way to salvation4 ,had the tears been flowing because he had sinned against ,god1 who loved him1 it would have been sorrow that 8worketh repentance40 ,the apostle says in #b ,cor4 #g3aa1 8,behold this self-same thing1 that ye sorrowed after a godly sort1 what carefulness it wrought in you1 yea1 what clearing of yourselves1 yea1 what indignation1 yea1 what fear1 yea1 what vehement desire1 yea1 what zeal1 yea1 what revenge60 ,these are the fruits of repentance4 ,the first here mentioned is 8carefulness40 ,the impenitent lives a reckless1 careless life2 but a watchfulness comes into the heart of the penitent4 ,he becomes mindful of his acts and carefully avoids the ways of sin4 ,he turns away from sin4 ,oh1 what carefulness it works in him4 ,he complies with the commandment of ,god1 8,let the wicked forsake his way40 ,the marginal reading of ,mat4 #c3h is 8bring forth fruit answerable to the amendment of life40 ,the penitent carefully turns away from sin1 and there is therefore an amendment of life4 ,the second fruit of repentance mentioned in #b ,cor4 #g3aa is 8clearing of yourselves40 ,men usually in their sinful life do many a wrong deed4 ,when they have a godly sorrow they are very willing to do all they can to 8clear away10 or right the wrongs they have done4 ,for instance1 a man has in conversation with one neighbor spoken evil of another neighbor and injured his character4 ,when he repents of his sins he will acknowledge to his neighbor that he spoke falsely1 and will do what he can to repair the injury he has done4 ,debts he has long neglected he will pay when he repents of his sins1 if it is possible4 ,wherein he has stolen or defrauded in any way he will restore as far as he is able4 ,zacchus1 when he came down from the sycamore tree1 had a penitent heart1 and said3 8,the half of my goods ,i give to the poor2 and if ,i have taken anything from any man by false accusation1 ,i restore him fourfold40 ,luke #ai3h4 ,god does not command a fourfold restoration1 but he does demand a restoring of an equal amount of what has been taken4 ,if the penitent is unable to do this he can1 no doubt1 make confession1 and promise to restore as soon as possible4 ,it is very consistent and reasonable that ,god makes such demands of the penitent4 ,no man can rightly object to such requirements4 ,it establishes confidence in the hearts of unbelievers4 ,they see a beauty in the ,christian religion4 ,it not only saves a man from doing wrong deeds in his future life1 but calls upon him to repair as far as possible the wrongs and injuries he has done in his past life4 ,in talking about two of the leading members of a certain religious denomination an unbeliever recently remarked3 8,if these men would pay me what they owe me ,i would have more confidence in ,christianity40 ,we saw then how consistent it was that ,god requires man to correct his past life as far as he can4 ,it forces confidence in the hearts of the unsaved and gains their attention4 ,this is the 8clearing of yourselves40 ,the penitent gladly turns away or forsakes his evil ways4 ,he abhors sin4 ,ah1 what 8vehement desire0 to be free2 what zeal6 ,he gladly does all he can to repair the injuries he has done4 ,when he has defrauded man of money he will confess it and restore it4 ,when he has contracted debts and long neglected them he will confess his negligence and strive to pay them4 ,where he has misrepresented any one and thereby done him an injury he will make confession4 ,and wherein man has wronged him and he has hatred in his heart against him1 he will freely forgive4 ,jesus says1 8,if ye forgive not men their trespasses1 neither will your ,father forgive your trespasses40 ,mat4 #f3ae4 ,when the penitent has met all the requirements of the ,scriptures1 and confesses all to ,god1 he has promised to forgive him4 8,if we confess our sins1 he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins40 #a ,john #a3i4 ,after the forsaking of sins and the restitution of wrongs and the forgiveness of injuries1 and confession to ,god1 there remains yet for man to ,believe4 ,a prison-keeper inquired of ,paul and ,silas3 8,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved80 ,and they said1 8,believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and thou shalt be saved40 ,acts #af3cj1 #ca4 ,at this point ,satan has succeeded in confusing many an honest soul4 ,they have forsaken all to follow ,jesus1 but have not that perfect confidence that ,god forgives and accepts them4 ,satan will allow them to believe that ,god will save them in some future time1 but struggles hard to prevent their believing that ,jesus saves them now4 ,the apostle says1 8,by grace are ye saved through faith40 ,eph4 #b3h4 8,whosoever believeth that ,jesus is the ,christ is born of ,god40 #a ,john #e3a4 8,but as many as received him1 to them gave he power to become the sons of ,god1 even to them that believe on his name40 ,john #a3ab4 8,therefore being justified by faith1 we have peace with ,god40 ,rom4 #e3a4 ,it is not by enthusiasm or excitement that we are saved1 but 8by grace through faith40 ,jesus on one occasion said1 8,which of you intending to build a tower1 sitteth not down first1 and counteth the cost1 whether he have sufficient to finish it40 ,luke #ad3bh4 ,he uses this illustration to teach us the manner in which we should come to him4 ,the cost is 8a death to sin and the world40 ,the prize is heaven and eternal glory4 ,when you have carefully counted the cost and deliberately decided in your soul to follow ,jesus1 then believe on his name1 8and thou shalt be saved40 ,justification4 ,the term justification is used both in the ,old ,testament and the ,new4 ,there is a difference between the justification under the law and the justification by grace4 ,the one was obtained by the blood of animals and the other by the blood of ,jesus4 ,since we are writing upon the glorious themes of the ,new ,testament we shall say but little of the justification by the sacrifices of animals4 ,justification implies a forgiveness of sins4 ,the sense of guilt resulting from a transgression of ,god's law is removed4 ,the justified therefore experience a safety1 a peace and rest4 ,fears and uncertainties are banished1 and the soul is filled with confidence and hope4 8,therefore being justified by faith we have peace with ,god40 ,rom4 #e3a4 ,peace is the natural result of justification4 ,it is sin that destroys the happiness of man4 ,before sin entered into this world man lived in a delightful ,eden4 ,his heart was open and frank before ,god1 and he rejoiced in his presence4 ,sin brought a sense of shame and guilt1 and he hid from the presence of ,god4 ,all men admire the innocency of childhood4 ,the peaceful countenance of an infant1 its freedom from care1 anxieties and unrest but remind us of the peacefulness of pardon4 ,there was a justification by the law1 but the law day has passed away4 ,we have come to the gospel day in which no flesh shall be justified by the works of the law1 but by 8the faith of ,jesus ,christ40 ,gal4 #b3af2 #c3aa4 ,the ,bible promises nothing more in justification than a full pardon of all transgression and restoration to childhood innocency4 8,and ,jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them and said1 ,verily ,i say unto you1 except ye be converted and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,mat4 #ah3b1 #c4 ,a justified man is as innocent and free from transgression as a little child4 ,is it not a just cause of surprise that men will teach the forgiveness of sins necessary to the experience of justification1 and yet teach that the justified commit sin8 8,o ,consistency1 thou art a jewel40 ,it occurs to our mind that if men would use consideration1 mingled with reason and judgment1 they would see the inconsistency of the above teaching4 ,should a man who had used abusive language to you come and penitently ask your forgiveness1 you would forgive1 but that does not give him liberty to continue his abuse4 ,when the penitent comes to ,god he will pardon1 but this does not give him liberty to continue in sin4 ,god created man with an intelligence1 a reason and common sense4 ,the ravages of sin have greatly impaired these qualities of the mind that believes that justification necessitates a forgiveness of sins1 yet the experience can be retained while committing sin4 ,a sound writer has said1 8,common sense is a quality of mind not so common as the words imply4 ,many claim it who have no right to its possession4 ,it is a high standard of mental worth4 ,the brain coin that bears its imprint has a par value wherever man is governed by pure reason40 ,no true ,christian believes he can live in sin and be a ,christian4 ,even those who are governed by pure reason do not believe such4 ,by the blood of ,jesus 8all that believe are justified from all things40 ,acts #ac3ci4 ,regeneration4 ,justification by grace through faith in ,jesus does not end with a forgiveness of past transgressions only1 but includes the impartation of the divine1 or eternal life to the soul4 ,the blood of animals offered for sins in the ,jewish economy was unable to impart this life to the offerer of the sacrifice4 ,jesus says1 8,i am come that ye might have life40 8,whosoever believeth in him shall not perish1 but have everlasting life40 8,he that hath the ,son hath life1 and he that hath not the ,son of ,god hath not life40 8,god hath given to us eternal life1 and this life is in his ,son40 ,the process by which man enters the natural life is termed a birth or generation4 ,the process by which man enters the spiritual life is expressed by the words1 8being born again10 or 8regeneration40 ,with the words 8being born again0 we naturally associate life4 ,when ,nicodemus heard the words he thought the process of bringing into physical life was to be repeated4 ,the ,savior told him1 8,that which is born of the flesh is flesh2 and that which is born of the ,spirit is spirit40 ,john #c3f4 ,in life there is activity and power4 ,not only are the transgressions forgiven1 but by regeneration life and power come into the soul1 which gives man strength to resist sin4 ,the ,israelite only hoped for a forgiveness of his past sin through his offering4 ,that beautiful hope of constant victory over sin was not his to enjoy4 ,he knew the power of sin and the weakness of his offering2 consequently he expected naught else but to offer his sacrifices over and over1 day by day1 and year by year continually4 ,he who to-day comes to ,god pleading for forgiveness of his sins through the offering of the eternal ,son and expects to still continue in sin enjoys no better hope than a ,jew4 ,he dishonors the great sacrifice of ,god's ,son by counting it no more than the sacrifice of animals4 ,in regeneration the holy1 pure1 divine life comes into the soul4 ,man passes from 8death unto life40 ,the dominion of sin has come to an end4 ,sin is dethroned and its kingdom destroyed4 ,regenerated man is crowned a king4 ,the royal robes of white enshroud him4 ,the scepter of righteousness he sways triumphantly and reigns a mighty conqueror1 8a king and priest unto ,god40 ,praise and honor to his name6 ,this new life within man's soul finds expression in a new life without4 ,since the new life within is holy and pure the new life without is holy and pure4 8,make the inside of the cup and platter clean and the outside will be clean also40 ,the apostle ,john tells us the manner of life that follows 8being born again40 8,we know that whosoever is born of ,god sinneth not1 but he that is begotten of ,god keepeth himself1 and that wicked one toucheth him not40 #a ,john #e3ah4 8,whosoever is born of ,god doth not commit sin1 for his seed remaineth in him3 and he can not sin1 because he is born of ,god40 #a ,john #c3i4 ,this text does not teach the impossibility of committing sin as some have supposed1 but the impossibility of committing sin and retaining the spiritual birth4 ,in #a ,john #b3bi we are clearly taught that righteousness of life succeeds the regeneration of man4 ,sin belongs only to ,satan and sinners4 ,it is not found in the life of ,god1 nor of the angels1 nor of ,christ1 nor of the ,christians4 ,adoption4 ,the term 8adoption0 is a few times used in the ,new ,testament4 ,it is that part of justification which places us in the family of ,god4 ,in the apostolic days the ,romans were accustomed to adopting the children of some other family into their own4 ,the law on these occasions demanded a full surrender of the child with all his possessions to his new governor or father4 ,the father received the child as an heir to all his possessions1 equal with his own children4 ,so we in justification give ourselves to ,god with all our talents and possessions1 and he receives us into his family1 and we become joint-heirs with his ,son4 ,this is true1 and very precious because it is true4 ,the apostle in speaking of adoption says1 8,for ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear2 but ye have received the ,spirit of adoption1 whereby we cry1 ,abba1 ,father40 ,rom4 #h3ae4 ,we are here taught that it is in adoption that we look upon ,god as our ,father4 ,we are taught the same in ,gal4 #d3e1 #f4 ,by the ,spirit of adoption we look unto ,god as our ,father and consider ourselves his own children4 ,as members in the family of ,god we yield ourselves unto his service and 8our members as instruments of righteousness unto him40 ,this prohibits sin4 ,to live impure1 or to commit more or less sin1 and have the yoke of ,christ upon us1 or to be a joint-heir with him is indeed very disparaging4 ,conversion4 ,since the word conversion is used in connection with justification we will give it only brief notice4 ,jesus said1 8,except ye be converted and become as little children10 etc4 ,peter said1 8,repent and be converted40 ,justification properly implies a pardon or forgiveness of our transgressions or sins4 ,regeneration implies a bringing into the spiritual life4 ,adoption implies the reception of the new-born child into the family of ,god4 ,conversion1 the turning about1 or a change in life4 ,any one of these terms include all the others4 ,these are all accomplished in what is known as the first work of grace1 and is most frequently and properly termed justification4 ,sanctification4 ,sanctification is one among the clear and positive doctrines of the ,new ,testament4 ,justification1 regeneration1 adoption1 and conversion are terms used to signify the same work of grace1 or the same experience in the ,christian life4 ,sanctification has reference to a higher work of grace1 or higher life4 ,it is an experience obtained subsequent to justification4 ,the ,savior in praying to the ,father for his disciples said3 8,sanctify them through thy truth3 thy word is truth40 ,john #ag3ag4 ,before making this petition he told the ,father of their separation from the world and of their persecution by the world1 which are certain evidences of justification4 ,sanctification is defined thus in ,webster's ,unabridged ,dictionary3 #a4 ,sanctification is the act of ,god's grace by which the affections of men are purified or alienated from sin and the world and exalted to a supreme love of ,god2 also the state of being thus purified or sanctified4 #b4 ,sanctifier4 ,one who sanctifies or makes holy1 specially the ,holy ,ghost4 #c4 ,sanctify4 ,to set apart to a holy or religious use2 to make holy or free from sin2 to cleanse from moral corruption or pollution2 to make holy4 ,sanctification is the destruction of the body of sin or depraved nature4 ,the work of sanctification1 or the sanctifying process1 is expressed as a cleansing or purging or refining4 ,it is the restoration of the soul to its original purity or holiness by the removing of the depraved nature incurred by the transgression in ,eden4 ,we will conclude this subject by a ,bible lesson4 #a4 ,sanctification is the will of ,god4 8,for this is the will of ,god1 even your sanctification40 #a ,thes4 #d3c4 #b4 ,sanctification is effected by ,god4 8,and the very ,god of peace sanctify you wholly2 and ,i pray ,god your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ40 #a ,thes4 #e3bc4 8,jude1 the servant of ,jesus ,christ1 and brother of ,james1 to them that are sanctified by ,god the ,father1 preserved in ,jesus ,christ1 and called40 ,jude #a4 #c4 ,sanctification is effected by the ,lord ,jesus4 8,for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one3 for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren40 ,heb4 #b3aa4 #d4 ,sanctification is effected by the ,holy ,spirit4 8,and such were some of you3 but ye are washed1 but ye are sanctified1 but ye are justified in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 and by the ,spirit of our ,god40 #a ,cor4 #f3aa4 #e4 ,sanctification is through the ,word of ,god4 8,sanctify them through thy truth3 thy word is truth40 ,john #ag3ag4 #f4 ,sanctification is through the atonement of ,christ4 8,wherefore ,jesus also1 that he might sanctify the people with his own blood1 suffered without the gate40 ,heb4 #ac3ab4 #g4 ,sanctification is perfect salvation4 8,but we are bound to give thanks alway to ,god for you1 brethren beloved of the ,lord1 because ,god hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the ,spirit and belief of the truth40 #b ,thes4 #b3ac4 #h4 ,sanctification as a cleansing removes spots1 wrinkles1 and blemishes from the church4 8,husbands1 love your wives1 even as ,christ also loved the church1 and gave himself for it2 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word1 that he might present it to himself a glorious church1 not having spot1 or wrinkle1 or any such thing2 but that it should be holy and without blemish40 ,eph4 #e3be-bg4 #i4 ,sanctification prepares men for the service of ,god4 8,but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver1 but also of wood and of earth2 and some to honor1 and some to dishonor4 ,if a man therefore purge himself from these1 he shall be a vessel unto honor1 sanctified1 and meet for the ,master's use1 and prepared unto every good work40 #b ,tim4 #b3bj1 #ba4 ,because this text is very generally misunderstood we feel like giving an explanation of it4 ,it was long misunderstood by us4 ,only very recently the ,holy ,spirit interpreted it to our heart4 ,one evening we asked ,god to give us an understanding of this difficult passage of ,scripture1 and the next morning we fully understood it4 ,it is very simple4 ,in a great house there are vessels of gold and silver1 wood and earth1 some to honor and some to dishonor4 ,this house represents man in his natural state4 ,there are some good traits of character in most every unregenerated man1 and also some evil traits4 ,he has some honorable dispositions and some dishonorable4 ,full salvation1 which includes both justification and sanctification1 will save and purge him from every dishonorable inclination and evil trait of character1 and fit him for the ,master's use4 ,he will be used only to the glory of ,god4 ,all his fruits will be holy unto the ,lord4 #aj4 ,sanctification prepares man for heaven4 ,we have quoted from #a ,cor4 #f3aa4 ,by reading the two preceding verses we learn that sanctification is necessary to the entrance of heaven4 ,holiness4 ,there is a sweet melody in the word 8holiness40 ,we associate it with everything that is heavenly4 ,it is frequently used synonymously with sanctification1 yet not always with all the forms of the word sanctification4 ,on the whole there is a slight difference in the meaning of the two terms4 ,holiness is the consummation of the work of sanctification4 ,by transposing a few words in ,heb4 #ab3ad we would have it read1 8,without holiness no man shall see the ,lord40 ,holiness is here a noun objective to the preposition without4 ,in some translations this sentence would read1 8,without sanctification no man shall see the ,lord40 ,sanctification is here a noun1 the object of the preposition without4 ,as nouns these words are used interchangeably4 ,in ,jude1 first verse1 we have this sentence1 8,to them that are sanctified by ,god the ,father40 ,the word 8sanctified0 is here used as a predicate adjective1 and describes the people addressed4 ,it would not alter the meaning of the text were we to translate it thus3 8,to them that are made holy by ,god the ,father40 ,the word holy is here used as a predicate adjective1 and describes the people addressed4 ,in the sentence1 8,sanctify them through thy truth0 7,john #ag3ag71 the word 8sanctify0 is a verb1 denoting action1 of which we have no form of the word holiness4 ,the word holiness can not be used as a verb4 ,the word sanctification frequently expresses action2 the word holiness never4 ,they are synonymous when they express the pure state of man4 ,sanctification is the act that brings man into a holy state1 which is also the sanctified state4 ,sanctification may be applied to the holy state1 and also to the action that brings us into that state4 ,since the word sanctification contains action it is positive proof there is a cleansing in it4 ,now we desire by a few ,scriptural texts and a few suggestions to deepen the reader's conception of the state of holiness4 ,everything in the realm of ,christianity1 or the kingdom of ,god1 from heaven to earth is holy4 ,let us here give you a brief ,bible lesson1 kindly asking you to carefully read each text4 #a4 ,god is holy4 8,in the year that king ,uzziah died ,i saw also the ,lord sitting upon a throne1 high and lifted up1 and his train filled the temple4 ,above it stood the seraphims3 each one had six wings2 with twain he covered his face1 and with twain he covered his feet1 and with twain he did fly4 ,and one cried unto another1 and said1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 is the ,lord of hosts3 the whole earth is full of his glory40 ,isa4 #f3a-c4 ,if the reader here obtains a just conception of the holy character of ,god it will give him an understanding of the true nature of ,christianity and the manner of life of a ,christian4 ,a gentleman once asked me if it was wrong or unbecoming to a ,christian to attend the present day street carnivals4 ,we replied in about these words3 8,if you gain a true conception of the holiness of the ,almighty you will not need to ask me such a question40 #b4 ,heaven is holy4 8,now know ,i that the ,lord saveth his anointed2 he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand40 ,psa4 #bj3f4 #c4 ,christ is holy4 8,for such an high priest became us1 who is holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 separate from sinners40 ,heb4 #g3bf4 #d4 ,the angels are holy4 8,when the ,son of man shall come in his glory1 and all the holy angels with him1 then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory40 ,mat4 #be3ca4 #e4 ,god's commandments are holy4 8,wherefore the law is holy1 and the commandment holy1 and just1 and good40 ,rom4 #g3ab4 #f4 ,god's arm is holy4 8,the ,lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations2 and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our ,god40 ,isa4 #eb3aj4 #g4 ,god's mountains are holy4 8,and it shall come to pass in that day1 that the great trumpet shall be blown1 and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of ,assyria1 and the outcasts in the land of ,egypt1 and shall worship the ,lord in the holy mount at ,jerusalem40 ,isa4 #bg3ac4 #h4 ,god's hill is holy4 8,lord1 who shall abide in thy tabernacle8 who shall dwell in thy holy hill80 ,psa4 #ae3a4 #i4 ,god's name is holy4 8,my mouth shall speak the praise of the ,lord2 and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever40 ,psa4 #ade3ba4 #aj4 ,god's works are holy4 8,the ,lord is righteous in all his ways1 and holy in all his works40 ,psa4 #ade3ag4 #aa4 ,god's people are holy4 8,for thou art a holy people unto the ,lord thy ,god3 the ,lord thy ,god hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself1 above all people that are upon the face of the earth40 ,deut4 #g3f4 ,read ,eph4 #a3d2 ,col4 #a3bb2 #a ,pet4 #a3ae2 #b ,pet4 #c3aa4 #ab4 ,god's people are his holy temple4 8,if any man defile the temple of ,god1 him shall ,god destroy2 for the temple of ,god is holy1 which temple ye are40 #a ,cor4 #c3ag4 #ac4 ,god's church is a holy church4 8,husbands1 love your wives1 even as ,christ also loved the church1 and gave himself for it2 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word2 that he might present it to himself a glorious church1 not having spot1 or wrinkle1 or any such thing2 but that it should be holy and without blemish40 ,eph4 #e3be-bg4 #ad4 ,the way to heaven is a holy way4 8,and an highway shall be there1 and a way1 and it shall be called the way of holiness2 444 the redeemed shall walk there40 ,isa4 #ce3h1 #i4 ,let us repeat3 ,god is holy2 heaven is holy2 the angels are holy2 ,christ is holy2 the ,spirit is holy2 ,god's ,word is holy2 the way to heaven is holy4 ,reader1 we want you to picture before you a holy heaven and the holy way that leads to heaven4 ,read this text3 8,follow peace with all men1 and holiness without which no man shall see the ,lord40 ,heb4 #ab3ad4 ,looking into the ,word of the ,lord we find that man was chosen to holiness4 ,eph4 #a3d4 ,that ,god calls him to holiness4 #a ,thes4 #d3g4 ,that ,god designed that man should serve him in holiness4 ,luke #a3ge4 ,that ,god chastens man in order that he might be partaker of his holiness4 ,heb4 #ab3aj4 ,that ,god purposes that man shall be saved from his sin and bear fruit unto holiness4 ,rom4 #f3bb4 ,that ,god commands him to be holy in all manner of conduct4 #b ,pet4 #c3aa4 ,god commands him to be holy because he is holy4 #a ,pet4 #a3ae1 #af4 ,looking unto ,god's great and holy plan in redeeming man1 and the holiness of heaven1 and ,god sitting on his holy throne1 and ,christ the ,holy ,one at his right hand1 and the holy angels shouting praises1 how can you entertain a hope of ever entering that glorious land without holiness8 ,perfection4 ,many have stumbled at the command to be perfect4 ,that finite man may be perfect in this sinful world sounds ridiculous to many unregenerated hearts4 ,this is because they do not understand ,god nor his power to deliver man from sin4 ,with the many exhortations and commands to perfection contained in the ,holy ,scriptures is it not singular that man will yet say1 8,we can not be perfect in this life08 ,many people who oppose the doctrine of ,christian perfection do not at all understand it4 ,they consider it to be an end of all growth1 consequently they do not understand its nature4 ,there is a perfection of celestial beings not to be experienced by mortal man2 but there is a perfection unmistakably taught in the ,scriptures which ,christians are privileged to experience and enjoy in this life4 ,christian perfection relates to right desires and actions and purity of affections4 ,paul in closing his epistle to the church at ,corinth says3 8,finally1 brethren1 farewell4 ,be perfect1 be of good comfort1 be of one mind1 live in peace2 and the ,god of love and peace shall be with you40 ,surely every one must concede that there is a perfection to which ,christians can attain4 ,when ,christians are exhorted to be perfect is it not folly to say1 8,they can not be perfect08 ,could we not with equal propriety say1 8,we can not be of good comfort08 8,we can not live in peace08 8,the ,god of love and peace will not be with us08 etc4 ,the apostle in writing to the ,philippian brethren uses language which clearly implies that some of them had attained to the experience of perfection4 ,he says1 8,let us therefore1 as many as be perfect1 be thus minded40 ,phil4 #c3ae4 ,some of them certainly were perfect4 ,in verse twelve he does speak of a perfection to which he had not attained4 ,this he expected to attain in the glory world4 ,christian perfection is a life that accords with the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,whosoever receives the correction1 and reproving and the instructions in righteousness contained in the ,scripture will become a perfect ,christian4 #b ,tim4 #c3af4 ,whosoever lives as the ,word of ,god says that ,christians should live1 the same is a perfect man4 ,paul prays that ,god would make the ,hebrews perfect4 ,heb4 #ac3bj1 #ba4 ,peter petitions the ,god of all grace1 who hath called us unto his eternal glory by ,christ ,jesus1 after we have suffered a while to make us perfect1 stablish1 strengthen1 settle us4 #a ,pet4 #e3aj4 ,jesus was made perfect through suffering4 ,god chastens us that we might be partakers of his holiness4 ,the gold and silver to be made pure and perfect must be refined in the crucible4 ,we to reflect the beauty and glory of ,god must1 too1 pass through the refiner's fire4 ,the apostle ,paul in writing his first epistle to the church at ,corinth says3 8,howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect40 #b3f4 ,certainly there were perfect ,christians in the church at that place4 ,to the ,ephesian brethren he says that ,god 8gave some1 apostles2 and some prophets2 and some evangelists2 and some1 pastors and teachers2 for the perfecting of the saints40 #d3aa1 #ab4 ,now we at once know that this work of instruction and perfection is to be accomplished in this life4 ,he further says1 8,till we all come in the unity of the faith1 and of the knowledge of the ,son of ,god1 unto a perfect man1 unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ40 ,ver4 #ac4 ,by stature is meant the height of any one4 ,christ is the stature or height of perfection1 and we are to measure up to it4 ,this accords with what the ,savior himself said3 8,the disciple is not above his master3 but every one that is perfect shall be as his master40 ,luke #f3dj4 ,to the church at ,colosse the apostle says3 8,whom ,christ we preach1 warning every man1 and teaching every man in all wisdom2 that we may present every man perfect in ,christ ,jesus40 ,col4 #a3bh4 ,again he says1 8,epaphras who is one of you1 a servant of ,christ1 saluteth you1 always laboring fervently for you in prayers1 that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of ,god40 #d3ab4 ,what ,is ,christian ,perfection8 ,as we have before said1 ,there is a perfection only attainable after the resurrection1 but there is a perfection attainable in this life1 and it is the nature of this perfection that we wish to understand4 ,it is holiness of nature1 right desires and actions and purity of affections toward ,god and man4 ,it implies an entire consecration to ,god4 ,a young man came to ,jesus inquiring what he should do to inherit eternal life4 ,jesus said unto him1 8,if thou wilt be perfect1 go and sell that thou hast1 and give to the poor1 and thou shalt have treasure in heaven3 and come and follow me40 ,mat4 #ai3ba4 ,this teaches a resignation of all to ,god1 which is necessary that we might be refined and polished to such a brilliancy that will make us a light in the world4 ,christians are termed jewels in the ,scriptures4 8,and they shall be mine1 saith the ,lord of hosts1 in that day when ,i make up my jewels40 ,oh1 to be a brilliant jewel1 ,sparkling1 shining for the ,lord1 ,polished by the great ,refiner1 ,washed and winnowed through the blood4 ,christian perfection includes soundness and inoffensiveness of speech4 8,if any man offend not in word1 the same is a perfect man1 and able also to bridle the whole body40 ,jas4 #c3b4 ,we consider this a very strong text1 and an abundance of grace is required to enable us to perfectly fulfil it4 ,god's ,perfection ,is ,the ,standard ,of ,christian ,perfection4 8,be ye therefore perfect1 even as your ,father which is in heaven is perfect40 ,mat4 #e3dh4 ,the perfection which ,god designs that ,christians shall have equal with his own relates to the purity of his nature and affection4 ,in the immediate preceding verses the ,savior commands ,christians to love their enemies1 bless them that curse them1 do good to them that hate them1 and pray for them which despitefully use them and persecute them4 ,as ,christians this is our nature4 ,we will not 8render evil for evil40 ,we will befriend our persecutors1 feed our enemy when he hungers1 and give him drink when he thirsts4 ,in verse forty-five the ,savior tells us of the ,father's behavior toward his enemies3 8,he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good1 and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust40 ,here we behold the merciful nature of ,god and how he does good for evil4 ,if we love only those who love us and do good only to those who do good to us 7ver4 #df1 #dg7 we are not in the nature of ,god2 we are no more than publicans and sinners4 ,but if we love our enemies and do good to those who hate us1 we are reflecting the character of ,god4 ,in this respect he would have us to be 8perfect1 even as he is perfect40 ,o beloved1 see that you entertain right feelings toward all men4 ,do good to your enemies2 love them1 pray for them1 and convince them that you are more than the ordinary sinful man1 and ,god will bless you now and eternally4 ,in the parable of the sower and its explanation the ,savior said the seed which fell among thorns are they which hear the word and go forth and are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life1 and bring no fruit to perfection4 ,luke #h3ad4 ,christian fruit is loving our enemies1 doing them good1 doing good unto all men1 speaking evil of none1 manifesting love1 faith1 meekness1 gentleness1 joy1 etc4 ,this is ,christian fruit1 and may ,god help every reader to bring it forth to the highest degree of perfection4 ,purity4 8,keep thyself pure40 #a ,tim4 #e3bb4 ,in such commands there is something animating and ennobling4 ,to enable us to have some conception of purity we have only to think of heaven and of the angels4 ,this world has been betimes visited by celestial beings4 ,they are spoken of as being clothed in white and having countenances shining as the light4 ,mat4 #bh3c2 ,mark #af3e2 ,john #bj3ab2 ,acts #a3i1 #aj4 ,white is an emblem of purity4 ,these transient visitors from above robed in white raiment represent the purity of heaven4 ,purity is not ascribed alone to heavenly beings1 but it is a characteristic of the redeemed upon the earth4 ,purity is effected through the atoning blood4 ,the sweet singer ,david said3 8,purge me with hyssop1 and ,i shall be clean3 wash me1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow40 ,the beloved ,john in a vision saw 8a pure river of water of life1 clear as crystal1 proceeding out of the throne of ,god and the ,lamb40 ,rev4 #bb3a4 ,this 8river of water of life0 is the cleansing stream of ,god's salvation4 8,whosoever will1 let him take the water of life freely40 ,rev4 #bb3ag4 ,this means salvation4 8,i will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely40 ,rev4 #ba3f4 ,this is the cleansing fountain of salvation4 ,this stream is pure4 ,it flows from the throne of ,god4 ,it is as pure as its source4 ,whosoever enters this crystal stream will be made as pure as its waters4 ,though the soul be stained with scarlet stains1 ,it shall be white as snow2 ,though the soul be stained with crimson stains1 ,it shall be white as wool4 ,the prophet ,isaiah in speaking of the cleansing fountain of salvation in that day1 said3 8,and ,i will turn my hand upon thee1 and purely purge away thy dross1 and take away all thy sin40 ,isa4 #a3be4 ,the cleansing stream will remove all the dross and leave the soul pure4 ,these are garments of salvation4 ,this is not literal1 but the cleansing away of sin and the infusion of righteousness is represented by the taking away of filthy rags and being clothed in the garments of salvation4 ,the ,lamb's wife1 which is his church--which is his people--was 8arrayed in fine linen1 clean and white3 for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints40 ,rev4 #ai3h4 ,we will now give a ,bible lesson describing the purity of man through the blood of ,jesus4 ,a pure soul4 8,seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the ,spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren1 see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently40 #a ,pet4 #a3bb4 ,a pure heart4 8,blessed are the pure in heart3 for they shall see ,god40 ,mat4 #e3h4 ,a pure mind4 8,this second epistle1 beloved1 ,i now write unto you1 in both which ,i stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance40 #b ,pet4 #c3a4 ,a pure conscience4 8,i thank ,god whom ,i serve from my forefathers with pure conscience40 #b ,tim4 #a3c4 ,a pure language4 8,for then will ,i turn to the people a pure language1 that they may all call upon the name of the ,lord1 to serve him with one consent40 ,zeph4 #c3i4 ,pure thoughts4 8,finally1 brethren1 whatsoever things are true1 whatsoever things are honest1 whatsoever things are just1 whatsoever things are pure1 whatsoever things are lovely1 whatsoever things are of good report2 if there be any virtue1 and if there be any praise1 think on these things40 ,phil4 #d3h4 ,a pure religion4 8,pure religion and undefiled before ,god and the ,father is this4 ,to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction1 and to keep himself unspotted from the world40 ,jas4 #a3bg4 ,when man is made thus pure in all the faculties of his being he is said to be pure even as ,christ is pure 7#a ,john #c3c71 and is then a perfect example of purity to the world4 #a ,tim4 #d3ab4 ,the question is asked1 8,who shall ascend into the hill of the ,lord8 or who shall stand in his holy place80 ,psa4 #bd3c4 ,the answer is1 8,he that hath clean hands and a pure heart40 ,purity is a requisite for heaven4 8,blessed are the pure in heart1 for they shall see ,god40 ,in this language there is indubitably implied the impossibility of seeing ,god without purity of heart4 ,god is pure1 and heaven is a pure place1 and without purity of soul and heart and life you can never enter heaven nor see ,god4 ,righteousness4 ,this is one of the terms used in the ,scriptures describing the character of ,god and his people4 8,the ,lord is righteous10 and the source of all righteousness4 ,man can not possess righteousness independent of ,god4 ,it is beautiful to contemplate the righteous character of the ,almighty as revealed in the holy ,scriptures4 ,it enables us to better understand our own nature when we are 8filled with all the fulness of ,god40 ,the ,savior in his prayer addresses ,god as 8righteous ,father40 ,john #ag3be4 ,the ,revelator in his vision heard an angel proclaiming1 8,thou art righteous1 ,o ,lord40 ,rev4 #af3e4 ,the ,psalmist in exalting the righteousness of the ,lord said3 8,thy righteousness also1 ,o ,god1 is very high40 ,psa4 #ga3ai4 ,it is far above the ways and life of natural man3 8,for as the heavens are higher than the earth1 so are my ways higher than your ways1 and my thoughts than your thoughts40 ,isa4 #ee3i4 ,all of ,god's ways are in righteousness3 8,the ,lord is righteous in all his ways40 ,psa4 #ade3ag4 ,god's acts are done in righteousness3 8,now therefore stand still1 that ,i may reason with you before the ,lord of all the righteous acts of the ,lord which he did to you and your fathers40 ,oh1 the sublimity of the righteous character of ,god6 ,how lofty and high4 ,how far above the ways and acts of natural man4 ,man in his natural state does not possess any of the righteous principles of ,god3 8,there is none righteous1 no not one40 ,but ,god in the incarnation of his ,son is both ,god and man1 and through this means the righteousness of ,god is delegated unto man4 ,in ,jesus ,christ we have the combining of man and ,god--the righteousness of ,god and humanity of man4 ,through the death of the man ,christ ,jesus and his resurrection the way was prepared for mankind to receive the righteousness of ,god4 8,for he hath made him to be sin for us1 who knew no sin3 that we might be made the righteousness of ,god in him40 #b ,cor4 #e3ba4 ,jesus in his innocency and righteousness bore the sins of the guilty1 so that in him we can experience a cleansing 8from all unrighteousness0 and receive instead 8the righteousness of ,god40 ,jesus likens himself and his people to a vine and its branches4 ,he says1 8,i am the vine1 ye are the branches40 ,it is through the vine that the branches receive substance and strength and life from the soil4 ,it is through ,jesus that we receive righteousness1 grace1 and strength from ,god4 ,it is only in ,jesus' name that we receive anything from the ,father4 ,the branches bear the fruit4 ,receiving the righteousness of ,god through ,jesus we bear the fruit of righteousness4 ,the more of this fruit we bear the more we show forth the praise of ,god4 ,when there is a large yield of grain we conclude it was sown in good soil1 and thus the soil gets the praise4 ,we 8being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by ,jesus ,christ0 do show forth 8the glory and praise of ,god40 ,phil4 #a3aa4 8,herein is my ,father glorified1 that ye bear much fruit40 ,john #ae3h4 ,though the grain be planted in good soil1 cultivation is necessary to a bountiful harvest4 ,though we be planted in ,christ cultivation is necessary to the production of rich fruit4 8,and every branch that beareth fruit1 he purgeth it1 that it may bring forth more fruit40 ,john #ae3b4 ,sin--all sin must be purged or cleansed away in order to bear fruits of righteousness4 8,a tree is known by its fruits40 ,should there be a tree bearing promiscuously throughout apples1 pears1 peaches1 plums1 grapes1 etc41 who could tell what kind of a tree it was8 ,should it bear apples alone we at once know the kind of tree4 ,all sin is therefore purged away from the heart of a ,christian that he may be 8filled with the fruits of righteousness10 and be known as a light in the world4 ,sin and righteousness do not grow upon the same tree4 ,how clearly and plainly this is taught in the sixth chapter of ,romans4 ,except they be blinded by prejudice and false teaching all the world must understand this4 ,verse eighteen says1 8,being then made free from sin1 ye became the servants of righteousness40 ,there are two things plainly taught in this text that we wish to call your attention to4 ,first1 to become a servant of righteousness necessitates a freedom from sin4 8,ye can not serve two masters40 ,second1 this experience of being made free from sin and becoming servants of righteousness the ,roman brethren had received some time in the past4 8,ye became the servants of righteousness40 ,ver4 #bj4 8,for when some time in their past life ye were the servants of sin ye were free from righteousness40 ,in the face of these two texts how can man be so daring and proud and self-conceited as to teach the impossibility of ,christians living a pure and sinless life in this world8 ,surely1 there is no fear of ,god before their eyes4 ,verse eighteen declares that to become servants of righteousness necessitates freedom from sin2 and verse twenty declares that to be a 8servant of sin0 necessitates freedom from righteousness4 8,what fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed80 ,ver4 #ba4 ,of the things of sin they once engaged in they are now ashamed4 8,what fruit had they then80 ,ans4--8,no fruit of righteousness40 8,but now being made free from sin1 and become servants to ,god1 ye have your fruit unto holiness40 ,ver4 #bb4 ,praise ,god6 ,you must be made free from sin to be capable of bearing fruit unto holiness or righteousness4 ,the fruit of the righteous is to the praise and glory of ,god4 ,the ,lord makes use of the fruit of the righteous to induce sinners to seek him4 ,in this way the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life4 ,how blessed and noble to be a tree planted by the river of waters richly laden with righteous fruit4 ,amen4 ,redemption4 ,the authors of the dictionaries define the word redemption as 8the act of deliverance1 release1 repurchase10 etc4 ,the redemption through ,christ is the deliverance or repurchase of man4 ,man in his original1 primeval state enjoyed unity and an affinity with ,god4 ,because of transgression on the part of man this natural agreement between ,god and man was destroyed4 ,all creation--herb1 and tree1 beast and fowl1 and man--was pronounced very good by the ,creator as he beheld it in review after creation4 ,gen4 #a3bi-ca4 ,but because of ,eden's sin the very nature of all things became changed4 ,the ground became cursed1 and thorns and thistles sprang up4 ,gen4 #c3ag1 #ah4 ,the nature of the beast creation1 no doubt1 became affected by man's transgression4 ,gen4 #f3g1 #aa-ac4 ,the transgression in ,eden was the entrance of sin into this world4 ,rom4 #e3ab4 ,previous to this1 all in the world was sinless harmony1 and the earth itself uncursed by thorns and thistles4 ,by the entrance of sin man's nature became changed1 and since the nature of man became depraved there has not been a single individual born of the flesh but has possessed a depraved nature1 except the child conceived by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the ,psalmist says3 8,behold1 ,i was shapen in iniquity1 and in sin did my mother conceive me40 ,psa4 #ea3e4 ,this same is true of every child4 ,the nature of the child in its formation in the womb is depraved4 ,the moral condition of the parents may modify to an extent1 but never wholly change that nature4 ,the child does not inherit a depraved nature from its parents4 ,it is not because the parents are depraved that the child is conceived in sin1 but because nature is depraved4 ,it required a supernatural conception to beget a pure child1 everything in nature being depraved4 ,the child does not inherit either physical or moral image directly from its parents4 ,it is true1 the child generally bears a marked resemblance to the parent1 both physically and morally1 but on the whole it is born in the image of ,adam1 morally and physically4 ,it is generally the case that if a parent have three arms1 or possess but one1 his offspring will have two1 receiving its physical image from the first created man4 ,should the parents be holy1 the child will possess a carnal nature1 because it is the nature of all the race4 ,how holy parents beget children depraved in nature is a puzzling problem to some minds1 especially to those who are busying themselves about the intricate matters of ,god4 ,this need be no more puzzling than a deformed parent begetting perfectly formed children4 ,nature1 in embryo1 begins its work of forming both the physical and moral image of the child1 which is after the similitude of the original parents and not the immediate ones4 ,while justification1 which is the forgiveness of actual transgression1 the inevitable result of a depraved nature1 is a wonderful and glorious achievement of grace1 it is but a very small part of the redemption of ,christ4 ,the supernatural overthrow of the depraved nature by the power of the ,holy ,spirit is the principal and real redemptive work4 ,the pardon of committed sins is the clearing away of the rubbish1 or preparation work1 for the ,third ,person in the ,holy ,trinity to effect a revolution in the nature of man4 ,halleluiah to ,god6 ,this change in nature is more wonderful than the revolting of nature at the command of ,joshua4 ,man now1 instead of being depraved in nature1 is restored to his original holy nature4 ,this destruction of the carnal nature and the restoration of the original nature is accomplished by the ,holy ,spirit at the moment of his reception as an indwelling ,comforter4 ,peter teaches this truth when he says3 8,god1 which knoweth the hearts or nature1 bare them witness1 giving them the ,holy ,ghost1 even as he did unto us at ,pentecost2 and put no difference between us and them ,gentiles1 purifying their hearts by faith40 ,acts #ae3h1 #i4 ,purifying the heart is the purification of man's affections1 or nature4 ,this is accomplished at the time of the giving of the ,holy ,ghost as declared in the last text2 and this purifying of the hearts of the ,gentiles at the giving of the ,holy ,ghost1 is just what was done for the apostles at ,pentecost4 ,this is a plain1 undeniable fact taught in this text4 ,to turn to philosophizing upon how we can be conceived with a carnal nature1 or how we can be converted and yet be depraved in nature is to soon become spoiled through vain deceit after the rudiments of the world and not after ,christ4 ,col4 #b3h4 ,in the very nature of things1 and according to the ,word of ,god1 pardon of sins necessarily precedes the destruction of the carnal1 depraved nature by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the fall of man there was the act of transgression and also a change in man's moral image4 ,in his restoration there must be a pardon of transgression and subsequently a change in nature4 ,it is a law of ,god that the redemption of man be accomplished through faith1 by his grace4 ,our faith can not reach beyond our knowledge4 ,by knowledge we mean a real soul-consciousness or conviction and not an intellectual knowledge4 ,at this point many a dear soul has erred from the truth4 ,they have endeavored to bring their faith up to their intellectual knowledge1 which ends in presumption4 ,true ,bible faith is grounded in the soul4 ,it results from a soul-knowledge1 or conviction4 ,to accept pardon of sins or healing of the body with only an intellectual knowledge of these blessings and not a real heart-conviction is mere presumption1 and ends in failure and disgrace4 ,to follow the comprehensions of the intellect1 and not the enlightenment of the ,holy ,spirit upon the soul1 concerning the mysteries of ,god's salvation is to be led into error1 because the intellect can not fathom the things of ,god4 ,we do now emphatically say1 according to ,god's established law1 that no unregenerated heart can have a comprehension or conviction of a corrupt moral nature and its purification4 ,why8 ,because transgression stands between it and purity4 ,the awakened guilty soul knows nothing but its guilt1 and for forgiveness only does it plead4 ,after being pardoned1 the soul gains a knowledge of carnality1 and it is then convicted for the second cleansing4 ,those who believe that purity of heart is attained in pardon take as a basis of such belief the language of ,paul in #b ,cor4 #e3ag2 ,rom4 #h3a-g2 and similar texts4 ,now the apostle often speaks of full salvation1 or complete redemption of the soul1 in a general way4 ,he says that 8salvation is by the grace of ,god through faith40 ,by this he does not mean justification only1 but sanctification as well4 ,he has not specified the two works1 but has spoken of full salvation in a general way of being by grace through faith4 ,thus ,eph4 #b3h-aj includes full salvation4 ,in #b ,cor4 #e3ag he again speaks of full salvation in a general way4 ,it is true we are in ,christ when converted1 but we are none the less in him when sanctified4 ,to say that ,paul is referring to the justified only in this text is an error4 ,by the two preceding verses we have reason to believe he is referring to those who are wholly sanctified4 ,this then is no proof text that carnality is destroyed in justification1 because you can not prove that he is referring to those who are only justified4 ,in conclusion we would say that ,christ came to redeem man only4 ,beast and bird have no part in the redemption4 ,they shall perish4 ,the earth is not redeemable1 but being under the curse--spotted by sin--it shall be destroyed4 ,chapter ,,vi4 ,fruits ,and ,the ,two ,works4 ,fruits ,of ,the ,spirit4 ,men are likened unto trees in some ,scriptural texts4 ,the righteous are termed good trees1 and the wicked evil trees4 ,now the 8tree is known by its fruit40 ,the fruits of the flesh are borne upon the evil tree1 while the fruits of the ,spirit are borne upon the good tree4 ,the fruits of the ,spirit are enumerated in ,gal4 #e3bb1 #bc3 8,but the fruit of the ,spirit is love1 joy1 peace1 long-suffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 temperance3 against such there is no law40 ,we shall describe these fruits separately by the word of truth1 as briefly as possible4 ,love4 ,this is the sweetest theme in the ,scriptures and the greatest thing in earth or heaven4 8,god is love10 and because he is love he sought to rescue1 through the sacrifice of his ,son1 his fallen creatures4 ,it was love that prompted ,god to make so great a sacrifice for man4 ,it is love that prompts man to sacrifice all for ,god4 ,when man loves ,god he loves everything in ,god's creation4 ,no man can love ,god and hate his brother2 no man can love ,god and hate his enemies4 ,god loves his enemies4 ,it is the nature of the love of ,god4 ,when man possesses the love of ,god in his heart he will love his enemies4 ,to love those who love us and despise those who despise us1 is not a love that is a fruit of the ,spirit4 ,when man possesses the love of ,god he does not love the world4 #a ,john #b3ae-ag4 ,everything in our service to ,god if acceptable must be actuated by love4 ,supernatural gifts are nothing without love4 #a ,cor4 #ac3a1 #b4 ,the greatest deeds of sacrifice profit us nothing without they are done in love4 ,ver4 #c4 ,in the following verses of this chapter the nature of love is beautifully and obviously portrayed4 #a4 ,charity suffereth long4 ,by long-suffering is meant to patiently bear with the failings and foibles of our brother1 8,with all lowliness and meekness1 with long-suffering1 forbearing one another in love40 ,eph4 #d3b4 ,there is a beautiful thought in #a ,tim4 #a3af4 ,that ,jesus might show his long-suffering through us as a pattern for all who may in any way know of our life4 #b4 ,charity is kind4 ,where love is there is kindness4 ,the greater the love the greater the kindness4 ,the lioness in all the fierceness of her nature strokes her whelp in tenderness and kindness4 ,thus kindness is a product of love4 ,love will put a tenderness in our looks1 a gentleness in our speech1 and a kindness in our acts4 ,if you are not as kind as you know you should be1 seek ,god for more of his love4 #c4 ,charity envieth not4 ,how impossible to envy those we love4 ,the more fortunate they are the more we rejoice4 ,the more they are praised and honored the deeper is our joy4 ,with those we love1 we weep when they weep and rejoice when they rejoice4 ,if there is a secret envy in your heart because of the praise and prosperity of others1 the love of ,god is wanting4 8,let not thine heart envy sinners40 ,prov4 #bc3ag4 #d4 ,charity vaunteth not itself4 ,we can only love ,god at the sacrifice of all self-love4 ,when man possesses the love of ,god there is no self-praise1 nor seeking of honor2 there is no setting self forward1 but the lowliest seat is the most desirable4 #e4 ,charity is not puffed up4 ,there are no feelings of self-importance in the heart when the love of ,god is abounding4 ,we love him so devotedly we desire him to receive all the praise4 ,should ,god make some use of you it will be natural to give him all the praise4 #f4 ,charity doth not behave itself unseemly4 ,there is a becomingness in all the actions of pure and holy love4 ,there is a beautiful consistency in the worship of ,god when all is actuated by pure love4 ,there is nothing unseemly in our behavior toward ,god or our fellow man1 even to the most cultured minds1 when influenced by love4 ,it is noble and sublime1 elevating and pleasing to pure hearts4 ,praise is comely when flowing from a heart full of love1 but a wild hurrahing is unseemly4 ,all unseemly conduct in modes and forms of worship--such as tossing the head to and fro1 swaying the body1 the loud stamping of feet1 rolling on the floor1 lying stiff and rigid1 shouting until the face reddens and veins distend and exhaustion overcomes1 are disgracing to ,god and disgusting to refined ears and pure hearts4 #g4 ,charity seeketh not her own4 ,when man possesses the love of ,god he does not seek his own pleasure and happiness but is interested in the welfare and happiness of others2 8,he looks not upon his own things but upon the things of others40 ,we seek opportunities to do good to those we love4 #h4 ,charity is not easily provoked4 ,there is a weightiness in the love of ,god4 ,it balances all our actions4 ,we are not hasty under provocations2 we are not excited or vexed at every trivial occurrence4 #i4 ,charity thinketh no evil4 ,the meditations of a heart of pure love are holy4 ,a holy man's thoughts are upon pure and true subjects4 ,he thinketh no evil4 #aj4 ,charity rejoiceth not in iniquity4 ,sin saddens and grieves the heart of love4 ,should there be a secret rejoicing in your heart because some brother has fallen into sin1 you are proud and an abomination unto ,god4 #aa4 ,charity rejoiceth in the truth4 ,where the truth is accepted it causes the heart of love to rejoice4 ,should ,god use some other individual in setting the truth before people which causes them to rejoice1 if you love ,god and the truth you will rejoice with them4 #ab4 ,charity beareth all things4 ,amid adversities1 afflictions1 persecutions1 temptations and trials1 when storms gather1 and breakers threaten1 when friends prove false1 and the way grows weary1 love looks trustingly up to ,god and says1 8,thou doeth all things well1 blessed be thy name40 #ac4 ,charity believeth all things4 ,those who love are ever ready to believe the best of everything and everybody4 ,they see all the good qualities of man before they see his faults4 ,they are ready to believe all the good they hear of any one and slow to believe evil4 ,they rejoice to put confidence in man1 and when man's evil ways break that confidence they still hope for something good4 #ad4 ,charity hopeth all things4 ,it is very difficult to discourage the heart that is full of love4 ,when love waxes cold then disappointments may cause a murmur4 ,love hopes for the very best outcome for good of everything4 #ae4 ,charity endureth all things4 ,the same might be said of this as that 8charity beareth all things40 ,whatever darkness may arise to-day1 ,love hopes for sunshine to-morrow and patiently endures4 #af4 ,charity never fails4 ,thank ,god6 ,pretended friends may fail you2 the world may fail you2 wealth and honor may fail you2 but love will never fail4 ,it will bear you over the rough places in life's pathway4 ,it will drive away the clouds4 ,it will kiss the chastening rod4 ,it will sweeten the bitter cup4 ,it will soften the hardest pillow1 and when you are brought down into the shadow of death ,love looks across to the golden glories and sings as the cords are being severed--,love never fails4 8,fairest and foremost of the trains that wait ,on man's most dignified and happiest state1 ,whether we name thee ,charity or ,love1 ,chief grace below1 and all in all above40--,cowper4 ,joy4 ,the second mentioned fruit of the ,spirit is joy4 ,god is glorified by our fruit-bearing4 ,to be filled with joy is honoring ,god4 ,not rejoicing only when the world is smiling upon you and prosperity extends her jeweled hand4 ,at these times the ungodly can rejoice4 ,but when the world frowns and prosperity hides her face1 when trials and temptations are divers1 to then rejoice is a golden fruit for ,god4 ,tribulations may come1 but1 when filled with the ,spirit1 we glory in them4 ,rom4 #e3c4 ,o beloved1 look upward to ,god and rejoice4 ,trust in his promise and count everything joy1 no matter what may be the circumstances of life4 ,trials1 temptations1 discouragements1 afflictions1 imprisonments1 persecutions1 destruction1 and poverty--know that nothing can separate you from the love of ,god2 so go on your way rejoicing4 ,peace4 ,jesus sets up his throne of peace in the hearts of the righteous and there he reigns a king4 ,peace he gives unto us1 not as this world gives1 but a peace that flows like a river--a peace that is abiding4 8,acquaint thyself with ,god and be at peace40 ,listen to what the ,word of ,god says about the peace of the righteous4 8,great peace have they20 8,thou wilt keep him in perfect peace20 8,peace like a river20 8,filled with all peace and joy40 ,a precious fruit1 which the ,christian should develop by placing greater confidence in ,god4 ,long-,suffering4 8,with all lowliness and meekness1 with long-suffering1 forbearing one another in love40 ,eph4 #d3b4 ,when we put on ,christ1 we put on his nature and characteristics4 ,he was long-suffering2 and we are commanded to put on as the elect of ,god 8bowels of mercies1 kindness1 humbleness of mind1 meekness1 long-suffering40 ,col4 #c3ab4 ,gentleness4 ,the apostle speaks of his gentleness on one occasion in these words3 8,but we were gentle among you1 even as a nurse cherisheth her children40 #a ,thes4 #b3g4 8,the servant of the ,lord must not strive2 but be gentle unto all men40 #b ,tim4 #b3bd4 8,to speak evil of no man1 to be no brawlers1 but gentle1 showing all meekness unto all men40 ,tit4 #c3b4 ,that wisdom which is from above is gentle4 ,jas4 #c3ag4 ,cultivate the grace of gentleness and thus glorify ,god4 ,goodness4 8,for the fruit of the ,spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth40 ,eph4 #e3i4 8,doing good unto all men as we have opportunity0 is the command of ,god3 8,see that none render evil for evil unto any man2 but ever follow that which is good1 both among yourselves1 and to all men40 #a ,thes4 #e3ae4 ,let goodness fill our actions toward all4 ,be good4 ,faith4 ,if you have faith in ,god prove it by your works4 ,your works are the fruit4 ,why are you discouraged and cast down if you have faith8 ,why do you seek protection from the world if you have faith in ,god8 ,why do you fear and tremble if you have faith8 ,faith has subdued kingdoms1 stopped the mouths of lions1 quenched the violence of fire1 caused the sun to stand still1 escaped the edge of the sword1 waxed valiant in fight1 and turned to flight the armies of the aliens4 ,faith overcomes the world and pleases ,god4 ,show your faith by your works and thus honor the name of ,jesus4 ,meekness4 ,this is a beautiful fruit of the ,spirit4 ,it is almost synonymous with humility4 ,christ was meek and lowly4 ,we are to be like him4 8,show all meekness unto all men40 ,god will 8beautify the meek with salvation40 ,we are commanded to put on meekness4 ,col4 #c3ab1 #ac4 ,wear it constantly1 long usage will not impair it4 ,we are to manifest meekness in our whole conduct4 ,jas4 #c3ac4 ,we must instruct those who oppose us1 in meekness4 #b ,tim4 #b3bd1 #be4 ,meekness is necessary to a ,christian walk4 ,eph4 #d3a1 #b4 ,with it we are to restore the erring4 ,gal4 #f3a4 ,it is precious in the sight of ,god4 #a ,pet #c3d4 ,temperance4 ,to be temperate in our whole life is truly exemplary4 ,in all the things ,god has given us for use we are to be temperate2 in eating1 drinking1 sleeping1 laboring1 be temperate4 ,these are the fruits of the ,spirit1 against which there is no law4 ,bear them in profusion and there will be no law against you in that final day4 ,amen4 ,fruits ,of ,the ,flesh4 ,since we have given an exposition of the fruits of a ,christian1 which have their origin in heaven1 as expressed by the apostle1 we deem it necessary to set before the reader in a true ,bible light the fruits of the flesh1 which have their origin in an evil nature4 ,while we are aware that many are deceived as to their spiritual condition1 as saith the ,scriptures1 yet none need to be4 ,the ,word of ,god so carefully enumerates the fruits of a ,christian heart and the fruits of an evil heart1 that all may know by impartial examination what manner of tree they are4 8,the tree is known by his fruits40 8,know thyself40 8,now the works of the flesh are manifest1 which are these2 adultery1 fornication1 uncleanness1 lasciviousness1 idolatry1 witchcraft1 hatred1 variance1 emulation1 wrath1 strife1 seditions1 heresies1 envyings1 murders1 drunkenness1 revelings1 and such like3 of the which ,i tell you before1 as ,i have also told you in time past1 that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god40 ,gal4 #e3ai-ba4 #a4 ,adultery and fornication4 8,but ,i say unto you1 ,that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart40 ,mat4 #e3bh4 8,whosoever putteth away his wife1 and marrieth another1 committeth adultery3 and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery40 ,luke #af3ah4 ,this is clear and plain language and all can understand it without comment4 #b4 ,uncleanness4 ,this may include filthy habits1 but especially impure thoughts and conversation1 unholy practises and desires4 #c4 ,lasciviousness4 ,all lewdness and wantonness4 #d4 ,idolatry4 ,covetousness is idolatry4 ,col4 #c3e4 ,covetousness--,a desire to gain money1 goods1 honor1 or praise1 even at the expense of another4 #e4 ,witchcraft4 ,enchantments and spells1 such as healing by hypnotism1 and sciences4 ,omens1 signs and superstitions1 so frightfully common4 #f4 ,hatred4 ,a feeling of ill-will against any one or anything4 8,whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer40 #a ,john #c3ae4 ,feelings of hatred are opposed to feelings of love4 #g4 ,variance4 ,when hatred in the hearts of two individuals develops into open acts1 it is variance4 #h4 ,emulation4 ,this is a disposition to strive to excel others1 even at their expense--exaltedness4 #i4 ,wrath4 ,an outburst of hatred4 #aj4 ,strife4 ,contentions1 janglings1 disputings4 #aa4 ,seditions4 ,divisions1 parties1 factions1 or sects4 #ab4 ,heresies4 ,erroneous teachings and beliefs1 forming sects and factions4 #ac4 ,envyings4 ,a feeling of jealousy at the success of others4 8,let us walk honestly as in the day2 not in rioting and drunkenness1 not in chambering and wantonness1 not in strife and envying40 ,rom4 #ac3ac4 ,see also #a ,cor4 #c3c2 #b ,cor4 #ab3bj2 ,jas #c3ad1 #af4 #ad4 ,murders4 ,to hate a brother is to become a murderer4 ,see hatred4 #ae4 ,drunkenness4 ,an effect produced by drinking fermented wines1 or inebriating drinks of any kind4 #af4 ,revelings4 ,worldly amusements of any kind3 theater-going1 dancing1 picnics1 suppers1 fairs1 socials1 ,christmas festivities1 etc4 ,they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,you will notice that the fruits of the flesh are directly opposed to the fruits of the ,spirit4 ,by careful and prayerful study of this catalogue of evil fruits and an examination of your actions1 thoughts1 and inclinations1 you can unmistakably know whether you are prepared or not for heaven4 ,make your calling and election sure4 ,never be contented if there is any fruit in your life of the nature of the above4 ,i have been asked the question1 8,will a ,christian ever attend the present day church entertainments80 ,a ,christian1 largely ignorant of the vast separation from the world salvation makes1 may1 through the persuasion of friends1 or some other similar cause1 attend such a place of revelry1 but he will not enjoy the hour4 ,he will be uneasy and long for the last act that he may get away to commune with ,god4 ,whoever has a heart to enter into such worldliness with enjoyment has a heart unfit for heaven4 ,he is not a ,christian4 ,two ,works ,of ,grace4 ,many treat with scorn the doctrine of 8two works of grace10 but that can never make it unscriptural4 ,it is very unwise to disbelieve a truth merely because we have been taught and always believed to the contrary4 ,an early education has a great influence upon the mind4 ,through the teachings of a relative we embraced an error in our youth4 ,in after years when the subject was read and thought upon it was difficult to comprehend and believe the plain truths of history4 ,it is wisdom therefore to always carefully and prayerfully examine a doctrine before condemning and rejecting it4 8,why does not ,god fully redeem the soul in one instantaneous work of grace80 many ask4 ,what right have we to question ,god concerning his plan of redemption8 ,was not the whole scheme in his hand8 ,what part has man performed in the arrangement of the affair8 ,then why should he question8 ,it only remains for us to humbly bow our hearts and accept the plan as ,god has devised it1 else we can never have a part in it4 ,why did ,god require ,naaman to dip seven times in ,jordan8 ,why did ,jesus put his hands the second time upon the blind man of ,bethsaida before he saw clearly8 ,why does ,god redeem a soul by two works of grace8 ,these questions are equally absurd4 ,but you say1 ,god does the thing most reasonable4 ,that he does1 and redemption by two works of grace is the very most reasonable and natural way to restore the soul to its normal condition4 ,man was holy in his nature in creation4 ,by sin he became possessed of an evil nature4 ,the ,psalmist says1 8,i was shapen in iniquity2 and in sin did my mother conceive me40 ,psa4 #ea3e4 ,the apostle declares he was by nature a child of wrath4 ,eph4 #b3c4 ,other texts could be quoted1 but these together with the knowledge of a child's disposition is sufficient to convince any candid mind4 ,children naturally learn evil things1 while good traits more often have to be forced upon them by training4 ,it comes natural for them to get angry1 to be selfish1 to tell falsehoods1 to fight1 to be proud1 etc42 not in all to the same degree1 but such disposition is largely predominant in the generality of children1 and exists to a certain degree in all4 ,children are not responsible for this evil nature as we have previously spoken4 ,they are not responsible for their wrong acts1 because they have no knowledge of right and wrong4 ,they may tell falsehoods before they have strength of intellect to comprehend wrong1 and it is no sin to them2 but when the child reaches such maturity of mind as to know right and wrong1 a falsehood then told makes him a transgressor and he feels the guilt of sin upon his soul1 which he never felt unto that hour4 ,the evil nature that influenced him to speak falsely did not condemn him1 it is the yielding to such a nature that brought the condemnation4 ,god commands him to repent4 ,of what8 ,not of the evil inclined disposition1 but of the sin of lying4 ,suppose the child after a year1 or a few years does repent of his sins2 he repents of all1 even to his first1 but his repentance goes no farther2 he is no farther responsible1 and it is impossible for man to repent of that for which he is not responsible4 ,god forgives him1 and the forgiveness extends just as far as the repentance4 ,man is not pardoned or forgiven of that for which he is wholly irresponsible4 ,every committed sin is forgiven1 even to the first1 and he is as innocent and free from sin and guilt as when a babe in his mother's arms4 ,this is the first work of grace4 ,he is justified1 he is born again1 or reborn--brought back to the state of his babyhood4 8,except ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,mat4 #ah3c4 ,conversion or the first work of grace restores us to the happy innocency of childhood4 ,the evil nature still remains to be removed in sanctification1 the second work of grace4 ,this is not an act of forgiveness or pardon1 but a cleansing4 ,it is not through repentance1 but consecration4 ,the ,jewish economy contains types and shadows of this twofold salvation4 ,egyptian bondage is typical of sin4 ,crossing the ,red ,sea is typical of justification4 ,crossing the ,jordan1 that of sanctification4 ,the ,jewish tabernacle consisting of the holy and most holy place is a shadow of the spiritual tabernacle of ,god--the church4 ,the disciples were saved men before ,pentecost4 ,that was the date of their sanctification4 ,in reading the eighth chapter of ,acts we learn at the fifth verse that ,philip went down to ,samaria and preached ,christ1 and many believed4 ,evil spirits were cast out and the palsied and lame were healed4 ,they certainly were ,christians4 ,reading on to the fourteenth verse we learn that ,peter and ,john went down and prayed for them and they received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is the sanctifier4 ,rom4 #ae3af4 ,cornelius was a devout ,christian man1 fearing ,god1 giving much alms to the people1 and praying to ,god always4 ,he was directed in a vision by an angel of ,god to send to ,joppa for ,peter4 ,when ,peter was come he preached unto them1 and as he spoke the ,holy ,ghost fell on all them which heard the word4 ,acts #ajth chapter4 ,he with his household were devout ,christians before they received the ,holy ,spirit--the sanctifier4 ,we will now quote a few texts of ,scripture teaching two works of grace4 8,therefore being justified by faith1 we have peace with ,god through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace sanctification wherein we stand1 and rejoice in hope of the glory of ,god40 ,rom4 #e3a1 #b4 ,paul says to the ,gentiles that he was sent unto them 8to open their eyes1 and to turn them from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan unto ,god1 that they may receive forgiveness of sins1 and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me40 ,acts #bf3ah4 8,not by works of righteousness which we have done1 but according to his mercy he saved us1 by the washing of regeneration1 and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,titus #c3e4 ,the ,thessalonian brethren were abounding in faith and love and patience of hope in ,jesus2 however ,paul tells them that ,god wills their sanctification4 #a ,thes4 #d3c4 ,the apostle exhorts the ,roman church to a perfect consecration of life and all to ,god that they might 8prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of ,god40 ,rom4 #ab3a1 #b4 ,this 8perfect will0 is sanctification4 ,these texts we consider sufficient to give light unto the teachable1 and any number perhaps would be without force or effect unto the unteachable4 ,the two works of grace are very generally misunderstood1 especially the grace of sanctification4 ,we believe ,god will help us here to make it clear to many a reader4 ,justification1 the first work of grace1 is a full pardon of every transgression1 a removal of guilt4 ,a justified life is one wholly free from transgression4 ,the justified do not commit sin4 ,sanctification is a destruction of the depraved nature1 or a cleansing of inherited sin from the soul4 ,this grace fully prepares the soul for heaven4 ,the soul is as pure in this grace as it will be in heaven4 ,all elements and dispositions contrary to the nature of heaven are dethroned4 ,all pride1 levity1 lust1 and impatience proceeding from an evil nature are perfectly cleansed away4 ,to have pride in a pure heart is impossible4 ,to have lust or lightness or impatience in a pure heart is equally impossible4 ,we might ask the question1 ,will not the sanctified under any circumstance have the slightest yieldings to exaltation1 levity and impatience8 and1 if the sanctified speak a word in lightness or impatience does he forfeit the experience8 ,we will answer these questions in the fear of ,god4 ,many who have claimed the experience of sanctification have found discouraging trouble at this point4 ,in the company of flatterers they yielded to the spirit of exaltation4 ,in the company of the frivolous they have yielded to the spirit of levity4 ,under a severe trial they have spoken words of impatience1 and are then almost in despair4 ,man is a twofold being1 an inward spiritual man1 and an outward physical man4 ,in sanctification the inward man is possessed only by ,god4 ,the physical members are to be used by the soul to the praise of ,god4 ,satan will bring his force to bear against the outward man to influence to evil and thus destroy the life of the soul4 ,thus the physical being becomes the battle ground between ,god in the soul and ,satan4 ,early in the experience of sanctification when there has been but little time for development there may be slight triumphs of ,satan without forfeiting the experience of sanctification1 but the soul is awakened to greater activity and earnestness to control every action and word to the praise of ,god4 ,the ,lord is sought in earnest prayer for more of his power1 for more of his grace1 that they may be more deeply fortified in the life divine4 ,the slight victories of the evil one become slighter and less frequent4 ,the individual thus increases in faith1 in humility1 in gentleness1 in kindness1 in love according to the additions required to make our calling and election sure4 #b ,pet4 #a4 ,by giving diligence the soul ere long will gain such power in ,god as to authoritatively command the perfect obedience of every member of the physical being4 ,the body will be kept under subjection and every member used as an instrument of righteousness unto ,god4 ,any diseased condition of the outward man is an advantage to ,satan4 ,shattered nerves strengthen his temptations to impatience and discouragements4 ,that ,satan may have no advantage over us1 ,god in his plan of redemption made provision for the healing of the body4 ,if the soul through prosperity or otherwise becomes slothful1 disease may be permitted to attack the body1 or other afflictions may come to awaken to greater watchfulness4 ,to become more hasty of speech1 to become less grave1 to become less humble and meek1 less patient1 is to be correspondingly losing the power of ,god1 and is called backsliding4 ,there are those to-day who have been claiming to be sanctified for some years1 and they are no more patient nor sober-minded nor sound in speech1 no more humble1 nor have more faith than they had the first year of their experience4 ,in all probability they are backslidden and have naught but an empty form4 ,by diligence1 careful watching and incessant prayer1 the soul can reign triumphant4 ,every look1 every action1 every word1 and thought will be under the direct influence of the divine life1 and soul1 body1 and spirit be preserved blameless until the coming of the ,lord4 ,we wish to give in parallel columns nine scriptures1 describing man raised to the plane of justification1 and nine describing the state of the wholly sanctified4 ,also a few texts expressing ,god's will to the sinner1 and parallel texts to the justified4 ,and in conclusion a few texts showing the provisions ,god has made for the justification of the sinner and the sanctification of the justified4 ,state ,of ,the ,justified4 ,state ,of ,the ,sanctified4 #a4 ,in ,christ4 8,for we are his #a4 ,perfect in ,christ4 8,whom we workmanship1 created in ,christ preach1 warning every man1 and ,jesus unto good works1 which ,god teaching every man in all wisdom2 hath before ordained that we should that we may present every man walk in them40 ,eph4 #b3aj4 perfect in ,christ ,jesus40 ,col4 #a3bh4 #b4 ,obtained grace4 8,for by grace #b4 ,abundance of grace4 8,much more are saved through faith2 and that they which receive abundance of not of yourselves3 it is the gift grace and of the gift of of ,god40 ,eph4 #b3h4 righteousness shall reign in life by one1 ,jesus ,christ40 ,rom4 #e3ag4 #c4 ,justified4 8,and by him all #c4 ,sanctified4 8,for by one that believe are justified from all offering he hath perfected forever things1 from which ye could not be them that are sanctified4 ,whereof justified by the law of ,moses40 the ,holy ,ghost also is a witness to ,acts #ac3ci4 us40 ,heb4 #aj3ad1 #ae4 #d4 ,have light4 8,i am the light of #d4 ,full of light4 8,the light of the world3 he that followeth me the body is the eye3 if therefore shall not walk in darkness1 but thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall have the light of life40 ,john shall be full of light40 ,mat4 #f3bb4 #h3ab4 8,awake thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead1 and ,christ shall give thee light40 ,eph4 #e3ad4 #e4 ,have peace4 8,therefore being #e4 ,have perfect peace4 8,thou wilt justified by faith1 we have peace keep him in perfect peace1 whose with ,god through our ,lord ,jesus mind is stayed on thee3 because he ,christ40 ,rom4 #e3a4 trusteth in thee40 ,isa4 #bf3c4 #f4 ,have life4 8,verily1 verily1 ,i #f4 ,have abundant life4 8,the thief say unto you1 ,he that heareth my cometh not1 but for to steal and to word1 and believeth on him that kill and to destroy3 ,i am come that sent me1 hath everlasting life1 and they might have life1 and that they shall not come into condemnation2 might have it more abundantly40 but is passed from death unto ,john #aj3aj4 life40 ,john #e3bd4 #g4 ,have faith4 8,for ye are all #g4 ,full of faith4 8,for he was a the children of ,god by faith in good man and full of the ,holy ,ghost ,christ ,jesus40 ,gal4 #c3bf4 and of faith3 and much people was added unto the ,lord40 ,acts #aa3bd4 #h4 ,love ,god4 8,peter was grieved #h4 ,perfect in love4 8,herein is because he said unto him the third our love made perfect1 that we may time1 ,lovest thou me8 ,and he said have boldness in the day of unto him1 ,lord1 thou knowest all judgment3 because as he is1 so are things2 thou knowest that ,i love we in this world40 #a ,john #d3ag4 thee40 ,john #ba3ag4 #i4 ,babes in ,christ4 8,and ,i1 #i4 ,men in ,christ4 8,till we all brethren1 could not speak unto you come in the unity of the faith1 and as unto spiritual1 but as unto of the knowledge of the ,son of ,god1 carnal1 even as unto babes in unto a perfect man1 unto the ,christ40 #a ,cor4 #c3a4 measure of the stature of the fulness of ,christ40 ,eph4 #d3ac4 ,god's ,will ,to ,the ,sinner4 ,god's ,will ,to ,the ,justified4 ,repentance4 8,the ,lord is 444 not ,sanctification4 8,for this is the willing that any should perish1 but will of ,god1 even your that all should come to sanctification40 #a ,thes4 #d3c4 repentance40 #b ,pet4 #c3i4 ,called to repentance4 8,i am not ,called to sanctification4 8,for come to call the righteous1 but ,god hath not called us unto sinners to repentance40 ,mat4 #i3ac4 uncleanness1 but unto holiness40 #a ,thes4 #d3g4 ,commands repentance4 8,and the ,commands sanctification4 8,having times of this ignorance ,god winked therefore these promises1 dearly at2 but now commandeth all men beloved1 let us cleanse ourselves everywhere to repent40 ,acts #ag3cj4 from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god40 #b ,cor4 #g3a4 ,the reason for repentance4 8,i ,the reason for sanctification4 tell you1 ,nay3 but1 except ye 8,follow peace with all men1 and repent1 ye shall all likewise holiness1 without which no man perish40 ,luke #ac3c4 shall see the ,lord40 ,heb4 #ab3ad4 ,provisions ,made ,for ,the ,provisions ,made ,for ,the ,justification ,of ,the ,sinner4 ,sanctification ,of ,the ,believer4 #a4 ,the ,word4 8,for ,i am not #a4 ,the ,word4 8,sanctify them ashamed of the gospel of ,christ3 through thy truth3 thy word is for it is the power of ,god unto truth40 ,john #ag3ag salvation to every one that believeth40 ,rom4 #a3af4 #b4 ,the ,spirit4 8,jesus answered #b4 ,the ,spirit4 8,that ,i should be ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto thee1 the minister of ,jesus ,christ to the ,except a man be born of water and ,gentiles1 ministering the gospel of of the ,spirit1 he can not enter ,god1 that the offering up of the into the kingdom of ,god40 ,john #c3e4 ,gentiles might be acceptable1 being sanctified by the ,holy ,ghost40 ,rom4 #ae3af4 #c4 ,the ,blood4 8,unto him that #c4 ,the ,blood4 8,wherefore ,jesus loved us1 and washed us from our also1 that he might sanctify the sins in his own blood40 ,rev4 #a3e4 people with his own blood1 suffered without the gate40 ,heb4 #ac3ab4 #d4 ,jesus4 8,and he is the #d4 ,jesus4 8,and inheritance among propitiation for our sins3 and not them which are sanctified by faith for ours only1 but also for the that is in me ,jesus40 ,acts #bf3ah4 sins of the whole world40 #a ,john #b3b4 #e4 ,god4 8,which were born1 not of #e4 ,god4 8,and the very ,god of blood1 nor of the will of the peace sanctify you wholly2 444 flesh1 nor of the will of man1 but faithful is he that calleth you1 of ,god40 ,john #a3ac4 who also will do it40 #a ,thes4 #e3bc1 #bd4 ,being ,like ,jesus4 ,holiness is the image of ,god4 ,a holy seer1 in a vision1 saw the ,lord and his high throne4 ,he saw the angels hovering over and heard one shouting1 8,holy1 holy1 holy1 is the ,lord of hosts3 the whole earth is full of his glory40 ,isa4 #f3a-c4 ,nothing in earth or in heaven is so beautiful as holiness4 ,the ,scriptures are sublime in their description of the loveliness of the celestial world4 ,poets have sung of the exquisite delights of that better land4 ,the crowning feature of attractiveness is holiness4 ,should the despiser of holiness be permitted to stroll through the fields of heaven he would find no object of beauty there4 ,the rose of ,sharon would be but a faded flower1 8no beauty that we should desire him40 ,isa4 #ec3b4 ,the one object and desire in the life of the sweet singer ,david1 a holiness admirer1 was to dwell in the house of the ,lord all his days to 8behold the beauty of the ,lord40 ,psa4 #bg3d4 ,the beautiful holy image of ,god was seen upon man in his creation4 ,he manifested the holy character of his ,creator4 ,he was in nature like ,god4 ,the ,almighty in looking over the works of creation saw that everything he had made1 man included1 was very good 7,gen4 #a3ca72 therefore we can rightly conclude that as he looked upon man he looked upon a creature as pure and holy and faultless as an angel in heaven1 else he would not have pronounced him very good4 ,such without controversy was the state of man by creation3 as holy and as pure in his nature as his ,maker4 ,but a sorrowful change came to man4 ,he transgressed the law of his ,god1 and as a result the holy image of the ,creator was supplanted by the hideous deformity of sin4 ,after the transgression1 ,god again looked upon man and 8saw that his wickedness was very great in the earth1 and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually40 ,gen4 #f3e4 ,this grieved him at his heart1 and he repented of having made man4 ,however he purposes that man shall yet enjoy the blessing of a holy state4 ,accordingly he sent his ,son to this world to redeem him4 ,this ,son was in the image of the ,father 8in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not1 lest the light of the glorious gospel of ,christ1 who is the image of ,god1 should shine unto them40 #b ,cor4 #d3d4 8,who is the image of the invisible ,god1 the first-born of every creature40 ,col4 #a3ae4 ,the ,father has ordained that man in the ,son should be made holy or in his original purity4 8,according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world1 that we should be holy and without blame before him in love40 ,eph4 #a3d4 8,in holiness and righteousness before him1 all the days of our life40 ,luke #a3ge4 ,in being restored to holiness man is conformed to the image of the ,son4 8,for whom he did foreknow1 he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his ,son1 that he might be the first-born among many brethren40 ,rom4 #h3bi4 ,it is true ,god foreknew that some would not believe on his ,son and be redeemed1 and he foreknew that others would4 ,here we behold the wonderful mercy of ,god4 ,he strives with the heart of the sinner and brings all influences possible to bear upon him to turn him from his sin1 and all the time knowing he would never be saved2 however he thus leaves him without excuse and makes him wholly responsible for his loss4 ,what is the image of the ,son8 ,he was holy1 harmless1 and undefiled4 ,heb4 #g3bf4 ,he was equal with ,god4 ,phil4 #b3f4 ,he was in the glory and holiness of the ,father4 ,god after creation looked over the work of his hands and pronounced all very good4 ,after the 8transgression0 he saw that all was very wicked4 ,now ,jesus comes and presents to the ,father one who has been redeemed by the all-atoning blood1 and as ,god views him over he stands 8holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight40 ,halleluiah6 ,read ,col4 #a3ba1 #bb4 ,the redemption obtained through the blood of ,jesus is perfect and complete4 ,it makes us 8complete in him40 ,col4 #b3aj4 ,dear reader1 this moment1 with open heart before the all-seeing eye of ,god1 does the ,spirit witness clearly to your soul that you are 8holy and without blame before him in love80 ,to be like ,jesus includes only his holy nature4 ,we are not to be like him in power to forgive sins1 but in a holy life4 ,we are to be thus like him in this present life2 8because as he is1 so are we in this world40 #a ,john #d3ag4 ,in this world1 we are to be like him in holiness4 8,but as he which hath called you is holy1 so be ye holy in all manner of conversation2 because it is written1 #8,be ye holy2 for ,i am holy4' 0 #a ,pet4 #a3ae1 #af4 ,god predestinated that we should be like him4 ,he is holy1 therefore he calls the believer unto holiness4 ,when we are restored to the holy nature of ,god it will be our nature to be as merciful as he is merciful4 8,be ye therefore merciful1 as your ,father also is merciful40 ,luke #f3cf4 ,the mercy of ,god consists in showing favor unsolicited2 in bestowing blessings upon the ungrateful4 ,god in his mercy gave his ,son to die for a wicked world4 ,when we are made partakers of the divine nature1 we go about showing favor and kindness to all2 though men scorn us1 revile us1 and trample us down without mercy1 we eagerly seize every opportunity to do them good4 ,with respect to the principles of ,christianity we are1 when fully redeemed1 perfect as our ,father in heaven4 8,be ye therefore perfect1 even as your ,father which is in heaven is perfect40 ,mat4 #e3dh4 ,by reading the contexts we find he is speaking of love4 ,when fully saved there is naught in our heart but love1 loving just as ,god loves4 ,such love enables us with joy to show kindness to our enemies1 to feed them when they are hungry1 and give them drink when they thirst4 ,rom4 #ab3bj4 ,when we are fully saved we are like the ,lord in purity3 8,and every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself1 even as he is pure40 #a ,john #c3c4 ,every crimson stain of sin is cleansed away and we are whiter than the snow4 ,the evil nature incurred by ,adam's sin is perfectly destroyed and we are made as pure as though there had never been a sin in this world4 ,we will be like our ,creator and ,redeemer in righteousness3 8,little children1 let no man deceive you3 he that doeth righteousness is righteous1 even as he is righteous40 #a ,john #c3g4 ,some do teach that we can not be righteous4 ,the ,word of ,god declares they are deceivers4 ,when we thus become of the pure1 holy1 righteous and merciful nature of ,jesus it will of necessity separate us as far from this world and worldliness as he was separated4 8,i have given them thy word2 and the world hath hated them1 because they are not of the world1 even as ,i am not of the world40 ,john #ag3ad4 ,there lies a great and wide gulf between the ,christian and the world4 ,jesus is the bridge for the sinner to cross to the ,christian's land4 ,sin and ,satan is the bridge for the return of the ,christian to the world4 ,when the children of ,god are fully redeemed they are one even as the ,father and the ,son are one4 8,and the glory which thou gavest me ,i have given them2 that they may be one1 even as we are one40 ,john #ag3bb4 ,this means a complete annihilation of every partisan spirit1 a destruction of all strife and division4 ,should every professed ,christian get salvation to the full ,bible standard there would not be a sect left upon earth4 ,god predestinated you to be conformed to the image of his ,son2 holy as he is holy2 merciful as he is merciful2 perfect as he is perfect2 pure as he is pure2 righteous as he is righteous2 as far separated from the world as he is from the world1 and one even as ,god and his ,son are one4 ,such is the perfect redemption offered to man in this life through ,god's beloved ,son4 ,what can be more beautiful upon this earth than a soul redeemed from sin and a life reflecting the holy life of the ,savior4 8,christ before ,pilate0 is a rare and much admired work of art1 but ,christ in the soul and life is a work more grand and beautiful4 ,for man to properly reflect the divine character necessitates a very close walk and deep communion with the ,deity4 ,there must be a constant feeding upon the divine life4 ,there must be a careful watching and an effort to cultivate a deeper sense of the presence of ,god4 ,happy and blessed is the man whose heart is so filled with heavenly love and reverence to ,god as to cause him to give 8all diligence0 to develop into his own glorious image4 ,chapter ,,vii4 ,the ,church ,of ,god4 ,more than one hundred times the words church and churches are used in the ,new ,testament4 ,it is always translated from ekklesia4 ,most translators agree that a more correct translation of this ,greek word would have been congregation4 8,the church of ,god0 would then have read1 8,congregation of ,god40 8,the church of the first-born0 would have read1 8,the congregation of the first-born40 ,the church that was at ,antioch would have read1 8,the congregation that was at ,antioch10 etc4 ,what ,is ,the ,church ,or ,congregation8 ,the word church is a much misused word4 ,it is commonly used at the present day when speaking of the edifices erected for the purpose of the assembling of the church to worship ,god4 ,the quoting of a few texts will give us the ,bible definition of this word4 8,likewise greet the church that is in their house40 ,rom4 #af3e4 ,this was the home of ,priscilla and ,aquila4 ,this church was in their house4 ,this house was not the church4 ,the church was in their house4 ,the command was to greet the church4 ,this certainly begins to throw some light upon this subject4 ,see #a ,cor4 #af3ai2 ,col4 #d3ae2 ,phile4 #b4 8,and he hath put all things under his feet1 and gave him to be head over all things to the church1 which is his body1 the fulness of him that filleth all in all40 ,eph4 #a3bb1 #bc4 8,and he is the head of the body1 the church40 ,col4 #a3ah4 ,see also #bdth verse4 ,these texts plainly teach the church to be the body of ,christ4 ,what is the body of ,christ8 ,ans4--8,now ye ,christians are the body of ,christ1 and members in particular40 #a ,cor4 #ab3bg4 ,the body of ,christ is the church4 ,the church is ,christians4 ,this enables us to understand how the church could be in ,priscilla and ,aquila's house1 and how we can greet the church4 ,this is the ,bible definition of church4 ,which1 ,one ,church ,or ,many8 ,in the writings of the apostles the plural form of the word church is frequently used1 but this argues nothing against the unity of ,god's church1 nor in favor of the multiplicity of sects4 ,if all the saved people in the world could be congregated in one place there would be no occasion for using the plural form of this word4 ,had it been so in the days of the writers of the epistles1 the word would have been used only in the singular4 ,but since there was a church or congregation of ,christians at ,antioch1 also a church at ,corinth1 at ,thessalonica1 ,ephesus1 ,smyrna1 ,pergamos1 ,thyatira1 ,sardis1 ,philadelphia1 ,laodicea1 etc41 to speak of the whole it would be proper to use the plural of church4 8,the churches of ,asia40 ,please notice there is only one in each city1 and the same writer addresses them all4 ,it does not take a town of so great a size to-day to find seven towering meeting-house steeples1 where assemble as many different bodies of believers1 termed sects4 ,no one minister addresses them all4 ,no one elder gives orders to all these different sects4 #a ,cor4 #af3a4 ,no one minister ordains elders in all the separate bodies4 #a ,cor4 #g3ag4 ,the word churches was used to denote the different geographical location of the congregations of the ,lord4 ,the minister arguing in favor of the plurality of denominations from the plural term churches as found in the ,bible is either ignorant or unfair4 ,a plurality of sects is ,babylon confusion4 ,the plural form is used in the ,bible with reference to location and not to bodies having a different faith or belief4 ,the church at ,antioch had no contrary faith with the church at ,corinth as we find existing between the denominations of to-day4 ,they were separated by geographical distance1 and not by difference of belief4 ,had these different churches come together in one place they could all have listened to ,paul preach and said1 ,amen4 ,oneness ,of ,god's ,church4 8,the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul40 ,acts #d3cb4 ,can these same words be correctly used when speaking of the believers throughout the various denominations of to-day8 8,now the ,god of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to ,christ ,jesus3 that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify ,god1 even the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ40 ,rom4 #ae3e1 #f4 8,now ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that ye all speak the same thing1 and that there be no divisions among you2 but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment40 #a ,cor4 #a3aj4 ,by these two texts we learn that the church of ,god has but one mind2 it has but one mouth1 and all speak the same thing4 ,this is beautiful1 this is heavenly4 8,behold1 how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity40 ,psa4 #acc3a4 ,it is only the church of the ,bible that enjoys this pleasant unity1 and we must never confound this church with the confusive sects4 ,babylon has as many mouths as there are sects1 and they speak contrary things4 8,for ye are all one in ,christ ,jesus40 ,gal4 #c3bh4 8,only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of ,christ3 that whether ,i come and see you1 or else be absent1 ,i may hear of your affairs1 that ye stand fast in one spirit1 with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel40 ,phil4 #a3bg4 8,fulfil ye my joy1 that ye be likeminded1 having the same love1 being of one accord1 of one mind40 ,phil4 #b3b4 8,for as we have many members in one body1 and all the members have not the same office3 so we1 being many1 are one body in ,christ1 and every one members one of another40 ,rom4 #ab3d1 #e4 8,other sheep ,i have1 which are not of this fold3 them also ,i must bring1 444 and there shall be one fold and one shepherd40 ,john #aj3af4 ,the ,savior was here speaking of the ,gentiles and the ,jews4 ,before the coming of ,christ there was a partition wall between these two nations1 but ,jesus came to break down the middle wall of partition1 so there should be neither ,jew nor ,greek1 bond nor free1 male nor female3 but all one in ,christ ,jesus4 ,gal4 #c3bh4 8,for as the body is one1 and hath many members1 and all the members of that one body1 being many1 are one body3 so also is ,christ4 ,for by one ,spirit are we all baptized into one body1 whether we be ,jews or ,gentiles1 whether we be bond or free2 and have been all made to drink into one ,spirit40 #a ,cor4 #ab3ab1 #ac4 ,the 8many members0 here referred to are individual ,christians1 and not the ecclesiastical bodies now extant1 as some do ignorantly teach4 8,but now are they many members1 yet but one body40 #a ,cor4 #ab3bj4 ,in the fifteenth and sixteenth verses the apostle uses the physical body of man with its dependent members to illustrate the one body of ,christ4 ,these members work in blissful harmony and are dependent upon each other4 ,a destruction of one member impairs the whole body4 ,this is not illustrative of the different denominations2 they are not dependent upon each other4 ,oftentimes they are opposed to each other1 and thrive better when others are destroyed4 8,and let the peace of ,god rule in your hearts1 to the which also ye are called in one body1 and be ye thankful40 ,col4 #c3ae4 ,i am thankful that we are called as humble followers of the ,lamb1 into one body only1 where the peace of ,god rules in every heart4 8,now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners1 but fellow citizens with the saints1 and of the household of ,god40 ,eph4 #b3ai4 ,god has a household of saints here upon the earth where peace rules4 ,a contentious1 quarrelsome1 divided family is no part of ,god's united household4 ,one family in heaven and earth4 ,eph4 #c3ae4 ,it is with great reluctancy that we pass by so many beautiful texts upon this subject1 but we will only quote a few more lest this volume swell to too great proportions4 8,holy ,father1 keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me1 that they may be one1 as we are4 ,while ,i was with them in the world1 ,i kept them in thy name3 444 neither pray ,i for these alone1 but for them also which shall believe on me through their word2 that they all may be one2 as thou1 ,father1 art in me1 and ,i in thee1 that they also may be one in us3 that the world may believe that thou hast sent me4 ,and the glory which thou gavest me ,i have given them2 that they may be one1 even as we are one3 ,i in them and thou in me1 that they may be made perfect in one2 and that the world may know that thou hast sent me1 and hast loved them as thou hast loved me40 ,john #ag3aa1 #ab1 #bj-bc4 ,blessed oneness of ,god's own1 ,like the ,father and the ,son2 ,one on earth like heav'n above1 ,bound with cords of perfect love4 ,o holy ,christian band1 filled with ,heaven's love1 ,living in sweet accord like angels above4 ,divisions ,condemned4 8,now ,i beseech you1 brethren1 mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned2 and avoid them2 ,for they that are such serve not our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 but their own belly2 and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple40 ,rom4 #af3ag1 #ah4 ,from the apostle they had learned the doctrine of oneness2 he now warns them to avoid any contrary doctrine4 8,that there should be no schism in the body2 but that the members should have the same care one for another40 #a ,cor4 #ab3be4 ,by consulting your dictionary you will find the word 8schism0 to be synonymous with the word 8sect40 8,a man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject40 ,titus #c3aj4 ,many translators have rendered heretic1 sectarian4 8,for first of all1 when ye come together in the church1 ,i hear that there be divisions among you2 and ,i partly believe it4 ,for there must be also heresies among you1 that they which are approved may be made manifest among you40 #a ,cor4 #aa3ah1 #ai4 ,heresies and divisions are here spoken of as meaning about the same thing2 or rather divisions are occasioned by heresies4 ,if you will look in the margin of your reference ,bible you will find this word translated 8sect40 ,in ,gal4 #e3ai1 #bj is a number of deeds and dispositions classified and called the works of the flesh1 and we are told that 8they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god40 ,in this catalogue of evil works you will find the word 8heresies40 ,upon examining other translations you will find it rendered sects4 ,see ,emphatic ,diaglott4 8,now ,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that ye all speak the same thing1 and that there be no divisions schisms--margin among you40 #a ,cor4 #a3aj4 8,but there were false prophets also among the people1 even as there shall be false teachers among you1 who privily shall bring in damnable heresies1 even denying the ,lord that bought them1 and bring upon themselves swift destruction40 #b ,pet4 #b3a4 ,in the ,german version the words 8damnable heresies0 is rendered 8destructive sects40 ,paul sternly reproves the ,corinthians and declares them carnal because of a division that had been manifested among them4 #a ,cor4 #c3a-d2 also #a ,cor4 #a3aj-ac4 ,organization ,of ,the ,church ,of ,god4 ,we will have to go to the dictionary to find a definition of the word 8organize10 since the word is not found in the ,bible4 8,to arrange in parts2 to form in due order2 to furnish with organs10 is the common definition4 ,while the term 8organize0 is not contained in the ,scriptures1 yet the work of organizing ,god's church was performed1 and his precious truth tells us how1 and by whom it was done4 8,for to one individual is given by the ,spirit the word of wisdom2 to another the word of knowledge by the same ,spirit2 to another faith by the same ,spirit2 to another the gifts of healing by the same ,spirit2 to another the working of miracles2 to another prophecy2 to another discerning of spirits1 to another divers kinds of tongues2 to another the interpretation of tongues3 but all these worketh that one and the selfsame ,spirit1 dividing to every man severally as he will40 #a ,cor4 #ab3h-aa4 ,nothing need be plainer4 ,it is the mission of the ,holy ,spirit to impart unto or bestow upon each member of ,god's church such qualifications as will make him a useful and effectual organ in this holy structure4 ,what is necessary for the building and furnishing of the church of ,god is not necessary in the formation and organization of a man-made ecclesiasticism4 ,for man to build what he is pleased to call a church he does not have to furnish it with 8a gift of faith10 nor 8a gift of healing10 nor of 8working of miracles10 nor of 8prophecy10 nor of 8discerning of spirits10 nor of 8diversities of tongues10 nor of 8interpretation of tongues40 ,neither does he require the 8wisdom of ,god10 nor the 8knowledge of ,god40 ,it is true he will require much knowledge and wisdom of the world1 but of all the things necessary in furnishing the church of ,god1 not one of them is necessary in the building of a sect4 8,and he gave some1 apostles2 and some1 prophets2 and some1 evangelists2 and some1 pastors and teachers2 for the perfecting of the saints1 for the work of the ministry1 for the edifying of the body of ,christ40 ,eph4 #d3aj-ab4 8,take heed therefore unto yourselves1 and to all the flock1 over which the ,holy ,ghost hath made you overseers1 to feed the church of ,god1 which he hath purchased with his own blood40 ,acts #bj3bh4 8,now ye are the body of ,christ1 and members in particular1 and ,god hath set some in the church1 first apostles1 secondarily prophets1 thirdly teachers1 after that miracles1 then gifts of healings1 helps1 governments1 diversities of tongues40 #a ,cor4 #ab3bg1 #bh4 8,but now hath ,god set the members every one of them in the body1 as it hath pleased him40 #a ,cor4 #ab3ah4 ,with this as with all other subjects of this work we must be brief4 ,who ,receives ,applicants ,into ,this ,church8 8,wherefore come out from among them1 and be ye separate1 saith the ,lord1 and touch not the unclean thing2 and ,i will receive you1 and will be a ,father unto you1 and ye shall be my sons and daughters1 saith the ,lord ,almighty40 #b ,cor4 #f3ag1 #ah4 8,but now hath ,god set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him40 #a ,cor4 #ab3ah4 8,and the ,lord added to the church daily such as should be saved40 ,acts #b3dg4 8,for by one ,spirit are we all baptized into one body1 whether we be ,jews or ,gentiles1 whether we be bond or free2 and have been all made to drink into one ,spirit40 #a ,cor4 #ab3ac4 ,by these texts we can plainly see that it is ,god by the ,spirit that receives members into his church1 therefore no sinner can enter there4 ,what ,is ,the ,door8 8,i am the door3 by me if any man enter in he shall be saved1 and shall go in and out1 and find pasture40 ,john #aj3i4 8,i am the door of the sheep40 ,ver4 #g4 8,for through him ,jesus we both have access by one ,spirit unto the ,father40 ,eph4 #b3ah4 ,jesus is the only entrance into the church of ,god4 ,he that would climb up some other way is a thief and a robber4 ,john #aj3a4 ,we could get into a human organized body without coming in through ,christ1 but not into the divinely organized body4 8,he that openeth1 and no man shutteth2 and shutteth1 and no man openeth2 444 behold1 ,i have set before thee an open door1 and no man can shut it40 ,rev4 #c3g1 #h4 ,who ,is ,the ,builder ,of ,the ,church8 ,abraham 8looked for a city1 444 whose builder and maker is ,god40 ,heb4 #aa3aj4 ,like many other holy men who walked with ,god in those ancient days1 ,abraham looked by faith to the promise that was to come to bring deliverance to the captives4 ,christ says1 8,upon this rock ,i will build my church1 and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it40 ,mat4 #af3ah4 8,every house is builded by some man2 but he that built all things is ,god40 ,heb4 #c3c1 #d4 ,jesus purchased the church with his own blood4 ,acts #bj3 #bh4 ,he gave his life for it4 ,eph4 #e3be4 ,god1 or ,christ1 who was ,god manifested in the flesh1 built himself a glorious and pure church--holy1 blameless1 and spotless4 ,it is all his own4 ,he bestows upon it the fond title of ,bride3 8,he that hath the bride is the bridegroom40 ,john #c3bi4 8,for ,i am jealous over you with a godly jealousy3 for ,i have espoused you to one husband1 that ,i may present you as a chaste virgin to ,christ40 #b ,cor4 #aa3b4 ,paul addresses this letter to the church of ,god at ,corinth4 #b ,cor4 #a3a4 ,he presents this church as a chaste virgin to her one husband1 even ,christ4 ,john in conversation with an angel from heaven was bid to 8come hither10 and he would be shown the bride the ,lamb's wife2 and behold he was shown that great city1 the holy ,jerusalem1 descending out of heaven from ,god1 having the glory of ,god3 and her light was like unto a stone most precious1 even like a jasper stone1 clear as crystal4 ,rev4 #ba3i-aa4 ,this is beautiful descriptive language4 ,this holy city ,jerusalem1 clear as crystal1 is ,the pure and holy virgin bride1 ,the spotless church for which ,christ died4 8,i am my beloved's1 and my beloved is mine3 he feedeth among the lilies40 ,s4 of ,sol4 #f3c4 ,the ,foundation ,of ,the ,church4 8,for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ40 #a ,cor4 #c3aa4 8,and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus ,christ himself being the chief cornerstone40 ,eph4 #b3bj4 ,a quotation here from the ,old ,testament will only add strength and beauty to this subject3 8,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,behold1 ,i lay in ,zion for a foundation a stone1 a tried stone1 a precious cornerstone1 a sure foundation40 ,isa4 #bh3af4 ,god here gives promise of establishing ,zion--the church--upon a sure foundation2 namely1 ,christ in the great salvation day4 ,the ,kingdom ,of ,god4 ,frequent reference is made throughout the ,new ,testament to the 8kingdom of ,god0 and the 8kingdom of heaven40 ,when the 8,god which is in heaven0 was 8revealing the deep and secret things0 unto ,daniel concerning ,nebuchadnezzar's dream1 he also revealed unto him that in the days of those kings he would set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed1 consequently would stand forever4 ,dan4 #b3dd4 ,when ,john1 the swift herald of the gospel day1 came preaching1 he said3 8,repent ye3 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand40 ,mat4 #c3b4 ,the first words in the ministry of the ,son of ,god were1 8,repent3 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand40 ,mat4 #d3ag4 ,the kingdom which ,daniel saw was to be set up4 ,great was the speculation throughout ,jewry concerning the kingdom of ,god in ,john's days4 ,they were expecting a kingdom to excel in temporal pomp and glory the grandeur of the kingdom of the ,csars4 ,the ,savior in conversation with some ,pharisees on one occasion astonished them by saying1 8,the kingdom of ,god cometh not with observation3 neither shall they say1 ,lo here6 or1 lo there6 for1 behold1 the kingdom of ,god is within you40 ,luke #ag3bj1 #ba4 ,jesus one night explained to a ruler of the ,jews how to enter this kingdom4 ,he said1 8,except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he can not enter into the kingdom of ,god40 ,john #c3e4 ,again he says1 8,verily ,i say unto you1 ,except ye be converted1 and become as little children1 ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,mat4 #ah3c4 ,the inspired apostle in ,rom4 #ad3ag explains the nature of this kingdom3 8,for the kingdom of ,god is not meat and drink1 but righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost40 ,in the process of the mysterious birth of the ,spirit the soul experiences a translation from a 8power of darkness0 into the kingdom of ,god's dear ,son4 ,col4 #a3ac4 ,it certainly must have dawned upon your understanding ere this that the church of ,god and the kingdom of heaven are the same spiritual structure4 ,in the twelfth chapter of ,hebrews several terms are used to denote the church of ,god4 ,in the twenty-second verse it is designated by 8mount ,zion10 the 8city of the living ,god10 the 8heavenly ,jerusalem10 and an 8innumerable company of angels40 ,in verse twenty-three it is denominated 8general assembly10 8the church of the first-born10 etc4 ,in the twenty-eighth verse it is called the 8kingdom40 ,by this we are made to understand that the church built by the ,lord is identical with the 8city of ,god10 the 8kingdom of ,god10 the 8heavenly ,jerusalem10 etc4 ,with this understanding we will better comprehend the meaning of many other texts4 ,the ,head ,of ,the ,church4 8,for the husband is the head of the wife1 even as ,christ is the head of the church3 and he is the savior of the body40 ,eph4 #e3bc4 8,and he is the head of the body1 the church40 ,col4 #a3ah4 8,but speaking the truth in love1 may grow up into him in all things1 which is the head1 even ,christ40 ,eph4 #d3ae4 ,see also ,eph4 #a3bb2 ,col4 #b3ah1 #ai4 ,christ is the head of his church1 and as such he is the sole governor1 or legislator4 8,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear40 ,recapitulation ,in ,conclusion4 ,the church is the body of ,christ4 ,eph4 #a3ba1 #bb4 ,there is but one body4 ,rom4 #ab3d1 #e2 #a ,cor4 #aj3ag4 ,christians are this one body4 #a ,cor4 #ab3bg4 ,they are of one heart and soul4 ,acts #d3cb4 ,there are no divisions4 #a ,cor4 #a3aj4 ,christ is the head of this church4 ,col4 #a3ah4 ,he is the door4 ,john #aj3 #g4 ,he is the foundation4 ,eph4 #b3 #ba4 ,he sets the members in the body 7#a ,cor4 #ab3ah71 and prays that they be kept in his name4 ,john #ag3aa4 ,officers ,in ,the ,church ,of ,god4 ,god sets the members in the body of ,christ1 which is the church1 as seemeth best according to his unbounded wisdom4 ,all are not an eye or ear or hand or foot4 ,that the church of ,god may be complete as a body it has all the different members4 ,christ is the head1 and the saved men and women are the other members of the body according to their calling1 all governed by the head and consecrated to do his will4 ,the ministry are the feet1 the burden-bearers1 the servants of all4 ,they have the care or burden of the church4 ,they carry the glad tidings of salvation4 ,they are not to be carried about and served1 but they are the servants4 8,how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace1 and bring glad tidings of good things40 ,rom4 #aj3ae4 ,the following officers are mentioned in the ,new ,testament3 apostles1 prophets1 evangelists1 bishops1 pastors1 teachers1 deacons1 elders1 and presbyters4 ,apostle is from the ,greek 8apostolos10 which is one sent forth to plant4 ,paul was an apostle4 ,he was sent forth by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,acts #ac3d4 ,he was sent forth to plant4 #a ,cor4 #c3f4 ,prophet is from the ,greek 8prophetes10 which is one who is an expounder of prophecies and revelations and of future events4 ,agabus was a prophet1 a teller of future events4 ,see ,acts #ba3aj1 #aa and ,acts #aa3 #bh4 ,philip the evangelist had four daughters who did prophesy1 or expound or explain the ,scriptures4 ,an evangelist is one who announces good tidings1 while an apostle is one who plants churches or goes into new localities1 and through whose preaching people are saved and a church thus planted4 ,the mission of an evangelist is to visit those planted churches and water them4 8,i have planted1 ,apollos watered2 but ,god gave the increase40 #a ,cor4 #c3f4 ,bishop is from the ,greek 8episkopos10 and means a superintendent or overseer4 ,pastor is from the ,greek 8poimen10 and means shepherd or feeder or overseer1 the same as bishop2 consequently bishop and pastor are the same1 an overseer or shepherd4 ,the word 8overseer0 occurs but once in the ,new ,testament3 8,take heed therefore unto yourselves1 and to all the flock1 over the which the ,holy ,ghost hath made you overseers1 to feed the church of ,god40 ,acts #bj3bh4 ,overseer in this text is translated from the ,greek 8episkopos10 from which same ,greek word we have the word bishop4 ,paul was then addressing bishops1 and tells them to feed the church of ,god4 ,now a pastor is a feeder2 therefore bishop and pastor are two words used to denote the same office4 ,to note the qualifications of a bishop or pastor as set forth in the ,new ,testament will doubtless be edifying to the reader4 ,what ,a ,bishop ,must ,be4 ,a bishop must be blameless1 the husband of one wife1 vigilant1 sober1 of good behavior1 given to hospitality1 apt to teach2 patient1 ruling well his own house1 a lover of good men1 just1 holy1 temperate1 etc4 ,see #a ,tim4 #c3b-d3 ,titus #a3g1 #h4 ,blameless4 ,this word is synonymous with spotless1 faultless1 irreproachable4 ,a person or thing is blameless when it is free from fault4 ,the husband of one wife4 ,no one can meet the ,new ,testament requirements for bishop or pastor who has two wives1 though one be divorced4 ,vigilant4 ,he must be so watchful as to early discover danger of any kind and use the utmost precaution to avoid it4 ,sober4 ,this word is not applied only to freedom from intoxication by spirituous liquors1 but is synonymous with calmness1 quietness1 grave1 sedate1 steady1 serious1 solemn1 etc4 ,the ,greek 8sophron0 for sober in these texts means sound mindedness4 ,of good behavior4 ,their conduct must be free from levity1 folly1 or anything that tends to degrade morals4 ,given to hospitality4 7,lover of hospitality4 ,titus #a3h47 ,he must love in his heart to receive and entertain strangers without remuneration1 to be kind and pleasing in his manners4 ,apt to teach4 ,he must possess a talent or ,god-given ability to teach the ,word to others in a simple manner4 ,patient4 ,he must be free from ill passion and irritableness4 ,he must be calm1 and possess a tranquility and evenness of life4 ,his composure and holy tranquilness is such that commands and quiets all strife1 contentions and heated discussions4 ,ruling well his own house4 ,unless a man has sufficient wisdom1 authority1 love and firmness1 to govern and control his own children he certainly can not be used of ,god to oversee the church of ,god4 ,lover of good men4 ,his very heart and soul must admire and appreciate and love the good he sees in men4 ,just4 ,in his admonitions1 corrections and reprovings1 he is always just and impartial4 ,holy4 ,his heart and life and affections must be pure and holy1 free from sin4 ,temperate4 ,there are many things from which we are commanded by the ,scriptures to abstain4 ,in the use of all things ,god has given for use he must not be excessive4 ,he must not be excessive in eating1 drinking1 sleeping1 working1 talking1 sexual relation1 etc4 ,what ,a ,bishop ,or ,elder ,must ,not ,be4 ,a bishop must not be given to wine1 no striker1 not greedy of filthy lucre1 not a brawler1 not covetous1 not a novice1 not self-willed1 not soon angry4 ,see #a ,tim4 #c3c-f2 ,titus #a3g4 ,must not be given to wine4 ,not a wine drinker4 ,he is to be an example and abstain from all appearance of evil4 ,no striker4 ,a good translation from the ,greek would render this reviler4 ,he must not strike back with the tongue2 in other words1 not contentious4 ,not greedy of filthy lucre4 ,when man becomes greedy of filthy lucre--loves money--he can be influenced by it and thus be led to favor the rich4 ,not a brawler4 ,this is synonymous with wrangler or contender4 ,not ,covetous4 ,covetousness includes more than the love of money4 ,fame1 honor1 worldly pleasures1 gratification of unholy appetites and passions1 may be properly termed covetousness4 ,to entertain for anything an affection that is not a pure and godly affection is idolatry1 and idolatry is covetousness4 ,not a novice4 ,one newly converted4 ,not self-willed4 ,not obstinate in contending for his views or desires in opposition to others4 ,not soon angry4 ,soon is not found in the original4 ,a more proper rendering would be1 ,not passionate4 ,deacon4 ,deacon is translated from 8diakonos10 meaning minister4 ,by reading the writings of those contemporary with the apostle and those immediately following we learn that a bishop or elder is the overseer or pastor of the flock1 or the one upon whom the greatest responsibilities lie1 while the deacons are helpers4 ,this doubtless is what is meant by 8helps0 in #a ,cor4 #ab3bh4 ,there was always at least one bishop in one congregation1 but often more than one deacon4 ,the qualifications for a deacon are very similar to those of a bishop4 ,see #a ,tim4 #c2 ,titus #a4 ,elders ,or ,presbyters4 ,webster in defining presbyter1 says1 8,an elder in the early ,christian church40 ,young in his analytical concordance says of presbytery1 8,an assembly of elders40 ,these two terms have the same ,greek origin1 8presbuteros40 ,an elder is one grounded in the faith with a sound matured judgment2 one capable of giving good advice or counsel4 ,an elder is not necessarily a preacher1 but one calculated to advise and give counsel in his pastoral duties4 ,they also are especially called of ,god to anoint and pray for the sick4 ,these church officers are all called of ,god4 ,see ,gal4 #a3ae1 #af4 ,they are commissioned by ,christ4 ,mat4 #bh3ai4 ,sent by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,acts #ac3 #c1 #d4 ,they are qualified by ,god4 #b ,cor4 #c3e1 #f4 ,they are ambassadors from the kingdom of heaven with a heavenly message to this lost world4 ,god help them every one to faithfully declare it in the fear of him who has called them4 ,chapter ,,viii4 ,the ,ordinances ,of ,the ,new ,testament4 ,in the preceding chapter we considered the church of the ,new ,testament4 ,the ,lord ,jesus built his church and instituted some ordinances1 which he commands the church to faithfully keep4 ,the keeping of the commandments of ,god is proof that we love him3 8,for this is the love of ,god that we keep his commandments3 and his commandments are not grievous40 #a ,john #e3c4 8,he that hath my commandments1 and keepeth them1 he it is that loveth me40 ,john #ad3ba4 8,if a man love me he will keep my words40 ,ver4 #bc4 8,he that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings40 ,ver4 #bd4 ,we may profess great attainments in the divine life and wonderful devotion to ,god1 but the proof is obedience to his commands4 ,we have learned of people who have become so holy that they were raised above or passed beyond a great portion of the ,bible and are not required to keep it4 ,we have heard of but few things so ridiculously foolish4 ,the better and more holy we become1 certainly the more of the ,word of ,god we will practise in our life2 and who on earth can live a more perfect ,christian life than he who lives in obedience to every word of the ,bible8 ,when one gets in possession of something that exempts him from obedience to the ,scriptures he gets in possession of some very mysterious thing4 ,the only way to heaven is by the commandments of the ,bible4 8,blessed are they that do his commandments1 that they may have a right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates into the city40 ,we will consider some ordinances and ceremonies which belong to the church of ,god as recorded in the ,new ,testament so plainly that a wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein4 ,baptism4 8,there was a man sent from ,god1 whose name was ,john40 ,john #a3f4 ,in the thirty-third verse this same ,john declares that ,god sent him to baptize with water4 ,of the books written on this subject there is scarcely an end4 ,the controversy is very great1 and so often very ridiculous4 ,lexicographers have defined and analyzed the word baptize in its different forms4 ,liddell and ,scott1 ,robertson1 ,parkhurst1 ,scapula1 ,stokins1 ,calvin1 ,luther1 ,campbell1 ,gill1 ,stuart1 ,vitringa1 ,brenner1 ,paulus1 and many others of great erudition have defined the word1 and to sum them all up we find the primary meaning is 8to dip1 to immerse1 to plunge in water40 ,many of the ,english translators of the ,new ,testament always render baptizo1 immerse or dip1 as 8,john the immerser10 or 8,john the dipper40 ,this brief reference to the expositions of the learned must suffice for this work4 ,it is with pleasure we resort to the plain and simple teachings of the ,scriptures4 ,baptism ,a ,new ,testament ,ordinance4 ,all ,jerusalem1 and ,judea1 and the region about ,jordan1 were baptized of ,john in ,jordan4 ,mat4 #c3e1 #f4 ,jesus baptized by proxy4 ,john #d3a1 #b4 ,he commissioned his ministry to preach baptism unto all the world4 8,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,mat4 #bh3ai4 8,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved40 ,mark #af3ae1 #af4 ,those who have undertaken the dangerous and ,christ uncommissioned task of freeing ,christians from the obligations of this ordinance1 hold high aloft the following texts3 ,eph4 #b3ae2 ,col4 #b3ad1 #ae2 ,col4 #b3bj4 ,since the ,savior's commission to his disciples was forty days after his resurrection1 such teachers are driven from this position1 and to substantiate their doctrine they flee to a more fatally exposed one when saying that the baptism of this commission was the baptism of the ,spirit4 ,it is a pity that precious time must be taken for the correction of such erroneous teaching4 ,how can men baptize with the ,holy ,spirit8 ,god alone can do that4 ,it is evident that the apostles understood this baptism to be with water1 since they taught it and practised it throughout their ministry4 ,we shall take time and space to refer to but two or three instances of the administration of this ordinance recorded in the ,acts of the ,apostles4 ,the first is that of a ,christ commissioned preacher by the name of ,philip1 who was sent by an angel to preach the gospel to a ,scripturally ignorant man of ,ethiopia4 ,unlearned as he was1 he readily understood from the preaching of ,philip the importance of water baptism2 therefore when they came to a certain water he said1 8,see here is water2 what doth hinder me to be baptized80 ,acts #h3cf4 ,by reading the following verses you will learn that this man was baptized in water and ,god witnessed to his approval by sending him rejoicing on his way4 ,obedience to the commands of ,god brings a joy to the ,christian heart4 ,the second instance of baptism to which we wish to invite your attention is that of the devout ,cornelius4 ,he sent for ,peter to learn more concerning the ways of the ,lord4 ,peter came and told them of ,jesus1 of his resurrection and his power to save4 ,as he spoke the ,holy ,ghost fell upon all them which heard his words4 ,then said ,peter1 ,can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the ,holy ,ghost as well as we8 ,and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the ,lord4 ,how can an instance of water baptism be more plainly recorded8 ,this occurred some eight years after the crucifixion of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,to teach the abolition of this ordinance at the cross1 in the face of these plainly stated instances of baptism1 only proves to us the blinding and deceptive power of the spirit of error4 ,mode ,of ,baptism4 ,many of the professed teachers of the gospel have become very liberal4 8,we all have a right to our opinion10 so many say2 and 8a thing becomes right unto us if we believe it to be right40 ,because of this teaching and the varied opinions1 there have originated in the minds of the people several different modes of baptism4 ,but this great liberality finds no warrant in the ,word of ,god4 ,the ,scriptures teach that 8there is one body40 ,eph4 #d3d4 ,if ,i should hold in opinion1 as many do hold1 that there are many bodies1 would my opinion prove the ,word of ,god to be in error8 ,let me say here1 with emphasis1 that there can be but one true1 rightful body4 ,if the ,catholic body should be the right body1 it is the only body upon the earth that is right4 ,if the ,presbyterian body is the right and true body1 it is the only body4 ,and so with any other denominational body4 ,if we were a member of the ,methodist body we would have to believe that that was the one true body and that all the others were wrong4 ,if there be but one body1 how can two bodies be that one body when those two bodies are different8 ,there is but one ,holy ,spirit1 one true ,lord1 one gospel faith1 and one true mode of baptism4 ,god has not left us to follow our own peculiar fancies1 but all must go the same way4 ,whatever is required of one individual1 that same thing is required of every other individual4 ,if sprinkling is a right mode of baptism it is the only right mode1 and all others are wrong4 ,if pouring is right it is the only mode that is right4 ,if three dips1 face forward is right it is the only mode that is right4 ,if one single immersion is right it is the only mode that is right4 ,the ,lord did not set the example in all these different ways4 ,he was baptized4 ,he also baptized by proxy1 and we believe that he thus baptized in the same manner he was baptized4 ,this one mode was all they understood by baptism4 ,the apostles perhaps had seen the ,lord baptized1 they administered baptism under his direction1 and when he commissioned them with the authority to administer baptism after he had ascended to the ,father1 they did not question him as to which mode4 ,the word baptism meant but one thing and the same thing unto them all4 ,in the after years of their ministry they practised just what they had seen their ,lord practise4 ,now let us learn from the plain1 easy language of the ,scripture the mode as administered by ,john1 the ,lord and the apostles4 ,in the third chapter of ,matthew the inspired writer has given an account of ,john's baptism1 which we kindly invite you to read4 ,now the way to correctly understand the ,scripture is to take it in its easiest1 plainest1 most sensible way4 ,do not attempt to give it some complicated1 mysterious meaning1 but receive it as you would any easily understood historical fact of this present time4 ,if you should read in your county paper of a man down by one of the rivers of your adjoining county who was administering baptism to the people1 and the whole neighborhood round about went out to him and were baptized of him in the river1 and when he had baptized a certain individual he went up straightway out of the water1 what idea would you form as to the mode of the baptism8 ,would you think it was a little water sprinkled on the head somewhere in a meeting-house8 ,there is nothing in the account to convey such an idea4 ,how unreasonable it would be for you to study to change the meaning of the plain account and mystify it because it was not congenial to your desires4 ,suppose you should read in your paper of two men traveling along the way4 ,one of them had never heard of ,jesus nor of the ordinance of baptism2 the other talked to him of the ,savior1 of his death and his resurrection1 and how he had authorized him to go into all the world and preach this gospel to every creature1 and he that believed and was baptized1 the same should be saved4 ,and as they traveled on their way they came to a certain water1 and the one said to the other1 8,see here is water1 what doth hinder me to be baptized80 ,the other replied1 8,if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest40 ,he answered1 8,i believe that ,jesus ,christ is the ,son of ,god40 ,then they stopped their carriage and they went down both into the water and there the one was baptized of the other1 and when they came up out of the water the one went one way and the other another way1 and they saw each other no more4 ,what idea would you form as to the mode of baptism8 ,this is all very plain to the candid heart4 ,the other instances of baptism recorded in the ,new ,testament do not express so clearly the mode as the two we have given1 yet they can not with propriety be made to express anything contrary to immersion4 ,the apostle ,paul in his letter to the ,roman brethren speaks of baptism as a burial4 ,rom4 #f3d4 ,this only confirms in our mind 7concerning the mode7 the ideas suggested by the baptism of the ,savior and of the man of ,ethiopia4 ,for yet greater clearness we will present a few thoughts suggested to us by the recent writings of a brother1 which we consider very conclusive4 ,a word1 perfectly synonymous with another word can be used in its stead with the same correctness of diction4 ,as1 for example1 8,the snow is slowly descending from the dark cloud40 ,to use a word synonymous with 8descending0 in the above sentence it must express the same thought and present the same elegance of style4 ,we find such a synonym in the word 8falling40 8,the snow is slowly falling from the dark cloud40 ,the idea expressed by these two sentences is precisely the same1 and both are good grammar4 ,let us now read ,rom4 #f3d3 8,therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death40 ,to find a word synonymous with baptism it will not deprive the word 8burial0 of its proper meaning4 ,try the word 8sprinkle40 8,therefore we are buried with him by sprinkling into death40 ,please read ,mat4 #c3e1 #f2 ,mark #a3i2 ,john #c3b1 #c1 and use the word sprinkle or pour where the word baptize is used1 and note the great absurdity4 ,why is so much time spent in discussion over declarations so simple1 clear and plain8 ,because of the perversion of plain language by the spirit of error to a self-conceited mind4 ,trine ,immersion4 ,there is a religious class of people that teach and practise three immersions2 one in the name of the ,father1 one in the name of the ,son1 and one in the name of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,such teaching is based upon the construction of ,mat4 #bh3ai4 ,only a little unprejudiced consideration will enable you to see the fallacy of such an interpretation4 ,these three are one4 ,if they were separate and distinct so we could act in the name of the one to the exclusion of the others then we could better understand such an interpretation of the above text4 ,the apostles well understood that to act in the name of one was to act in the name of the whole trinity2 therefore ,peter says1 8,repent1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ40 ,acts #b3ch4 ,why did not ,peter use the formula of ,mat4 #bh3ai8 ,because to act in the name of one is to act in the name of all4 8,and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the ,lord40 ,acts #aj3dh4 8,they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,acts #h3af4 8,when they heard this1 they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,acts #ai3e4 ,nowhere in the ,acts of the ,apostles is the triune name used in baptism4 ,pages could be written showing the absurdity of the teachings of trine immersionists1 but we consider that what has been written is clear enough to convince candid1 unbiased minds1 and any amount of argument will not convince those who defiantly set themselves against any reasonings contrary to their established notions4 ,the ,object ,of ,baptism4 ,there is a baptism taught in the ,scriptures that is not water baptism4 ,there is a baptism of the ,spirit4 ,see #a ,cor4 #ab3ac2 ,mat4 #c3aa4 ,some not being able to rightly divide the ,word of ,god have taken some texts that teach the baptism of the ,spirit to be the baptism of water1 and thus confused the true object of water baptism4 ,we will frankly admit that there are some texts which if taken alone and interpreted literally do apparently teach that baptism is a saving ordinance4 ,we will refer the reader to a few of these texts4 ,mark #af3af2 ,acts #b3ch2 ,acts #bb3af4 ,these texts seem to plainly teach that water baptism does wash away or remit sins4 ,i always prefer to give each text the simplest1 plainest rendering when it does not conflict with some other text4 ,now to teach that baptism by water is a saving ordinance1 and so interpret these texts1 we place ourselves in direct opposition to other plain teaching4 ,some do teach that there is none righteous and base such teaching upon ,rom4 #c3aj4 ,we would ask such teachers to interpret ,titus #b3ab2 #a ,john #c3g1 #aj2 #a ,john #b3bi2 ,luke #a3ge4 ,by such texts they are brought to confusion4 ,elsewhere in this work we quote the scriptures teaching salvation from sin to be by the grace of ,god4 ,then to teach that water baptism saves us from sin makes the ,word of ,god contradict itself4 ,all is beauteous harmony in the ,scriptures when all is correctly interpreted4 ,water baptism represents a burial4 ,a burial must of course be preceded by death4 ,we die or separate ourselves from a life of sin and accept ,christ2 he accepts us4 ,the real death to1 and destruction of sin and resurrection to life is performed by the power of ,god's grace1 while baptism expresses in a figure the burial and resurrection to spiritual life4 ,this is the true object of baptism4 ,proper ,applicants ,for ,baptism4 ,water baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward ,god4 #a ,pet4 #c3ai-ba4 ,we must obtain a good or 8undefiled conscience0 before we are a ,scriptural candidate for baptism4 ,how can defilement be purged from the conscience8 ,by the blood of ,jesus4 ,heb4 #i3ad4 ,we are taught in ,mat4 #c3h that we must bear fruits of repentance to be worthy applicants for baptism4 ,the man of ,ethiopia was asked to profess faith in ,christ before ,philip considered him to be a proper subject for baptism4 ,infants can not profess faith in ,christ1 therefore their baptism is unscriptural4 ,we are aware that there are many who teach 8infant baptism10 and use a few texts of ,scripture and by their misapplication make it look as plausible as possible4 ,the commission of the ,lord to his ministry is to 8preach the gospel to every creature2 he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved40 ,faith precedes baptism in the commission4 ,infants have not faith4 ,peter says1 8,repent and be baptized40 ,acts #b3ch4 ,repentance1 therefore1 precedes baptism4 ,john understood it thus4 ,mat4 #c3h4 ,infants need no repentance4 ,there is not a case recorded in the ,new ,testament of infant baptism4 ,after one has reached the years of accountability and repents of his sins and is born of the ,spirit he is then1 and not until then1 a proper candidate for baptism4 ,the ,lord's ,supper4 ,in the teachings of the holy inspired and unblamed apostle ,paul1 the expression1 8,the ,lord's ,supper0 is to be found4 ,in reproving the ,corinthians for corrupting the sacred communion service1 he says1 8,when ye come together therefore into one place1 this is not to eat the ,lord's supper10 #a ,cor4 #aa3bj4 ,in the preceding chapter he uses the word communion when speaking of the same divinely originated ordinance4 8,the cup of blessing which we bless1 is it not the communion of the blood of ,christ8 ,the bread which we break1 is it not the communion of the body of ,christ80 #a ,cor4 #aj3af4 ,the apostle in these texts is referring to an ordinance of the ,new ,testament instituted by the blessed ,savior just prior to his passion as recorded by the writers of the gospels and observed by the church when it was the light of the world4 ,if this sacred and very impressive ordinance was abolished at the death of the ,savior1 as some erroneously teach1 why does ,paul more than a score of years after exhort ,christians to its observance and warn them so faithfully against corrupting so sacred a rite1 telling them that if they eat and drink unworthily they eat and drink damnation to themselves1 and admonishing them to examine themselves and so let them eat8 #a ,cor4 #aa4 ,it must be clear to all unclouded1 candid minds by the reading of this chapter that there was an ordinance solemnly observed by the ,christians long after the ,savior was 8nailed to the cross40 ,in very plain and positive language he tells us that the communion or ,lord's ,supper is a ,new ,testament ordinance3 8,this cup is the ,new ,testament in my blood40 #a ,cor4 #aa3be4 ,this is corroborative of ,mat4 #bf3bh3 8,for this is my blood of the new testament20 and of ,mark #ad3bd3 8,and he said unto them1 ,this is my blood of the new testament1 which is shed for many40 ,also of ,luke #bb3bj3 8,likewise also the cup after supper1 saying1 ,this cup is the new testament in my blood1 which is shed for you40 ,to one enjoying the full light of the precious gospel to teach the abolition of this solemn ordinance appears the very height of folly and ignorance4 ,in the recording of the ,acts of the apostles it is said that 8upon the first day of the week1 when the disciples came together to break bread1 ,paul preached unto them40 ,acts #bj3g4 ,the breaking of bread as here spoken of signifies nothing else but the observance of the ,lord's ,supper4 ,the few plain1 comprehensive texts of apostolic teaching we have quoted upon this subject must make obvious to the mind of the reader that ,christians of the morning time of this gospel day observed an ordinance termed the ,lord's ,supper or communion1 done in remembrance of ,jesus and showing his death till he come4 ,we will learn in the noontime's awful darkness how the blinded minds and unregenerated hearts of teachers by misunderstanding and misapplying these plain texts caused their clear light to cease to shine4 ,the ,holy ,kiss4 ,true love manifests itself in many ways4 ,we embrace with the arms1 we greet with a kiss1 the object of our love4 ,we speak of these love tokens ofttimes in a spiritual way3 8,folded in the arms of ,jesus20 8,leaning on his breast20 8,sheltered beneath his wing40 ,the ,psalmist says1 8,kiss the ,son1 lest he be angry40 ,psa4 #b3ab4 ,these were literally practised by the ,savior and his beloved followers while he was here4 ,after ,jesus arose and went to the ,father the apostles practised the holy kiss4 8,they all wept sore1 and fell on ,paul's neck1 and kissed him40 ,acts #bj3cg4 ,we behold the love they bore for him4 ,it was not a cold kiss of formality1 but of love4 ,in the first verse we see the love ,paul had for the disciples3 8,paul called unto him the disciples and embraced them40 ,in the epistolary law of the ,new ,testament the holy kiss is five times commanded4 8,salute one another with a holy kiss40 ,rom4 #af3af4 8,greet ye one another with a holy kiss40 #a ,cor4 #af3bj4 8,greet one another with a holy kiss40 #b ,cor4 #ac3ab4 8,greet all the brethren with a holy kiss40 #a ,thes4 #e3bf4 8,greet ye one another with a kiss of charity40 #a ,pet4 #e3ad4 ,satan ever ready to corrupt the pure precepts and practises of the sacred ,word has led people into the disgraceful fanaticism of promiscuous kissing4 ,such is not a kiss of love1 but a kiss of lust4 ,everything done in the order of the kingdom of heaven is done in the perfection of decency and respectability4 ,how natural for the fond husband to embrace and kiss the beloved wife1 and the devoted mother her child1 the brother his sister1 all because love exists consistent with natural relation4 ,but the strongest tie of love that binds hearts together is the ,christian love4 ,then how natural and becoming for the ,christian to greet with a kiss his brother1 and the ,christian sister her sister in the ,lord4 ,christian love continued after the apostles' days were ended1 and consequently the practise of greeting with a holy kiss4 ,we will conclude this subject by referring the reader to history as quoted in 8,ordinances of the ,new ,testament03 8,the fraternal kiss used on admission to the church and at the ,lord's ,supper were not empty forms1 but the expression of a true feeling1 and of a real experience40--,butler's ,ecclesiastical ,history1 p4 #acb4 8,after the prayers 444 we greet one another with the brotherly kiss40--,justin ,martyr1 p4 #adf4 8,the communion was a regular part of the ,sunday worship4 ,in many places it was celebrated daily4 ,it began after the dismissal of the catechumens1 by the kiss of peace given by men to men and women to women40--p4 #adg4 ,it is natural for ,christians filled with the love of ,god to greet each other with a kiss1 but the cold distant forms of men have prevented ,christians following the natural inclination of the heart4 ,lifting ,up ,of ,holy ,hands4 ,in the olden time when the chosen children of ,god were battling in the wilderness against their enemies1 as long as the hands of ,moses were kept uplifted ,israel prevailed1 and when his hands were let down the enemy triumphed4 ,ex4 #ag3h-ab4 ,see also ,psa4 #bh3b2 #fc3d2 #hh3i2 ,lam4 #c3da4 ,this signal act of triumph is conveyed into the spirit of the ,new ,testament4 ,paul says1 8,i will therefore that men pray everywhere1 lifting up holy hands1 without wrath and doubting40 #a ,tim4 #b3h4 ,this is a single text of the ,new ,testament teaching this ordinance4 ,in connection with this text some have used ,heb4 #ab3ab2 but to our mind it is only an exhortation to encourage the feeble and faint-hearted1 and not an express command to the literally raising of the hands4 ,however the one text quoted is sufficient for those who love the ,lord1 for those who love him keep his commandments4 ,this ceremony is suggestive of submissiveness and reliance upon ,god4 ,it is natural for the ,spirit-born child of ,god to imploringly lift his hands to ,god in petition or praise and thanksgiving4 ,in the time when the spiritual battles wax hot we seek ,god in earnest imploring prayer1 and the lifting up of our hands adds strength to our faith and draws ,god nearer4 ,but1 oh1 let us make sure that our hands and hearts are holy4 ,it is but mockery to spread forth your hands unto ,god when they are full of blood4 ,from such the ,lord hides his eyes1 and closes his ears against their prayer4 ,isa4 #a3ae4 ,feet-,washing4 ,to the proud heart the commandment to 8wash one another's feet0 is perhaps the most ridiculous ever given by the ,son of ,god4 ,in the semi-theatrical church entertainments men may pay a large sum for the privilege of kissing the most handsome lady1 and for similar or more shameful indulgences1 but to humbly wash a brother's feet would be shocking in the extreme4 8,if a man love me he will keep my words40 ,john #ad3bc4 ,where true love exists there is no disposition to spurn any of the ,lord's commandments1 however humiliating they may be4 ,the ordinance of feet-washing was instituted by the ,savior1 and is recorded in the thirteenth chapter of ,john4 ,one objection that many bring against this sacred ordinance is that it is so seldom mentioned in the ,bible4 ,if a man does not love ,god deeply enough to obey him when he speaks but once1 he would not obey him should he speak a dozen times4 ,jesus says1 8,if they hear not ,moses and the prophets1 neither will they be persuaded1 though one rose from the dead40 ,luke #af3ca4 ,it is never difficult to persuade a humble heart to believe the ,word of ,god1 though there be but one single commandment2 but the proud in heart will not be persuaded by any number if they are not according to their inclinations4 ,about the first objection offered against this humble ordinance is that it was a custom among the ,jews to wash feet1 and the feet-washing recorded by ,john was nothing more than the ,jewish custom4 ,there was more here than the mere custom of washing feet4 ,we will carefully weigh this objection4 ,bathing is a custom1 naturally so1 for cleanliness and health1 and is observed by people of every civilized nation1 and has been in every age of the world4 ,pharaoh's daughter went down to the river to bathe when she found the babe in the ark of bulrushes4 ,ex4 #b3e4 ,bathing was not a custom of any particular nation1 but a universal custom4 ,god separated ,israel from the world to be his own chosen people4 ,he gave them certain laws1 which stood as a partition wall between them and the ,gentile world4 ,among the many ceremonies was that of bathing4 ,by reading the fifteenth chapter of ,leviticus you will learn of the bathings required of the ,jews for certain sins and uncleannesses4 ,these bathings were peculiar to this people alone and served to separate them from other nations4 ,they observed the universal custom of bathing1 but these bathings were additional and given by the ,lord4 ,when ,jesus came he abolished the ,jewish ordinances that distinguished them from the world and offers salvation to every nation4 ,by his grace he separates his people from the world and institutes for them the ordinance of baptism4 ,this is not the universal custom of bathing1 neither is it the ,jewish ceremony of bathings for cleansings1 but a ,new ,testament ordinance for saved people of this gospel day1 representing their death to sin and consequent separation from the world4 ,all continue in the custom of bathing1 but the ,christian is baptized4 ,all people in every age are accustomed1 if we may call it a custom1 to eating2 but when ,god separated ,israel from ,egypt and gave them a law1 he instituted a supper called the ,passover4 ,this they kept in commemoration of their deliverance from ,egyptian bondage4 ,the ,passover supper was not the mere custom of eating supper1 but was an ordinance peculiar to the ,jewish nation1 and served to distinguish them as ,god's own chosen people4 ,in ,heb4 #i3aj we learn that these meats and drinks1 and divers washings1 and carnal ordinances1 were imposed on them until the time of reformation4 ,when ,jesus came he instituted a new order of things4 ,the ,passover supper was with the rest of the ,jewish ordinances blotted out and nailed to the cross4 ,col4 #b3ad4 ,jesus instituted a supper to be kept in remembrance of him by his peculiar1 exclusive people4 ,this consists of bread1 which represents his body1 and of wine1 which represents his blood4 ,this is not the custom of eating1 neither is it the ,jewish ordinance1 but a newly instituted ordinance in this dispensation of grace4 ,all continue the custom of eating1 but ,christians keep the communion4 ,when ,abraham was in the plains of ,mamre he was visited by three angels1 unto whom he said3 8,let a little water1 ,i pray you1 be fetched1 and wash your feet1 and rest yourselves under the tree40 ,gen4 #ah3d4 ,two angels came one evening to ,sodom1 and ,lot rose up to meet them1 and said3 8,behold now1 my lords1 turn in1 ,i pray you1 into your servant's house1 and tarry all night1 and wash your feet40 ,gen4 #ai3a1 #b4 ,by these instances and others we understand that washing feet was a custom in that time4 ,it was not a law of ,god1 but people of all nations observed it as a law of health1 comfort1 and cleanliness4 ,in ,ex4 #cj3ai-ba and #dj3cj-cb we learn that ,god instituted an ordinance or ceremony of washing feet4 ,this was not the mere custom of washing feet1 but was a ,jewish rite and served among other rites and ceremonies to distinguish them as ,god's own peculiar people4 ,when the ,son of ,god set up the kingdom of grace1 this priestly ceremony was blotted out and a new ordinance of feet-washing was instituted4 ,see ,john #ac4 ,this was not the ancient universal custom of washing feet4 ,that still continues the same as eating and bathing4 ,it is not the ,jewish ordinance1 because they were all nailed to the cross2 but it is a humble ordinance the ,savior instituted for his people saved from sin in this blessed gospel day4 ,the ,lord's people love this precious ordinance4 ,jesus set the example and intends his own to do as he did4 8,if ,i then1 your ,lord and ,master1 have washed your feet2 ye also ought to wash one another's feet4 ,for ,i have given you an example1 that ye should do as ,i have done to you40 ,john #ac3ad1 #ae4 ,jesus set the example in baptism and intends for us to follow4 ,mat4 #c3ae1 #af4 ,he set the example in partaking of his newly instituted supper and intends for us to walk in his steps4 #a ,cor4 #aa3be4 ,since the word ought is used some appear to rejoice in the thought that it is not obligatory4 ,i1 for one1 ever since the ,lord made me a ,christian1 have always been willing and glad to do just what ,i ought to do4 ,we scarcely think a man loves ,god when he refuses to do what he knows he ought to do4 8,ye ought to support the weak40 ,acts #bj3ce4 8,men ought always to pray40 ,luke #ah3a4 8,we ought also to love one another40 #a ,john #d3aa4 8,ye also ought to wash one another's feet40 ,john #ac3ad4 ,let us as professed followers of ,jesus live and do what we ought to do4 ,happy are ye if you do1 but what shall be the result if you refuse8 8,therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard40 ,heb4 #b3a4 ,will you do as you ought8 ,because the widow did what she ought she was recommended to the care of the church4 #a ,tim4 #e3i1 #aj4 ,chapter ,,ix4 ,divine ,healing4 ,the thirty-fifth chapter of ,isaiah is a prophecy beautifully extolling the glories and virtues of ,christ's redemptive works4 8,the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose40 8,it shall blossom abundantly1 and rejoice even with joy and singing3 the glory of ,lebanon shall be given unto it1 the excellency of ,carmel and ,sharon1 they shall see the glory of the ,lord1 and the excellency of our ,god4444 ,then the eyes of the blind shall be opened1 and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped4 ,then shall the lame man leap as an hart1 and the tongue of the dumb sing40 ,in ,isaiah sixty-one1 is another prophecy of the ,savior3 8,the ,spirit of the ,lord ,god is upon me2 because the ,lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek2 he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted1 to proclaim liberty to the captives1 and the opening of the prison to them that are bound2 to proclaim the acceptable year of the ,lord40 ,isa4 #fa3a1 #b4 ,where this text is quoted in the ,new ,testament1 there is added1 8and recovering of sight to the blind40 ,luke #d3ah4 ,this addition is found in the ,,lxx4 ,again the prophet speaking of ,christ said1 8,but he was wounded for our transgressions1 he was bruised for our iniquities3 the chastisement of our peace was upon him2 and with his stripes we are healed40 ,isa4 #ec3e4 ,the evangelist in speaking of the prophecy of ,isa4 #ec3d1 #e1 says1 8,when the even was come they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils3 and he cast out the spirits with his word1 and healed all that were sick2 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by ,esaias the prophet1 saying1 ,himself took our infirmities1 and bare our sicknesses40 ,mat4 #h3af1 #ag4 ,in verse thirteen is recorded the healing of the centurion's servant3 8,go thy way1 and as thou hast believed1 so be it done unto thee4 ,and his servant was healed in the selfsame hour40 ,when ,jesus saw the mother of ,peter's wife lying sick of a fever1 he touched her hand and the fever left her1 and she arose and ministered unto them4 ,ver4 #ad1 #ae4 ,in the ninth chapter of ,matthew is recorded the instance of the healing of the man sick of the palsy1 and of a woman who had been diseased for twelve years1 and of the raising to life of the daughter of a certain ruler2 also the restoring of the sight of two blind men4 ,jesus saith unto them1 8,believe ye that ,i am able to do this8 ,they said unto him1 ,yea1 ,lord4 ,then touched he their eyes1 saying1 ,according to your faith be it unto you4 ,and their eyes were opened40 8,and ,jesus went about all the cities and villages1 teaching in their synagogues1 and preaching the gospel of the kingdom1 and healing every sickness and every disease among the people40 ,ver4 #ce4 ,john1 when in prison1 hearing of the works of ,jesus1 sent two of his disciples who asked the ,savior1 8,art thou he that should come1 or do we look for another80 ,now ,john was acquainted with the prophecy of ,isaiah concerning the ,christ1 so ,jesus said to the disciples1 8,go and show ,john again those things which ye do hear and see3 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk1 the lepers are cleansed1 and the deaf hear1 the dead are raised up1 and the poor have the gospel preached unto them40 ,jesus told them that he was doing just what was prophesied that ,christ should do when he came1 then this must certainly be he and we need not look for another4 ,throughout his ministry the ,savior continued to cast out devils and to heal the sick4 ,he gave his twelve disciples power 8against unclean spirits1 to cast them out1 and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease40 ,mat4 #aj3a4 ,not only did he give the twelve such power over ,satan and sickness1 but in sending out the seventy he said3 8,and into whatsoever city ye enter1 and they receive you1 eat such things as are set before you3 and heal the sick that are therein1 and say unto them1 ,the kingdom of ,god is come nigh unto you40 ,luke #aj3h1 #i4 ,before ,jesus ascended to the ,father he commissioned his disciples to preach the gospel1 saying1 8,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved3 but he that believeth not shall be damned4 ,and these signs shall follow them that believe3 ,in my name shall they cast out devils2 they shall speak with new tongues2 they shall take up serpents2 and if they drink any deadly thing1 it shall not hurt them2 they shall lay hands on the sick1 and they shall recover40 ,mark #af3ae-ah4 ,jesus was the 8light of the world10 because he had power over sin and disease4 ,the church becomes a light in the world in proportion to her power and purity1 and when she reaches the zenith of her power the same power is exercised by her as by the ,lord himself4 ,after commissioning the disciples to preach1 ,jesus was 8received up into heaven1 and sat on the right hand of ,god4 ,and they went forth1 and preached everywhere1 the ,lord working with them1 and confirming the word with signs following40 ,mark #af3ai1 #bj4 ,although ,jesus had ascended to heaven1 yet it is said that he was working with them as they preached the word4 ,here was the secret of their power1 8workers together with ,god40 ,again ,jesus said1 8,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost3 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever ,i have commanded you3 and1 lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the world40 ,mat4 #bh3ai1 #bj4 ,the ,lord here gives promise to be with them unto the end4 ,although he ascended1 yet he says1 8,i will not leave you comfortless3 ,i will come to you40 ,john #ad3ah4 ,the ,holy ,spirit on the day of ,pentecost came and dwelt in the midst of ,god's church in the same authoritative power over sin and demons that ,christ exercised before his passion4 ,he now comes in the power of the ,holy ,spirit1 performing great deeds of wonder through his church4 ,the church only was visible1 therefore became the light of the world4 ,after ,pentecost the disciples did as ,jesus commanded4 ,they began to preach the gospel1 and ,jesus working with them1 many souls were saved4 ,peter and ,john on one occasion 8went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer1 being the ninth hour4 ,and a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried1 whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called ,beautiful1 to ask alms of them that entered into the temple2 who seeing ,peter and ,john about to go into the temple asked an alms4 ,and ,peter1 fastening his eyes on him with ,john1 said1 ,look on us4 ,and he gave heed unto them1 expecting to receive something of them4 ,then ,peter said1 ,silver and gold have ,i none2 but such as ,i have give ,i thee3 in the name of ,jesus ,christ of ,nazareth rise up and walk4 ,and he took him by the right hand1 and lifted him up2 and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength4 ,and he leaping up stood1 and walked1 and entered with them into the temple1 walking1 and leaping1 and praising ,god4 ,and all the people saw him walking and praising ,god40 ,acts #c3a-i4 ,this miracle of divine healing was done by faith in the name of ,jesus4 ,ver4 #af4 ,the ,lord was with his disciples confirming the preaching with signs following4 ,in the ninth chapter of ,acts is recorded an instance of the dead being raised to life4 ,dorcas1 who was a good woman1 was taken sick and died4 ,two men were sent for ,peter1 who when he was come was brought into the upper chamber3 8and all the widows stood by him weeping1 and showing the coats and garments which ,dorcas made while she was with them4 ,but ,peter put them all forth1 and kneeled down and prayed3 and turning him to the body said1 ,tabitha1 arise4 ,and she opened her eyes3 and when she saw ,peter she sat up4 ,and he gave her his hand1 and lifted her up3 and when he had called the saints and the widows1 presented her alive4 ,and it was known throughout all ,joppa2 and many believed in the ,lord40 ,this was when the church was the light of the world2 when the whole pure gospel was preached for the gospel's sake1 and men lived humbly before ,god1 and were workers together with him4 ,paul escaping the waves was cast upon the island of ,melita4 ,he says1 8,the barbarous people showed us no little kindness2 for they kindled a fire1 and received us every one1 because of the present rain1 and because of the cold40 ,and when he had gathered a bundle of sticks1 and laid them on the fire1 there came a viper out of the heat1 and fastened on his hand4 ,and when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand1 they said among themselves1 ,no doubt this man is a murderer1 whom1 though he hath escaped the sea1 yet vengeance suffereth not to live4 ,acts #bh3a-d4 ,now was the promise given in the commission to prove true8 ,jesus said1 8,they shall take up serpents40 ,here ,paul had taken one up4 ,should he trust in the promise of the ,savior1 or resort to some antidote8 ,it is said1 ,he shook off the beast into the fire and felt no harm4 ,the natives were astonished and ,god was glorified4 ,had ,paul sought and obtained relief by medical means1 whatever brought the relief would have been worthy the praise4 ,he was living solely for the glory of ,god1 and by trusting in ,god and ,god protecting him it was thus that ,god was glorified4 ,the 8gifts of healing0 were placed in the church4 ,see #a ,cor4 #ab3bh4 ,as late as the year #fj ,a4,d41 twenty-seven years after the ,lord had ascended1 ,james tells us what to do when sick4 ,he says1 8,is any among you afflicted8 let him pray4 ,is any merry8 let him sing psalms4 ,is any sick among you8 let him call for the elders of the church2 and let them pray over him1 anointing him with oil in the name of the ,lord3 and the prayer of faith shall save the sick1 and the ,lord shall raise him up2 and if he have committed sins1 they shall be forgiven him40 ,jas4 #e3ac-ae4 ,thus the ,lord worked in the midst of his people in the morning of the gospel day4 ,he gave them grace and power to live the same holy1 humble life he lived4 ,he gave them power to cast out devils and to heal the sick4 ,by performing the works and living the life of ,jesus the church was a city set upon a hill1 which could not be hid--a light in the world4 ,chapter ,x4 ,the ,soul4 ,man as we behold him is not all there is of man4 ,he is a wonderful being4 ,he stands in the highest order of ,god's creation4 ,he ,is ,a ,compound4 ,man was created a physical and spiritual organism4 ,he possesses an animal and a spiritual life4 ,thus he is connected with two worlds4 ,the physical creation is termed the 8outward man10 and the spiritual1 the 8inward man40 8,for which cause we faint not2 but though our outward man perish1 yet the inward man is renewed day by day40 #b ,cor4 #d3af4 8,for we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved1 we have a building of ,god1 a house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens40 #b ,cor4 #e3a4 8,yea1 ,i think it meet1 as long as ,i am in this tabernacle1 to stir you up by putting you in remembrance40 #b ,pet4 #a3ac4 ,in the quotation from second ,corinthians the pronoun 8we0 is applied to the inward man1 and the 8earthly house of this tabernacle0 is spoken in reference to the outward man4 ,in the quotation from second ,peter the pronoun 8,i0 has for its antecedent the 8inward man10 and tabernacle refers again to the outward man4 ,the ,outward ,man ,is ,denominated 8,body40 ,in the fifth chapter of ,mark's gospel there is recorded an instance of a woman who was diseased and suffered many things of many physicians in the outward man4 ,she came to ,jesus and touched his garment and she felt in her body she was healed of the plague4 ,the ,inward ,man ,is ,denominated 8,soul40 ,by the one text given above it is plainly to be seen that the outer man is the body4 ,many additional texts could be given but we consider it unnecessary1 because all at once believe it4 ,but why not as readily believe one text which calls the inner man the 8soul08 ,some will not4 ,this is the inconsistency of man4 ,we will quote more than one4 8,when my soul fainted within me ,i remembered the ,lord40 ,jonah #b3g4 8,but his flesh upon him shall have pain1 and his soul within him shall mourn40 ,job #ad3bb4 8,and the man of ,god said1 ,let her alone2 for her soul is vexed within her40 #b ,kings #d3bg4 ,the ,inner ,man ,is ,the ,responsible ,man4 8,will the ,lord be pleased with thousands of rams1 or with ten thousands of rivers of oil8 shall ,i give my first-born for my transgression1 the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul80 ,micah #f3g4 ,since it is the soul that sins1 of necessity the soul becomes the responsible man4 ,sin ,produces ,death ,to ,the ,soul4 8,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die40 ,ezek4 #ah3d4 ,the ,value ,of ,the ,soul4 8,for what is a man profited1 if he shall gain the whole world1 and lose his own soul8 ,or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul80 ,mat4 #af3bf4 ,here the 8soul10 the 8inner man10 is considered of greater worth than this world4 ,he who secures the eternal safety of his soul has accomplished more than he who should gain this whole world4 ,the ,soul ,does ,not ,lose ,consciousness ,when ,the ,body ,dies4 8,for to me to live is ,christ1 and to die is gain4 ,but if ,i live in the flesh1 this is the fruit of my labor3 yet what ,i shall choose ,i wot not4 ,for ,i am in a strait betwixt two1 having a desire to depart and to be with ,christ2 which is far better3 nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you40 ,phil4 #a3ba-bd4 ,if there is no conscious existence after death until the final resurrection from the grave1 how could it be 8far better0 for ,paul to depart8 ,for him to depart this life is to be with ,christ4 8,we are confident1 ,i say1 and willing rather to be absent from the body1 and to be present with the ,lord40 #b ,cor4 #e3h4 ,how can language be plainer than this8 ,to be absent from the body is to be present with the ,lord4 ,the ,place ,of ,the ,soul ,while ,the ,body ,lies ,in ,the ,grave4 ,the ,son of ,god in his beautiful narrative of the rich man and ,lazarus certainly teaches a conscious existence of the departed souls of both the wicked and the righteous4 ,the soul of the rich man was in torment in the flames of hell4 ,the angels carried the poor beggar to rest and bliss in ,abraham's bosom4 8,there was a certain rich man1 which was clothed in purple and fine linen1 and fared sumptuously every day3 and there was a certain beggar named ,lazarus1 which was laid at his gate1 full of sores1 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table3 moreover the dogs came and licked his sores4 ,and it came to pass1 that the beggar died1 and was carried by the angels into ,abraham's bosom3 the rich man also died1 and was buried2 and in hell he lifted up his eyes1 being in torments1 and seeth ,abraham afar off1 and ,lazarus in his bosom4 ,and he cried and said1 ,father ,abraham1 have mercy on me1 and send ,lazarus1 that he may dip the tip of his finger in water1 and cool my tongue2 for ,i am tormented in this flame4 ,but ,abraham said1 ,son1 remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things1 and likewise ,lazarus evil things3 but now he is comforted1 and thou art tormented4 ,and beside all this1 between us and you there is a great gulf fixed3 so that they which would pass from hence to you can not2 neither can they pass to us1 that would come from thence4 ,then he said1 ,i pray thee therefore1 father1 that thou wouldest send him to my father's house3 for ,i have five brethren2 that he may testify unto them1 lest they also come into this place of torment4 ,abraham saith unto him1 ,they have ,moses and the prophets2 let them hear them4 ,and he said1 ,nay1 father ,abraham3 but if one went unto them from the dead1 they will repent4 ,and he said unto him1 ,if they hear not ,moses and the prophets1 neither will they be persuaded1 though one rose from the dead40 ,luke #af3ai-ca4 ,soul-,rest4 ,the immortal soul of man is a conscious entity1 whether in sin or in righteousness4 ,if in righteousness1 there is a blessed consciousness of peace1 rest1 and contentment4 ,this internal sense of happiness man enjoyed in his primeval state4 ,by disobedience an awful change came over him1 by which the peaceful rest and full satisfaction of the soul was destroyed1 and the terrible miseries of sin were experienced4 ,in sin the soul still retains its consciousness4 ,there is in fallen man an internal knowledge of incompleteness4 ,there is a missing link1 an awful vacancy1 and a kind of intuitive knowledge that he must give answer for certain moral responsibilities unto a great ,creator4 ,there are deep longings1 restless fears1 dark uncertainties1 and desperate strugglings for a satisfactory hope4 ,by the entrance of sin into the world there was implanted in the nature of man a 8lust of the flesh10 which seeks the pleasures of the world4 ,this never brings contentment to the soul4 ,it reaches to something far beyond for rest4 ,jesus came to this world as the soul's ,rest-giver4 8,come unto me1 all ye that labor and are heavy-laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,take my yoke upon you1 and learn of me2 for ,i am meek and lowly in heart3 and ye shall find rest unto your souls40 ,mat4 #aa3bh1 #bi4 ,the name of ,jesus is sweet to the soul whose cry is not stifled by the 8lusts of the flesh40 ,it is the disposition of the 8carnal mind0 to hush the pleadings of the hungry1 thirsting spirit by bidding it wait until some future time when its demands will be given attention4 ,the 8flesh0 gains its pleasures at the cost of the soul's rest1 and when the soul gains rest it must be at the cost of the lust of the flesh1 and thus the war goes on between the flesh and the spirit4 ,how often in the days of one's youth the soul struggles hard for freedom and pleads for rest2 the 8flesh0 quiets its fears by promising to yield to its desires in maturer years4 ,old age comes on1 and the flesh1 unwilling yet to make a sacrifice of the world1 bids the restless soul to hope for joy in heaven4 ,this delusive scheme often proves a success1 allowing the flesh to go on reaping its carnal lusts with the soul endeavoring to satisfy itself with the hope of rest above4 ,it is true there are wondrous joys in heaven1 but it is not all who shall get to enjoy them4 ,it is very dangerous and delusive to encourage the heart to hope for a home in heaven when the flesh still loves this world4 ,bright hopes of endless glory in the world above cheer us on amid the storms of life to that precious goal1 but we would not desire you to pass through this world heavy-laden1 with a hope of unloading your cargo of sorrow and pain somewhere in the beyond and being happy there4 ,as we cross the ocean of life1 there is to be found a blessed port where you can discharge your load of sin and sorrow and take on joys to your vessel's full capacity4 ,beyond life's sail there remains no port of exchange4 ,the soul fitted for the delights of heaven1 enjoys heavenly delights in this world4 ,in the divine economy there is a sufficiency of grace to enable the soul to be blessedly at rest amid the most trying circumstances of life4 ,when our happy spirits1 no longer holden by the house of clay1 shall soar away to heavenly rest1 scenes and experiences will arise of such a nature as to greatly enhance the felicity of our hearts1 but the revelation of heaven upon a pardoned soul1 and 8,the enjoyment of heavenly bliss ,e'en in a world like this10 to the humble ,christian heart can never be told4 ,do not therefore1 dear reader1 permit the thoughts of great happiness in the paradise above1 nor of some fancied coming age of universal peace and joy on earth1 to hide from your soul the precious realization of heavenly enjoyments1 sweet walks with ,god1 and tastes of love in this present life and time4 ,we repeat1 there is wondrous peace and happiness in heaven2 all is joy there1 and upon the soul yielded to ,god's control the sweets of heaven's graces are distilled like the gentle siftings of the evening dew upon the flower1 transporting the soul to wondrous joys all along the way of life4 8,oh1 this blessed holy rest is to be found only #8on ,jesus' loving breast4' 0 ,trials may come1 storm-clouds gather1 and billows threaten1 yet 8in ,jesus all is bright40 ,make him your haven of rest4 ,eternal ,happiness4 ,happiness forever--these words sound sweet and dear to almost every heart4 ,there is nothing repulsive in their tone1 but1 oh1 what strength they give to the weary1 waiting soul4 ,the hope of never-ending happiness in a bright celestial world enables us to patiently endure the tortures and afflictions of this sin-cursed1 terrestrial sphere4 ,it is not difficult to persuade most people that somewhere in the great beyond there is a place of peace and bliss1 prepared for the children of ,god to inhabit forever4 ,but few men have disposition of spirit to wrest the clear declarations of inspiration on this delightful theme4 ,perhaps no other subject in the ,bible is so universally received4 ,eternal rest to the ,christian is the voice of the ,word forever settled in heaven4 ,oh1 how our hearts glow with rapture and our bosoms heave with waves of love and praise to ,god as we by faith look into an eternity of perfect bliss prepared for us4 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world40 ,mat4 #be3cd4 8,well done1 thou good and faithful servant1 enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord40 8,in thy presence is fulness of joy2 at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore40 ,psa4 #af3aa4 8,the righteous shall go away into eternal life40 ,mat4 #be3df4 8,then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air2 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord40 #a ,thes4 #d3ag4 ,these few texts are sufficient to convince the reader that there is a heaven of eternal joys1 but before leaving this subject we will give one text of caution4 8,not every one that saith unto me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven2 but he that doeth the will of my ,father which is in heaven40 ,mat4 #g3ba4 ,eternal ,punishment4 ,misery1 wretchedness and woe forever--these words have an unpleasant sound4 ,they form no enjoyable theme for meditation4 ,people usually reject all thoughts of eternal unhappiness4 ,because of its unpleasantness many have sought to explain the doctrine away4 ,however it is as positively declared in the sacred volume as the doctrine of eternal happiness4 8,and these shall go away into everlasting punishment3 but the righteous into life eternal40 ,mat4 #be3df4 ,the punishment of the wicked in duration is equal with the life of the righteous1 but some1 who no doubt have not been rescued from the fears of hell1 have endeavored to make the words everlasting and eternal as used in the above texts differ in meaning with respect to time4 ,upon this subject we will quote from the treatise entitled1 8,what ,is the ,soul80 by ,d4 ,s4 ,warner3 8,the words #8eternal life1' as the great gift of ,god to men1 occur in the ,new ,testament just twenty-nine times1 and in every instance the word eternal is derived from the ,greek word aionios2 the same word which tells how long the punishment of the wicked shall last in ,mat4 #be3df1 and elsewhere4 ,the words #8everlasting life' and #8life everlasting' occur in the ,new ,testament fourteen times1 and by reference to the ,greek ,testament you will find the word everlasting is1 without a single exception1 translated from the same ,greek word--aionios4 ,here then we learn the wisdom of ,heaven finds and uses no stronger term in all the forty-three promises and statements of eternal and everlasting life to the righteous in the ,new ,testament than the word aionion1 the very same word which he uses to declare the eternal and everlasting punishment of the wicked4444 ,the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and the ,holy ,spirit have described the duration of their own existence1 attributes and glory by the use of the same word which we have seen fixes the eternal punishment of the wicked4 8,in ,heb4 #e3i we read that ,christ became the author of #8eternal aionion salvation unto all them that obey him4' ,if therefore this word does not mean eternal1 our salvation will finally fail and drop us back into the hands of the devil4 ,in ,heb4 #i3ab we read that ,christ has obtained eternal 7aionion7 redemption4 ,if then the word only means a long period of time our eternal redemption is not yet secured4 ,in ,heb4 #i3ae we are told that by means of ,christ's death for our redemption1 we have #8received the promise of eternal aionion inheritance4' ,will the inheritance that ,christ has purchased by his death come to an end80 ,in speaking of hell-fire in the ninth chapter of the gospel by ,mark the eternal--aionion--immortal ,son of ,god five times says it is a fire 8which is not0 and 8never shall be quenched40 ,if it never shall be quenched1 can we possibly err in supposing that it will burn forever8 8,then shall he say also unto them on the left hand1 ,depart from me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels40 ,mat4 #be3da4 8,and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever40 ,rev4 #bj3aj4 8,and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever40 ,rev4 #ad3aa4 ,there are yet many other scriptures which positively teach everlasting punishment in an endless hell4 ,whatever fears this doctrine may bring to deluded souls1 and however zealously they may labor for its refutation1 it stands unshaken4 ,if you fear eternal punishment do not endeavor to calm your fears by seeking to believe there is no endless torment1 but seek the ,savior1 who will save you from your sins and fears1 and give you hope1 blessed hope1 of everlasting peace and rest4 ,chapter ,,xi4 ,spiritual ,culture4 8,and this is the record1 that ,god hath given to us eternal life1 and this life is in his ,son40 #a ,john #e3aa4 ,there is eternal life in ,jesus1 but for man to come into possession of this life he must comply with the requirements made by the ,bible4 ,after getting into possession of this life there are certain duties which man must faithfully perform to retain and develop it4 ,after entering the wide fields of grace development is necessary4 8,but grow in grace1 and in the knowledge of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ40 #b ,pet4 #c3ah4 ,nutrition necessary for the development of spiritual life is contained in the ,word of ,god4 8,man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god40 ,mat4 #d3d4 8,as new-born babes1 desire the sincere milk of the word1 that ye may prow thereby40 #a ,pet4 #b3b4 ,by proper culture--attending to ,christian duties--the ,christ-life in the soul will be strengthened1 and daily we will become stronger in faith1 richer in virtue1 deeper in knowledge1 more strictly temperate1 exercise a greater degree of brotherly kindness and godliness1 and enjoy more of heaven's pure love in our hearts4 ,neglect the proper ,scriptural culture of the spiritual life and the ,christian will degenerate into a few irksome duties of cold formality4 ,by the writers of the ,new ,testament we are urgently exhorted1 yea1 commanded1 to attend to certain duties necessary to keep us in the love of ,god4 ,of these especially important are reading the ,scripture1 prayer1 fasting1 examination1 meditation1 etc4 ,reading ,the ,scripture4 8,thy word is very pure3 therefore thy servant loveth it40 8,i love thy commandments above gold2 yea1 above fine gold40 8,the law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver40 ,psa4 #aai3adj1 #abg1 #gb4 ,the ,bible1 to the ,christian1 is a richer treasure than gold4 ,no other book is read with such deep1 amazing interest4 ,the soul ravishingly feasts upon the pure1 simple truth4 ,it is manna4 ,it is life4 8,how sweet are thy words unto my taste6 yea1 sweeter than honey to my mouth40 ,psa4 #aai3ajc4 ,when the soul gets to taste of the honeyed sweetness of ,god's ,word it endears it to ,god and the ,bible so as to make death preferable to separation4 8,o how love ,i thy law6 it is my meditation all the day40 ,psa4 #aai3ig4 ,exile to ,patmos would not be so lonely to the ,christian did he but have his ,bible4 8,all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness3 that the man of ,god may be perfect1 thoroughly furnished unto all good works40 #b ,tim4 #c3af1 #ag4 ,the ,word of ,god contains sufficient instructions and corrections to properly develop the ,christ-life in the soul1 if it is heeded4 ,by looking into this perfect law of ,god and continuing in its teaching one will imbibe its spirit1 its life1 its power1 until his own life will reveal the truly high and ennobling principles of the precious volume from heaven4 ,the true sentiment of the ,bible will be so interwoven into his very existence that his decorum will be so influenced by the power of divine truth that all who read his life will but read ,god's ,holy ,book4 ,the ,bible tells us of heaven1 the eternal1 happy home of the righteous4 ,it tells us of sin and how it deprives the soul the privilege of entering that bright mansion of everlasting rest4 ,it tells of a ,savior who saves from sin1 and fits and prepares man to receive from ,god's hands great eternal rewards4 ,it unfolds to us the beautiful character of ,god and encourages our souls to imitate his perfect example4 ,it speaks of our ,heavenly ,father's loving providence1 how that he is ever watching over us1 and guiding us with his eye2 how that no harm shall ever befall us1 and when we pass through the rivers they shall not overflow us2 when we walk through the fire we shall not be burned2 how that he will withhold no good thing from us1 but will cause all things to work for our good2 how that he bears our burdens and shelters us beneath his wing4 ,the ,bible is the ,christian's guide to a haven of rest2 to make sure he is traveling in the right course1 he must study it well4 ,he must run the way of its commandments4 ,to be a fruitful ,christian he must search it and be a doer of its precepts1 ever gaining knowledge and practising what he knows4 ,ah1 my ,bible6 it is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway4 ,precious volume1 ever lie ,very near my heart and eye2 ,all the precepts of thy page ,ever shall my soul engage4 ,prayer4 ,prayer has brought a comfort to many a sorrowing heart4 ,it has wiped away many a tear4 ,prayer is the ,christian's stronghold4 ,there can be no real progress in the divine life without earnest prayer4 ,a decline in spiritual life usually begins at the secret closet4 ,satan knows what a powerful weapon prayer is in the hands of a saint4 ,as ,cowper has said1 ,satan trembles when he sees ,the weakest saint upon his knees4 ,the ,bible says1 8,the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much40 ,jas4 #e3af4 ,prayer to be effectual must be offered1 in faith4 ,the prayer of faith has accomplished wonders in every age of the world4 ,it has stopped the mouths of lions4 ,it has subdued kingdoms1 obtained promises1 quenched the violence of fire1 and escaped the edge of the sword4 ,by the prayer of faith the weak have become strong and turned to flight the armies of the aliens4 ,the weak child of ,god by prayer develops into strong manhood4 ,when engaged in a severe contest with the enemy of your soul the prayer of faith draws upon the strength of heaven and thus you become stronger in ,god4 ,in a time of heavy and sore trials by looking upward unto ,god in confidence we conquer4 ,for this reason the trial of our faith is more precious than gold4 8,what things soever ye desire1 when ye pray1 believe that ye receive them1 and ye shall have them40 ,mark #aa3bd4 8,if ye abide in me1 and my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you40 ,john #ae3g4 8,and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name1 that will ,i do1 that the ,father may be glorified in the ,son4 ,if ye shall ask anything in my name1 ,i will do it40 ,john #ad3ac1 #ad4 8,hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name3 ask1 and ye shall receive1 that your joy may be full40 8,and whatsoever we ask1 we receive of him1 because we keep his commandments1 and do those things that are pleasing in his sight40 #a ,john #c3bb4 ,with these promises before us we certainly ought to be encouraged to strive earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints4 ,it is the prayer of faith that moves ,god upon his throne4 ,words offered in mere form are powerless4 8,he that cometh to ,god must believe that he is1 and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him10 for 8without faith it is impossible to please him40 ,heb4 #aa3f4 ,man that asks of ,god and wavers in his faith is compared to the restless waves of the sea4 8,but let him ask in faith1 nothing wavering4 ,for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven of the wind and tossed4 ,for let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the ,lord40 ,jas4 #a3f1 #g4 ,there is a difference between simple faith and presumption4 ,some people take things for granted because ,god has promised similar things1 without considering well if their prayer is according to the will of ,god4 ,the ,lord has promised bodily healing to his children4 ,he says1 8,the prayer of faith shall save the sick1 and the ,lord shall raise him up2 and if he have committed sins1 they shall be forgiven him40 ,jas4 #e3ae4 ,this is conditional1 the conditions being recorded in the following verse3 8,confess your faults one to another1 and pray one for another1 that ye may be healed40 ,the glorious ,bible doctrine of divine healing has many times been disgraced by mere presumption4 ,many when they are anointed presume they are healed because ,god has promised it in his ,word when they have failed to sit in the valley of humiliation to learn of ,god their faults that need correction4 ,they find in a short time that their presumption does not prove effectual and witnesses are made to scorn the idea of divine healing4 ,we hear of no relapsing in a few days of those who were healed by the ,lord and his church in the morning light4 ,if any had such severe trials of faith as to be as sick or worse than ever apparently1 it was thought wisdom to exclude such testimony from the ,bible1 and if wise to exclude it from the ,bible1 we are persuaded it is wise to exclude it from public testimony at any time4 ,the same may be said of prayers for spiritual and temporal blessings4 ,never mistake presumption for faith4 ,an individual might ask ,god for some temporal blessing and because ,god has promised to supply 8all our needs10 and if 8we ask anything he will do it10 take it for granted he is soon going to receive it1 and when it fails to appear is disappointed and discouraged4 ,by close examination it will be found that there was not a humble resignation of all things into the hands of ,god4 ,the prayer was tinctured with selfish desire and more presuming than heart-felt faith4 ,for a perfect operation of faith that will draw blessings and life and power from ,god to the soul there must be a humble yielding1 a perfect surrender of all to the ,father's loving control4 ,when all is resigned1 and we sit in holy submission at his feet1 faith will spring up1 and if it is for some temporal blessing we are asking1 ,god will answer to the soul and we will know and feel within us that we have the object desired4 ,though we have it not as yet in our possession it will never fail to appear at ,god's own appointed time1 which is never too late4 ,we believe that many presume that they are sanctified1 but afterwards discover that they have not a perfect and pure heart4 ,in all probability there was a lack in the consecration1 which hindered a perfect operation of faith1 and presumption was mistaken for belief4 ,such has doubtless been the result also in seeking justification4 ,positive faith affects ,god on his throne and brings a clear understanding consciousness to the soul4 ,some one may wonder in what way the prayer of faith offered when we are sick1 or prayers for temporal needs can advantage us in the development of spiritual life4 ,god has so arranged that the prayer of faith that brings healing virtue to the afflicted body also brings a blessing and an increase to the soul4 ,prayer that reaches ,god in a time of temporal need not only moves him to grant the petition1 but also adds new strength and energy to the inner being4 ,thus ,god may permit us to be afflicted or to be in great need of food or raiment to awaken our souls to earnest imploring prayer for our spiritual advantage4 ,when all is dark before and behind us1 when storm-clouds hang heavy over us and temptations grow manifold1 we are made keenly conscious that our whole and only dependence is upon ,god4 ,then on wings of faith the trembling soul comes into ,god's majestic presence to implore his aid1 his help1 in time of need4 ,in his fatherly care he extends his hand and lifts us above the storm-clouds of affliction and temptation into beautiful light4 ,it will be found that our soul is wonderfully increased in ,god4 ,thus prayer offered in these times of greatest need always prove a blessing to the spiritual life4 ,our own dear children could save themselves from much chastisement by obedience4 ,thus the children of ,god would doubtless be spared many an affliction if they were more strictly obedient to him4 ,how often should we pray8 ,david says1 8,evening1 and morning1 and at noon1 will ,i pray1 and cry aloud3 and he shall hear my voice40 ,psa4 #ee3ag4 ,again he says1 8,seven times a day do ,i praise thee because of thy righteous judgments40 ,psa4 #aai3afd4 ,the apostle ,paul exhorts us to 8pray without ceasing40 #a ,thes4 #e3ag4 ,we do not understand by this last text that the ,christian is to be constantly in an attitude of prayer4 ,no one can reasonably demand such a strict interpretation4 ,for constant spiritual growth we should follow the example of the holy prophets and apostles and have regular daily visits to our altar of prayer4 ,beside this if you desire the beautiful character of ,christ to unfold in your soul and life you should be careful to constantly maintain a prayerful frame of spirit4 ,how often one should go within their closet1 circumstances must decide4 ,where circumstances afford much time for prayer we assure you to be no loser by living much behind your closed door4 ,the spiritual man may be compared to the physical man in a sense1 or to a certain extent4 ,the physical man demands food for its sustenance4 ,it feasts at the breakfast table1 then goes1 using the strength derived in performing the vocations of life4 ,in a few hours there will be a demand for more1 as the force of the former meal is spent4 8,but man shall not live by bread alone40 ,the soul feasts upon the life of ,god in prayer and is strengthened1 you then engage in the duties of life4 ,in a short time you will feel the pangs of hunger in your soul4 ,there is a longing for a deep communion with ,god4 ,this is your best guide as to how often you should pray if your soul is in a good healthy state4 ,it may not be convenient for you to go into your closet every time you feel your soul 8panting after ,god10 but you can lift up your heart to him in the best manner you can under the circumstances1 and then go and feast at your private altar at your very earliest convenience4 ,the physical and spiritual man differ with respect to overeating4 ,too much food is injurious to the animal man1 but the danger of surfeiting was not spoken of the soul4 ,the inner man may feast and banquet and drink of spiritual stores and streams and the soul will grow and develop accordingly4 ,there is but little danger of lingering too long at the feast4 ,there is much danger of famine while the ,christian as a citizen of this world has certain secular duties to perform1 yet amid these he communes and walks with ,god4 ,while he may be intellectually engaged in the problems of life1 the higher affections of his soul live upon heavenly things4 ,he thus drinks of the refreshing dews of glory until the beauteous graces of ,christ are imbibed and infused throughout his very existence and the holy image of ,god is seen upon him4 ,the effect of a prayer of faith is almost without limit4 ,by it ,daniel shut the mouths of lions4 ,the ,hebrews walked unhurt amid the flames4 ,elijah shut up the heavens until it did not rain for more than three years4 ,the waters of the sea have been divided1 the walls of cities thrown down1 armies turned to flight1 kingdoms subdued1 the prison-doors opened1 the barren womb has become fruitful1 the lame have been made to walk1 the deaf to hear1 the blind to see1 the dead raised to life and the soul redeemed4 ,oh1 the wonders of prayer6 ,satan1 knowing how disastrous to his kingdom is the ,christian's prayer of faith1 will do all he can to hinder4 ,he will heap upon you duties of life2 tell you that you have no time for prayer4 ,when you do pray he will try to make your prayers hurried and insincere4 ,he will try to divert your attention when at the altar of prayer4 ,he will be constantly presenting thoughts of secular duties4 ,he will strive to make your devotions formal and irksome4 ,he will cast over you a feeling of awful indifference and then advise you not to pray until you feel more like it4 ,he will make the heavens appear as brass above you1 and tell you ,god does not hear you4 ,christian1 you know by the ,word of ,god what is your duty4 ,it is to pray4 ,then pray you must4 ,it is the language of the ,bible4 ,disregarding your feelings1 pray4 ,disregarding the suggestions of ,satan1 pray4 ,as you value your soul1 pray1 and 8pray without ceasing40 ,fastings4 ,that the apostle ,paul considered fasting an excellent means for spiritual development is evident from his writings4 ,he says that the ministers of ,god should approve themselves by 8much patience1 in afflictions1 in necessities1 in distresses1 in stripes1 in imprisonments1 in tumults1 in labors1 in watchings1 in fastings40 #b ,cor4 #f3d1 #e4 ,in speaking of himself1 he says he was 8in weariness and painfulness1 in watchings often1 in hunger and thirst1 in fastings often40 #b ,cor4 #aa3bg4 ,in ,acts #bg3cc1 we learn that on the occasion of the shipwreck fourteen days were spent in fasting4 ,this is not the doing of penance that the priests of mystic ,babylon bind upon their subjects1 but the cheerful service of a humble1 devoted heart4 ,god has not left this at the direction of man1 but it is alone at the dictation of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there is a secret power in fasting4 ,it separates us farther from self and deepens us in humility1 spirituality and reliance upon ,god4 ,on occasions where great faith was required1 fastings were recommended by the ,savior4 ,in speaking to his disciples concerning the devils which possessed a child1 he said1 8,this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting40 ,mat4 #ag3ba4 ,when ,paul and ,barnabas were separated by the ,holy ,spirit unto the work of the ,lord1 after fasting and prayer hands were laid upon them and they were sent away4 ,when fasting1 the mind is clearer and the faith more active4 ,it is a self-denial1 which has a tendency to develop the graces of the ,spirit4 ,it is said of a certain prophetess that dwelt in ,jerusalem in the days of our ,savior's nativity1 that she departed not from the temple1 but served ,god with fastings and prayers night and day4 ,luke #b3cf1 #cg4 ,the most spiritual ,christians are ready to acknowledge that fasting is an excellent means of drawing us into a deeper and more intimate communion with ,god4 ,we scarcely think that any one will attain to any great spiritual depth without fasting4 ,when the ,christian's soul is burdened for this lost world it is natural for him to unburden his soul to ,god in fasting and prayer4 ,how beautifully has the ,lord arranged all things in the kingdom of heaven6 ,he by his ,spirit1 lays a burden upon our heart for the souls of lost mankind4 ,this burden causes us to seek ,god in fasting and prayer for these lost ones1 and our prayers move him to send forth his ,spirit to convict this world of sin4 ,thus it is arranged in the economy of grace1 and thus we can all be 8workers together with him40 ,it is sad that comparatively so few know the value of the sincere prayer of faith4 ,fasting and prayer affect this whole world1 and heaven and hell4 ,christian1 do not be sparing in them4 ,christians are few1 but there are enough of them upon the earth1 that if all were earnest in fasting and prayer this world would be disturbed in her slumber and sinners be made to fear before the wrath of ,god4 ,to be unwilling to fast when we feel the movings of ,god's ,spirit upon us to that end1 is to soon become so dull and stupid spiritually that we will have but little burden or concern for perishing souls4 ,if we want to walk with ,god and have a deep concern for his cause and love for lost mankind we must be self-denying and 8in fastings often40 ,trials ,and ,temptations4 ,you may wonder why we have arranged the subject of 8,trials and ,temptations0 in the chapter of 8,spiritual ,culture40 ,it is because they are an excellent means of our growth in divine things4 8,all things work together for good to them that love ,god40 ,trials prove to be for our good in the spiritual life if we will boldly and bravely meet them in ,jesus' name4 ,we are encouraged by the apostle ,james to count all temptations a joy4 ,it is evident that the apostle would not exhort us to count temptations a joy if they were not for our good4 ,the ,bible tells us there is a tempter4 #a ,thes4 #c3e4 ,we also learn from the sacred page that ,god does not tempt any man4 ,jas4 #a3ac4 ,matthew tells us that the devil is the tempter4 ,mat4 #d3a4 ,god permits ,satan to try and tempt us as we learn from ,job's experience4 ,satan can not tempt us beyond what ,god permits1 and ,god will not permit him to tempt us beyond what we are able to bear4 ,he does not permit one to be tempted more than another1 but we all have temptations such as are common to man4 #a ,cor4 #aj3ac4 ,jesus was tempted in every manner that man is tempted1 yet without sin4 ,heb4 #d3ae4 ,jesus was not overcome by temptation1 but he faithfully endured4 ,because he was thus tempted and overcame1 he knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation4 #b ,pet4 #b3i4 ,not only does he know how to deliver us out of temptation1 but he is fully able to do so4 ,heb4 #b3ah4 ,temptations and trials are necessary in the ,christian life4 ,but few people realize the value of temptation4 ,but few people1 or perhaps none but what would backslide if they did not have any trials4 ,god has so arranged it in the nature of ,christianity or spiritual life that in order for the soul to grow and develop it must be tested and tried4 ,leaning upon ,god in time of strong temptation only increases our strength in ,god4 ,man would become independent of ,god1 however much he may think to the contrary1 if he had no trials and temptations4 ,no true-hearted ,christian has trials only such as he needs4 ,peter says1 8,wherein ye greatly rejoice1 though now for a season1 if need be1 ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations40 #a ,pet4 #a3f4 ,christian1 do you not value your spiritual prosperity above all else8 ,then never complain nor become discouraged because of the heavy and manifold temptations4 ,god knows how to deal with you4 ,you may sometimes think you know best1 but in this you are mistaken4 ,father knoweth best4 ,he loves you and will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what your needs are1 and what he will enable you to bear1 if you will but trust in him4 ,when your way grows very dark and temptation's billows roll high1 when the flames of fiery trials seem to almost consume your soul1 will you not remember that just as you are being tempted1 ,jesus was also tempted1 yet he was not overcome8 ,also remember that he knows how to deliver you1 and is able to do it4 ,god sees that you need this and he is permitting it to mold you and fashion you into his own holy image4 ,these are the refining flames that serve to consume the dross and make you perfectly pure4 ,our heavenly ,father chasteneth us for our profit1 that we might be partakers of his holiness4 ,heb4 #ab3aj4 ,god has given us a promise1 which1 if you will remember in faith1 will enable you to endure4 8,blessed is the man that endureth temptation3 for when he is tried he shall receive a crown of life1 which the ,lord has promised to them that love him40 ,jas4 #a3ab4 ,when in trial's heated furnace1 ,in temptation's deep1 wide sea1 ,like with sainted ,hebrew children1 ,jesus walketh there with me4 ,meditation4 ,that meditation does affect one's spirituality is an unquestionable fact4 ,vagrant thought is well calculated to dull the finer sensibilities of the soul1 thereby rendering it less capable of impression by the ,spirit of ,god4 8,keeping in touch with ,god10 is a very familiar expression among holiness people at this present time1 but what does it imply8 ,we are all at sea when not in touch with him4 ,to be so kept is to have everything in us fully alive to ,god4 ,every ,christian grace must be in a state of perfect health and vigorous growth4 ,if there be any dwarfed condition of the spiritual being in any part it will be less sensible to ,god's touch4 ,the blind have been known to cultivate the sense of touch in the physical being to the amazing acuteness of being able to distinguish color4 ,the sense of touch in the soul by careful1 earnest husbandry can be refined to such a degree as to make it susceptible to the slightest impression of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the creation1 the moral being was given the capability of being influenced and controlled by the ,spirit of the ,lord4 ,by sin this electric current from ,god's presence to man's soul1 like the separation of the ,atlantic cable1 was divided4 ,man becoming thus disconnected from ,god's power and impressive guidance was left to be operated by the influences of a wicked world4 ,through the redemptive power of ,jesus' blood man is again brought into union with ,god4 ,the divided cable is taken up and united1 and man's soul wondrously animated by ,god's presence4 ,so cultured may become the sensibilities of the inner being1 and so thoroughly impregnated by ,god's enlivening power1 that one empty thought1 causing the slightest ebbing of life's current flow is keenly felt4 ,to keep in perfect touch with ,god is to live where there is a soul consciousness that he is pleased with every act of life2 where there is a witnessing 8sweet and clear0 of the ,spirit to the inmost soul that the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart are acceptable unto him4 ,pure and holy meditations are an excellent means for the culture and refinement of man's moral being4 ,useless thought makes the soul coarse1 and difficult of impression by good influences4 ,by associating with ,god through prayer and meditation man's spiritual entity will develop into his own glorious image4 ,by communion with the ,lord his pure character is assimilated into our own until our lives become but the fruit of a vine which has its origin in the rich soil around ,heaven's throne4 ,if you can indulge a train of careless1 vagabond thought1 and not be severely smitten in conscience1 you are far from being in touch with ,god4 ,the spiritual depression and awful benumbing stupidity1 the disrelish for prayer and reading the ,bible1 is often the result of entertaining empty1 fruitless meditations4 ,the ,scriptures tell us what are wholesome subjects for thought1 and what are not4 8,the thought of foolishness is sin40 ,prov4 #bd3i4 8,i hate vain thoughts40 ,psa4 #aai3aac4 ,vain and foolish thoughts are very destructive to spirituality1 and should be hated and carefully guarded against by every lover of ,god's law4 ,many people find it difficult to stay their mind upon the ,lord4 ,while reading the ,bible and in secret prayer their thoughts are disposed to wander4 ,the wonderful works of ,god scarcely awaken any admiration within them4 ,they can not elevate their soul into a profound awe before his awful presence1 and there is but little conscious depth of inner reverence and devotion to his dear name4 ,there is a blessed remedy for this serious trouble4 ,carefully watch your meditations4 ,call the oftener upon ,god in some silent secret place4 ,select some secluded1 hallowed place for meditation4 ,it is said of ,isaac that he went into the field at eventide to meditate4 ,gen4 #bd3fc4 ,this is a time well suited to draw the soul out into deep1 intimate communion with ,god4 ,learn to admire the wondrous works of the ,creator4 ,meditate upon them4 ,the setting of the sun1 the starry heavens1 the fleecy floating clouds1 the silent hills1 all will serve to fill your soul with reverential fear before ,god's majestic presence1 and all within you be awed to solemn stillness at his footfall4 ,then you can say with the ,psalmist1 8,o how love ,i thy law6 it is my meditation all the day40 ,psa4 #aai3ig4 8,i will remember the works of the ,lord3 surely ,i will remember thy wonders of old4 ,i will meditate also of all thy work1 and talk of thy doings40 ,psa4 #gg3aa1 #ab4 8,my soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness2 and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips3 when ,i remember thee upon my bed1 and meditate on thee in the night watches40 ,psa4 #fc3e1 #f4 ,idle1 careless thoughts generate a stupidity that will rob you of joy and soul satisfaction4 ,it will deaden the sensibilities of your inner nature and prevent your hearing ,god's footstep1 and deprive you of many a blessing4 ,communion with the ,lord and meditating upon his ,word will elevate the soul to a plane all radiant with ,heaven's light and love1 and put a humility in your heart and a sweetness in every expression that will distinguish you from the coarse ways of the world4 8,i will sing unto the ,lord as long as ,i live3 ,i will sing praise to my ,god while ,i have my being4 ,my meditation of him shall be sweet3 ,i will be glad in the ,lord40 ,psa4 #ajd3cc1 #cd4 ,examination4 ,close and impartial examination of our moral character is indispensable to spiritual prosperity4 ,he who does not watch the inclinations of his heart1 nor note the course of its affections1 and direct them in the channels of heavenly grace1 will soon have naught but a 8name to live40 ,as you read the infallible ,word of ,god1 ask him to let its light find entrance to the remotest chambers of your soul4 ,too many read the ,scriptures in a careless way4 ,the severity of ,god's judgments are turned aside by the enemy of their soul4 ,we fear that too many people are to-day building hopes of heaven upon an experience of years ago4 ,they will talk of the time when they found the ,savior and enjoyed his love4 ,but now they have become formal and do not sit in impartial judgment upon their actions4 ,the holy apostle said1 8,examine yourselves1 whether ye be in the faith2 prove your own selves40 #b ,cor4 #ac3e4 ,closely examine your actions1 your life1 your nature1 and prove your spiritual condition by the ,word of ,god4 ,thousands to-day are deceived and on the broad way to eternal night and woe because they never stop to reason and to carefully examine their lives and spiritual condition in what light and knowledge they have of the ,scriptures4 ,how many will read1 8,love not the world1 neither the things that are in the world2 if any man love the world the love of the ,father is not in him10 and pass on with a heart filled with the love of the world1 consoling themselves that they are on their way to heaven4 ,if they were but serious enough to examine their hearts they would feel the condemnation of ,god's ,spirit as they read such texts1 but ofttimes when they are brought to any consideration they will search for evidence to neutralize their guilt4 ,they will again read1 8,man shall give an account of every idle word10 and go on talking foolishly and jesting1 seeking to believe they are ,god's own children4 ,and thus goes the world4 ,if you value your soul and hope of heaven1 see to it that your life is in strict accordance with every requirement of the ,scriptures4 ,people are having idle talk1 impure thoughts1 evil surmising1 feelings of pride1 envy and hatred4 ,they are speaking evil of their neighbors1 laying up their treasures upon earth1 loving the world and self1 rendering evil for evil1 backbiting1 reveling1 and professing to be traveling the narrow way that leads to eternal rest the same as if there was no ,bible4 ,such have no examination of their lives1 and should they have they use some satanic sophistry to gloss their sin4 8,who is a wise man and endued with knowledge80 ,it is he that shows out of a godly life that he is a ,christian4 ,it is he that carefully examines every act and thought and word and by ,heaven's grace tolerates nothing in his life in opposition to the ,word of ,god4 ,careful examination is an important factor in our spiritual prosperity4 ,by carefully watching our life we can detect its defects and then by earnest prayer these defects can be removed and we grow up into the image of ,god4 ,if you hold but little or no examination of your conduct there may be many imperfections in your ways of life displeasing to ,god1 and yet unknown to you4 ,you will find it beneficial to frequently seclude yourself from the busy whirl of life1 and enter into profound meditation and careful examination4 ,we will suggest a few general questions1 which may help you in your retrospection4 ,have my meditations been pure and acceptable to ,god through this day8 ,have ,i not spoken one idle word8 ,am ,i as thankful to ,god for blessings as ,i should be8 ,has there been any feeling of pride in my heart8 ,has there been any feeling of impatience within me8 ,have ,i felt and manifested any selfishness8 ,have ,i had a due regard for the welfare and happiness of others8 ,have my devotions been spiritual and full of reverence8 ,do ,i love ,god8 ,am ,i dead to sin8 ,do ,i love secret prayer and the reading of the ,bible8 ,do ,i feel as deeply as ,i should the sins of this lost world8 ,have ,i spent my money for self and withheld from ,god8 ,all told1 what have ,i done for ,jesus8 ,these and many other questions the ,christian may ask himself to see if he is in the faith4 ,backslidings4 ,in the chapter of 8,spiritual ,culture0 we have included the subject of ,backsliding1 not that backsliding is in any sense advantageous to spiritual development1 but it is our certain destiny if we do not assiduously employ the means necessary to our growth in grace4 ,by backsliding is meant the gradual turning back or away from ,god2 to apostatize4 ,the ,savior gives us warning to 8watch and pray10 that we 8enter not into temptation40 ,the tempter will lay in your pathway all things possible to induce you to turn away from ,god4 ,he will suggest that it is not necessary to pray so much1 and we do not have to keep such a strict vigil over our lives and govern and rule the whole by the ,word of ,god4 ,he may tell you that now since you are saved you are safe4 ,god is able to keep you1 and you have nothing now to do but to silently fold your arms and sail to heaven on 8flowery beds of ease40 ,there never was a soul created of ,god or recreated by his ,spirit1 not excepting the ,savior himself1 since the day ,adam was made of the dust1 to this present time1 but what ,satan has endeavored1 by lies and machinations to turn him away from ,god4 ,thousands of millions have gone down the rapids of negligence and carelessness1 and been lost in the whirlpool of a cold1 formal religion4 ,some teach that the soul once born of ,god can never apostatize4 8,once in grace always in grace10 is the manner in which they state it4 ,we are fully persuaded that the individual who teaches such a doctrine is wholly ignorant of grace and devoid of ,god's enlightening ,spirit4 ,what would be the need of ,christians being warned to 8watch and pray1 lest they enter into temptation10 if there be no possibility of being overcome by it8 ,if there is never a return to sin after regeneration1 why does ,john say to his little children1 8,if any man sin1 we have an advocate with the ,father1 ,jesus ,christ the righteous08 #a ,john #b3a4 ,the reader will not understand us to favor the teaching that ,christians must of necessity occasionally commit sin and that none live a sinless life4 ,it is impossible for man to be committing sin and at the same time be a ,christian4 ,a sinning ,christian is a phenomenon never known in the kingdom of grace4 ,the ,scriptures plainly teach that when once we enter a state of grace1 we should always1 by living a pure1 holy life1 continue in the same4 ,but the teaching that when we once enter a state of grace we always remain in that state1 no matter what we do1 is certainly very foreign to the ,holy ,scriptures and soul deluding4 ,god spoke by the mouth of an ,old ,testament prophet nearly six hundred years before the coming of 8grace and truth0 by the ,savior1 saying1 8,when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness1 and commit iniquity1 and ,i lay a stumbling-block before him1 he shall die3 because thou hast not given him warning1 he shall die in his sin1 and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered40 ,ezek4 #c3bj4 ,what need be1 and what can be1 plainer than this text8 ,here iniquity and sin are used interchangeably and are perfectly synonymous4 ,if a righteous man 7one in possession of grace7 commits sin his righteousness is no longer remembered4 ,this is as much as to say he is no longer in grace1 but is fallen4 ,in the next verse this holy seer receives words from the mouth of the ,almighty and gives the righteous man warning that he sin not4 ,if he does not sin he shall live4 ,it is sin that brings death to the soul4 ,ezek4 #ah3d4 ,it is sin that separates us from ,god4 ,isa4 #ei3b4 ,it is sin that causes our names to be blotted out of the book of life4 ,ex4 #cb3cc4 ,it is sin that withholds good things from us4 ,jer4 #e3be4 ,it is sin that destroys grace4 ,rom4 #f3a1 #b4 ,what is sin8 ,sin is the transgression of ,god's law4 #a ,john #c3d4 ,who in all the earth has become so boldly defiant that he can in the face of clear and plain ,scriptural statements testify that he is in a state of grace when he is living in known violation of some of ,god's commandments8 ,his boldness will forsake him and he wither like the frail flower beneath the hoary frost when he comes into the awful majestic presence of a righteous ,creator in that great avenging day4 ,one of the inspired writers of the ,new ,testament exhorts ,christians to give all diligence that we add virtue to our faith1 and knowledge to our virtue1 and temperance to our knowledge1 and to temperance patience1 and to patience godliness1 and to godliness brotherly kindness1 and to brotherly kindness charity4 #b ,pet4 #a3e-g4 ,in the following verses he tells us if these things abound in us we shall be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our ,lord1 and if we do these things we shall never fall4 ,does not this obviously imply that if we do not do them that we shall fall8 ,dear reader1 if you are now a ,christian and feel the glowing of ,god's pure love in your heart1 if you neglect to employ the means for growth in grace that the ,bible commands1 that certainly you will backslide1 or fall from grace4 ,you may retain a form of worship1 but you will be devoid of spirituality and your worship be unacceptable4 ,we are commanded to 8grow in grace40 #b ,pet4 #c3ah4 ,in the verse above we are warned against being led away by the error of the wicked and falling from our own steadfastness4 ,now it is a well established fact in the very nature of things that it would be impossible to grow if there was no possibility of a decline4 ,if there be no retrogression1 there can be no progression4 ,the beloved ,john from the lonely isle writes unto the church of ,ephesus and tells them that ,god had somewhat against them because they had left their first love4 ,he tells them to remember from whence they are fallen and repent4 ,they once enjoyed the love of ,god--they were spiritual4 ,his redeeming grace had removed the guilt of sin1 but now they are fallen4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear4 ,how often the apostle ,paul warns the ,christian against backsliding4 ,his motto was1 8,i press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of ,god in ,christ ,jesus40 ,phil4 #c3ad4 ,in writing to the ,colossians he says1 8,luke1 the beloved physician1 and ,demas10 greet you4 ,a greeting was sent from ,demas by ,paul to the ,colossians in the year #fd1 ,a4,d4 ,in writing his letter to ,philemon1 ,a4,d4 #fd1 ,paul says1 8,there salute thee ,epaphras1 my fellow prisoner in ,christ ,jesus2 ,marcus1 ,aristarchus1 ,demas1 ,lucas1 my fellow laborers40 ,ver4 #bc1 #bd4 ,demas was one of ,paul's coworkers1 and undoubtedly enjoyed the experience of salvation by grace4 ,in writing to ,timothy two years later ,paul says1 8,for ,demas hath forsaken me1 having loved this present world40 #b ,tim4 #d3aj4 ,as on the other subjects of this volume many more texts and strong points of reasoning could be given to fixedly establish the ,new ,testament teaching of the possibilities of spiritual degeneration and death1 but we conclude that we have made all plain to the understanding of every candid mind4 ,it has not been our purpose to exhaust any subject4 ,it has not been our expectation to convince many gainsayers1 but to bring light to the hearts which the ,lord has prepared4 ,one text of ,scripture used by propagators of the doctrine1 8,we can never fall from grace10 is found in #a ,john #c3i1 and reads thus3 8,whosoever is born of ,god doth not commit sin3 for his seed remaineth in him3 and he can not sin1 because he is born of ,god40 ,we believe it is safe to always give the ,scriptures the plainest1 simplest meaning when it does not conflict with the ,word of ,god elsewhere4 ,we should never mystify a text1 but accept it as it reads4 ,in #a ,john #b3a1 the author of this epistle says1 8,my little children1 these things write ,i unto you1 that ye sin not4 ,and if any man sin1 we have an advocate with the ,father1 ,jesus ,christ the righteous40 ,certainly every reader understands ,john to here teach that it is possible for man to sin1 or in other words1 no man in this life passes beyond the possibilities of sin4 ,now to understand him to say in the ninth verse of the third chapter that when we are once born of ,god we can not possibly sin1 makes him to teach contradictory doctrines4 ,such we know he does not do1 and since #a ,john #b3a is too plain to be misunderstood1 we must look about to harmonize with it1 in the most simple way1 #a ,john #c3i4 ,we will quote ,rotherham on this text3 8,no one that hath been begotten of ,god doeth sin1 because his seed in him abideth1 and he can not be sinning1 because of ,god has he been begotten40 ,to be begotten of ,god is to be pardoned or saved from sin4 ,the seed 7the ,christ-life7 abides in the soul in the regenerated state4 ,the seeds of life are supplanted by the seeds of death when we commit sin4 ,no one is born of ,god when spiritual life has been destroyed by sin4 ,no man can be 8sinning0 and be a child of ,god4 ,one who has been saved may be overcome and commit sin1 but when he does so he is not ,god's child4 ,this text does not teach the impossibility of committing sin after we are born of ,god1 but only the impossibility of committing sin and being a ,christian4 ,chapter ,,xii4 ,the ,course ,of ,the ,world4 ,unmistakably there exists a wide gulf of separation between the children of ,god and the children of the world4 ,christ is the only avenue of escape from the world4 ,the wide1 open door of salvation is the exit4 ,he who would return from the blissful shores of ,christianity to the beggarly elements of the world can do so only on the transporting barges of ,satan4 ,as a tree is known by its fruits1 so is a true follower of ,christ4 ,the fruit borne by a ,christian is directly opposite in its nature to the fruit borne by the worldling4 ,it is not the profession merely that produces the separation1 but it is the manner of life4 ,the ,son of ,god is the great exemplar of ,christianity4 ,just what true ,christian principles did in him will in the very nature of things do for all who possess like principles4 ,we are forced to the conclusion that the professed follower of ,christ is destitute of ,christian principles when he delights himself in worldliness4 ,jesus said of himself1 8,i am not of this world40 ,john #h3bc4 ,he says of his followers1 8,if ye were of the world1 the world would love his own3 but because ye are not of the world1 but ,i have chosen you out of the world1 therefore the world hateth you40 ,john #ae3ai4 ,paul bears testimony to his separation from the world by the grace of ,god4 ,in ,eph4 #b3b1 #c he speaks of the time when he lived among those who were worldly4 ,he says1 8,wherein in sin in time past ye walked according to the course of this world1 according to the prince of the power of the air1 the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience3 among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh1 fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind3 and were by nature the children of wrath1 even as others40 ,in the next two verses he testifies to the effects of saving grace3 8,but ,god1 who is rich in mercy1 for his great love wherewith he loved us1 even when we were dead in sins1 hath quickened us together with ,christ2 by grace ye are saved40 ,it must be made obvious to all by these texts that salvation from sin by grace saves from walking according to the course of the world4 ,again the apostle gives testimony3 8,but ,god forbid that ,i should glory1 save in the cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by whom the world is crucified unto me1 and ,i unto the world40 ,gal4 #f3ad4 ,how true6 ,when man accepts ,christ he is by him separated from the world4 ,jesus was not of the world4 ,he was the light of the world4 ,the world was in darkness4 ,light is the opposite of darkness4 ,had he been of the world and like the world he would not have been a light4 ,christians are said to be 8the light of the world10 and are to shine as lights in the world4 ,they are lights in the world because of the righteous principles they possess and manifest4 ,they are like ,jesus and in as direct contrast to the world as he4 ,the ,savior says1 8,i have given them thy word2 and the world hath hated them1 because they are not of the world1 even as ,i am not of the world4 ,i pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world1 but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil4 ,they are not of the world even as ,i am not of the world40 ,john #ag3ad-af4 ,it is impossible for the heart's affections to be centered upon opposing natures4 ,for instance1 it is impossible for man to admire honesty and dishonesty2 to love temperance and intemperance2 to enjoy peace and strife4 ,it is equally impossible for man to both love and possess sin and righteousness4 8,no man can serve two masters3 for either he will hate the one1 and love the other2 or else he will hold to the one1 and despise the other4 ,ye can not serve ,god and mammon40 ,mat4 #f3bd4 ,it is impossible to love ,god and the world3 8,love not the world1 neither the things that are in the world4 ,if any man love the world1 the love of the ,father is not in him4 ,for all that is in the world1 the lust of the flesh1 and the lust of the eyes1 and the pride of life1 is not of the ,father1 but is of the world4 ,and the world passeth away1 and the lust thereof3 but he that doeth the will of ,god abideth forever40 #a ,john #b3ae-ag4 8,for do ,i now persuade men1 or ,god8 or do ,i seek to please men8 for if ,i yet pleased men1 ,i should not be the servant of ,christ40 ,gal4 #a3aj4 8,ye adulterers and adulteresses1 know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with ,god8 whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of ,god40 ,jas4 #d3d4 ,these are plain declarative texts4 ,it is not meant by them that ,christians do not love sinners and can not be friends to them4 ,christ loved and died for sinners4 ,he visited them in their homes while here on earth1 but never did he approve of their sinful ways4 ,he never participated with them in anything that was worldly4 ,he was not influenced by the world into any spirit of worldly merriment4 ,he loved the souls of men1 but he did not love the world4 ,he was holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 and separate from sinners4 ,heb4 #g3bf4 ,christians1 like ,christ1 love mankind1 and are friendly and treat with respect and kindness the sinner1 but never participate with him1 nor become influenced in sinful1 worldly ways4 ,the affections of the ,christian are set on things above4 ,col4 #c3a4 ,persecutions4 ,in the early ministry of the ,savior there is an intimation that the righteous shall be persecuted4 ,it is found in these words3 8,blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake3 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven4 ,blessed are ye1 when men shall revile you1 and persecute you1 and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely1 for my sake40 ,mat4 #e3aj1 #aa4 ,from whence may the righteous expect these persecutions8 ,we learned in the preceding subject that ,christians were not of the world4 ,we learn also by the ,scriptures that they are hated by the world4 ,jesus was hated by the world because of the light of ,christian virtue and righteousness that shone through him4 ,those that glorify ,god by reflecting the righteousness of ,christ to the world will be regarded with the same feeling4 8,if the world hate you1 ye know that it hated me before it hated you40 ,john #ae3ah4 ,in every age of the world1 from the days of ,cain and ,abel to the present1 true ,christians have been hated and persecuted by the wicked1 and especially by false worshipers4 ,we will farther quote the language of the ,savior3 8,if ye were of the world1 the world would love his own3 but because ye are not of the world1 but ,i have chosen you out of the world1 therefore the world hateth you4 ,remember the word ,i said unto you1 ,the servant is not greater than his ,lord4 ,if they have persecuted me1 they will also persecute you2 if they have kept my saying1 they will keep yours also4 ,but all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake1 because they know not him that sent me40 ,john #ae3ai-ba4 ,when pretended worshipers of ,god are free from persecutions for ,christ's sake it is because they are worshipers in form only1 but in spirit they are worldly4 ,in truth these people are usually foremost in persecuting the true children of ,god4 ,jesus was persecuted and hated by the very pretentious ,pharisees and ,sadducees4 8,he came unto his own1 and his own received him not40 ,john #a3aa4 ,those who professed to be children of ,abraham sought to take the ,savior's life4 ,john #h3ci1 #dj4 ,because ,jesus by a pure1 holy life rebuked sin1 because he in burning words of ,heaven's glorious truth exposed the hypocrisy of the proud ,jews1 because he told them of their sins1 they gnashed upon him with their teeth2 they told him he had a devil2 they spit upon him2 they smote him2 they mocked him2 they placed a crown of thorns upon his brow1 and were the instigators of his death4 ,jesus says to his own beloved followers3 8,if they have persecuted me1 they will also persecute you40 ,john #ae3bj4 8,if they have called the master of the house ,beelzebub1 how much more shall they call them of his household80 ,mat4 #aj3be4 8,and ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake40 ,luke #ba3ag4 ,those who live like ,jesus1 those who will boldly declare the truth of the gospel1 and rebuke sin and hypocrisy1 they shall receive persecutions from wicked men1 and cold1 proud-hearted professors1 as did the ,savior4 8,yea1 and all that will live godly in ,christ ,jesus shall suffer persecution40 #b ,tim4 #c3ab4 ,christians must suffer the taunts of a sinful world1 but they 8rejoice1 inasmuch as ye are partakers of ,christ's sufferings2 that1 when his glory shall be revealed1 ye may be glad also with exceeding joy4 ,if ye be reproached for the name of ,christ1 happy are ye2 for the ,spirit of glory and of ,god resteth upon you40 #a ,pet4 #d3ac1 #ad4 8,blessed are ye when men shall hate you1 and when they shall separate you from their company1 and shall reproach you1 and cast out your name as evil1 for the ,son of man's sake4 ,rejoice ye in that day1 and leap for joy3 for1 behold1 your reward is great in heaven3 for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets40 ,luke #f3bb1 #bc4 ,one evening1 shortly after ,god by his saving grace had separated us from the world and bestowed his righteousness upon us1 we for ,christ's sake received insults and abuse from the wicked4 ,we turned away from our persecutors and entered the privacy of our home1 when a rich glory rested in such a heavenly sweetness upon our souls that we cried out1 8,o ,god1 why am ,i so wonderfully blessed80 ,the answer came3 8,if ye be reproached for the name of ,christ1 happy are ye2 for the ,spirit of glory and of ,god resteth upon you40 8,rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy40 ,the grace and glory that was poured out upon our soul on this occasion would have made the coals and flames of martyrdom a bed of sweet repose4 ,stephen as he faced death at the hands of cruel persecutors1 saw the glory of ,god and the heavens opened and saw the ,son of man for whose sake he was now stoned4 ,paul and ,silas with their feet made fast in the stocks at midnight prayed and sang praises to ,god4 ,is it not an occasion of wonder and astonishment how the bigoted zeal of deceived and blinded1 high-minded professors leads them to become the most vile persecutors of the righteous8 ,paul persecuted the church of ,god and wasted it4 ,he thought he was doing ,god's service4 ,the children of ,god in every age have received their persecutions from religious bigots1 and so will it ever be4 ,we rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer for ,jesus' sake4 ,we glory in the midst of tribulations4 ,the ,spirit of ,god and of glory rests upon the devoted ,christian in affliction's furnace1 and a bright1 blessed hope of great eternal reward ever cheers and nerves his faltering soul4 ,he1 who1 in this dark world will suffer with the ,savior shall share a blissful eternity with him4 ,amusements4 ,the affections of a ,christian's heart are set on things above1 and not on things on the earth4 ,col4 #c3b4 ,the entertainments1 such as suppers1 festivals1 parties1 concerts1 regardless of what may be the ultimate object1 are engaged in and enjoyed only by the worldly minded and graceless hearted4 8,she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth40 #a ,tim4 #e3f4 ,those who find enjoyment in the amusements afforded by the world are without spiritual life4 8,go to now1 ye rich men1 weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you4444 ,ye have lived in pleasure on the earth1 and been wanton40 ,jas4 #e3a1 #e4 ,a life of pleasure here on the earth in wantonness is directly opposed to a life with ,christ4 8,no man can serve two masters40 ,people who participate in and enjoy the socials1 the suppers1 the fairs1 and picnics1 the ,christmas festivities and church entertainments of the present time have but little or no comprehension of true ,christianity4 ,they are ignorant of ,god's true character and the power and beauty of his holiness4 ,children of ,god are to live 8soberly1 righteously1 and godly in this present world40 ,titus #b3ab4 ,revelry is one of the fruits of the flesh1 which if borne in our life1 or1 in other words1 if we engage in1 ,paul tells us we shall never inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,gal4 #e3ba4 ,peter tells us that the time of his life when he walked in sin1 when he indulged in the lusts of the flesh was sufficient to have wrought the will of the ,gentiles1 to walk in lusts and engage in revelings and banquetings4 ,salvation saved him from such a life1 and his former worldly associates think it strange that he will not engage with them in the worldly riotousness and pleasures any longer1 and because he is saved from such a course they speak evil of him4 ,this is the substance of #a ,pet4 #d3a-d4 ,the gay scenes of a worldly life with their pleasures and mirth have no delight for the heart filled with ,christian love4 ,he who loves ,god has no love for worldly sports4 ,the pleasurable society of ,jesus destroys all taste for the society of the world4 ,the ,christian's walk is alone with ,god4 ,conversation4 ,an individual saved by grace will experience a marked change in his language4 ,the apostle says that in the time of his life when he walked according to the world he had his conversation in the lusts of the flesh4 ,eph4 #b3b1 #c4 ,it is true the word 8conversation0 in this text1 and many others1 is by many translators rendered 8conduct10 which is a more correct translation4 ,but this is made to include the words of speech4 8,out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh40 ,mat4 #ab3cd4 ,where worldliness and foolishness is lodged in the heart it will be manifest in the conversation4 ,gay1 frivolous1 foolish talk1 mirthful stories1 and language in jest1 indicate a graceless heart4 ,listen at the world in conversation4 ,note the idle bywords1 the slang phrases1 the jestings1 the gay1 giddy1 foolish expressions1 the low and impure speech1 which is all foreign to the kingdom of grace4 ,man is not to be known by his profession1 but by his fruits3 8,wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them40 ,mat4 #g3bj4 ,thus we know regardless of profession1 when man's conversation is as the above1 that he is destitute of ,god's pure love and grace4 8,be ye holy in all manner of conversation10 is the command of ,god's holy ,word as recorded in #a ,pet4 #a3ae4 ,from a pure heart can only flow a pure and holy speech4 8,let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth1 but that which is good to the use of edifying1 that it may minister grace unto the hearers40 ,eph4 #d3bi4 ,our words are to be in such gravity and sincerity1 in such depth of wisdom1 and so flavored with the seasoning qualities of grace as to be elevating or inspiring to a higher degree of piety the listener4 8,let your speech be alway with grace1 seasoned with salt1 that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man40 ,col4 #d3f4 ,god's saving grace effects a change in the heart1 and as a natural result a change in the conversation4 ,paul no longer walked according to the course of this world in conversation when saved by the grace of ,god4 ,where there are amusing stories told1 idle expressions1 unmeaning remarks1 jestings and jokings1 regardless of the assumed sanctity in the hour of public worship1 it is a life after the manner of the world1 and betrays a heart devoid of ,god's sober1 solemn1 holy presence1 and the sanctimonious appearance on sacred occasions is but an effort of the human will1 and not the deep piety and spontaneous reverence of the heart4 ,jesus said that for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment3 8,for by thy words thou shalt be justified1 and by thy words thou shalt be condemned40 ,mat4 #ab3cf1 #cg4 8,young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded4 ,in all things1 showing thyself a pattern of good works3 in doctrine showing uncorruptness1 gravity1 sincerity1 sound speech1 that can not be condemned40 ,titus #b3f-h4 8,but fornication1 and all uncleanness1 or covetousness1 let it not be once named among you1 as becometh saints2 neither filthiness1 nor foolish talking1 nor jesting1 which are not convenient40 ,eph4 #e3c1 #d4 ,slang phrases1 gay1 frivolous1 foolish talking1 and unholy conversation is degrading to society1 disgraceful to ,christianity1 and a shame and a reproach to any people4 ,dress4 ,when the new birth is experienced a marked change is made in the life4 ,the individual is made a new creature1 old things are passed away and all things become new4 ,the heart that loved this world is gone1 and a heart filled with the love of ,god and heaven takes its place4 ,the radical change effected within the heart will affect the exterior man4 8,make clean the inside of the cup and platter and the outside will be clean also40 8,out of the heart are the issues of life40 8,out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh40 ,it is impossible for a proud heart to receive the grace of ,god4 8,god resisteth the proud1 and giveth grace to the humble40 #a ,pet4 #e3e4 ,the wonderful salvation of ,god which changes the heart will also change the manner of dress1 if the dress formerly was worldly1 which is very natural4 ,the dear ,lord has been so very careful to distinguish his loved children from the world and make them a shining light that he has given them plain directions how to dress4 ,what a privilege the ,christian has in obeying ,god in what is considered the 8little things0 of his ,word1 which however small are of such importance as to cause the eternal loss of the soul if wilfully disobeyed4 ,respecting the manner of ,christian dress we will quote from #a ,tim4 #b3i1 #aj3 8,in like manner also1 that women adorn themselves in modest apparel1 with shamefacedness and sobriety2 not with braided hair1 or gold1 or pearls1 or costly array2 but 7which becometh women professing godliness7 with good works40 ,this is a much abused and wrested scripture4 ,the proud-hearted1 who have endeavored to persuade themselves to believe they are ,christians1 have surmised and planned to enforce upon themselves the conclusion that ,god did not here mean what he has said4 ,in earlier days when the human systems of religion were more consistent with the ,word of ,god such texts were incorporated in their creeds1 but so deep has been their plunge into the whirlpool of worldliness that they are rejected from both ,bible and creed4 ,many tell us that this was for the women in the primitive days of ,christianity when it was the custom to plait the hair with gold and silver strands4 ,this is only a ready sophistry to allure the soul4 ,we will admit it was for women in the early days of ,christianity1 but we deny it is any less for women and men also in any other day4 ,with respect to ,christianity some people are shamefully dishonest4 ,all the duties and sacrifices not congenial to a proud heart they are glad to impose upon the ,christians of some past or future time1 but all the blessings ,god has promised the saint they would gladly receive in this present time4 ,the ,christian is commanded to dress in 8modest apparel0 8with shamefacedness40 ,it frequently happens that people become so boldly proud that they can dress in the height of fashion and profess to be ,christians without a shame upon their face4 ,one who is really and truly saved will dress in modest apparel1 while humility1 meekness1 and modesty are depicted in loveliness upon their countenance4 ,those who adorn themselves in pearls and gold and costly array usually bear a proud1 disdainful look4 ,when redeemed by grace the fashionable dress and proud look give place to a sweet ,christian modesty4 ,a humble heart and a fashionable dress are incompatible4 ,shamefacedness is derived from aidos in the ,greek1 and has 8modesty0 and 8bashfulness0 for its primary meaning4 ,how beautifully the teachings of the apostles harmonize4 ,peter tells us that the ,christian's adorning should be the hidden man of the heart adorned by a meek and quiet spirit4 ,this man in the heart1 hidden as he is1 does however reveal himself4 8,out of the heart are the issues of life40 ,when the heart is meek and humble1 lowliness1 gentleness1 and modesty will be seen in the countenance4 ,a meek1 modest1 ,christ-like countenance under a fashionably decorated hat is the greatest incongruity4 ,with shamefacedness the ,christian is to be adorned with sobriety4 ,fashionable dress is directly the opposite of sobriety4 ,this word is translated from the ,greek word sophrou1 which is properly defined1 soundness of mind4 ,the weary toil and labor that many undergo to earn money and then make the unnecessary expenditure in buying costly1 fashionable dress does certainly betray a lack of wisdom1 which might in reality be termed an unsoundness of mind4 ,gold and pearls and costly array is intemperance in dress4 ,instead of dressing in sobriety many are crazed or drunken on the spirit of worldliness in dress4 ,there is a beautiful consistency in ,christianity1 but how inconsistent with divine things is the expenditure of money for the adornment of the physical being4 ,no one can spend money for gold rings and chains and charms1 for pearls and beads1 for plumed hats1 and such like1 with the number around that are destitute1 penniless1 and starving1 without incurring the displeasure of a merciful ,god4 ,man shall have to give an account in the day of awful judgment how he has expended the money the ,lord has entrusted to his care4 ,in the purchasing of any unnecessary article of dress there will be a reproving of the ,spirit unless the heart is so intoxicated with the love of self that it is unconscious of the things and voice of ,god4 ,ah1 how shamefully inconsistent with the tender-heartedness and sympathizing spirit of ,christianity in this lavishing of charms and adornments upon self6 ,our dress should be only such as is necessary for protection and health4 ,going about in the world doing good in all humility of heart1 modest and unassuming in our manners and dress1 making ourselves as little conspicuous as possible1 but lifting up ,jesus everywhere1 is the true ,christian life4 ,secret ,orders4 ,the present-day institutions known as 8,secret ,orders10 are of an earthly1 worldly origin4 ,they are one of the things of this world which man can not love and continue in the love of ,god4 ,within those secret organizations are bundled together by strong oaths the professed ,christian1 the infidel1 the lawyer1 the doctor1 the saloon-keeper1 the gambler1 and almost every character upon the earth4 ,by the bonds of this secret union the preacher is made a brother with an infidel4 ,the apostle ,paul tells us1 8,be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers3 for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness8 and what communion hath light with darkness8 and what concord hath ,christ with ,belial8 or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel80 #b ,cor4 #f3ad1 #ae4 ,the preacher who professes to believe in ,god is here having a part with an infidel contrary to the ,word of ,god4 ,you who are professing to be a light in the world1 how can you in the fear of ,god take the oaths necessary to make you a member of a secret order8 ,how can you join in the worldly hurrah and laughter1 and foolish1 ungodly pranks as played upon the candidate within the secret walls8 ,what do you think of a preacher1 or layman1 becoming the laughing-stock of infidels1 lawyers1 saloon-keepers1 drunkards1 and gamblers1 as he trembles beneath the blindfold8 ,what kind of light are they letting shine8 ,i appeal to your reason and common sense4 ,is it ,christlike8 ,do you think ,jesus would engage in such dark works8 ,some have charged the ,savior with being a freemason4 ,such is a libelous statement4 ,in ,isa4 #de3ai1 the ,lord says1 8,i have not spoken in secret1 in a dark place of the earth3 444 ,i the ,lord speak righteousness1 ,i declare things that are right40 ,christ only speaks the things that are right and never the dark1 ungodly oaths and sayings of the secret lodge4 ,again1 the ,savior said1 8,i spake openly to the world2 ,i ever taught in the synagogue1 and in the temple1 whither the ,jews always resort3 and in secret have ,i said nothing40 ,john #ah3bj4 ,jesus spake nothing in secret1 and to charge him with having connection with the dark1 secret mysteries of masonry is as slanderous as the charge made by the people who said1 8,thou hast a devil40 ,john #g3bj4 ,the ,savior not only knew that men would1 in order to defend their unrighteous systems1 charge him with having a devil1 but he also knew that for the same purpose men would charge him with having connections with such systems2 therefore he said1 to uncloak the falsity of such charges1 8,wherefore if they shall say unto you1 ,behold1 he is in the desert2 go not forth3 behold1 he is in the secret chambers2 believe it not40 ,mat4 #bd3bf4 ,jesus gives commandment to preach upon the housetop what ye hear in the ear4 ,mat4 #aj3bg4 8,for ,god shall bring every work into judgment1 with every secret thing1 whether it be good1 or whether it be evil40 ,eccl4 #ab3ad4 ,it is not the mission of this work to reveal the awful oaths and secret works of these various orders4 ,other men by many volumes have done this4 ,we only hope to help you to see that secrecy is contrary to the ,bible and the ,spirit of ,christ and ,christianity4 ,it is a thing of the world and conducted on a worldly basis4 ,connected with many of these orders are life insurances--a thing of the world4 ,the ,christian is separated from the world and ,christ becomes his all in all4 ,to make prominent the good qualities of their secret systems men tell us of their obligations to help their brother and his family4 ,how these orders provide help for a man in time of need1 and how true each member is to his obligation1 etc4 ,such might do if there were no ,god nor ,christianity4 ,secrecy provides only for its own members4 ,salvation provides for all4 ,a member of a secret order is under no obligation from his order to visit a poor sick man by the way who is not a member of his order1 but is under obligation to visit and care for a sick fellow member1 though he be rich4 ,we see no ,christianity in this4 ,we see no humanity4 ,it is having respect of persons1 forbidden by ,scripture4 ,humanity1 and much more ,christianity1 will not only send man to do good to the rich1 but to the poor also1 be they of any class or nation4 ,a man that is a ,christian will visit the sick and afflicted1 no matter what may be their station in life4 ,if a man thinks he is a light in the world because he is true to the obligations of his secret order in visiting and administering to the needs of his sick brother1 he is very much deceived4 ,such is a false light4 ,when a man has to place himself under such solemn oaths to do good1 it proves that he has but little or no humanity4 8,do good to all men10 is the spirit of ,christianity4 ,a man need not take the obligations of a secret order to be furnished with the qualifications for doing good4 ,the ,word of ,god is all that is needed for reproof1 correction1 and instruction1 that a man may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works4 #b ,tim4 #c3af1 #ag4 ,a man need not seek membership in some secret organization in order to be provided for in his old days1 or his family in case of his death4 ,the ,psalmist says1 8,i have been young1 and now am old2 yet have ,i not seen the righteous forsaken1 nor his seed begging bread40 ,paul says1 8,but my ,god shall supply all your need40 ,phil4 #d3ai4 8,wherefore come out from among them1 and be ye separate1 saith the ,lord1 and touch not the unclean thing2 and ,i will receive you1 and will be a ,father unto you1 and ye shall be my sons and daughters1 saith the ,lord ,almighty40 #b ,cor4 #f3ag1 #ah4 8,they are not of the world1 even as ,i am not of the world40 ,john #ag3af4 ,chapter ,,xiii4 ,the ,domestic ,relation4 ,when we speak of home life with its relations and duties we are not digressing from the subject of gospel light4 ,nowhere does the light of ,christianity shine so peaceful and beautiful as in the home4 ,nowhere is the power of its influence so felt as in the home circle4 ,the public worship of ,christians is an inspiring scene1 but nothing apparently is so heavenly as the sacred family altar4 ,a father and mother whose hearts are filled with holy love together with happy1 obedient children bowing together at the shrine of devotion is the most imposing scene the eye and heart can witness4 ,marriage4 ,the union of man and woman in marriage is the work of the ,creator4 ,god saw after he had created man that it was not good for him to be alone4 ,such was his constitution4 ,so he made a helpmeet for him4 ,god from the rib of man made woman and brought her unto him1 who said1 8,this is now bone of my bones1 and flesh of my flesh3 she shall be called ,woman1 because she was taken out of ,man4 ,therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother1 and shall cleave unto his wife3 and they shall be one flesh40 ,gen4 #b3bb-bd4 ,in conjunction with the divine institution of marriage there is also a legal institution4 ,while the civil contract is acceptable unto ,god by way of preventing promiscuous sexual intercourse1 it is powerless to make both one flesh and bone4 ,it is only the power of ,god that can make two hearts to beat as one4 ,by the power of his grace he makes ,christians of 8one heart and one soul10 and of man and woman he makes 8one flesh and bone40 ,the apostle to illustrate the blessed union of ,christ and the church makes use of the union of man and wife4 8,they two shall be one flesh40 ,eph4 #e3ca4 8,man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife40 ,the union between husband and wife is stronger than between parent and child4 ,the all-wise ,god has a design in all his works4 ,he reveals to man in his ,word his purpose in the union of man and wife4 ,one object in the marriage union1 as we have before said1 is to prevent promiscuous sexual commerce4 8,nevertheless to avoid fornication1 let every man have his own wife1 and let every woman have her own husband40 #a ,cor4 #g3b4 ,the union of man and woman is a holy and sacred institution1 however the union of ,christ and the church is still a higher and more important work of ,god4 ,therefore ,paul advises all who can live a pure life in an unmarried state they can be more useful to ,god1 for he careth for the things that belong to the ,lord1 how he may please the ,lord4 ,but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world1 how he may please his wife4 ,another object in the divine mind for uniting male and female is for the purpose of procreation4 8,and ,god blessed them1 and ,god said unto them1 ,be fruitful1 and multiply and replenish the earth40 ,gen4 #a3bh4 ,alas6 how few properly reverence and esteem the divine purpose4 ,marriages are too often contracted for the comforts of a home1 or for affluence1 or for elevation in society1 or1 worst of all1 for the gratification of lustful desires4 ,of such too many murderously resort to the devices of art to thwart the designs of the ,creator4 ,procreation was the highest purpose in the divine mind for the union of man and wife4 ,for this purpose he implanted in their natures a sexual desire4 ,they who avoid to act this part in life come short of the purpose of their creation4 ,divorce4 ,because the contracting parties at the marriage shrine do not feel and have not properly considered the obligations and responsibilities of a married life1 but enter in from selfish desires1 then finding it attended with cares and responsibilities they do not care to bear1 they seek opportunities for release4 ,the legal union is often severed by the same authority as was given4 ,but as the civil power can not create two hearts into one1 nor make of twain 8one flesh and bone10 neither can such authorities create two of what has been made one4 ,the law of ,heaven is1 ,what ,god hath joined together1 let not man put asunder4 ,mat4 #ai3f4 ,the ,word of ,god fixes death as the limit to the bond of union4 8,for the woman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth3 but if the husband be dead1 she is loosed from the law of her husband4 ,so then if while her husband liveth1 she be married to another man1 she shall be called an adulteress3 but if her husband be dead1 she is free from that law2 so that she is no adulteress1 though she be married to another man40 ,rom4 #g3b1 #c4 8,the wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth3 but if her husband be dead1 she is at liberty to be married to whom she will2 only in the ,lord40 #a ,cor4 #g3ci4 8,and he ,jesus saith unto them1 ,whosoever shall put away his wife1 and marry another1 committeth adultery against her4 ,and if a woman shall put away her husband1 and be married to another1 she committeth adultery40 ,mark #aj3aa1 #ab4 ,in ,mat4 #ai3i1 we read1 8,and ,i say unto you1 whosoever shall put away his wife1 except it be for fornication1 and shall marry another1 committeth adultery3 and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery40 ,some have thought there was a lack of harmony in the teaching of ,jesus as recorded by ,mark and ,matthew4 ,mark makes the plain statement that whosoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery4 ,he makes no exceptions4 ,matthew says1 8,except it be for fornication40 ,there is no disagreement here4 ,it is the prominent thought each has that makes the difference in the statements4 ,the truth that ,mark wishes to teach is that there is no just cause for a man marrying who has a divorced wife4 ,the plain statement is if a man puts away his wife and marries another he commits adultery4 ,there is no exception4 ,there is no just cause for his marrying1 and if he does it is adultery1 no matter what may be the cause of divorcement4 ,the truth that ,matthew teaches is that there is one just cause for putting away the wife4 ,this is a just cause for putting her away1 but not for marrying again4 ,every one that divorces his wife1 even though it be for fornication1 and marries another violates ,mark #aj3aa and ,luke #af3ah4 ,a man may put away his wife for fornication1 and not transgress a single text in the ,bible4 ,fornication is the only just cause for man to put away his wife1 or the wife the husband4 ,some have fallen into the dangerous error of putting away the wife because the ,scriptures say1 8,be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers40 #b ,cor4 #f3ad4 ,this is a wrong application of this text4 ,no doubt but it does forbid the unmarried ,christian yoking up with an unbeliever1 as in #a ,cor4 #g3ci the woman whose husband is dead is at liberty to marry whom she will2 only in the ,lord4 ,however1 it does not teach the breaking of the marriage yoke4 ,matthew gives the only cause4 ,paul says1 8,if any brother hath a wife that believeth not1 and she be pleased to dwell with him1 let him not put her away4 ,and the woman which hath a husband that believeth not1 and if he be pleased to dwell with her1 let her not leave him40 #a ,cor4 #g3ab1 #ac4 ,a man once told us that ,god showed him to leave his wife4 7,she was a true wife47 ,he was decidedly mistaken and should have tried the spirit4 8,what therefore ,god hath joined together1 let not man put asunder40 ,the word joined is from the ,greek suzeugnuo4 and means 8yoked together40 ,this yoke man can not break4 ,when ,god by his saving grace unites a soul with ,christ1 no man can break the bond of union4 ,sin1 and sin only1 will sever the tie that binds them together4 ,when ,god unites husband and wife into one flesh and bone1 no civil court can break the bond4 ,when woman has become so untrue to her husband and false to her marriage vow as to have sexual connection with another man1 ,god allows such an unchaste sin1 and such a sin only1 to dissolve the union4 ,why is fornication the only just cause for disuniting husband and wife8 ,why is sin the only cause of separation between ,christ and the ,christian8 ,it is because the design of ,god in sending his ,son to the world was to destroy and prevent sin4 ,then of necessity when his purpose fails there can be no union4 ,the design of the ,almighty in instituting marriage was to secure a legitimate population of the world1 or to prevent the lewd1 indiscriminate sexual intercourse4 ,when this purpose fails the object of marriage fails1 and there can be no union4 ,brooklets joining form the river1 ,rivers joining form the sea2 ,love uniting hearts together ,beat as one eternally4 ,god by law of his creation ,creates in one the happy twain2 ,hand and heart they are united ,as they pass adown life's stream4 ,see the flowers greet each other1 ,and the sunlight kiss the sea2 ,see the waves clasp one another1 ,why not hearts united be8 ,birds in springtime mate each other1 ',tis a law decreed above2 ,for the sake of procreation ,god creates connubial love4 ,duties ,of ,the ,husband ,to ,the ,wife4 ,great are the responsibilities resting upon the husband4 ,the wife is termed the 8weaker vessel10 unto whom the husband is to give honor and to dwell with according to knowledge4 #a ,pet4 #c3g4 ,the ,word of ,god gives instruction how the husband should dwell with the wife4 ,it is his duty to glean knowledge from the same and dwell with her accordingly4 ,he is her example4 ,she looks unto him as her instructor1 both in precept and example4 ,she is to be honored by receiving the benefits1 by way of counsel1 support and protection1 of his superior strength4 ,he in his strong1 courageous construction1 and she in her feminine frailty1 are both heirs together of the grace of life4 ,when each understand their true position and dwell together according to knowledge their prayers rise unhindered to the throne of grace4 ,the ,scriptures grant man authority over the wife3 8,but ,i would have you know1 that the head of every man is ,christ2 and the head of the woman is the man2 and the head of ,christ is ,god40 #a ,cor4 #aa3c4 8,for the husband is the head of the wife1 even as ,christ is the head of the church40 ,eph4 #e3bc4 ,you understand the protection and care ,christ has for his bride--the church3 in like manner man is responsible for the protection and care of the wife4 ,he takes the position of head of the wife as ,christ takes the position of head of the church--in love4 8,husbands1 love your wives1 even as ,christ also loved the church1 and gave himself for it40 ,eph4 #e3be4 8,husbands1 love your wives1 and be not bitter against them40 ,col4 #c3ai4 ,the love of the husband must be as deep and true for the wife as the love of ,christ for the church4 ,he gave himself for it4 ,man considers not his life for the care and protection of his wife when he loves her4 ,where there is bitterness there is wanting true love4 ,bitterness drives love and heaven away from the home4 8,let all bitterness1 and wrath1 and anger1 and clamor1 and evil speaking1 be put away from you1 with all malice3 and be ye kind one to another1 tender-hearted40 ,eph4 #d3ca1 #cb4 ,man should take the wife into his confidence and entrust her with the secrets of his private life4 ,he should respect and regard her counsel4 ,jacob has given us an example4 ,gen4 #ca4 ,elkanah has set us an example of comforting the wife4 #a ,sam4 #a3h4 ,it is a comparatively easy thing1 unless you are abounding in the love of ,god1 to become neglectful of the comfort1 welfare and happiness of the wife4 ,she in her tender1 sympathetic nature seeks for attention and delights in being loved4 ,do not therefore be sparing in your attention toward her4 ,the fond1 affectionate wife will meet the duties1 trials1 afflictions and responsibilities of life without a murmur does she but know that she is loved4 ,enter into her joys and sorrows with a regard4 8,let thy fountain be blessed3 and rejoice with the wife of thy youth4444 ,be thou ravished always with her love40 ,prov4 #e3ah1 #ai4 ,malachi exhorts the husband to faithfulness4 8,yet ye say1 ,wherefore8 ,because the ,lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth1 against whom thou hast dealt treacherously3 yet is she thy companion1 and the wife of thy covenant40 ,chap4 #b3ad4 ,such are some of the duties of a husband1 and he who has cast aside regard for such duties1 is a stranger to the covenant of grace4 ,duties ,of ,the ,wife ,to ,the ,husband4 ,it is a just cause of lament that so comparatively few wives have a perfect knowledge of their rightful position in the domestic circle4 ,we will briefly give a few texts from the ,holy ,book showing the wife her true place in the family and her duty toward her husband1 trusting ,god to give her a desire to be all that a wife should be4 ,the fundamental principle is love4 ,without sincere1 conjugal love she can scarcely fill the mission of wife4 ,when woman becomes a wife she takes a position fraught with the greatest responsibilities4 ,oh1 how many idle dreamers take such positions with little feeling1 thought or comprehension of its responsibilities1 and pass through life away below the true mission of a wife4 ,the instruction of the inspired apostle is that the young women be sober1 love their husbands1 love their children1 be discreet1 chaste1 keepers at home1 good1 obedient to their own husbands1 that the word of ,god be not blasphemed4 ,titus #b3d1 #e4 ,such are the demands of the young wife made by the ,word of ,god4 ,the demand made of the aged wives is that they set a proper example in all these things4 ,when they do not fill these demands the ,word of ,god is blasphemed4 ,when wives professing to be ,christians and a light in the world are neglectful of home1 of husband and children1 they bring ,christianity into disrepute4 ,wives are commanded to be sober4 ,instead of sobriety how often we see them gay1 silly1 foolish and worldly-minded4 ,their thoughts are trashy1 and their conversation the same2 talking about one another1 busybodies1 no depth of thought or feeling of their mission in life1 but are concerned more about the fashions and society than the duties of home4 ,such characters disgrace the cause of ,christ4 ,true love will manifest itself1 and where the wife loves the husband1 home is her dearest place4 ,her great life work is to make home happy and attractive4 ,she has a deep regard for the comforts of her lord1 and love lightens all her labor for him4 ,the true wife loves her children1 which will also find its manifestation4 ,among the coarse and vulgar we have heard mothers in provocation speak thus to their children3 8,haven't you any sense80 8,you are the foolishest thing ,i ever saw40 8,i'll box your head off40 8,i'll beat you to death40 8,i wish you were dead10 and other like expressions4 ,such is awful language1 but it has escaped the lips of many a mother4 ,before the public they like to appear gentle1 mild and sweet tempered1 while in the privacy of their homes they are snarly1 snappish and cross4 ,when it pleases ,god to remove one of their little ones to a more peaceful home above they mourn most bitterly2 more because of remorse of conscience than from a fountain of pure love4 ,there is1 however1 many a mother who longs to be tender and kind to her loved ones1 but because of her bondage to the tyrannical power of an ill1 impatient temper1 she utters1 under provocation1 unfeeling1 inhuman speech toward her little ones4 ,in her calmer hours she weeps because of bondage4 ,to all such we would say1 ,there is help for you in ,god4 ,jesus can set you free4 ,yield yourself to him4 ,he will pardon your sins and sweeten your life by his grace4 ,to be discreet1 wise1 prudent1 selecting the best means to accomplish a noble purpose is the wife's mission in her home4 ,the wife is a type of the church4 8,let us be glad and rejoice1 and give honor to him3 for the marriage of the ,lamb is come1 and his wife hath made herself ready40 ,rev4 #ai3g4 8,come hither1 and ,i will show thee the bride1 the ,lamb's wife4 ,and he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain1 and showed me that great city1 the holy ,jerusalem1 descending out of heaven from ,god40 ,rev4 #ba3i1 #aj4 ,the husband is to love the wife as ,christ loved the church2 and as the church reverences and obeys1 is faithful and subject to ,christ1 the wife is to reverence1 obey and be faithful and subject to her husband4 8,nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself1 and the wife see that she reverence her husband40 8,wives1 submit yourselves unto your own husbands1 as unto the ,lord4 ,therefore as the church is subject unto ,christ1 so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing40 ,eph4 #e3bb1 #bd4 8,wives1 submit yourselves unto your own husbands1 as it is fit in the ,lord40 ,col4 #c3ah4 8,likewise1 ye wives1 be in subjection to your own husbands2 that1 if any obey not the word1 they also may without the word be won by the conversation conduct of the wives40 #a ,pet4 #c3a4 ,such is the true position of the wife1 giving the husband reverence4 ,this means to fear4 ,not the slavish fear1 but a fear in love1 like as one would fear ,god whom he loved with all his heart4 ,fear to purposely displease him4 ,fear to wilfully neglect him4 ,fear to obstinately disobey him4 ,to be in subjection with reverence4 ,such words are full of solid thought1 and we would ask every wife to wisely consider them1 especially if she places any value upon ,christianity4 ,the husband is to command in love4 ,she is to obey in fear4 ,he is to govern without giving vexation1 and she is to be in subjection without feeling herself a slave4 ,he is to watch over her conduct and guard her from every act that would be damaging to her character or her soul4 ,she is to trust in him1 and obey4 ,let the wife be in subjection1 ,let the husband give protection2 ,he to honor1 love1 defend1 ,she to trust him to the end4 ,the humble apostle1 after exhorting the wives to be in subjection to their husbands1 commands them to not adorn themselves by plaiting the hair or wearing gold or apparel4 #a ,pet4 #c3c4 8,but let it be the hidden man of the heart1 in that which is not corruptible1 even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit1 which is in the sight of ,god of great price40 ,ver4 #d4 ,can the wife in the fear of ,god1 profess to sincerely love her husband1 and to be a true wife1 when she is spending his hard earnings for gold and pearls1 and costly apparel for adornment8 he to struggle against poverty1 and she to embarrass him to satisfy a proud1 selfish heart8 ,such is not true love to husband nor to ,god4 ,the wife who adorns herself with modesty and sobriety 7#a ,tim4 #b3i71 with a meek and quiet spirit 7#a ,pet4 #c3d1 #e71 with good works 7#a ,tim4 #b3aj7 is a blessing to her husband4 8,a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband40 ,prov4 #ab3d4 8,who can find a virtuous woman8 for her price is far above rubies4 ,the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her1 so that he shall have no need of spoil4 ,she will do him good and not evil all the days of her life40 ,prov4 #ca3aj-ab4 8,a prudent wife is from the ,lord40 ,prov4 #ai3ad4 ,duty ,of ,parents ,to ,children4 ,great are the responsibilities of the husband4 ,great are the responsibilities of the wife1 but greater are the responsibilities of parents4 ,father and mother1 ,god lays a responsibility upon you as you receive your new-born child4 ,a precious little immortal soul1 whose eternal destiny depends largely upon you4 ,the proper training of children is attended with many difficulties1 and every parent certainly needs instruction from ,god4 ,your child is given you from ,god1 and you in return should give him trustingly to ,god1 like a mother of olden time3 8,for this child ,i prayed3 and the ,lord hath given me my petition which ,i asked of him3 therefore also ,i have lent see margin him to the ,lord3 as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the ,lord40 #a ,sam4 #a3bg1 #bh4 ,this is the consecration of children to ,god1 which is the first duty of parents4 ,the successful training of a child1 especially in the first years of its life1 is due more to example than to commandment4 ,the influence of example upon youthful minds is rarely comprehended4 ,we are commanded to be an example in faith1 purity1 conversation1 charity1 spirit1 and to be a pattern of good works4 ,it is the parents' duty to love their children4 ,titus #b3d4 ,perhaps every parent thinks and is ready to say1 8,i love my child40 ,true love as required by the ,bible comprehends more than you may have been aware4 ,they who indulge their children in a worldly life do not love them as the ,bible commands4 ,because the priest ,eli did not restrain his children from the ways of sin1 ,god sent an awful judgment upon him4 #a ,sam4 #c4 ,if parents love their children as they should they will do the very best thing for them4 ,now the instructions given in the ,bible are the safest and best to follow4 ,as you looked into the face of this thine own child did you remember the little treasure was a heritage from the ,lord8 8,lo1 children are a heritage of the ,lord3 and the fruit of the womb is his reward40 ,psa4 #abg3c4 ,it may be that you were unmindful of this 8fruit of the womb0 being a gracious heritage from ,god3 but such it was4 ,in the creation of man and woman they were formed to bear offspring4 ,when ,esau and ,jacob met after their long separation and enmity1 ,esau inquired1 8,who are those with thee80 ,jacob replied1 8,the children which ,god hath graciously given thy servant40 ,gen4 #cc3e4 ,blessed and happy is the man that can look into the face of the newly-born and feel in his heart that this is a child graciously given me of ,god4 ,because children are a heritage from the ,lord is the real secret of the joy experienced in the parents' hearts when a child is born4 ,an angel from ,god's presence anoints the spirit of man with the 8oil of joy0 when he obeys ,heaven's ordained laws of procreation4 ,alas6 how many husbands and wives1 who fear to meet the responsibilities involved thus upon them seek to avert ,god's laws4 ,and when a child is conceived they1 instead of rejoicing as did ,rachel1 the mother of ,joseph1 and ,mary1 the mother of ,jesus1 sorrow in heart1 thus allowing the enemy of human happiness to deprive them of the blessing ,god designed for them4 ,god1 in his own mysterious way1 from the mother's life and blood is creating a new life4 ,but did you know that at the same time he was creating an immortal soul8 ,that new-born life contains an immortal part1 and very much depends upon you as to where shall be its eternal existence4 ,we want you to feel this deep in your hearts4 ,god has given into your charge a life and a soul4 ,when you come to appear before him in the day of judgment then you will have to render an account of how you have dealt with your child4 ,oh1 what awful responsibilities6 ,what a charge6 ,god help us6 ,with such a sacred trust1 what shall we do8 ,like she of olden time1 who petitioned the ,god of heaven for a child1 carry him back to the ,lord and there implore grace and wisdom and guidance from above to train these little feet in the way that leads to endless joys4 ,parents1 as you look into the face of your slumbering child1 and then along down through his life1 what do you want him to become8 ,do you want him to grow up to manhood a poor1 delicate1 frail body with but little energy or vitality with which to meet the sterner duties of life8 ,do you want him to be indolent1 shiftless1 unmanly and addicted to such as will bring him to shame1 ruin and death8 ,what6 would you picture such a life for my innocent boy8 ,such a thought is instantly banished from you4 ,with all your heart you desire him to become a true and noble man4 ,you want him to be strong1 full of energy and vitality1 of great mental and physical worth1 of manly ways1 of pure habits1 and in every way a worthy son4 ,yes1 that is the life you fondly picture for your son4 ,well1 here he lies an infant in thine arms4 ,he is at thy mercy4 ,you can make of him about what you will4 ,you can lead him in the paths of virtue and to a generous ,christian manhood1 or you can neglect him and allow him to go to shame and ruin4 ,let me say again that the life and destiny of your child depends largely upon you4 ,you can make it what you will4 ,god help and bless you4 ,physical ,care4 ,when your child is born then comes the care of the little body4 ,it must have food4 ,it must have air4 ,it must have clothing4 ,the supplying of temporal needs is a duty that falls to the father4 ,may he do his duty with a will and see that his child's health is not impaired by an insufficient amount of clothing or of food4 8,but if any provide not for his own1 and especially for those of his own house1 he hath denied the faith1 and is worse than an infidel40 #a ,tim4 #e3h4 ,the parent that will not industriously make use of every legitimate means to secure temporal comforts1 does not love his child4 ,it has been known that the awful curse of tobacco1 opium and rum1 have robbed the father and mother of parental love4 ,some may have become so in love or so in bondage to tobacco that they would rather see their child go hungry or naked than to deprive themselves of the accursed thing4 ,parents should acquaint themselves with hygienic laws and teach them to their children4 ,show them the danger of overeating1 and of too frequent eating4 ,parents are destroying the health of their children by irregular feeding1 and by nuts and candies4 ,teach the little ones to avoid sitting in a cool place when heated and of retaining wet clothing4 ,above all1 avoid giving your child tea1 coffee and 8soothing syrup40 ,paregorics and laudanums pave the way to the formation of other bad habits4 ,they have an effect which may answer your purpose at the time1 but you gain your purpose at the cost of your child's vitality4 ,if your attention has ever been called to the evil effects of such1 you can not dope your children with them without bringing condemnation to your soul4 ,good health is a great blessing1 and our heavenly ,father wills us to observe natural health laws4 ,parents by carelessness can in a very short time ruin the health of their child forever4 ,oh1 the misery and distress originating from ill health entailed upon the human family through the ignorance and carelessness of parents is appalling4 ,had the writer's parents compelled their child to observe health laws in his youth he would enjoy better health to-day4 ,by proper care and help from ,god he has largely overcome difficulties1 but does not possess the strong constitution he otherwise would4 ,we kindly make an earnest appeal to all parents to look well to the health of your children4 ,if you value their happiness1 and a pleasant1 happy home1 acquaint yourself with the laws of health1 and follow them as strictly as circumstances will allow4 ,many parents care more for their children's appearance in public than they do for their health4 ,mothers following the pride of their heart instead of the laws of health expose the bodies of their children to disease4 ,in public gatherings1 in order to make a show of their rich clothing1 they will not wrap them sufficiently to protect them from cold3 they will deform the feet of their little ones and bring them pain in after life1 because of the pride of their heart4 ,by lacing they will mold and shape the bodies of their daughters after the fashion of the world1 entailing upon them disorder and disease1 weakness and woe4 ,in all love1 but without hesitancy1 we declare that such shameful treatment of children is a sin and is sufficient of itself to destroy the soul4 ,government4 ,great wisdom is required in the government of children4 ,for parents to properly govern their children they need that wisdom and direction which comes from above4 ,there are so many different natures which must be controlled in as many different ways1 making it impossible to fix certain rules for all4 ,however all these different dispositions among our children must be met4 8,if any man lack wisdom1 let him ask of ,god40 ,many parents ask4 8,at what age shall we begin to train and govern our child80 ,wisdom makes answer1 8,from the beginning40 ,you can train your babe to nurse regularly1 say every two hours1 or to stifle his cries1 you can nurse him irregularly1 and make him a cross1 fretful babe by over and irregular feeding4 ,your babe will sleep sweetly and soundly upon its little bed1 but you can very early accustom it to be rocked to sleep so it will not go to sleep unless it is rocked4 ,nature never designed that we be tossed to and fro in order to go to sleep4 ,what is man's experience on board a ship in a rough sea8 ,he becomes dizzy1 nervous and sick1 and when he steps upon the land he walks like a drunken man4 ,the infant's first rock in the cradle has a similar effect4 ,its little muscles are strained to prevent falling4 ,its brain is dashed about until it becomes dizzy1 but which it soon learns to enjoy because of the peculiar sensation4 ,your little babe sees some bright object and reaches out its little hands to take it4 ,you know it ought not to have it4 ,it may injure itself with it1 so you say1 8,no1 baby can not have this40 ,then baby begins to cry4 ,you try to quiet him4 ,you try to turn his mind and attention somewhere else1 but1 no1 he keeps his eye on the forbidden object and cries the harder4 ,at last to quiet him you give it to him1 even if you have to hold to one end to keep him from hurting himself4 ,baby has now learned a very valuable lesson1 which he is not going to forget4 ,he has learned that if he cries long enough and hard enough he can obtain what he desires4 ,as he grows older he becomes more determined to have his way4 ,when company comes you want your boy to give the rocker to the lady1 but no1 the little man prefers the rocker for himself4 ,you endeavor to remove him by force1 but he kicks and bites and holds tight and cries very loud1 and you call him a naughty boy1 and give up the struggle4 ,then you begin to tell the ladies about your boy1 how he will have his way and you can not do anything with him2 that you sometimes whip him1 but it does not do him any good4 ,you are educating your child out of your control4 ,if you desire your child to obey you1 be kind1 loving and firm4 ,scolding is never in order1 but does great harm4 ,unhappy and unholy is the home where children obey only through fear4 ,so deal with your little ones that obedience is gained through love4 ,so rarely is such obedience obtained that many have concluded it can not be accomplished4 ,it is natural for children to love their parents1 and if parents deal with their little ones in love and kindness they can make home the most desirable place on earth to them4 ,to rule by physical force is not government4 ,it is a most pitiful sight to see a child fear and tremble before a parent's stern looks and cross words4 ,there is a way1 though but few have found it1 of mingling tenderness with firmness that demands obedience in respect and love4 ,it brings a joy to the parents' hearts to behold their child obeying willingly4 ,by the help of ,god such obedience can be obtained4 ,some one may ask1 8,would you never punish a child80 ,yes2 it is sometimes necessary1 but not so often as many have supposed4 ,training1 and not arbitrary government is what is the more successful4 ,give ,attention ,to ,your ,child4 ,it takes but little to wound the tender feelings of a child4 ,it is not the angry look and cross word only that sends the little one away in tears2 but oftentimes it is neglect4 ,what may seem to us as a very little thing1 or small achievement1 may be a very great thing to the child1 and a notice and an encouraging word has a good and lasting effect4 ,your little boy has done a piece of work1 and done it poorly enough to be sure1 but to him it is done in the most artistic style4 ,do not depress his spirit by showing your disapproval1 but encourage him by telling him that it does very well for a child2 then kindly help him to see how he can make it still better4 ,you should not become so absorbed in your occupation that you can not stop to notice the newly drawn picture4 ,if the child's interruptions are too frequent1 in kindness teach him that papa is not to be interrupted now4 ,by all means show a deep interest in your children4 ,help them to see that you delight to make things pleasant for them4 ,do not make them feel that they are servants4 ,have pleasant conversations with them4 ,read some good story to them1 or better still1 tell them one2 not a 8fairy-tale10 but something real4 ,we have seen parents who scarcely ever spoke to their children only when reproving4 ,take them with you to the meeting4 ,take them with you if at all convenient when you go on your charitable errand4 ,take them for a drive4 ,take them to the woods and the fields1 and there tell them of ,god4 ,many opportunities will be afforded for you to show an interest and an appreciation in your child4 ,give him your attention and you will win his love and obedience and make him feel that there is freedom at home4 ,neglect him1 treat him with indifference1 and you will make his little heart cold and make him feel he is your slave4 ,be ,patient ,with ,your ,child4 ,for the sake of your child1 your own happiness1 and the happiness of your home1 be patient4 ,in dealing with your little 8olive plants10 8let patience have her perfect work10 and of a truth you shall 8be perfect and entire wanting nothing40 ,much of redeeming grace is needed to enable the parent to be calm and kind under the many trying circumstances connected with the pruning and training of the 8fruit of the womb40 ,it is a source of great joy1 however1 to know that ,god's grace is sufficient for me4 ,dear parents1 the only remedy we have to offer you for this qualification is the sweet controlling influence of saving grace4 ,when you have gained control of your own spirit you are far on the way to conquer the rebellious spirit of your child4 ,how sad it is that a mother who loves her child will find sometimes a feeling of hatred in her heart against it4 ,we have heard mothers in a time of provocation use such words as these1 8,you foolish thing20 8,you naughty little imp20 8,you mean thing1 ,i have a mind to put you out where the dogs will get you20 8,you do that again and ,i'll give you to the bad man20 8,i'll slap your head off20 8,i wish you were dead10 etc4 ,how awful6 ,mothers1 who1 if their little one was sick1 would gladly sit night after night and watch by its bedside--no slumber for those eyelids now1 for baby is very sick--when the dear one is restored to health and provokes the mother1 she uses some of the above expressions1 or similar ones4 ,as you stand some night by the casket that contains that lifeless little body1 oh1 what anguish at heart as you remember the hasty words you have spoken to that dear one4 ,how those ugly expressions ring in your ears4 ,they will follow you for days in thought and dream4 ,how sad that the human heart is of such disposition1 but what joy to know that the precious blood of ,jesus will remove all such dispositions and fill the heart with love and sweetness that will enable you to deal with your child in loving patience1 even in the hour of deepest trial1 and should you be called to its death bedside you can look into the pale face and then up to ,god without a sting of conscience4 ,parents1 be firm1 but be patient with your child4 ,let love shine out of every reproval and you will find it is not so difficult to train him and govern him as you supposed4 ,never ,scold ,or ,threaten4 ,how heart-rending to see almost a constant contention between parents and children1 parents scolding their children for almost every little thing1 and threatening to 8give them to the ,gypsies10 or to 8cut off their ears10 or 8put a split stick on their tongues10 and many other foolish and hurtful threatenings1 father and mother make when they are provoked4 ,be always calm in your own feelings and never be hasty to speak or act4 ,when the child really needs reproval1 take him quietly and show him the evil of such things1 how it will lead to other bad things1 and these to others1 and should he continue in that way he would grow up to be a bad man4 ,tell him how you love him1 and how you want to see him become a good and noble man1 a blessing to his parents1 to the community1 and to the world4 ,tell him you hope he will not do those bad things any more1 and should he do them you would be under obligations to punish him4 ,if the child is reasoned with rightly the corporal punishment will not be of frequent necessity4 ,it is a shame and a sin to act so hastily and punish your little ones in some way without patiently and coolly explaining matters4 ,give ,your ,child ,some ,privilege4 ,do not answer1 8,no10 to every request of your child4 ,allow them some privilege1 let them engage in certain plays4 ,do not be so fastidious in your home that the little ones can not have a little play indoors4 ,certainly they should be taught to be clean1 to remove dirt from their shoes before coming into the house1 and not to tumble things all up in the room1 yet they should not be expected to sit perfectly still4 ,when the child makes a request of you that your wisdom decides best not to grant do not answer by a decided 8no10 but tell the little one that you think it not best to do so1 and be firm4 ,when you tell him you do not think it best do not be persuaded out of it1 and he will soon learn that your mild 8,i do not think it best to give you that10 means just as much as a sharp 8no10 but his feelings will not be disturbed like they are by that hasty 8no40 ,always ,be ,calm ,when ,you ,punish4 ,when it becomes necessary to use the rod upon your child be sure you possess a calmness in your soul4 ,it requires much grace for true parents to whip their children4 ,before you punish them you should show them what great wrong they have done and how ,god is displeased1 and that you do not punish them for your own pleasure1 but because you love them4 ,to the dear parents who read this we wish to exhort you to give great diligence in cultivating the affectionate side of your nature4 ,do not be careless and unmindful of the dear little ones' happiness4 ,do not be cold and indifferent toward them4 ,enter into their joys and sorrows with a warm heart4 ,parents oftentimes remark when their child gets hurt in some way1 8,well it is good enough for you2 may be it will teach you something40 ,oh1 may that heart be softened to tender sympathy1 so you will make the dear child feel how sorry you are because he has been hurt1 then teach him how he must not engage in such things1 and then he will avoid being injured4 ,your kind words of sympathy will relieve the pain by their influence upon the heart4 ,your cold indifferent words make deeper wounds in the heart than were made in the flesh4 ,seek ,god in much earnest prayer to tender your affections1 to refine your nature1 to make you very sensitive to the feelings of your child1 and to help you to love the tender 8olive plants0 round about thy fireside4 ,some day there may be a vacant chair1 and there can be no sweeter joy on earth to your sorrowing heart than to know you did what you could to make the little one happy and train its feet for the glory world4 ,kind words are flowers of beauty rare2 ,keep them blooming throughout the year4 ,mental ,training4 ,the mental1 moral and spiritual training of children go hand in hand4 ,we shall speak of them under separate chapters1 but the one has a great influence upon the other4 ,it is true1 the intellectual faculties may be cultivated to a high degree while the moral powers are unimproved1 but the individual is out of harmony with true manhood4 ,the spiritual and moral being may be in a fair state of health and the mental powers very much dwarfed1 but still he is not in perfect harmony with manhood as designed by the creative mind4 ,without a blending of the intellectual1 moral and spiritual forces there can be no perfect character in the fullest sense4 ,we do not mean by this that man must be a philosopher or a scientist to be a moral or spiritual man2 but we mean for man to be a perfect character in every respect and to glorify ,god in the whole realm of his being1 he must cultivate every talent ,god has given him4 ,the created mental powers must be improved by right study4 ,in order to know and understand ,god we must have a sound mind4 ,a sound mind is helpful to the enjoyment of grace1 and grace is helpful to the enjoyment of a sound mind2 so to enjoy existence necessitates a soundness in every part4 ,it is through the mental powers that we acquaint our children with ,god3 8,faith cometh by hearing40 ,parents can not be too careful about the impressions made in the mentality of their children2 it may affect their morality and spirituality in the whole of after life4 ,select such books for them as will develop the mental faculties1 something that contains food for the brain4 ,there are certain articles of diet that do not contain sufficient nutrition for the development of the physical body4 ,children fed upon such diet would become weakly4 ,there is also a certain kind of literature that contains no brain nutriment4 ,reading such degenerates the mental powers4 ,stimulants or excitants are hurtful to the physical system4 ,all fictitious1 exciting tales are hurtful to the mental system4 ,we are persuaded it were better if the unreal1 fairy stories were excluded from our common school readers and supplanted by something real4 ,select such literature as is pure4 ,reading that produces pure thought in the child's mind not only improves his moral state1 but furnishes the best mental food4 ,educate your children as well as you possibly can4 ,it is a duty you owe to them and to ,god4 ,keep before them the ultimate object--a developed mind for the glory of ,god4 ,encourage your children to an education4 ,do not think the buying of a good book an unnecessary expenditure4 ,better make a physical sacrifice than a mental one4 ,keep your children away from the physical1 mental1 moral and spiritual destructive party and dance by interesting them in sound and pure literature and providing it for them4 ,if your children show a disposition to love and desire to spend the evening at the 8parties0 or the 8balls10 get up a 8reading circle0 or 8composition exercise0 at home4 ,god will bless you and reward you in all your efforts in this direction4 ,much more of importance could be said upon this subject1 but with these few suggestions we will leave the interested and inventive mind to enlarge4 ,moral ,training4 ,man is an intellectual and a moral being4 ,by his intellectual powers he gains a knowledge of facts4 ,by his moral faculties he experiences a sense of responsibility and a feeling of certain relations existing between him and some higher power4 ,your child possesses an intuitive knowledge and upon this is where your moral training begins4 ,the little brother knows it is wrong to injure his little sister4 ,he does not have to acquire that knowledge1 he knows it intuitively4 ,this is the foundation for your moral training1 and--of course--spiritual training naturally hinges upon this2 but we shall speak of that in a separate chapter4 ,the wisest man that ever lived said1 8,train up a child in the way he should go3 and when he is old1 he will not depart from it40 ,prov4 #bb3f4 ,so many having failed1 some have been almost persuaded to doubt this man's wisdom4 ,the saying is true3 the failures arise from the lack of understanding of how to train properly4 ,all the moral principles sustain a close relation to each other2 thus one moral principle influences another1 therefore the violation of one principle makes it easier to violate a second1 and the child is carried on until he can do wrong without any reproval of conscience4 ,training should begin very early in the life of a child4 ,never allow this intuitive knowledge or the voice of conscience to be hushed by repeated wrong doing4 ,the child who does wrong should be told why it is he feels a sense of guilt--,god is displeased4 ,show him how one evil leads to another1 and what will be the awful end4 ,call to his mind the differences in his feelings arising from wrong doing and right doing4 ,with the one ,god is displeased1 with the other he is pleased4 ,the way then to be happy in life is to always do right4 ,you must be indefatigable in your efforts at training4 ,constant daily training is needed4 ,as one wrong act makes it easier to do a second wrong act1 so one right act makes it easier to do a second right act4 ,it is comparatively easy for the child to fall into bad habits4 ,training1 constant daily training is needed to keep the little one from evil ways4 ,lead him into right action4 ,by repeating a right action it becomes easy to perform it4 ,you must never think of becoming discouraged1 although it appears so natural for your child to do wrong and so difficult to get him to do right4 ,you must go on training1 trusting in the promise1 teaching1 reproving1 correcting1 punishing1 ever looking upward for grace and wisdom4 ,be careful of your example4 ,it exerts a powerful influence4 ,at one time in his life1 the writer was quick in his actions and his words4 ,he never received such a reproving as when one day his little boy under a provocation acted and spoke in the exact manner and tone of his papa4 ,it cut to the heart4 ,it may seem at times that the voice of conscience is almost stifled1 but you must hope on and labor zealously as in the command3 8,and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children1 and shalt talk of them when them sittest in thine house1 and when thou walkest by the way1 and when thou liest down1 and when thou risest up40 ,deut4 #f3g4 ,many parents seeing their young child doing or saying something wrong often think it of not much consequence1 because the child is young and the wrong is very slight4 ,you do not know the power of habit1 and how one wrong1 howsoever slight1 leads to a greater one4 ,habit has been likened to a spider's web1 which at first can be easily broken1 but after continued indulgence binds its victim as with a strong cable1 making reformation almost impossible4 ,the same is true of good and right conduct4 ,at first it may require an effort to perform a certain right act1 but after repetition it is accomplished naturally and without thought4 ,therefore be vigilant in training your child to right action1 and carefully avoid everything that would lead to evil acts or feelings4 ,to tease a child is to develop an angry disposition4 ,some fathers think it quite laughable to hear the little two-year-old say to its mamma1 8,i won't do it10 but he shall afterward pay dearly for his sport4 ,parents think it 8cute0 to see their little one shake its little fist at papa and mamma4 ,through such education the day will probably come when he will shake his fist at you so that it will strike like a hammer on your heart4 ,we have heard many parents laughing at their little children saying 8smart things10 little conscious of what these things are leading to4 8,train up a child in the way he should go10 comprehends much more than many have understood4 ,just recently we heard a little child being taught to say1 8,peter1 ,peter1 pumpkin eater10 etc4 ,such teaching is horrifying to ,christian hearts4 ,it is better to train your child to make reply in the polite1 8,yes1 sir0 and 8,no1 sir10 or1 8,yes1 ma'am10 and 8,no1 ma'am10 instead of that coarse1 impolite 8umgh10 8humgh10 which is no language4 ,remember the first step to child training is to set the example before them in your own life4 ,frequently we find parents endeavoring to teach their children to say1 8,please0 and 8,yes1 sir10 when they in their own speech neglect such politeness4 ,your efforts will prove fruitless4 ,parents have been known to tease their little daughter and the daughter of other parents about some little boy companion1 and their little son about some girl companion4 ,such is very shameful and harmful4 ,it fills the minds of their children with impure thought4 ,keep your own language very modest and pure and the language of your children the same4 ,keep their thought pure4 ,impure language and impure thought leads to impure and injurious habits4 ,be familiar with your child and talk to him about his secret life4 ,teach him of the awful evils in the secret lives of many children and how impure words and thoughts lead to such injurious vice4 ,parents4 see to it that there is a loving confidence between you and your child4 ,be familiar in telling them how wonderfully they are made and what was the design of ,god in thus creating them4 ,teach them what a noble and sacred thing it is to use every member and organ of our body to the glory of the ,creator4 ,teach them of the awful crime to misuse any part4 ,mothers1 acquaint your young daughters of the event that must soon come into their life1 and thus prevent their doing an injury to their health4 ,by precept upon precept and by example1 train your child to grow up into a beautiful moral life4 ,in love restrain every immoral tendency in your child4 ,also be very zealous in teaching your children good manners4 ,civility and refinement are beautiful in the life of any one1 and is very closely associated with the morals4 ,teach your little ones to respect each other1 to have a regard for each other's happiness1 to practise self-denial for the benefit of others4 ,by precept and example instill gentleness and kindness into their actions4 ,dear parents1 never grow weary in training the little feet of thy tender 8olive plants0 in the paths of virtue4 ,spiritual ,training4 ,the moral life is beautiful1 but there is a higher and more beautiful life4 ,in the true1 deep spiritual life is found the highest degree of morality4 ,however we may train our children into a high standard of moral life1 and yet not attain to the spiritual4 ,it is reported that the homes of certain infidels are most exemplary in moral conduct4 ,ancient heathen philosophers through restraint1 self-sacrifice1 and force of will attained to beautiful moral lives4 ,but the spiritual life1 which includes the moral1 is the perfection of beauty4 ,the life out of which the ,christ-life and character shines is the grandest and noblest upon the earth4 ,parents1 bring your children to ,jesus1 for of such is the kingdom of heaven4 ,bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord1 is commanded in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,your child possesses an immortal soul4 ,this soul will exist either in happiness or wretchedness eternally4 ,it is so ordained in the plan of redemption that the soul can be brought into possession of spiritual life1 which1 if retained1 insures its eternal bliss4 ,he who has attained to a high degree of morality through the force of human will holds communion only with the better qualities of manhood1 all of which must perish4 ,he who has attained to spirituality holds communion with ,god and heavenly things4 ,he does not trust to human powers1 but in the power of the divine life4 ,moral life will not admit us into the paradise above4 ,we must possess spiritual life--the life of ,christ4 ,it is well to train our children in the way of good morals with a view to leading them into the spiritual life4 ,then it is necessary to lead them into the spiritual life to aid in the moral training4 ,comparatively few parents have accomplished any great results in the moral training of their children without divine assistance4 ,in the moral derangement of our children the inward tendency to immorality makes it impossible to educate them to a true and perfect standard of morality without ,god's aid4 ,have we and our children no other source of strength to do battle with the evil passions but the force of the human will8 ,who has succeeded in subduing or controlling an angry disposition in themselves or their children to the extent that there is no impatient speech or abrupt action1 by their own will power8 ,we admit that some men--as the ancient heathen philosophers--have succeeded in educating themselves to a high standard of morality by using all the power of the human will as a vigilant police force and carefully avoiding occasions of temptation4 ,it is said of one of these philosophers that in order to absent himself from the races and games and bull-fights and other worldly gatherings he would only shave one-half of his face1 thereby making himself too ridiculous in appearance to assemble among men4 ,such is the struggle to attain any moral excellence without divine assistance4 ,children should be taught what sin is1 and of ,god's judgments against it1 and as early in life as possible be led by instruction and seeking the aid of the ,holy ,spirit into a ,christian experience4 ,some seem to think that children have no correct ideas of ,god1 and never feel the influence of his ,spirit4 ,in this they may be mistaken4 ,the tender heart of a child very often receives a deep and sacred impression by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,were we watchful and took advantage of these seasons to tell them of ,god and heaven we would be workers together with him1 and he would reward us by faithful children4 ,the communication of the ,spirit with the hearts of children is more wonderful and frequent than we may sometimes understand4 ,a lady recently told us that her parents never taught her to pray1 but very early in life she was inclined by the ,holy ,spirit to kneel at her bedside and pray when unobserved4 ,who is the reader that can not remember instances in his early life when he felt the influence of some good spirit and had thoughts of ,god8 ,had he in those tender childhood days been rightly instructed he could have been led into the beautiful walks of a ,christian life4 ,we remember a child of less than ten years of age1 who1 hearing his father using bad language1 fell upon his knees and clasping his arms around his father told him of his sin and besought him to pray for forgiveness4 ,a lady writer in one of her excellent works 78,mothers' ,counsel to ,their ,sons071 records the instance of a little girl of four and a half years who felt the guilt of sin1 and by her ,christian mother was led to ,jesus1 and there she was blessed by him1 even to the witnessing of his ,spirit that her sins were gone and she was his child4 ,the child was at one time moved to plead with an unsaved relative to come to ,jesus4 ,she lived triumphant in the sweetness of redeeming grace until the age of fifteen1 when her mission on earth was ended and she went to her home in heaven4 ,oh1 how glorious6 ,what if that mother1 when this child came expressing her sense of guilt1 had not instructed her in the ways of salvation8 ,in all probability it would have resulted in a lost soul4 ,when our children are brought into a ,christian experience the victory is only partly won2 life lies before them with its temptations4 ,many are the allurements to turn those young feet into worldly paths4 ,we have witnessed the bright1 happy conversion of many children4 ,we have seen their countenances beaming with the light and joy of ,christian love and heard their voices ring with spiritual praise1 only to soon yield to the influence of the world and lose that sincere devotion to ,god4 ,this is not the inevitable course1 thank ,god1 but it is the course of many4 ,to teach our children the fear of ,god and enable them to retain in their hearts a deep reverence and devotion to him has been a subject of much prayer with us4 ,we find the ,christian life is a warfare4 ,there are temptations to be resisted1 there are watchings and prayings1 there must be a constant looking upward to ,god for his aid and direction4 ,one trouble with many parents has been that as soon as their children were converted they seemed to think the battle was over and the victory was won1 when really the battle was only begun4 ,the first thing necessary in keeping our budding 8olive plants0 in deep spirituality is to keep very spiritual ourselves4 ,now whatever means are necessary to promote a growth of spirituality in our hearts1 the same means are necessary to develop and deepen the spiritual life of our children4 ,a habitual effort to cultivate a deeper sense of the divine presence is necessary and one of the most beautiful employments of the sanctified heart4 ,those reverential feelings toward ,god must daily become stronger4 ,those inmost affections of the soul must reach out with greater yearnings and deeper longings toward the ,holy ,one4 ,a benevolent regard in our hearts for our fellow men must become stronger and more true4 ,o beloved1 if you would have your child to grow up into a beautiful ,christian character you must teach him to suppress every selfish feeling1 to banish every idle1 careless thought1 and to resist all temptations to envy or impatience4 ,the purest of meditations must be entertained4 ,we and they must be strictly disciplined by the sacred ,scriptures1 8,watch and pray40 ,spiritual prayer unfolds the life into the beautiful life of ,god as the bud unfolds into the blooming rose4 ,a ,christian ,home4 ,nowhere is ,christianity more effectual and more beautiful than in the home life4 ,nowhere is the power of divine love so truly manifested as in a sincere ,christian home4 ,we will set a picture before you4 ,a father and mother with their children are grouped together for the evening worship4 ,the father out of the deep affections of his soul1 in spiritual tones1 speaks of ,god and his holy commandment4 ,a tear of gratitude and joy is glistening in the mother's affectionate eye4 ,the children's faces are beaming with admiration as they hear extolled the character of ,christ4 ,they kneel in prayer2 a holy awe and sacredness rests upon the scene2 their prayers arise as sweet incense into the nostrils of ,god and delight his great heart4 ,such a scene as we have pictured only fitly represents a true ,christian home4 ,the father is all tenderness and love to his wife and children4 ,he is kind and sympathetic4 ,he regards his wife as the weaker vessel and is mindful of her happiness4 ,the wife deeply reverences her husband4 ,affection and appreciation sparkle in her eye4 ,to attend to the husband's wishes is her delight4 ,they love their children and in gentleness are bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord4 ,the children love each other and are kind and self-denying4 ,they obey their parents through love4 ,alas6 such a family is rarely found upon this sin-cursed earth4 ,but such is taught and commanded in the ,bible1 and it is possible4 ,if a father and mother and children lived toward each other just as the ,bible says they should live1 we would have a scene that would fitly represent heaven4 ,it is our privilege to have just such a home4 8,ask1 and it shall be given you40 ,a happy home life is the most blessed life on earth4 8,thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house3 thy children like olive plants round about thy table40 ,psa4 #abh3c4 ,duty ,of ,children ,to ,parents4 ,it was the original design of ,god that children should be a blessing to their parents4 8,my son1 be wise1 and make my heart glad40 ,prov4 #bg3aa4 8,the father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice3 and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him4 ,thy father and thy mother shall be glad1 and she that bare thee shall rejoice40 ,prov4 #bc3bd1 #be4 8,a wise son maketh a glad father40 ,prov4 #ae3bj4 ,you will observe1 children1 in each of the above texts that it is wisdom in a child that makes parents rejoice4 ,then you should 8seek wisdom1 seek understanding40 8,wisdom is the principal thing2 therefore get wisdom40 ,prov4 #d3g4 ,what is wisdom8 8,the fear of ,god is the beginning of wisdom40 ,the highest honor a child can pay to a true parent is to honor and obey ,god3 8,and shalt return unto the ,lord thy ,god1 and shalt obey his voice according to all ,i command thee this day1 thou and thy children1 with all thine heart and with all thy soul40 ,deut4 #cj3b4 8,remember now thy ,creator in the days of thy youth1 while the evil days come not40 ,eccl4 #ab3a4 ,the duty of children is to fear their parents3 8,ye shall fear every man his mother1 and his father40 ,lev4 #ai3c4 ,to honor them3 8,honor thy father and thy mother3 that thy days may be long upon the land which the ,lord thy ,god giveth thee40 ,ex4 #bj3ab4 ,this1 it is true1 is an old-time commandment1 but the spirit or principle of it is carried into the dispensation of the gospel4 8,honor thy father and mother40 ,eph4 #f3b4 ,children should attend to the faithful instruction of their parents3 8,my son1 hear the instruction of thy father1 and forsake not the law of thy mother2 for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy heart1 and chains about thy neck40 ,prov4 #a3h1 #i4 8,hear1 ye children1 the instruction of a father40 ,prov4 #d3a4 8,my son1 keep thy father's commandment1 and forsake not the law of thy mother40 ,prov4 #f3bj4 8,children1 obey your parents in the ,lord2 for this is right40 ,if it is right to obey1 it is wrong to disobey4 ,many children do not have a due regard for the instruction of the father and mother4 ,they oftentimes think they know more than their parents and so follow their own ways without natural affection4 ,children should imitate the example of righteous parents1 but are commanded not to walk in the footsteps of the unholy3 8,but ,i said unto their children in the wilderness1 ,walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers1 neither observe their judgments1 nor defile yourselves with their idols40 ,ezek4 #bj3ah4 ,one important duty of children is to care for the parents4 ,if the parents become old and feeble1 or the mother a widow1 the ,word of ,god places children under the obligation of caring for them4 8,but if any widow have children or nephews1 let them learn first to show piety at home1 and to requite their parents3 for that is good and acceptable before ,god40 ,duties ,of ,masters ,to ,servants4 ,masters are commanded to forbear threatening their servants3 8,and1 ye masters1 do the same things unto them1 servants1 forbearing threatening3 knowing that your ,master also is in heaven1 neither is there respect of persons with him40 ,eph4 #f3i4 ,in our land the days of slavery are no more1 but men and women have their hired man and maid servant4 ,their duty toward such servants is to treat them with kindness1 not to threaten them1 or treat them in an overbearing1 authoritative manner because they are servants4 ,be as kind and mild and respectful to them as to the children of the rich1 for ,god is no respecter of persons4 ,masters should give unto their servants that which is just and right for their labor done4 ,if a man's labor is well worth two dollars per day1 but because he is needy 7or for any cause7 and must work at any price1 you take advantage of him and give him but one dollar1 you are a dim light in the world4 ,in truth your light has gone out1 and your deeds have become darkness4 8,masters1 give unto your servants that which is just and equal3 knowing that ye also have a ,master in heaven40 ,these words4 8,knowing that ye also have a ,master in heaven10 are contained also in ,eph4 #f3i1 where masters are commanded to forbear threatening4 ,they are intended to impress the master with his obligation of dealing with his servants in the fear of ,god1 before whom he must some day appear and give an account for the deeds done in the body1 or in this life4 ,the rich man's fraudulent deeds toward his servants is taken account of in heaven3 8,behold1 the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields1 which is of you kept back by fraud1 crieth3 and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the ,lord of ,sabaoth40 ,jas4 #e3d4 ,duty ,of ,servants ,to ,their ,masters4 ,servants should honor and respect their masters3 8,let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor1 that the name of ,god and his doctrine be not blasphemed40 #a ,tim4 #f3a4 ,especially are they to reverence them if they are believers3 8,and they that have believing masters1 let them not despise them1 because they are brethren2 but rather do them service1 because they are faithful and beloved1 partakers of the benefit40 #a ,tim4 #f3b4 ,servants are under obligation to obey their masters3 8,servants1 be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh1 with fear and trembling1 in singleness of your heart as unto ,christ40 ,eph4 #f3e4 ,the servant's service to his master should not be wholly for the hire4 ,he should not fear to do him ill service because of not receiving his wages1 but his service should be in singleness of heart--an honest1 upright purpose--as unto ,christ4 ,they should seek to please their masters3 8,exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters1 and to please them well in all things40 ,titus #b3i4 ,they are to be subject to them3 8,servants1 be subject to your masters with all fear3 not only to the good and gentle1 but also to the froward40 #a ,pet4 #b3ah4 ,servants are to do good service and not defraud their masters1 and thus adorn the doctrine of ,god4 8,not purloining1 but showing all good fidelity2 that they may adorn the doctrine of ,god our ,savior in all things40 ,titus #b3aj4 ,the word 8purloin0 is from the ,greek word 8nosphizomai10 and means 8to hide or to secrete1 to steal40 ,in this text it would include the idling away of time that belonged to the master4 ,we believe we have done justice to the subject of 8,domestic ,relationship40 ,in conclusion we would be pleased to set before you a picture1 not to be excelled in sublimity1 sacredness1 elevation of character1 or soul inspiration by anything on earth4 8,for thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands3 happy shalt thou be1 and it shall be well with thee4 ,thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house3 thy children like olive plants round about thy table40 ,psa4 #abh3b1 #c4 ,this picture is set in a beautiful frame1 found in the preceding verse and the one following1 8,blessed is every one that feareth the ,lord2 that walketh in his ways40 ,ver4 #a4 8,behold1 that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the ,lord40 ,ver4 #d4 ,the picture of a happy ,christian man1 a loving wife1 devoted children1 embossed with the blessings and glory of ,god1 is one of greatest admiration4 ,chapter ,,xiv4 ,evil ,habits ,and ,injurious ,indulgences4 ,the ,word of the ,lord may not denominate in plain terms every particular sin and evil practise man may engage in2 however there are general terms and principles of righteousness that prohibit and condemn every possible sinful act man may perform4 ,the words card-parties1 picnics1 fairs1 shows and theaters are not found in the writings of the apostles2 however indulgence in these is 8revelry10 8living in pleasure10 8rioting0 and worldliness1 of which the ,scriptures say the participants do not love ,god and can never enter heaven4 ,also the terms 8whisky10 8alcohol10 8opium10 8morphine10 8tobacco10 8tea10 and 8coffee10 8secret vice10 etc41 are not made use of by the ,new ,testament writers4 ,they are included1 however1 in the general term 8lust of the flesh40 ,to make mention of all the things that may be done as a lust of the flesh would make a lengthy catalogue indeed4 ,anything1 no matter what it may be1 if done to satisfy the lust of the flesh is very damaging to spiritual life4 8,dearly beloved1 ,i beseech you as strangers and pilgrims1 abstain from fleshly lusts1 which war against the soul40 #a ,pet4 #b3aa4 8,this ,i say then1 walk in the ,spirit1 and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh4 ,for the flesh lusteth against the ,spirit1 and the ,spirit against the flesh3 and these are contrary the one to the other3 so that ye can not do the things that ye would40 ,gal4 #e3af1 #ag4 8,for if ye live after the flesh ye shall die3 but if ye through the ,spirit do mortify the deeds of the body1 ye shall live40 ,rom4 #h3ac4 ,by these tests we plainly understand the 8flesh0 to be antagonistical to the ,spirit4 ,god has created us with a fleshly nature1 or made us a fleshly being4 ,he has also created things for the sustenance of this fleshly life4 ,he has created food and drink for man's use4 ,a proper use of these is not a lust of the flesh4 ,an improper use may be considered lust4 ,our eating and drinking should be to the glory of ,god4 ,the primary object in our eating should be to sustain life and promote health and strength1 that we may be able to labor for and glorify ,god4 ,if we have a pure and undefiled conscience and are conscientious before ,god1 and fully comprehend that we are not our own1 but that we are ,god's property and that we should glorify him in our body and our spirit1 we then most certainly would eat and drink such things to the extent of our knowledge as are most conducive to development of physical energy1 and mental activity4 ,it is not a lust of the flesh if we eat and drink to the glory of ,god4 ,temperance in natural ,god-given food and drink is the law of ,heaven4 ,it is of surfeiting that the ,son of ,god warns us to beware4 ,luke #ba3cd4 ,there are a great many things in creation which ,god never designed for the use of man as food and drink4 ,temperance does not mean a moderate use of these things4 ,their use is wholly forbidden4 ,again man may by certain processes change the natural into an unnatural and make it in opposition to ,god's law4 ,because man has not always had the glory of ,god as his object in eating1 drinking1 and clothing1 but became intemperate in the things which he allows1 many have through the lust of the flesh been led to indulge in things from which the ,word of ,god and the laws of health demand total abstinence4 ,the injurious indulgences are so many and various as to furnish subject enough for volumes4 ,we can only mention briefly the ones that are most generally indulged in1 and which are destroying soul and body4 ,alcohols4 ,all whiskies1 rums1 brandies1 and fermented wines contain a certain amount of alcohol4 ,it consists of hydrogen1 carbon1 and oxygen1 and is a powerful antiseptic4 ,it is the intoxicating ingredient found in distilled liquors4 ,an appetite for spirituous liquors is unnatural4 ,it is true this appetite may be inherited1 but because the child apparently takes naturally to these strong drinks is no proof they are a natural drink4 ,the word alcohol is not used by any of the writers of the ,new ,testament4 ,paul speaks of wine and says that the bishop must be a man 8not given to wine0 7#a ,tim4 #c3c2 ,titus #a3g71 and of the deacon1 8not given to much wine40 ,ver4 #h4 ,to the church at ,ephesus he says1 8,be not drunk with wine1 wherein is excess3 but be filled with the ,spirit40 ,eph4 #e3ah4 ,he recommends wine to ,timothy3 8,drink no longer water1 but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities40 #a ,tim4 #e3bc4 ,there is nothing in this text for the consolation of the wine-bibber4 ,the professed follower of ,christ who loves to sip the wine-cup1 and by this text persuades himself to believe he is not violating ,god's law1 wrests it to his own hurt4 ,that ,timothy had some stomach trouble is very evident from this text4 ,we are not ready to admit that it was fermented wine ,paul advised him to use4 ,it often happens that water1 especially if it is not pure1 will distress a diseased stomach4 ,this wine was recommended as a hygienic law4 ,when an individual is troubled with constipation he will find bread made from unbolted wheat flour to be much more healthful for him than bread made from fine white flour4 ,we would not advise the use of this merely as a luxury1 nor as a medicine1 but as a common-sense law of health4 ,the juice of the grape contains a considerable portion of water1 so much that one can get all the water the system requires and not drink the sweet juice to an excess4 ,from the text it is natural to conclude that water was hurtful to ,timothy1 since he is advised to drink no longer water4 ,in cities and certain countries travelers often find the water disagreeable and unhealthful to them4 ,it would be wisdom to use unfermented wine1 or boil the water and add the juice of a lemon or some fruit to make it palatable4 ,it would be very unwise for us on such an occasion to justify ourselves in the use of narcotic and fermented drinks4 ,they are as injurious to the stomach as impure water1 and were we compelled to drink either1 we would feel more in ,god's order to trust him to counteract the poison in the water rather than the poison of fermented wines and narcotic teas and coffees4 ,the drinking in moderation or 8not to excess0 of unfermented wine is healthful1 and in harmony with divine laws3 but total abstinence from spirituous liquors is the command of ,god4 ,while alcohol1 whisky1 and brandy are words not used in the ,new ,testament their use is none the less objectionable and sinful4 ,these ardent spirits produce an effect called drunkenness1 and the ,scriptures class drunkenness with the works of the flesh1 and declare that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,gal4 #e3ai-ba4 ,the reader will only have to refer to any authentic medical or hygienic work to learn of the injurious effects of alcohol upon the human system4 8,wine is a mocker1 strong drink is raging3 and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise40 ,prov4 #bj3a4 8,who hath woe8 who hath sorrow8 who hath contentions8 who hath babbling8 who hath wounds without cause8 who hath redness of eyes8 ,they that tarry long at the wine3 they that go to seek mixed wine4 ,look not thou on the wine when it is red1 when it giveth his color in the cup1 when it moveth itself aright is fermented4 ,at the last it biteth like a serpent1 and stingeth like an adder40 ,prov4 #bc3bi-cb4 ,we would say again that in all things ,god has given us to sustain life and make us healthful1 comfortable and happy he would have us to be temperate and 8keep our body in subjection40 ,but there are some things which he would have us 8touch not1 taste not2 handle not40 ,col4 #b3ba4 ,tobacco4 ,very few people especially among the religious class1 are not willing to admit that drunken debauchery and carousal is altogether outside the realms of ,christianity1 and can only be engaged in by those wholly devoid of the love and grace of ,god4 ,it is however a source of astonishment to the pure-hearted child of ,god to find so many professing ,christ1 yet unwilling to admit that tobacco using is a lust of the flesh4 ,oftentimes when speaking to a man concerning the tobacco habit1 he will say1 ,the word tobacco is not mentioned in the ,bible4 ,this is true4 ,as we have before said1 the word alcohol is not found in the ,scriptures1 but its effects upon the human system are mentioned1 and no one can thus affect his body without placing his soul in great danger4 ,tobacco is not mentioned in the ,scripture1 but its effects are1 and we are positively commanded to remedy such effects4 ,paul says1 8,having therefore these promises1 dearly beloved1 let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit1 perfecting holiness in the fear of ,god40 #b ,cor4 #g3a4 ,one effect of tobacco using is 8filthiness10 from which we are commanded to cleanse ourselves4 ,but few people are not ready to admit that using tobacco is a filthy habit4 ,then since the ,word of ,god condemns filthiness1 the tobacco habit stands condemned4 ,it is indeed a sin-seared and tobacco-stunned conscience that denies the use of tobacco being a lust of the flesh4 ,it can be nothing else but a fleshly lust4 ,how frequently the lust of the flesh is condemned in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,it wars against the soul4 ,it is enmity against ,god4 ,it lusteth against the ,spirit4 ,dear reader1 will you listen to reason and truth8 ,we are aware how difficult it is for man to see and acknowledge the truth when some cherished idol stands between him and the truth4 ,it is not a difficult thing to help him to comprehend the sinfulness of some evil thing which his heart is not set upon1 but he is blinded to any sin in the cherished object of his affections4 ,recently there were in a meeting two middle aged ladies4 ,one of them was fashionably dressed1 while the other was uncommonly plain in her apparel4 ,the lady in the plain dress was addicted to the habit of using snuff4 ,the lady in the fashionable dress abhorred such a filthy practise4 ,when the ,word of ,god was read on the comeliness and plainness of female attire1 the lady in the plain dress smiled and nodded assent4 ,the lady whose heart was set on costly apparel1 expressed a rejection of ,god's ,word in her countenance and manner4 ,in the discourse the subject was changed from the wearing of gay clothing to the practise of tobacco using4 ,when the habit of using snuff was mentioned the plain lady's smile was turned to a sneer1 and the fashionable lady's sneer was turned to a smile4 ,afterwards in conversation the fashionable lady said she believed it was a sin to use snuff1 but she could not see any evil in wearing gay and fine clothing4 ,the plain lady said she thought it was a sin to wear such plumed hats and beaded dresses1 but she could see no harm in using snuff4 ,this proved to us what we have before mentioned1 that it is difficult for man to see any sin in his idol4 ,if you are not very careful you will be seeking to justify yourself in your indulgences1 though they be wrong4 ,so if you1 dear reader1 will lay down all prejudice1 with a heart open to reason and truth1 we will consider with you the use of tobacco4 ,we claim1 first1 that tobacco is injurious to health4 ,the ,bible tells us that we are not our own1 but are bought with a price2 therefore we should glorify ,god in our body and spirit which are his4 #a ,cor4 #f3ai1 #bj4 ,also that whether we eat or drink1 or whatsoever we do1 we should do all to the glory of ,god4 #a ,cor4 #aj3ca4 ,we can not indulge in anything injurious to the health of the body without incurring the displeasure of ,god4 ,now we frequently meet strong looking1 and apparently healthy men1 who have used tobacco for several years4 ,such are often ready to say1 8,tobacco does not hurt me40 ,they are honest in this4 ,being strongly constituted the poison of tobacco has not as yet succeeded in affecting them to a noticeable extent4 ,sooner or later1 however1 it will make its awful sting to be felt4 ,some men may expose themselves to the most inclement weather for years and experience no visible injurious effects2 however1 slowly1 but surely1 such negligence is undermining the general health1 and the pains of his old days will repay him for the fool-hardiness of his youth4 ,we have read may works on hygiene1 and never a one but what has without hesitancy pronounced tobacco and alcohol very injurious poisons4 ,we have a few by us and will give you some short quotations4 8,it tends to debilitate the organs1 it weakens the memory4 ,by the use of tobacco we entail upon ourselves a whole train of nervous maladies4 ,it will bow down to the earth an intellect of giant strength and make it grind in bondage like ,samson shorn of his strength40--,hitchcock4 8,it impairs the functions of the brain1 clouds the understanding1 and enfeebles the memory40--,dr4 ,stevens4 8,in whatever way it is used1 tobacco is a narcotic and a poison4 ,its injurious effects are due to its active principle called #8nicotine1' which is of itself a narcotic poison4 ,the extent to which the body may be injured by tobacco depends upon its moderate or excessive use4 ,even in moderate use it is hurtful to young persons1 and by no means free from harm to adults4 ,it produces an artificial exhaustion1 as it were1 of the nerve-centers4 ,it certainly does no good1 even when used in moderation4 ,tobacco produces functional derangement of the nervous system1 palpitation of the heart1 certain forms of dyspepsia1 and more or less irritation of the throat and lungs4 ,sometimes after long smoking1 a sudden sensation of dizziness1 with a momentary loss of consciousness is experienced4 ,at other times1 if walking1 there is a sudden sensation of falling forward1 or as if the feet were touching cotton-wool4 ,while the stomach is empty1 protracted smoking will often produce a feeling of nausea1 accompanied with a headache4 ,the external application of tobacco to chafed surfaces1 and even to the healthy skin1 will occasion severe1 and sometimes fatal results4 ,a tea made of tobacco and applied to the skin has caused death in three hours4 ,a tobacco enema has resulted fatally within a few minutes4 ,the excessive smoking of tobacco has been known to produce violent and fatal effects4 ,nicotine is one of the most rapidly fatal poisons known4 ,it rivals prussic acid in this respect4 ,it takes about one minute for a single drop of nicotine to kill a fullgrown cat4 ,a single drop has killed a rabbit in three minutes4 ,the old tobacco-user is often cross1 irritable and liable to outbursts of passion4 ,the memory is also quite often impaired for the same reason4 ,the narcotic principle1 the deadly nicotine1 has become soaked into the delicate nerve-pulp1 retarding its nutrition4 ,the nerve-centers are no longer able to hoard up their usual amount of vital energy40--,young ,folk's ,physiology4 ,thus we could go on and quote volumes1 if need be1 but we will close our quotations with the words of ,dr4 ,fowler1 as quoted by ,w4 ,j4 ,henry in 8,tobacco and ,its ,effects40 8,the actual loss of intellectual power which tobacco has hitherto occasioned1 and is still causing in this ,christian nation1 is immense4 ,how much so1 it is impossible to calculate4 ,many a man who might have been respectable and useful has sunk into obscurity and buried his talent in the earth4 ,this commands a consideration of deepest interest to every philanthropist1 patriot and ,christian in the land1 and especially to all our youth4 ,we live in a time and under circumstances which call for the exertion of all our intellectual strength1 cultivated1 improved and sanctified to the highest measure of possibility4 ,error1 ignorance and sin must be met and vanquished by light and love4 ,the eyes of the angels are upon us4 ,the eye of ,god is upon us4 ,shall we fetter and paralyze our intellectual capabilities for the sake of enjoying the paltry pleasure of tasting the most loathsome and destructive weed in the whole vegetable kingdom80 ,oh1 for shame6 ,tobacco is not a natural food4 ,no one ever thinks of giving it to their children as a food4 ,it is a habit1 something to be acquired4 ,whatever ,god has given us as food for the sustenance of the body is natural with us and we do not have to become habituated to its use4 ,where is the individual that will deny that it is a habit8 ,it must be1 since it has to be acquired or learned4 ,who will say it is a good habit8 ,who will deny that it is a bad habit8 ,do you not think it much better that we as moral citizens1 and much more as professed ,christians1 leave off our bad habits8 ,who dare hope of going to heaven who will not forsake his bad habits8 ,reader1 ,i appeal to your reason4 ,you must answer me4 ,is it not a habit8 ,is it good or bad8 ,what shall your answer be in the judgment-day8 ,god will hold us responsible for the use we are making of the money he has permitted us to acquire in this world4 ,he says1 8,wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread80 ,isa4 #ee3b4 ,does it not savor more of the principle and spirit of ,christianity to use our money in feeding and clothing the poor1 than in consuming it in this unhealthful1 unsightly1 unclean1 and ungodly lust8 ,do you not believe that when you shall have come to that bright land beyond the grave1 that you would have more treasures there if all the money you have spent for tobacco had been used to help the poor along the weary way of life8 ,o fellow mortal1 how can you chew and smoke and snuff and spit your money away1 while thousands are starving for bread1 and millions are going to an eternal wretchedness for the want of gospel light8 ,do not think that ,god will not punish you for your selfishness4 ,god will hold us responsible for the example we set before the youth of the land and the children of our home4 ,jesus says to the ,christian1 8,let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your ,father which is in heaven40 ,mat4 #e3af4 ,what kind of a light is the tobacco-user letting shine to this world8 ,can he say to all1 8,follow me in this habit08 ,would he advise the pure1 innocent prattler upon his knee to chew or smoke the filthy thing8 ,no man can indulge in one thing that he can not with clear conscience say to the whole world1 8,follow me in10 and stand clear and uncondemned before ,god in judgment4 ,the ,bible tells us1 8,in everything give thanks40 ,who feels like thanking ,god they have acquired the tobacco habit8 ,the ,bible tells us that 8whatsoever you do in word or deed1 do all to the glory of ,god40 ,but very few have become so depraved as to say they can glorify ,god in tobacco using4 ,here we behold the sublime wonders of redeeming grace4 ,this world lost in sin1 mankind was bound by passions1 appetites1 desires and dispositions with which they could not glorify ,god1 ,jesus1 full of grace and truth1 came from heaven to cleanse man1 to save him from everything with which he could not show forth his ,maker's praise4 ,halleluiah6 ,we feel like giving you a bit of our experience before closing this subject4 ,for several years we were bound hand and foot by the hideous monster--,tobacco4 ,we repeatedly tried to extricate ourselves from his iron grasp1 but tried in vain4 ,resolution upon resolution was made4 ,the plug was frequently thrown away only to be shortly afterward searched for or replaced by another one4 ,how the devil's power ground me beneath his hoof of steel4 ,awful slavery1 terrible bondage6 ,we often express our thankfulness for a free country1 but who is free8 ,of all the many sins that lay upon my soul1 none seemed so heavy as the tobacco sin4 ,in a time of danger or fright our first thought would be of tobacco1 and we feared and trembled before ,god4 ,in a time of storm when the lightning would flash and the thunder roll we would vow to the ,lord that if he would keep us through the storm we would use tobacco no more4 ,but when the clouds had rolled away and the sun shone out so peacefully1 our tyrannical master would scourge us beneath his heavy yoke1 and we would yield to his demands4 ,for several months we thus fought against this monster only to be conquered1 until early one ,october morning when all alone we earnestly besought the ,god of heaven to come to our rescue4 ,we confessed our sins to him and plead for mercy4 ,he heard our prayer and blotted out all our transgressions4 ,he filled our soul with such a wondrous glory that full two weeks had passed before we thought of tobacco1 and when we did we loathed it more than we had ever loved it4 ,eight years have passed and still we are free4 ,since the day we were saved we have no more desired it than if we never had used it4 8,if the ,son therefore shall make you free1 ye shall be free indeed40 ,john #h3cf4 ,opium4 ,the habit of eating opium is fast increasing4 ,we are told that thousands of tons are used annually in smoking and chewing in different parts of the world4 ,over half a million pounds are consumed by the opium eaters of our own country4 ,it is a lust of the flesh and classed among the things which if we do we can never enter heaven4 ,it is because it is a sin that will bar you forever from the land of eternal rest1 that prompts us to add a few words of warning4 ,like alcohol and tobacco1 the word opium does not appear in the ,scriptures1 but that it is a sinful lust but very few will deny4 ,opium is the dried juice of the white poppy4 ,morphine is a powder made from opium4 ,laudanum is made by soaking opium in alcohol4 ,the custom of drugging infants and children with 8,soothing ,cordials0 is shameful and sinful4 ,the 8soothing0 effect is produced by the opium the drug contains4 ,it is exceedingly dangerous4 ,one writer has said that it is very certain that many infants annually perish from this single cause4 ,any work on hygiene or common school physiology will describe the effect of opium upon the human system4 ,but the injurious effects of these stimulants and poisons upon the physical health is not the primary cause for speaking against their use in this little work4 ,it is because such is not a gospel light4 ,no one can indulge in such practises and be a light in the world in this shining gospel day4 ,such sinful deeds of the flesh are but the works of darkness and denounced by the writers of the ,new ,testament4 ,tea ,and ,coffee4 ,like the other stimulants that bring the user into bondage1 tea and coffee are not mentioned in the ,word of ,god4 ,that they are classed among the narcotic poisons is acknowledged by all medical authorities4 8,tea and coffee10 says an authentic writer1 8weakens the action of the heart4 ,they produce headache1 heartburn1 indigestion1 constipation1 and wakefulness at night4 ,the peculiar beating of the heart or palpitation after much exertion is often due to tea and coffee1 and produces what is known as the #8tea-drinker's heart4' 07#a7 ,the greatest desire of the true1 devoted ,christian is to glorify ,god in all that he does4 ,no one who is careless and unobservant about his manner of life can prosper in the things of ,god4 ,he who is desirous of being a shining light for ,jesus in this world is careful that all about him is to the glory of ,god4 ,he will so govern or rule his life1 by ,god's grace1 he will so subject his appetites and passions1 that his whole conduct in every respect will be an adornment of the doctrine of ,god his ,savior4 ,his or her dress will be in perfect accord with the ,bible1 no worldly air will linger in his behavior2 even his eating and drinking will be such as is glorifying to ,god4 ,you show me an individual that is careless about his diet1 led by an unrestrained appetite in eating food highly seasoned and flavored with spices1 cinnamons1 peppers1 and mustards1 or freely eating of rich cakes1 pastries and puddings1 or in drinking of teas and coffees1 and ,i will show you one in whom the ebb of spiritual life is very weak and low4 ,it is true1 to leave off eating condiments and drinking stimulants alone will not make you spiritual1 but it is a certain fact that if you attain to any great degree of spiritual life you will abandon the use of these things4 ,it is well known among the true children of ,god that the most spiritual1 and those of the greatest faith do not use tea nor coffee4 ,those who walk in close communion with ,god are careful to preserve their physical health4 ,when one continues using a certain article of food and drink because it is pleasing to the taste1 and yet hurtful to the body1 he will soon by such selfishness destroy his spiritual life4 8,whether therefore ye eat or drink1 or whatsoever ye do1 do all to the glory of ,god40 #a ,cor4 #aj3ca4 8,but ,i keep under my body1 and bring it into subjection40 #a ,cor4 #i3bg4 8,for if ye live after the flesh1 ye shall die3 but if ye through the ,spirit do mortify the deeds of the body1 ye shall live40 ,rom4 #h3ac4 8,dearly beloved1 ,i beseech you as strangers and pilgrims1 abstain from fleshly lusts1 which war against the soul40 #a ,pet4 #b3aa4 8,this ,i say then1 ,walk in the ,spirit1 and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh10 ,gal4 #e3af4 8,but put ye on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and make not provision for the flesh1 to fulfil the lusts thereof40 ,rom4 #ac3ad4 ,the lust of the flesh as used in these and many other texts includes the use of alcohol1 opium1 tobacco1 tea and coffee4 ,so we have not departed from the ,word of ,god1 which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path1 when writing on these subjects4 ,those who most perfectly manifest the life of ,christ1 those who are the most brilliant spiritual reflectors1 do not indulge in such narcotics4 ,if you value your spiritual prosperity make these sayings subjects of earnest prayer before rejecting them4 ,secret ,vice4 ,when we speak of secret sins many are ready to charge us with immodesty4 ,it is those who indulge in those secret evils that blush the deepest when they are publicly mentioned4 ,there are many habits and indulgences of man that the pure-hearted ,christian feels it is a shame to speak of publicly1 yet his love for fettered1 perishing souls moves him to look up to ,god for a modesty and delicacy of speech that will not in any sense corrupt the mind of the pure1 who may read1 and yet in terms sufficiently plain to reveal these sins and bring deliverance to many4 ,as we have before said1 temperance is a law of heaven4 ,for the propagation of the race1 ,god has implanted in his creatures1 male and female1 a passion for sexual connection4 ,this desire in the nature of mankind is really the highest and most sacred4 ,by it this world is being populated with souls bound on toward an eternity4 ,this passion legitimately indulged to the glory of ,god is one of the most sacred1 holy and pure4 ,since it is the highest and noblest of all the faculties of our being1 its abuse must be the very lowest and unclean in the depravity of man4 ,that this sacred passion has been most degradingly abused is witnessed to upon almost every hand4 ,if man could behold in one scene the awful consequences of this abuse it would be the most beastly and hellish that could possibly be pictured4 ,the misery1 wretchedness and woe entailed upon mortals by these secret indulgences is untold4 ,it is a lust of the flesh that brings disease upon the body1 destroys the vitality of human life and sows the seeds of death in the soul1 which shall be harvested in the eternal fires of torment4 ,these sins of the dark have gone far to obscure the pure light of a ,christian life4 8,ye are the light of the world10 can never be spoken of those who yield to the temptations of this monster vice4 ,the ,moon in her clear reflection of the ,sun is unspotted by such evils4 ,young reader1 have you any admiration for a pure life8 ,does there not slumber in the better faculties of your nature a love and esteem for the virtuous walks of life8 ,what is nobler or more heavenly here upon the earth than a pure1 untarnished soul8 ,oh1 the sublimity of a ,christian life6 ,a youth or maiden with pure affections and holy desires1 seeking after the character of ,god1 is the admiration of angels4 ,as ,god at one time said in the delight of his heart to ,satan1 8,hast thou considered my servant ,job1 that there is none like him in the earth1 a perfect and an upright man1 one that feareth ,god and escheweth evil80 so the lovely queen ,virtue can say to the hideous monster ,vice1 8,hast thou beheld my admiring youth and maiden8 ,there is none like them in all the earth1 ones that love chastity and escheweth evil indulgences40 ,chapter ,,xv4 ,the ,trinity4 ,the wonderful grace of ,god removes sin and its nature from the heart4 ,it restores to man's heart holy and pure affections4 ,it will turn away the love for sin and fill your soul with peace and purity and your mind with a train of holy thoughts4 ,that the ,new ,testament teaches a trinity in the ,godhead is made obvious in ,eph4 #d3d-f4 8,there is one body1 and one ,spirit1 even as ye are called in one hope of your calling2 one ,lord1 one faith1 one baptism1 one ,god and ,father of all1 who is above all1 and through all1 and in you all40 ,also in ,mat4 #bh3ai3 8,go ye therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,and in #a ,pet4 #a3b3 8,elect according to the foreknowledge of ,god the ,father1 through sanctification of the ,spirit1 unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of ,jesus ,christ40 ,jude #bj1 #ba3 8,but ye1 beloved1 building up yourselves on your most holy faith1 praying in the ,holy ,ghost1 keep yourselves in the love of ,god1 looking for the mercy of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ unto eternal life40 ,but the most indubitable text upon this subject is #a ,john #e3g3 8,for there are three that bear record in heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost3 and these three are one40 ,christ is the ,word4 ,john #a3a4 ,god ,the ,father4 ,father is a title conferred upon the first person in the trinity4 ,he is the ,creator of all things4 ,much has been written in scholastic theology of ,god1 but such is incongruous to this work4 ,since most men believe in the existence of ,god1 the ,creator and ,father1 our ,scriptural quotations relating to him will be but few4 ,he is love4 #a ,john #d3h4 ,it was ,god the ,father that so loved this world as to give his only begotten ,son to die for us that we might live4 ,john #c3af4 ,he is eternal4 8,the eternal ,god is thy refuge1 and underneath are the everlasting arms40 ,deut4 #cc3bg4 ,he is omnipotent4 8,and when ,abram was ninety years old and nine1 the ,lord appeared to ,abram1 and said unto him4 ,i am the ,almighty ,god2 walk before me1 and be thou perfect40 ,he is omniscient4 8,o ,lord1 thou hast searched me1 and known me4 ,thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising1 thou understandest my thought afar off4 ,thou compassest my path and my lying down1 and art acquainted with all my ways4 ,for there is not a word in my tongue1 but1 lo1 ,o ,lord1 thou knowest it altogether4 ,thou hast beset me behind and before1 and laid thine hand upon me4 ,such knowledge is too wonderful for me2 it is high1 ,i can not attain unto it40 ,psa4 #aci3a-f4 8,known unto ,god are all his works from the beginning of the world40 ,acts #ae3ah4 ,he is omnipresent4 8,whither shall ,i go from thy spirit8 or whither shall ,i flee from thy presence8 ,if ,i ascend up into heaven1 thou art there3 if ,i make my bed in hell ,hades1 behold1 thou art there4 ,if ,i take the wings of the morning1 and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea3 even there shall thy hand lead me1 and thy right hand shall hold me40 ,psa4 #aci3g-aj4 8,am ,i a ,god at hand1 saith the ,lord1 and not a ,god afar off8 ,can any hide himself in secret places that ,i shall not see him8 saith the ,lord4 ,do not ,i fill heaven and earth8 saith the ,lord40 ,jer4 #bc3bc1 #bd4 ,he is immutable4 8,for ,i am the ,lord1 ,i change not2 therefore ye sons of ,jacob are not consumed40 ,mal4 #c3f4 ,he is the source of all goodness4 8,and he said unto him4 ,why callest thou me good8 there is none good but one1 that is1 ,god40 ,he dwells within the hearts of his saints3 8,and what agreement hath the temple of ,god with idols8 for ye are the temple of the living ,god2 as ,god hath said1 ,i will dwell in them1 and walk in them2 and ,i will be their ,god1 and they shall be my people40 #b ,cor4 #f3af4 ,he is capable of being grieved4 8,and grieve not the ,holy ,spirit of ,god whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption40 ,eph4 #d3cj4 ,an influence can not be grieved4 ,it is only a person that has feeling and affections4 ,god in olden time spoke audibly to his people4 ,such an order of things ended when ,jesus came4 ,his mission in that respect was accomplished4 ,he came in the flesh as the ,son1 and conquering sin and the grave through death and resurrection1 he ascended to the ,father4 ,his mission as a sacrifice was completed4 ,he now comes in the ,spirit4 ,christ in speaking of the ,holy ,spirit's coming1 says1 8,i will come to you40 ,john #ad3ah4 ,thus the ,spirit is ,christ or ,god in another personage4 ,it is the ,holy ,spirit that now talks to men4 ,he teaches1 interprets1 guides1 comforts and reproves4 ,the children of ,god once knew ,god by his audible voice4 ,they know him now by the voice of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,you show me a man that denies the ,holy ,spirit1 and ,i will show you a man that does not know ,god4 ,the terms ,holy ,ghost and ,god are used interchangeably4 ,see ,acts #e3c1 #d4 ,the attributes of ,deity are ascribed unto him as well as unto the ,father and the ,son4 ,he is eternal4 8,how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who through the eternal ,spirit offered himself without spot to ,god1 purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living ,god80 ,heb4 #i3ad4 ,he is omnipresent4 8,whither shall ,i go from thy ,spirit80 ,psa4 #aci3g4 ,he is omniscient4 8,but ,god hath revealed them unto us by his ,spirit3 for the ,spirit searcheth all things1 yea1 the deep things of ,god40 #a ,cor4 #b3aj4 ,he is omnipotent4 8,through mighty signs and wonders1 by the power of the ,spirit of ,god40 ,rom4 #ae3ai4 8,and the angel answered and said unto her1 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,highest shall overshadow thee40 ,luke #a3ce4 8,for that which is conceived in her is of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,mat4 #a3bj4 ,by this we understand the ,holy ,spirit to have the power of creation4 ,some have erroneously taught that the ,holy ,spirit is the ,word4 ,how can they do so when the second person in the trinity declares he is the ,word8 ,john #a3a4 8,for there are three that bare record in heaven1 the ,father1 the ,word1 and the ,holy ,ghost40 #a ,john #e3g4 ,is not this plain enough to stop the mouths of all such false teachers8 ,the office of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he is everywhere termed the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it is true4 ,christ is holy1 and ,god is holy1 but this term is especially applied to the ,spirit1 because his particular mission is to restore mankind to holiness4 ,holiness and sanctification1 so far as they apply to a state1 are synonymous terms4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the sanctifier4 ,rom4 #ae3af4 ,this is the especial mission and prime work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,much is involved in the work of sanctification4 ,in this is the destruction of carnality and division1 and consequently the unifying of the children of ,god4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the agency in answering the prayer of the ,savior3 8,neither pray ,i for these alone1 but for them also which shall believe on me through their word3 that they all may be one40 ,john #ag3bj1 #ba4 ,sanctification is the work which effects this oneness4 8,for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one3 for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren40 ,heb4 #b3aa4 ,holiness and unity accomplished by the ,holy ,spirit are the two most sublime themes in the ,new ,testament4 ,nothing accomplished in the mission of the ,holy ,spirit is more glorifying to ,god4 ,god ,the ,son4 ,jesus ,christ1 the second person in the trinity1 is also called ,god4 8,and ,thomas answered and said unto him1 ,my ,lord and my ,god40 ,john #bj3bh4 8,in the beginning was the ,word1 and the ,word was with ,god1 and the word was ,god40 ,john #a3a4 ,he is ,god revealed in the flesh on a mission of love and mercy to this world4 ,he came as a ,redeemer or ,savior4 ,an angel of the ,lord appeared to ,joseph in a dream before the nativity of the holy child and gave him the name ,jesus or ,savior 7see margin of ,mat4 #a3ba71 because he should save his people from their sins4 ,he was both ,god and man4 ,born of a woman1 he was human4 ,conceived by the ,holy ,spirit1 he was divine4 ,as ,god1 he was not subject to temptation1 8for ,god can not be tempted20 but as a man he endured all the temptations common to mankind4 ,in the beginning of his ministry he was forty days tempted of the devil4 ,he is one with ,god the ,father4 8,i and my ,father are one40 ,john #aj3cj4 ,because of his divinity he is eternal4 8,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending40 ,rev4 #a3h4 ,he is omnipotent4 8,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the beginning and the ending1 saith the ,lord1 which is1 and which was1 and which is to come1 the ,almighty40 ,he is able to subdue all things unto himself4 ,phil4 #c3ba4 8,all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth40 ,mat4 #bh3ah4 ,he is omnipresent4 8,for where two or three are gathered together in my name1 there am ,i in the midst of them40 ,mat4 #ah3bj4 8,lo1 ,i am with you alway1 even unto the end of the world40 ,mat4 #bh3bj4 ,he is omniscient4 8,he saith unto him the third time1 ,simon1 son of ,jonas1 lovest thou me8 ,peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time1 ,lovest thou me8 ,and he said unto him1 ,lord thou knowest all things2 thou knowest that ,i love thee40 ,john #ba3ag4 8,now we are sure that thou knowest all things40 ,john #af3cj4 ,he is immutable4 8,jesus ,christ the same yesterday1 and to-day1 and forever40 ,heb4 #ac3h4 ,his mission to this world was to be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of this world4 8,so ,christ was once offered to bear the sins of many40 ,heb4 #i3bh4 ,god prepared a body for his ,son which he could bring as a sacrifice for the sins of many4 8,but a body hast thou prepared me40 ,heb4 #aj3e4 ,truly1 8without controversy great is the mystery of godliness3 ,god was manifest in the flesh1 justified in the ,spirit1 seen of angels1 preached unto the ,gentiles1 believed on in the world1 received up into glory40 #a ,tim4 #c3af4 ,the writers of the ,gospels record the event of his crucifixion4 ,on the cross he cried1 8,it is finished40 ,his mission was completed1 the sacrifice was made1 the blood was shed4 ,the blood has a great atoning power1 the devastation caused by sin is covered by the blood4 ,it destroys the works of the devil4 ,provision was made by the atoning blood for sickness as well as for sin4 8,when the even was come1 they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils3 and he cast out the spirits with his word1 and healed all that were sick3 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by ,esaias the prophet1 saying1 ,himself took our infirmities1 and bare our sicknesses40 ,mat4 #h3af1 #ag4 ,god manifested in the flesh is a perfect ,redeemer1 the conqueror of sin1 sickness and death1 the destroyer of ,satan's works1 and the light of the world4 ,god ,the ,holy ,ghost4 ,that the ,holy ,spirit is a personage many question4 ,but the doubts and denials of a nation1 or of a world1 do not change the ,word of ,god4 ,he is the third person in the trinity without controversy4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is not a mere emanation or influence1 but a person or being1 capable of works1 or the performance of a mission4 ,as a person he guides3 8,howbeit when he1 the ,spirit of truth is come1 he will guide you into all truth40 ,john #af3ac4 ,he as a person teaches3 8,but the ,comforter1 which is the ,holy ,ghost1 whom the ,father will send in my name1 he shall teach you all things1 and bring all things to your remembrance1 whatsoever ,i have said unto you40 ,john #ad3bf4 ,this teacher and guide is not a mere influence1 such as love4 ,the ,scriptures in speaking of the ,holy ,spirit use the personal pronoun4 ,the ,holy ,spirit as the third person in the trinity is the special gift of ,god unto his children3 8,and1 behold1 ,i send the promise of my ,father upon you40 ,luke #bd3di4 ,god gave this promise by the mouth of his prophet ,joel1 8,and it shall come to pass afterward1 that ,i will pour out my ,spirit upon all flesh40 ,joel #b3bh4 ,this promise was the gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,see ,acts #b3ag1 #ah1 #ch4 ,upon whom this gift is bestowed is a subject of more controversy perhaps than any other ,bible theme4 ,there need be no confusion upon this point if all would take the plain statements and examples in the ,new ,testament4 ,jesus declares the world can not receive the ,spirit1 ,john #ad3ag4 ,the disciples enjoyed the experience of regeneration all through the ,lord's ministry4 ,some will take issue with us here1 but we have the whole of the ,word on our side1 or rather we are on the side of the ,word of ,god4 ,they preached1 they east out devils1 they healed the sick1 they rejoiced1 they prayed1 the ,lord administered unto them the newly instituted ordinance of the ,lord's ,supper1 and originated the precious ordinance of feet-washing4 ,he told them their names were written in heaven4 ,he said he had chosen them out of the world1 and that they were not of the world1 even as he was not of the world4 ,he prayed ,god to keep them from the evils of the world1 and said that the glory the ,father gave him he had given them1 and that he had kept them in his ,father's name1 and none of them was lost4 ,what more proof do you require to convince you that they were not sinners8 ,some who endeavor to overthrow the doctrine of receiving the ,holy ,spirit as the sanctifier subsequent to regeneration1 say that 8the justification of the disciples was an ,old ,testament justification1 and not a justification under the gospel1 and ,pentecost was the receiving of the ,new ,testament justification40 ,did you ever hear of a justification under the law spoken of as the experience of the disciples was spoken of by the ,savior8 ,they were not like the other ,jews that kept the law4 ,they were separated from them and persecuted by them4 ,jesus said1 8,ye have followed me in the regeneration40 ,mat4 #ai3bh4 ,it was not a justification under the law1 but a regeneration in ,christ4 ,in ,john1 seventeenth chapter1 after telling the ,father that he had chosen them out of the world and kept them in his name1 that none of them should be lost1 he then prays for their sanctification4 ,after saying in the sixteenth verse1 8,they are not of the world1 even as ,i am not of the world10 in the next verse he prays the ,father to sanctify them4 ,in ,mat4 #i3b1 ,jesus says to the man sick of the palsy1 8,son1 be of good cheer1 thy sins be forgiven thee40 ,was not this a gospel justification or pardon8 ,there was no offering of the blood of animals to secure a justification by the law4 ,this is to prove that ,christ did give his followers the experience of the 8new birth0 before his crucifixion4 ,i do not doubt that this man was present and received the ,holy ,spirit at ,pentecost4 ,another clear example set before us of the ,christians in the morning of this gospel day receiving the ,holy ,spirit as the third person in the trinity after regeneration1 is that of the brethren at ,samaria1 recorded in ,acts1 eighth chapter4 ,philip went down thither and preached ,christ unto them1 and they gave heed to the things he spake1 ver4 #e1 #f4 ,do you not think this was a ,new ,testament justification8 ,the seventh verse says that unclean spirits were cast out and the palsied and lame were healed4 ,do you suppose that all this was done unto sinners8 ,the fourteenth verse says they 8received the word40 ,james says1 8,receive with meekness the engrafted word1 which is able to save your souls40 ,jas4 #a3ba4 ,the sixteenth verse of the eighth chapter of ,acts says they were baptized in the name of ,jesus4 ,the seventeenth verse speaks of their reception of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,some are at this point ready to say that ,simon believed ,philip's preaching and was baptized1 and yet not saved4 ,this is very true4 ,he was a hypocrite4 ,the remainder were not1 you know full well4 ,because they were sincere they received an experience1 and were made fit subjects to receive the ,holy ,spirit4 ,because he was not saved he could not receive him4 ,a similar instance of the outpouring of the ,holy ,spirit upon the previously regenerated is that of ,cornelius1 recorded in the tenth chapter of ,acts4 ,we are often told that ,cornelius was a devout man under the law like ,moses1 ,isaiah1 and other ,old ,testament prophets4 ,this is only a supposition1 and one without foundation4 ,cornelius was not a keeper of the law4 ,he was a ,gentile1 a ,roman centurion4 ,he had heard of ,jesus1 ver4 #cf1 #cg4 ,he had learned enough to believe on him for the salvation from sin1 but wanted to be taught the way of ,god more perfectly4 ,under ,peter's preaching they received the ,holy ,spirit4 ,in the nineteenth chapter of ,acts is preserved the experience of twelve men at ,ephesus4 ,they were disciples4 ,the ,jews under the law were never called disciples4 ,a disciple is a follower or learner of ,christ4 ,paul preached to them and laid hands upon them1 and they received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this is the dispensation of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,as holy men were once led and spoken to by ,god directly1 holy men are now led and spoken to by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the man who rejects the power1 work and light of the ,holy ,spirit is like a blind man who does not believe the existence of a sun because he never saw the light4 ,the ,holy ,spirit calls to the ministry4 ,acts #ac3a-d4 ,he leads them and directs them where to preach or labor4 ,acts #h3bf1 #bi2 #af3f1 #g4 ,he created the overseers4 ,acts #bj3bh4 ,men spake as moved by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,they spake as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,god sets all the members in the body as pleases him4 #a ,cor4 #ab3ah4 ,he does this through the agency of the ,holy ,spirit4 #a ,cor4 #ab3ac4 ,apostles and prophets and teachers and gifts of healing and miracles and tongues are all the gifts of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the whole work of ,god is now carried on by the ,holy ,spirit1 the third person in the trinity4 ,chapter ,,xvi4 ,miscellaneous ,subjects4 ,woman's ,freedom4 ,the ,scriptural right for women to labor in the gospel as exhorters1 teachers1 preachers1 etc41 is questioned by many4 ,to deny women such a privilege is contrary to the ,christian spirit of equality1 and a serious obstruction to pure gospel light4 ,we 7male and female7 are all one in ,christ ,jesus4 ,gal4 #c3bh4 ,in the kingdom of grace man and woman are on an equal footing so far as concerns the work of ,god4 ,to explain some texts that seem to prohibit women from laboring in the gospel and to prove positively to you that women did so labor in the morning light of the church1 we will transcribe an article written by ,bro4 ,geo4 ,cole1 and which appeared in the ,gospel ,trumpet4 8,i commend unto you ,phebe our sister1 which is a servant of the church which is at ,cenchrea40 ,the church at ,cenchrea was a local congregation or assembly4 ,phebe our sister--that this personage was a woman1 no one disputes1 and she was a servant of the church4 ,servant-diakonos1 translated servant in the following texts3 ,mat4 #bc3aa2 ,mark #i3ce2 ,john #ab3bf2 ,rom4 #af3a4 ,translated deacon in ,phil4 #a3a2 #a ,tim4 #c3h1 #ab4 ,translated minister3 ,mat4 #bj3bf1 #bh2 ,mark #aj3dc1 #de2 ,rom4 #ae3h2 #a ,cor4 #c3e2 #b ,cor4 #c3f2 #f3d2 #aa3ae1 #bc2 ,eph4 #c3g2 #f3ba2 ,col4 #a3g1 #bc1 #be2 #d3g2 #a ,thes4 #c3b2 #a ,tim4 #d3f2 ,rom4 #ab3g2 #b ,cor4 #h3d2 ,mat4 #be3dd2 #b ,cor4 #c3c2 ,heb4 #f3aj2 #a3ad2 #a ,pet4 #a3ab2 #d3aj1 #aa4 ,the extensive use of this word diakonos in the ,new ,testament readily determines its meaning4 ,that ,paul conferred upon ,phebe the church title 8diakonos0 is unquestionable1 and as such it means minister or deacon4 ,liddell and ,scott's lexicon comments on diakonos as used in the ,new ,testament as follows3 ,a servant1 waiting man or woman1 minister1 a messenger1 a minister of the church4 ,any one can see the above definition covers all the ground of elder4 ,i will offer a few proof texts4 8,he that is greatest among you1 shall be your servant diakonos40 ,mat4 #bc3aa4 8,whosoever will be great among you1 let him be your minister diakonos40 ,mat4 #bj3bf4 8,ministers diakonos by whom ye believed40 #a ,cor4 #c3e4 8,who also hath made us able ministers diakonos of the ,new ,testament40 #b ,cor4 #c3f4 8,thou shalt be a good minister diakonos of ,jesus ,christ40 #a ,tim4 #d3f4 8,in all things approving ourselves as the ministers diakonos of ,god40 #b ,cor4 #f3d4 8,whereof ,i was made a minister diakonos40 ,eph4 #c3g4 ,thus we might swell the testimony that diakonos was the common term used in the ,new ,testament signifying the ministerial office of minister1 elder1 preacher1 etc4 ,therefore the evidences are in ,phebe's favor that she was a minister or elder rather than a deaconess4 ,if we consider ,paul's commendation of her standing and the sending of his ,roman epistle by her1 as having some weight1 this certainly favors the above conclusion4 ,prophecy4 ,propheteuo--to prophesy publicly1 to expound1 to preach1 etc4 ,there were certain prophets and teachers in the church at ,antioch1 as ,barnabas1 ,simeon1 ,lucius1 ,manaen1 and ,saul or ,paul4 ,acts #ac3a4 ,they were public expounders of the ,scriptures4 ,prophesy--to speak1 to edify1 exhort1 and comfort4 #a ,cor4 #ad3c4 ,a few examples3 ,zacharias filled with the ,holy ,ghost prophesied4 ,luke #a3fg-gi4 ,compare this prophecy with ,mary's words in ,luke #a3df-ee4 8,they spake with tongues and prophesied40 ,acts #ai3f4 8,and ,judas and ,silas1 being prophets also themselves1 exhorted the brethren with many words1 and confirmed them40 ,acts #ae3cb4 8,mystery of ,christ which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men1 as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the ,spirit40 ,eph4 #c3d1 #e4 ,prophets were set in the church4 8,he gave some1 apostles2 and some1 prophets40 ,eph4 #d3aa4 8,and ,god set some in the church1 first apostles1 secondarily prophets40 #a ,cor4 #ab3bh4 ,and there were certain prophets and teachers in the church which was at ,antioch4 ,acts #ac3a4 ,thus we see the prophets were identical with or a constituent part of the ,new ,testament ministry2 and it only remains for us to prove there were women prophets in the church and we have women identified with the ministry4 ,example3 ,philip the evangelist1 which was one of the seven4 8,and the same man had four daughters1 virgins1 which did prophesy40 ,acts #ba3h1 #i4 8,but every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head3 for that is even all one as if she were shaven40 #a ,cor4 #aa3 #e4 ,if there were no women prophets it were foolish to give directions for them while praying or prophesying4 ,joel prophesied1 8,and it shall come to pass in the last days1 saith ,god1 ,i will pour out of my ,spirit upon all flesh3 and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy1 and your young men shall see visions1 and your old men shall dream dreams3 and on my servants and on my handmaidens ,i will pour out in those days of my ,spirit2 and they shall prophesy40 ,acts #b3ag1 #ah4 ,we observe first1 men and women were placed on equality as prophets3 second1 this was to be a characteristic feature or mark of the last days1 or last dispensation2 third1 this was being fulfilled at that time1 at ,pentecost1 as women were present4 ,acts #a3ad4 ,all were filled with the ,holy ,ghost1 and spoke with tongues as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,acts #b3a-d4 ,paul speaks of the whole church coming together into one place4 #a ,cor4 #ad3bc4 ,this includes both men and women4 ,he says1 8,but if all men and women prophesy1 and there come in one that believeth not1 or one unlearned1 he is convinced of all1 he is judged of all10 ver4 #bd4 ,in verse #ca he says1 8,for ye may all prophesy one by one1 that all may learn1 and all may be comforted40 ,this was an extended privilege to all1 though not expected of all1 as we see in #a ,cor4 #ab3bi3 8,are all prophets80 ,paul expressly mentions those women which labored with him in the gospel4 ,phil4 #d3c4 ,see ,rom4 #af3a1 #c1 #g1 #ab4 8,labored in the gospel40 8,elders 444 labor in the word and doctrine40 #a ,tim4 #e3ag4 ,this was exactly the kind of work that ,paul was doing1 and those women labored with him in the gospel4 8,in the gospel0 signifies here1 evangelizing1 spreading or preaching the gospel1 etc4 ,let us not confound ordinary testimony with prophesying4 ,a person must have the gift of prophecy in order to prophesy3 and it is this gift that constitutes a person a prophet4 ,proof texts1 ,rom4 #ab3f2 #a ,cor4 #ab3aj1 #bh2 #ad3a1 #c1 #f1 #ab1 #bi1 #ci2 ,eph4 #d3h-aa4 ,and we have before proved that women did possess this gift1 hence were prophetesses or public expounders of the gospel1 and hence they have a constituent part in the ministry1 and as such are just as much elders in the church of ,god as men4 ,silence ,in ,the ,church4 8,let your women keep silence in the churches40 #a ,cor4 #ad3ci4 8,let him keep silence in the church40 ,ver4 #bh4 ,if these scriptures had no contexts to explain them we would all be silenced in the church4 ,the context to the last quotation reads thus4 8,but if there be no interpreter1 let him keep silence40 ,this makes it clear4 ,context to the first reads1 8,for it is not permitted unto them to speak3 but they are commanded to be under obedience1 as also saith the law4 ,and if they will learn anything1 let them ask their husbands at home40 ,what kind of speech is forbidden8 ,ans4--,asking questions in the church to learn1 interrogative speech in the public congregation4 ,the law did not prohibit women being prophets or prophesying4 ,see ,deborah1 in ,judges #d3d-ad4 ,miriam1 ,ex4 #ae3bj4 ,anna1 ,luke #b3cf4 ,if the law did not prohibit women prophesying1 ,paul did not call in question the obedience of the law to prove that point4 ,thus the context explains itself without further comment4 ,does not the character of ,jezebel 8which calleth herself a prophetess0 disapprove of women prophets8 ,rev4 #b3bj4 ,no6 no more than ,satan's ministers transforming themselves into the ministers of ,christ would disapprove of the entire ,christian ministry4 ,the counterfeit proves there is a genuine4 ,this is conclusive proof in itself that there were true prophetesses in the church in those days4 8,teach nor to usurp authority over the man0 7#a ,tim4 #b3ab71 is offered in argument against women prophets4 ,such argument betrays ignorance in the nature and spirit of prophecy4 ,a woman filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 prophesying1 speaking unto men to edification1 exhorting1 and comforting1 is not usurping authority over any one4 ,the ,resurrection ,of ,the ,body4 ,this chapter appears in ,gospel ,trumpet1 written by ,h4 ,f4 ,jackson4 #a4 ,abraham4 8,accounting that ,god was able to raise ,him up1 even from the dead2 from whence also he received him in a figure40 ,heb4 #aa3ai4 #b4 ,moses4 8,now that the dead are raised1 even ,moses showed at the bush1 when he called the ,lord the ,god of ,abraham1 and the ,god of ,isaac1 and the ,god of ,jacob4 ,for he is not a ,god of the dead1 but of the living3 for all live unto him40 ,luke #bj3cg4 #c4 ,job4 8,for ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth1 and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth3 and though after my skin worms destroy this body1 yet in my flesh shall ,i see ,god3 whom ,i shall see for myself1 and mine eyes shall behold1 and not another2 though my reins be consumed within me40 ,job #ai3be-bg4 #d4 ,isaiah4 8,thy dead men shall live1 together with my dead body shall they arise4 ,awake and sing1 ye that dwell in dust3 for thy dew is as the dew of herbs1 and the earth shall cast out the dead40 ,isa4 #bf3ai4 #e4 ,daniel4 8,and many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake1 some to everlasting life1 and some to shame and everlasting contempt4 ,and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament2 and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever4 ,but go thou thy way till the end be3 for thou shalt rest1 and stand in thy lot at the end of the days40 ,dan4 #ab3b1 #c1 #ac4 #f4 ,hosea4 8,i will ransom them from the power of the grave2 ,i will redeem them from death3 ,o death1 ,i will be thy plagues2 ,o grave1 ,i will be thy destruction3 repentance shall be hid from mine eyes40 ,hos4 #ac3ad4 ,the ,doctrine ,derided ,among ,the ,greeks4 8,then certain philosophers of the ,epicureans1 and of the ,stoics1 encountered him4 ,and some said1 ,what will this babbler say8 other some1 ,he seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods3 because he preached unto them ,jesus1 and the resurrection4 ,and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead1 some mocked3 and others said1 ,we will hear thee again of this matter40 ,acts #ag3ah1 #cb4 ,paul's ,defense ,of ,the ,doctrine4 8,now if ,christ be preached that he rose from the dead1 how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead80 #a ,cor4 #ae3ab4 8,but if there be no resurrection of the dead1 then is ,christ not risen3 and if ,christ be not risen1 then is our preaching vain1 and your faith is also vain4 ,yea1 and we are found false witnesses of ,god2 because we have testified of ,god that he raised up ,christ3 whom he raised not up1 if so be that the dead rise not4 ,for if the dead rise not1 then is not ,christ raised3 and if ,christ be not raised1 your faith is vain2 ye are yet in your sins4 ,then they also which are fallen asleep in ,christ are perished4 ,else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead1 if the dead rise not at all8444 and why stand ye in jeopardy every hour80 #a ,cor4 #ae3ac-ah1 #bi1 #cj4 ,death ,to ,reign ,until ,the ,resurrection4 8,the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death40 #a ,cor4 #ae3bf4 ,the ,resurrection ,of ,christ ,ensures ,that ,of ,his ,followers4 8,if in this life only we have hope in ,christ1 we are of all men most miserable4 ,but now is ,christ risen from the dead1 and become the first-fruits of them that slept4 ,for since by man came death1 by man came also the resurrection of the dead4 ,for as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive4 ,but every man in his own order3 ,christ the first-fruits3 afterward they that are ,christ's at his coming40 #a ,cor4 #ae3ai-bc4 ,christ's ,promise ,to ,raise ,his ,followers4 8,and this is the ,father's will which hath sent me1 that of all which he hath given me ,i should lose nothing1 but should raise it up again at the last day4 ,and this is the will of him that sent me1 that every one which seeth the ,son1 and believeth on him1 may have everlasting life3 and ,i will raise him up at the last day40 ,john #f3ci1 #dj4 ,the ,order ,of ,the ,resurrection4 #a4 ,the dead will first be raised4 8,but ,i would not have you to be ignorant1 brethren1 concerning them which are asleep1 that ye sorrow not1 even as others which have no hope4 ,for if we believe that ,jesus died and rose again1 even so them also which sleep in ,jesus will ,god bring with him4 ,for this we say unto you by the word of the ,lord1 that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the ,lord shall not prevent them which are asleep4 ,for the ,lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout1 and with the voice of the archangel1 and with the trump of ,god3 and the dead in ,christ shall rise first40 #a ,thes4 #d3ac-af4 #b4 ,living saints will be caught up4 8,then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds1 to meet the ,lord in the air3 and so shall we ever be with the ,lord4 ,wherefore comfort one another with these words40 #a ,thes4 #d3ag1 #ah4 ,the ,glory ,of ,the ,consummation4 8,behold1 ,i shew you a mystery2 we shall not all sleep1 but we all shall be changed1 in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 at the last trump3 for the trumpet shall sound1 and the dead shall be raised incorruptible1 and we shall be changed4 ,for this corruptible must put on incorruption1 and this mortal must put on immortality4444 ,then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written1 ,death is swallowed up in victory4 ,o death1 where is thy sting8 ,o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,the sting of death is sin2 and the strength of sin is the law40 #a ,cor4 #ae3ea-ef4 ,the ,mosaic ,law4 ,there is recorded in the ,old ,testament the account of ,god giving a law to govern his people ,israel4 ,this is called a covenant1 and was to serve as a schoolmaster to lead its subjects to ,christ4 ,this law was a shadow of good things to come2 that is1 it contained types and shadows of something real in the blessed day of gospel grace4 ,the blood of the animals that was shed could not take away sins1 but is typical of the blood of ,jesus1 who in the end of the world appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself4 ,there is no power in the blood of animals to redeem man from sin1 but we are redeemed with the precious blood of ,christ1 as of a lamb without blemish and without spot4 ,the unblemished lamb offered in sacrifice under the ,jewish economy was typical or a shadow of the spotless ,christ1 slain for the sins of the world4 ,the types and shadows of the law all center in ,christ4 ,when he the substance is come the shadow of necessity vanishes away4 ,when the shadow meets the substance the shadow has an end4 ,the redemption which we have in ,jesus not only redeems us from sin1 but also from the bondage of the ,sinaitic law4 8,but when the fulness of the time was come1 ,god sent forth his ,son1 made of a woman1 made under the law1 to redeem them that were under the law1 that we might receive the adoption of sons40 ,gal4 #d3d1 #e4 8,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law1 being made a curse for us40 ,gal4 #c3ac4 ,there is no salvation to be obtained by the observance of any part or the whole of the law of ,moses including the ten commandments4 ,salvation or redemption is only found in ,christ and the gospel4 8,neither by the blood of goats and calves1 but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place1 having obtained eternal redemption for us40 ,heb4 #i3ab4 8,for what the law could not do1 in that it was weak through the flesh1 ,god sending his own ,son in the likeness of sinful flesh1 and for sin1 condemned sin in the flesh40 ,rom4 #h3c4 ,it is not through the law we obtain salvation1 but through the gospel4 8,for ,i am not ashamed of the gospel of ,christ3 for it is the power of ,god unto salvation to every one that believeth2 to the ,jew first1 and also to the ,greek40 ,rom4 #a3af4 8,wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness1 and receive with meekness the engrafted word1 which is able to save your souls40 ,jas4 #a3ba4 8,being born again1 not of corruptible seed1 but of incorruptible1 by the word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth forever40 #a ,pet4 #a3bc4 ,in ,rom4 #a3af1 ,gal4 #c3bf1 ,rev4 #e3i1 and many other texts1 we learn that all are accepted by ,god unto salvation through ,christ4 ,this necessitates an end of the law1 since the law is given to the ,jew only4 ,there is no shift or revision made of the law in ,christ to include both ,jew and ,gentile2 it is simply done1 and the gospel succeeds4 ,the apostles very clearly and decidedly teach an abolition of the ancient faulty ,sinaitic law4 ,paul says1 8,having abolished destroyed--,webster in his flesh the enmity1 even the law of commandments contained in ordinances2 for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace40 ,eph4 #b3ae4 ,the enmity here spoken of is the enmity or separation made between the ,jew and ,gentile by the ,mosaic law4 ,this law of the ,jews stood as a partition wall between the ,israelite and the ,gentile world4 ,in ,jesus this wall was torn down1 and the ,gentile as well as the ,jew was offered salvation4 ,in verse fourteen ,paul says1 8,for he is our peace1 who hath made both one ,jew and ,gentile1 and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us40 ,the ,jewish ordinances and laws that stood as a mighty wall between the ,gentile and the ,jew were broken down and all the world of every kindred1 nation and tongue was given equal rights under an entirely new order of things4 ,the coming of ,christ was the fulfilling of the law4 ,the law was only given to serve until ,jesus came4 ,when he came its object or purpose was fulfilled and had an end4 8,but before faith came1 we were kept under the law1 shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed4 ,wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto ,christ1 that we might be justified by faith4 ,but after that faith is come1 we are no longer under a schoolmaster40 ,gal4 #c3bc-be4 ,this is plain1 positive language4 ,after faith or ,christ has come we are no longer under a schoolmaster1 which is the law4 ,this accords with ,rom4 #f3ad3 8,for sin shall not have dominion over you3 for ye are not under the law1 but under grace40 ,as we have before mentioned1 the law did not deliver us from the power of sin2 but after grace came by ,jesus ,christ we are not under the law1 but under grace1 and where sin once abounded1 that is1 had power or dominion1 grace now much more abounds2 therefore sin has no dominion over us4 ,in ,rom4 #g3d the apostle tells us we have become dead to the law by the body of ,christ4 ,in the seventh verse1 still speaking of this law1 to which we become dead by the body of ,christ1 he quotes one of the ten commandments1 thereby teaching us that by the body of ,christ we are no longer under the ten-commandment law4 ,the ten-commandment law simply as the ten-commandment law is no more in force and effect than if it were never given4 ,some of the principles embodied in the ten commandments are embodied in the ,new ,testament4 ,these are in effect1 not because they are principles of the ten commandments1 but because they are principles of the ,new ,testament4 ,must ,i as a ,christian refrain from committing adultery because it is forbidden by one of the ten commandments8 ,we answer1 ,no4 ,but as a ,christian in this dispensation of the gospel ,i must refrain from such acts because it is forbidden in the ,new ,testament4 ,we must live in the spirit of the gospel4 ,we could live without violation of this seventh commandment1 and yet commit adultery according to the ,new ,testament and be wholly destitute of the grace of ,god4 ,jesus says that 8whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart40 ,mat4 #e3bh4 ,the salvation of the gospel removes such unholy desires from the heart4 8,tell me1 ye that desire to be under the law1 do ye not hear the law8 ,for it is written1 that ,abraham had two sons1 the one by a bondmaid1 the other by a freewoman4 ,but he who was of the bondmaid was born after the flesh2 but he of the freewoman was by promise4 ,which things are an allegory3 for these are the two covenants2 the one from mount ,sinai1 which gendereth to bondage1 which is ,agar4 ,for this ,agar is mount ,sinai in ,arabia1 and answereth to ,jerusalem which now is1 and is in bondage with her children4 ,but ,jerusalem which is above is free1 which is the mother of us all40 ,gal4 #d3ba-bf4 ,here the apostle uses the two sons of ,abraham allegorically4 ,they represent the two covenants or testaments4 ,see margin4 ,the one by the bondmaid he uses to represent the testament or covenant given from ,sinai4 ,the one by the free woman1 the covenant given by ,christ1 or the ,new ,testament4 ,the apostle goes further and tells us what disposition to make of the two sons or testaments4 8,nevertheless what saith the scripture8 ,cast out the bondwoman and her son3 for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman4 ,so then1 brethren1 we are not children of the bondwoman1 but of the free40 ,gal4 #d3cj1 #ca4 ,the mission of the ,sinaitic law is completed4 ,it has finished its course4 ,we are in the glorious freedom of the ,new ,testament4 ,paul adds in the next chapter1 8,stand fast therefore1 in the liberty wherewith ,christ hath made us free1 and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage40 ,ver4 #a4 ,he speaks further of the two covenants in the eighth chapter of ,hebrews1 and says1 8,for if that first covenant had been faultless1 then should no place have been sought for the second4 ,for finding fault with them1 he saith1 ,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord1 when ,i will make a new covenant with the house of ,israel and with the house of ,judah3 not according to the covenant that ,i made with their fathers in the day when ,i took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of ,egypt2 because they continued not in my covenant1 and ,i regarded them not1 saith the ,lord40 ,what was the covenant that ,god made with ,israel when he led them out of the land of ,egypt8 ,it was the entire law given at ,sinai1 including the ten commandments4 ,whoever would here make a division in the covenant1 and say only the ceremonial law is included in the covenant mentioned in these texts simply makes the assertion to sustain some adopted views of his creed4 ,there is no foundation here for any division4 ,this first1 covenant is the whole covenant1 and it was faulty4 ,in verse thirteen he says it waxeth old and is ready to vanish away4 ,continuing in the ninth chapter the apostle speaks of the ordinances of the first covenant1 which stood in meals and drinks and divers washings4 ,ver4 #aj4 ,these ordinances of the first covenant were imposed upon them until the time of reformation4 ,we are to understand by this that at the bringing in of the reformation they 8vanished away40 ,in the ,colossian letter he mentions those ordinances together with some others as being blotted out at ,calvary4 ,we will quote his words3 8,blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us1 which was contrary to us1 and took it out of the way1 nailing it to his cross40 ,col4 #b3ad4 ,in the sixteenth verse he tells us what ordinances were blotted out3 8,let no man therefore since they are nailed to the cross judge you in meat or in drink1 or in respect of a holy day1 or of the new moon1 or of the sabbath days40 ,the ,jew was denied by the law the privilege of eating certain kinds of meat4 ,such restrictions were nailed to the cross1 and since ,calvary nothing is 8common or unclean40 ,their holy days and solemn assemblies at certain stages of the moon find no place in the ,new ,testament4 ,the keeping of the ,sabbath as commanded on the tables of stone was also nailed to the cross1 therefore let no man judge us or bind these things upon us4 ,the ,sabbath of the ten commandments had its mission4 ,it was a shadow of good things to come4 ,it was typical of the rest which is found in ,jesus4 ,of all the types and shadows of the ,sinaitic covenant1 none is more beautiful than the keeping of the ,sabbath4 ,it foreshadows the rest or peacefulness of ,christ's kingdom4 ,jesus says1 8,come unto me1 all ye that labor and are heavy-laden1 and ,i will give you rest4 ,take my yoke upon you1 and learn of me2 for ,i am meek and lowly in heart3 and ye shall find rest unto your souls40 ,mat4 #aa3bh1 #bi4 ,the ,old ,testament prophets beheld the rest that was to be obtained in ,jesus3 8,and in that day there shall be a root of ,jesse1 which shall stand for an ensign of the people2 to it shall the ,gentiles seek3 and his rest shall be glorious40 ,isa4 #aa3aj4 ,that the seventh-day ,sabbath kept by the ,jews is the ,christian day of worship is a heretical doctrine1 being taught at the present day4 ,to make clear to your understanding that the ,sabbath of the ten-commandment law is not the ,christian day of worship is our object in showing you it was only a type4 ,if it was a type then certainly when we have reached the antitype the type has an end4 ,since the ,word of ,god is so plain we feel confident we can make it clear and comprehensive to you4 ,we will first quote from ,heb4 #d3d-aa3 8,for he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise1 ,and ,god did rest the seventh day from all his works40 7,see ,gen4 #b3a-c47 8,and in this place again4 ,if they shall enter into my rest40 ,see third verse4 8,seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein1 and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief3 again1 he limiteth a certain day1 saying in ,david1 ,to-day1 after so long a time1 as it is said1 ,to-day if ye will hear his voice1 harden not your hearts4 ,for if ,jesus had given them rest1 then would he not afterward have spoken of another day4 ,there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of ,god4 ,for he that is entered into his rest1 he also hath ceased from his own works1 as ,god did from his4 ,let us labor therefore to enter into that rest1 lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief40 ,we now wish to briefly review this quotation4 ,in the fourth verse it is said that ,god rested on the seventh day from all his works4 ,this is recorded in ,gen4 #b3a-c4 ,this is the 8place0 that the seventh-day rest is spoken of4 ,but this day of rest is only a shadow of another day of rest4 ,he speaks of another day4 ,see seventh and eighth verses of quotation2 also ,psa4 #ie3g1 #h4 8,to-day if ye will hear his voice1 harden not your heart40 8,for if ,jesus had given them rest10 ,rotherham says1 8,for if unto them ,joshua had given rest40 ,see also margin of common version4 ,joshua led the children of ,israel across the ,jordan into the land of ,canaan4 ,this land is also typical of a restful state in the kingdom of grace4 ,had ,joshua given them rest he would not have spoken of another day of rest4 ,but they did not enter into his rest1 therefore there remaineth another day of rest to the people of ,god4 ,what day is it8 ,it is the gospel day4 ,the marginal rendering of the word 8rest0 is the 8keeping of a ,sabbath40 8,hence there is being left over a sabbath keeping for the people of ,god40--,rotherham4 ,like as ,god did cease from his own works and rest on the ,sabbath1 and as the ,jews kept it strictly as a day of rest1 so we in ,jesus find rest and have ceased from our own works4 ,it was all works under the law1 but we have ceased from such works in ,jesus4 ,therefore the ,jewish ,sabbath day of rest only typifies the blessed rest of the day of salvation by grace1 and not by works4 ,under the ,new ,testament we keep as one of the early church fathers has said1 8,the day on which our ,lord arose40 ,the writings of church history frequently make mention of ,sunday 7the first day of the week7 as being the ,christian's day of worship in commemoration of the resurrection of our ,lord1 in whom we are a new creation4 ,the weekly meeting together of the ,christians as recorded in the ,new ,testament was always on the first day of the week4 ,see ,luke #bd3cc2 ,john #bj3ai1 #bf2 #a ,cor4 #af3b2 ,acts #bj3f1 #g4 ,there is not one text in the ,new ,testament recording a ,christian meeting on the seventh day4 ,here are four texts recording meetings held on the first day4 ,the ,sabbath1 as well as the whole of the ten-commandment and ceremonial law finds an end when we have come to 8another day0--the day of salvation1 wherein we are a new creation4 #b ,cor4 #e3ag4 ,we will close this subject by quoting #b ,cor4 #c1 beginning at verse five3 8,not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves2 but our sufficiency is of ,god2 who also hath made us able ministers of the ,new ,testament2 not of the letter1 but of the ,spirit3 for the letter killeth1 but the ,spirit giveth life4 ,but if the ministration of death1 written and engraven in stones1 was glorious1 so that the children of ,israel could not steadfastly behold the face of ,moses for the glory of his countenance2 which glory is to be done away3 how shall not the ministration of the ,spirit be rather glorious8 ,for if the ministration of condemnation be glory1 much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory4 ,for even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect1 by reason of the glory that excelleth4 ,for if that which is done away is glorious1 much more that which remaineth is glorious4 ,seeing then that we have such hope1 we use great plainness of speech3 and not as ,moses1 which put a vail over his face1 that the children of ,israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished3 but their minds were blinded3 for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the ,old ,testament2 which vail is done away in ,christ4 ,but even unto this day1 when ,moses is read1 the vail is upon their heart4 ,nevertheless when it shall turn to the ,lord1 the vail shall be taken away40 ,it is with reluctance that we refrain from comment on the above1 however we believe the abolition of the whole ,mosaic system to be so plain to every unprejudiced heart as to render comment unnecessary4 ,good ,works4 ,christians possess a light2 they are 8children of light10 and are commanded to 8let their light shine40 ,how can ,christians shine the light of the gospel and of ,god8 ,by their good works4 ,jesus says1 8,let your light so shine before men1 that they may see your good works1 and glorify your ,father which is in heaven40 ,mat4 #e3af4 ,god has ordained that in ,christ we should perform good works4 8,for we are his workmanship1 created in ,christ ,jesus unto good works1 which ,god hath before ordained that we should walk in them40 ,eph4 #b3aj4 ,by the apostle ,christians are exhorted to be careful to maintain good works4 8,this is a faithful saying1 and these things ,i will that thou affirm constantly1 that they which have believed in ,god might be careful to maintain good works40 ,titus #c3h4 ,then adds1 8,these things are good and profitable unto men40 ,we have proven by the ,word elsewhere that salvation from sin is not attained by good works alone1 but after we are saved by grace we retain the grace by a strict and faithful performance of all ,christian duties4 ,the first neglect to perform a known duty is the first step the ,christian takes on his return to the 8beggarly elements of the world40 ,we are commanded to 8search the scriptures40 ,by looking into this perfect 8law of liberty10 and conforming our lives to the glorious truth taught there1 we will be led into the beautiful walk of ,christian virtue and duty4 8,all scripture is given by inspiration of ,god1 and is profitable for doctrine1 for reproof1 for correction1 for instruction in righteousness that the man of ,god may be perfect1 thoroughly furnished unto all good works40 ,when a house is 8thoroughly furnished0 we understand it is furnished in every room up-stairs and down4 ,the ,scriptures are given us that by searching them and receiving of their corrections1 reprovings1 and instructions we may be furnished in every department of our capabilities with good works4 ,if man obeys the voice of the inspired ,word of ,god he will be 8a vessel unto honor1 sanctified and meet for the ,master's use1 and prepared unto every good work40 ,christians should be rich in good works4 8,that they do good1 that they be rich in good works1 ready to distribute1 willing to communicate40 #a ,tim4 #f3ah4 ,saints should be fruitful in good works4 8,that ye might walk worthy of the ,lord unto all pleasing1 being fruitful in every good work1 and increasing in the knowledge of ,god40 ,saved people in some texts of ,scripture are likened unto good trees4 ,they are a tree that is abounding with the fruit of every good work4 ,christians are admonished to be ready to every good work4 8,put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers1 to obey magistrates1 to be ready to every good work40 ,titus #c3a4 ,they should be established in them4 8,now our ,lord ,jesus ,christ himself1 and ,god1 even our ,father1 which hath loved us1 and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace1 comfort your hearts and stablish you in every good word and work40 #b ,thes4 #b3af1 #ag4 ,they should abound to all good works4 8,and ,god is able to make all grace abound toward you2 that ye1 always having all sufficiency in all things1 may abound to every good work40 #b ,cor4 #i3h4 ,the apostle prayed that they should be made perfect in every good work4 8,now the ,god of peace1 that brought again from the dead our ,lord ,jesus1 that great ,shepherd of the sheep1 through the blood of the everlasting covenant1 make you perfect in every good work to do his will1 working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight1 through ,jesus ,christ3 to whom be glory forever and ever4 ,amen40 ,heb4 #ac3bj1 #ba4 ,this is a most precious text4 8,working in you0 in the margin is rendered 8doing40 ,all the good things a ,christian does is not him doing it1 but it is ,god doing it in him1 so he is not found going about telling what he has done4 ,saints should provoke each other to good works4 8,and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works40 ,heb4 #aj3bd4 ,we know of no better way to provoke others to good works than by setting a good example before them4 ,all their good works should be done in wisdom and meekness or humility4 8,who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you8 let him shew out of a good conversation or conduct his works with meekness of wisdom40 ,jas4 #c3ac4 ,the people of ,god do not adorn themselves with gold and pearls and costly array to appear beautiful1 8but with good works40 #a ,tim4 #b3i1 #aj4 ,what can be more lovely than a character beautified by the ornaments of every good work in the meekness of wisdom8 ,glory to the name of ,jesus6 ,my soul feels like crying4 8,lord1 work more of thy good works in the hearts of thy people40 ,man's works shall be brought into judgment4 8,for we must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,christ2 that every one may receive the things done in his body1 according to that he hath done1 whether it be good or bad40 #b ,cor4 #e3aj4 8,for ,god shall bring every work into judgment1 with every secret thing1 whether it be good1 or whether it be evil40 ,eccl4 #ab3ad4 ,that will be an awful hour when we are called before the tribunal of ,god and there have to unfold to the incomprehensible ,one our true character4 ,oh1 what will it be worth in that day to hear him say1 8,come1 ye blessed of my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world3 for ,i was an hungered1 and ye gave me meat3 ,i was thirsty1 and ye gave me drink3 ,i was a stranger1 and ye took me in3 naked1 and ye clothed me3 ,i was sick1 and ye visited me3 ,i was in prison1 and ye came unto me40 ,mat4 #be3cd-cf4 ,christian ,giving4 ,the cheerful giving of our worldly goods to help the needy or for the furtherance of the cause of ,christ is a work very commendable in the sight of the ,lord4 8,but this ,i say1 ,he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly1 and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully4 ,every man according as he purposeth in his heart1 so let him give1 not grudgingly1 or of necessity3 for ,god loveth a cheerful giver4 ,and ,god is able to make all grace abound toward you2 that ye1 having all sufficiency in all things1 may abound to every good work3 as it is written1 ,he hath dispersed abroad2 he hath given to the poor3 his righteousness remaineth forever40 #b ,cor4 #i3f-i4 ,to quote from the writings of a ,christian friend will be sufficient on this subject1 we think1 to enable the reader to see the beauty and blessings in giving unto the needy and the cause of ,christ as unto the ,lord4 8,we find both in prophecy and in the ,new ,testament much about giving4 ,in ,amos1 chapter four1 we read1 #8,hear this word1 ye kine of ,bashan1 that are in the mountain of ,samaria1 which oppress the poor1 which crush the needy1 which say to their masters1 ,bring1 and let us drink4 ,the ,lord ,god hath sworn by his holiness4444 ,i also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities1 and want of bread in all your places3 444 also ,i have withholden the rain from you1 when there were yet three months to the harvest4444 ,i have smitten you with blasting and mildew3 when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees increased1 the palmer worm devoured them4444 ,i have sent among you the pestilence1 444 yet have ye not returned unto me1 saith the ,lord4' 8,dear ones1 has such been your experience8 ,have your crops failed in this manner1 and suffered for want of rain8 ,let us read further3 #8,return unto me1 and ,i will return unto you1 saith the ,lord of hosts4 ,but ye said1 ,wherein shall we return8 ,will a man rob ,god8 ,yet ye have robbed me4 ,but ye say1 ,wherein have we robbed thee8 ,in tithes and offerings4 ,ye are cursed with a curse3 for ye have robbed me1 even this whole nation4 ,bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse1 that there may be meat in mine house1 and prove me now herewith1 saith the ,lord of hosts1 if ,i will not open you the windows of heaven1 and pour you out a blessing1 that there shall not be room enough to receive it4 ,and ,i will rebuke the devourer for your sakes1 and he shall not destroy corrupt1 margin the fruit of your ground2 neither shall your vine cast her fruits before the time in the field1 saith the ,lord of hosts4' ,mal4 #c3g-aa4 8,bring in the tithes and offerings1 that ,god may be pleased with you1 and bless your labors that they be profitable4 ,before we proceed further1 let us notice what offerings are accepted with ,god4 #8,but to do good and to communicate share forget not3 for with such sacrifices ,god is well pleased4' ,heb4 #ac3af4 ,to whom shall we communicate1 or with whom shall we share8 #8,let him that is taught in the ,word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things4444 ,and let us not be weary in well-doing3 for in due season we shall reap1 if we faint not4' ,gal4 #f3f-i4 ,here is one class4 ,share with those who teach you in the ,word4 #8,distributing to the necessity of saints3 given to hospitality4' ,rom4 #ab3ac4 ,distribute to needy saints1 and ,god will never let you come to want for so doing4 ,there is yet another class4 #8,as we have therefore opportunity1 let us do good unto all men1 especially unto them who are of the household of faith4' ,gal4 #f3aj4 8,we will now look into the ,new ,testament ,scriptures to see what ,god has promised there4 ,these are ,jesus' own words3 #8,give1 and it shall be given unto you2 good measure1 pressed down1 and shaken together1 and running over1 shall men give into your bosom4 ,for with the same measure ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again4' ,luke #f3ch4 ,surely if any one is needy1 he had better begin giving and receive the hundredfold4 ,no danger of coming to want with such a promise from the great ,god hanging over you4 ,move out and no longer fear2 for #8my ,god shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by ,christ ,jesus4' ,phil4 #d3ai4 #8,yes1' says some one1 #8you ministers and gospel workers can depend upon ,god for what you need1 but we must work for what we get4' ,will you please turn to ,phil4 #d3i and read on down very carefully4 ,you will see that ,paul was writing to them concerning giving2 telling them how once and again he had received their gifts1 and how he is still encouraging them to give more4 ,he says1 #8,not because ,i desire a gift3 but ,i desire fruit that may abound to your account4' ,ver4 #ag4 ,and that he had received #8the things which were sent from you1 an odor of a sweet smell1 a sacrifice acceptable1 well-pleasing to ,god4' ,giving to the poor and needy1 or sending the gospel to those who sit in darkness1 is an odorous sacrifice to ,god4 ,how beautiful6 ,the remembrance of our deeds of charity and hospitality being a sweet odor unto ,god must make such offerings a delight--,auth4 ,then he gives them this great promise that ,god would supply all their needs4 ,he was not talking to preachers at all1 although we can rest upon this promise1 but to the church at ,philippi4 ,and the same ,lord is rich unto all who call upon him4 ,praise his name6 8,now1 you who are at home laboring in temporal things1 and can not go yourselves to minister the ,word of ,god to others1 just let go of everything and get down before ,god and ask him how much you can give to help this work along4 ,here is an opportunity to do good to all men4 ,and #8as ye have therefore opportunity1 do good unto all men1' then you can take these promises for your own and depend upon ,god to supply all your needs4 ,you can and need to be just as much given up to ,god1 and just as dependent upon him as the ministry is4 ,who will help now1 by means and prayers1 to send the gospel to every creature and every land80 ,good works do not cease with giving4 ,there are many opportunities for all to do good that ,god might be glorified4 ,even the poor will find many opportunities for doing something that will benefit some fellow creature1 exalt the name of ,jesus and bring a blessing to their own soul4 ,there are the sick and the discouraged to be visited and prayed with4 ,there are kind and sympathetic words that need to be spoken to lighten the burden of some weary heart4 ,all around us are opportunities for loving deeds and good works that can be done as unto ,jesus1 which are precious treasures being laid up for us in the glory world4 ,eating ,of ,meats4 ,many are the arguments on this subject from the pulpit and the press1 from the wise and not wise2 and many have been deceived and led to believe that to eat or refuse to eat certain kinds of meat is a duty they either owe to themselves or to ,god4 ,many professed gospel preachers spend much time in discussing this subject of meats1 and would have their followers believe that the eating of certain kinds of meat is an offense against ,god1 and through their selfishness and ignorance endeavor to prove their arguments from the law of ,moses1 which was absolutely done away with when ,christ died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world4 ,i have no more to do with the law of ,moses than ,i have with any law that has been repealed by the last act of ,congress4 ,it is disannulled and taken away by the one that succeeds it4 ,paul says1 8,christ the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth40 ,rom4 #aj3d4 ,the law was merely a temporary form of government until ,christ should come1 to whom the promise was made4 ,it served as a schoolmaster to bring us to ,christ1 but when ,christ came we were no longer under a schoolmaster4 ,gal4 #c3ai1 #bd4 8,christ is become of no effect unto you1 whosoever of you are justified by the law2 ye are fallen from grace40 ,gal4 #e3d4 8,that no man is justified by the law in the sight of ,god1 it is evident3 for1 ,the just shall live by faith40 ,gal4 #c3aa4 8,christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law40 ,gal4 #c3ac4 ,these scriptures show plainly that the law of ,moses can not be taken as proof of the righteousness which ,jesus ,christ established2 for1 says the apostle1 8,the law was given by ,moses1 but grace and truth came by ,jesus ,christ40 ,john #a3ag4 ,so then the law was neither grace nor truth as regards matters pertaining to you and me4 ,the ,new ,testament ,scriptures settle most questions beyond all doubts1 and leave no room for discussion4 ,paul speaks very lightly of this matter of eating meats1 and his language shows it to be of no importance whatever4 ,he says1 8,meats for the belly1 and the belly for meats3 but ,god shall destroy both it and them40 #a ,cor #f3ac4 8,for the kingdom of ,god is not meat and drink2 but righteousness1 and peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost40 ,rom4 #ad3ag4 ,the apostle means to set forth the idea that the kingdom of ,god has nothing to do with meat and drink1 and such trifling things as dieting ourselves is not taken into consideration4 ,but the kingdom of ,god is righteousness1 peace1 and joy in the ,holy ,ghost2 it is a spiritual1 not a physical existence4 ,i may eat all kinds of meat and be in the kingdom of ,god or ,i may eat no meat and be in the kingdom of ,god4 ,christ said1 8,there is nothing from without a man1 that entering into him can defile him2 but the things which come out of him4444 ,are ye so without understanding also8 do ye not perceive that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man it can not defile him2 444 because it entereth not into his heart1 but into the belly1 and goeth out into the draught1 purging all meats40 ,mark #g3ae1 #ai4 8,that which cometh out of the man1 that defileth the man4 ,for from within1 out of the heart of men1 proceed evil thoughts1 adulteries1 fornications1 murders1 thefts1 covetousness1 wickedness1 deceit1 lasciviousness1 an evil eye1 blasphemy1 pride1 foolishness3 all these evil things come from within and defile the man40 ,mark #g3bj-bc4 ,paul says1 8,let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not2 and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth3 for ,god hath received him40 ,rom4 #ad3c4 8,i know and am persuaded by the ,lord ,jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself3 but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean1 to him it is unclean40 ,rom4 #ad3ad4 ,and again1 8,let no man therefore judge you in meat1 or in drink1 or in respect of an holy day1 or of the new moon1 or of the sabbath days40 ,col4 #b3af4 ,paul says1 8,the ,spirit speaketh expressly notice he says the ,spirit speaketh expressly1 that in the latter time some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and doctrines of devils3 speaking lies in hypocrisy2 having their conscience seared with a hot iron2 forbidding to marry1 and commanding to abstain from meats which ,god hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth4 ,for every creature of ,god is good1 and nothing to be refused1 if it be received with thanksgiving3 for it is sanctified by the ,word of ,god and prayer40 #a ,tim4 #d3a-e4 ,now note carefully the apostles language4 ,those who forbid to marry and command to abstain from meats are classed with those who hold forth the doctrine of devils1 and speak lies in hypocrisy4 ,it is the doctrine of devils to say that any meat is unclean2 for said he1 ,god created them and they are his creatures4 ,then he goes on to say to ,timothy1 8,if thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things1 thou shalt be a good minister of ,jesus ,christ1 nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine1 whereunto thou hast attained40 #a ,tim4 #d3f4 ,if any kind of meat is offensive to me1 there is no law either natural or divine that says ,i must eat4 ,i have a right to abstain from it if ,i choose4 ,it is no sin for me to do that1 but ,i have no right to say to others1 ,it is a sin for you to eat pork or any other kind of meat4 ,the ,sin ,against ,the ,holy ,ghost4 8,wherefore ,i say unto you4 ,all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men3 but the blasphemy against the ,holy ,ghost shall not be forgiven unto men4 ,and whosoever speaketh a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him3 but whosoever speaketh against the ,holy ,ghost1 it shall not be forgiven him1 neither in this world1 neither in the world to come40 ,mat4 #ab3ca1 #cb4 8,verily ,i say unto you4 ,all sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men1 and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme3 but he that shall blaspheme against the ,holy ,ghost hath never forgiveness1 but is in danger of eternal damnation3 because they said1 ,he hath an unclean spirit40 ,mark #c3bh-cj4 8,and whosoever shall speak a word against the ,son of man1 it shall be forgiven him3 but unto him that blasphemeth against the ,holy ,ghost it shall not be forgiven40 ,luke #ab3aj4 ,from these texts of ,scripture we learn that all manner of sin is pardonable1 save one1 the blasphemy against the ,holy ,ghost4 ,there is no crime too great1 or sin too deeply dyed to be forgiven1 except the one designated in these scriptures4 ,well might it be asked1 ,what is that sin8 ,it is evident that the ,holy ,spirit 7which is the same as the ,holy ,ghost7 is no more supreme or important than others of the trinity2 so therefore why should all blasphemy against the ,father or ,son be pardonable1 and the blasphemy of the ,holy ,spirit be unpardonable4 ,the answer will be found to lie in the nature and office work of the ,holy ,spirit1 as being different from that of the ,father or ,son4 ,of course the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,spirit are all one2 yet they might well be considered as three1 when we speak of their respective offices4 ,the ,father1 the grand author of all good1 the ,creator of the world1 the one who holdeth all things in his control1 the designer of the glorious plan of redemption of fallen man4 ,the ,son1 the one on whom that redemption depended1 who only was found worthy to open the book and loose the seals of the divine plan1 and thus make salvation possible4 ,the ,holy ,spirit1 the one who1 after the ,father and ,son had perfected their work1 was sent to reprove the world of sin1 of righteousness1 and of judgment4 ,he it is that strives with men by way of a kind of inherent knowledge1 testifying to them of salvation's waters flowing free1 and that they should forsake sin and plunge therein4 ,by the ,holy ,spirit is ,god's way of manifesting himself to men1 convicting them of sin1 righteousness1 and judgment4 ,true1 as ,paul says1 ,god 8hath in these last days spoken unto us by his ,son20 but notice1 it is 8hath spoken40 ,the ,son has done his part1 we have his words on record1 and he is at the right hand of the ,father2 and he has himself said that he would go away1 that the ,comforter 7,holy ,spirit7 might come4 ,and now we are living in the special dispensation of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the sin against the ,holy ,ghost1 as it is commonly called1 is also known as the 8unpardonable sin10 and the 8sin unto death40 ,see #a ,john #e3af4 ,as we before said1 the answer to the question1 ,why is it unpardonable1 lies in the very nature of the ,holy ,spirit's relationship to man4 ,are we to suppose that it is some sin too heinous to be forgiven8 or that ,god has decided that this sin is one that bears too heavily against his willingness to forgive8 or1 in other words1 that his great love is not sufficient1 were it weighed in the balance with this sin8 ,nay2 that is not the light in which it is to be regarded4 ,this is a sin that is different in its effects from other sins4 ,it is one by which man unprivileges himself to be saved4 ,he disconnects himself1 so to speak1 from all possible operations or strivings of the ,spirit of ,god with him4 ,he might blaspheme ,god1 or the ,son1 and it would be the same as any other sin4 ,but he blasphemes the ,spirit whenever he takes action against 7and casts out1 so to speak7 that inherent principle in him which tends to draw him to ,god4 ,by so doing he places himself outside the realm of possibilities1 as regards his own salvation3 for he severs all possible communication from ,god to him1 unless it be what is manifest by the presentation of awful fear of approaching damnation4 ,it will be seen that in committing this sin a man by choice wilfully places himself in such a position1 in reference to the inner dictations of the ,spirit1 that the latter is killed or destroyed4 ,he can blaspheme ,god1 and the convictions of the ,spirit in him be unaffected1 save that continual so doing might lessen them2 but when he blasphemes the ,spirit--it being so interwoven as to be1 in a sense1 a part of himself--he involves his own soul1 by taking a stand against himself1 as it were1 thereby unfitting and unqualifying himself to be further affected by the ,spirit4 ,he drowns1 dissolves1 annihilates the inner strivings of the ,spirit4 ,if we examine carefully the quotation from ,mark1 we see by verse thirty that the reason ,christ said what he did about blasphemy against the ,holy ,ghost was because certain scribes said he had an unclean spirit1 and cast out devils by ,beelzebub1 the prince of devils4 ,now whether they thereby committed the blasphemy of the ,spirit1 we do not know2 but from ,christ's words that followed1 a strong inference could be drawn that they did4 ,it was at least a close step to it1 and depended on the degree of inherent knowledge they had that ,jesus was the ,christ4 ,if they did it ignorantly1 it was not blasphemy4 ,in the sixth chapter of the ,hebrews1 verses four to eight1 the apostle speaks of such as have been partakers of the ,holy ,ghost1 and were enlightened1 etc41 who1 if they shall 8fall away10 directly disinherit themselves of the privilege of being renewed unto repentance1 and 8crucify to themselves the ,son of ,god afresh1 and put him to an open shame40 ,by so doing they virtually do violence to the ,spirit's convictions to such an extent that they blaspheme the ,spirit4 ,we are persuaded that ,paul here had no reference to a person being overcome of the devil in some great temptation so as to commit sin1 while at the same time the soul protests against sin4 ,that would not be falling away 7as here meant7 from the love1 neither the faith of ,god4 ,indeed1 it is the very love of ,god1 as well as the ,spirit's convictions1 that causes such a one to have immediate sorrow for the sin committed1 and causes the soul to quickly flee to ,god again4 ,but what the apostle meant by 8falling away0 was to forsake the ,lord1 give up the faith1 walk no more in the truth or with ,god's children1 and be content to live in sin4 ,but take notice of the standard which he gives1 from which 8falling away0 may be considered4 ,he says1 8those who were once enlightened10 had 8tasted of the heavenly gift10 were 8partakers of the ,holy ,ghost10 had 8tasted the good word of ,god1 and the powers of the world to come20 if such fall away--forsake the ,lord and choose to live in sin--they soon become incapable of being affected by any manifestation of the ,spirit or any inducement held out to them--a deplorable1 lost condition6 bearing only thorns and briers6 whose end is to be burned6 ,now we ask1 ,who ever saw any one come back to ,god who was content to remain away from ,god1 after having had the experience described in ,heb4 #f3d1 #e8 ,we have seen some who exactly correspond to the description ,paul gives here1 but we have never known any such to come back to the truth4 ,may we use this1 as the apostle intended it1 as a warning against unfaithfulness to ,god4 ,in ,heb4 #aj3bf-bi the apostle makes mention of the same conditions1 only in a different way4 ,here he speaks of sinning wilfully 8after that we have received the knowledge of the truth40 ,of course1 all sin1 to be sin1 is done more or less wilfully2 but the apostle can not have reference to a sin committed on account of a spiritual lack1 while the soul meaningly presses on in the race for ,god4 ,we know that such a sin does not unfit one to become pardoned again1 the ,holy ,spirit is not blasphemed1 and therefore the sacrifice 7,christ7 still remains1 to which the soul may flee4 ,to 8sin wilfully0 here means more1 as is unmistakably implied in verses twenty-eight and twenty-nine4 ,he illustrates by one who despised ,moses' law1 as though he now means one who is despising the law of ,christ2 and he explains himself in verse twenty-nine1 where we see he has reference to one 8who hath trodden under foot the ,son of ,god1 and hath counted the blood of the covenant1 wherewith he was sanctified1 an unholy thing1 and hath done despite unto the ,spirit of grace40 ,here 8sin wilfully0 comprehends the blasphemy of the ,spirit1 and he evidently means1 by the term1 a wilful turning again to a life of sin1 a deliberate giving up of the faith1 and choosing sin instead4 ,this is also used as a stimulus to the saints to exhort one another1 and neglect not the assembling of themselves together1 or the provoking unto love and good works1 etc4 ,from these two places in the ,hebrews it might be supposed that to be in an unpardonable condition a person must have once been saved4 ,but the apostle in both places is necessarily addressing saved people1 and holds up such a condition as a warning against unfaithfulness4 ,he deals in what is applicable to them4 ,but this does not prove that a man who has never known the way of truth may not also place himself where he is unpardonable4 ,it is safe and ,scriptural to take the stand that a person is pardonable so long as he is capable of being sorry for his sin1 for ,god's sake1 or of having a real desire to love and serve ,god4 ,the promise and privilege is to 8whosoever will40 ,this is as broad as broad can be1 and whoever wills can know assuredly that salvation is for him1 not withstanding the disputations of the devil to the contrary4 ,in ,heb4 #ab3af1 #ag one would infer from the apostle's illustration of ,esau that a person can be in a condition where repentance may be earnestly desired1 even with tears1 yet impossible to be found4 ,but genuine repentance is not implied here4 ,the margin has it1 8,he ,esau found no place to change his mind10 instead of 8no place for repentance40 ,a person may commit the unpardonable sin and still desire to change his condition or lot2 he may through fear of eternal damnation desire rather the position of a ,christian3 but he never repents1 he can not repent1 it is not 8in him0 to repent1 he will not meet the conditions for salvation1 and no one can get him to do so4 ,he may bewail his condition and stand in dread of the judgment1 from a feeling of selfish protection2 he may be sorry for his sins as a criminal may be sorry for his crime when he is sentenced to be punished3 but he has no inclination to godly sorrow2 in fact1 the spirit of the man and the ,spirit of ,god are incompatible2 he has placed himself where the ,spirit of ,god can in no way bring itself to bear upon him4 ,oh1 how awful is such a state6 ,but he is not conscious of any awfulness from having offended ,god2 his awfulness proceeds from a sense of his being eternally lost4 ,the only impulses that might draw such a one to seek the ,christian state are those of the selfish kind1 just as a man may desire salvation from a belief that it would be conducive to his selfish interest4 ,a person will never get an experience of salvation through such motives2 and in the case of the one who has committed the blasphemy of the ,spirit1 he may have such motives1 but he can never have the genuine kind1 or in other words1 be drawn of the ,spirit4 ,such a sin need not be prayed for4 #a ,john #e3af4 ,it is certainly a sin unto death4 ,in conclusion we would say that the unpardonable sin is not to be regarded as some particular sin1 singled out from all others1 as though it were some form of murder1 lying1 or stealing1 more heinous than the rest4 ,but it lies in the nature of the sin committed1 as affecting the relationship with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,a person may have committed a whole list of the blackest crimes1 and yet not have committed the unpardonable sin2 or vice versa1 a person may have a good standing in point of morality1 and yet have blasphemed the ,spirit1 and severed himself from all possibility of repentance4 ,we would say to every despairing soul seeking salvation1 that if you are capable of having the least godly sorrow on account of your sin1 or a real1 inward desire to serve ,god1 you can rest assured that you have not committed the unpardonable sin4 ,if you feel the ,spirit of ,god telling you that you ought to be saved1 then salvation is for you4 ,the unpardonable sin deprives a person of the desire to will to love and serve ,god and obey the truth4 ,so in the language of ,scripture we continue to hold out the blessed invitation--8,whosoever will1 let him take the water of life freely40 ,amen4 ,the ,conscience4 ,when we behold the mechanism of man1 we are made to exclaim with the ,psalmist1 8,i am fearfully and wonderfully made2 marvelous are thy works2 and that my soul knoweth right well40 ,man is so constituted as to experience a feeling of joy when a desired object is obtained1 or a feeling of disappointment if it is not obtained4 ,when danger approaches he intuitively seeks to avert it1 and experiences a feeling of gladness if he succeeds4 ,among the elements of man's moral nature the highest and most important1 perhaps1 is the conscience4 ,conscience is a principle which ,god has placed in man's moral being to teach him what is right and what is wrong4 ,some have said that conscience is the 8voice of ,god in the soul40 ,it is a voice that is inaudible to the ear1 but we feel it speaking in us1 saying1 8,this action is right10 or1 8,that action is wrong40 ,we believe that ,solomon was referring to the conscience when he said1 8,the spirit of man is the candle of the ,lord1 searching all the inward parts of the belly40 ,prov4 #bj3bg4 ,where there is no known law1 conscience becomes our guide and the standard by which we are judged4 ,for proof of this we will quote ,rom4 #b3ad1 #ae3 8,for when the ,gentiles1 which have not a law1 do by nature a kind of intuitive knowledge of right the things contained in the law1 these1 having not the law1 are a law unto themselves2 which shew the work of the law written in their hearts1 their conscience also bearing witness1 and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another40 ,in many circumstances of life we have no written law of ,god to guide our actions1 consequently must be directed by reason and conscience1 which are highly analogous4 ,to be perfectly and properly directed by the conscience necessitates a close walk with ,god4 8,keeping in touch with ,god0 is ,god in our conscious being1 impressing us with proper actions1 and leading us in the right way1 and showing us the relationship existing between the pure soul and the ,deity4 ,where there is no written law of ,god to direct the actions in a certain circumstance1 those who experience a close connection with ,god will always act the most wisely2 because the 8candle of the ,lord0 7the conscience7 is a light in them1 impressing them with feelings of right in the matter4 ,the conscious principle in the moral nature suffered greatly in the fall of man1 and is seriously impaired by violation of the known laws of ,god1 or laws of conscience4 ,there is a beautiful harmony between truth and a correct conscience4 ,obedience to the truth is always approved by an unimpaired conscience4 ,when a known truth is violated1 a searing influence is introduced upon the conscience1 which grows with every violation1 until the conscience becomes seared as with a hot iron4 ,dangers of delusion lie in the fact that after a succession of violations1 the conscience becomes so morbid that it fails to be a correct judge of action4 ,after a time a man can violate a plain truth without experiencing any sting of conscience2 therefore he concludes his actions are right1 because he experiences no condemnation1 though they are in opposition to the truth4 ,there is great beauty in the thought1 and gratification in the knowledge1 that by obedience to the truth we can obtain a sound moral condition1 whose conscientious principles are so acute that there is a timely warning at every approach of error4 ,to possess a purged1 pure1 and undefiled conscience is our privilege in the economy of grace4 ,see ,heb4 #i3ad2 #a ,tim4 #c3i2 ,titus #a3ae4 ,to possess an unimpaired conscience and then so meet all our obligations to ,god and man is to have a conscience void of offense4 ,what implicit confidence we can have in ,god when in a normal moral condition1 and have an uncondemned heart4 ,enoch walked with ,god and had the witness 7consciousness7 that he pleased the ,lord4 ,what can bring greater happiness to the heart of man8 ,the man who1 having an undefiled moral being has a conscience void of offense toward ,god and man1 experiences a satisfaction and a happiness unsurpassed by any mortal being4 ,the ,two ,families4 ,the ,scriptures talk of two classes of people on the earth4 ,the inhabitants of this globe are by the ,word of ,god divided into two great families4 ,one family is termed the righteous1 and the other the unrighteous4 ,one is the godly1 the other the ungodly4 ,one is the holy1 the other the unholy4 ,the righteous family is likened unto or called sheep1 the unrighteous family1 goats4 ,mat4 #be3cb1 #cc4 ,they are interspersed throughout the earth4 ,when the ,son of man is come they shall be separated4 ,one family shall be admitted into an eternity of bliss1 the other into an eternity of punishment4 ,one family is represented by a good tree1 the other by an evil tree4 ,in the parable of the sower the ,savior likens one family unto wheat1 and the other unto tares4 ,since there are two families there are1 of course1 two fathers4 ,god is the ,father of one of these families 7#b ,cor4 #f3ah71 and ,satan is the father of the other1 ,john #h3dd4 ,these fathers are sometimes called masters4 8,one is your ,master1 even ,god40 ,now every individual on the globe is either in servitude to one or the other of these masters--never to both4 8,no man can serve two masters40 8,his servants ye are to whom ye obey1 whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness40 ,the ,scriptures so plainly locate the dividing line between these two families that all can very well know to which family they belong4 ,those who are born into ,god's family do not commit sin4 #a ,john #c3i2 #a ,john #e3ah4 ,those belong to the devil's family who do commit sin4 #a ,john #c3h4 ,this is very plain4 ,none need be mistaken4 ,those who do not commit sin are the wheat or good seed1 and are children of the kingdom4 ,those who do commit sin are the tares or children of the wicked one4 ,mat4 #ac4 ,those who do not commit sin have their names written in heaven4 ,but those who sin do not have their names written there 7,ex4 #cb3cc71 therefore are not members in the family of ,god4 ,it is said that some people are mistaken as to which family they belong1 but it is 8not every one that saith1 ,lord1 ,lord1 that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven40 ,god's family are righteous1 they are holy1 they are pure1 they are saints4 ,satan's family are unrighteous1 they are unholy1 they do not believe in purity1 they commit sin4 ,the ,savior has gone to prepare a place for his own so that where he is there they may forever be--glory6 glory6 ,those who live and die in sin can not go to that pure and happy place4 ,john #h3ba4 ,dear friend1 get ready4 ,live a pure1 holy life and spend an eternity in the blissful presence of our dear ,redeemer4 ,god bless you1 is my sincere prayer4 ,the ,two ,ways4 ,this earth is only man's transitory home4 ,he lives here a few years1 then goes to an eternity4 ,there are two abodes or dwelling-places for man in that eternity4 ,one is called heaven1 the other is called hell4 ,one is a place of peace and joy1 the other a place of torment and woe4 ,one place is called eternal life1 the other is called eternal death4 ,as man enters upon his journey of life two ways are set before him4 ,deut4 #cj3ae1 #ai4 ,one way leads to heaven1 and is called the way of life and good4 ,the other way leads to hell1 and is called the way of death and evil4 ,the way to heaven is denominated the holy way1 where walk the redeemed4 ,the ransomed ones go singing on this way with crowns of joy upon their heads4 ,this way shines more and more1 brighter and brighter1 as it nears the end4 ,the way to hell is denominated the way of the transgressor4 ,it is a hard way4 ,there is no peace there1 no rest4 ,the darkness becomes more dense1 and fears increase as it nears the end4 ,the way to everlasting life in heaven is called a narrow way4 ,mat4 #g3ad4 ,there are few that walk this way4 ,the way that leads to destruction is a broad way4 ,mat4 #g3ac4 ,there are many who are walking in that way4 ,dear reader1 will you not choose the way of life and make heaven your eternal and happy home8 ,conclusion ,of ,part ,first4 ,we have now reached the conclusion of the first division of the ,gospel ,day1 namely1 ,the ,morning4 ,we have not given the reader our opinion1 or our interpretation of the ,scriptures1 but we have given the pure1 simple ,bible truths as taught by ,christ and the apostles4 ,it is not our doctrine1 but the doctrine of him that sent us4 ,what we have taught is in perfect accord with the ,bible1 and who can gainsay it8 ,to believe1 experience1 and live the truths of ,god's ,word is to be a light in the world4 ,to disbelieve any part1 to come short of any part in practical life1 is to be to the same extent in darkness4 ,christ was a light because he was the ,word4 ,the early church and apostles were a light because they believed1 experienced and practised in life the whole ,word4 ,the ,bible was written in their hearts as well as in the book4 ,the ,bible never changes4 ,god never changes1 the nature of faith and grace never changes1 and true gospel light never changes4 ,what created light in the first century of this ,christian era will create light in any other century1 and nothing but what was light in the primitive days of ,christianity will be light at any other time4 ,whatever may be claimed to be light1 if it is not the light of ,christ1 is a false light4 ,may ,god help people to see the true light4 ,oh1 glorious light of the morning6 ,christ and his church in all humility1 gentleness1 spotlessness and love4 ,in their lowly1 inoffensive walk with ,god1 holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 unblamable1 separated from and unspotted by the world1 persecuted1 rejected1 and despised by men4 ,enduring all without a murmur1 contented in any and every circumstance of life2 counting everything joy1 glorying in tribulation1 patient in imprisonments1 in stripes1 in tumults1 in hunger1 in fastings1 in necessities1 in afflictions1 in distresses1 always rejoicing4 ,when reviled1 they reviled not again2 when they suffered they threatened not1 but showing all meekness and gentleness unto all men1 loving and praying for their enemies1 feeding them when they hungered and giving them drink when they thirsted1 preaching the gospel without money and without price1 led exclusively by the ,holy ,spirit1 having power with ,god over devils to cast them out1 to heal the sick and lame1 to restore sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf1 to give speech to the dumb1 and to raise the dead4 ,wonderful light of the gospel morning6 ,dear reader1 we invite you to look upon the picture4 ,see it in its beautiful transparent effulgent light4 ,pure as heaven1 holy as a band of angels1 peaceful as the silent1 flowing river1 harmless as the gentle dove1 in a oneness equal with the holy trinity1 and conquerors of sickness1 sin and ,satan4 ,such was the pure virgin bride of ,christ--the church--when she was the light of the world4 ,o ,moon--so fair in the rosy morn1 ,reflecting the light of ,christ--the ,sun1 ,so spotless and pure in robes of white1 ,beautiful1 wonderful city of light4 ,,part ,,ii4 ,,the ,,noonday4 ,or1 ,the ,doctrines ,of ,an ,apostate ,religion ,obscuring ,the ,gospel ,light4 ,the prophet ,isaiah said4 8,the morning cometh1 and also the night40 ,isa4 #ba3aa1 #ab4 ,a dark night succeeded the morning of this gospel day4 ,jesus said to his disciples1 8,but in those days1 after that tribulation1 the sun shall be darkened1 and the moon shall not give her light40 ,mark #ac3bd4 ,the tribulation here spoken of was the siege and destruction of ,jerusalem1 the city of the ,jews1 by the son of ,vespasian1 ,a4,d4 #gj1 in which eleven hundred thousand persons perished4 ,josephus says of this time1 8,the sufferings indeed of the devoted inhabitants are such as humanity shudders to contemplate1 and over which pity is glad to throw a veil40 ,this is the tribulation of which our ,lord spoke4 ,the darkening of the sun and moon was the fading away of the gospel light4 ,about the year #if ,a4,d4 the writings of the ,new ,testament were closed4 ,from that time we have only history to tell us of ,christianity and its light in the life of men4 ,that the noontime of this gospel day was dark1 is unquestionable4 ,to ascertain as near as possible the date of the close of the morning light and the beginning of the dark noonday we must resort to history4 ,no one can rightly object to this4 ,we assure you we will extract nothing that will conflict with the inspired and infallible ,word of ,god4 ,where the ,word of truth is silent and we can gain information from authentic history it must certainly be proper and right4 ,historical facts only verify and explain the truthfulness of the ,scriptures4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,date ,of ,the ,beginning ,of ,noonday4 ,sabine's ,ecclesiastical ,history4 ,in speaking of ,constantine's expedition to ,rome in the year #caa1 when there appeared supernaturally a cross above the sun1 he says3 8,during the vicissitudes in the state1 the church exhibits nothing peculiarly great4 ,among the common people there were doubtless many truly devoted in the spirit of their mind1 and among them many that loved the divine ,savior above life itself2 but among the bishops and pastors nothing like what we saw in the past century4 ,indeed the principal events in the internal department of the church are rather more to its disgrace than its honor40 ,speaking further of this time in another chapter he says3 8,the pagan temples were pulled down or converted into ,christian churches3 the exercise of the old priesthood was proscribed and the idols destroyed2 elegant structures for ,christian worship were raised1 and those already erected1 enlarged and beautified2 the episcopacy was increased and honored with great favors and enriched with vast endowments2 the ritual received many additions2 the habiliments of the clergy were pompous1 and the whole of the ,christian service at once exhibited a scene of worldly grandeur and external parade4 ,what a mighty change6 ,but a short time since1 and ,christianity was held in sovereign contempt3 now she is a favorite at court1 and the companion of princes4 ,alas6 such is the change1 that it scarcely affords ground for triumph4 ,the kingdom of our ,god and his ,christ is become a kingdom of this world1 and the church of ,jesus reduced to a mere worldly sanctuary4 ,the glory is departed1 the gold is become dim1 and the fine gold is changed4 8,indeed prelatical pride had been rising very high for a century before this4 ,the pastors had forgotten their ,master's instruction4 #8,be ye not called ,rabbi3 for ye are brethren4' ,lord bishops and archbishops and all the spirit of such distinction had been long enough upon the advance to congratulate such an emperor as ,constantine4 ,the materials for a hierarchy having been prepared it was no difficult thing for a set of worldly-minded bishops1 countenanced by a prince1 to put them together4 ,under all these circumstances1 real religion was not likely to be bettered by such a reverse in external affairs1 and so the event proved4 ,the ancient contest1 which was for the faith once delivered unto the saints1 declined apace1 and a strife for worldly honor1 fleshly gratification1 and spiritual dominion substituted in its stead40 ,such was the true condition of things in the year #caa4 ,surely there had been a change1 the kingdom of ,god had become the kingdom of the world1 the glory was gone1 strivings for worldly honor1 fleshly gratification1 and spiritual dominion had taken the place of 8striving for the faith once delivered to the saints40 ,what a change from the humble1 self-denying1 flesh crucifying days of ,christ and the apostles4 ,truly we can say sometime before this the morning light had dimmed and died1 and darkness intervened4 ,the historian does not fix this date 7#caa7 as the beginning of the dark noonday4 7,the reader already begins to see1 no doubt1 why it was dark at the noontime47 ,he says in a preceding chapter1 8,about ,a4,d4 #bfd1 a considerable stir was made by ,paul of ,samosata1 bishop of ,antioch4 #8,great was the falling off in this church since the renowned ,ignatius4 ,the principles of ,paul were exceedingly loose1 and his practise was correspondent4' ,he rejected the divinity of the ,son and substituted his own reason for the light of the ,spirit4 ,the way in which he lived fully proved that he was a man of the world40 ,the historian proceeds to tell more of this bishop's wicked life4 ,the ,scriptural qualifications of a bishop are1 blamelessness1 the husband of one wife1 vigilant1 sober1 of good behavior1 given to hospitality1 apt to teach2 8not given to wine1 no striker1 not greedy of filthy lucre2 but patient1 not a brawler1 not covetous2 one that ruleth well his own house1 having his children in subjection with all gravity40 #a ,tim4 #c3c1 #d4 ,the seventh verse adds3 8,moreover he must have a good report of them which are without40 ,such a bishop must be1 in the very strictest sense1 to be a light in the world4 ,here was a bishop1 of perhaps the strongest ,christian congregation in the world1 almost everything to the contrary4 ,how true the ,savior's prophecy3 8,the moon shall not give her light1 and the stars of heaven shall fall40 ,paul1 of ,samosata1 became so wicked he was deposed from his office and became a 8fallen star40 ,sabine speaking of divisions and their causes says3 8,in this century the general church was rent in twain4 ,this century also produced a train of other officers 7beside bishops and deacons71 such as subdeacons1 who were all to the deacon what the presbyter was to the bishop2 acolytes1 persons to attend at service time on the ministers2 ostiaries1 doorkeepers2 readers1 men who were appointed to read the ,scriptures in public2 exorcists1 officers of weak and superstitious appointment1 whose business was to pretend to expel the devil from the candidate for baptism4 ,all these encroachments and changes mark1 strongly mark1 a great decline in the spirit and power of primitive ,christianity40 ,all of these things1 and many more similar ones1 were occurring in the latter part of the third century4 ,in the year of our ,lord #bdh ,cyprian was ordained a presbyter in the church at ,carthage4 ,ten years later he laid down his life for ,jesus4 ,it is said of him that he 8displayed a benevolent and pious mind and evinced much of the character of the ,christian pastor in the affectionate solicitude with which he watched over his flock40 ,in epistle eleven he says3 8,it must be owned and confessed that the outrageous and heavy calamity which hath almost devoured our flock1 and continues to devour it to this day1 hath happened to us because of our sins1 since we keep not the way of the ,lord1 nor observe his heavenly commands1 which were designed to lead us to salvation4 ,christ our ,lord fulfilled the will of the ,father1 but we neglect the will of ,christ4 ,our principal study is to get money and estates2 we follow after pride1 we are at leisure for nothing but emulation and quarreling1 and have neglected the simplicity of faith4 ,we have renounced this world in words only1 and not in deed4 ,every one studies to please himself and to displease others40 ,this account of professed ,christianity at this time by ,cyprian is confirmed by the testimony of ,eusebius1 who was nearly contemporary with him4 8,through too much liberty they grew negligent and slothful1 envying and reproaching one another1 waging1 as it were1 civil wars among themselves1 bishops quarreling with bishops1 and the people divided into parties4 ,hypocrisy and deceit were grown to the highest pitch of wickedness4 ,they were become so insensible as not so much as to think of appeasing the divine anger2 but like atheists they thought the world destitute of any providential government and care1 and thus added one crime to another4 ,the bishops themselves had thrown off all concern about religion1 were perpetually contending with one another1 and did nothing but quarrel with and threaten and envy and hate one another3 they were full of ambition and tyrannically used their power40--,eusebius' ,history1 ,book ,,viii1 ,chap4 ,i1 as quoted in ,jones' ,church ,history4 ,ruter's ,church ,history4 7,third ,century47 8,with the opinions1 the ,christian teachers had adopted the habits and manners of the philosophic school4 ,they assumed the dress of the pompous sophist1 and delivered the plain doctrines of the gospel with strained and studied eloquence40 8,this season of external prosperity was improved by the ministers of the church for the exertion of new claims and the assumption of powers with which they had not previously been invested40--p4 #eb4 8,several alterations in the form of church government appear to have been introduced during the third century4 ,some degree of pomp was thought necessary to render so singular an institution respectable to the minds of a gross multitude who are only capable of judging from external appearances4 ,as their numbers increased their labors became proportionally greater1 and it was necessary to provide assistance and more agreeable to good order to assign to each his proper function4 ,inferior ministers were therefore instituted1 who derived their appellations from the office they filled4 8,these ministers probably derived their emoluments1 not merely from the precarious bounty of the society1 but from a certain proportion of the fixed revenues of the church4 ,the principal of them had obtained before the close of this century the possession of several considerable estates1 which had been bequeathed or presented to the church4 ,the external dignity of the ministers of religion was accompanied by a still greater change in its discipline4 ,the simple rules prescribed by the apostles for the preservation of good order in the church branched out into so many luxuriant shoots that it was difficult to recognize the parent stem40--p4 #ec4 8,a regular form of discipline began to take place during the third century in every matter which fell within the cognizance of the church40 p4 #ea4 ,following this1 ,ruter gives an account of the penitents seeking salvation who had to proceed step by step4 ,the first degree was to prostrate themselves in the avenues of the church building4 ,here they were called flentes4 ,in the second degree they were allowed to enter the building and hear the sermon4 ,here they were called audientes4 ,in the third degree they were allowed to unite in prayers offered in their own behalf4 ,here they were called genuflectentes4 ,in the fourth degree they were allowed to approach the altar and were called consistentes4 ,in the taking of these degrees the penitents were compelled to appear in sackcloth and ashes1 and in some places the men were obliged to shave their heads and the women to wear veils4 ,the duration of their penitence was regulated by the bishop4 ,he could make the time of taking these degrees short1 or extend it to any length4 ,this was called an indulgence4 ,this is shocking in the extreme4 ,where in the humble acts of ,jesus and his apostles do you hear of such an order of things8 ,truly at this time the sun was darkened1 and the moon did not give her light1 and the stars had fallen4 ,how true now appears the prophecy of ,isaiah3 8,the people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while3 our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary40 ,isa4 #fc3ah4 ,jesus says1 8,lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth10 and ,paul says to the bishop to be 8not greedy of filthy lucre02 and ,peter says1 8,taking the oversight not for filthy lucre's sake0--and here before the close of the third century we find the bishops coming into possession of large estates through the revenues of the church1 and as ,cyprian has said of the bishops of this time1 8,our principal study is to get money and estates40 ,we have before us ,mosheim's ,church ,history4 ,in speaking of the internal history of the church in the third century he says that 8the bishops of ,rome1 ,antioch and ,alexandria had a kind of preeminence over all others1 and particularly the bishop at ,rome40 ,there was a change in the form of government and this change was followed by a train of vices4 8,many of those who had the administration of the church affairs were sunk10 he says1 8in luxury and voluptuousness1 puffed up with vanity1 arrogance and ambition2 possessed with a spirit of contention and discord4 ,they appropriated to their evangelical function the splendid ensigns of temporal majesty3 a throne1 surrounded with ministers1 exalted above his equals1 the servant of the meek and humble ,jesus4444 ,the titles of subdeacons1 acolythi1 ostairii1 readers1 exorcists1 copiat1 would never have been heard of in the church if its rulers had been assiduously and zealously employed in promoting the interest of truth and piety by their labors and their example40 ,he gives an account of the trouble in the church of ,rome between ,cornelius and ,novatian1 in the year #bej1 who were aspirants for the ,roman ,see4 ,eusebius tells of the increasing vices1 schisms1 quarrelings of the bishops1 of their greed for money and preeminence in the last half of the third century4 ,in speaking of the bishops and pastors who had the administration of church government in the year #bfj1 he says3 8,but some that appeared to be our pastors1 deserting the law of piety1 were inflamed against each other with mutual strifes1 only accumulating quarrels and threats1 rivalship1 hostility and hatred to each other1 only anxious to assert the government as a kind of sovereignty for themselves40 ,then he adds1 8,as ,jeremiah says1 #8,the ,lord in his anger darkened the daughter of ,sion the church or moon1 and hurled from heaven to earth the glory of ,israel4' 0 ,by this we learn that ,eusebius would place the darkening of the church1 or the beginning of the dark noonday1 near the year #bfj ,a4,d4 ,quotations could be transcribed from ,coleman1 ,marsh1 ,waddington and others1 in which they all place the close of the morning light and the rise of the apostasy or dark noonday between the years #bfj and #bhj ,a4,d4 ,to our knowledge1 ,joseph ,milner is the only non-contemporary historian that fixes the date to any definite time4 ,he says1 8,i know it is common for authors to represent the great declension of ,christianity to have taken place only after its external establishment under ,constantine4 ,but the evidence of history has compelled me to dissent from this view of things4 ,in fact we have seen that for a whole generation previous to the persecution1 few marks of superior piety appeared4 ,scarce a luminary of godliness existed1 and it is not common in any age for a great work of the ,spirit of ,god to be exhibited but under the conduct of some remarkable saint1 pastor and reformers4 ,this whole period as well as the whole scene of the persecution is very barren of such characters4 ,not but that many precious children of ,god suffered in much patience and charity4 ,but those who suffered with very much of a different spirit1 found no pastor to discountenance their self-will and false zeal3 a sure sign that the true spirit of martyrdom was less pure than it had formerly been4 ,moreover the prevalence of superstition on the one hand1 and the decay of evangelical knowledge on the other1 are equally apparent4 ,christ crucified1 justification purely by faith1 and the effectual influences of the ,holy ,ghost1 444 were ideas at least very faintly impressed at that day on ,christian minds4 ,it is vain to expect ,christian faith to abound without ,christian doctrine4 ,moral and philosophical and monastical instructions will not effect for men what is expected from evangelical doctrine4 ,and if the faith of ,christ was so much declined 7and its decayed state ought to be dated from about the year #bgj7 we need not wonder that such scenes as ,eusebius hints at without any circumstantial detail took place in the ,christian world40--,century ,,iv1 p4 #ca4 ,after searching history we find no objection in making use of the year #bgj ,a4,d4 as the date of the beginning of the dark noontime4 ,milner says at this time1 8,scarcely a luminary of godliness existed4 ,the great luminaries1 or lights1 were eclipsed and darkness reigned4 ,some of our contemporary writers have fixed upon this year as the date of the rise of the beast power1 which created this darkness40 8,the real papacy was set up1 not at the ,nicene ,council1 ,a4,d4 #cbe1 as some affirm2 but we find vivid traces of the very same beast authority as early as ,a4,d4 #bgj40--;,biblical ,trace of the ,church4 ,in the city of ,nice in ,bithynia1 ,a4,d4 #cbe1 was held what is called 8,the ,first ,general ,council40 ,there was present at this council the ,emperor ,constantine1 as the historian says1 8,like an angel of ,god exceeding all his attendants in size1 gracefulness and strength1 and dazzling all eyes by the splendor of his dress1 showing the greatest humility1 seated in a chair covered with gold40 ,there were present at this meeting three hundred and eighteen bishops1 and a number of deacons and subdeacons1 amounting in all to two thousand and forty-eight persons4 ,here was drawn up a creed1 declaring to be the only true and orthodox faith4 ,it bears the title of ,nicene4 ,this creed was at once confirmed at ,rome by two hundred and seventy-five bishops1 and was the setting up of the ,roman hierarchy4 ,this council can not however with propriety be said to be the true setting up of the beast power4 ,nearly all the forms and doctrines of this creed had been observed and taught by the bishops and pastors for several decades4 ,the most sensible date1 and most consistent with revelation1 for the bringing in of the dark noontime of the gospel day is ,a4,d4 #bgj4 ,we feel confident that no one can rightfully object to us making use of this date for this work4 ,those who do so must do it through prejudice or ignorance4 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,scriptural ,predictions ,of ,an ,apostasy4 ,who has not wondered1 as they read of the ,savior's and the apostles' warnings of 8false teachers10 grievous wolves1 delusive powers1 and deceptive lights1 what it all could mean8 ,these things certainly are not without meaning4 ,jesus says1 8,and many false prophets shall rise1 and shall deceive many4 ,and because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold4 ,for there shall arise false ,christs1 and false prophets1 and shall show great signs and wonders2 insomuch that1 if it were possible1 they shall deceive the very elect40 ,mat4 #bd3aa1 #ab1 #bd4 ,the ,son of ,god foretells the arising of false prophets and teachers4 ,he tells us how they may be known4 8,beware of false prophets1 which come to you in sheep's clothing1 but inwardly they are ravening wolves4 ,ye shall know them by their fruits40 ,mat4 #g3ae1 #af4 ,by the pen of the apostle ,john we learn something of the fruit of these false1 deceiving prophets4 8,for many deceivers are entered into the world1 who confess not that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh4 ,this is a deceiver and an antichrist4 ,look to yourselves1 that we lose not those things which we have wrought1 but that we receive a full reward4 ,whosoever transgresseth1 and abideth not in the doctrine of ,christ1 hath not ,god4 ,he that abideth in the doctrine of ,christ1 he hath both the ,father and the ,son4 ,if there come any unto you1 and bring not this doctrine1 receive him not into your house1 neither bid him ,godspeed3 for he that biddeth him ,godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds40 #b ,john #g-aa4 ,the fruit of a false prophet is a false doctrine4 ,a doctrine in opposition to the plain1 simple doctrine of ,christ is the principal characterizing feature of a deceiver4 ,the doctrine of ,christ is light4 ,all who abide in the doctrine of ,christ are a light in the world4 ,any doctrine contrary to the doctrine of ,christ is darkness1 and its propagator1 a deceiver and an antichrist4 ,this same apostle in his first letter1 cautions us to 8try the spirits and doctrines1 whether they are of ,god3 because many false prophets are gone out into the world4 ,hereby know ye the ,spirit of ,god3 ,every spirit that confesseth that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh is of ,god3 and every spirit that confesseth not that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh is not of ,god3 and this is that spirit of antichrist1 whereof ye have heard that it should come2 and even now already it is in the world40 #a ,john #d3a-c4 ,we feel like it would be justice to the reader to here explain how we can confess that ,christ is come in the flesh1 and how we can deny that he has so come4 ,that this does not refer to his personal coming in the flesh1 as a sacrifice for sin1 is evident4 ,but few but what confess that ,christ was here in the flesh as recorded in the ,gospels1 yet many of them are not of ,god4 ,jesus says1 8,we will come unto him and make our abode with him40 8,know ye not that ye are the temple of ,god80 8,for ye are the temple of ,god2 as ,god hath said1 ,i will dwell in them1 and walk in them2 and ,i will be their ,god1 and they shall be my people40 8,at that day ye shall know that ,i am in the ,father1 and ye in me1 and ,i in you40 ,john #ad3bj4 ,that day spoken of is when the ,holy ,spirit would come and teach them all things4 ,that was at ,pentecost4 ,then they knew that ,christ was in them4 ,this then is ,christ come in the flesh4 ,now it is not every one either that confesses by the word of mouth that ,christ dwells in them that are of ,god4 ,a ,scriptural confession is not by word only1 but by the deed1 or life4 ,every one who confesses by their life that ,christ is come in the flesh or dwells in them must and will abide in the whole doctrine of ,christ1 and live just as he lived4 ,such a one is of ,god1 and is a light even as ,christ was a light4 ,whoever rejects any of the ,savior's doctrine1 and does not1 and will not1 experience and practise it in his life1 the same is an antichrist1 however much he may profess to be of ,god4 ,try all doctrines and spirits by the doctrine of ,christ1 is the infallible rule4 ,the ,prophecy ,of ,paul4 8,for ,i know this1 that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you1 not sparing the flock4 ,also of your own selves shall men arise1 speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them4 ,therefore watch1 and remember1 that by the space of three years ,i ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears40 ,acts #bj3bi-ca4 ,paul saw the awful apostasy from the simple faith of ,christ arising4 ,the shadows of the dark noonday were slowly and surely creeping on4 ,he beholds it with tears4 ,this was not really some heathenish foreign power1 but he says it should be men of their own selves arising1 speaking perverse things4 ,he saw that the leaders and overseers of the flock 7see ver4 #bh7 would become greedy of worldly gain1 contentious1 followers after pride1 filled with envy1 loving preeminence1 speaking things contrary to the doctrine of ,christ4 ,it had begun to work already in his day4 8,the mystery of iniquity doth already work40 #b ,thes4 #b3g4 ,john says these false prophets 8even now already are in the world40 ,even before the apostles had closed their labors they saw this dark power working4 ,year after year1 decade after decade1 it developed and grew4 ,star after star had fallen until by the middle of the third century there was 8scarcely left a luminary of godliness in existence40 ,paul seeing the great crisis coming1 is in fear4 8,but ,i fear1 lest by any means1 as the serpent beguiled ,eve through his subtilty1 so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in ,jesus4 ,for if he that cometh preacheth another ,jesus1 whom we have not preached1 or if ye receive another spirit1 which ye have not received1 or another gospel1 which ye have not accepted1 ye might well bear with me4444 ,for such are false apostles1 deceitful workers1 transforming themselves into the apostles of ,christ4 ,and no marvel2 for ,satan himself is transformed into an angel of light4 ,therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness2 whose end shall be according to their works40 #b ,cor4 #aa3c1 #d1 #ac-ae4 ,thus ,paul gives warning to the ,corinthians of false apostles and deceitful workers4 ,all of this certainly is not without meaning4 ,he foresees great danger4 ,he earnestly exhorts the ,thessalonian brethren to be not soon shaken1 saying3 8,let no man deceive you by any means3 for that day shall not come1 except there come a falling away first1 and that man of sin be revealed1 the son of perdition2 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshiped2 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 showing himself that he is ,god4 ,remember ye not1 that1 when ,i was yet with you1 ,i told you these things8 ,and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time4 ,for the mystery of iniquity doth already work3 only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way4 ,and then shall that wicked be revealed1 whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming3 even him1 whose coming is after the workings of ,satan with all power and signs and lying wonders40 #b ,thes4 #b3c-i4 ,this is indeed a wonderful and an awful prophecy4 ,surely a dark image or power called a 8man of sin0 and 8son of perdition0 shall arise and eclipse the sun 7,christ7 and the moon 7the church7 and cause the stars 7the holy ministry7 to fall4 8,there shall come a falling away first40 ,this has direct reference to the corruption of ,god's professed people led by an exalted1 selfish1 greedy and blinded ministry4 8,the falling away0 is translated from the ,greek apostasia1 and means a departure4 ,lexicographers define the word as meaning 8an abandonment of what one has professed40 ,in this text it means an abandonment of the true principles and doctrines of ,christianity4 ,that 8man of sin10 8son of perdition10 or1 as in ,rotherham's translation1 8man of lawlessness10 and 8son of destruction10 is what arose and obscured the sunlight4 ,this epithet is given to ,judas ,iscariot1 the betrayer of ,christ1 in ,john #ag3ab1 this 8man of sin0 is a betrayer of ,christ and his pure doctrine4 ,this 8man of lawlessness10 no doubt1 has reference directly to the pope of ,rome as the prime factor in the apostasy2 but in its broadest sense it includes the whole of the beast religion1 both ,romanism and ,protestantism4 ,this 8man of sin0 is a manism1 or a power under the government of man1 and is identical with the beast power of ,rev4 #ac4 ,this 8son of destruction0 8opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god40 ,he opposes or denies1 and perverts the doctrines of ,god that are not congenial to his desires4 ,he denies in a measure the divine authority1 and forms creeds and laws for the government of ,god's people1 thus arrogating to himself what properly belongs to ,god4 ,they take upon themselves such titles as 8,father10 8,holy ,father10 8,vicegerent of the ,son of ,god10 8,doctor of ,divinity10 8,reverend10 etc4 ,these are titles or distinctions belonging to ,god only4 8,call no man your ,father10 is the command of ,jesus2 and1 8,be ye not called ,rabbi40 ,vicegerent is one acting in the place of another4 ,the pope's claim was that ,god had ceased to reign and had delegated all power unto himself--the power to forgive sins and to grant indulgences4 ,an indulgence is an act of the ,roman pontiff1 wherein men by making certain vows and paying certain sums of money receive pardon of their sins4 ,by the payment of certain amounts they can commit most any crime and their purchased indulgence absolves them from guilt4 ,the ,price ,of ,pardon4 ,below we will give an extract from page #bfc of 8,the ,master ,key to ,popery10 by ,anthony ,gavin1 formerly one of the ,roman ,catholic priests at ,saragossa1 ,spain4 ,he says3 ,according to a book called the 8,tax of the ,roman ,chancery10 in which are contained the exact sums levied for pardon of each particular sin1 we find some of the fees to be thus3 ,robbing a church #b4be4 ,simony #b4be4 ,perjury #b4jj4 ,forgery and lying #b4jj4 ,robbery #c4jj4 ,burning a house #b4ge4 ,eating meat in ,lent #b4ge4 ,killing a layman #a4ge4 ,striking a priest #b4ge4 ,procuring abortion #a4ej4 ,priest to keep a concubine #b4be4 ,ravishing a virgin #b4jj4 ,murder of father1 mother1 brother1 #b4ej4 sister or wife ,nun for fornication in or out of #e4jj4 the nunnery ,marrying on a day forbidden #aj4jj4 ,adultery committed by a priest with #aj4jj4 nuns and others ,absolution of all crimes together #ab4jj4 ,following this we will give a few of the secret instructions of the ,jesuits as revealed by ,z4 ,t4 ,griffin3 8,a ,christian 7,romanist7 may deliberately discard his ,christian character and act like other men in those things which are not properly ,christian4 ,by the command of ,god it is lawful to murder the innocent1 to rob and commit all lewdness because he is ,lord of all things1 and thus to fulfil his mandate is our duty4 8,it is lawful to kill an accuser whose testimony may jeopardize our life and honor4 8,if an adulterous priest1 aware of his danger1 having visited an adulteress is assailed by her husband1 kills the man in his own defense1 he is not a criminal4 8,papist children may accuse their parents of heresy1 although they know their parents will be burned4 8,a priest may kill those who hinder him from taking possession of any ecclesiastical office4 8,servants may secretly steal from their masters as much as they judge their labor is worth more than the wages which they receive4 8,a woman may take her husband's property to supply her spiritual wants and to act like other women4 8,a witness is not bound to declare the truth before a lawful judge1 if his deposition will injure himself or his posterity1 or if he be a priest2 for a priest can not be forced to testify before a secular judge4 8,priests may kill the laity to preserve their goods1 etc40 ,such appears extremely shocking to a man of integrity and principle4 ,such laws and tolerations and the direct sale of indulgences brings a blush of shame to a moral man1 and much more to the ,christian4 ,the sale of indulgences is not true of ,romanism only4 ,throughout the realms of ,protestantism there is a shameful sale of these indulgences in an indirect way4 ,wicked and designing men are tolerated and fellowshiped by the sect ministry because of their liberality to the church4 ,it is true it matters not if a man does occasionally get drunk1 or if he does defraud his neighbor1 or commit adultery1 abuse his wife1 attend theaters1 and such like sins1 if he is a liberal contributor to their treasury1 he is smiled at1 welcomed and encouraged to be faithful4 ,while in the papacy we find such titles as 8,holy ,father10 etc41 in ,protestantism we find the 8,d4 ,d40 and 8,,ll4 ,d40 and 8,reverend40 ,they who assume such honorary titles set themselves up to be equal with ,god4 ,the word 8reverend0 is from the ,hebrew 8yare10 and means 8to be feared40 ,so man is thus setting himself up as one to be feared1 when the ,word of the ,lord tells us to 8fear not man1 but fear ,god40 8,holy and reverend is his name40 ,god alone is to be revered1 and for man to prefix such a title to his name is to sit as ,god the temple of ,god4 ,popes and bishops are found in the councils and conferences framing laws and passing resolutions for the government of their membership and for the qualifications of a minister1 like as if ,god had ceased to reign and there was no ,bible and they alone were invested with power to govern and control the kingdom of heaven4 ,the qualifications of a minister in some of the popular denominations of to-day are a certain number of years in school and a certain number of histories and commentaries mastered4 ,the qualifications as given by ,paul are almost wholly ignored4 ,the profession of the ministry in the sect world has been dragged down to a level with the professions of the world4 ,a young man decides to be a physician4 ,he goes to school and learns his profession4 ,he receives his diploma1 comes out and practises what he was taught at school1 and makes his living thereby4 ,another young man decides to be a lawyer4 ,he studies for that profession1 is admitted to the bar1 practises1 and makes his living thereby4 ,another young man decides to be a preacher4 ,he goes to school and learns his profession4 ,he is licensed1 comes out and preaches1 and makes his living thereby4 8,for the mystery of iniquity doth already work40 ,this is the spirit of antichrist1 of which ,john says1 8even now already is it in the world40 ,this antichrist1 apostate spirit is a mystery4 ,it contains a hidden mysterious power that has blinded and deceived millions of souls4 ,even in ,paul's time it began its hidden mysterious working4 ,the ,roman ,catholic sect arose and met this description of the 8man of sin0 as given by ,paul4 ,the ,waldenses in the thirteenth century looked upon the church at ,rome as the 8whore of ,babylon10 and the 8man of sin40 ,those blinded by the mysterious1 delusive spirit of iniquity considered such language against the 8holy church0 as blaspheming against ,god4 ,protestantism to-day with its great bishops and reverends and ,d4 ,d4's and creeds and systems1 forms and ceremonies1 almost as perfectly meets the description of the 8man of sin0 as does the ,roman hierarchy4 ,the same hidden mysterious delusive spirit has so intoxicated its subjects that they consider such speech as blasphemy4 ,this 8man of sin0 is described as coming with signs and lying wonders4 ,the lying wonders of this dark reign of the 8son of perdition0 are almost innumerable4 ,it is said that a milkwhite dove descended from heaven with a phial of oil at the baptism of ,cloris4 ,a ,sicilian hermit had a revelation from heaven in which was revealed that the prayers of the monks of ,clugny would be effectual for the deliverance of the departed spirits from the expiatory flames of a middle state4--,mosheim's ,church ,history4 ,a woman named ,julian pretended she had a revelation from ,god in which it was disclosed to her to be the will of ,god that a peculiar festival should be held annually in honor of the real presence of ,christ in the holy sacrament4 ,she said that as often as she addressed herself to ,god or to the saints in prayer she saw a full moon with a small defect1 and the spirit informed her that this defect was the want of this annual festival4 ,this festival was established by ,clement ,v in #acaa ,a4,d4 ,the fables of the removal of the chapel of ,loretto1 the wandering ,jew1 the visions of ,stockius and ,sims1 and ,st4 ,anthony's obliging an ass to adore the sacrament as related by ,mosheim1 are astonishing lying wonders and ridiculous inventions4 ,the ,protestant daughters of mystic ,babylon are not free from lying wonders to this present day4 ,the book of ,mormon contains fabulous stories2 the spiritualists' work is freighted with many satanic wonders1 and frequently we hear of visions and revelations that when tried by the immutable ,word of ,god are proven to be lying wonders4 ,our ,god is able to perform wonders1 and of a truth1 wonderful are his doings at this present time1 but all that he does is in decency and in order1 and contains nothing of the fabulous4 ,paul says1 8,now the ,spirit speaketh expressly1 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and doctrines of devils2 speaking lies in hypocrisy2 having their conscience seared with a hot iron2 forbidding to marry1 and commanding to abstain from meats40 #a ,tim4 #d3a-c4 ,you will only have to read the history of the ,roman ,catholic sect1 of its fabulous inventions1 of its awful tyranny1 its superstitions1 its rites1 and ceremonies1 to find the fulfilment of this prophecy4 ,it is extremely astonishing that men of intelligence would be the supporters of such a dark institution4 ,it only shows the seductive power of demon spirits4 ,the doctrines of devils that have been originated both in ,romanism and ,protestantism are almost without number1 some of which we will speak of in our next chapter4 ,the hypocritical lies that have been invented and the persecutions and contentions and quarrelings and fightings against one another can only be carried on by men whose conscience is seared by a hot iron4 ,the ,catholics abstain from eating meat on certain days and at certain times4 ,a certain law sect1 called the ,seventh ,day ,adventist1 teaches abstinence from pork4 ,the papists forbid the marriage of the clergy4 ,neither is this unscriptural prohibition confined to the papacy alone1 but some of her harlot daughters have patterned after her1 and even gone beyond her in this respect4 ,in the time of this apostasy it is said by the apostle that 8they will not endure sound doctrine2 but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers1 having itching ears2 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth1 and shall be turned unto fables40 #b ,tim4 #d3c1 #d4 ,where shall we look for a fulfilment of this prophecy8 ,who does not know that we have now come to that time8 ,the sound doctrine which if obeyed will make men a light in the world is not endorsed in the circle of the papacy1 neither in the ,protestant denominations4 ,to-day the generality of mankind1 even in professed ,christianity1 do not care to hear the practical truths of the gospel as we have recorded in part first of this work4 ,theories and speculative opinions have taken the place of sound doctrine in the ,protestant pulpit of this present day4 ,the congregations in general have become so proud and vain in their imaginations1 and so spoiled through philosophy1 that they heap to themselves teachers having the wildest speculative opinions4 ,their itching ears have an insatiable desire for fine essays1 amusing stories1 and historic tales4 ,the proud1 arrogant pulpit orator of this present day makes it a study how best to calm the fears1 gild the sins1 and strew with flowers the iniquitous path of his passionate congregation4 ,protestantism presents a most deplorable picture to those who have escaped her ruinous walls4 ,many a bishop and lord is bewailing his sad spiritless1 powerless state1 and crying1 8,whither are we drifting80 ,where will you have to go to-day but to ,protestantism to find a fulfilment of ,paul's prophecy in #b ,tim4 #c3a-e8 8,this know also1 that in the last days perilous times shall come4 ,for men shall be lovers of their own selves1 covetous1 boasters1 proud1 blasphemers1 disobedient to parents1 unthankful1 unholy1 without natural affection1 truce-breakers1 false accusers1 incontinent1 fierce1 despisers of those that are good1 traitors1 heady1 high-minded1 lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,god2 having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof3 from such turn away40 ,paul here speaks of a religious people4 ,they have 8a form of godliness40 ,while the 8last days0 and 8last time0 often include the whole of this gospel day1 yet this prophecy particularly relates to the nearing of the end of time4 ,jesus says1 8,as the days of ,noe were1 so shall also the coming of the ,son of man be4 ,for as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking1 marrying and giving in marriage1 until the day that ,noe entered into the ark40 ,mat4 #bd3cg1 #ch4 ,let us considerately review this prophecy4 8,lovers of their own selves40 ,such a disposition of heart will manifest itself4 ,such people have more concern for their own welfare than for their neighbor's4 ,they will look out for their own best interest4 ,in the ministry it would be manifested in seeking places of ease1 luxury1 honor1 and wealth4 8,covetous40 ,a desire for worldly gain1 loving money4 ,by their conversation and general manner they manifest a strong desire for wealth1 resorting to festivals and fairs to gain money4 8,boasters40 ,placing a high estimate on their own personal worth and accomplishments4 ,as a man recently remarked of a stained window in a meeting-house3 8,see that window6 ,is not that fine8 ,that cost one hundred dollars4 ,that is my window1 ,i put that in4 ,these others only cost seventy-five dollars4 ,see1 here are my initials40 8,proud40 ,studying to make a fine appearance1 striving to excel in pulpit oratory1 advertising the work they have done--so many have been converted through my labors1 etc4 ,all these works are indications of a proud heart4 8,blasphemers40 ,to speak lightly of sacred things1 to ridicule any portion of ,god's ,word4 ,many professors of ,christianity of to-day when asked if they believe in the ordinance of feet-washing will make some such answer as1 8,if your feet are dirty1 you ought to wash them40 ,the doctrines of holiness and divine healing are often impiously spoken of4 ,jesus ,christ is sometimes charged with being a freemason1 and recently a man said that the ,savior went to school and studied for the ministry4 8,disobedient to parents40 ,is there not many a young lady and young man in apostate ,protestantism1 trampling under their feet the commands and wishes of their parents8 ,the 8old man10 or the 8old woman0 7as they often speak of their parents71 they say1 8is not going to rule me40 8,unthankful40 ,murmuring when reverses come2 complaining if their financial undertakings are unsuccessful2 dissatisfied and discontented4 ,these are evidences of an unthankful and ungrateful heart4 8,unholy40 ,those who dispute the doctrine of holiness1 of purity or sinless perfection4 ,they confess that they commit sin1 and their life bears evidence that their confession is true4 ,or should they profess holiness and yet not live a true holy life they are classed with the great dark apostasy4 8,without natural affection40 ,many times the love of self1 the love of pleasure1 the love of the world1 and sin in general destroys the natural affection4 ,mothers in their heart regret their children were born1 because it prevents their entering society as they would like4 ,they bewail the state of pregnancy for the same reason1 and resort to murderous means for the privilege of enjoying more of the pleasures of sin and the world4 ,children also often betray a great lack of natural affection by their treatment of parents and one another4 8,truce-breakers40 ,having but little regard for a promise or obligation2 violating obligations and promises to ,god and to man4 8,false accusers40 ,slandering those who do live and obey the whole ,word of ,god4 8,incontinent40 ,those who are living in the lust of the flesh2 controlled by a depraved appetite4 8,fierce40 ,getting angry and becoming quarrelsome2 all that is the opposite of gentleness and kindness4 8,despisers of those that are good40 ,because a man lives a good1 pure1 consistent ,christian life it puts a rebuke upon the hypocrite1 and for this reason he despises the good man4 8,traitors40 ,actually denying and renouncing portions of the ,holy ,bible1 which they profess to believe4 ,they are traitors to ,god and to ,christianity4 8,heady40 ,they are unteachable4 ,no matter what the ,bible says1 they know they are all right if they do indulge in things that are wrong4 8,high-minded40 ,so lifted up in themselves that the humble doctrines of the ,savior are beneath their observance4 ,these humble truths of the ,bible are considered as nonessentials by the heady and high-minded4 8,lovers of pleasure more than lovers of ,god40 ,take more real comfort and delight in the party or festival than they do in worship4 ,a sermon of thirty minutes is about as long as they can endure4 ,reading the ,bible is an unpleasant task1 therefore the good old book lies unused2 but they can spend hours in the place of revelry4 ,where do we have to look for such doings and characters as we have described8 ,they abound in great numbers in the various denominations of to-day4 ,adam ,clarke in his commentary in speaking of this prophecy1 says3 8,this description the papists apply to the ,protestants4 ,the ,protestants in their turn apply it to the papists4 ,there have been both teachers and people in every age of the church and world to whom these words may be most legitimately applied4 ,both ,catholics and ,protestants have been lovers of their own selves10 etc41 8having a form of godliness1 but denying the power thereof40 ,how often the sectish lords lament the deadness of their congregations1 and also grow weary of their own spiritless1 formal prayers and sermons4 ,bishop ,weaver of the ,united ,brethren denomination uses the following language1 as quoted by a holiness periodical3 8,power ,versus ,form4 8,the pulpit ought to be a center of power4 ,but is it8 ,god said to ,jonah1 #8,preach the preaching ,i bid thee4' ,jesus said1 #8,preach the gospel4' ,paul said1 #8,preach the ,word4' ,again he said1 #8,we preach ,christ4' ,philip #8preached ,jesus4' ,all this means the selfsame thing4 ,christ is the soul of the gospel as well as the substance of all doctrine4 ,much of the preaching1 reading or talking--whatever you please to call it--is ,christless and powerless4 ,of course1 this is a refined age1 and the people are away up1 but the devil can appear as refined as a saint4 ,nothing suits him better than to get the preacher away from the gospel on to some fine topic and then get some one to tell him 7the preacher7 that he made a fine effort4 ,the pulpit should proclaim the great1 fundamental doctrines of the ,bible4 ,but does it8 ,the people are often treated to a well-written essay or dissertation on some abstract question that does not contain an ounce of pure gospel4 ,there is neither lightning nor thunder in it4 ,one reason why ,paul was not ashamed of the gospel of ,christ was because it was the power of ,god unto salvation4 ,but it was no more the power of ,god unto salvation then than it is now4 ,it is the same eternal truth1 yesterday1 to-day1 and forever4 8,in ,hosea we read1 #8,like people1 like priest4' ,in ,isaiah we read1 #8,as with the people1 so with the priest4' ,there is a great deal of harmony between the pulpit and the pew4 ,everything goes along in an orderly manner4 ,all services must be short or the people can not stand them--short prayers1 short sermons1 short everything4 ,oftentimes the service is gone through with1 and nothing in it but an out-and-out performance2 no life1 no spirit1 no power4 ,protestants often speak disparagingly of the ritualistic services gone through with by the ,roman ,catholic church1 but if you come right down to it you will find about as much spirit and power in the one as the other4 ,the result is that scores and hundreds of men1 and women1 and children are being gathered into the ,protestant church who have not an ounce of ,christian experience4 ,if reformation was necessary in the times of ,luther and ,wesley in ,europe1 and ,otterbein and ,asbury in ,america1 it is scarcely less necessary now4 ,but some one may say this is putting it too strong4 ,what are the facts8 ,is it not a fact that the church is drifting away from the more spiritual to the social and intellectual8 ,if the religion of ,jesus ,christ is what the ,bible represents it to be1 then the church in general is far below the standard4 ,where is the spiritual power that was breathed into the apostolic church8 ,peter's sermon on the day of ,pentecost was not what the people of to-day would call brilliant1 but the people were pricked1 not in the head1 but in the heart4 8,what did it8 ,two things4 ,first1 he preached the gospel straight4 ,second1 the ,holy ,spirit quickened the ,word spoken and made it powerful4 ,what would the people do if there should be such an uproar in some of our congregations to-day8 ,it would scare some of them half to death1 and many would run for dear life4 ,but we have the same gospel ,peter had1 and the same ,holy ,spirit to accompany the ,word4 ,what is the matter8 ,the people do not want it that way1 neither does the devil4 ,thousands of church people instead of praying for the baptism of the ,holy ,spirit1 are asking such questions as these3 ,is it wrong for a ,christian to dance8 to go to the theater8 to visit places of amusement8 to play progressive euchre8 etc4 ,why don't they ask such questions as these3 ,is it wrong to pray8 to go to church8 to take the sacrament8 etc4 ,the fact is1 a man or woman filled with the ,spirit of ,christ knows without asking any questions whether a thing is right or wrong4 8,but some may say that the writer is getting old and feeble1 and has fallen far behind in the race1 all of which is readily granted2 but the fact remains that we have the same gospel1 which is as changeless as the throne of ,god4 ,if in the days of the ,son of man and his inspired apostles it was necessary that a man should be #8born again1' #8born of the ,spirit1' #8made a new creature1' and be #8cleansed from all sin1' it is necessary now4 ,if there ever was a time when men were born into the kingdom of grace by the power of the ,holy ,ghost1 it remains the same to-day4 ,what under the heavens is the use for preachers and people to go whining around1 and winking at this and that when they know it is out of harmony with the plain teaching of ,god's ,word8 ,it is all well enough to be nice and orderly in the house of ,god1 but there is no substitute for the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,jesus ,christ is the advocate between ,god and man1 and the ,holy ,spirit is the executive officer in the holy trinity4 ,if the church with its splendid machinery were endued with power as it might and ought to be1 there is no telling what might be done in the next ten years4 ,but what good is all this machinery1 with no power to run it8 ,what good is an engine without steam8 ,i saw ,engine #iii4 ,it was beautiful to look at4 ,everything was as near perfect as it could well be4 ,but it was standing stock-still4 ,why8 ,there was no steam2 no power to move a wheel4 ,that represents a good many congregations4 ,the machinery is there1 but no power to run it4 ,in ,ezekiel's vision he saw a marvelous vehicle1 which moved with great rapidity4 ,but it did not move itself4 ,the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels2 but for that it would not have moved at all4 ,so it is with the church4 ,if the ,spirit of the living ,god is not in it1 it will not and can not move forward4 ,oh1 this spiritless1 powerless performance called worship4 ,how it detracts from the usefulness of the church60 ,such a description as given by ,paul in the above prophecy1 and by this bishop1 is true of sect ,babylon of to-day4 ,such graceless1 spiritless1 ,christless institutions are dark enough to obscure the beautiful light of the gospel4 ,the ,christian ,advocate1 the organ of ,methodism1 a few years ago said3 8,we are approaching a crisis in church life4 ,gradually1 but surely1 disregard for the ,bible1 for the ,sabbath1 for the church1 and for ,god1 is taking possession of ,christians4 ,teachers whose reputation for scholarship gives them wide influence1 give it as their opinion that the ,bible is not inspired at all1 except as other great books are inspired4 ,this poison has penetrated all our churches4 ,the virus of skepticism has entered the pulpits in our own denomination40 ,who can take issue with this editor8 ,we very heartily agree with him4 ,if any one is disposed to doubt that the virus of skepticism has entered the ,methodist pulpits1 he will only have to read the account of the meeting of four hundred of the leading ministers of ,new ,york and vicinity1 including ,bishop ,edward ,g4 ,andrews4 ,below we give an account of the meeting as published in the ,atlanta ,journal4 ,methodist ,ministers ,question ,the ,bible4 ,at a meeting of ,methodist ministers last ,monday morning in ,new ,york ,city1 the validity of many of the stories of the ,bible was questioned4 ,rev4 ,s4 ,p ,cadman urged at that meeting that the ,bible could not be accepted as the sole rule of faith any longer4 ,he pointed out alleged discrepancies in it1 and said people could find truth only at its fountain head1 ,christ4 ,the other ministers applauded him4 8,that the inerrancy and infallibility of the ,bible are no longer possible of belief among reasonable men40 ,this proposition1 the acceptance of which will tear away the fundamental pillar of ,methodist theology1 was urged in all force1 sincerity1 and enthusiasm by the ,rev4 ,cadman1 pastor of the ,metropolitan ,temple1 before the regular weekly meeting of the ,methodist ministers of ,new ,york4 ,four hundred of the leading ministers of ,new ,york and its vicinity1 including ,bishop ,edward ,g4 ,andrews1 were present when ,mr4 ,cadman's paper was read4 ,he was applauded when he arose to read it1 and applauded again when he got through4 ,mr4 ,cadman's paper was one of a series on ,bible criticism4 ,a paper taking practically the same ground was read before the ministers on the ,monday evening before last1 another paper on the subject will be read next ,monday4 ,this bold portentous utterance1 involving the most radical departure from accepted tenets of the ,methodist church since its very foundation1 was made before the most representative body of ,methodist clergy in ,america4 ,it included the vast majority of the preachers of ,greater ,new ,york4 ,it is the first announcement of an impending controversy1 which may shake the ,methodist church to its very foundation stones4 ,the acceptance of ,dr4 ,cadman's proposition1 heard with respect and applause by the ,new ,york ministers1 is comparable to the adoption of a new constitution for the ,united ,states4 ,it places the ,bible on the basis of historical works on other than divine subjects2 it rejects the authenticity of all parts of ,holy ,scripture which are repugnant to human reason4 ,some of the details of the ,bible that these ministers find fault with are3 ,that the earth was created in six days4 ,that ,methuselah died at the age of #ifi years4 ,that a whale swallowed ,jonah1 in whose belly he lay three days4 ,that the ,red ,sea was divided in order to permit the passage of the children of ,israel out of ,egypt4 ,that a snake tempted ,eve in the ,garden of ,eden4 ,that ,joshua commanded the sun to stand still1 and that it obeyed him4 ,the tower of ,babel narrative4 ,the turning of ,lot's wife into a pillar of salt4 ,the story of ,noah1 the flood1 and the ark4 ,that ,god spoke to ,moses out of a burning bush4 ,that ,aaron turned his rod into a serpent4 ,that ,moses tapped a rock1 and that water gushed forth4 ,that ,moses drew forth his hand and that it was 8leprous1 white as snow40 ,that ,elijah was translated to heaven in a chariot of fire4 ,that ,elisha threw the mantle of ,elijah across the ,jordan1 causing it to dry up and allow him passage4 ,that the earth opened and swallowed ,achan and his companions4 ,that ,shadrach1 ,meshach1 and ,abednego walked in a fiery furnace unharmed4 ,that ,daniel stayed unhurt in the lions' den4 ,wm4 ,s4 ,breakey1 of ,new ,york1 in a letter to the editor of the ,revivalist spoke concerning the above meeting and ,methodism as follows3 8,i enclose a clipping from the ,new ,york ,herald of recent date4 ,it needs no comment1 and explains the lack of spiritual power in the ,m4 ,e4 church of to-day4 ,the attitude of the listening ministers and bishop1 and their approval 7of a majority at least7 of the sentiments expressed by the speaker and indicated by the applause shows the extent to which this so-called liberal element has permeated the ,m4 ,e4 church4 ,this man is the leader of the so-called forward movement of the ,m4 ,e4 church in ,new ,york ,city1 a movement consisting of short popular sermons1 pleasant hours1 ,sunday evening concerts1 lectures1 united choir1 and the innumerable fandangoes to entertain the people and keep the church crowded4 ,this is the ,methodism of to-day in a leading metropolis of the country4 ,it makes my soul--and1 ,i believe1 the soul of every one jealous for the glory of ,god and the honor of the ,holy ,spirit and the eternal welfare of human souls being led into the ditch of eternal night by these blind1 reason-exalting leaders--cry out1 #8,how long1 ,o ,lord1 how long1' must the followers of the life of ,jesus ,christ endure these things and by their silence be charged 7by implication7 with endorsing the present condition of things and methods of church work80 ,we are often told by those who know no better1 that this world is becoming more ,christianized4 ,the ,bible says1 8,but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse1 deceiving1 and being deceived40 #b ,tim4 #c3ac4 ,people are more advanced in invention and education than in former years1 we frankly admit4 ,there are not the inhuman wars and barbarous massacres and bloody persecutions that once were1 and by hasty external view of political governments and educational interest one may conclude that the world is growing better4 ,but where matters are growing worse and things becoming more deceivable is to be found in 8mystery ,babylon the great0 and her harlot daughters2 namely1 ,catholicism and the ,protestant sects4 ,they are becoming more worldly and covetous1 more proud and popularity-loving4 ,they are denying much of the ,bible1 turning their meeting-houses into concert halls and opera-houses4 ,in a village where we resided until recently the ,methodist meeting-house was called by the community in general the ,methodist theater4 ,the paper by ,mr4 ,cadman as quoted above is a specimen of how they deny the ,bible4 ,they almost unanimously deny the unity of the ,bible1 divine healing1 holiness and some of the ordinances4 ,but in the decade to come you will see much more astonishing things4 ,the sectarian world is now just setting sail upon such a sea of revelry1 banqueting1 money getting1 lewdness1 and idolatry1 as we have not seen before4 ,her awful sins will reach unto heaven1 yea1 for some years past have been crying out against her1 but each year growing worse4 ,where is the aged man or woman but who remembers the day when ,methodists had a plain1 unassuming1 consecrated ministry8 ,the laity went plainly and modestly dressed4 ,they had real ,holy ,ghost revivals1 but those days are gone4 ,to-day she is intoxicated with the spirit of worldliness4 ,every effort is being put forth1 every nerve strained1 the power and energy of intellect used to dazzle the world by oratory1 and pompous show4 ,o ,god1 as we behold the awful sins of sectarianism we feel in our soul like ,jeremiah when he wrote his ,lamentation4 8,mine eyes do fail with tears1 my bowels are troubled1 444 because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city40 8,how is the gold become dim6 how is the fine gold changed6 the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street40 8,the kings of the earth1 and all the inhabitants of the world1 would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of ,jerusalem4 ,for the sins of her prophets1 and the iniquities of her priests1 that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her1 they have wandered as blind men in the streets1 they have polluted themselves with blood1 so that men could not touch their garments40 8,god will visit thine iniquity1 he will discover thy sins40 ,the sins of ,protestantism are sufficient cause to wring tears and prayers and fastings from every ,christian heart4 ,who will not consecrate his time1 talent1 and means for the deliverance of ,god's beloved from their captivity8 ,the ,prophecies ,of ,peter4 8,but there were false prophets also among the people1 even as there shall be false teachers among you1 who privily shall bring in damnable heresies1 even denying the ,lord that bought them1 and bring upon themselves swift destruction4 ,and many shall follow their pernicious ways2 by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of4 ,and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you3 whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not1 and their damnation slumbereth not40 #b ,pet4 #b3a-c4 ,here the inspired apostle foretells the coming of false teachers1 who shall bring in damnable heresies4 ,heresy is translated from the ,greek word hairesis4 ,the word 8sect0 is translated from the same ,greek word4 ,the word 8damnable0 is from the ,greek apoleia1 and means destruction4 ,so the rendering of ,rotherham1 8parties of destruction10 and of the ,german1 8destructive sects10 corresponds with the original4 ,protestant teachers will readily tell you that these 8false teachers0 and 8destructive sects0 refer to the heresies that sprang up in the first few centuries of this ,christian era4 ,we admit that sects and parties arose in those primitive days4 ,we see something of this spirit in #a ,cor4 #c3a-e4 ,but are sects damnable in one age of the world and commendable in another8 ,we conclude that if partyism1 sectarianism1 schisms1 divisions1 and heresies were destructive and brought destruction upon their adherents in the first centuries1 it will do likewise in the last centuries4 ,paul says1 8,i beseech you1 brethren1 by the name of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that you all speak the same thing1 and that there be no divisions schisms1 margin among you2 but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment40 #a ,cor4 #a3aj4 ,many shall follow in the pernicious ways of these heresies4 ,is not this true at this present time8 ,by them the way of truth shall be evil spoken of4 ,there is scarcely a sectarian in the universe but will speak evil of some portion of the truth4 ,these false teachers shall with feigned words make merchandise of their followers1 because of their covetousness4 ,this is really more true of present day sectarian preachers than it was of the false teachers in the first centuries4 ,does not the ministry of the present day resort to the telling of amusing stories1 and touching incidents1 and fabulous tales to amuse and allure the people1 and are they not making merchandise of them8 ,are they not receiving large salaries8 ,and no matter how poor you may be you must pay your preacher or else you have no hearty welcome to membership4 ,the preacher can sit in his easy chair with folded arms while you labor and strive for his support4 ,he can spend his evenings in luxury and pleasure while you are tossing upon your bed thinking and planning how to clothe and feed your little ones and get money to pay your church dues2 for you know full well if you do not pay you will be snubbed and rejected and finally cut off and made believe1 if possible1 that you are on your way to hell4 ,the remainder of this chapter1 beginning with the twelfth verse is a vivid description of the hireling ministry of these days4 ,for the benefit of the reader we will quote and number each verse and give brief comment4 #ab4 8,but these as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed1 speak evil of the things they understand not1 and shall utterly perish in their own corruption40 ,they are not governed by the ,bible1 but as 8brute beasts0 follow their covetous ways1 speaking evil of the holy commandments of ,god1 which they do not understand4 ,they are the 8blind leaders of the blind40 #ac4 8,and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness1 as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime4 ,spots they are and blemishes1 sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you40 ,the excursions of sightseeing and pleasure1 the picnics and parties they count great pleasure4 ,characters that engage in such revelry and worldliness are spots and blemishes to ,christianity4 ,we are commanded to keep ourselves unspotted from the world4 8,sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you40 ,they will teach their young members that it is no harm to go to the party1 to attend the shows and fairs1 the suppers and entertainments1 to play cards for amusement1 and many like things2 and with their own deceivings they will feast with them in such sports4 #ad4 8,having eyes full of adultery1 and that can not cease from sin2 beguiling unstable souls3 a heart they have exercised with covetous practises2 cursed children40 ,their hearts are inclined to evil ways and filled with fleshly desires2 loving the things of the world and often confessing1 8,we can not live in this world without committing sin40 ,by their evil example and false teachings they are beguiling many unstable souls4 ,their covetous heart is scarcely ever satisfied4 ,the prophet ,isaiah speaks of these prophets saying1 8,they are all ignorant1 they are all dumb dogs1 they can not bark2 sleeping1 lying down1 loving to slumber4 ,yea1 they are greedy dogs which can never have enough40 ,isa4 #ef3aj1 #aa4 ,this is a lazy1 ease-loving greedy ministry4 ,if they are getting #ejj4jj a year they will want #fjj4jj4 ,if they are receiving #a1jjj4jj they will want #a1bjj4jj1 and go wherever they can get the most4 8,cursed children40 #ae4 8,which have forsaken the right way1 and are gone astray1 following the way of ,balaam the son of ,bosor1 who loved the wages of unrighteousness40 ,these false teachers have known a better way4 ,the ,lord showed ,balaam the right way1 but he was seduced by the reward offered by ,balak4 ,so with these teachers2 they once knew a more righteous way1 but have turned aside for the wages of unrighteousness4 #af4 8,but was rebuked for his iniquity3 the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet40 ,as ,balaam was rebuked by the dumb ass1 so these false teachers in their madness for worldly honor1 gain and wisdom are rebuked by the humble ignorant ,christians1 whom they consider as dumb ignorant creatures4 #ag4 8,these are wells without water1 clouds that are carried with a tempest2 to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever40 ,salvation is often spoken of as the 8water of life40 ,these false teachers are wells without water4 ,their preaching does not feed and water their flock4 ,their empty forms and stale essays contain no spiritual food4 ,for this reason there is a famine throughout ,babylon4 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord ,god1 that ,i will send a famine in the land1 not a famine of bread1 nor a thirst for water1 but of hearing the words of the ,lord40 ,amos #h3aa4 ,from the pulpit we hear lectures1 stories1 and history1 and not the pure gospel2 this is the cause of this famine4 8,clouds they are carried with a tempest40 ,when there is some appearance of rain or water from these teachers1 and you have hopes of hearing some of the ,word of ,god1 behold some false wind of doctrine for personal advantage carries away every sign of rain4 #ah4 8,for when they speak great swelling words of vanity1 they allure through the lust of the flesh1 through much wantonness1 those that were clean escaped from them who live in error40 ,they preach in sublime style1 and speak great words of vanity1 almost incomprehensible to common people1 and by touching incidents and sympathetic stories they allure1 and those who were really converted are often led into error and formalism by these vain teachers4 #ai4 8,while they promise them liberty1 they themselves are the servants of corruption40 ,from the pulpit they speak in elegant1 flowery language of ,jesus and heaven1 and give great promises of blessings to their hearers1 while they themselves are walking in sin and under bondage to the flesh4 ,it is not difficult for all who are not entombed in the mystic fogs of ,babylon delusion to locate the fulfilment of this prophecy4 ,were ,peter living today and should look over the ,catholic and ,protestant ministry he could not pen a better description of them than he has here done4 ,the ,prophecy ,of ,jude4 8,likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh1 despise dominion1 and speak evil of dignities40 ,ver4 #h4 8,but these speak evil of those things which they know not3 but what they know naturally1 as brute beasts1 in those things they corrupt themselves4 ,woe unto them6 for they have gone in the way of ,cain1 and ran greedily after the error of ,balaam for reward1 and perished in the gainsaying of ,core4 ,these are spots in your feasts of charity1 when they feast with you1 feeding themselves without fear3 clouds they are without water1 carried about of winds2 trees whose fruit withereth1 without fruit1 twice dead1 plucked up by the roots2 raging waves of the sea1 foaming out their own shame2 wandering stars1 to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever40 ,ver4 #aj-ac4 8,these are murmurers1 complainers1 walking after their own lust2 and their mouth speaketh great swelling words1 having men's persons in admiration because of advantage40 ,ver4 #af4 ,we believe that comment here is unnecessary since commenting on ,peter's prophecy4 ,in verses seventeen and eighteen ,jude tells us these are the mockers of ,christianity that should come in the last time1 who should walk after their own ungodly lust4 ,jude foresees the great dark beastly manism that was to darken the earth in the clear day1 the same as was seen by the ,savior1 ,paul1 and ,peter4 ,when quoting the twelfth verse the ,spirit of the ,lord referred us to the wonderful prophecy of ,ezekiel3 8,son of man1 prophesy against the shepherds of ,israel1 prophesy1 and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god unto the shepherds2 ,woe be to the shepherds of ,israel that do feed themselves6 should not the shepherds feed the flock8 ,ye eat the fat1 and ye clothe you with the wool1 ye kill them that are fed2 but ye feed not the flock4 ,the diseased have ye not strengthened1 neither have ye healed that which was sick1 neither have ye bound up that which was broken1 neither have ye brought again that which was driven away1 neither have ye sought that which was lost2 but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them40 ,ezek4 #cd3b-d4 ,these shepherds feed and clothe themselves4 ,they are more concerned for their own personal gain than for the souls of the people4 ,if they do not receive an ample salary they will leave the souls to perish4 ,they are unlike ,paul1 who labored with his own hands for his support while he fed starving souls upon the words of life4 ,he was a light in the world1 and the covetous1 greedy shepherds are creators of darkness4 ,these prophecies are all true of the present day sectarian ministry4 ,they are the hireling shepherds that flee when they see the wolf coming4 ,when poverty comes1 they flee to a place where they are better supported4 ,the prophecies concerning the apostasy are more particularly against the ministry than the laity1 because the ministers are the leaders1 leading their followers on in darkness4 ,the ,revelation ,of ,john4 ,the prophecies of the book of ,revelation have long been a mystery to the people4 ,occasionally some honest soul1 laboring under the confusing mists of sectish night1 has attempted to reveal the secret things of this book4 ,his interpretations were so obscure and erroneous that he has only added confusion to confusion and mystery to mystery4 ,however in the past few years as we are nearing the 8time of the end10 ,god by his ,spirit has made clear these prophecies unto his humble1 devoted people4 ,trusting in ,god to give the proper interpretation by his ,spirit we will ask the reader to consider with us some of the prophecies of this book4 ,chapter #ac4 ,ver4 #a4 8,and ,i stood upon the sand of the sea1 and saw a beast rise up out of the sea1 having seven heads and ten horns1 and upon his horns ten crowns1 and upon his heads the name of blasphemy40 8,beast0 means a fleshly1 human1 or mannish power4 8,sea0 is often used to represent trouble1 upheaval1 and commotions4 ,history abounds with accounts of the upheavals in the ecclesiastical heavens between bishops in the third century4 ,out of these contentions and strivings and confusions arose in the year #cbe ,a4,d41 a beastly or mannish form of ecclesiastical government2 namely1 the ,roman ,catholic church4 ,the 8seven heads0 have by some writers been interpreted to be the seven mountains on which the city of ,rome is situated4 ,for proof of this interpretation they quote ,rev4 #ag3i4 ,how that inanimate1 literal mountains can represent heads1 since the head contains the power of intellect and authority1 lies beyond our comprehension4 ,that the ten horns are the ten kingdoms spoken of by ,daniel 7chap4 #g1 ver4 #bd7 is1 we consider1 unquestionable4 ,now it may be a little obscure why the ,revelator will make use of ten stately kingdoms to represent the ten horns of an ecclesiastical government4 ,it is because this ecclesiastical government is human the same as a state government2 and because the beastly ,romish church was supported1 and became what they were pleased to call both church and state4 ,the seven heads are seven supreme forms of government4 ,these seven heads are seven mountains 7not literal7 and the seven mountains are seven kings4 ,rev4 #ag3i1 #aj4 ,history tells us there were seven distinct forms of government in the ,roman empire4 ,the first1 a royal or kingly government1 continued about #dbh years4 ,the second was republic in form under the administration of dictators4 ,this form of government continued eighty and eight years4 ,the third form of government was under the absolute control of ten magistrates called decemvirs1 and are also called prtors4 ,the duration of this form of government exceeded three hundred years4 ,in the year #ccf ,b4,c41 the third form of government came to an end by the ,latins being conquered by the ,romans1 and the consulate government succeeded1 which continued until about the year #ej ,b4,c4 ,the fifth form of government was under the control of three men1 and therefore called a triumvirate4 ,the triumvirate form of government came to an end before ,john's vision of these heads4 ,these are the five 8fallen ones40 ,rev4 #ag3aj4 ,the power that then was1 which was the sixth head of the beast1 was the imperial power of the ,csars1 which continued more than four hundred years4 ,the seventh power was the patriciate1 which continued about fifty years4 ,these are the seven heads and ten horns--the seven forms of government1 and the ten kingdoms out of which grew the eleventh horn which ,daniel saw1 or the beast which ,john saw4 ,thus we have the beast with its seven heads and ten horns4 ,ver4 #b4 8,and the beast which ,i saw was like unto a leopard1 and his feet were as the feet of a bear1 and his mouth as the mouth of a lion3 and the dragon gave him his power1 and his seat1 and great authority40 ,sins and worldliness are termed spots by the ,bible4 ,the leopard is a spotted beast1 so no other animal could better represent the ,romish sect with its dark spots of sin and crime4 ,the bear makes use of the foot to deal the deadly blow upon an enemy4 ,the papacy with its tyrannical feet has trodden down all that would dare rise against it4 ,great thunderings and loud roarings proceed out of the mouth of the lion in his strength and glory4 ,so this beast fitly represents the ,catholic church in her boasted strength1 power1 and authority4 ,the dragon that gave this ecclesiastical beast its authority and seat was the ,roman state4 ,in connection with this we will consider the first three verses of the twelfth chapter of ,revelation4 8,and there appeared a great wonder in heaven2 a woman clothed with the sun1 and the moon under her feet1 and upon her head a crown of twelve stars40 ,ver4 #a4 ,the woman is the church4 ,by believing or standing upon the ,word a soul is brought into the church by the ,spirit4 ,thus the church stands upon the moon 7the ,word of ,god71 clothed by the sun 7the ,spirit74 ,this is no disagreement with a former use we have made of the sun and moon as symbols4 ,an object may be used to symbolize different things in different prophecies4 8,and there appeared another wonder in heaven2 and behold a great red dragon1 having seven heads and ten horns40 ,ver4 #c4 ,this dragon is the same as the dragon that gave power to the beast of ,rev4 #ac3b2 namely1 the ,roman state4 ,the ,roman empire1 pagan as it was1 endeavored to devour the church as is said of the dragon in ,rev4 #ab3d4 ,we will now return to ,rev4 #ac3c3 8,and ,i saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death2 and his deadly wound was healed3 and all the world wondered after the beast40 ,as we have before observed1 the seven original heads were the seven principalities1 or forms of government1 which gave rise to the ,roman empire4 ,a head or an ecclesiastical form of government in ,romanism received a wound4 ,the world wondered after the beast4 ,this beast religion--manism--the ,catholic sect1 was now looked upon as the church4 ,it was considered the only way to heaven4 ,there was no salvation outside her walls4 ,the true church was hidden4 ,the sun1 moon and stars were eclipsed4 ,christ had given his authority over to the pope1 so it was believed1 and the ,romish sect stepped into the place of the true church4 ,christ and his church--the lights of the world--were no longer seen4 ,the pope and his church stood up in their sins and abominations1 and the world looked upon them as the church4 ,this is certainly sufficient cause for darkness at the noonday4 ,ver4 #d4 8,and they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast3 and they worshiped the beast1 saying1 ,who is like unto the beast8 ,who is able to make war with him80 ,the people worshiped not only the church of ,rome1 but both church and state2 for they were now consolidated4 ,so the people worshiped the dragon and the beast1 and boasted of their greatness4 ,ver4 #e4 8,and there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies2 and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months40 ,from this text there opens a wide field before us1 which we will enter for a while1 and then return again to the further consideration of this chapter4 ,the pope's claims of power to forgive sins1 to be infallible1 to be the vicegerent of the ,son of ,god1 to have power to deliver from purgatory1 and a number of other shameful pretensions1 are certainly shocking blasphemies4 ,power was given him forty and two months4 ,in ,rev4 #ab3f1 the woman 7the church7 is described as fleeing into the wilderness prepared for her of ,god1 there to be fed a thousand two hundred and three score days4 ,here we learn that the woman fled from before the dragon and was protected of ,god 7or fed7 from the dragon's power for a thousand two hundred and three score days4 ,this is virtually the same power2 namely1 the ,romish state and church1 that continued forty and two months as spoken of above4 ,in ,rev4 #aa3c we have another allusion made to the church of ,god at this period4 8,and ,i will give power unto my two witnesses1 and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days1 clothed in sackcloth40 ,a day in ,scripture is used in different texts to represent different lengths of time4 ,in some texts quoted in the introduction of this work a day is used to represent the whole of the ,christian dispensation4 ,again it is said that 8one day is with the ,lord as a thousand years1 and a thousand years as one day40 ,in ,rev4 #aa3aa1 a day is used to represent one hundred years2 and in ,ezek4 #d3f1 we learn that a day is often used to represent one year4 ,a day in ,rev4 #aa3c and #ab3f signifies one year4 ,forty and two months 7as mentioned in ,rev4 #ac3e7 are equal to #abfj days1 allowing #cj days to the month4 ,here also a day signifies a year4 ,thus the beast supported by the dragon had power #abfj years4 ,while this beast was in authority the woman was in obscurity1 which was #abfj years4 ,while the beast was in power and the woman in silence the two witnesses could only testify in sackcloth1 which was #abfj years4 ,these two witnesses in the church of ,god are the ,word of ,god1 and the ,spirit of ,god4 ,a sackcloth dress is one donned in a time of grief or lamentation4 ,the ,word and ,spirit of ,god1 because of the sad state of the church1 were draped in mourning or sackcloth4 ,we have before learned that the date of the rise of the apostasy was #bgj ,a4,d4 ,by these prophecies made plain by the ,holy ,spirit we clearly understand the first beast as seen in the apostasy was to continue #abfj years1 which added to #bgj years will bring us down to #aecj ,a4,d4 ,at this date we have the ,lutheran reformation1 when the power of ,catholicism as a universal state church was broken4 ,the world as a whole no longer looked upon that dark1 ungodly institution as the only way to heaven4 ,they saw there was salvation outside the pales of ,romanism4 ,now we will return to ,rev4 #acth chapter4 ,ver4 #f4 8,and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against ,god1 to blaspheme his name1 and his tabernacle1 and them that dwell in heaven40 ,we have already spoken of how the papacy uttered blasphemy against ,god and his name1 his church and his true people4 ,ver4 #g4 8,and it was given unto him to make war with the saints1 and to overcome them3 and power was given him over all kindreds1 and tongues1 and nations40 ,catholicism numbers her slain by the thousands4 ,if your human heart can endure the reading of a book on martyrdom and the tortures of the inquisition1 you would there learn that it was the ,romish sect that made war with and overcame the saints4 ,to her was granted power over kings and nations4 ,while the state gave her her power1 she in turn rose to power and rule over the state4 ,ver4 #h4 8,and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him1 whose names were not written in the book of life of the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world40 ,ver4 #i4 8,if any man have an ear to hear1 let him hear40 ,ver4 #aj4 8,he that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity3 he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword4 ,here is the patience and the faith of the saints40 ,all worshiped the papacy except those who were really spiritual1 and those were slain4 ,the tenth verse is a prophecy against her2 as she killed with the sword1 so she shall be killed with the sword 7the ,word of ,god74 ,ver4 #aa4 8,and ,i beheld another beast coming up out of the earth3 and he had two horns like a lamb1 and he spake as a dragon40 ,here appears upon the scene another beast4 ,a human ecclesiasticism1 a manism4 ,protestant authors who brand the first beast as the ,roman hierarchy are confounded at the appearance of this second beast4 ,by these two beasts we understand the apostasy to be under two forms4 ,we have no hesitancy in branding this second beast as ,protestantism4 ,in the church of ,god all is controlled exclusively by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,there is no manism in the church of ,god1 therefore it is not animal or beastly4 ,all sectism is controlled largely by man1 therefore is a beast power4 ,at first ,protestantism had a mild1 gentle1 lamb-like appearance compared with ,catholicism4 ,the two horns are two state powers that gave support to the beast4 ,germany and ,england supported ,protestantism1 therefore are the two horns4 ,the dragon spoken of in this eleventh verse is1 like in the second verse and also in chapter #ab3c1 a state power4 ,this second beast 8exercised all the power of the first beast before him40 ,see ver4 #ab4 ,was this not true in ,england1 where the king was head of both church and state8 ,consequently we see that the second beast or man religion spoken of was authorized by a dragon or state power4 ,in verse thirteen it is said he doeth great wonders1 so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth4 ,throughout the reign of ,protestantism there has been frequent spiritual revivals and reformations4 ,god really sent the ,holy ,spirit fire upon the honest efforts of men1 and wonders were accomplished betimes in the name of ,jesus4 ,in the fourteenth verse it is said that he deceived them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he did4 ,each reformation in the past three centuries was begun by holy men1 upon whom ,god sent the holy fire2 but others rising up subsequently1 who were devoid of spirituality1 built upon their foundation1 and now deceive the people in making them believe that they and their sect institutions are of ,god because ,god manifested himself to their predecessors4 ,in this verse we also learn that an image was made unto the first beast4 ,upon the work of each reformer a sect institution was organized1 which was fashioned after the ,roman ,catholic sect the mother of all sects4 ,according to the words of the fifteenth verse these images will in some future day1 which the ,lord knows1 find a consummation in one great image1 unto which all bow and pay homage or else suffer martyrdom4 ,to receive the mark of the beast as spoken of in verse sixteen is to receive the ceremonies and customs and doctrines peculiar to each respective sect4 ,any one acquainted with the customs and doctrines of the different denominations can to-day determine to what denomination a stranger belongs by his dress or manner of speech4 ,the number six hundred sixty-six refers to the number of leading religious denominations4 ,we will now1 briefly as possible1 consider the first eight verses of the seventeenth chapter of ,revelation4 ,in verse one ,john speaks of seeing a great whore sitting upon many waters4 ,in verse two he speaks of the kings of the earth becoming drunk on the wine of her fornication4 ,this has all been true in the papacy4 ,there is in this hierarchy an enchanting1 delusive spirit that has intoxicated her subjects4 ,this is the real secret of her power4 ,in ,rev4 #ag3e the apostasy is termed 8,mystery1 ,babylon the ,great1 ,the ,mother of ,harlots and ,abominations of the ,earth40 ,here we see again the apostasy in two forms or generations4 ,the mother is the first1 and is identical with the first beast of ,rev4 #ac3a4 ,the harlot daughters are the second1 and are identical with the second beast of ,rev4 #ac3aa4 ,we consider it needful to enquire what is meant by the term ,babylon4 ,there is the natural world and the spiritual world4 ,babylon has existed under both4 ,there are many references made to it in both the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,in the ,old ,testament we find the origin and final doom of literal ,babylon4 ,in the ,apocalypse we find the origin and final doom of spiritual ,babylon1 the antitype4 ,in the days of ,noah the world became very wicked and ,god destroyed all save ,noah and his family4 ,for a time after the flood the people were righteous and the whole earth was one language and one speech4 ,gen4 #aa3a4 ,god's people in those days all spoke the same language and understood each other1 because they understood truth as it was4 8,and it came to pass1 as they journeyed from the east1 that they found a plain in the land of ,shinar2 and they dwelt there4 ,and they said one to another1 ,go to1 let us make brick1 and burn them thoroughly4 ,and they had brick for stone1 and slime had they for mortar4 ,and they said1 ,go to1 let us build us a city and a tower1 whose top may reach unto heaven2 and let us make us a name1 lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth40 ,gen4 #aa3b-d4 ,god's people started on a pilgrimage in the order of ,god1 but they tarried1 they ceased to 8go forward40 ,had ,god's people continued on ,babylon would never have been built4 ,this has its spiritual import4 ,when ,god's spiritual people cease to advance1 when they get out of ,god's order1 they will soon seek some other way to heaven4 ,this ancient city of ,babylon grew until it became a mighty1 resistless1 universal empire4 ,for a time in its history it held the people of ,god in captivity4 ,the day came1 however1 when this mighty city passed away forever4 ,the only dwellers among its lonely ruins are wild beasts and hissing serpents4 ,the ,babylon mentioned in ,revelation is the spiritual antitype4 ,the great tower of ancient ,babel finds its antitype in mystery ,babylon1 the mother1 and the diversified city at its feet finishes its antitype in the multiplicity of sects and creeds1 where they speak a different spiritual language1 as they cluster around their mother's knee4 ,in this great apostate ,babylon the true children of ,god have long been taken captive1 but the day comes when ,god's own make their escape and return to spiritual ,jerusalem1 their native home4 ,the ,revelator beholds spiritual ,babylon in a fallen condition inhabited only by foul1 devilish spirits1 and unclean and hateful birds4 ,rev4 #ah3b4 ,there are many prophecies in ,daniel and other chapters of ,revelation relating to the dark apostasy of the noonday1 which we reluctantly forbear to consider in this work1 but are compelled to do so lest our volume swell to too great proportions4 ,in the conclusion of this chapter we desire to make a few quotations from other authors concerning mystery ,babylon and her harlot daughters4 8,this woman 7popery7 is called the mother of harlots and abominations4 ,who are the daughters8 ,the ,lutheran1 the ,presbyterian1 and the ,episcopalian are all branches of the ,roman ,catholic4 ,are not these demonstrated harlots and abominations in the above passage8 ,i so decide4 ,i could not1 with the stake before me decide1 otherwise4 ,presbyterians and ,episcopalians compose a part of ,babylon4 ,they hold the distinctive principles of papacy in common with papists40--,tennessee ,baptist4 8,i think ,christ has a true church on earth1 but its members are scattered among the various denominations1 and are more or less under the influence of mystery ,babylon and her daughters40--,bible ,doctrine p4 #bdi4 8,is antichrist confined to the church of ,rome8 ,the answer is readily returned in the affirmative by ,protestants in general1 and happy had it been for the world were that the case4 ,but although we are fully warranted to consider that church as the mother of harlots1 the truth is that by whatsoever arguments we succeed in fixing that odious charge upon her1 we shall by parity of reasoning be obliged to allow other national churches to be her unchaste daughters1 and for this plain reason1 among others1 because in their very constitution and tendency they are hostile to the nature of the kingdom of ,christ40--,encyclopedia of ,religious ,knowledge4 8,the writer of the book of ,revelation tells us he heard a voice from heaven saying1 #8,come out of her1 my people4' ,if such persons are to be found in the mother of harlots1 with much less hesitancy it may be inferred that they are connected with her unchaste daughters1 these national churches1 which are founded upon what are called ,protestant principles40--,encyclopedia of ,religion4 8,if she be the mother1 who are the daughters8 ,it must be the corrupt national established churches that came out of her40--,lorenzo ,dow4 ,chapter ,,iii4 ,false ,teachings ,of ,the ,apostasy4 ,this is subject enough for volumes4 ,there is scarcely a text in the ,bible but what has been perverted by some one confused by the fogs of ,babylon4 ,perhaps you can not find two individuals in the whole of sectism that see 8eye to eye0 upon the whole truth4 ,to mention all the erroneous teachings of apostates would be almost impossible4 ,however we believe it to be compatible with this work and to the glory of ,god to mention and refute a few of the false doctrines that have been most effectual in obscuring the light of the sun and moon4 ,we will quote from an unknown author the following unscriptural dogmas of the ,romish sect1 and the date of their origin3 ,prayers for the dead ,a4,d4 #bjj4 ,worship of saints1 angels and martyrs #cej4 ,worship of ,virgin ,mary developed #dca4 ,worship in unknown tongue #fjj4 ,papal supremacy #fjf4 ,worship of images and relics imposed #ghh4 ,baptism of bells #ife4 ,obligatory celibacy of priests #ajjj4 ,infallibility of church #ajgf4 ,sale of indulgences #aaij4 ,transubstantiation officially decreed #abae4 ,auricular confession officially imposed #abae4 ,cup kept from laity officially sanctioned #adae4 ,purgatory officially recognized #adcj4 ,romish tradition put on level with ,scripture #aedj4 ,immaculate conception proclaimed #ahfd4 ,papal infallibility proclaimed #ahgj4 ,these dogmas are without ,scriptural authority4 ,they are only the traditions of men1 and is it any wonder that the pure light of the gospel of the ,son of ,god was dimmed when such blasphemous doctrines were substituted8 ,besides these1 in the papacy originated many other erroneous superstitious doctrines that have been handed down and perpetuated through ,protestantism4 ,one of the most general is that of ,infant ,baptism4 ,this ceremony is wholly without ,scriptural foundation4 ,we have previously shown the true object and mode of baptism1 and who are proper candidates4 ,we asked a mother recently1 whose babe had just been 8christened10 as she termed it1 by a ,methodist preacher1 8,what benefit has your child derived from this ceremony80 ,her answer was like this3 8,none at all1 but ,i had it done because others do it40 ,and so it is with many other traditions and customs of men4 ,many a parent has their babe 8christened0 merely because it is a custom1 or the preacher has said so1 never searching the ,word of ,god to know the reason why4 ,had she searched the ,word of the ,lord to know something of this doctrine she never would have found the object of her search4 ,as we look upon the 8christening0 of an infant we are reminded more of heathendom than of the kingdom of grace4 ,the word 8christen0 we have not been able to find in the ,bible4 ,nowhere since the ordinance of baptism was instituted have we a commandment to baptize infants1 and nowhere in all the evangelistic work of the apostles is there an instance of infant baptism recorded4 ,if it is as important as some teach1 even the child's eternal destiny depending upon it1 do you not think there would have been some plain commandment in the teaching of ,jesus and his apostles to that end8 ,one command would be sufficient1 but we have none4 ,infant baptism originated in the confusions of the apostasy4 ,john refused to baptize some because they bore no fruit of repentance4 ,repentance1 therefore1 must precede baptism4 ,this was plainly taught by ,peter4 8,then ,peter said unto them1 ,repent1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus40 ,acts #b3ch4 ,a little child can not repent1 and needs no repentance4 ,does baptizing an infant prepare it for heaven8 ,if so1 give one text as proof4 ,if an unbaptized infant dies1 will it be damned8 ,if so1 give one text as proof4 ,does baptism make the child any more religiously inclined1 and will it not go into sin the same as unbaptized children8 ,give one text showing what is effected by infant baptism4 ,thousands are having their children baptized1 and they do not know the reason why any more than that it is a custom4 ,thus we behold the meaninglessness1 looseness1 and carelessness of professed ,christians4 ,just doing things because others do them4 ,they have no conviction from ,god nor the ,bible4 ,god wants us to be able to give a ,scriptural reason for all we do in our form of worship4 ,some have taught that circumcision of the ,old ,testament typifies infant baptism4 ,this is a gross error4 ,the circumcision of the ,mosaic law is typical of a broken1 penitent heart4 8,for he is not a ,jew1 that is one outwardly2 neither is that circumcision1 which is outward in the flesh2 but he is a ,jew1 which is one inwardly1 and circumcision is that of the heart1 in the spirit1 and not in the letter2 whose praise is not of men1 but of ,god40 ,rom4 #b3bh1 #bi4 ,a man was made a ,jew under the old law by circumcision4 ,he is made a spiritual ,jew by the circumcision of the heart under the ,new ,testament4 ,it was only the male children that were circumcised according to the law of ,moses4 ,if circumcision be typical of infant baptism1 it is only the boy infant that would be ,scripturally baptized4 ,you may ask1 8,what harm can result from such ceremony1 even if it accomplishes no good80 ,it leads the child into error1 and blinds his understanding to the true mode and object of baptism4 ,to be a light in the world is to be and do just as ,jesus did4 ,to be in error concerning any doctrine of the ,bible is to be to that extent in darkness4 ,the baptism of infants is wholly without ,scriptural foundation1 and is one of the erroneous teachings of the apostasy1 a doctrine that aided in darkening the pure light of the gospel4 ,sprinkling ,and ,pouring4 ,these forms of baptism originated among the heretics of the second century4 8,ego men baptizo humas en hudati40 ,mat4 #c3aa4 ,to give this a true literal translation1 we have3 8,i indeed immerse you in water40 ,immersion is a mode of baptism1 and the only ,scriptural one4 ,we have no account of sprinkling and pouring until the third century4 ,the ,novatians practised it in the third century4 ,when we understand the true object of baptism1 and what it represents1 we find that sprinkling and pouring would be altogether inappropriate4 ,trine ,immersion4 ,this is another doctrine of the apostasy4 ,we have before stated that baptism represents a burial4 ,rom4 #f3d4 ,we can at once see the inappropriateness of three immersions4 ,so far as we know all trine immersionists immerse forward4 ,this does not fitly represent a burial4 ,the baptismal formula of ,mat4 #bh3ai is the trine immersionists strongest proof-text4 8,in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost40 ,these three1 we are told1 are one4 #a ,john #e3g4 ,there are three personages in the ,godhead1 but these three are one4 ,it does not require three acts of faith for pardon1 yet we are told to believe in ,god1 and to believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 etc4 ,to be baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ is to be baptized in the name of the full triune ,god1 because in him dwelleth all the fulness of the ,godhead4 ,col #b3i4 ,the disciples well understood the ,savior in his commission in ,mat4 #bh3ai4 ,they baptized under his direction before the commission4 ,one act in the name of the ,lord ,jesus is all we can find them practising4 8,and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the ,lord40 ,acts #aj3dh4 8,when they heard this1 they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,acts #ai3e4 8,they were baptized in the name of the ,lord ,jesus40 ,acts #h3af4 ,tertullian in the third century in writing on the subject of baptism says1 8,we solemnly profess that we disown the devil and his pomp and his angels4 ,hereupon we are thrice immersed1 making a somewhat ampler pledge than the ,lord has appointed in the gospel40--,the ,crown4 ,trine immersionists make use of such historical records to establish the doctrine of trine immersion4 ,instead of being in its favor1 it is against them4 ,they were at this time under the delusions of a heresy4 ,apostate teachers had elected exorcists in what they called the church1 whose business it was to expel the devil from the candidate for baptism4 ,this is an awful heresy4 ,those of whom ,tertullian writes disown the devil under the hand of these exorcists and are then thrice baptized4 ,tertullian understands1 however1 that this heresy is performing more than the ,lord ,jesus had appointed4 ,sprinkling1 pouring1 and trine immersion originated under the apostasy4 ,single immersion is the only ,scriptural mode of baptism4 ,church ,organization4 ,to-day the teachers in ,babylon and their subjects are in darkness concerning church organization4 ,the election of officers and their framing of laws1 and the location of the ministers by the annual conference are all human authority1 and belong to the apostasy4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is the sole organizer in the church of the ,bible4 ,there are a few texts in which the ,holy ,spirit is spoken of as working in conjunction with man1 or using man as an agency4 ,this is very limited4 ,conferences claim to work in conjunction with the ,holy ,spirit1 but we have no such instances in the ,scripture4 ,one minister told me he trusted the ,holy ,spirit to direct conference to give him the proper appointment4 ,this is popish--man not able to be directed by the ,holy ,spirit himself1 but has a mediator4 ,our space will prevent our telling of the adding of tradition to the ,scripture1 and of the rejection of much of the ,word of ,god4 ,catholicism and ,protestantism largely deny the doctrine of holiness4 ,some of the ,protestant teachers teach holiness to a degree1 but very few1 or none of them1 teach true ,bible holiness4 ,by far the large majority of sectarians reject the doctrine of ,christian perfection1 heart purity1 or freedom from sin4 ,is it any wonder they are a great object of darkness when they are living in and can not be free from the very element of darkness8 ,there is no light in them4 ,the vast majority of the beast worshipers reject the doctrine of divine healing4 ,as plainly as it is recorded in the ,bible1 they in the darkness comprehend it not4 ,the whole of the sectarian world denies the unity of ,god's people as taught by the ,savior1 and as experienced by the church in the morning light4 ,nearly the whole of mystery ,babylon and her harlot daughters reject the sacred ordinance of feet-washing4 ,some of them deny all the ordinances1 and the others have misused and misapplied them so as to make them without meaning4 ,but few sects that practise the lifting up of holy hands1 and the greeting with a holy kiss4 ,the humble ordinances of feet-washing and greeting with a holy kiss are very repugnant to the generality of proud-hearted sectarians4 ,they look upon these ordinances as being degrading to morality4 ,they call it an 8act which public decency abhors40 ,here they are mistaken3 it is not public decency that abhors it2 it is a proud heart4 ,a holy kiss is not indecent1 whether it be public or private4 ,proud1 sensual hearts have very depraved ideas of what is true decency4 ,we will here give an authentic newspaper account of a scene which all the pure in heart consider a public indecency1 moral degrading1 ,christian disgracing and soul damning4 8,buffalo1 ,feb4 #d--;,a lively row is in progress at ,burns1 a little town about twenty miles from ,buffalo1 growing out of a new money-making scheme1 introduced at a church social held there in the ,lutheran church parlors4 ,the church is heavily in debt1 and the ladies advertised a social in the church to raise money to pay the preacher and buy some coal4 ,the men of the congregation had all been seen and informed that the women had a big surprise for them4 8,across one end of the room was a curtain4 ,for an hour the guests chatted after the old-fashioned church social style4 ,then the curtain was suddenly withdrawn4 ,there in a row stood six of the prettiest women in the congregation1 blushing and smiling1 each bearing upon her bosom a placard1 on which were the words1 #8,you may kiss me for #be;cts4' 8,it was fifteen minutes before the device began to work2 but when it did1 the silver quarters fairly showered into the young ladies' circle4 ,old and young rushed eagerly to the front to exchange coins for kisses4 ,the show lasted only a short time1 when the curtain was drawn4 ,then the storm burst4 ,the women were jealous of their husbands1 and a dozen or more family fights were started at once40 ,similar scenes1 and still more degrading ones1 are occurring daily in the aristocratic religious denominations4 ,the sect parties and socials1 the fashionable balls1 the obscene theatrical performances1 are enjoyed1 and admired1 and applauded1 by thousands so low in morality that they feel no shame4 ,their hearts are so naturalized and inclined to lewd ways that sin can scarcely bring a feeling of shame4 ,it is only holy and pure things that are repugnant to their dispositions and inclinations4 ,a large majority of the sectarian world reject the scriptures that teach plainness of dress1 that condemn revelry and fleshly lusts4 ,there is not a sect upon the earth but what rejects some portion of ,god's ,word1 and taking them all together1 probably there is not a text in the ,bible but what is rejected or perverted by them4 ,sectism to-day presents a deplorable picture4 ,i would ask the reader to look at the plain1 simple truths of the ,bible as taught by the ,savior and the disciples4 ,picture to your mind1 by what knowledge you have of ,scripture1 the life of ,christ and the apostles and the church in their day4 ,notice their humility1 their equality1 their care for souls1 their privations1 their persecutions1 their holiness1 their faith for healing the sick1 their oneness1 their unselfishness1 their love for each other1 their separation from the world1 and their belief of the whole truth4 ,alongside of this place a picture of the religious denominations of to-day with their proud1 highly educated and high-salaried ministry1 rejecting much of the ,bible2 denying holiness and the humble ordinances1 no healing faith1 assuming proud titles1 building fine temples1 living in ease and luxury1 joined to the world free from persecution--their greed for money1 their revelry1 the pomp and show--and1 oh1 what do you see of the church of ,god8 ,truly1 this great dark beastly sect religion has darkened the pure church of ,god4 ,we can scarcely forbear mentioning and exposing many other false teachings of the denominational world1 but will console ourself with the hope that the reader will thoroughly acquaint himself with the ,word of ,god and try every spirit and doctrine by the same4 ,there remains yet one almost universal false and dangerous doctrine1 which we deem but justice to the reader to refute4 ,i refer to the doctrine of the ,millennium4 ,this is not a ,bible word1 nor a ,bible doctrine4 ,it is a word and teaching of the apostasy4 ,the word is used to denote a thousand years4 ,the most general teaching of the millennialist is that there will be a personal reign of ,christ upon this earth of a thousand years after his second coming4 ,there are very many theories respecting the millennium4 ,this of itself is enough to make the doctrine very questionable4 ,if there is such a doctrine in the ,bible it should be so sufficiently clear as to not admit of so much disagreement4 ,the millennial doctrine as taught by sectarian teachers we emphatically declare to be wholly without ,scriptural foundation4 ,it is a purpose of ,satan to cause man to place what should be a present realization to some time in the past or future4 ,in the days previous to the coming of ,christ the ,jews were in great expectation concerning the kingdom of ,god4 ,they looked forward with great joy and anticipation to the coming of ,christ1 their ,king1 who should set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed4 ,they expected him to reign in a pomp and splendor that excelled the ,csars4 ,the kingdom of ,god came1 but their proud hearts and high mind overlooked it altogether4 ,the same is true to-day4 ,the cold formal professors in ,babylon see in the ,bible a glowing description of the kingdom of ,god1 and they1 failing to come to its present and blessed realizations1 have come to the conclusion that it must be in an age to come4 ,with perfect confidence we say there is not one text in the ,bible speaking of the glory of ,christ's kingdom but what is fulfilled here in salvation or in the eternal glory world above4 ,there is no intervening state of peace and righteousness4 ,we will briefly notice some of the principal texts used by millennial teachers1 and we will find almost every one1 if not every one1 refers to the wonders of salvation here in this life4 ,mr4 ,talmage1 in a sermon in ,october #ahih1 said in referring to ,isa4 #ce3f3 8,in the millennial the lame man shall leap as an hart40 ,where can we behold a greater exposition of ,bible ignorance8 ,there is not a sentence in the whole of this chapter but points to the blessings of grace in this gospel day4 ,did not the lame man leap as an hart in the days of ,christ and the apostles8 ,why will man be so unfair or so blind as to place the fulfilment of such prophecies in a millennial1 when every word has been fulfilled1 and is being fulfilled to-day1 in those who are possessing the fulness of ,christ's kingdom8 ,a text quoted by millennial teachers everywhere is found in ,isa4 #aa3f-h3 8,the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb1 and the leopard shall lie down with the kid2 and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together2 and a little child shall lead them4 ,and the cow and the bear shall feed2 their young ones shall lie down together3 and the lion shall eat straw like the ox4 ,and the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp1 and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den40 ,in the next verse you will learn where this peacefulness shall reign4 8,they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain40 ,it is in ,god's holy mountain where they shall not hurt nor destroy4 ,what is ,god's holy mountain8 ,it is ,zion1 the church4 8,and it shall come to pass in the last days the gospel days that the mountain of the ,lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains1 and shall be exalted above the hills2 and all nations both ,jew and ,gentile shall flow unto it4 ,and many people shall go and say1 ,come ye2 and let us go up to the mountain of the ,lord1 to the house of the ,god of ,jacob2 and he will teach us of his ways1 and we will walk in his paths3 for out of ,zion shall go forth the law1 and the word of the ,lord from ,jerusalem40 ,isa4 #b3b1 #c4 ,this is surely too plain to need comment1 ,zion is the ,lord's mountain4 ,the wolf dwelling with the ,lamb is figurative language1 and never will be literally fulfilled1 but has been spiritually and figuratively fulfilled throughout the whole of this ,christian dispensation4 ,it shows the wonders of ,god's grace4 ,jesus called ,herod a 8fox40 ,luke #ac3cb4 ,he certainly did not mean that he was truly a fox1 but that he had a thieving1 dishonest1 foxlike disposition4 ,paul says1 8,beware of dogs40 ,phil4 #c3b4 ,he is not giving us a warning against this literal animal1 but against men that have a fierce and doglike nature4 ,jesus again says1 8,beware of false prophets1 which come to you in sheep's clothing1 but inwardly they are ravening wolves40 ,mat4 #g3ae4 ,here we learn that men are inwardly ravening wolves2 that is1 they have a devouring1 wolflike disposition4 ,thus we could continue4 ,in ,isa4 #ce3i it says that no lion shall be in the highway of holiness4 ,in a ,christian's holy life there is no lionlike nature4 ,god's salvation saves men from such dispositions4 ,and the whole of ,isa4 #aa3f-h is a prophecy relating to this present time1 when the salvation of ,jesus saves men from all wolf1 bear1 lion1 and leopardlike natures1 and fills all with a peaceable nature1 that an innocent child shall lead them4 ,please read the first verse of this chapter4 ,do we not find its fulfilment in ,christ8 ,also read the tenth verse4 ,does it not point to the ,savior8 ,it all relates to the time when ,christ shall come and the ,gentile can be saved as well as the ,jew4 ,the ninth verse is often misquoted4 ,many say that in the millennium 8righteousness shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea40 ,such is not ,scripture4 ,but in this ninth verse it is said1 8,the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the ,lord1 as the waters cover the sea40 ,this relates to the coming of ,christ1 when not only the ,jews shall have the ,word of ,god and a knowledge of him1 but every nation is granted the ,bible and salvation4 ,one strong text for millennial teachers1 as they suppose1 is ,acts #c3ba3 8,whom ,christ the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things1 which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began40 ,a text they use to teach there shall be a thousand years in which restitution is to be made1 makes no such intimation4 ,in fact1 it teaches to the contrary4 ,let us carefully examine it4 ,christ was taken up to heaven4 ,he will some day come again4 ,acts #a3aa4 ,the positive teaching of this text is that the heavens will retain the ,lord ,jesus until everything is restored to the ,father4 ,christ came to restore all things4 ,mat4 #ag3aa4 ,full restitution for sin was made by the ,savior4 ,the ,holy ,spirit all through this dispensation is leading men to the blood and restoring them to the ,father4 ,the day will soon come when the ,holy ,spirit has gleaned out the last one and all has been restored to the ,father that will be restored4 ,this then is the full restitution of all things4 ,then the heavens will retain the ,son of ,god no longer4 ,he will come to claim his own4 ,instead of this text teaching that restitution is to be made after ,christ's second coming1 it teaches that the restitution is to be made before he comes the second time4 ,we will now ask the reader to read the only text that speaks of a thousand years4 ,this is found in ,rev4 #bj3a-aj4 ,if you will open your ,bible and read1 we can by the help of the ,lord show you that this can not possibly mean a thousand years of ,christ's reign upon the earth after his second coming4 ,this language is figurative4 ,satan is an evil spirit and can not be bound with a literal chain4 ,after the thousand years have expired1 ,satan is to be loosed1 and shall deceive the nations4 ,after ,christ reigns here a thousand years in righteousness shall ,satan be loosed and deceive the nations8 ,who can look forward to such an end with joy8 ,how do you know but you will be one that will be deceived8 ,if you are building hopes upon a millennium you are already deceived1 and this deception is among the deceptions which are to come after the thousand years4 ,this thousand years is in the past4 ,this may be a startling statement to one who has been educated to believe in a reign of ,christ in person here upon the earth in some future age of a thousand years' duration4 ,reader1 will you please notice that the devil and ,satan1 that was to be bound a thousand years1 is also called the dragon8 ,now the ,scriptures do not always mean ,beelzebub when speaking of ,satan4 ,jesus upon one occasion1 because ,peter was remonstrating with him concerning his death1 said1 8,get thee behind me1 ,satan40 ,christ did not mean to say that ,peter was the devil1 but he addressed him as ,satan1 because the devil was using him as an instrument to persuade the ,savior to escape the death he came here to endure for all4 ,so ,satan and the devil spoken of in ,rev4 #bj3b does not refer to the personal devil1 the prince of evil spirits1 but to some great power antagonistical to gospel light and truth as revealed in the church of ,god4 ,now we feel ourself under obligation to the reader to give him the correct interpretation of this binding of ,satan a thousand years1 and of his being loosed at the end of that period4 ,the term 8dragon0 is used to represent a state power1 which gives power to some religion antagonistical to the religion of the ,bible4 ,however the original and real fundamental dragon power was ,rome1 when she supported a heathen religion1 and when the world on the whole was so under the seducing charms of idolatrous worship that it knew not the one true ,god and his relationship to man4 ,the ,syriac ,new ,testament1 in speaking of this dragon in verse two1 says1 8,who seduced the whole habitable world40 ,the binding of ,satan refers to some time when the delusive charms of heathenish worship were largely cleared away and there became a greater universal knowledge of the true ,god4 ,at the end of that thousand years1 or long period of time1 which time we have reached1 the true ,god and the pure religion will be lost or unknown to the generality of mankind1 and heathenish rites and customs and ceremonies will be the universal religion4 ,do we not read that at the end of the thousand years ,satan shall again deceive the nations8 ,we understand by this that the world on the whole shall be reveling in the delusive seductions of a lewd1 lustful1 idolatrous religion1 making the times like it was in the days of ,noah4 ,let me again say we are now entering these times1 and this world is swiftly passing under awful and blinding delusions4 ,so great are the delusions that if possible the very elect should be deceived4 ,the religious teachers of to-day on the whole are in ignorance concerning the binding of ,satan4 ,we will give you a sample of the ignorance of these teachers4 ,in the ,gospel ,messenger of ,march #be1 #ahii1 the ,querist ,department in answer to a question asked concerning the binding of ,satan1 said3 8,satan will then be bound1 cast into the bottomless pit1 and there will be a chance to convert the unrighteous and lead them to accept ,christ as the ,savior40 ,a subscriber in search of knowledge asked the ,querist ,department to give a scripture to prove the last clause4 ,he received this answer3 8,it seems to us that it is one of those self-evident views that needs no proof4 ,if the ,bible teaches otherwise let us have the chapter and verse4 ,the ,querist ,department does not pretend to know everything40 ,there are many other chapters and verses that teach otherwise4 8,now is the day of salvation40 8,how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation80 ,the wicked shall be resurrected to damnation4 ,john #e3bi4 ,conclusion ,of ,part ,second4 ,we have now passed the noonday4 ,the reader1 no doubt1 fully comprehends why it was dark4 ,the morning was light because the whole ,word of truth was taught and experienced by the church4 ,all were under the immediate control of the infallible ,holy ,spirit4 ,the noonday was dark because the leadings and teachings of fallible man were substituted for the ,holy ,spirit and ,word4 ,a thousand errors were brought in1 the ,word of ,god rejected4 ,the faith once delivered to the saints was lost1 sin and iniquity abounded and their love waxed cold4 ,the preachers divined for money1 and sought places of affluence1 and thus the day was dark over them4 ,sectism to-day is a mass of worldliness4 ,infidelity abounds and every abominable work4 ,if you desire a perfect description of sectism as it appears upon the scene to-day1 read that given by the angel in ,rev4 #ah3b4 ,,part ,,iii4 ,,the ,,evening4 ,or1 ,christianity ,in ,the ,closing ,days ,of ,this ,gospel ,era4 ,we have now come to consider the evening time of this gospel day4 ,the morning was light because of the truth being experienced and taught4 ,the noonday was dark because traditions and theories and vain philosophies of man became substitutes for the ,word of ,god4 ,this evening time was seen by prophetic eye4 8,but it shall be one day which shall be known to the ,lord1 not day1 nor night3 but it shall come to pass1 that at evening time it shall be light40 ,we are nearing the close of this gospel day4 ,the sun of time hangs low in the western horizon4 ,the gospel light is now shining in peaceful splendor like the clear setting of the sun after a dark and cloudy noonday4 8,misty fogs so long concealing ,all the hills of mingled night ,vanish1 all their sin revealing1 ,for the 8evening shall be light0 8,lo1 the ransomed are returning1 ,robed in shining crystal white1 ,leaping1 shouting1 home to ,zion1 ,happy in the ev'ning light40--,sel4 ,chapter ,i4 ,the ,apostasy ,in ,two ,days4 ,in our introduction we gave a number of texts which spoke of the whole of the gospel dispensation as one day2 but any period of time distinguished by some extraordinary historic event may be and is also termed a day4 ,the apostasy or dark noonday being under two forms is marked in ,bible history as two days4 ,the first form of the apostasy1 namely1 ,catholicism1 is called by the ,scriptures a 8dark day40 ,a ,cloudy ,day4 ,the second form of the apostasy was not such utter darkness as the first1 and is therefore called a cloudy day4 8,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i1 even ,i1 will both search my sheep1 and seek them out4 ,as a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered2 so will ,i seek out my sheep1 and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day40 ,ezek4 #cd3aa1 #ab4 ,the cloudy day was a day of the scattering of ,god's people4 ,this has been true of ,protestantism4 ,god's own people have been divided and scattered among the various organizations of man4 ,the time of the seeking out refers to the evening1 when ,god is going to gather his children together that 8were scattered abroad10 and they shall be 8one heart and one soul0 as in the morning4 ,one more text refers to the cloudy day4 8,and it shall come to pass in that day that the light shall not be clear1 nor dark3 but it shall be one day which shall be known to the ,lord1 not day1 nor night3 but it shall come to pass1 that at evening time it shall be light40 ,zech4 #ad3f1 #g4 ,this day of ,protestantism was neither 8clear nor dark02 was neither 8day1 nor night40 ,it was a mixture of light and darkness1 truth and error1 and therefore is fitly termed a cloudy day4 ,a ,revival4 ,after those two days there shall be a great revival caused by the outpouring of the ,holy ,spirit4 8,come1 and let us return unto the ,lord3 for he hath torn1 and he will heal us2 he hath smitten1 and he will bind us up4 ,after two days will he revive us3 in the third day he will raise us up1 and we shall live in his sight4 ,then shall we know1 if we follow on to know the ,lord3 his going forth is prepared as the morning2 and he shall come unto us as the rain1 as the latter and former rain unto the earth40 ,hos4 #f3a-c4 ,the two days of beastly power come to an end4 ,the time comes when they shall no longer govern ,god's true people4 ,it was true of literal ,babylon1 that had taken captive the children of ,god1 that the time came when they returned from their captivity4 ,the same is true of spiritual ,babylon4 ,the children of ,god have long been taken captive in her4 ,in the evening time1 after two days1 they shall say1 8,come1 let us return unto the ,lord3 for he hath torn1 and he will heal us2 he will revive us in the third day1 he will raise us up10 etc4 ,praise ,god6 ,then shall we know the ,lord4 8,his going forth is prepared as the morning40 ,just as ,god was known in the morning in his holiness and power1 just so he will be known in the evening4 ,throughout the 8two days0 7apostasy7 the ,lord in his power to save to the uttermost1 to heal1 and to exclusively control his church was unknown4 ,therefore he says3 8,then shall the seers be ashamed1 and the diviners confounded3 yea1 they shall all cover their lips2 for there is no answer of ,god40 ,micah #c3g4 ,such is the ignorance of the seers of ,babylon4 ,they are educated in the wisdom of the world1 but know little of ,god4 ,their sermons are the theories of man1 and not the pure ,word of ,god4 ,for this reason there is a great spiritual famine in ,babylon4 ,the evening time is called the third day1 when ,god shall send copious showers of rain4 ,the first day is a 8dark day10 and relates to the reign of the ,catholic power4 ,the second or dark and cloudy day relates to the reign of ,protestantism4 ,the third day is the 8time of the end10 when there shall be a consumption of the beast powers4 ,dan4 #g3bf4 ,daniel was told that the fourth beast he saw in his vision was a fourth kingdom4 ,this was the ,roman kingdom4 ,three had preceded--the ,babylonian1 ,medo-,persian and ,grecian4 ,this beast had ten horns4 ,ver4 #g4 ,these ten horns were ten kings1 or kingdoms1 which were created out of the ,roman empire by the barbarians of the ,north4 ,history records the overrunning of the ,roman empire from ,a4,d4 #cgf to ,a4,d4 #dgf by the different 8powerful and warlike nations of the ,north2 namely1 the ,huns1 ,goths1 ,vandals10 etc4 ,thus in one century of time the kingdom of the ,csars gave rise to ten different minor kingdoms4 ,in verse twenty-four of ,daniel seven the prophet was told that another horn should arise after these ten4 ,from the description of this horn we at once learn it to represent the ,roman hierarchy1 or to be the same as the first beast of ,rev4 #ac4 ,in verse twenty-six the prophet says1 8,judgment shall sit1 and they shall take away his dominion1 to consume and to destroy it unto the end40 ,the apostasy is being consumed by the powerful and sharp judgments of ,god's ,word being executed by the faithful and true who are proclaiming1 8,fear ,god1 and give glory to him1 for the hour of his judgment is come40 ,this is in the time of the end1 this glorious evening hour4 ,the apostle ,paul gives a description of the apostasy in #b ,thes4 #b4 ,in verse eight he speaks of its consumption1 which is being effected in this evening of time4 ,babylon is being consumed4 ,hear her cries of pain4 ,the prophet ,isaiah foretells the consumption of the apostasy in these words3 8,and the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together1 and they that forsake the ,lord shall be consumed40 ,this is being accomplished in this present day4 ,the gospel truth is being held up as a 8lamp that burneth10 and ,babylon is consumed4 ,the ,lord is washing 8away the filth of the daughter of ,zion1 444 by the spirit of judgment1 and by the spirit of burning40 ,isa4 #d3d4 8,flee out of the midst of ,babylon1 and deliver every man his soul40 ,morning ,and ,evening ,light ,compared4 ,how light shall be the evening8 ,will ,god 8revive us and raise us up0 in the third day to the apostolic plane8 ,the answer is1 8,his going forth is prepared as the morning40 8,then shall thy light break forth as the morning1 and thine health shall spring forth speedily3 and thy righteousness shall go before thee2 the glory of the ,lord shall be thy rearward40 ,isa4 #eh3h4 ,by these two texts we are given to understand that in the evening the light shall shine as bright as in the morning4 ,the church of ,god will be raised to the same plane from which it was dragged down by ecclesiastical lords4 ,god's people shall enjoy the same degree of holiness in the evening as they did in the morning4 ,they shall enjoy the same blessed unity--8one heart and one soul10 8and all speak the same thing40 ,they shall possess apostolic faith4 ,they shall have power with ,god to heal the sick1 to open blinded eyes1 to cause the lame to walk and the deaf to hear1 to cast out devils1 and to raise the dead the same as did the saints in the morning4 ,why shall they be given such power8 ,because they believe1 experience and practise the whole truth4 ,they are free from all manism4 ,god has absolute control in each and every heart4 ,every hindrance to faith is removed1 every barrier between them and ,god is taken away1 and the ,lord works with them1 8confirming the word with signs following40 ,glory to his name6 ,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,time ,of ,the ,evening4 ,the morning was of #bgj years' duration4 ,the first form of the apostasy lasted1 as we have shown1 #abfj years1 bringing us to the ,lutheran reformation in #aecj4 ,now when we ascertain the duration of the second beast power we will know the time the sun1 moon and stars reappear in the evening4 ,one especial text that gives us information on this subject is found in ,revelation4 ,in speaking of the two witnesses the ,revelator says3 8,and they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them1 and make merry1 and shall send gifts one to another2 because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth4 ,and after three days and a half the ,spirit of life from ,god entered into them1 and they stood upon their feet2 and great fear fell upon them which saw them40 ,rev4 #aa3aj1 #aa4 ,in this we learn the duration of the power of ,protestantism and the breaking forth of the evening light4 ,we have before proven that a day in ,scripture is used to represent different lengths of time1 sometimes the whole of the ,christian era1 sometimes a thousand years1 sometimes a hundred years1 and sometimes a year4 ,in this text a day represents a century4 ,three days are three centuries1 and a half day is a half century4 ,after three days and a half1 which are three centuries and a half1 or #cej years1 of the reign of ,protestantism1 the ,spirit of life from ,god entered into them4 ,this is the dawning of the evening1 when the whole and entire ,word of ,god is believed and experienced and the ,holy ,spirit has the same power in governing the church of ,god as he did in the days of the apostles4 ,the downfall of the first beast1 or ,romanism1 and the arising of the second beast1 or ,protestantism1 was in the year #aecj4 ,the duration of ,protestant power is #cej years1 which added to #aecj brings us to the year #ahhj ,a4,d41 at which time the dark noonday closes and we emerging hail with joy the peaceful glowing evening light4 ,prior to the year #ahhj it was1 with rare exceptions1 universally conceded that to gain heaven we needs must unite with some religious denomination4 ,about this time ,god by his ,holy ,spirit gave to men everywhere 7whose hearts were prepared7 an intuitive knowledge that we could be saved and live a ,christian life outside the walls of sectism4 ,just to lean upon ,god alone and be guided solely by his ,word and ,spirit1 they discovered to be their blessed privilege4 ,we are not alone in thus interpreting ,rev4 #aa3aa4 ,we will quote from other authors4 8,cloudy day 7,protestantism74 ,length of period #cej years40 ,rev4 #aa3i4--,s4 ,l4 ,speck in ,bible ,readings1 p4 #ajd4 8,the two witnesses ,word and ,spirit lie dead three days and a half three and one-half centuries4 ,rev4 #aa3g-i4 ,the church dwells in a wilderness1 which is neither dark nor light4 ,period #cej years4 ,time from #aecj to #ahhj40--,w4 ,g4 ,s4 in ,bible ,readings1 p4 #fi4 8,time of reign of second beast1 from the year #aecj to #ahhj1 making #cej years40--,h4 ,c4 ,wickersham in ,holiness ,bible ,subjects1 p4 #agh4 ,this same author on page #bdd in quoting ,rev4 #aa3aa encloses in brackets the words3 8,at the end of three hundred and fifty years of ,protestant sectism the true children of ,god come out of ,babylon and are sanctified40 8,the three days and a half they were to lie dead is interpreted by the ,holy ,spirit to mean three centuries and a half4 ,this gives us the length of the ,protestant age40--,biblical ,trace of the ,church1 p4 #adc4 ,in the few years prior to #ahhj ,a4,d41 there was a great declension in the spirituality of ,protestantism4 ,who can deny this fact8 ,quite a number of the leading denominations held revivals1 where was witnessed the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,people were genuinely converted4 ,they loved and worshiped ,god in quite a degree of simplicity and equality4 ,the ministry was of a humbler class and more devoted to its charges4 ,in the decade preceding #ahhj there was a great change4 ,this change perhaps can be no better described than is done in the following words of ,mr4 ,foster1 bishop of the ,methodist denomination3 8,worldly socials1 fairs1 festivals1 concerts1 and such like1 have taken the place of the religious gatherings1 revival meetings1 class and prayer-meetings of earlier days4444 ,under such worldly performance spirituality is frozen to death4444 ,the early ,methodist ministers went forth to sacrifice and suffer for ,christ4 ,they sought not places of ease and affluence1 but of privation and suffering4 ,they gloried not in their big salaries1 fine parsonages1 and refined congregations1 but in the souls that had been won for ,jesus4 ,oh1 how changed6 ,a hireling ministry will be a feeble1 a timid truckling1 a time-serving ministry1 without faith1 endurance1 and holy power4 ,methodism formerly dealt in the great central truth4 ,now the pulpits deal largely in generalities and in popular lectures4 ,the glorious doctrine of entire sanctification is rarely heard and seldom witnessed in the pulpits40 ,there is not a ,methodist minister but knows the truthfulness of these statements1 however much they may deny it4 ,in the quoted texts of ,scripture from ,revelation #aa1 the ninth and tenth verses say3 8,and they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half1 and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves4 ,and they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them1 and make merry1 and shall send gifts one to another40 ,by the 8dead bodies0 is meant the two witnesses1 the ,word and ,spirit4 ,these throughout ,protestantism were dead4 ,while they professed to be led by the ,spirit and to believe and practise the ,word1 they did neither4 ,thus they would not entirely and openly in words deny the power of the ,holy ,spirit and verity of ,god's ,word1 yet in works they did deny them4 8,they profess that they know ,god2 but in works they deny him1 being abominable1 and disobedient1 and unto every good work reprobate40 ,titus #a3af4 ,these two witnesses were dead1 yet they would not allow their dead bodies to be buried3 they professed to receive them4 ,the tenth verse tells of the worldliness of sectism at the time the ,spirit of life from ,god entered into the ,word and ,holy ,spirit1 after the #cej years or the ushering in of the evening light4 ,they were making merry and sending gifts4 ,sectism is straining every nerve1 and adopting most every scheme for money-getting4 ,the fundamental object in the socials1 fairs1 concerts1 etc41 is to get money4 ,they adopt these worldly1 sensual amusements to rob men of their money4 ,we have in possession a clipping from the ,new ,york ,sun which is a fair sample of the present-day performances and merry making for money1 and well explains the rejoicing1 merry making and sending of gifts as mentioned in ,rev4 #aa3aj4 ,it is as follows3 8,saved ,the ,church4 8,members ,performed ,many ,services in ,turning an ,odd ,penny4 8,from ,new ,york ,sun4 8,pittsburg1 ,march #e4--,the church edifice of the ,coraopolis ,methodist church was advertised to be sold by the sheriff this week1 and the members of the congregation made a heroic attempt all last week to save it4 ,coraopolis is a few miles below here4 ,one vivacious young woman won a wager by riding a spirited horse without a saddle2 other good sisters and brethren cleaned shoes and peddled1 while some pushed wheelbarrows in which were conveyed some very staid-looking business men4 ,the whole church community was animated by the common desire to keep the sheriff from the church-door4 ,luxuries were denied1 and many ludicrous situations were invented until enough money was raised to secure a postponement of the sale4 8,nobody seemed in the least disconcerted over these unusual exhibitions4 ,if any one asked ,samuel ,marshall1 the well-known station agent1 what he was doing when he was shining the boots of the ex-,burgess1 he would have replied3 #8,raising money for our church4 ,don't you want a shine8' ,among the most active in the work was ,mr4 ,marshall1 and his industry in turning in the most money won for him the prize of a gold watch4 ,the following items from his statement show some of the methods adopted3 8,february #bj4--;,delivered message to ,f4 ,d4 ,stickney1 #aj cents4 ,h4 ,s4 ,misseldine wanted me to stand on my head1 but found ,i could not do this1 so added up fifty columns of figures1 for which ,i received #ej cents4 8,february #ba4--;,carried can of milk to restaurant of ,j4 ,g4 ,walters1 #aj cents4 8,february #bb4--;,delivered head of cabbage1 which afterward on a #8banter' was thrown at ,mr4 ,walters1 #aj cents4 8,february #bc4--,young lady paid me #e cents to call on her2 polished shoes for ,george ,arras1 #e cents4 8,february #bd4--,swept pool-room of ,j4 ,e4 ,mc,kee1 #aj cents2 delivered hardware to ,mr4 ,boyers1 #b4jj4 8,february #bf4--,wheeled ,m4 ,w4 ,watson from store of ,j4 ,c4 ,walters to shop1 #be cents4 8,february #bg4--,shaved ,henry ,de,grange1 the barber1 for which ,i charged him #aj cents4 8,mrs4 ,hamilton1 a well-known society woman1 sold bread and laundered the gentlemen's ties4 ,she also presented a report in rhyme at the #8pledge meeting' on last ,tuesday night4 ,one item of the report was3 8,first ,i peddled chestnuts and met with success1 ,and to-day ,i raked in nickels is the truth1 you better guess4 ,say1 ,i must tell a secret1 those chestnuts were alive1 ,but what of that1 when ,i realized one dollar thirty-five4 8,mrs ,hamilton returned about forty dollars as the result of her labors4 ,miss ,fannie ,siebold1 a vivacious young woman with auburn hair and with eyes that sparkle1 was visiting friends in the place4 ,she never lost an opportunity to show her interest in the little church4 ,her host1 curious to see if she could not be made to retract from her offers1 told her he would give her fifty cents if she would ride one of his spirited horses without1 a saddle4 8,she was told that she might ride any fashion4 ,miss ,siebold made all the male portion of the family promise to remain indoors1 where they could not observe her during the performance4 ,they agreed to this1 but people passing along the road were surprised at the sight of a handsome young lady galloping over the fields on the flying charger in a manner that would do credit to any man4 8,as a result of all the industry1 #bjh4ed was raised1 the sheriff's placard was taken down from the church-door1 and a thirty days' extension secured on the #b1ejj remaining to be paid40 ,the following article1 recently published in a ,god-fearing1 religious paper1 contains weighty and powerful truths1 and should awaken the reader to the present condition of things in this dark1 seducing1 and soul-deluding1 sinful world4 8,there has been for many years a rapid decline among the ,protestant churches of the spirit of revivals and of the manifestations of the power of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,not only is there great ignorance on the doctrines of the ,bible1 but almost universally a positive antagonism to anything like the supernatural in religious experience4 8,just as ,jesus was rejected and crucified by the professed church at the close of the ,jewish age1 so the ,holy ,spirit is being despised and crucified by the professed church at the close of the ,gentile age4 ,just as ,jesus was rejected from the nice homes of ,bethlehem1 and had to go into a stable to find a place to be born1 and where he could utter his infant cries1 so the ,holy ,spirit to-day is utterly rejected from thousands of ,protestant churches1 and he has to go into rented halls1 slum missions1 canvas tents1 and woods meetings to find a place to utter his voice through the lips of those who know and feel him4 ,just as there were a few who had supernatural discernment to recognize and worship the infant ,god1 so there are now a few who discern the personality and operation of the ,holy ,spirit1 and pour out to him their gold and frankincense and myrrh4 ,just as the people of ,bethlehem1 who had turned the unborn ,savior from their door were soon made to wail by the king's order of assassination1 so the thousands of nominal churches which now reject the work of the ,holy ,spirit from their doors will soon wail under the awful tribulation that is rapidly coming on all the earth4 ,oh1 if the ,protestant churches could only see the day of their visitation1 and that the history of the way the ,jews treated ,jesus is being exactly repeated over and over again in the way the modern churches treat the ,holy ,spirit1 and that the same doom that overtook the ,jewish church for rejecting ,christ1 will speedily overtake the modern churches for rejecting the ,holy ,spirit6 8,another feature of the present crisis is1 ,god is working mainly through individuals1 and not so much through machinery4 ,thousands of individuals in ,europe and ,america have been called of the ,spirit to launch out into soul-saving work along lines of personal enterprise more than ever in past ages4 8,there never was a time in the world's history when ,christian men and women felt so led of ,god not to wait for committees nor the red tape of ecclesiastical authority1 but to hurry forth under a personal call from ,god and do what they could with their individual means and talents for the saving of souls1 the sanctifying of believers1 and preparing the chosen few to meet ,jesus4 ,there never seemed a time when anything like church machinery would run to seed so quick as now4 ,even if an enterprise that is started definitely as a holiness work gets a few officers and committees in it1 in a few days or months it gets just as churchly and high-headed and dictatorial as an old popish institution4 ,for this reason ,god is utilizing individuality in his kingdom as never before4 8,another feature of the present crisis is1 that ,god will test the faith of his waiting ones1 and all those persons who are making almanacs for the ,lord1 and fixing dates for the fulfilling of certain prophecies1 are going to be disappointed4 ,we are living a life of faith in every particular1 clear down to the last moment of his appearing in the sky4 ,the ,scriptures are very clear in setting forth two facts concerning ,christ's coming4 ,on the one hand we are told of the signs that would precede his coming1 and we are told to watch those things1 and they will indicate his coming as near2 on the other hand we are expressly told that the day and hour of his appearing will never be made known beforehand1 and our wisdom lies in not forgetting the signs on the one hand1 nor in fixing dates on the other4 ,hence ,jesus commands us to keep in the attitude of a watcher1 always ready1 always expecting1 yet not knowing4 ,in the parable of the ten virgins1 our ,savior clearly intimates that the bridegroom will tarry beyond the time that his people expected him4 ,the picture is that of a crowd of passengers sitting in a station and waiting for a night train which is behind time1 and while they are yet waiting they get drowsy and nod4 ,the sentence1 #8,they all slumbered and slept1' should more properly be1 they became #8drowsy and nodded4' ,this applies to the very elect1 who will be taken into the wedding1 and indicates a crisis of the trial of the faith of the sanctified ones4 8,but the most significant of all things in the present crisis is the testing of true faith in all points of doctrine4 ,there never was a time since the fall of ,adam when the human race was so drenched with the muddy waters of heresy4 ,everything moves with lightning rapidity4 ,the principles that lie hidden in every system of government1 education1 social life1 and manifold forms of religion1 are swiftly pushing themselves to prestige and open manifestation4 ,sin is not only working out every species of wickedness that can be invented1 but the intellect of the so-called ,christianized world is showing signs of decay in its ability to grasp sturdy ,bible truth1 and is largely turning from the ,bible to old worn-out heathen ideas4 ,every doctrine of the ,bible is being twisted into fanciful theories4 ,the scriptures teaching of sin and the need of broken-hearted repentance is practically ignored by thousands of ministers and church-members4 ,the absolute divinity of ,jesus is growing weaker in the faith of many who claim to teach his gospel1 and some who profess to be very orthodox say they do not pray to ,jesus4 ,the literal resurrection of the body taught by the ,scriptures is caricatured and treated lightly by professed theologians1 ministers1 and professed ,christians4 ,the immortality of the soul and its conscious existence1 either in heaven or hell1 during the sleep of the body in death1 is being rejected for the old heathen notion4 ,the experience of justifying and sanctifying grace1 attested by the personal ,holy ,spirit1 is rejected by millions of church-members4 ,everlasting reward and punishment is laughed at as an old tradition instead of a serious doctrine of the ,bible4 8,it is well nigh impossible to enter a single professed ,christian family in ,europe or ,america in which some member has not a new patent on ,scripture truth and holds some fanciful notion concerning the serious teachings of the ,bible4 ,i find a great many passages in which the last form of testifying for ,god's saints will be that of their faith in the simple plain old doctrines of ,god's ,word4 ,jesus warns us that just before his coming every possible heresy and every variety of false ,christ will appear to deceive the people1 and that if it were possible they should deceive the very elect4 ,and ,john in ,revelation tells us of an era of the going forth of frogs1 which are evil spirits1 to seduce the people from the true faith4 ,we are living in the frog era4 ,in nearly every city in the land there are from one to three persons who claim to be ,god1 or an incarnation of ,christ1 or the ,holy ,spirit4 ,thousands of religious people think it is too tame and uninteresting to accept all of the plain old doctrines of the ,scripture1 so they want something original and startling40 ,in the past two years the popular religious bodies1 including an aristocratic ministry1 have turned to worldliness at a rapid and unprecedented rate1 and what will be seen of proud formalism1 socialism1 and rejection of divine truth in the circles of denominationalism within the next ten years would now appear incredulous4 ,the following poem selected from a recent religious periodical is vividly descriptive of the present-day religious denominations1 commonly known as churches4 ,however the true church of ,god is an entirely different institution1 and just as far separated from the world1 and just as bitterly hated by her as when she imprisoned1 stoned and martyred her devoted followers4 ,the ,church ,walking ,with ,the ,world4 ,the ,church and the ,world walked far apart1 ,on the changing shores of time2 ,the ,world was singing a giddy song1 ,and the ,church a hymn sublime4 ',come1 give me your hand1' cried the merry ,world1 ',and walk with me this way2' ,but the good ,church hid her snowy hand1 ,and solemnly answered1 ',nay1 ,i will not give you my hand at all1 ,and ,i will not walk with you2 ,your way is the way of endless death2 ,your words are all untrue4' ',nay1 walk with me but a little space1' ,said the ,world with a kindly air2 ',the road ,i walk is a pleasant road1 ,and the sun shines always there4 ,your path is thorny and rough and crude1 ,and mine is broad and plain2 ,my road is paved with flowers and gems1 ,and yours with tears and pain4 ,the sky above me is always blue3 ,no want1 no toil1 ,i know2 ,the sky above you is always dark2 ,your lot is a lot of woe4 ,my path1 you see1 is a broad1 fair path1 ,and my gate is high and wide-- ,there is room enough for you and for me ,to travel side by side4' ,half shyly the ,church approached the ,world1 ,and gave him her hand of snow3 ,the old ,world grasped it and walked along1 ,saying1 in accents low1 ',your dress is too simple to please my taste2 ,i will give you pearls to wear1 ,rich velvet and silks for your graceful form1 ,and diamonds to deck your hair4' ,the ,church looked down at her plain white robes1 ,and then at the dazzling ,world1 ,and blushed as she saw his handsome lip ,with a smile contemptuous curled4 ',i will change my dress for a costlier one1' ,said the ,church with a smile of grace2 ,then her pure garments drifted away1 ,and the ,world gave in their place1 ,beautiful satins1 and shining silks1 ,and roses and gems and pearls2 ,and over her forehead her bright hair fell ,crisped in a thousand curls4 ',your house is too plain1' said the proud old ,world1 ',i'll build you one like mine3 ,carpets of ,brussels1 and curtains of lace1 ,and furniture ever so fine4' ,so he built her a costly and beautiful house-- ,splendid it was to behold2 ,her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there1 ,gleaming in purple and gold2 ,and fairs and shows in the halls were held1 ,and the ,world and his children were there2 ,and laughter and music and feasts were heard ,in the place that was meant for prayer4 ,she had cushioned pews for the rich and the great1 ,to sit in their pomp and their pride1 ,while the poor folks1 clad in their shabby suits1 ,sat meekly down outside4 ,the angel of mercy flew over the ,church1 ,and whispered1 ',i know thy sin4' ,the ,church looked back with a sigh1 and longed ,to gather her children in2 ,but some were off in the midnight ball1 ,and some were off at the play1 ,and some were drinking in gay saloons2 ,so she quietly went her way4 ,the sly ,world gallantly said to her1 ',your children mean no harm-- ,merely indulging in innocent sports4' ,so she leaned on his proffered arm1 ,and smiled1 and chatted1 and gathered flowers1 ,as she walked along with the ,world2 ,while millions and millions of deathless souls ,to the horrible pit were hurled4 ',your preachers are all too old and plain1' ,said the gay old ,world with a sneer2 ',they frighten my children with dreadful tales1 ,which ,i like not for them to hear3 ,they talk of brimstone and fire and pain1 ,and the horrors of endless night2 ,they talk of a place that should not be ,mentioned to ears polite4 ,i will send you some of the better stamp1 ,brilliant and gay and fast1 ,who will tell them that people may live as they list1 ,and go to heaven at last4 ,the ,father is merciful and great and good1 ,tender and true and kind2 ,do you think he would take one child to heaven ,and leave the rest behind8' ,so he filled her house with gay divines1 ,gifted and great and learned2 ,and the plain old men that preached the cross ,were out of the pulpit turned4 ',you give too much to the poor1' said the ,world2 ',far more than you ought to do4 ,if the poor need shelter and food and clothes1 ,why need it trouble you8 ,go1 take your money and buy rich robes1 ,and horses and carriages fine1 ,and pearls and jewels and dainty food1 ,and the rarest and costliest wine4 ,my children they dote on all such things1 ,and if you their love would win1 ,you must do as they do1 and walk in the ways ,that they are walking in4' ,the ,church held tightly the strings of her purse1 ,and gracefully lowered her hand1 ,and simpered1 ',i've given too much away2 ,i'll do1 sir1 as you have said4' ,so the poor were turned from her door in scorn1 ,and she heard not the orphans' cry2 ,and she drew her beautiful robes aside1 ,as the widows went weeping by4 ,the sons of the ,world and the sons of the ,church ,walked closely hand and heart1 ,and only the ,master who knoweth all1 ,could tell the two apart4 ,then the ,church sat down at her ease and said1 ',i am rich1 and in goods increased2 ,i have need of nothing1 and naught to do ,but to laugh and dance and feast4' ,the sly ,world heard her1 and laughed in his sleeve1 ,and mockingly said aside1 ',the ,church is fallen--the beautiful ,church-- ,and her shame is her boast and pride6' ,the angel drew near to the mercy-seat1 ,and whispered1 in sighs1 her name2 ,and the saints their anthems of rapture hushed1 ,and covered their heads with shame4 ,and voice came down1 through the hush of heaven1 ,from ,him who sat on the throne1 ',i know thy work1 and how thou hast said1 ,i am rich2 and hast not known ,that thou art naked and poor and blind ,and wretched before my face2 ,therefore1 from my presence ,i cast thee out1 ,and blot thy name from its place6'--,sel4 ,to-day the proud1 fashionable sectarian churches are lovingly folded in the arms of the giddy world1 and in her mad1 drunken1 lustful craze she is crying1 8,on with the dance1 let joy be unconfined40 ,mysterious ,prophecies ,revealed4 ,the bringing in of the evening light by the ,holy ,spirit has been the clearing away of much mystery from prophetic texts4 ,the voice of the angel said1 in speaking to ,daniel1 8,but thou1 ,o ,daniel1 shut up the words1 and seal the book1 even to the time of the end40 ,dan4 #ab3d4 ,we have reached the time of the end--the evening1 and the book is unsealed and revealed and the 8wise understand02 but 8none of the wicked understand40 ,many texts of ,revelation were fulfilled and understood when the evening light flashed across its pages4 ,we will quote a few4 ,revelation #ad3f-h4 8,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him1 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters4 ,and there followed another angel saying1 ,babylon is fallen1 is fallen1 that great city1 because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication40 ,angel is from the ,greek anggelos1 and means agent or messenger4 8,heaven0 does not refer to the glory world above1 but to the work of ,god and heaven here upon earth4 ,this angel is a messenger or servant in the work of the ,lord4 ,he has the everlasting gospel to preach to the people4 ,the burden of his ministry is1 8,fear ,god1 and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come40 ,the evening or time of the end is reached1 the hour of ,god's judgment1 the time of the bride's especial preparation for the coming of the bridegroom4 ,this ministry is closely followed by another messenger declaring1 8,babylon is fallen1 is fallen1 that great city1 because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication40 8,babylon is fallen40 ,this is a prediction against mystery ,babylon the great and her harlot daughters--,catholicism and ,protestantism4 ,this ,god's pure ministry has been preaching for the last two decades4 ,sectism is in a fallen condition4 ,it is fallen into the depths of worldliness4 ,she has opened her bosom and invited the world in to revel with her4 ,she has prepared a potion of charming delusive spirits1 by which she has intoxicated and inflamed the blood of nations4 ,in the last few years the concerts1 fairs and socials are frequented by both the professed ,christians and non-professors1 and in their dress1 conversation1 and general manner1 they are undistinguishable4 ,sectism to-day in not enticing people to enter her fold by preaching the everlasting gospel1 but she allures them by her seducing love decoction of lewdness1 worldliness and licentiousness4 ,babylon is fallen4 ,some of the ,old ,testament texts contain a spiritual import4 8,flee out of the midst of ,babylon1 and deliver every man his soul3 be not cut off in her iniquity2 for this is the time of the ,lord's vengeance2 he will render unto her a recompense40 ,jer4 #ea3f4 ,this language is especially forcible at this present day4 ,we have reached the time of the ,lord's vengeance4 8,babylon hath been a golden cup in the ,lord's hand1 that made all the earth drunken3 the nations have drunken of her wine2 therefore the nations are mad40 ,jer4 #ea3g4 ,the woman 7mystery ,babylon and her daughters7 sitting upon the scarlet-colored beast had a golden cup in her hand4 ,rev4 #ag3d4 ,the day was1 as we have before spoken1 when ,god did save some souls in sectism and gave them the ,holy ,spirit's power4 ,but ,satan has succeeded in emptying the golden cup of that which was divine and filled it with intoxicating potions that have allured nations to commit fornication with her4 8,babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed3 howl for her2 take balm for her pain1 if so be she may be healed4 ,we would have healed ,babylon1 but she is not healed3 forsake her1 and let us go every one into his own country3 for her judgment reacheth unto heaven1 and is lifted up even to the skies40 ,jer4 #ea3h1 #i4 ,babylon can never be healed4 ,she will not be healed4 ,she is irredeemable4 ,destruction is her doom4 8,forsake her and let us go every one into his own country40 ,hear the lamentation of the children of ,god in their captivity in ,babylon3 8,by the rivers of ,babylon1 there we sat down1 yea1 we wept1 when we remembered ,zion4 ,we hanged our harps upon the willows1 in the midst thereof4 ,for there they that carried us away captive required of us a song2 and they that wasted us required of us mirth1 saying1 ,sing us one of the songs of ,zion4 ,how shall we sing the ,lord's song in a strange land80 ,psa4 #acg3a-d4 ,perishing souls in sectism would love to serve ,god better1 but in their captivity they can not sing the songs of praise and glory4 ,babylon4 ,by thy dark deceptive waters1 ,sighing1 moaning1 troubled sea1 ,captives sing their songs of sorrow1 ,hoping1 longing to be free4 ,who shall sing the songs of ,zion ,on thy banks1 ,o raging sea8 ,the voice of bridegroom and the bride ,is heard no more at all in thee4 ,golden days are gone forever1 ,days now dark and dreary be2 ,harps untuned and silent ever1 ,silent by the moaning sea4 ,sadly weeping stands the willow ,on thy shore1 ,o surging sea2 ',neath its shade my steps shall never1 ,never1 never more shall be4 8,zion0 is a metaphor1 signifying 8,jerusalem1 which is from above10 or the church of ,god4 ,it is the home of the saints1 where they are cared for by the ,lord4 ,as the ancient literal city of ,babylon typifies the great spiritual ,babylon1 so the literal city of ,jerusalem typifies the spiritual ,jerusalem or ,zion or church of ,god4 ,god does not want his people joined unto a sect and under the laws and creeds and authority of man4 ,he wants the full care of them4 ,however1 many of ,god's children1 through ignorance1 have been induced to seek a home in ,babylon4 ,here they have been taken captive4 ,in this evening time ,god is leading them back to ,zion4 8,the ransomed of the ,lord shall return and come to ,zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads40 ,isa4 #ce3aj4 ,the songs of ,zion are not to be sung in the barren land of ,babylon4 ,babylon has gone into ,zion and captured ,god's devoted children1 but ,god will be avenged4 8,and ,i will render unto ,babylon and to all the inhabitants of ,chaldea all their evil that they have done in ,zion in your sight1 saith the ,lord40 ,jer4 #ea3bd4 ,here is a prophecy relating to this evening time4 8,in those days1 and that time1 saith the ,lord1 the children of ,israel shall come1 they and the children of ,judah together1 going and weeping3 they shall go1 and seek the ,lord their ,god4 ,they shall ask the way to ,zion with their faces thitherward1 saying1 ,come and let us join ourselves to the ,lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten40 ,jer4 #ej3d1 #e4 ,see them coming home to ,zion with the glory of ,god risen upon them4 ,halleluiah6 ,zion4 ,in thy clear1 transparent water1 ,peaceful1 cleansing1 crystal sea1 ,in thy sparkling beauty flowing1 ,let me ever sail on thee4 ,there is music in the ripple ,of thy wave1 ,o purest sea2 ,here we sing the songs of ,zion1 ,in a soft sweet melody4 ,peaceful are thy streams forever1 ,gentle1 calmest1 tranquil sea2 ,harps are tuned to heavenly music2 ,hear the pleasant melody4 ,tree of life is blooming ever ,on thy shore1 ,o crystal sea2 ',neath its shade my walk shall ever1 ,ever and forever be4 ,revelation #ah3a-e1 #af1 #ag1 #bc4 8,and after these things ,i saw another angel come down from heaven1 having great power2 and the earth was lightened with his glory4 ,and he cried mightily with a strong voice1 saying1 ,babylon the great is fallen1 is fallen1 and is become the habitation of devils1 and the hold of every foul spirit1 and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird4 ,for all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication1 and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her1 and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies4 ,and ,i heard another voice from heaven1 saying1 ,come out of her1 my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins1 and that ye receive not of her plagues1 for her sins have reached unto heaven1 and ,god hath remembered her iniquities40 8,alas1 alas that great city1 that was clothed in fine linen1 and purple1 and scarlet1 and decked with gold1 and precious stones1 and pearls6 ,for in one hour so great riches is come to nought40 8,and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee2 and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee40 ,this holy messenger announces the fall of ,babylon1 and gives a description of it4 ,all that is pure1 holy and divine has been driven out of sect ,babylon and leaves its subjects to be ravished by unclean1 worldly spirits1 devouring their souls1 and leaving the whole an unclean cage4 ,god has gone out of sectism4 ,he works with them no more2 his voice is heard no more in her1 and his call to his people is to 8come out of her40 8,flee out of ,babylon1 and deliver every man his soul40 ,god dwells in ,zion1 and there shines the beautiful light of the gospel4 8,out of ,zion the perfection of beauty ,god hath shined40 8,arise1 shine3 for thy light is come1 and the glory of the ,lord is risen upon thee40 ,isa4 #fj3a4 ,return and come to ,zion1 ,o captive daughter2 unloose the bands of sectism from off thy neck2 cast aside the creeds and tyranny of man2 cease the cold forms and frozen conventionalities1 and seek the green pasture fields of ,zion1 where there are songs and everlasting joy1 and sighs and sorrow come no more4 ,matthew #acth chapter4 ,the parable of the ,savior in which he likens the kingdom of heaven unto a man which sowed good seed in his field is also illustrative of the gospel day4 ,the field is the world4 ,the ,son of man sowing the good seed is the glorious gospel work of the morning4 ,the enemy that sowed the tares is the apostasy1 which destroyed much of the good seed and sowed discord1 contention1 strife and superstition4 ,the harvest-time is the evening time4 ,the angels are ,god's holy messengers4 ,in the evening of time the ,son of man shall send forth his angels or messengers1 and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend1 and them which do iniquity4 ,god is calling his people out of all confusion and darkness1 separating them from sin and the works of man4 ,such is the work to be done in the end of the world4 ,jeremiah #bc;d chapter4 ,in the fifth and sixth verses of this chapter is a beautiful prophecy of ,christ4 8,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord1 that ,i will raise unto ,david a righteous ,branch1 and a king shall reign and prosper1 and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth4 ,in his days ,judah shall be saved1 and ,israel shall dwell safely3 and this is his name whereby he shall be called1 ,the ,lord our ,righteousness40 ,in the ninth verse the prophet tells of his broken heart because he foresees the dark apostasy4 ,from verse nine to verse eighteen he speaks of the wicked doings of apostates4 ,in verse nineteen he describes the present holiness reformation that is sweeping over the land4 8,behold1 a whirlwind of the ,lord is gone forth in fury1 even a grievous whirlwind3 it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked40 ,matthew #bdth chapter4 ,in the third verse of the twenty-fourth chapter of ,matthew we read of the disciples questioning the ,savior concerning the end of the world4 ,they say1 8,tell us1 when shall these things be8 and what shall be the sign of thy coming1 and of the end of the world80 ,in answering1 the ,savior in the sixth and the following few verses speaks of political upheavals4 ,in the eleventh and twelfth verses he predicts the apostasy of the noonday4 8,many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many4 ,and because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold40 ,that is why a child of ,god finds it so difficult to retain an experience of salvation in sectism4 ,iniquity abounds1 and being yoked up with such evil companions he can not stem the tide of influence4 ,in the fourteenth verse the ,savior says3 8,and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations2 and then shall the end come40 ,this preaching of the gospel of the kingdom is to be after the apostasy1 and just prior to the end of the world4 ,throughout sectism theology and tradition have been substituted for the gospel1 but in the evening time ,john beholds an angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth4 ,this is the same as the preaching of the gospel in the end of the world to which the ,savior refers4 ,he has now taken the disciples once down through the whole of the ,christian dispensation to the end of the world4 ,in the fifteenth verse he begins with them again at the desolation spoken of by ,daniel1 which is the destruction of ,jerusalem in the year #gj ,a4,d4 ,from the sixteenth to the twenty-second verse inclusive1 he instructs them concerning this abomination4 ,from the twenty-third to the twenty-sixth inclusive he again speaks of the apostasy4 ,false ,christs and false prophets shall arise4 ,in the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth verses he speaks of the end of the world4 ,he has now taken them through the ,christian era again down to the time of the end4 ,in the twenty-ninth verse he leads them back again to the destruction of ,jerusalem4 8,immediately after the tribulation of those days by this he refers to the destruction of ,jerusalem shall the sun be darkened1 and the moon shall not give her light1 and the stars shall fall from heaven40 ,this is the obscuring of ,christ and the church by the beast power in the noontime4 ,in the thirty-first verse he says1 8,and he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet1 and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds1 from one end of heaven to the other40 ,these are the angels that are shouting1 8,come out of her1 my people40 ,they are gathering out of ,god's kingdom all things that do offend and them that do iniquity4 ,this is the work of ,god in the time of the end4 8,deliver thyself1 ,o ,zion1 that dwellest with the daughter of ,babylon40 ,zech4 #b3g4 8,behold1 ,i will send for many fishers1 saith the ,lord1 and they shall fish them2 and after will ,i send for many hunters1 and they shall hunt them from every mountain1 and from every hill1 and out of the holes of the rocks40 ,jer4 #af3af4 8,woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture6 saith the ,lord4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god of ,israel against the pastors that feed my people2 ,ye have scattered my flock1 and driven them away1 and have not visited them3 behold1 ,i will visit upon you the evils of your doings1 saith the ,lord4 ,and ,i will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither ,i have driven them1 and will bring them again to their fold2 and they shall be fruitful and increase40 ,jer4 #bc3a-c4 ,in the evening of time ,god will gather the scattered remnant of his people1 but woe be to the pastors that scattered them4 ,let the proud lords of sectism repent of their evil doings ere ,god visits his woe upon them4 8,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i1 even ,i1 will both search my sheep1 and seek them out4 ,as a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered2 so will ,i seek out my sheep1 and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day sectism4 ,and ,i will bring them out from the people1 and gather them from the countries1 and will bring them to their own land1 and feed them upon the mountains of ,israel by the rivers1 and in all the inhabited places of the country4 ,i will feed them in a good pasture1 and upon the high mountains of ,israel shall their fold be3 there shall they lie in a good fold1 and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of ,israel4 ,i will feed my flock1 and ,i will cause them to lie down1 saith the ,lord ,god4 ,i will seek that which was lost1 and bring again that which was driven away1 and will bind up that which was broken1 and will strengthen that which was sick3 but ,i will destroy the fat and the strong2 ,i will feed them with judgment40 ,ezek4 #cd3aa-af4 ,god is gathering out his own into the beautiful light of ,zion4 ,we have now reached the time when the above promise is being fulfilled by the delivering hand of ,god4 ,amid the ruins of ,babel confusion the ,lord has a remnant which he is gathering home to their goodly fold1 in the top of the mountains of ,israel4 8,except the ,lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant1 we should have been as ,sodom1 and we should have been like unto ,gomorrah40 ,isa4 #a3i4 8,yet1 behold1 therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth40 ,ezek4 #ad3bb4 ,have you heard the voice from heaven1 ,calling in a solemn tone1 ',come1 my people1 from confusion1 ,this is not your native home8' ,do you know1 ,o ransomed brother1 ,that we stand upon the verge1 ,where old time fills up his ages1 ,and the lost will mourn his dirge8 ,yes1 ,i heard1 and to my vision ,zion's glory brightly shone2 ,then ,i rose and fled the ruin1 ,taking not a ,babel stone4 ,yes1 my soul has come to ,zion1 ,on the high and holy way1 ,and ,i've seen all darkness flying1 ,driven by the light of day4 ,now the evening light is flashing1 ,god is gathering to their home ,all the pure and holy remnant ,waiting for the ,lord to come4 ,oh1 what myriad souls are sleeping1 ,soon to wake in judgment-fires2 ,help1 ,o ,god1 thy remnant gleaning1 ,until time indeed expires4 ------------------------------------- ,i have cast each sectish idol ,to the mole and to the bat2 7,isa4 #b3bj47 ,i am feeding on the mountain1 ,and my soul is growing fat4 7,ezek4 #cd3ad47 ,the ,second ,coming ,of ,christ4 ,when ,jesus was taken up into heaven and a cloud had received him out of sight1 two heavenly visitants appeared unto the men of ,galilee and said1 8,this same ,jesus1 which is taken up from you into heaven1 shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven40 ,acts #a3aa4 ,jesus went up in a cloud and he is to come again in like manner as he went up4 8,and then shall they see the ,son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory40 ,mark #ac3bf4 ,no one knows the exact time of his coming4 8,but of that day and hour knoweth no man1 no1 not the angels of heaven1 but my ,father only40 ,mat4 #bd3cf4 ,we can know1 however1 when his coming is near4 8,so likewise ye1 when ye shall see all these things1 know that it is near1 even at the door40 ,mat4 #bd3cc4 ,the things spoken of here by which we may know that the coming of the ,lord is near1 is the gathering together of ,god's elect from out the ruins of ,babylon and the world4 ,the work of gathering is now in rapid progress4 ,the messengers are flying with the everlasting gospel4 ,soon it will reach all nations4 ,they are calling1 8,come out of her1 my people1 for the hour of her judgment is come40 ,thus we now see the ,savior's coming is near1 even at the door4 ,even so1 come1 ,o ,lord ,jesus6 ,he sounds a warning to all to be ready4 8,therefore be ye also ready3 for in such an hour as ye think not the ,son of man cometh40 ,mat4 #bd3dd4 ,what will be the condition of this world when ,jesus comes8 8,but as the days of ,noe were1 so shall also the coming of the ,son of man be4 ,for as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking1 marrying and giving in marriage1 until the day that ,noe entered into the ark1 and knew not until the flood came1 and took them all away2 so shall also the coming of the ,son of man be40 ,mat4 #bd3cg-ci4 ,who is not able to fully understand this8 ,in the end of the world wickedness and revelry shall be as it was in the days of ,noah4 8,in the last days perilous times shall come40 8,but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse1 deceiving and being deceived40 #b ,tim4 #c3ac4 ,the very deepest deceptions shall be upon the people in the time of the end4 ,they shall be saying1 8,peace and safety10 then sudden destruction cometh upon them4 ,just before the second coming of the ,savior1 and while ,god is gathering together the scattered fold of ,israel1 ,satan 8shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth1 ,gog and ,magog both forms of the apostasy1 to gather them together to battle3 the number of whom is as the sand of the sea4 ,and they went upon the breadth of the earth1 and compassed the camp of the saints about1 and the beloved city ,zion40 ,rev4 #bj3h1 #i4 ,we are now living in the time when the sixth angel is pouring his vial upon the great river ,euphrates1 and the waters are being dried up4 ,the time when the unclean spirits 7the state power1 ecclesiastical power1 and the ,babylon ministry7 are going out unto the whole earth to gather them to the battle of that great day of ,god ,almighty4 ,rev4 #af3ab-ad4 ,even at this day the state power is favorably inclined toward the beast power4 ,the candidate for office is upheld and defends the corrupt city for advantage4 ,the kings of the earth are committing fornication with her4 ,the state officials are so infatuated with her delicacies and intoxicated upon her wines that a true child of ,god can scarcely get a hearing of justice to-day in the courts4 ,the prophet 7ministry71 church 7so-called71 and state1 are the powers engaged in battle against ,god4 ,we are living in the time when the sixth angel is sounding4 ,rev4 #i3ac4 ,soon the seventh angel will stand upon the land and sea and with hand uplifted to heaven swear by him that liveth forever and ever1 that time shall be no longer4 ,rev4 #aj3e-g4 ,that day shall not come unawares upon the children of light4 ,they will be watching for their ,lord to come1 when they shall be caught up to meet him in the air and forever be with him4 ,amen4 #a ,thes4 #d3ag4 ,what shall be the doom of the wicked when that great and notable day of the ,lord shall come8 8,and to you who are troubled rest with us1 when the ,lord ,jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels1 in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and that obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ3 who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the ,lord1 and from the glory of his power40 #b ,thes4 #a3g-i4 ,this flaming fire in which the ,lord shall be revealed from heaven is the fire that shall come down from ,god out of heaven and devour ,gog and ,magog as they are compassing the camp of the saints and the beloved city4 ,rev4 #bj3i4 ,dear saint1 our ,god is able to deliver thee4 8,wherefore1 beloved1 seeing that ye look for such things1 be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace1 without spot and blameless40 #b ,pet4 #c3ad4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is in the world searching out and bringing to the light every one that can be persuaded to accept salvation4 ,soon he will have gone over the world and gleaned out every one that is disposed to serve ,god4 ,the world at large will reject him4 ,his mission will be ended4 ,he will ascend to the ,father4 ,then as ,christ went into heaven he will come again1 taking vengeance on them that know not ,god1 and receiving his own unto himself4 ,then the ,savior's mission will be ended4 ,he will turn all over to the ,father1 and the three shall be but one4 8,be ye therefore also ready2 for in such an hour as ye think not the ,son of man cometh40 8,prepare to meet thy ,god40 ,the ,last ,day4 ,this gospel day is the last day4 ,there never will be another age of time4 ,an age-to-come teacher is branded by the ,word of ,god and the ,holy ,spirit1 as a false teacher4 ,we need no other age in which to prepare for eternity4 ,this is the day of salvation4 8,now is the accepted time40 ,now is the day and this is the time for us to accept ,christ1 and to be accepted of him4 ,the ,word of ,god holds no promise to you of another day of salvation4 ,how can man1 unless he be wholly subverted1 teach another age to come when so many immutable and infallible texts declare this is the last day and last time8 ,we will quote a few texts on this subject1 and that alone will convince every one that is candid4 8,that in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in ,christ1 both which are in heaven1 and which are on earth2 even in him40 ,eph4 #a3aj4 ,are we not to understand that with this dispensation time is full8 ,then it will be the end1 and as the seventh angel declares1 8,time shall be no more40 8,this know also1 that in the last days perilous times shall come40 #b ,tim4 #c3a4 ,these are declared to be the last days1 hence there is no other day to come4 ,only eternity lies before us when this present time is ended4 8,god1 who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets1 hath in these last days spoken unto us by his ,son40 ,heb4 #a3a1 #b4 ,here again it is declared that the day of ,christ1 this ,christian dispensation1 is the last day1 and that 8there should be mockers in the last time1 who should walk after their own ungodly lusts40 ,jude #ah4 ,how can you expect another time when this is declared to be the last time8 8,who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world1 but was manifest in these last times for you40 #a ,pet4 #a3bj4 8,knowing this first1 that there shall come in the last days scoffers40 #b ,pet4 #c3c4 8,little children1 it is the last time40 #a ,john #b3ah4 ,how does ,john know it is the last time8 ,because the antichrists that ,paul says should come in the last days have come1 therefore ,john says in the same verse1 8,we know that it is the last time40 ,many more texts from both ,testaments could be quoted1 but surely the reader will not ask for any more to help him believe it is the last time4 ,while false prophets are confiding ,in a foolish1 erring dream1 ,of millennial enjoyments1 ,they neglect the cleansing stream4 ,o poor sinner1 don't believe them1 ,there will be no age to come2 ,if in life you find not ,jesus1 ,death will seal your awful doom4 ,conclusion ,of ,part ,third4 ,we have placed before the reader in the best manner we could1 considering our limited time1 the beautiful light and wonderful accomplishments of redeeming grace in the morning of this gospel day4 ,in the apostolic period1 we again repeat1 the church was the light of the world4 ,the ,christians believed the whole ,word of ,god4 ,they taught the whole truth and no more4 ,they lived a pure1 holy life just as ,jesus lived and just as the ,bible declares that ,christians must live4 ,they were fully consecrated to ,god4 ,they counted not their lives dear unto themselves4 ,they forsook all to follow ,jesus and lived wholly unto him4 ,they had faith in ,god and power with him4 ,they were of one heart and of one soul4 ,they all spake the same thing4 ,they were humble and equal4 ,they healed the sick1 cast out devils1 and raised the dead in ,jesus' name4 ,thus they were the light of the world4 ,now the evening shall be as light as the morning4 ,man1 as a ,christian1 shall live as pure and holy and as deeply consecrated in this evening of time as did the ,christian in the morning time4 ,at this present time ,god is raising up a people who believe1 experience and teach the whole ,word of truth4 ,they have fled the ruins of ,babylon and are proclaiming the everlasting gospel in the fear of ,god and the clear light of heaven4 ,god is working with his pure and consecrated ministry1 confirming the ,word with signs and deeds and wonders1 the same as he did with the early ministry4 ,there are thousands to-day who gladly bear testimony to the wonderful healing power of ,god4 ,the blind have been made to see1 the lame to walk2 broken bones have been united1 cancers removed1 consumption cured4 ,the deaf have been made to hear1 the dumb to speak1 and devils have been cast out4 ,all these wonders1 and many more1 have been wrought in the name of the holy child ,jesus in ,god's pure church within the last few years4 ,god is increasing his church in faith1 purity1 power1 and glory1 and in the immediate coming years much greater things than these shall ye hear and see4 ,amen4 ,a ,personal ,experience4 ,it is recorded in the ,bible that ,god will not hear sinners4 ,while this is true it has its modifications4 ,those who are in wilful and stubborn rebellion against ,god he will not hear1 even though in a day of trouble and fear they should call upon him4 ,but when in the more sober moments of life man's heart feels the influence of the ,holy ,spirit inclining his desires toward a better life1 arousing the nobler aspirations of his soul1 enkindling to a brighter flame the spark of humanity2 when1 though he be not in possession of ,god's saving grace1 under such an influence he1 in sincerity of heart1 calls upon ,god1 he will hear and answer his call as far as consistent with the divine mind1 and thus encourage his soul on to the ,christian goal4 ,our boyhood days and the early days of our manhood were spent amid the gay scenes and pleasures of life4 ,when in the whirl of society-life we had no serious thoughts4 ,there would1 however1 in our more secluded hours1 when naught stood between us and the whisperings of our soul1 arise thoughts of futurity4 ,the ,holy ,spirit would speak to our heart of ,god1 of heaven1 of ,christ and the blood2 he would hold before us in a beautiful picture the life of a ,christian journeying onward to a glory world4 ,he would also disclose to our view the hideousness and awfulness of sin1 and the uneasiness1 discontentments1 trouble and fear attending the wicked as they journey onward to the eternal region of woe4 ,in these more sober hours we would seek ,god for his protection with sincere1 heartfelt pledges that some day we would serve him4 ,god heard these prayers and gave his protection4 ,we now in reviewing the scenes of those early days see the many snares and dangers ,satan had arranged for our destruction1 but out of them all the ,lord delivered us4 ,bless his name6 ,there was one instance of ,god hearing our prayer1 though in what may be considered a trivial matter1 yet made a deep impression upon us and went far to enforce upon us the reality of ,god and his ,word4 ,one night we had a journey of several miles to make on horseback4 ,it was nine o'clock when we started4 ,after traveling about two miles our horse became very lame4 ,in our pity for him we dismounted and throwing the reins over the saddle started the horse on before us4 ,after some two or three miles of traveling thus1 our horse seemed much improved4 ,for the purpose of faster travel1 we concluded to again ride4 ,our attempts to catch the horse seemed in vain4 ,repeatedly we tried to come up with him1 but when we had come near he would trot on before4 ,after many unsuccessful trials it occurred to our mind that we should ask ,god to aid us4 ,accordingly the ,father was implored to cause the horse to stand that we might come up with him4 ,although not a ,christian we believed there was help in ,god1 and trusting in him we approached the animal1 speaking to him as we had before1 when he stopped and we mounting continued our lonely journey in deep and solemn thought of the verity of ,god4 ,in the winter of #ahhf-hg we became very much concerned about our soul4 ,a revival meeting was in progress in the little village in which we lived4 ,they did not teach salvation by grace through faith as was taught by the apostles1 but we1 knowing no better1 and wanting to escape the damnation of hell1 and hoping for an avenue of escape1 concluded to take this4 ,accordingly we gave the minister our hand one night1 and answered in the affirmative his few questions concerning our belief in ,god4 ,on our way home we were baptized1 for we were taught that the water washed away sins4 ,during the days following we kept a close watch upon our heart and life to learn if there was any change4 ,we were disappointed4 ,we found that sin held the same power over us4 ,there remained the same uncertainty of our eternal state4 ,the thoughts of death had lost none of their fear1 and the grave none of its terror4 ,we were troubled4 ,here we had entered1 as we hoped1 a path that led to heaven1 but yet all was dark and uncertain4 ,o ,god1 is this all of thy kingdom upon the earth8 ,i would question the older members of our congregation about their experience4 ,should you be called for to-night to depart this life are you fully assured that your home will be in heaven8 ,have you no fear to meet ,god8 ,they would answer me thus3 8,we can never know in this life just what the decision of the ,great ,judge will be until we come before his awful tribunal4 ,in this world we can only go on the best we can1 and hope for the most in the judgment40 ,this was sad news to my soul4 ,is this all there is in a ,christian life8 ,where is the great peace1 the joy1 the bright hope and positiveness promised in the ,bible8 ,but thinking these old heads knew all about the ,christian life1 ,i endeavored to console myself and calm my fears4 ,i very poorly succeeded1 for which ,i now praise ,god4 ,one instance occurred at this time that troubled me very greatly4 ,one night after retiring we heard a shout of 8,fire6 fire60 upon the street4 ,on rushing to the door and looking up the whole heavens above us seemed to be one burning flame4 ,all was on fire4 ,the first thought that came to our mind was1 ,it is the last night of this world4 ,the earth1 and all its works1 is burning up4 ,a great fear came upon me4 ,whither shall ,i go1 and whither shall ,i flee from ,his presence8 ,the cause of alarm proved to be a burning building over a hill1 casting the reflection on the dark clouds over us4 ,we read in the ,bible of a class unfit and unprepared for heaven1 that would in that day call for the mountains and the hills to fall upon them to hide them from ,god's presence4 ,here we1 trying and claiming to be a ,christian1 experienced just what was said should be the experience of the wicked1 and my soul was alarmed4 ,earnest became our efforts to live a better life4 ,fierce was our struggle against sin1 deep and firm would be the resolutions1 but sin was a hard1 strong master1 who ground us beneath his iron heel4 ,we sought every known means for relief1 walking for miles to hear a sermon to learn of a more successful life4 ,often in these days of struggle would ,i become unpleasant in my home4 ,should my children be a little trying1 ,i would speak to them in a cross1 snappish way4 ,i would see them stand back in fear before my harsh voice1 and this would sting my conscience4 ,a child in fear of its father6 how unchristianlike6 ,when my wife1 whom ,i had vowed to love always1 would not do according to my judgment ,i would hastily reprove in strong language4 ,we would see the tears start from her eyes1 and again our conscience would be heavily smitten4 ,resolve after resolve was made to be more tender and kind to our dear ones1 only to be broken by the power of impatience4 ,in our efforts to become more gentle and tender we often would read an article in an old school-reader entitled 8,sorrow for the ,dead40 ,in this the writer said words like these1 to the best of our remembrance3 8,as we look upon the cold1 lifeless form of some dear1 departed friend1 there will come rushing to our memory1 the unkind acts and deeds and thoughts we have had toward them4 ,this remorse of conscience10 he said1 8should cause us to be more true to the living40 ,we often would read this1 and did receive some benefit from it for the time1 but we found it powerless to conquer an irritable disposition4 ,we can not forbear telling the reader here1 although it is a little in the advance1 that the day came when we found the ,savior in the wonders of his redeeming love and he broke the power of sin1 and by his grace did strengthen and help us to be 8true to the living40 ,glory1 glory to his name6 ,it was in the summer of #ahij that the struggle became very desperate4 ,the convicting hand of ,god lay heavily upon me4 ,the burden of sin lay heavily upon my soul1 especially the sin of tobacco using4 ,we had no man to teach us4 ,none seemed to care1 nor pity4 ,god1 however1 was humbling us down to a final decision4 ,one late ,october morning on our way to the schoolroom1 as we were teaching at that time1 all alone upon the road1 ,god spoke peace to our soul4 ,where is the pen to describe the experience of that hour6 ,mine1 it seems1 is utterly helpless4 ,we were conscious of a life1 power and glory1 not terrestrial1 filling our entire being4 ,the earth was lit up with a splendor never seen before4 ,in our days of deepest conviction we would picture to our mind the happiness of angels1 but here we had come to the realization of something that far surpassed all we had imagined of the heavenly host4 ,we felt like we wanted to sing and praise ,god forever4 ,wife had received a similar experience in her home a few days before4 ,our home at once became a heaven4 ,we remembered in pity those who had endeavored to comfort us in our fears and tell us there was no better way4 ,two weeks passed of uninterrupted glory4 ,however1 one morning after about two weeks1 when doing some work which went wrong1 we were strongly tempted to speak as we had formerly done on such occasions1 but we overcame4 ,the second time the work went wrong as previously1 when the temptation came stronger than before4 ,we felt something unpleasant within us2 however1 ,god helped us to overcome1 and we set to doing the work over1 when it went wrong the third time4 ,this time we were overcome and gave utterance to a word that brought a sense of guilt4 ,no sooner had we spoken than we fell upon our knees and did not arise until we knew we were forgiven4 ,by this experience we became conscious of a foe within us that was going to give us trouble in the ,christian life4 ,about this time we providentially received a copy of a holiness paper1 ,the ,gospel ,trumpet1 which taught a higher life1 namely1 entire sanctification4 ,this came as a light from heaven4 ,we began to earnestly seek this experience4 ,before we reached this experience there were a few other occurrences in our ,christian life of which we wish to speak4 ,at this time we were very ignorant of the ,bible4 ,it was our custom to have prayer at the schoolroom after the children were all gone to their homes4 ,we would then go to our home with a heavenly glory resting upon us4 ,one evening on our way home1 we met a company of our former worldly associates4 ,they accosted us in their customary worldly way4 ,we replied somewhat under the influence of their worldly spirit4 ,i felt the glory depart1 and an emptiness instead4 ,i went on my way hastily1 asking ,god to smile upon me again4 ,he taught me by this that he had chosen me out of the world and its witticisms1 and that slang phrases were foreign to his salvation4 ,soon after this1 one morning in ,november when laboring in my garden a transparent glory shone all around me1 and my soul was filled with peace4 ,it was on election day4 ,after working a few hours amid rapturous bliss1 we went to the place of voting and cast our ballot along with political men4 ,a shade came over my spirit1 and for the remainder of the day it appeared that ,god had forsaken me and would never smile on me again4 ,he taught me once more that he had chosen me out of the world and that politics in civil government was foreign to the kingdom of heaven4 ,the ,christmas-time drew near1 and great preparations were being made by the people for their festivities4 ,in these we found nothing congenial to our spirit4 ,we had decided to remain at home on the night of these festivities and have a protracted ,bible reading and prayers4 ,we looked forward to the evening with pleasure1 expecting great blessings from ,god4 ,just before we were ready to begin our ,bible reading wife was taken with a severe aching in the head1 that threatened to mar the enjoyment of the evening4 ,we wondered why it was that ,god permitted us to be thus interrupted1 when the ,holy ,spirit whispered1 8,if you will ask ,god1 he will heal her40 ,accordingly we fell upon our knees and petitioned ,god for his healing virtue1 and instantly she was healed4 ,this was our first experience in divine healing4 ,in the following ,february a ,holy ,ghost minister came to our place and held a short series of meetings4 ,he taught us the way of ,god more perfectly4 ,we entered the glorious experience of entire sanctification during this meeting4 ,we also beheld the body of ,christ1 the one true church1 and saw in a clear light the monstrous beast religion in all her evils4 ,god soon after called us into his work4 ,we sold our little home1 all we had of this world1 and used the means in the work of the ,lord4 ,our work for ,god has been independent of the creeds of men1 teaching a full salvation and trusting ,god for everything4 ,we have held meetings in over twelve of the different states1 and have never asked for money4 ,not on one single occasion have we taken up a collection4 ,it would require volumes to tell of the many times the ,lord has blessedly answered our prayers4 ,god has never called us to any conspicuous position in this world4 ,the great faith for the building of orphanages and homes1 and establishing missions has been entrusted to other men4 ,our faith has been only for our daily bread and needs4 ,oh1 what an assurance our heavenly ,father gives us that he will never forsake us4 ,we do not want the riches of this world4 ,we would rather not have them4 ,there is a blessedness in taking our every want to ,jesus4 ,to look unto him daily for your temporal as well as spiritual support has a strong tendency to draw one very near to him4 ,we would take pleasure in telling you of many of the instances in which ,god has heard and answered our prayers1 but fearing you will take less pleasure in reading we will forbear1 only saying that ,god has been petitioned for corn for our horse1 and the prayer answered in a marvelous way before the day was over4 ,we have asked ,god for a spool of thread1 and our prayer has been answered at once4 ,one time wife was on her knees asking ,god for soap1 when there was a rap at the door1 and upon opening it a lady presented her with a bar of soap4 ,almost daily the ,lord is petitioned for flour1 meat1 sugar1 or clothes1 and he always gives us what we need4 ,it is wonderful and just as glorious as it is wonderful4 ,in fact1 such a life is made up of glory4 ,some one may wonder if we ever have any tests of our faith4 ,oh1 yes2 there is where the greatest glory is4 ,not long since we were much in need of a dollar4 ,in searching through my vest pocket for a match ,i found a dollar bill all neatly rolled up4 ,where it came from1 and how1 ,i never knew1 only that the ,lord sent it4 ,just last night1 our twelve-year-old daughter said1 8,this is the last ,sunday ,i can wear these shoes4 ,unless ,i get a new pair ,i shall have to stay at home40 ,we asked her if she had been asking the ,lord for a pair4 ,she answered1 8,yes1 sir40 ,this morning in our family devotions we made especial mention1 amid some other things1 of the shoes4 ,in less than two hours a ,christian man came to the door and presented her with a pair4 ,yes1 we would rather have a faith and trust in ,god than the wealth of a world4 ,we feel more secure4 ,the times ,god has healed different ones of our family we are unable to number4 ,for the past eight years he1 and he only1 has been our physician4 ,we have not in that time spent one cent for medicine4 ,we have three children1 aged four1 six1 and eight years1 who have never tasted medicine4 ,they never were given a dose of any kind of soothing syrups or 8teas40 ,god has always healed from the toothache to a broken limb4 ,it does not take much of the ,lord's means to provide for us4 ,we wear no superfluous clothing4 ,our daily fare is plain and common4 ,we use no stimulants1 narcotics1 nor medicines1 and consequently just a few pennies a day is all we need4 ,god in his great goodness supplies all these1 while we go telling the world of the wonderful blessings of salvation4 ,we are at present engaged in ministerial work without salary4 ,in all our meetings we take up no collection1 we ask for no money in any way of man1 and we have no other source of support but in ,god alone4 ,just as the apostles lived in the morning light1 so we live in the evening light4 ,just what they enjoyed1 we enjoy4 ,in their preaching they gave ,god's people warning of the apostasy4 ,in our ministry we preach1 8,come out of her1 my people40 ,we enjoy more of the love of ,god than ever before4 ,his very life and power and glory fills our soul to the full4 ,we are led exclusively by his ,spirit and are fed and clothed by his bountiful hand4 ,our life is one of blessed contentment4 ,our home is a heaven and our happiness is complete4 ,even as we write1 the waves of glory roll over our soul until we are made to shout praises to our ,god4 ,we have never a care nor a sorrow1 but a faith and trust in ,god that keeps us above every wave of trouble4 ,we are dead to the world and living alone for his glory4 ,his great heart's love sweetens and tenders every fiber of our soul1 and bids us wait in brighter hope the happy day when he shall call us to our home4 ,o home of my soul1 ,in that far away goal2 ,each day brings me nearer to thee1 ,the great throne so white1 ,and my crown shining bright1 ,mine eyes ever longing to see4 ,there's a musical strain ,from that far away plain2 ,its melody sweeps o'er my soul1 ,while a wave of sweet peace ,in my heart shall increase1 ,while the years of eternity roll4 ,,footnotes #a ,there is a little book entitled 8,tea and ,coffee as an ,evil10 published by the ,gospel ,trumpet ,co41 which gives the opinions1 respecting these stimulants1 of the best known men of medical science4