,transcriber's ,notes3 ,underscores 80 before and after a word or phrase indicate italics in the original text4 ,small capitals have been converted to ,,solid capitals4 ,antiquated spellings have been preserved4 ,typographical errors have been silently corrected but other variations in spelling and punctuation remain unaltered4 ,,just ,,out6 ,,book ,,of ,,gems1 ,cloth1 #b4jj4 ,library1 #b4ej4 ,morocco1 #d4jj4 ,,life ,,and ,,times ,,of ,,benj4 ,,franklin4 ,cloth1 #b4jj4 ,library1 #b4ej4 ,morocco1 #d4jj4 8,,symposium ,,on ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit10 ,,cloth1 #ge ,cents4 8,,union ,,with ,,christ10 ,,by ,g4 ,w4 ,,longan4 ,,will ,,be ,,ready ,,december #beth4 ,a ,,hand-,,book ,,of ,,christian ,,evidence4 ,,by ,,laurence ,w4 ,,scott4 ,a ,,book ,,of ,,about #cjj ,,pages4 ,,in ,,course ,,of ,,preparation1 ,,testimonies ,,to ,,truth1 -- ,,or -- ,,masterpieces ,,of ,,many ,,minds4 ,by ,j4 ,w4 ,,monser4 ,,john ,,burns1 #gag ,olive ,street1 ,,st4 ,,louis1 ,,mo4 ,a ,,book ,,of ,,gems1 -- ,,or -- ,,choice ,,selections ,,from ,,the ,,writings ,,of ,,benjamin ,,franklin1 ,,arranged ,,by ,j4 ,a4 ,,headington1 -- ,,and -- ,,joseph ,,franklin4 ,,st4 ,,louis3 ,,john ,,burns1 ,publisher4 #ahgi4 ,illustration ,copyrighted by ,,john ,,burns1 #ahgi4 ,illustration ,stereotyped by ,,st4 ,,louis ,,type ,,foundry4 ,,index ,,to ,,subjects4 ,,page4 ,a4 ,campbell's ,successors and ,critics #bda ,a ,choir #bcj ,a ,happy ,meeting #bfj ,a ,hard ,question for ,preachers #deh ,a ,higher ,morality ,required #bd ,a ,mighty ,good ,foundation #deg ,a ,mother's ,grave #adj ,a ,phalanx of ,young ,men #cic ,a ,suggestion #ii ,a ,working ,ministry #acj ,activity in the ,ministry #dec ,adhering to the ,bible #bjg ,affirmative ,gospel #dbh ,all ,things ,common #id ,annihilation--,future ,punishment #ajj ,anointing with ,oil #cif ,apology for ,creeds #abj ,authority of a ,single ,congregation #bdc ,baptism of the ,holy ,spirit #djg ,be firm in the ,right #fe ,belief in the ,bible is ,infallibly ,safe #cga ,believers only to be ,baptized #cej ,bible ,names #cfh ,bodies ,resurrected1 not ,spirits #cie ,born of ,water and the ,spirit #ba ,boundary ,line of ,repentance #aff ,branches of the ,church #bib ,cain's ,wife #aje ,call no ,man ,reverend #cj ,can not a ,man know that he is a ,christian #cha ,christianity #aei ,christian ,zeal #aif ,christmas #bbg ,christ the ,center #ahf ,christ will come #bcd ,church ,decisions #bfb ,church ,membership #cdi ,church ,organization #db ,classification of ,missionary ,men #bdd ,clerical ,young ,pastors #bgg ,come out of ,babylon #dga ,communion #bag ,conclusion of the ,year #dih ,converting the ,cities #bei ,controversy #ced ,controversy about the ,spirit #cee ,courtesy in ,fellowship #bca ,dancing is a ,healthful ,exercise #cfc ,dedication of ,church ,edifices #bba ,delay in ,turning to the ,lord #bhb ,deluded #ie ,design of ,miracles #ajc ,developing the ,talents of the ,young #dge ,dialogue about the ,preacher #dhi ,disturbing ,element #aia ,eating the ,lord's ,flesh and ,drinking ,his ,blood #dj ,earnestly ,contending for the ,faith #cgd ,enduring ,hardness as ,good ,soldiers #bhj ,evangelists and ,evangelizing #abf ,evangelists--,pastors #cbj ,everlasting and ,eternal #bgi ,exalted ,position of ,jesus #chc ,exchanging ,pulpits #bji ,excuse for ,creeds #adf ,extent of ,one ,man's ,influence #dbj ,faith ,comes by ,hearing #caf ,faith1 ,repentance and ,baptism do not ,pardon #cjh ,feet ,washing #bec ,fine ,clothes #ij ,future ,success of the ,lord's ,army #beb ,giving up ,principles #cig ,glorying in the ,cross of ,christ #dci ,hardening ,pharaoh's ,heart #ae ,hear ye ,him #abc ,how a ,preacher may ,stand ,fair #bha ,how the ,cause of ,reformation was ,advanced #cia ,how the ,world ,regards ,dancers #big ,household ,baptisms #dcc ,imperfect ,medium for a ,perfect ,revelation #dhb ,individuality after ,death #cfi ,infant ,sin--,infant ,salvation #ajh ,influence of the ,dance #bde ,innovations in the ,church of ,christ #dac ,in ,season and out of ,season #ch ,is it ,possible to ,arouse the ,people #ach ,jesus ,revealed as the ,savior #cgi ,judgment the ,ground of ,repentance #bjb ,keep ,politics out of the ,church #afj ,kind of ,preachers and ,preaching ,needed #baa ,knowing and not ,doing #dce ,laying the ,corner ,stone of a ,catholic ,cathedral #bga ,lifted ,above ,sects and ,parties #fi ,light ,within #fa ,little ,matters #ec ,lord's ,day ,meetings #bgj ,lotteries #aa ,maintain a ,pure ,faith and ,worship #bhi ,making the ,bible ,support ,human ,systems #ga ,man's ,accountability #dfb ,mark ,those ,who ,cause ,divisions #cce ,men can and do ,believe #cde ,methodist ,clerical ,pretensions #bfe ,ministering ,angels #eh ,miracles #dbf ,moody and ,sankey #bfg ,my ,church #djc ,my ,kingdom is not of this ,world #dff ,no ,campbellites #beh ,no ,departure from the ,jerusalem ,church #bj ,no ,division can come #dh ,no ,modification of the ,divine ,plan #bdf ,no ,preachers on ,dancing #ab ,no ,side ,structure #ei ,not of ,one ,class #bie ,not ,receiving the ,reformation1 but ,christ #fh ,not to ,keep ,company #dai ,observing the ,sabbath #ccc ,one ,baptism #aij ,one ,idea ,ism #ef ,one ,immersion #daj ,one ,religion #bce ,one ,way to ,god #bdh ,our ,authoritative ,religion #aaa ,our ,census #ag ,our ,plea #bef ,outward ,appearance #ea ,over and ,through the ,mountains #adh ,overlooking ,humble but ,good ,men #dhd ,paul and ,james on ,justification by ,faith #ceb ,paying ,preachers a ,stipulated ,sum #cbf ,preach 8,first ,principles0 #dgd ,personality of the ,devil #bgf ,pioneers1 ,support1 etc4 #gc ,poimeen--,shepherd--,evangelist--,overs eer #be ,policy in ,preaching #dfg ,popular ,amusements #dea ,popular ,union ,meetings #bdi ,praise ,god by ,singing #bcb ,prayer #cfd ,prayer ,books #cda ,preachers ,belonging to no ,church #bbi ,preach ,christ1 not ,ourselves #cbi ,preacher did not ,suit #cj ,present ,punishment will not ,save #acc ,progressing ,backward #df ,protracted ,meetings1 ,excitements1 etc4 #cji ,public ,opinion--,infant ,damnation #chd ,pulpits #dbb ,reason1 ,providence1 and the ,spirit of ,god1 ,teach us to ,obey ,god #aej ,receiving ,sinners without ,baptism #age ,reckless ,twaddle #gh ,recognition of1 by ,sects #cja ,reflections for ,dancers #aab ,reformation a ,success #if ,reign of a ,thousand ,years #bfc ,religion and ,politics #ccf ,resurrection--,adamic ,sin #cbe ,resurrection of ,lazarus #hi ,revelation of the ,mystery #cgb ,riches of ,faith #ahh ,saved without ,baptism #bii ,scene in a ,hotel #cad ,sectarianism #ceg ,self-laudation #cbh ,shorter ,catechism of ,universalians #ddf ,small ,improprieties and ,annoyances #dji ,speak ,pleasantly #agi ,spirit of ,indifference #aah ,some ,things can not be ,settled #ej ,sound ,men #bbe ,subtleties about ,immersion #ib ,suggestions to a ,young ,sceptic #dhg ,success to ,good ,men #bee ,summary of ,arguments on the ,action of ,baptism #dee ,support ,workers #gg ,tediousness in ,public ,devotions #cbc ,tendency of ,universalism #adb ,the ,action of ,baptism #ddc ,the ,bible ,will ,save the ,world #ff ,the ,bible ,infallibly ,safe #ade ,the ,bible and ,bible ,men #dje ,the ,bible ,ground #dad ,the ,bible vs4 ,human ,creeds #dch ,the ,cause of ,christ is ,above ,partisan ,politics #dfi ,the ,christian ,ministry #dd ,the ,church in the ,wilderness #bbc ,the ,church of ,christ a ,proselyting ,institution #cca ,the ,converting ,power #dhj ,the ,fall of ,beecher #agf ,the ,genealogy of ,christ #bjf ,the ,grand ,work ,before ,us #c ,the ,ground of ,union #cf ,the ,kind of ,preaching ,required #hb ,the ,knowledge ,necessary ,before ,baptism #cea ,the ,love of ,christ ,constrains #dif ,the ,mission of ,infidels #acd ,the ,old and ,new ,testaments #ca ,the ,pardoning ,power is ,only in ,god #ddj ,the ,secret of ,success in ,preaching #cbb ,the ,shortness of ,human ,life #a ,the ,warning #cij ,the ,work of ,creation #h ,the ,work of the ,disciples #dag ,theory and ,practice #dgi ,things ,not ,forbidden #bij ,thirty ,years ,ago #cgf ,too ,late for the ,cars #bfi ,true ,missionaries #ah ,the ,new and the ,old #dfd ,universalism #ge ,universalism ,unbelief #bgd ,unprofitable ,servants #afe ,upward ,tendency--,reformation not a ,failure --,missionary ,work #cdc ,value of ,learning #adc ,various ,kinds of ,scepticism #ahj ,wandering ,pilgrims #bai ,wealth of ,alexander ,campbell #cjc ,we are a ,missionary ,people #hh ,we are ,no ,sect #bhf ,we have a ,perfect ,gospel to ,preach #cff ,what a ,preacher ,must ,be #dgg ,what ,we ,are ,for #ig ,what is ,essential #ajf ,what ,we ,know is ,right #ajg ,what is ,campbellism8 #aef ,what must ,i do to be ,saved #cag ,where is the ,army of the ,lord #bea ,where is the ,power #bac ,who ,crucified the ,savior #aie ,whom the ,lord ,receives #bid ,why ,infidels ,oppose the ,bible #dbc ,wielding the ,sword of the ,spirit #bhd ,will ,you also ,go ,away #ce ,women in the ,church #aid ,young ,preachers ,must ,be ,practical #aeg ,,preface4 ,the writings of no man among the ,christian ,brotherhood have been so universally popular as those of ,benjamin ,franklin1 save the extended writings of ,alexander ,campbell4 ,franklin's volumes of ,sermons1 ,debates and ,tracts1 together with his miscellaneous writings1 have for many years been in general demand1 and have met with ready sale4 ,no excuse is offered for this volume1 save that of public demand4 ,the public demanded the volume1 and it is1 therefore1 submitted4 ,none but the most choice selections1 gathered from numerous valuable writings1 have been allowed space in this volume4 ,the book is what it purports to be1 a collection of ,gems that sparkle in the light of ,heaven's ,truth as diamonds in the sky4 ,the reader1 by referring to the ,index1 can easily turn and get the views of the ,author on very many momentous subjects4 ,the volume will prove1 as we trust1 a monument to the memory of a great and good man1 and a treasure to every ,christian household4 ,the volume is sent forth with the prayer that the truth it contains may sanctify and make glad many1 many hearts4 ,j4 ,a4 ,h4 ,,the ,,shortness ,,of ,,human ,,life4 ,nation after nation rises1 enters and occupies a place among the nations of the earth1 falls1 and is only known in the faithful records of history4 ,generation after generation comes forth1 enters upon the great theatre of life1 throngs the world for a little while1 falls in death and passes into eternity4 ,upon an average1 about once in thirty-three years1 the whole of the inhabitants of the earth1 or as many as are upon it at any one time1 over one billion souls1 are carried beyond the reach of all missionary effort--beyond the reach of all repentance--all gospel invitations1 and so many as are not saved1 beyond all possibility of salvation4 ,during the same short period1 the preachers1 missionaries1 writers and professors of religion of one generation are all born where no mistakes can be corrected1 and no amendment for wrongs done1 or time trifled away1 can ever be made4 ,taking off from this time1 eighteen years for childhood1 only leaves about fifteen years for the vast work of personal preparation1 for a state of boundless duration in the pure and holy society of just men made perfect1 the angels of ,god1 ,jesus the mediator of the ,new ,covenant1 and ,god1 the ,judge of all4 ,it also leaves about the same length of time for the good and virtuous1 those with the love of ,god in their hearts1 and lovers of mankind to make an effort to save our race4 ,in this view of the subject--and no other can be justly taken--it will readily be perceived that what we do must be done quickly4 ,those who do anything for mankind1 must engage in the work immediately and with energy4 ,all who intend laying up a good foundation against the time to come--laying up treasure in heaven to which they can go1 and upon which they can rely when their temporal supports shall all fail1 must commence the work immediately1 persevere in it1 and abound during the short space afforded them4 ,there must be no delay1 for there is simply time enough to do what must be done immediately1 if done at all4 ,those who have never prepared to meet ,god1 have still greater reason to enter at once upon the examination of the subject4 ,with them1 everything to secure their eternal happiness1 so far as their own action is concerned1 is yet to be done4 ,how short the time1 in view of the amount to be done2 and how carefully every moment should be employed by every person who has not been reconciled to ,god4 ,what vast multitudes1 throng our streets1 lanes and highways1 who have never seriously thought upon1 much less taken the elementary steps1 to come to ,god1 and who will remain in their present condition1 unless arrested in their thoughtless career1 by those who have already tested the good word of ,god1 and felt the power of the world to come4 ,what an everlasting reason we find here for a most energetic1 persevering1 and godly effort to rescue them and bring them to ,god4 ,,the ,,grand ,,work ,,before ,,us4 ,the people ,god has raised up in the nineteenth century and founded upon the apostles and prophets1 ,jesus the ,christ1 the chief corner-stone1 have not been raised up in vain4 ,only a small part of their work is in history yet4 ,what has been done is only a drop to the bucket of the stupendous work to be accomplished4 ,it is only a foretaste1 an earnest of what is yet to come4 ,it is only the incipient movement1 the inauguration of the work1 the entering wedge4 ,the great body of the work lies in the future4 ,let no man become disheartened if a few faint-hearted do turn back and hanker after the flesh-pots of ,egypt4 ,in all great movements some of these have been found4 ,they were in the camps of ,moses and among the first followers of ,jesus4 ,they have been the timid1 faithless time-servers1 afraid of the people and lovers of the world4 ,but these are only spots in the feast1 mere blemishes1 and no more to the great body than the spots in the sun compared with that wonderful body4 ,these poor little souls that desire to be like the clergy1 or to be actual clergymen themselves2 that want titles1 and the people to call them ,dr41 ,rev42 that get on the white cravat1 the priestly coat buttoned up to the chin2 that drop on their knees and make a public private prayer1 as they enter the 8sacred desk10 and that teach the disciples to drop the head and offer a secret private public prayer before an assembly1 are not the men whom ,god sends4 ,they are the men who think the largest offer in money is the loudest call from ,god1 and the call which they obey most implicitly4 ,they can be bought and sold like sheep and oxen4 ,god never calls such men as these4 ,they are a burlesque on the religion of ,jesus ,christ2 the plainness1 simplicity and humility of our ,lord4 ,the idea has never entered into their heads to be servants of ,jesus ,christ4 ,their idea is to be masters4 ,they are not thinking of obeying1 unless to obey the men with the largest purses2 but their idea is to be obeyed4 ,they are not thinking of adoring1 but of being adored4 ,the third epistle of ,peter is the one in which they find their likeness1 and they are following the directions in that epistle4 ,some of these may be reformed1 and others will go to their own place4 ,they are not the men that run the world2 the world runs them4 ,but there is another class1 that do not worship at the same altar with these1 nor are they of the same stripe4 ,they do not draw their divinity from clerical titles or clerical attire1 nor from public private prayers1 from imitating ,jewish rabbis1 or sectarian rabbis1 from imitating ancient or modern ,pharisees or ,sadducees1 but from the living oracles of the living ,god4 ,they are not under the thumbs of rich men1 nor under the influence of high salaries2 nor ancient nor modern priests4 ,they cannot be bought and sold4 ,they are the ,lord's free men4 ,they have cut loose from the bondage of the world of sin1 of sectarianism and the clergy4 ,they belong to ,christ4 ,they get their gospel from him4 ,they are his servants4 ,they adore and worship him4 ,they are men of faith and of prayer1 too1 but when they pray in secret1 it is in secret1 where none but ,him who sees in secret sees them4 ,they know their ,bible and they are devoted to it4 ,there is a grand army of these1 we believe1 as time as the needle to the pole4 ,we cannot say that there are seven thousand in the field1 public preachers1 but we are astonished wherever we go to find such numbers of them1 and to find their firmness and determination in the faith2 and to learn1 too1 of the sacrifices they are making and the additional sacrifices they are determined and willing to make4 ,they are many of them living almost as economically as we did thirty years ago1 in our incipient work of opening the way4 ,when the ,british general found ,general ,marion living on roots1 and his men fighting without pay1 he admitted that the prospect of overcoming such men was gloomy4 ,so1 when our opposers see the glorious army of which we speak1 of faithful young men struggling with only a half support1 and1 in some instances1 not that1 and behold the love for the gospel1 the ,lord ,jesus and their fellow-men that impels them on2 and when they witness their determination1 zeal and energy2 that they cannot be discouraged1 disheartened and turned back1 they give up all idea of ever conquering them or withstanding them4 ,let not one word we are saying be construed into an excuse for any ,christian who has the ability not sustaining these precious men whom ,god has raised and put into the field4 ,nor need any one wait for a 8plan10 nor an 8organization10 or 8system40 ,plans1 organizations and systems give no money4 ,men and women must give the money1 if it is given at all4 ,no man who has the means1 and refuses to do his part1 according to the ability ,god has given1 to aid in this glorious work1 need flatter himself that he will be a partaker in the final reward4 ,according as a man sows shall he also reap4 ,we know that there are hard-hearted and sordid men in the church1 that do nothing of consequence1 and men of this sort that will never be any better4 ,they have but one idea ingrained and imprinted on their entire being1 and that is to hang on with a grasp like death itself to the goods of this world4 ,but the good and the true1 the men of faith1 and love1 and zeal2 the men who have their eye on a kingdom not of this world1 and who are devoted to saving men and women from ruin1 will not stop for these1 nor brood over them1 but turn away from them as they do from other abandoned characters who are past feeling1 and go on with their glorious work4 ,god will be with them1 and1 though poor in this world1 they will be rich in faith1 and the ,lord will hold them up4 ,but what has this great army of young preachers to do8 ,where is their work8 ,there is work enough for them to do4 ,the only fear we have is1 that when they look and see the vastness of the work1 they will think1 like one of old1 8,there be more against us than for us40 ,we have a vast amount of worldliness and carnality to drive out of the ,church2 conformity to the world2 love of pleasure more than love of ,god2 the love of ,christ to restore2 the gospel and the true worship4 ,where the cause has gone back1 it must be recovered2 where the gospel has been lost and superseded by something else1 it must be restored1 and where the worship has been corrupted1 it must be purified1 and the right way of the ,lord established4 ,men who do not love the gospel1 the worship and the things of ,god1 will slough off when everything is driven out that did not come from ,god2 when the only things they loved are taken away4 ,in a few instances entire congregations may be carried away with worldly policies and appliances2 but the whole number thus lost will amount to but little1 compared with the grand throng that will stand together for the faith once delivered to the saints1 and that will go on4 ,what remains for good men to do is1 to go on2 stand fast2 be strong in the ,lord and in the power of his might2 put on the whole armor of ,god and fight the good fight of faith1 and stand to the ,bible and nothing else1 and thus make the ,bible a grand power in the earth4 ,we have started with our ,bible1 and let us go on with it and carry it through the world4 ,we have a book that nobody denies1 except out and out skeptics1 and one of supreme authority4 ,let us assert and maintain its authority1 and carry it through the world4 ,all the other books that in any way rival it1 or are in anywise in the way of it1 must be set aside and rendered a dead letter4 ,there is not one particle of divine authority in anything that did not come out of the ,bible4 ,we must push all other books aside4 ,all the names not applied to the people and ,church of ,god in the ,scriptures must be repudiated and discarded1 and we must determine to speak of the people and ,church of ,god in the language of ,scripture4 ,this we can do2 to this1 no child of ,god can reasonably object4 ,there will be no difficulty in this1 when we shall have no other kind of people or ,church but the people and ,church of ,god4 ,while we have other kinds of people and churches1 we shall need other names for them4 ,but we shall have no trouble about this1 for they will select and give themselves other names1 such as they think fitting and appropriate4 ,all we have to do in the matter is to call them by the names they give themselves4 ,if they will not permit the ,lord to name them1 but will call themselves by some name not given to the ,lord's people in the ,bible1 it is their own doing1 not ours4 ,there is no reason why the ,lord's people should follow their example1 and not accept the designations found in ,scripture1 and use them exclusively4 ,if we are the ,lord's people1 we can be spoken of in the language of ,scripture2 if we are not1 then we might have some other name4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,creation4 ,after ,moses states the wonderful fact that 8,in the beginning ,god created the heaven and the earth10 without stating when it was1 only that it was 8in the beginning10 he proceeds to give a brief account of the state of things after this first fact1 and before the work of the six days4 ,he says3 8,the earth was without form1 and void1 and darkness was upon the face of the deep40 ,this state of things was preceded by the creation of the heaven and the earth4 ,the next thing in the successive acts was to operate on material created1 brought into existence2 to form or fashion it4 ,what was the first thing8 8,the ,spirit of ,god moved upon the face of the waters40 ,this was not bringing into existence1 but operating on that which was in existence4 8,and ,god said1 ,let there be light3 and there was light4 ,and ,god saw the light1 that it was good3 and ,god divided the light from the darkness4 ,and ,god called the light ,day1 and the darkness he called ,night4 ,and the evening and the morning were the first day40 ,here we have the work of the first day4 ,what was done on that day was not the same1 no matter how we describe it1 as the first act4 ,it was forming1 shaping1 operating on material previously brought into existence4 ,moses proceeds1 8,and ,god said1 ,let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters1 and let it divide the waters from the waters4 ,and ,god made the firmament1 and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament3 and it was so4 ,and he called the firmament ,heaven4 ,and the evening and the morning were the second day40 ,here we have the work of the second day1 like that of the first day1 forming1 fashioning and bringing order out of chaos4 ,this 8firmament10 that ,god made1 and 8called ,heaven10 is not the same as mentioned in the first verse1 but is included in the words3 8,the heavens and the earth40 ,this is the work of arrangement1 ordering1 etc4 ,then follow the gathering together the waters into one place1 and the bringing to view the dry land1 the naming of the dry land1 ,earth1 and the gathering together of the waters of the seas2 the ordering of the grass1 the herb1 the fruit-tree upon the earth4 ,this was the work of the third day4 ,then comes the ordering the heavenly bodies1 the great lights for day and night1 the dividing the light from the darkness1 etc41 the work of the fourth day4 ,all this is fashioning1 forming1 arranging1 ordering1 and not creating from nothing4 ,then follows the ordering of the waters1 to bring forth the fishes1 the fowl1 and all the inhabitants of the seas on the fifth day4 ,this is followed by the ordering the earth to bring forth the cattle1 the creeping thing1 and all the lower orders of the inhabitants of the earth1 and concludes the work of the sixth day by the creation of man1 or forming him in the image of ,god4 ,we have both the words 8made10 and 8created10 used and applied to this work of the six days1 where it is manifestly used in the sense of shaping1 forming1 fashioning1 ordering1 arranging1 and not in the sense of the word 8created0 in the first sentence in the ,bible1 where it manifestly means creating from nothing or bringing into existence4 ,this wonderful act of the ,infinite ,one1 of bringing into existence the heaven and the earth--this stupendous universe--may have been performed an indefinite period of time before the commencement of the work of the six days described by ,moses4 ,in this view there is no danger4 ,it makes the work of the ,creator none the less wonderful1 glorious and overwhelming4 ,it matters not how long before the work of the six days it was that 8,god created the heaven and the earth10 or brought the universe into existence4 ,nor need we be startled at this4 ,the work of the six days1 as described by ,moses1 is wonderful beyond all human imagination4 ,we can comprehend but little of it4 ,we may well exclaim1 as ,paul did1 in view of a different matter3 8,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of ,god6 ,how unsearchable are his judgments1 and his ways past finding out6 ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 or who hath been his counselor8 ,for of him1 and through him1 are all things2 to whom be glory forever4 ,amen40 ,,lotteries4 ,the entire lottery scheme is gambling4 ,the desire and intention in lotteries is to get money by a base method1 or1 in other words1 dishonestly4 ,the desire and intention is to get money without rendering an equivalent1 or to get something for nothing4 ,the man or company that conducts a lottery knows the precise per cent4 that is made in selling out the tickets4 ,if everything is conducted fairly2 that is1 what they call fairly2 that is1 to conduct according to their proposed rule1 some few would draw prizes of much value and some larger number will draw small prizes1 while the great body of them will draw nothing4 ,they simply give their money to make up the prizes that others draw1 and make a fine purse to run the establishment4 ,think of the following3 #a4 ,we do not profess to know1 but probably if the green ones that buy lottery tickets would pay #ajj1jjj for tickets1 all the prizes they would all draw would not amount to more than #ff1jjj1 thus leaving #cd1jjj in the concern4 ,this is swindle ,no4 #a1 to the tune of #cd1jjj6 #b4 ,there can be but very few who can draw prizes of any considerable value1 for there are but few of that kind in the concern4 ,the purchasers of lottery tickets would be astonished to know how few could possibly draw a prize to the amount of #a1jjj1 if enough would draw tickets to pay in #ajj1jjj4 #c4 ,they would be still more astonished to know how few can draw even small prizes1 and most of all astonished to know how few can draw anything4 #d4 ,the concern proceeds on a principle of dishonesty on both sides--the principle of getting something for nothing4 ,the man that studies how to do this1 and tries to accomplish it1 studies dishonesty and how to practice it4 ,in its very nature it is corrupting1 and must end in degrading a man4 ,young men ought to shun it as they would a viper4 ,,no ,,preachers ,,on ,,dancing1 ,,etc4 ,no man goes through the country delivering able and finely-prepared discourses advocating dancing1 going to theatres1 playing innocent games for amusement1 etc41 etc4 ,these things1 like the weeds in the garden1 need no advocates1 but come themselves1 and that1 too1 in opposition to all moral feeling1 restraints and entreaties4 ,they are not cultivated fruit1 but the spontaneous growth that must be removed before we can have the precious fruits of the ,spirit4 ,they are the fruits of the flesh1 of the carnal mind4 ,the man who builds up churches1 maintains the spiritual devotions1 order1 purity1 discipline1 elevates and ennobles humanity1 must work2 war against the flesh and all the works of the flesh2 cultivate1 be faithful and watchful4 ,he has something to do more than to inquire1 what harm is it8 ,the ,romish ,church has reached the climax in the easy system4 ,she makes her members chiefly of infants before they can make any successful resistance1 and then never excludes except for heresy4 ,in this way she has grown up to the enormous number of about two hundred million1 or one-sixth of the inhabitants of the world4 ,dancing1 drunkenness1 or any other works of the flesh except heresy forfeit no membership in that carnal body4 ,we do not want to go back toward that body4 ,there are more than seven thousand or seven times seven thousand1 remaining1 who have not consented to any departure1 who are to-day as determined for the truth1 the whole truth and nothing but the truth1 as ,a4 ,campbell was in the best days of the ,christian ,baptist1 and the man who talks to them about any new departure under the name of progression1 or any other name1 is not only idling away his time and talent1 but letting himself down in their estimation from the faith to sectarianism4 ,they estimate a man1 not by his learning1 his talent or money1 but by his love to the ,lord ,jesus the ,christ4 ,they judge of this love by his integrity to the ,lord1 as seen in a strict adherence to the gospel1 the teaching of the ,lord and his apostles2 his example2 his appointed worship2 all he said and did2 his devotion to the ,lord in all respects2 a settled and determined adherence to him in all things4 ,men may turn away from him1 and some will1 as some did under the eyes of the apostles4 ,whole churches will turn away and go to nothing1 and the names of some men will stand ingloriously connected with these ruins4 ,the first churches the ,lord established have long since been buried in ruins1 but the men who spread the desolation will not be overlooked in the eternal judgment4 ,they will there receive their last notoriety4 ,the ,lord has not raised the building now standing on the rock1 in vain1 but to stand the pillar and support of the truth4 ,the main body understand that they have entered into covenant with ,god1 and that they are bound by all the honor that is in them to maintain every inch of ground they have gained4 ,there is1 we believe1 salt enough in this body to preserve it4 ,it has the power and ,spirit of ,god in it2 and ,god will hold it up and perpetuate it when men who have it not will be forgotten4 ,by the grace of ,god it will stand till the ,lord comes4 ,let us labor to 8present it to him a glorious church1 without spot or wrinkle1 or any such thing40 ,,hardening ,,pharaoh',s ,,heart4 ,there are two senses in which things are ascribed to ,god4 #a4 ,when he does things directly1 as in the work of creation4 #b4 ,when he permits things to be done4 ,in this latter sense ,god raised up and hardened ,pharaoh4 ,it is simply in the sense of permission--permitted him to rise up and be hardened4 ,the hardening is also ascribed to ,pharaoh4 ,he hardened himself4 ,this was the direct act4 ,he did it4 ,when the holy writer is looking at the providence of ,god1 in permitting him to rise up into power1 and assigning a reason for it1 the explanation is made1 that it was done to make known his power in all the earth4 ,this is the sense in which ,god raises up kings and other rulers1 that are bad1 and uses them as vessels fitted for destruction4 ,he permits them to rule and rule badly1 do wickedly2 oppress the people1 as vessels of dishonor and wrath1 making them examples to all the earth1 in their overthrow and utter ruin1 to teach other rulers and the people that they are all in the hands of the ,lord4 ,the judgments of ,god have two different results on men1 either1 on the one hand1 to subdue the heart and lead to repentance1 or to harden the heart and lead to greater deeds of cruelty and oppression4 ,when the holy writer speaks of it1 in view of the case where men are hardened and become worse by it1 he says1 ,god hardened them4 ,in the other case1 where they are subdued and led to repentance by it1 he says1 ,god makes them 8vessels of mercy10 leads them to repentance and saves them4 ,the dealings of ,god are precisely alike in both cases1 but the result is different4 ,in one case it is a savor of life1 in the other of death4 ,the difference is not in the divine treatment1 but in the patients4 ,the one becomes a vessel of wrath1 and the other a vessel of mercy4 ,god is said to save the one and harden the other1 because we have the two results from the same treatment4 ,in that sense it is from ,god and ascribed to him1 in both the hardening and saving4 ,see the following3 8,at what instant ,i shall speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom1 to pluck up1 and to pull down1 and to destroy it2 if that nation1 against whom ,i have pronounced1 turn from their evil1 ,i will repent of the evil ,i thought to them40 ,see ,jer4 xviii4 #g1 #h4 ,this assures us1 that where a nation or a kingdom repent1 the ,lord turns away the threatened calamity4 ,the ,lord then states the case for a nation that shall turn away from the ,lord3 8,at what instant ,i shall speak concerning a nation1 and concerning a kingdom1 to build and to plant it2 if it do evil in my sight1 that it obey not my voice1 then will ,i repent of the good1 wherewith ,i said ,i would benefit them40 ,see ,jer4 xviii4 #i1 #aj4 ,this sets forth the foundation of making vessels of honor and of wrath4 ,god can make either the one1 or the other4 ,the ground of his doing this is their doing good and doing evil4 ,when ,god sent a judgment on ,pharaoh1 to subdue him and lead him to repentance1 he promised to repent and let the children of ,israel go2 but then hardened his heart1 broke his promise and refused to let them go4 ,this was repeated ten times on him1 and every time he broke his promise and he became still more hardened1 and ,god permitted him thus to go on till his overthrow1 thus making the power of ,god known in all the earth1 and making the hardened monarch of ,egypt an example to all the nations to follow4 ,no doubt ,god hardens men now in the same sense as he did ,pharaoh1 subdues and leads others to repentance as he did the ,ninevites1 who repented at the preaching of ,jonah4 ,,our ,,census4 ,in an age when people compare themselves with their neighbors1 look at the comparative size of their hymn books1 the size1 splendor and elegance of the temples in which they meet1 the amount of money they raise1 their church organs1 festivals1 choirs1 popular preachers and numerical strength1 the census is looked to with great concern2 but where people are greatly devoted to the ,lord1 diligently striving to please him and be accepted of him in the great day1 they are led to think of the piety of the people1 their purity1 their culture2 their faith1 and hope and love2 their efforts to save men and build up the kingdom of ,god1 and not to be troubled seriously about how they shall appear in the census4 ,we are vastly more concerned about maintaining the purity of the gospel1 the faithfulness of the preaching1 the discipline and order of the church1 the pure worship as prescribed in the law of ,god1 than we are about the census4 ,we are more concerned about how we appear before the ,lord than we are how we appear before man4 ,we are perfectly contented and satisfied with the things of ,god as set forth in ,scripture4 ,we are contented and satisfied with the very words and forms of speech in which ,god speaks to man4 ,we love the lowliness1 simplicity and humility of ,jesus4 ,it is the manifestation of infinite wisdom and goodness4 ,the wisdom of this world is foolishness with ,god4 8,the ,lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are vain40 ,he takes the wise in their own craftiness4 ,,true ,,missionaries4 ,the early members in our great movement in this country were nearly all preachers4 ,they read the ,scriptures to and talked with their neighbors1 explained matters to them1 and1 in many instances1 when the preacher came they were already convinced and ready for baptism2 or1 if they had been baptized ready for uniting on the ,bible4 ,this accounts for our having such large success by preaching a few discourses4 ,much of the preaching was done before the preacher came1 by private members and in private circles4 ,these were missionary people in the true sense4 ,they were in the work all the time4 ,they did not need games of amusement for pastime4 ,they had no time to spare4 ,they were all busy1 and all alive and at work4 ,the love and spirit of ,god were in them1 and the divine influence was shed all round4 ,they did not have a little missionary spasm1 pray a week for the spread of the gospel1 give a few dollars and do no more for three months or a year1 but they prayed for the spread of the gospel all the time2 kept at the work of spreading it all the time4 ,they had no trouble about plans1 but kept at the work1 and spread the gospel4 ,it can be spread in the same way again1 and is being thus spread largely now wherever it is spread at all4 ,if we honestly desire to spread the gospel of the grace of ,god1 to turn sinners to the ,lord1 free them from the manacles of sin and death1 and save them1 let us go to work and do it4 ,there is nothing to hinder us1 if we have the faith and love and zeal1 from carrying it forward to any extent4 ,the people are weary of sectarianism1 and ready to hear something intelligible on the way of salvation4 ,,no ,,departure ,,from ,,the ,,jerusalem ,,church4 ,if we are to depart from the ,jerusalem ,church because it was in its infancy1 and not reproduce the primitive church1 we should like to know how far we are to depart from it1 and in what4 ,if the faith and practice1 the precept and example of the primitive church may not be adopted now and followed2 if in all things we should not now have the same faith and practice1 precept and example they had1 we should be pleased for some expounder of the new doctrine to explain to us in what the departure shall consist1 and what rule we are to adopt now4 ,if we let go of the rule that governed the first church1 what rule shall we adopt8 ,if we cut loose from the divine1 shall we adopt a human rule8 ,if so1 what human rule8 ,some one of these already made8 or shall we have the presumption and folly to think we can make a better one than these human rules already in use8 ,we are not ready to cut loose from the ,jerusalem ,church1 its rule of faith and practice1 its precept and example4 ,we have more confidence in the old ground than ever1 and have no idea of departing from the ,jerusalem ,church1 its faith and practice1 precepts and example4 ,the men that will not stand on apostolic ground1 the faith and practice of the first church1 will not stand on anything long4 ,we want something reliable1 permanent1 sure and steadfast--a kingdom that cannot be moved4 ,in the old ,bible1 the old gospel and the old church1 we find it4 ,here is something to lean upon living and dying1 for this world and the world to come4 ,if we leave this1 all is uncertainty1 darkness and night4 ,let us 8hear what the ,spirit says to the churches10 and not he of those who 8depart from the faith10 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and not listen to 8unstable souls10 or those 8ever learning and never able to the knowledge of the truth40 ,,born ,,of ,,water ,,and ,,the ,,spirit4 ,there is but one birth mentioned or alluded to in the conversation with ,nicodemus4 ,there is but one kingdom mentioned or alluded to in the conversation4 ,the conversation is about one birth and entering into one kingdom4 ,the whole is in the phrase1 8,you must be born again10 or the previous phrase1 8,except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of ,god40 ,this figurative expression 8born again10 is precisely the same1 or includes the same as conversion4 ,a man born again is a man converted4 ,in being born again precisely the same agencies are employed1 and the same thing is accomplished as when a man is converted4 ,this is literally a man turned from darkness to light1 from the world to ,god4 ,this is not done by the agency of water without the agency of the ,spirit4 ,there is no such thing as a birth of water without the ,spirit4 ,a man is 8born again10 not by water without the ,spirit1 nor by the ,spirit without the water1 but 8born of water and of the ,spirit10 no matter how many fine theories are spoiled4 ,nothing leads to more useless theories and speculations than attempts to build a theory on a figurative expression4 ,the literal must always explain the figurative4 ,the clear and unfigurative language of the commission has precisely the same in it as the phrase1 8born of water and of the ,spirit40 8,he who believes and is immersed shall be saved40 ,believes1 in this passage1 is literal4 ,born of the ,spirit1 or1 which is the same1 8begotten of the ,spirit10 is figurative4 ,the meaning is the same as1 8,i have begotten you by the gospel10 or made you believers by the gospel4 ,begotten of ,god is made a believer of ,god4 ,begotten of the ,spirit is made a believer by the ,spirit4 ,it is in some instances ascribed to ,god in view of his being the ,author of it4 ,it is ascribed to ,christ in view of it being through his mediation4 ,it is ascribed to the ,spirit in view of his inspiring the apostles or speaking in them1 and thus making believers1 and those thus made believers are said to be begotten of the ,spirit1 and1 when immersed1 said to be 8born of water and of the ,spirit40 ,this is precisely all there is in it4 ,there is nothing about the resurrection in it1 the first resurrection or any other resurrection1 unless it be a resurrection to a new life4 ,nor is anything in the resurrection ever called 8a birth of the ,spirit40 ,we are perfectly aware that the dead will be quickened by the ,spirit1 and that the ,spirit of ,christ will quicken their mortal bodies2 that ,christ was the 8first-born from the dead10 the 8first-born among many brethren10 and that the dead will be raised at the sound of the trumpet1 but there is not one word about all this or an allusion to it in the conversation with ,nicodemus4 ,nor is there one word about or allusion to the everlasting kingdom in that conversation4 ,we must not make something out of that conversation that is not in it4 ,nicodemus was standing on his birth-right1 8born in thy house10 as expressed ,gen4 xvii4 #ac1 for membership4 ,the ,lord sweeps this away in one sentence3 8,except a man be born again he can not see the kingdom of ,god40 ,his being born in the house or family of ,abraham availed nothing4 8,flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of ,god40 ,no matter in whose family he was born nor whose blood coursed in his veins1 a man must be born again1 born from above1 born of water and of the ,spirit1 or he cannot enjoy the kingdom of ,god4 ,as the ,spirit is the agent through whom the gospel is preached1 and the gospel the instrument by which the ,spirit makes believers1 the agent is mentioned for the effect1 which is belief--made believers by the ,spirit and baptized into ,christ1 into one body4 ,it is of ,god1 of ,christ1 of the ,spirit1 of the apostles and by the word4 ,there is no such thing as the new birth without the ,spirit1 nor any such thing as entering into the kingdom of ,god or the body of ,christ4 ,the faith1 the work of the ,spirit in preaching the gospel1 through the apostles1 and baptism1 or1 figuratively1 8born of water10 must be present4 ,the man who believes the gospel with all his heart and is immersed into ,christ is 8born of water and of the ,spirit0 in the sense intended by the ,savior4 ,a ,,higher ,,morality ,,required4 ,we need a higher morality1 a more pure and unadulterated piety and greater simplicity of benevolence4 ,we do not want money extracted from the pockets of the people by the ,church offering them sensual gratification1 amusements and entertainments1 to say nothing of the ball1 the lottery and other gambling4 ,let us in the name of the ,lord and of religion1 in a manly way1 come directly to the people for means to support religion and ask them to give from love to ,christ1 and no matter if we do not obtain one-fourth the amount it will do ten times as much good4 ,the ,lord needs no money made by lotteries1 gambling1 fairs1 festivals1 or any such appeals to the lust of the flesh1 the human appetite1 the love of fine companies1 etc4 ,he needs no money only that given to him through love and devotion to his cause4 ,those who appeal to entertainments1 amusements1 fine companies of men and women1 the dance1 lotteries1 festivals1 fairs1 etc41 etc41 thus publish to the world their impression that there is more potency in these worldly and secular appliances than there is in the grace of ,god and the love of ,christ1 and we doubt not they find it to be so1 in raising money in their assemblies4 ,they have tried it and demonstrated it to be so4 ,we care not if it be so2 we care not if it has been demonstrated that the people will give more money for a monkey show than for the kingdom of ,god2 we will not resort to the monkey show2 nor do we care if they will give more money for revelling than for the holy cause for which ,jesus died2 we will not resort to the revelling4 ,there are other matters aside from the question1 how much money can we raise1 that must be kept in view4 ,we must maintain our piety1 devotion to the ,lord1 purity1 and must not be conformed to this world1 but transformed by the renewing of our mind4 ,we have never consented to this modern element that will appeal to anything and everything that will raise money4 ,it is not ,godliness1 nor the love of ,god1 but sensual2 it is devilish4 ,come directly to the children of ,god in the name of the ,lord and appeal to them for his sake to give1 to give freely and of a willing mind2 that 8it is more blessed to give than to receive10 and appreciate what is given in his name4 ,,poimeen--,,shepherd--,,evangelist--,,o verseer4 ,we will not go back to the ,old ,testament to find any office or officer in the kingdom of ,christ4 ,what currency1 then1 has the word 8pastor0 in the ,new ,testament8 ,the word is in the ,new ,testament1 in some translations1 in one place4 ,that is its entire currency in the new and everlasting covenant4 ,but then the word 8,easter0 is found in one place in the common version4 ,is that authority for ,easter8 ,if it is in the ,new ,testament in one place1 rightfully1 it is authority as much as if it were in fifty places4 ,but how does it happen to be there in one place8 ,if the translators had1 in that one place1 given us passover1 as they have done in every other instance to represent the same original1 we should have had no ,easter in the ,new ,testament4 ,in the same way1 if the translators had given us the word shepherds1 ,eph4 iv4 #aa1 as they have done in every other case to represent the same original word1 we should have had no pastor in the ,new ,testament4 ,on this one variation from the rule1 to translate poimeen1 shepherd1 hangs the 8pastorate10 so called1 the office for the pastor1 and we might add1 all the 8installations10 etc4 ,probably it is ,dr4 ,watts that exclaims1 with other matters before him3 8,great ,god6 on what a brittle thread hangs eternal things60 ,on what a slender prop hangs the pastorate6 ,still1 on this platform the pastors stand4 ,in one place and only one1 in some translations1 the original word for shepherd1 and so translated in every other place in the ,new ,testament1 is translated pastors4 ,when the common version appeared1 ,king ,james issued a proclamation commanding the translation to be read as the word of ,god4 ,if we obey this command we must read the ,latin word pastor as the word of ,god1 though the same translators give us shepherd as the ,english representative of the original word poimeen in every other occurrence of it in the ,new ,testament4 ,in this way we get divine authority in the word of ,god1 and human authority from ,king ,james1 not only for the unscriptural pastorate in the ,church of ,england1 but the equally unscriptural pastorate now trying to grow up among us1 first under one plausible pretext and then under another4 ,why translate poimeen1 shepherd1 in every other place1 and cover up the word shepherd with the ,latin word pastor in one place8 ,whatever idea the ,lord and the apostles intended to convey in this matter1 they deemed the one word sufficient4 ,what reason can any man give for representing the original word poimeen by the word shepherd in every instance but one1 and there using the ,latin word pastor8 ,rome loves ,latin4 ,it is not the vulgar tongue4 ,what reason is there for departing from the otherwise invariable rule and giving us pastor1 ,eph4 iv4 #aa8 ,why not give us 8,chief-,pastor10 or 8,arch-,pastor10 and not 8,chief-,shepherd80 ,why not style the ,lord 8the ,pastor of the sheep10 and not 8,shepherd of the sheep80 ,pastor would not read well as the correlative of sheep4 ,we hear sermons on the offices of our ,lord1 as ,king1 ,priest1 ,prophet4 ,why not have a sermon on his office as ,pastor8 ,then we might have a sermon on the office of the church as a flock1 or the office of the members as sheep4 ,could we not say flock's office1 sheep's office8 ,the ,lord has no such office as shepherd1 or1 in ,latin1 pastor4 ,there is no such office as pastorate1 nor officer as pastor4 ,there is not one word in the ,new ,covenant about the qualifications of a pastor1 the election of one1 the calling of one1 or the installation of one4 ,as the correlative of the word flock1 when the church is figuratively called flock1 the ,lord who cares for the flock and has the oversight of it is figuratively called ,shepherd1 or1 when the followers of the ,lord are figuratively called sheep1 the ,lord is figuratively called 8the ,shepherd of the sheep40 ,when the ,lord is called 8the ,chief-,shepherd10 or 8,arch-,shepherd10 the church is in view as the flock of which he is ,shepherd1 and the overseers in the church are under shepherds1 but there is no shepherd's office1 nor flock's office4 ,the bishops or overseers are as certainly bishops or overseers1 when figuratively called shepherds1 as if literally called overseers4 ,no other office or work is meant4 ,coming now to the practical matter1 we desire ,bible things and ,bible names for them4 ,we desire to preserve the church and everything in it as the ,lord gave it4 ,we desire1 in the matter in hand1 to prevent the creation of any new office in the church4 ,there is nothing new or unscriptural in the idea of an overseer who devotes himself wholly to the word and teaching4 ,there may be other overseers who do not give themselves wholly to the word and teaching4 ,then there is nothing unscriptural in an evangelist remaining with a church one1 two or more years1 to set in order things that are wanting1 assist in qualifying the church to take care of itself1 and preach the gospel to the community4 ,in this capacity he is not a church officer at all1 but doing the work of an evangelist4 ,he is not with the church to 8perform divine service0 for it1 to lord it over it1 or as a ruler1 nor permanently1 but assisting the church in her infancy and enabling her to take care of herself4 ,every preacher connected with any church is laboring in one of these two senses3 as an overseer who labors in the word and teaching1 or as an evangelist4 ,in the former capacity he may be there permanently4 ,in the latter capacity he is not there permanently1 but setting in order the things wanting1 with a view to qualifying themselves to every good word and work2 to instruct and edify one another in love1 but intending to go on to another place as soon as he has finished his work where he is4 ,but the overseer who labors in the word and teaching is not to assume any airs of authority1 or any great chair with his subordinates on more humble seats by his side4 ,we abominate all these great chairs1 pulpits and preferences for public men4 ,if they are good men they do not want them1 and if they are bad men they certainly should not be honored with them4 ,really great and good men are plain men--want no great chair nor great titles4 ,they need no priestly robes1 clerical coats nor titles4 ,they make a record that tells the story for them4 ,they do the work4 ,let us do the work1 seek the simplicity of ,jesus and the humility of children4 ,while we sing1 8,nearer1 my ,god1 to thee10 let us strive to live nearer to ,god and do our utmost to excel in understanding and practicing precisely what the ,lord has laid before us in the ,scriptures4 ,,call ,,no ,,man ,,reverend4 ,we will call no man ,reverend4 ,we make this a matter of conscience4 ,there is no more reason or gospel for addressing a preacher differently from other men than there is for a preacher to be attired differently4 ,if a man is not preacher enough to be known as a preacher1 without the white necktie or the priestly coat1 let him pass without being known4 ,we like to treat a preacher1 or even a ,roman priest1 with common civility1 but we do all that when we treat him as any other gentleman4 ,we want no preacher's garb nor titles1 and will recognize none of them4 ,many have those who have never been 8born again20 who are not in the kingdom of ,god--not ,christians4 ,,preacher ,,did ,,not ,,suit4 ,we must say a few things in the way of generals before we come to particulars4 ,we visited a church some years since1 and there was quite a general impression among the members that their preacher did not suit them--that he was not 8the right man in the right place10 etc4 ,many fine things were said1 as to the kind of a man they needed1 etc41 and the idea prevailed that they had better turn their preacher off and get another4 ,we suggested to them in a circle one day that possibly they had not at all discovered the real malady2 that possibly the main difficulty was not at all in reference to the kind of a preacher they needed1 but to the kind of a church they needed2 that possibly the change they needed could be effected by turning off the church and getting another and a better one4 ,,the ,,old ,,and ,,new ,,testaments4 ,we need a vast amount of instruction in regard to both the ,old ,testament and the ,new1 not only in the sunday-school1 but in the church1 the family1 and to individuals4 ,we need some thorough work in this matter4 ,much of what is now passing for teaching both the ,old ,testament and ,new is in no proper sense teaching either the ,old or ,new ,testament4 ,the general idea is1 that the ,old ,testament embraces all the sacred writings or the books of the ,bible1 beginning with ,genesis and ending with ,malachi1 and that the ,new ,testament embraces all the sacred writings or books of the ,bible1 beginning with ,matthew and ending with ,revelation4 ,such is the sense in which these terms are now used4 ,when it is said1 the ,old ,testament is abolished1 the idea generally received is that all the sacred writings1 or the books of the ,bible1 from the beginning of ,genesis to the end of ,malachi1 are set aside1 of no use1 and not to be studied4 ,this is a very superficial view1 and one that in no sense comprehends the matter4 ,the word 8testament0 means covenant1 and the ,old ,testament is simply in the ,bible sense the ,old ,covenant4 ,this was made with the seed of ,abraham1 or fleshly ,israel1 and includes what ,paul calls 8the law40 ,this is what he calls 8our pedagogue to bring us to ,christ40 ,it is not 8school-master0 as the common version has it1 but pedagogue4 ,his office was different from that of school-teacher4 ,it was to take charge of the children from the time they started from their homes till they reached the school-room and put under the teacher4 ,this was the office of the law of ,moses1 to take charge of the seed of ,abraham1 ,israel according to the flesh1 and bring them to ,christ the ,school-teacher4 ,paul does not say1 as some quote him1 8,the law is our school-master to bring us to ,christ10 but being a ,jew1 and speaking as such1 he says1 8,the law was our pedagogue to bring us to ,christ10 the ,school-teacher4 ,this law1 containing a full development of all that was in the covenant with the seed of ,abraham1 or fleshly ,israel1 is what was abolished1 had waxed old1 and was ready to vanish away in ,paul's day4 ,this most certainly did not include the history in the five books of ,moses1 or any other history in the ,old ,book1 commonly called the 8,old ,testament10 the book of ,job1 the ,psalms1 ,proverbs1 or the ,prophecies4 ,none of these are abolished1 but are all of as much value to those under ,christ1 and as legitimate books for study1 as they ever were to any people in any age of the world4 ,they are not included in the law1 or the covenant1 or in what was abolished1 but have a relation to the gospel1 to those in the kingdom of ,christ1 and are of immense value4 ,by making ourselves well acquainted with the sacred writings1 the dealings of ,god with man1 and the portions of revelation given in various manners and at sundry times1 we can see as we can in nature now that we have revelation through which to read it1 that there was one ,divine ,mind before the beginning of time that looked down through the ages1 and by the agency of men that did not understand him1 carried out his wise and gracious counsels according to his eternal purpose4 ,going back to the early sacred writings found in the ,old ,book we look down through these writings to ,christ1 the kingdom of ,god1 the gospel1 as one looking through a telescope at objects in the distance2 but1 standing at the other end of revelation1 we look up through the ,new ,book containing the revelations given at later periods to the persons and events of the ,old ,book1 as one who turns the telescope the other end foremost1 and bring ,moses and the prophets down near to us4 ,christ is the soul of the ,bible1 the theme of the revelation from ,god to man4 ,turn the portions of revelation given at early periods1 next to the eye and look down through the ,bible1 and through the ages to ,christ1 and then turn the last part of revelation to the eye1 and look up through it to ,christ1 and we thus find that it all centers in ,him 8who is ,head over all things to the church40 ,it is not right in the church1 family1 or anywhere1 to teach the ,old ,scriptures exclusively1 or the ,new1 but teach both1 in their relation to each other4 ,the ,new can not be thoroughly and successfully studied without the ,old1 nor the ,old without the ,new4 ,the popular custom of memorizing and repeating verses in view of prizes to the most successful1 or the study and answer of such questions1 as who was the first man1 who was the oldest man1 who was the meekest man1 etc41 gives us no understanding of the ,scriptures4 ,much of this is a mere exercise of the memory1 and there is nothing in it to make a pious impression1 or give any comprehension of the mind of ,god4 ,it appears at times wonderful how many things can be taught1 and correctly enough too1 about the ,bible1 and at the same time keep out of view entirely the divine purpose1 the very import and intention of the wonderful book professedly taught4 ,the eternal purpose of ,god1 running through the ,bible from side to side1 as it does through the works of nature1 should be taught and kept in view1 not to find any definite number that will certainly be saved or lost1 but to find the ,lord's ,anointed1 his gospel and kingdom2 a revelation of the mystery1 an unfolding of the secret hid in ,god from before the beginning of time1 but now made manifest1 and by the ,scriptures of the prophets1 according to the commandment of the everlasting ,god made known to all nations for the obedience of faith4 ,,will ,,you ,,also ,,go ,,away4 ,no matter how many go the wrong way1 nor how popular they are1 nor how much money they have1 the ,lord is able to bring them to judgment1 and he will most certainly do it4 ,when the people went away from the temple and abandoned him1 and only a few disciples remained with him1 and he inquired of them3 8,will you also go away80 the prospect looked dim1 but the ,lord did not change his course4 ,when he expired on the cross the enemies exulted and triumphed2 but their triumph did not last long4 8,he was quickened by the ,spirit40 ,god raised him up4 8,he was justified by the ,spirit40 ,the armies in heaven were with him4 ,the upper world was in motion4 ,god vindicated him1 as he did all who will listen to him4 ,when they burned ,tyndale at the stake they thought they had put him down2 but1 while the names of his persecutors have1 with few exceptions1 gone into oblivion1 the name of ,tyndale is held in esteem by all good men4 ,the name of ,luther will live to the end of time1 while the time-servers who opposed him are rapidly sinking into forgetfulness4 ,the man that leads the people to ,god1 to the ,lord ,jesus1 by the gospel1 and maintains the will of ,god1 will abide forever2 while the man that tries to catch the giddy throng with a little show of some human devices1 and who may attract their attention for a time1 will pass away and be forgotten forever4 ,we are for progress in the true sense in every department1 but not for the progress backward4 ,we are for the progress in the church that goes forward and converts sinners1 and builds up churches2 that infuses piety1 devotion to ,god and to the right way of the ,lord2 but not for the progress that is nearly all money1 and almost no work4 ,we are for the progress that goes forward and not backward4 ,,the ,,ground ,,of ,,union4 8,in what are ,christians to be united80 ,they are to be united on ,christ--on being ,christians4 ,this embraces the entire revelation from ,god to man1 all the truth uttered1 the commandments given and the promises made by our heavenly ,father4 ,the truth must all be believed1 the commandments obeyed1 and the promises must be hoped for4 ,this includes the entire faith1 obedience and hope of the gospel4 ,in this we must be united4 ,,ii4 8,what are the essentials of ,christianity which can not be compromised80 ,christianity itself1 as a whole and in all its parts1 is essential4 ,all that is in it is essential1 and all that is not in it is not essential4 ,we are for christianity itself1 not in part1 but the whole of it1 as it came from the infallible ,spirit of all wisdom and all revelation4 ,it is all essential4 ,nothing may be added to it or taken from it4 ,the 8doctrines and commandments of men10 the doctrines of 8expediency10 of 8deductions0 and 8inferences10 from principles1 are not essential2 but these are not christianity1 nor any part of it4 ,nothing in christianity can be compromised except at our peril4 ,the wisdom of ,god gives us no non-essentials4 ,if the wisdom of man pronounces anything given by the wisdom of ,god1 or1 which is the same1 any part of christianity1 non-essential1 such wisdom of man must be set aside as presumptuous4 ,what an idea for men to sit on the grave question of essentials and non-essentials1 in the divine institution given by our ,lord and confirmed by the most indubitable signs and wonders6 ,what part of that which has been given by the wisdom of ,god is essential1 and what part is not essential8 ,it is all essential1 or the wisdom of ,god would not have given it1 and the authority of ,god would not have required it4 ,the very circumstance that the infinite wisdom devised it and the infinite authority required it makes the whole of christianity binding4 ,there is not a non-essential in it4 ,,iii4 8,how far is diversity to be tolerated80 ,we are all required to 8speak the same thing10 to 8teach no other doctrine10 to 8preach the word10 to preach no 8other gospel10 to teach the things that become 8sound doctrine10 and if we 8speak not according to his word it is because there is no light in us40 ,in one word1 we are not to have 8all sorts of doctrine from all sorts of teachers10 but to 8earnestly contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints40 ,,iv4 8,how shall we reconcile the right of private judgment with the right of the ,church to maintain the faith in its purity1 and still preserve the unity of the faith which the word of ,god enjoins80 ,the way we have done it for fifty years past4 ,we have had the light of private judgment1 and1 at the same time1 maintained the faith in its purity and preserved the unity of the faith as enjoined in ,scripture4 ,demonstration is better than theory4 ,we have brought the people from all parties1 united them in the one faith1 made them one in the unity of the ,spirit1 with the exception of a few erratic spirits1 but we have not had more of these than they had in the time of the apostles4 ,they and their mission were predicted in ,scripture1 and they have come and fulfilled the predictions of the ,lord and the apostles without intending or knowing it1 and thus furnished an additional evidence that the ,scriptures are divinely inspired4 ,,in ,,season ,,and ,,out ,,of ,,season4 ,there are times when general apathy prevails2 when it appears impossible to rouse the people to anything like an appreciation of the things of the kingdom of ,god and the name of ,jesus ,christ2 when the hearts of the people appear to be closed against all that can be said or done to save them4 ,they frequently hear at such times1 act as orderly as ever1 and show as much respect to the gospel2 but they do not have the heart and soul in it1 and can not be moved to action4 ,their emotional nature appears to be utterly inaccessible4 ,there are again times when the hearts of the people are open4 ,they not only hear the truth1 pay a decent respect to it and admire its beauties1 but1 with joy1 they receive it into good and honest hearts1 believe it to be the salvation of their souls4 ,it melts them down1 fills their hearts to overflowing and moves them to obedience4 ,this much we know to be fact4 ,we have tried to see the cause of this fact1 but do not claim that we can see the cause1 nor do we see any particular importance in seeing the cause1 but we ought to turn the fact to account4 ,how can this be done8 ,paul has a period1 or state of things1 that he styles 8in season10 and another that he styles 8out of season40 ,there is a time to sow and a time to reap1 a time to dress the vineyard and a time to gather the fruit4 ,these periods1 when the hearts of the people are open1 are the harvest times--the time for gathering in the ripe grain ready for the harvest--for turning sinners to the ,lord4 ,no matter about the cause of it2 there is the opportunity2 and we should be ready and go into the harvest and gather precious souls into the fold of ,christ4 ,a door is now open and let no man waste his time about the cause of this opening1 but while the way is open go up and possess the land4 ,never mind explaining how the ,lord opened the heart of ,lydia1 that she attended to the words spoken by ,paul1 nor how the ,lord now is opening the hearts of the people2 it is enough for the man of ,god to find that the hearts of the people are open1 and that they will attend to the word of the ,lord when it is spoken4 ,go on and speak to them the word of the ,lord--the words of everlasting life--turn them to ,god and save them4 ,,eating ,,the ,,lord',s ,,flesh ,,and ,,drinking ,,his ,,blood4 ,john vi4 #dh1 we find the words of the ,lord1 8,i am the bread of life40 ,the ,lord adds the remark to the ,jews1 8,your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness1 and are dead40 ,it had no power to perpetuate life only for a short time2 but he continues1 verse #ej1 8,this is the bread which comes down from heaven1 that a man may eat thereof and not die40 ,it will be noticed that his flesh did not come down from heaven1 and that bread which came down from heaven is that of which if a man shall eat he shall not die4 ,then he follows with the remark1 8,i am the living bread which came down from heaven4 ,if any man eat of this bread0 7which came down from heaven7 8he shall live forever2 and the bread that ,i will give is my flesh1 which ,i will give for the life of the world40 ,here he uses the flesh1 as that which they saw and dealt with in crucifying him metonymically1 or a part for the whole4 ,the ,jews1 however1 understood him to mean his flesh literally1 and so does the ,romish church1 and the ,jews inquired1 8,how can this man give us his flesh to eat80 ,the ,lord did not explain the matter to them1 but added1 verse #ef1 8,except you eat the flesh of the ,son of man1 and drink his blood1 you have no life in you40 ,they were looking at it in the literal sense1 and did not see how they could eat his flesh1 or how the eating of it could give life4 ,the doctrine of transubstantiation had not yet been born1 and the idea of the bread and wine being changed1 in the ceremony of consecration1 into the real flesh and blood1 so that they could eat the flesh and drink his blood in the communion1 had not yet entered into the minds of men4 ,nor did our ,lord mean any such thing1 but he himself1 who came down from heaven1 is that bread of life which if a man shall eat he shall never die4 ,but the eating is not literal1 any more than the bread is literal or the flesh4 ,we partake of that bread1 or of him who came down from heaven by hearing of him1 believing on him1 and being united with him4 ,in becoming his disciples1 learning of him and following him in all things1 we eat or partake of that bread1 or of him who is the way1 and the truth and the life4 ,he proceeds1 8,he who eats my flesh1 and drinks my blood1 has eternal life2 and ,i will raise him up at the last day40 ,see verse #ed4 ,he who believes on him1 receives him1 follows him1 loves him and obeys him1 in the sense he intended1 eats his flesh and drinks his blood2 but not in the communion any more than in the other parts of his teaching1 or other appointments4 ,in coming to ,christ1 and becoming his disciples1 we are made partakers of him1 of 8the divine nature10 and our salvation is in him4 8,my flesh is food indeed10 says he1 8and my blood is drink indeed4 ,he who eats my flesh1 and drinks my blood1 dwells in me1 and ,i in him40 ,following him a little further on1 verse #eg1 he says1 8,as the living ,father has sent me1 and ,i live by the ,father1 so he that eats me1 even he shall live by me4 ,this is the bread that came down from heaven2 not as your fathers did eat manna1 and are dead2 he who eats this bread shall live forever40 ,see verse #eh4 ,the eating is partaking of ,christ1 the bread that came down from heaven2 this is done by faith1 in receiving1 following and obeying him2 doing his commandments1 that we may enter by the gates into the city1 and have a right to the tree of life4 ,,church ,,organization4 ,men may talk of the power of those large combinations1 governed by a few leading spirits or one leading spirit as the case may be1 where office and not character or ability gives power2 but while such an arrangement may create in its adherents a desire for office1 to give them influence and authority1 they will neglect the purity and excellence of good character and ability1 which are the only things which should give any one respect and influence among the people of ,god4 ,but1 in the absence of such character and ability as will give a man influence and power among the followers of ,jesus ,christ1 some may become enraged because we do not form some kind of an organization that will give the desired power by virtue of an office4 ,such a power as this we hope never to see established in the church of ,god4 ,if men wish power and influence let them act in such a manner as will be worthy of1 and command them2 and then they will know how to use1 and not abuse them4 ,our present organization1 little as some men seem to think of it1 has maintained a general state of union1 and has made a concentrated effort for the conversion of the world1 unequalled by any body of people about us4 ,while other religious bodies have been divided and distracted by the frivolous worldly questions of our times1 we1 as a people1 stand firm and unshaken1 under the guidance of ,him who gave us both a natural and a religious being4 ,some one will inquire1 what do you plead for8 or what do you vindicate8 ,it will be said2 it is of no use to be exciting fearful apprehensions1 and at the same time setting forth nothing tangible4 ,we will1 therefore1 make an effort to set out something definite and tangible4 #ast4 ,we do not want any general combination1 in the form of an ,association1 ,conference1 ,synod or ,council1 to govern the churches4 #b;d4 ,we do not want any such body of men to decide who shall be our ministers1 or how they shall be supported4 #c;d4 ,we do not want any such body of men to decide who shall be our publishers4 #dth4 ,every congregation properly organized1 has the right to govern its own members1 either in itself1 or by calling to its assistance neighboring churches and evangelists4 #eth4 ,all letters of commendation1 or sentences of condemnation1 depend wholly for their authority and influence with those to whom they may be presented1 upon the intelligence and moral worth of the body whence they emanated4 ,hence a minister 8whose praise is in all the churches10 and who may be 8chosen of the churches10 to perform any certain mission1 must have more weight and influence among the people where he goes1 than he who is destitute of such commendation4 #fth4 ,we want voluntary organizations for missionary purposes1 the distribution of bibles1 tracts1 books1 etc41 etc41 all of which we have a right to form in any way which we may conceive most conducive to the interests of the ,redeemer's cause4 ,,the ,,christian ,,ministry4 ,the ,church of ,christ was not made for the preachers1 but the preachers of ,christ were made for the world and the church4 ,the ,church of ,christ does not belong to the preachers of ,christ--it is not their property--but they belong to the church--are its property4 ,the church is not the servant of the preachers1 but preachers of ,christ are servants of the churches4 ,the ,church of ,christ is not called and sent by preachers1 but preachers are called and sent by the church4 ,preachers in the kingdom of ,christ are no more dignitaries1 kings1 and priests1 than any other members4 ,they are the ,lord's instruments1 put forth through the church to do his work1 and mighty instruments too1 while the ,lord is with them1 but the poorest1 most useless and miserable creatures on this earth when forsaken of ,god4 ,or1 in other words1 when they are doing the ,lord's work1 with an eye single to his glory1 there are no such instruments for good among men2 but when they become selfish1 engage simply in their own work1 or that which they can turn to their own personal aggrandizement1 their usefulness ceases1 and they are dead weights upon the cause4 ,our ,lord's own life is the model of all perfection in human character1 both public and private4 ,no community need look for any permanent good from any preacher who does not imitate the character of his ,lord and ,master4 ,he may be much of a gentleman1 very fine1 pleasant and interesting to worldly-minded persons1 and not do any thing or say any thing that would remind any one of the ,savior of the world4 ,but to come under the name of a preacher of ,christ1 a disciple of ,christ1 and not be like him1 not make men think of him1 love him1 and desire to come to him1 is a deception upon the church and the world4 ,,progressing ,,backward4 ,if some of the movements now on foot are to be tolerated1 there is no reason for our existence as a body4 ,if we want organs1 gorgeous temples1 ,catharine wheels1 clerical orders1 superior courts1 organizations and numerous societies1 aside from the local congregations of the ,lord1 the ,pope can supply any demand for any or all of these4 ,if there are 8means of grace10 he is rich in means4 ,he can furnish them an outlet for their overwhelming benevolence in the innumerable channels he has opened4 ,if the great problem is how to reach the pockets of the people and build expensive temples1 put up tall spires and chimes of bells1 he has solved it4 ,he has swarms of men1 and women1 too1 doing his bidding and under fine pay1 living on the fat of the land4 ,he has a system1 a plan1 an organization1 a grand one2 the broadest one ever made by man4 ,here is the opening for men who long for something of that sort4 ,there is no use in mincing the matter1 nor in half-way measures4 ,why not at one bound go right up to the grand culmination of all this kind of progress8 ,there is no use in trudging along behind the ,pope1 when a man can go to him and be received into his embrace at once4 ,what a farce for men to be talking of progress1 going on to perfection1 keeping up with the age1 etc41 etc41 when they are giving up and retrograding from the grandest progress possible to men--the progress up to the ground consecrated by the feet of the apostles and first ,christians4 ,talk of progress when going back to the feeble and exploded schemes of sectarians and patronizing their shallow devices6 ,progress1 indeed1 to turn away from the holy gospel1 the power of ,god to salvation1 and scheme to catch people and draw them in by the blandishments of fine houses1 theatrical1 musical shows and clerical pretentions6 ,no1 brethren1 all this is empty and powerless for good1 and yielding up to the influences of hardness of heart1 and aiding on that overwhelming avalanche of unbelief now coming upon us4 ,we must stand by our ,lord and the simplicity of the gospel1 its faith and practice1 worship and discipline4 ,we can defend and maintain the gracious system of mercy and grace given by our ,lord1 in its own native purity1 but we can maintain nothing else4 ,there must be no wedge of gold in the camp1 no ,achan4 ,we must offer no strange fires on ,god's altar4 ,the ,lord directs our minds and hearts and keep us in the love of ,christ4 ,we long to see those who trouble us cease to give pain to the hearts of the friends of the ,lord2 to learn to be happy themselves and make others happy4 ,,no ,,division ,,can ,,come4 ,no general division can come4 ,the main ground we occupy precludes the idea of any general division4 ,a vain man1 or a bad man1 may occasionally scatter a flock1 tear up a church and ruin it4 ,but1 then1 such a man will soon find his level and come to nothing1 or become surrounded by influences strong enough to control him4 ,there is no machinery of which he can get hold to produce a general division1 nor is there any place where an entering-wedge can be introduced to rive us asunder4 ,no man can depart from the doctrine sufficiently to produce a division1 without losing his influence1 so that he will have no power to do anything more than lead off an insignificant faction1 such as will die out in a short time4 ,take any one of the elements now annoying us1 and tell us how a general division can grow out of it4 ,you will see that it can not be done4 ,take1 for instance1 the question about evangelizing and the different methods insisted on1 and inquire how we can divide on it4 ,one man is for this plan or that1 and goes for it4 ,another man is not for this plan or that1 and goes against it4 ,the one for it1 works for it1 and the other does not4 ,after a little space the difference will wear out1 and they will fall into the same channel and work together4 ,different schemes will be tried1 found inefficient and useless1 and be abandoned4 ,after the brethren have time to mature the matter they will come round to the right ground and go on in harmony4 ,unscriptural things will be discarded1 impracticable things will prove failures1 and shallow things will be treated with contempt4 ,men that are unlovely1 of bad spirit1 spiteful and revengeful1 will soon develop themselves to the satisfaction of all4 ,true men--men of faith and love and zeal--will go on and work where the ,lord shall open the way for them2 not for man1 nor to please man1 but for the ,lord1 and to please the ,lord1 and the work will go on4 ,men that will not work1 that have no work in them1 but want large pay1 will seek fat places1 and get them1 if they can1 and if they can not1 croak about our lack of system1 disorder1 want of organization and the like1 pine away and vanish out of sight4 ,but may we not have a general division about the organ8 ,not at all4 ,we have none among us that will exclude us if we will not fellowship the organ4 ,this is all the difficulty there is4 ,some of us will not worship with the organ nor fellowship it4 ,will not that divide us8 ,not at all4 ,those who would rather have their organ in their worship1 than those who will not1 and can not worship with it1 will have it1 and let those who can not worship with it1 stay away4 ,those who can not worship with it will seek some place where they can worship without it1 and worship as they know to be according to ,scripture4 ,they know this to be safe4 ,,some ,,things ,,can ,,not ,,be ,,settled4 ,we once acted on a committee with several others1 heard testimony and arguments for a week1 and had the parties bound in writing to abide the decision of the committee4 ,when the decision was made the parties acquiesced in it1 shook hands over it1 and we prayed over them and were all happy4 ,but in a short time1 we do not remember whether a week or a month1 the whole matter was thrown aside and the parties stood as they did before4 ,our prayerful and patient work all went for nothing4 ,when brethren become alienated they frequently do not want to settle their difficulties1 but to get an advantage over an opposing party4 ,no court of appeal nor anything we can say will reconcile them4 ,if we1 in any part of the affair1 agree with them1 they there agree with us2 but if we in any part of it differ from them they there differ from us4 ,there the matter ends4 ,still1 we will try and give a little attention to the matters in hand4 ,there are cases where nothing can be done4 ,in other words1 there are cases that can not be settled4 ,church members become like the man's rails that had been in a crooked fence so long that they would not make a straight fence4 ,church-members sometimes have been crooked so long that they will not become straight4 ,they continue in their alienation so long that it becomes a kind of habit with them and food for them4 ,they can not do well without it4 ,if a church is about equally divided by a difficulty and can not settle the matter among themselves1 and will not refer the matter to a committee1 it simply can not be settled4 ,a case that can not be settled must remain unsettled4 ,we answer1 that in that case nothing can be done4 ,some cases of difficulty will never be settled in this world1 and will have to be referred to the last judgment for adjudication4 ,it would be well1 though1 in such a case as stated1 for the disaffected party to consider the matter well1 and see to it that they have acted wisely and in the ,spirit of the ,lord in the whole matter4 ,on the other hand1 the church party should review the whole ground carefully1 and see to it that all they can do to open the way for the disaffected party to become reconciled and brought into the unity of the ,spirit and the bond of peace be done4 ,let no stone remain unturned1 no effort untried and nothing remain undone that might bring peace4 ,,outward ,,appearance4 ,we have made a standing arrangement for paper this year1 of which the present pamphlet is a sample1 and we shall do our utmost to have the whole volume printed in a neat and legible manner4 ,as to fine paper1 covers1 etc41 they are like fine clothes only necessary to encase the bodies and souls which will not pass without them4 ,you have1 no doubt1 seen the preacher wrapped in the finest broadcloth1 and a golden chain for a watch-guard1 who1 after a labored effort for an hour would only prove that he was a human frame1 finely clad1 but no preacher4 ,in clothing our thoughts in pamphlets1 as in clothing our persons1 the proper rule should be1 to have the apparel just such as not to be noticed at all1 and then the thoughts in the pamphlet or the man himself may be seen4 ,let the attire be neat enough not to be observed for its shabbiness1 and plain enough not to be noticed for its fineness1 that the person in the attire may be seen4 ,it is true1 it is desirable to have a paper printed plain and neat1 but all this and fine paper into the bargain will never make it go1 if there be not some life1 spirit and power in the articles themselves4 ,some men seem astonished that their publications do not circulate1 seeing that they contain such a display of the most elegant literary taste1 not seeming to be aware of the fact1 that not one common reader out of fifty ever perceives the mighty effort at all4 ,yet there can be no objection to fine style4 ,the difficulty in that class to which we refer1 is not that they write in fine style1 but that there is nothing but the style--neither soul1 body1 nor spirit4 ,,little ,,matters4 ,it may seem strange that a human body1 weighing one hundred and fifty pounds1 would be disturbed by a little thorn in it1 not an eighth of an inch long6 ,but1 strange as it may appear1 it is a fact4 ,and you can not accustom the body to it by piercing the thorn in deeper and deeper1 till the body will become easy and comfortable2 but you can in that way produce irritation1 then inflammation1 then mortification1 and then death4 ,death has been produced in this way many times4 ,he is no friend to the body who continues to push the thorn in deeper and deeper1 nor is he who would excuse him in so doing1 or encourage him in it4 ,there is but one remedy1 and that is to remove the thorn4 ,even if you have to make the wound much larger than it is1 the thorn must be removed1 or the end will be death4 ,there are cases in which a thorn might be pierced into the flesh an inch1 and produce no pain or irritation2 but they are cases where there is no life in the flesh4 ,a thorn pierced into a dead body will produce no pain or irritation4 ,a dead body has no power to resist it1 and will make no effort4 ,this is the reason precisely that a thorn produces no irritation or pain when pierced into certain bodies4 ,they are dead bodies4 ,it is no indication that the body is not alive and in healthy condition1 to find it resisting foreign matter1 and making an effort to remove obstructions2 but when it can not do this1 the body must die4 ,it can not live and the obstruction remain1 at least1 only for a short time4 ,but who will permit even a little thorn to remain in his flesh8 ,we care not how little it may be2 it is foreign1 it is irritating1 and1 unless removed1 will produce death4 ,it was a little thing for ,eve to partake of the forbidden fruit4 ,thomas ,paine inquired1 8,what harm was there in eating an apple80 ,this is the watchword with all the unlawful things that people desire to do4 8,what harm is it80 ,when we worship according to ,scripture we never inquire1 8,what harm is it80 ,it is not in doubt1 and calls out no such inquiry4 ,it is not under any suspicion4 ,to worship according to ,scripture is manifestly right4 ,why should we lag in anything in doubt1 under suspicion1 and repulsive to any portion of the body1 when we have a divinely-prescribed worship held in no doubt8 ,it was a little thing for ,achan to take a ,babylonish garment1 some silver1 and a wedge of gold1 and secrete them in his tent2 but when he came to confess1 it was not a little matter4 ,he said3 8,i have sinned against the ,lord ,god of ,israel40 ,on account of this little matter1 three thousand men were defeated1 and ,israel disgraced4 8,joshua said1 ,why hast thou troubled us8 the ,lord shall trouble thee this day4 ,and all ,israel stoned him with stones1 and burned them with fire1 after they had stoned them with stones40 ,here is a fine sample of little matters1 and of troubling the people of ,god with little matters4 ,see ,joshua vii4 #ai-bf4 ,it was a little matter for ,uzza to 8put forth his hand to hold the ark20 but he fell dead on account of it4 ,see #a ,chron4 xiii4 #i4 ,he appeared to have been friendly to the ark1 sincere1 etc41 but his touching the ark brought death4 ,what harm was there in touching the ark8 ,it did not injure it4 ,it may be that he saved it from falling4 ,but he violated the law of ,god4 ,he incurred the anger of ,god4 ,what became of them who offered strange fire on ,god's altar8 ,see ,lev4 x43 8,and ,nadab and ,abihu1 the sons of ,aaron1 took either of them his censer1 and put fire therein1 and put incense thereon1 and offered strange fire before the ,lord1 which he commanded them not4 ,and there went out fire from the ,lord1 and devoured them1 and they died before the ,lord40 ,that was a little matter2 only slightly tampering with the worship2 simply introducing a new element1 which the ,lord commanded them not1 or did not command them4 ,it is a fearful thing to tamper with the worship4 ,in one word3 8,if every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward10 in ,god's dealings with men in former ages1 how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation8 ,if ,god allowed no departures in the typical worship1 why should we assume that he will permit it in the worship typified8 ,if everything had to be done according to the patterns given to ,moses in the typical dispensation1 how can any man infer that we may depart from the substance8 ,we had better take heed now4 ,we may not add any thing1 nor take any away from what the ,lord gave4 ,we may not preach any other gospel1 or even pervert the gospel of ,christ4 ,it was a little matter to charge that ,jesus had 8an unclean spirit10 but those who did it sinned against the ,holy ,spirit1 and are in danger of 8eternal damnation40 ,it was a little matter for ,ananias and ,sapphira to lie about the price of their possessions1 but it was soon followed by a judgment from the ,lord4 ,it was a little matter for the ,corinthians to get up a feast when they met to worship1 but on account of it many were sickly1 weakly1 and some had died4 ,some of the little matters now among us will be found sufficient to stop the ark of ,god1 and cause more than three thousand to be defeated4 ,if ,moses were to address some of our men1 he would say to them1 as he did to ,aaron1 8,what hath this people done to thee that thou hast brought so great a sin upon them80 or as ,joshua said to ,achan3 8,why hast thou troubled us8 ,the ,lord shall trouble thee this day40 ,let us hear and live4 ,,one ,,idea ,,ism4 ,we are asked to define what we mean by one-idea ism1 and explain to us how the universe is made up of atoms4 ,with this request we will cheerfully comply4 ,it is to be carried away with one idea4 ,the idea may be a good one1 or it may not2 but one-ideaism1 is giving an idea undue importance4 ,a man addicted to one-ideaism1 can no more cover it than a leopard can change his spots4 ,if he attempts to pray1 he will commence with something else as a stepping stone1 regularly paving the way and unmistakably making his way to his favorite idea4 ,when it is put forth and he is delivered of it he is relieved for the time being1 especially1 if he finds that it annoys some one4 ,if you call on him for an exhortation1 a sermon1 or if he writes1 he may wind round and round1 trace back and forward1 but it will1 in spite of himself1 in all his efforts to conceal it1 be manifest to all1 that he takes no interest in all he is saying1 only as it subserves his purpose1 in paving the way to the one idea1 the center around which the whole man revolves1 and to which his entire existence is subservient4 ,if that one idea is not dragged in1 the man is not relieved1 his burden is still upon his soul1 and he is in travail waiting to be relieved4 ,you will see this class of men at meetings1 and conventions1 both political and religious1 without the most distant idea of promoting the objects of the meeting1 convention1 etc41 as the case may be1 but with no higher aim than introducing their idea to notice1 making the meeting an engine1 and men1 met under other obligations1 and with the ostensible object of the meeting before them1 instruments to carry the pet idea on the high road to fame4 ,sometimes this class of men1 because other men have other objects in view1 are actually engaged in some good and great work1 have not time1 will not be annoyed nor turned aside to hear them nor dispute with them2 or1 if they do1 give them but a passing notice--think all the world afraid of them4 ,but they need have no fears on this score4 ,an idea that has not force enough to burst its way forth in the world in defiance of all fogies and conservatives1 would die a natural death1 if the parent of it could get some one to bring it forth4 ,,ministering ,,angels4 ,we have much in the present day on the spiritual care which the divine ,father exercises over his creatures in this world4 ,we consider it clear that ,god has angels who guard1 protect1 and take care of that portion of the human family which put their trust in him4 ,that the first ,christians believed that a good man had an angel1 is clear1 from ,acts xii4 #ae4 ,when the ,apostle ,peter was delivered from prison by a miracle1 and his voice was heard at the gate1 where several disciples were collected1 they could not believe it was him1 but said1 8,it is his angel40 ,speaking of his disciples1 the ,lord said1 8,in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my ,father which is in heaven40 ,mat4 xviii4 #aj4 ,this shows clearly that the disciples of ,christ have angels4 ,paul says1 8,but to which of the angel said he at any time1 sit on my right hand1 until ,i make thine enemies thy footstool8 ,are they not all ministering spirits1 sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation80 ,the heirs of salvation then have ministering angels1 who wait upon them continually1 and at the same time behold the face of ,god in heaven4 ,some men seem perplexed to see the use of prayer1 unless ,god operates upon the hearts of christians by an abstract spirit2 but if the ever blessed ,father keeps ministering angels about them as a mighty wall1 and thus guards1 protects and preserves them1 it would seem to involve the same necessity for prayer1 that would be involved if he should do it any other way4 ,why should it not8 ,with us1 we consider ourselves under the same obligations1 should ,god be pleased to preserve us in one way1 that we would be1 should he do it in another4 ,not only so1 but the man of ,god ought to have confidence enough in ,god to believe he will answer any petition asked1 according to his will1 whether he has told us or not4 ,,no ,,side ,,structure4 ,we can not recognize the side institution1 nor the officers in it1 as neither the one nor the other is known to the oracles of ,god1 or to history for ages after the sacred canon was complete4 ,what is the use to talk of a church of which there is not a trace in the volume of ,god1 nor in anything written for hundreds of years after the apostles8 ,there is not a trace of ,romanism1 of a pope1 cardinal or archbishop in the ,bible1 except in the prophecies that foretell the apostasy1 nor in any other writing of the first three centuries4 ,nor is there any account of any of the others we have mentioned for a much greater length of time4 ,we find 8the body of ,christ10 8the kingdom of ,god10 and 8the ,church of ,god10 spoken of in ,scripture4 ,the ,lord says1 8,on this rock ,i will build my church40 ,here is something clear and definite4 ,we can bring this 8body0 before us1 this 8kingdom10 or 8church10 be members of it1 confine our minds and hearts to it2 keep it and all its grand interest in view1 and not some side structure1 imitation or something like it4 ,the apostles and first evangelists1 the overseers and deacons in the first church1 were all ministers or servants in the grand work of the 8one body10 or 8the kingdom10 and not of any side structure4 ,all who are really ministers or servants of ,jesus now1 are in this 8one body10 8kingdom0 or 8church10 and devoted to its interests and growth1 and not to the building up1 extending or perpetuation of any side structure1 under the pretext that it is like the original or any other1 but for the original itself4 ,all these side structures1 names and laws are usurpation1 and the true ministers or servants of the kingdom1 can but regard them as such1 and labor to melt them all away and put all the good material there is in them into 8,god's building10 8the temple of ,god10 and thus make this material useful and acceptable to ,god through ,jesus ,christ4 ,as to clerical airs1 the peculiar cut of the coat1 the white necktie1 and all other such 8outward signs of inward grace10 they are the offspring of shallowness1 weakness and folly1 and wholly incompatible with the plainness1 meekness and humility of ,jesus and of good taste and sense4 ,,light ,,within4 ,all the perversions1 innovations and corruptions of the pure and holy religion of ,jesus ,christ that have found way into it and disgraced it1 have been introduced under some pretext of doing good--some plea of a supposed benevolent nature4 ,in some form or other they have all claimed to have the good of the cause in view1 and in some way have put up some kind of claim to divine authority4 ,some of them were introduced by good men1 with good intentions1 who saw not the evil that would follow1 while others1 no doubt1 were introduced by 8designing men40 ,george ,fox was probably a good man1 or a man of good intentions1 and1 when he talked of the 8light within10 and tried to sustain his position by ,scripture1 he had no idea of the evil that would follow--much less did he design it4 ,though he quoted ,scripture1 it was not as a rule of faith and practice2 not as a system of religion1 nor as supreme authority1 but merely to give currency to the theory he was laboring to introduce and support it in the minds of the people4 ,the leading idea in the new theory was that the light within was the guide--the unerring rule2 that it was from ,god1 and that he who followed it was following the will of ,god1 the influence of the ,spirit4 ,he certainly did not intend to turn the hearts of the people away from ,god and lead them to follow the imaginations of their own hearts4 ,he clearly designed no such wickedness as this2 but what has followed8 ,where has the 8light within0 led his followers8 ,it has led some of them to neglect and forsake the word of ,god2 to regard the ,bible simply as a good book1 a true history and guide to the people of its time1 but not as an authority1 a rule of faith and practice for us4 ,it has led some of them into ,spiritualism1 others into ,universalism1 and some1 more recently1 into exciting revival1 mourners' bench-meetings1 in which old members have been trying to 8get religion10 as seekers do in ,methodist and other revivals4 ,many of them have been led into out-and-out infidelity4 ,this is where the 8light within0 has led them4 ,original ,quakerism has virtually run out4 ,numerous other bewildered people are seeking an evidence of pardon and acceptance with ,god directly from heaven4 ,they are trying to find this evidence in their feelings1 impressions1 emotions1 impulses1 sensations1 dreams1 some sound or voice1 and not in the promise of ,god4 ,this direct or immediate evidence1 in their view of it1 is from the ,spirit of ,god and perfectly reliable4 ,the promise of ,god1 with them1 is the mere word1 the bare word1 the mere letter of ,scripture4 ,they are thus completely turned aside from the testimony of the ,spirit of ,god1 as confirmed by the most grand and awful displays of supernatural power1 to their own imaginations1 their own spirits1 and as completely perverted as if they never had received any revelation from ,god4 ,there is no teaching of the ,spirit of ,god among men only that found upon the pages of the ,bible4 ,those led by the teaching of the ,spirit of ,god spread on the pages of the ,bible are led by the ,spirit of ,god1 but those not led by that teaching are not led by the ,spirit of ,god at all4 ,they may be led by their own spirits1 desires1 feelings1 emotions1 impressions1 sensations2 by men1 or even the adversary1 8captive at his will20 but they are not led by the ,spirit nor under his influence at all4 ,when they turn away from the teaching of the ,spirit of ,god recorded in the ,bible1 it matters not much to what they turn1 whether they profess to be led by the 8light of nature10 so called1 8the light of reason10 8the light of conscience10 the 8light within10 impressions1 feelings1 emotions1 sensations1 by men1 or the adversary1 they turn away from ,god1 from ,christ and from the ,holy ,spirit4 ,they are perfectly deluded1 and1 if they thus continue1 they must come to ruin4 ,god will eventually overthrow all who turn away from him1 no matter to what they turn4 ,men may claim to have the ,spirit1 to be led by the ,spirit1 talk about the ,spirit1 pray about the ,spirit1 sing about the ,spirit1 and at the same time despise the things of the ,spirit1 the things commanded by the ,spirit1 and do despite to the work of the ,spirit4 ,such men manifestly have not the ,spirit4 ,all their claim to having the ,spirit is an empty and idle pretense4 ,they are not led by the ,spirit at all1 but are led in opposition to all the ,spirit ever taught4 ,those led by the ,spirit receive what the ,spirit teaches1 as found in ,scripture1 believe it and delight to follow it4 ,it is idle for those who will not do this to be talking about the ,spirit1 or the influence of the ,spirit4 ,if any man gets an immediate evidence of pardon1 it is an evidence that comes not through the ,mediator1 for what comes through him is not immediate1 but through him as a ,medium1 or ,mediator4 ,it is a direct revelation1 not through ,christ at all1 and it is a new revelation4 ,are men receiving any new revelations now8 ,the ,mormons and ,spiritualists think they are4 ,do others think so8 ,we do not believe any new revelations are now being made from ,god4 ,on this ground we reject all ,mormon pretensions1 as well as ,romish pretensions and those of ,spiritualists4 ,since the apostles died1 and those on whom they laid their hands died1 not a miracle has been done or a revelation from ,god been made4 ,every pretense to miracle or revelation from then till now is an empty and idle pretense--an imposition4 ,since ,john1 the ,apostle1 closed the book of ,revelation1 with the declaration that1 if any man shall add to it1 the plagues of that book shall be added to him1 there is an end of all revelation till time shall be no more4 ,through ,christ1 ,god made a final revelation1 to which nothing is to be added1 and from which nothing is to be taken4 ,the will of ,god is in that concerning man1 and if we desire to know the mind of ,god we must consult that revelation4 ,the restlessness of man is wonderful4 ,he is not willing to be limited even to the revelation ,god has made1 the testimony ,god has given concerning his ,son1 and the unfailing promise of ,god for assurance of acceptance with him4 ,but this is the highest and the only assurance we have or can have1 in this world4 ,when ,god made the promise1 that we might have strong consolation1 he confirmed it by an oath4 ,we come to ,god by faith and not by sight2 we walk by faith and not by sight2 enjoy ,god1 and ,christ and the ,holy ,spirit by faith and not by sight4 ,so we enjoy the remission of sins and acceptance with ,god by faith and not by sight4 8,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved10 said the ,lord1 among the last words he uttered before he ascended to heaven4 ,men who will not rely on that promise--on the words shall be saved1 or shall be pardoned--would not believe though one would rise from the dead4 ,it is not baptism such need2 it is faith4 ,they are not fit subjects for baptism4 ,they must remember the condition1 8,he that believeth40 ,they can not come to ,god without faith4 8,without faith it is impossible to please him40 ,,be ,,firm ,,in ,,the ,,right4 ,if it is wiser to obey ,god than man1 if an infallible law is better than a fallible1 if a perfect law is better than an imperfect one1 if a divine law is better than a human1 if the authority of ,god is better than the authority of man1 if the word of the ,living ,god is better than a human creed1 if the infallible teachings of inspiration are better than uninspired human creeds1 if the teachings of the ,holy ,spirit of ,god are a safer guide to heaven than the teachings of erring men1 if ,god should govern in preference to man1 we are right1 and our opposers wrong1 on this transcendent point1 and it is our duty to ,god and our fellow-creatures1 that we maintain with manly zeal and fortitude that which is so manifestly and self-evidently the will of ,god4 ,we never can falter4 ,we have no ground to doubt or fear2 but if we shrink or hesitate1 it must be manifest indifference4 ,while we hope1 then1 for the blessing of ,god upon us1 and call upon ,god for his mercy1 let us remember our fealty to him1 and maintain our integrity to the day of his coming4 ,,the ,,bible ,,will ,,save ,,the ,,world4 ,the ,bible contains the true religion1 or there is none4 ,there is light in the ,bible to save the world1 or the world is lost4 ,our only choice is between the ,bible and nothing4 ,judaism is abolished4 ,mohammedanism has no claims in internal merit or external evidence4 ,the fruits of all ,paganism show that it is evil1 and only evil1 continually4 ,infidelity has nothing for the world4 ,while it would take ,christianity from us1 it has nothing to propose4 ,it is no system--no doctrine--teaches nothing and defends nothing4 ,its only province is to stand and deny4 ,it finds fault with everything1 starts doubts1 destroys confidence1 fills the world with fears1 and spreads an eternal gloom over the prospects and hopes of all nations4 ,reason and the light of nature have been tried longer and more effectually than any system in the world4 ,at least four thousand years have the pagan nations been trying what they could do for our race without a revelation from ,god4 ,in all the experiments yet made1 with no guide but reason and the light of nature1 the tendency has been downward4 ,deterioration has been the universal result1 without the light of the ,bible4 ,we then1 cling to the ,bible1 and the religion it reveals1 as the only hope of the world4 ,if it fails1 all must fail1 and all must be lost4 ,but it is folly of the most stupid order to speak of the ,bible failing4 ,its ,author is emphatically the friend of man4 ,its holy lessons are all for our good4 ,all who have been led by it1 are thankful they ever knew it4 ,it has never deceived one or misled one4 ,no one has ever lamented being led by it4 ,the more solemn and affecting the circumstances around us1 and the greater the trials in which we are placed1 the more comforting and precious are its holy consolations to the soul4 ,it encourages all that is good2 discourages and condemns all that is evil4 ,it is our guide and comfort through the journey of life2 nor does it fail when we are sinking in death4 ,no one who believed it before1 in a dying hour denies and repudiates the ,bible4 ,but many determined infidels have recanted and repudiated their infidelity when sinking into the eternal state4 ,that which they talked in health1 that which dwelt upon their tongues in their mad career through life1 they themselves condemned1 in the most awful and solemn moments of life1 and with their dying lips repudiated4 ,how shameful and preposterous1 that a man should live such a life of folly and inconsistency as to be compelled in his dying moments to condemn all his past life1 with all the sentiments he had cherished and inculcated1 and warn all men against them6 ,,not ,,receiving ,,the ,,reformation1 ,,but ,,christ4 ,the question is not whether men will receive us1 our doctrines1 our views1 our church1 or 8the ,reformation10 or 8,reformation doctrines0 but whether they will receive him whom the ,father hath sent1 love him1 follow him1 place themselves under him1 obey him1 and trust in him forever4 ,he is the center of all union1 all love1 and all piety4 ,upon him1 all who love him1 have received him and desire to follow him1 being led by his voice1 may unite4 ,having received him1 been identified with him1 as a matter of course1 we receive all who have been received by him1 are united with and love them1 as members of the same family4 ,when we speak of union1 the question is not about receiving men1 nor their views1 but whether we can agree upon a leader1 head1 lawgiver or king4 ,jesus is the true ,light that enlightens every man that comes into the world4 ,he is the only divinely authorized head1 lawgiver and leader4 ,the question we have to urge upon men1 is whether they will come under him4 ,if they will1 they should proceed1 like young ,saul1 to ascertain of him1 what he requires of them1 before they can be received1 pardoned and saved by him4 ,when they learn this of him1 and come to him1 in the way he has appointed1 or by doing what he requires1 they are received by him1 united with him and with all that belong to him1 and1 as long as they continue to love and obey him1 no adverse power can separate them from him4 ,he is our rock1 the rock of our salvation--the foundation which ,god has laid--for union in 8one new man10 or one new church1 one 8building of ,god10 one 8house of ,god10 in which dwells the 8one spirit10 given by the 8one ,lord40 ,here upon the one rock--one foundation1 which is ,christ--in the one building or temple1 in ,christ1 where all spiritual blessings are found1 all the good1 the pure and holy1 may strike hands1 unite1 live in holy fellowship1 while they continue in this world of sorrow and affliction1 and after1 be received up into glory1 to dwell with their ,lord and the holy society of the redeemed forever4 ,brethren1 look at the vast numbers we have gathered into the one fold1 and take fresh courage1 and let us enter upon the work with spirit and might for another year4 ,,lifted ,,above ,,sects ,,and ,,parties4 ,the men who are meditating on union are now on trial1 being put to the test1 and will be compelled to show where they stand4 ,those who love union among christians more than denominationalism will sacrifice the denomination for union1 but those who love denominationalism more than union will sacrifice union for the denomination4 ,the union of the people of ,god is from heaven2 the denomination is from man4 ,the denomination is the party1 sect1 faction4 ,the body of ,christ1 or kingdom of ,god1 is no sect1 party or denomination4 ,it is as broad as the dominion of ,king ,jesus4 ,it is above all sects1 parties and denominations4 ,the man that rises so as to grasp the kingdom of ,god in his mind1 ascends far above all sects1 parties and denominations2 up to the throne and ,him who sits on the throne2 to the ,supreme ,majesty of heaven and earth4 ,he loves the ,king above all kings and potentates1 and loves the kingdom of ,god above all the kingdoms and empires of the world1 and supremely above all parties1 sects or denominations4 ,we love no denomination1 nor denominationalism1 but love the people involved in the denomination2 and while we desire to see the denomination literally abolished1 wiped out1 we desire to save the kingdom of ,god1 the union of the people of ,god1 and the people themselves4 ,this can be done if the people will have it so4 ,but if they love the sect1 party or denomination more than the ,church of ,god1 or the body of ,christ1 they will keep an eye to the sect1 party or denomination2 to their little side institutions of human device2 every one of which originated with men1 and without one scrap of divine authority2 instead of rising to the grand and glorious institution ordained of ,god1 with the ,lord for its head1 and the law of ,god for the rule of its faith and practice4 ,,making ,,the ,,bible ,,support ,,human ,,systems4 ,there can be no apology for a man who knows what the truth is1 what the doctrine of ,christ is1 what christianity is1 who will use it merely as a proof to sustain1 prove1 and impose something else upon himself and others1 for he might just as easily have received the truth1 the doctrine of ,christ1 christianity itself1 enjoyed it1 and been saved by it1 as to have trifled with it1 in trying to prove something else by it4 ,but if a man does not know what the truth is1 the doctrine of ,christ1 christianity is1 and adopts something else1 he is simply guessing at it1 and is not to be relied upon4 ,he has no foundation4 ,we are as well convinced1 as we are that there is a glorious heaven for the righteous1 and a hell for the wicked1 that no man now living1 who knows what the ,lord's truth is1 what the gospel of ,christ is1 what christianity is1 and what the ,bible is1 and has appealed to it to sustain something else1 and now continues so to appeal to it1 could1 if his life were at stake1 give a good reason why he did not receive the truth itself1 the gospel1 christianity1 the ,bible itself1 rely upon it as his only hope for life1 his only guide1 as the only divine system1 the only divine institution1 in the place of perverting its glorious influence and power to sustain and prop up something else4 ,and we are equally certain1 that no man can answer to ,god1 when the actions of all men shall be spread out in the last judgment1 for such a course4 ,if christianity is a system1 if it is a divine institution1 if it is the religion of ,jesus ,christ1 if it is from ,god1 and now binding upon the human family1 as almost all the religious parties of these times admit1 and as can not be denied1 the sin of departing from it is great enough2 but to have the assurance to try to make it sanction any other system1 to testify in support of any other1 to try to divert its influence1 power1 and authority from its own work1 to sustain and prop up some human system not mentioned in it1 when it has expressly1 under the most fearful and awful penalty1 forbidden any perversion1 addition1 or subtraction1 is a species of daring and aggression upon the institution of heaven and government of ,god1 such as one would suppose no believer in the ,bible would risk4 ,still it is done--almost daily done1 in the pulpits all over the land2 and those who will not do it1 who condemn it1 who receive the ,bible1 christianity1 the gospel1 the religion of ,jesus ,christ1 all that ,god has revealed to man--all that has the name of ,god upon it1 keep it distinct from every thing else1 and will have nothing more1 are opposed everywhere1 sneered at and branded as heretics4 ,be it so4 ,we look not to man for reward4 ,we look not to sectarian parties to honor ,god1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,bible1 christianity1 or the gospel4 ,we do not expect them1 as parties1 to come to the ,bible1 unless to draw support for their own schemes4 ,but we regard not this2 we know we are right2 and it is not the great number that will stand1 but those who are right4 8,truth is mighty above all things1 and will prevail40 ,brethren1 push on the war1 on this great question4 ,the ,bible will prevail in the end4 ,its enemies will all fail4 ,,pioneers1 ,,support1 ,,etc4 ,the pioneer men in this country felled the trees1 cleared away the forests1 built their houses and barns1 and made a living4 ,many of their sons can not make a living with the farm and all the balance fitted to their hand4 ,in the same way1 the first preachers went out at their own expense1 turned the people to ,god and built up churches1 and now the preachers1 with their fine salaries1 houses in which to meet1 and everything prepared to hand1 are not accomplishing as much1 in proportion to their number and ability4 ,why is this8 ,is it because they can not8 ,not at all4 ,it is because they are not as devoted4 ,they are not as enterprising4 ,they are not as industrious4 ,they are not as self-sacrificing4 ,those old preachers needed no 8innocent amusements10 8innocent games10 8healthful exercises10 8pastime10 8social dance10 8croquet10 etc41 etc4 ,they knew nothing of torpid liver1 indigestion1 nervous prostration1 etc41 etc4 ,those afflictions were left for a later class4 ,they obtained plenty of healthful exercise in clearing off1 breaking and cultivating their new land1 in their long rides on horseback1 or trips on foot1 and faithfully preaching1 and the ,lord blessed them4 ,the results of their labor and sacrifices are seen all over this country4 ,they looked after the children of ,god and cared for them2 not with this new kind of care for money2 not only the money of the living1 but arranging to get the money of the dead2 but they cared for men2 watched for their souls1 as those who shall give an account4 ,we do not want to say one word in this connection1 nor any other1 that shall be the means of cutting off one penny of support received by any good preacher who is faithfully doing the work of an evangelist1 but would add to the support of many such men whose support is inadequate2 and as to mercenary and avaricious men in the ministry1 and we trust there are but few of them1 we have learned better than to waste our ink on them4 ,we are writing for the good of the cause1 and we rejoice to believe that we have the men1 an extended body of them1 able ministers of the gospel1 who are devoted to the work1 and willing to do anything in their power to advance the cause4 ,these are reading1 studying1 and ready to listen to anything that will advance the cause4 ,to these men we must look1 and on them1 as the agents under ,god1 we must depend2 we must encourage their hearts1 strengthen their hands and give them support4 ,to these men we appeal and entreat them1 in view of all that is dear to humanity2 in view of the suffering ,savior1 and lost man2 in view of their own children and the children of others1 as well as the good of the world at large1 to go into the field with a determination to preach the gospel of the grace of ,god2 go everywhere1 in the name of the ,lord1 where the people will listen to a discourse concerning ,jesus and the resurrection1 and preach the unsearchable riches of ,christ2 make all men see and turn them to ,god4 ,do not wait for a call1 but go2 do not wait for some certain promise of support1 but trust to the promises of ,god2 go in faith2 trust in ,god2 sow the good seed of the kingdom1 the word of ,god1 that it may fall into good and honest hearts and bring forth much fruit4 ,put in every sermon possible2 preach to every one who will hear2 preach because you love ,god and man1 and desire to save man from ruin1 and because you love to preach2 because the ,lord commands it1 and the ,god of peace will be with you1 care and provide for you4 ,,universalism4 ,we heard of a man who had heard ,universalists occasionally1 and gave them something when they were making contributions for their preachers4 ,a preacher1 who made one of his finest efforts to prove that all will be saved1 inquired of him how he liked his argument4 ,the man replied1 8,i did not like it at all40 ,the preacher1 disappointed1 said3 8,you believe our doctrine80 ,the man replied3 8,i do2 but you tried to prove it by the ,bible1 and all intelligent people know that the ,bible is against us from one side to the other4 ,the way ,i prove it is this3 ,i deny the ,bible1 and then prove it by reason40 ,this is certainly the more rational way4 ,we care not who he is1 nor where he comes from1 nor what his attainments may be2 but the man who attempts to prove ,universalism by the ,bible opposes the common sense of mankind and the clearest language ever written4 ,the man who rejects the ,bible out and out1 and is wandering in the darkness of unbelief1 in the vagaries of those who reject the wisdom of ,god1 might1 in his philosophical speculations1 try to show that all men would be saved1 with at least some show of plausibility possibly2 but there is not only no plausibility in anything that can be adduced from the ,bible to show that all men will be saved1 but clear statements of the ,bible can not be true and all men be saved4 ,it cannot be true that those 8who believe not the ,son shall not see life10 and that all men shall be saved4 ,it can not be true1 as stated in ,scripture1 that 8these0 7the wicked7 8shall go away into everlasting punishment10 and all men be saved4 ,the man who affirms that those who die in their sins shall be wholly and happy in heaven contradicts the clearest utterances of ,scripture4 ,when time shall end and ,god shall exclaim1 8,he that is filthy1 let him be filthy still10 there will be no more repentance2 yet some will be filthy--unsound4 ,universalism had its day in this country2 has run its course and is going by4 ,there is not one-tenth as much of it in this country as there was thirty years ago4 ,there is no argument of consequence about it any more4 ,the only thing wanting to show what it is1 will appear anywhere when they undertake to form churches1 keep up ,sunday-schools1 keep up prayer-meetings1 meet regularly on the first day of the week and worship4 ,let them undertake to enforce the clear requirements of ,scripture on their people1 and they will soon get a lesson4 ,they will soon explain that all will be saved1 and they will find that they will have no use for baptism1 the ,lord's ,supper1 prayer-meetings1 nor any regular worship4 ,it will not do to read1 8,he who believes not shall be saved20 8,he who believes not the ,son shall see life20 8,the wrath of ,god shall not abide on him20 8,if you believe not that ,i am he1 you shall not die in your sins20 8,where ,i am you shall come20 8,these0 7the wicked7 8shall not go away into everlasting punishment20 8,the beast and the false prophets shall not be tormented day and night forever and ever20 8,he who shall sin against the ,holy ,spirit shall not be in danger of eternal damnation10 etc41 etc4 ,the man who denies his ,bible first1 and then starts out to prove that all will be saved from some other source1 is a much more sensible man than the man that undertakes to prove it from the ,bible4 ,whatever the ,bible may mean besides1 it does not mean ,universalism4 ,the man who holds and undertakes to prove ,universalism has no use for a ,bible1 unless it be to show his skill in getting round the clearest things ever written4 ,,support ,,workers4 ,the brethren know that men cannot devote their lives to the work of evangelizing without support1 and they will give the support1 and do it much more freely where they can see the work done1 than where they can see no work done4 ,the preachers in the field doing the work are receiving the main support given1 and ought to receive it4 ,the men not in the field1 and that will not go into the field1 ought not to receive the support4 ,the brethren are not in the way of sending it to them4 ,we hope the preachers generally will see what is being done by those in the work1 go out and participate in the heavenly work1 that they1 too1 when the ,chief ,shepherd shall appear1 may have a crown of glory that fades not away4 ,how can men with the love of ,god in them see their fellow-creatures perishing1 and not be inspired with a zeal to go forth and gather them into the kingdom of ,god8 ,look at the tremendous cloud of darkness over the minds of the people1 and then inquire can a man who has the light be excusable unless he uses the means the ,lord has put in his power for the enlightenment of the world4 ,no1 we can not be excusable2 the love of ,christ constrains us2 the value of the souls of men urges1 and the example of all the ancient worthies impels us to go into the great harvest and help to reap it down4 ,,reckless ,,twaddle4 ,the following purports to be taken from one of ,moody's sermons1 and is reported in the ,baptist ,union3 ,if ,i thought that baptism was ,god's way of saving men1 ,i'd give up preaching1 borrow a pail and go round the streets baptizing every one ,i met1 and if they wouldn't let me do it1 ,i'd catch them asleep and baptize any way4 ,he says1 8,ye must be born again40 ,it is a wonderful humiliation to be compelled to admit that this undignified1 irreverent and reckless language is from the lips of a man probably at this time attracting as much attention as any man in the world1 as a preacher1 or it may be more4 ,it is mortifying in a high degree to be convinced that the state of the public mind is such that a man like this is caressed1 lauded and admired by the multitude4 ,it is no small work to enlighten the people of the world4 ,we have gained the right of private judgment1 private interpretation of the ,scriptures1 the liberty of speech and of the press2 and we have the ,bible1 translated into our own language1 in almost every house2 and we have our system of free schools and universal education4 ,but still there is a premium for ignorance4 ,moody with his commonplace talks1 and ,sankey with his songs1 call out greater crowds and have more admirers than the most profound ,bible instructor in the world4 ,what reverence has he for the ,lord1 who ordained baptism and submitted to it himself1 8was baptized of ,john in ,jordan10 after saying1 8,thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness10 and over whom the heavens parted as he rose from his baptism1 and on whom the ,spirit descended1 and to whom the ,almighty ,father said1 8,thou art my ,son1 the beloved in whom ,i am well pleased80 ,what appreciation has he1 or what respect for our ,lord's commission1 in which he has the preaching of the gospel1 the belief of it1 the repentance1 the baptism and salvation all connected together1 when he talks of giving up preaching and borrowing a pail and going round the streets baptizing every one he met8 ,what does he know or care about what baptism is8 ,he may find the untaught multitudes who will gaze at him and admire such irreverent manifestations of ignorance1 want of piety and dignity1 mingled with such low slang as we find in the language quoted above1 and he may find plenty of thoughtless people who will be pleased with such unworthy flings at things which he does not understand1 and which he perverts and misapplies4 ,but there are many people in this country who can not be gulled in any such style4 ,low slang is not preaching ,jesus nor his gospel1 nor is misrepresentation or perverting ,scripture preaching ,jesus4 ,if he has our ,lord's commission1 and ever reads it1 he knows or ought to know1 that the same commission has in it the preaching of the gospel1 the believing1 repenting1 baptism and salvation4 ,the preaching1 believing1 repentance1 baptism and salvation all go together2 and if he has intelligence enough to preach at all acceptably to the ,lord1 he knows that no people in this country think that baptizing is of any value1 without being preceded by the preaching of the gospel and the faith1 unless among those who profess to baptize infants4 ,they did not understand him to make this fling at them1 or they would soon have depleted his audience4 ,moody and ,sankey have the clear ,scriptures before them1 giving an account of inquiring persons coming to the apostles inquiring the way of salvation1 and the plain answers giving the apostolic way1 and they ignore these instructions--keep them out of sight4 ,they have the answers of the apostles showing them the way1 and they have refused to even read these ,scriptures1 or to let the people know what the way was1 as set forth by the apostles4 ,for this they will give an account4 ,they ignored it1 evaded it1 and avoided it4 ,they neither enter the kingdom themselves nor will they permit those who would enter4 ,before we lay down our pen1 we must refer ,moody and ,sankey1 with some others1 to a lesson ,paul once taught a man1 in view of a transaction no worse than the uttering the words quoted from ,moody1 at the beginning of this article4 ,the man with whom ,paul dealt1 was simply trying to turn the deputy away from the faith4 ,the deputy was by name1 ,sergius ,paulus4 ,when he did this1 ,saul 7who is called ,paul7 filled with the ,holy ,spirit1 set his eyes on him1 and said1 8,o full of all subtlety and all mischief1 you child of the devil1 you enemy of all righteousness1 will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the ,lord8 ,and now behold1 the hand of the ,lord is upon you1 and you shall be blind1 not seeing the sun for a season4 ,and immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness2 and he went about seeking some one to lead him by the hand4 ,then the deputy1 when he saw what was done1 believed1 being astonished at the doctrine of the ,lord04 ,acts xiii4 #i-ab4 ,it is a most fearful thing to pervert the right ways of the ,lord--to try to turn any one away from the faith1 or to put asunder that which ,god has joined together1 and which he forbids man to put asunder4 ,in the last commission1 the only authority for all gospel preaching1 the ,lord has joined together1 preaching the gospel1 believing the gospel1 repentance1 baptism and salvation1 or pardon of sins1 and no man can part these asunder1 except at the peril of his soul4 ,is it possible that any man can fail to see that no man can be1 in the true sense1 a preacher of ,jesus and ignore any part of this commission1 or any part of the way of salvation1 as set forth by the apostles under this commission8 ,,the ,,kind ,,of ,,preaching ,,required4 ,in the same way1 insipid preaching about sweet birds and sweet flowers1 plants and stars1 etc41 etc41 appears to have streaks of light in it1 but after it is over1 the darkness appears greater than before4 ,no gospel light is shed forth1 no truth of weight and importance in the salvation of man brought forth or enforced2 no obedience is enjoined and no hope is inspired4 ,no ,felix trembles4 ,nothing is said about the preaching1 unless it be that 8it was splendid10 and 8,i do love to hear him so much20 8,it was very fine10 etc4 ,but1 put the question1 ,what did you learn8 and silence would reign4 ,this kind of thing may please people who do not intend to hear the gospel1 or who1 in the language of ,scripture1 8,turn away their ears from the truth20 but we must have something different from this1 something more tangible1 intelligible and impressive to save men4 ,we must have something more than mere vaporing4 ,we must have 8first principles10 as they are now styling the gospel1 and have them in profusion4 ,we must have them for the instruction of the vast numbers who have been brought in without understanding them1 and who must understand them before they can be intelligent christians1 and we must have them for the multitudes who have never been brought to ,god4 ,somehow1 from some source1 we have a few among us who are styling the gospel 8first principles10 and then insist that we must leave the first principles4 ,those who are in the world must be converted1 brought to ,god1 and to this end they must have the gospel1 no matter if men and the adversary do call it 8first principles40 ,the right way for those who have never begun1 is to begin1 and there is no right way to begin only to begin at the beginning1 no matter if sectarian faces do scowl1 or some worldly member of the church grumble4 ,we must walk into the gospel1 not as if we were afraid some one would hit us in the face1 but 8in full assurance of faith10 under a sense of the truth of the gospel1 and the conviction that it is good enough for anybody1 and that no excuse need be made for preaching it2 the certainty that men must hear the gospel and learn the way to ,god before they start at all4 ,we must show the people that the ,bible contains a revelation from ,god1 the only revelation from ,god2 that it is complete1 perfect and final1 so far as relates to time2 that ,jesus is divine2 that he is all that he is represented to be in the ,bible2 that he is sustained by all the testimony necessary to convince candid people2 that no man comes to the ,father but by him2 that no man comes by ,moses now or any other2 that the ,lord ,jesus is the way1 the truth and the life2 that the way set forth by him is the only way to the ,father4 ,we must not preach about faith1 or repentance1 or baptism2 but preach the truth concerning the ,lord ,jesus1 the ,christ1 which1 when heard1 and received into good and honest hearts1 produces faith that leads to repentance1 and immersion4 ,preaching faith never made a believer1 and preaching repentance1 never leads to repentance1 of itself4 ,in the same way1 preaching on baptism1 of itself never led any man to baptism4 ,the great truth of all truth1 that 8,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god10 lies at the bottom and puts all the balance in motion4 ,jesus1 the ,anointed1 full of grace and truth1 is the supreme authority4 ,the first thing1 first in order and first in importance1 is the work of bringing the ,lord before men and preparing them to regard him2 to recognize his authority and become willing to follow him--be led by him4 ,till this is done1 it is useless to tell men what he says1 or what he commands4 ,men must be convinced that he has authority to command1 and that they are bound to submit to him or be rejected by him forever4 ,in presenting the claims of the ,lord ,messiah1 we must clear the way of all rubbish1 all written and unwritten traditions of men1 all doctrines and commandments of men1 all rule and authority lording it over the heritage of ,god2 all creeds and councils of men1 all religious bodies and establishments having no divine authority2 all usurpations and encroachments on the prerogatives of the ,lord ,jesus2 all religious names and titles1 forms and ceremonies1 having no precept or example in ,scripture2 all sects and sectarianism--all these must be swept away2 and the supreme and absolute authority of the ,lord restored4 ,the law of ,god itself1 as found on the pages of the inspired ,scriptures1 must be restored to the people of ,god4 ,there must be no compromise of truth with error1 the kingdom of ,god with any thing else1 the law of ,god with any other law4 ,the law of ,god must be maintained as the law1 the supreme and absolute law1 and all other religious law must be set aside as law and repudiated4 ,the union of the people of ,god must be maintained1 defended and continually advocated1 as right in itself and divinely required4 ,as a religious body1 the work we have undertaken has not changed1 but is the same now as it was forty years ago1 as manifestly right as ever4 ,we have undertaken to restore the gospel to the people2 the ancient order of things2 the religion of ,christ itself1 as it came from the ,lord4 ,we have gone up to primitive ground1 apostolic ground1 where the first followers of the ,lord stood1 and aim to practice in all things1 as they did2 have all things as they did2 have all things as they had--the faith1 the practice1 and the worship1 without anything added or taken away4 ,the ,lord has blessed the undertaking with most wonderful success4 ,from five to six hundred thousand have heard1 believed and been called together1 and united on apostolic ground--made unspeakably happy in the ,lord4 ,we have been made free1 in the highest sense1 from all the trammels and fetters of men1 from sins1 from all error and superstition1 and are servants of the ,lord4 ,we have now a plain work--simply the work of the ,lord and no other4 ,we have nothing to preach but the gospel1 nothing to believe but the truth of ,god1 nothing to do but the will of ,god1 and nothing to hope for only what is promised in the word of ,god4 ,our work is not new and untried1 but old1 well tried1 and nothing can stand before us4 ,we have truth and righteousness to maintain--sin and the world to oppose4 ,we can make no change only at our peril--no departure without losing all4 ,we started simply to be the people of ,god1 and to give ourselves unreservedly to the ,lord4 ,we can not turn away from ,god1 from ,christ1 from the gospel1 from the law of ,god1 from the ,church of ,god and the people of ,god1 without utter ruin4 ,we can not turn away from the religion of ,christ itself and not be lost4 ,we have nothing else4 ,shall we1 then1 hold on to our ,god1 to our ,lord ,jesus the ,christ1 to our ,bible1 the gospel and the law of ,god for the saints8 ,shall we hold on to the entire revelation from ,god to man in all its parts and as a whole8 ,most unequivocally the great masses among us intend1 by the grace of ,god1 to do this4 ,we need not stop to count members1 to see whether it will be popular or unpopular1 whether a majority are going on1 or going back4 ,every true man is going on1 and is intending to stand with every other true man and fight the good fight of faith4 ,we stop not to see how many or how few are going ahead1 nor how many are turning back4 ,we would rather have been saved with the few in the ark than lost with the many who were drowned in the flood2 to have been with the few who crossed ,jordan than with the many who fell in the wilderness1 and would rather be with the few that shall find the narrow way and pass the straight gate to the enjoyment of life1 than to be with the many who tread the broad way that leads to destruction4 ,we are now making the record on which these great matters will turn4 ,let us enter the field this year in the faith1 with more determination than ever1 and push the cause at every point2 stand up all along the lines of the ,king's army1 every man in his place1 presenting an unbroken front to the enemy1 and unitedly move forward on the opposing ranks before us with a persistence1 decision and determination that will command respect4 ,encourage the true and valiant1 strengthen the weak and feeble-minded1 stand by the faint-hearted and comfort them4 ,let there be no sympathizers with the enemy1 none scheming mutiny1 none demoralizing the forces1 no deserters and no cowards4 ,all stand firm and true1 and move on in faith1 8the full assurance of faith10 with power and courage1 and the ,lord of hosts will be our ,lord--the ,king of saints will be our ,king4 ,let all men see that we have a right cause1 and that we know it is right1 and that we never intend to give it up1 but that we intend to fill the world with the doctrine of the cross1 make the ,bible the power in this country4 ,it is the book1 the one book1 the only book1 setting forth the one religion for all peoples on all the face of the earth1 and for all time4 ,we can admit no rival to that book1 nor any other that subverts or sets it aside1 but are the settled and determined enemies to all others as divine authority4 ,it is the supreme and the absolute authority4 ,rally to the book1 men of ,god1 and stand by it4 ,you have the book that all admit to be right4 ,be true to it and show yourselves worthy of it1 and the ,god of peace will be with you4 ,,we ,,are ,a ,,missionary ,,people4 ,it will not do to conclude that we are not a 8missionary people40 ,it is useless to reason against facts4 ,that we have risen1 and1 in opposition to the established bodies of people in the different parties in this country1 successfully planted the cause in the best parts of the country and among the most effective and intelligent people1 and1 in less than two-thirds of a century1 made it one of the most formidable and powerful bodies in the land1 and swelled the numbers above that of any ,protestant parties in the ,united ,states1 excepting the ,baptists and ,methodists1 is now a matter of fact4 ,this has been done and is now in history4 ,a people 8not a missionary people10 and not an evangelizing people1 have never done the like of this4 ,we are to-day going ahead and spreading more rapidly than any people in this country that depend on turning people to the ,lord to augment their numbers4 ,we say nothing about a people that count their infants as members of the church1 and exclude nobody for disorder4 ,,resurrection ,,of ,,lazarus4 ,the resurrection of ,lazarus was like the healing of the sick1 giving sight to the blind1 and other miraculous benefits1 only temporary4 ,they were only restored to health in their mortal state1 and liable to be afflicted again4 ,the resurrection of ,lazarus was only his recovery from death for the time being1 and he was liable to die again4 ,no doubt he did die again4 ,but ,jesus rose to die no more4 ,death has no more dominion over him4 ,those thus raised up temporarily1 or simply raised up to what they were before they died1 were not counted where ,christ is spoken of as 8the first-fruits of them that slept10 8the first-born from the dead10 etc4 ,they were raised to immortality and died no more4 ,the body was sown a mortal body1 but raised immortal1 or raised to die no more4 ,this1 we presume1 is the solution of the matter1 though but little can be said1 with any point1 for or against it4 ,it is1 however1 the ground on which we satisfy our own mind4 ,it is one of the matters left a little obscure1 and but one on which nothing of importance depends4 ,the view we take of it obviates any apparent discrepancy between the passages above referred to4 ,the word 8begotten10 in 8the first-begotten from the dead10 should have been born1 as the same original word is elsewhere4 ,a bare resurrection only raised a man to what he was before he died1 and left him as liable to death as he was before he died2 but the resurrection of ,christ and those who rose after he rose was more than this4 ,the body was sown a mortal body1 but raised immortal1 or to die no more4 ,it was a complete and final deliverance from the grave and from death--the final triumph over death and him who has the power of death4 ,,fine ,,clothes4 ,a preacher pays a poor compliment to his brain when he tries to attract public attention1 as a preacher1 with fine clothes4 ,a dancing master can vie with him in that line1 whether the fine clothes are paid for or not4 ,in the same way the preacher that must have a gorgeous temple1 like ,romanists and pagans1 to attract the people and draw them out1 and his choir of singers and organ1 to discourse music for the saints1 pays a poor compliment to his brain and his ability as a preacher1 and a poorer compliment to the worshippers who have to be thus drawn out4 ,it is virtually a surrender to the world1 and an acknowledgement on the part of the preacher1 that he has no confidence in the gospel1 or his ability to preach to attract the attention of the people1 draw them out1 or turn them to ,god when they are drawn out4 ,the church that resorts to such artifices to draw the people out1 virtually acknowledges that she has no influence to draw the people out2 that the preacher has no influence to draw them out2 that their gospel and worship have no power to draw them out2 but they have found out what will draw them out4 ,a fine temple of show1 extravagance and folly2 a popular choir1 an organ1 ice cream1 strawberry festivals1 musical concerts1 church fairs1 etc41 etc4 ,these will draw4 ,certainly they will4 ,but what becomes of the preacher1 the gospel1 the worship and the church8 ,what becomes of ,christ1 the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,bible1 and all that is divine8 ,christ had not 8where to lay his head40 ,what does that prove8 ,not that his followers should not have where to lay their heads1 or that preachers should not2 but1 if following him and serving him should reduce them to such destitution that they would not have where to lay their heads1 they should bear it patiently and not murmur1 remembering that their ,lord and ,master had not where to lay his head4 8,christ traveled on foot and preached40 ,what does that prove--that preachers must always travel on foot8 ,not at all4 ,the ,lord did not always travel on foot4 ,what then8 ,that a preacher should travel on foot if need be4 ,we have traveled on foot to preach and would do it again before we would give up preaching4 ,we1 therefore1 take the cars1 steamboat1 stage1 private conveyance1 any means most convenient4 ,,subtleties ,,about ,,immersion4 ,but1 now1 why this constant higgling over immersion8 ,why this continual getting up some kind of smoke about it1 mist or confusion8 ,it is the right thing--the precise thing the ,lord commanded4 ,why1 then1 try to get up confusion about where it was obtained8 ,why not condemn faith because we did not obtain it from the right people8 ,it is the right thing1 but then a man obtained it in a sectarian church4 ,ought he not to throw it aside1 and obtain faith from the right source8 ,then1 where did a man get the gospel8 ,did he get it in a sectarian church8 ,must he therefore throw it aside8 ,where did he get his ,bible8 ,must he throw it away because he got it from sectarians4 ,there is but one safe rule in all this1 and that is to hold on to that which came from the ,lord1 the right things1 no matter where we found them4 ,we have not set out merely to see how radical we can be2 to see how far we can differ from all men1 but to separate the human from the divine--that which did not come from ,god from that which did2 and when we find a man with the right book--the ,bible--we accept it without inquiring where he obtained it4 ,when we find a man with the gospel of ,christ1 we accept it1 no matter where he obtained it4 ,if he has the right repentance we accept it without any regard to where he obtained it4 ,in the same way in regard to the immersion and everything else4 ,has he the right things--the things of ,god8 ,why start these subtleties about immersion1 and confuse the public mind in regard to it8 ,why not get up difficulties about the prayers1 the communion1 the repentance1 the faith1 or something else8 ,we are not trying how many difficulties we can find1 but trying to clear the way1 and show all men that there is a safe and practical way to union1 to oneness and happiness1 both here and hereafter4 ,we desire to emerge out of the darkness1 confusion and misunderstandings of our times1 and walk in the clear light of heaven4 ,whatever is right we accept1 and whatever is not right we aim to set it right4 ,that which has gone before our time is beyond our reach1 and we leave that to the ,judge of all the earth1 who will do right4 ,we desire to open the way for the living and those yet to come4 ,let us study the things that are practical and that work for peace1 and the ,lord will open our way to the highest usefulness and happiness in this life1 and to all he has for the redeemed in the life to come4 ,,all ,,things ,,common4 ,the community of goods or common stock was a voluntary thing and not required1 as is clear from the language of ,peter to ,ananias and ,sapphira4 ,alluding to the possession he sold and the proceeds of the sale he said3 8,while it remained was it not thine own8 and after it was sold was it not in thine own power80 ,acts v4 #d4 ,there was no compulsion to do what he pretended he was doing--that is1 giving the whole--no law requiring it4 ,this case appears to have ended the whole affair4 ,we find no more account of it1 but clear allusions to liberality1 to the rich and poor1 etc41 showing that it was not continued4 ,there is no question but that some of the first ,christians received the impression that the coming of the ,lord1 the resurrection of the dead and the end of the world were at hand2 and the unbounded love of the gospel inspired in their hearts for ,god and man led them to regard their possessions as nothing4 ,they did not believe they would need them1 nor did they see the state of things that would result from their course4 ,not only so1 but there may have been a providence in it1 as their city was soon to be destroyed and they 8led away captive among all nations40 ,the main thing we need is the fact that it is not required of us4 ,it ended at once and was not enjoined nor continued4 ,,deluded4 ,we can not conceive how people could be more completely deluded1 than to be so turned away from the promise of ,god1 than when the ,lord says1 8,he who believes and is immersed shall be saved10 he can not rely on the words1 8shall be saved10 but can rely on an uncertain class of feelings reached in an exciting meeting without a promise of the ,lord4 ,the apostle commands inquirers1 8,repent1 and be baptized every one of you1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 for the remission of sins1 and you shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,here is a sure promise from ,god3 8,you shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,these people can not or will not rely on this promise1 but will rely on a peculiar state of feelings without one shadow of evidence that the feelings are from the ,lord1 or intended to assure any of pardon4 ,members of the church should read their ,bibles in their families and to their children1 and worship with them1 and teach them what worship means1 and if they do not do it they will be held responsible in the great day4 ,we must never stop but cry aloud and spare not1 till this ignorance is out of the land4 ,we exhort brethren1 no matter where they may be scattered1 to read the ,bible1 explain it to your neighbor1 and be not poor1 helpless creatures waiting for somebody to send you a preacher1 but go at it and read the ,scriptures1 and show your neighbor how to read them1 and where to read1 to learn the way of salvation4 ,circulate other reading calculated to show them the good and right way4 ,be alive and awake to the work--read about it1 pray over it1 and do all in your power to counteract ignorance and superstition4 ,,reformation ,a ,,success4 ,it is true1 also1 that 8,god's word1 as the only rule of faith and practice1 is as much set at naught by the religious world to-day as it was fifty years ago10 and more too2 and there is nothing so unpopular with the masses of the people1 and some called brethren1 as precisely the apostolic way2 and the ,reformation is not a failure either4 ,our reformatory movement was right1 and is still right4 ,it needs no modification1 but needs to be faithfully and honestly carried out4 ,no reformatory movement can ever get in ahead of it4 ,it went back to the divine fountain to find the truth1 and not something like it1 that could be proved by it4 ,it went back to the ,bible itself1 and not to something like it1 or something that can be proved by it4 ,it went back to the religion of ,christ itself1 and not to something like it1 or something that can be proved by it4 ,this was no failure4 ,the attempt was to go back to the ,lord himself2 to his own ,book1 his own religion2 and those who attempted this1 and did it1 made no failure4 ,they found the ,lord1 his ,book1 and his religion1 and found the salvation of the ,lord4 ,there was no failure in all this4 ,this movement has been in the world about sixty years1 or about half as long as ,noah's mission lasted4 ,noah found the salvation of the ,lord for himself and family4 ,there was no failure in his case4 ,,what ,,we ,,are ,,for4 ,we are for the kingdom of ,god1 and for all that pertains to it1 but not for the kingdom of the clergy1 either as manifested in the ,papacy or among ,protestants2 nor are we enlisted to get up a new kingdom of clergy4 ,we will never give our influence to establish any new kingdom of clergy1 or recognize any old one4 ,the people of ,god are free4 ,they do not belong to the clergy4 ,the congregations of the ,lord are free1 and not to be manacled down into human confederations and their great work ended in an insignificant sect4 ,the day we agree to be banded together into some kind of general confederation of congregations1 under a conference1 convention1 or we care not what you call it1 we become an insignificant sect1 a denomination1 a christian sect1 and will be nothing more forever4 ,ichabod will be written on us4 ,but that day will never come4 ,mark that4 ,we hope that none among us will ever make the experiment1 but if they do1 they will simply land in faction1 to dwindle away and die4 ,but1 we have come to a crisis1 and1 it is predicted1 we will soon come to nothing if we do not do something4 ,we intend to do something and are doing something1 but not forming ecclesiastical confederations to bind burdens on the necks of the people1 nor scheming to get clerical power4 ,we have come to no crisis4 ,the few scheming men that have so fully demonstrated their aim1 have come to a crisis and to a complete defeat4 ,but that will not produce any perceptible jar in the movements of the hosts of ,israel4 ,that is a mere circumstance4 ,the ,lord's hosts are in motion and the work is going on4 ,why stand with a human figment in view1 when we have stupendous matters of fact before our eyes8 ,look into the columns of our publications and see the reports that come up every week from the ,atlantic to the ,pacific ,oceans1 and from the ,north of the ,dominion of ,canada to the ,gulf of ,mexico1 and tell us what of the crisis8 ,the men in the field at work have come to no crisis and to no panic4 ,the ,lord of hosts is with them1 and they are not to be turned aside from their work4 ,read the accounts of churches established every week1 the houses for worship built1 the preachers coming over from the ranks of ,babylon1 as well as private members1 and the vast acquisition to their numbers from the world1 and then tell us what of the crisis6 ,go into the field and go to work1 every man1 in faith and hope and love1 and win souls to ,christ1 and the ,lord of hosts will be with you1 and good brethren will come up to the help of the ,lord and support you4 ,but if we continue the schemes that are now confessedly failures1 or devise new ones1 we will dry up the fountains of liberality till we can do nothing4 ,the children of ,god will give money to convert and save sinners1 but they will not give money to build up a hierarchy4 ,a ,,suggestion4 ,we are not inattentive to the suggestion that we are wearing ourselves out in holding protracted meetings1 and that we should devote ourself wholly to the management of the ,review4 ,we have thought of this matter much1 both before and since we saw the suggestion1 and find it not so easy to determine what ought to be done4 ,the tendency is to find pleasant positions1 occupy them1 and go on easily and smoothly2 to settle down and preach for churches1 get professorships in colleges or high-schools1 edit papers and evangelize the world by proxy4 ,in other words1 the popular idea is not to go but to send some one to preach the gospel4 ,if we were to sit down in our editorial chair1 at home1 and write the most stirring articles about the great work of evangelizing the world and urge men to go1 we fear they would inquire1 8,why do you not go80 ,we aim to be an example--to go ourself1 as we urge others to do4 ,we see no other way to give force to the appeal to others to go4 ,the demand for preaching is such that we can see no possible way to excuse any man that can go4 ,we have1 therefore1 rather concluded to go while we can4 ,when we shall go hence1 we desire that any who may refer to us may see that while we said go we also went4 ,we are perfectly aware that we could1 in some respects1 make the paper better to devote our entire attention to it2 but1 that we could1 in every sense1 give it the spirit and power that we can when we are in the field and among the people continually1 we still hold in doubt4 ,we desire to do all we possibly can for the cause1 while it is to-day4 ,,annihilation--,,future ,,punishment4 ,there is nothing about 8the final annihilation of the wicked10 in the ,bible1 nor 8the final annihilation0 of anything4 ,the talk about the 8annihilation of the wicked10 no matter whether 8final0 or not1 is mere outside talk1 as nothing of the kind is found in ,scripture4 ,we can see why a man should want information about a country or a place where he intends or expects to go1 but why any man should always be talking about a country or place to which he does not intend or expect to go1 we never could see4 ,there is one thing clear1 and that is1 that any term used in ,scripture to describe or express the destiny of the wicked beyond the judgment1 is such as to deter any man from desiring it1 no matter whether figurative or literal4 ,it is equally certain that no man will ever be saved by explaining to him all about the meaning of the terms applied to the destiny of the wicked1 nor will a constant study of these terms1 and talking about them1 qualify any man for heaven4 ,some of these terms are figurative and some of them are literal4 ,in some instances it may be difficult to determine whether a term is literal or figurative1 but in some it is not difficult4 ,it is clear1 however1 that whatever terms are used1 they all apply to the same things4 ,such a phrase as 8beaten with many stripes10 we doubt not1 is figurative1 and so is 8gnashing of teeth40 ,but 8punishment0 is literal1 no matter in what it consists4 ,no matter what term is applied to it1 nor whether literal or figurative1 the idea of 8punishment0 is always in it1 always present4 ,no matter how they will be punished1 what the means of punishment1 or of what the punishment will consist1 there is still the reality--the punishment4 ,this is what the ,lord calls 8everlasting10--8everlasting punishment40 ,see ,matthew xxv4 #df4 8,these shall go away into everlasting punishment and the righteous into life eternal40 ,in the original we have the same word 7aionion7 for 8eternal0 and 8everlasting40 ,in the same sentence the ,lord uses the same word to express the duration of the punishment and the duration of the life of the righteous1 and there is as much reason1 and no more1 for concluding that the 8eternal life0 shall terminate1 as that the 8everlasting punishment0 of the wicked shall cease4 ,at the same time that the righteous enter into life1 the wicked 8go away into everlasting punishment10 and the same word1 in the same sentence1 in the lips of our ,lord1 expresses the duration of both2 and we have just as much respect for an expositor of ,scripture that undertakes to prove that the state of glory shall cease to exist as for the expositor that undertakes to prove that the punishment shall cease to exist1 no matter whether he be called ,restorationist1 ,universalist1 ,soul-sleeper or what4 ,the man that thinks of 8eternal life0 merely as eternal conscious existence1 has no adequate conception of the meaning of the term4 ,it is used to express the entire state of glory1 with all that pertains to it4 ,in the same sense the phrase 8second death0 is used to express the state of perdition1 including all that is in it4 ,the terms 8saved0 and 8lost0 are used in the same sense4 8,saved0 includes the entire inheritance of the saints2 all they shall have and enjoy4 8,lost0 includes all that shall be inflicted on the condemned2 the entire state and all that is in it4 ,mortality is never applied to the soul of man in ,scripture1 nor is immortality4 ,we never read of a mortal or an immortal soul1 nor of a soul being made mortal or immortal4 ,mortality and immortality are applied to the body and not to the soul4 ,the body is mortal1 but in the resurrection will be made immortal4 ,it is infinitely wiser to teach men how to keep out of hell1 while they are out1 than to teach them how to get out1 after they are in hell1 or to prove that they will cease to exist4 ,we do not think much of men that study how to pick locks and escape from prisons2 but we esteem the men who teach how to keep out of prisons by avoiding the crimes on account of which men are imprisoned4 ,there is no benevolence in tampering with the divine penalties in any way1 either in out-and-out denying the existence of any punishment after death1 or modifying it4 ,the ,bible contains its clear discrimination between the righteous and the wicked1 and unequivocally declares that it shall not be with him that does not serve ,god as with him that serves him4 ,it is not in vain to serve ,god4 ,it would have been better for ,judas if he had not been born1 as clearly stated by our ,lord4 ,there is a sorer punishment than death without mercy4 ,there is an 8everlasting punishment10 and no sound learning can make this mean everlasting non-existence4 ,non-existence is not punishment1 else we were always in punishment till we were brought into existence4 ,there is a punishment where the worm dies not1 and the fire is not quenched4 ,there is no more evidence that this will ever cease to exist than that the state of glory itself shall cease to exist4 ,,design ,,of ,,miracles4 ,miracles are necessary to give a new institution and confirm it to the world1 but when it is given and confirmed1 no miracle is needed to perpetuate it4 ,it required miracles to confirm the mission of the apostles and prove to the world that they were from ,god4 ,so would it require miracles now to confirm the missions of any other man or set of men claiming to be specially called and sent as the apostles were1 and in default of any miracles1 we do not believe any men are now called and sent1 as they were4 ,the divine attestations that established the apostolic mission1 among the people of their time1 against their established religion1 all their prejudices and every worldly consideration1 was committed to record1 and will establish it to all the generations to come4 ,the same testimony that proved a man guilty of murder one hundred years ago1 will prove him guilty forever4 ,it does not require that witnesses continue to be sworn and testify to prove it to other people4 ,in the same way1 the testimony that proved the divinity of ,christ1 at the beginning of his reign1 has been committed to the record and will prove it forever4 ,there is no new testimony1 and none is needed4 ,those who lived in the time when the ,lord was on earth1 saw him1 or saw those who did see him1 or1 at least1 many of them did2 they saw many of his wonderful works1 or many who did see them2 they heard the prophecies uttered by him1 or saw those who did hear them1 but did not live to see the fulfillment4 ,we did not see him1 nor witness his miracles1 nor hear him utter the prophecies alluded to1 but we now have the faithful records of history in which we find accounts of the fulfillment of his wonderful predictions extending down through the ages1 for more than eighteen centuries4 ,we do not1 therefore1 need a repetition of the miracles1 or the prophecies1 or their fulfillment4 ,they stand there1 firm as the everlasting hills1 serving ,god's eternal purpose2 confirming the divine mission of his ,son1 and the ,new ,covenant1 of which he is the ,mediator4 ,when did these miracles cease8 ,they ceased when the apostles died1 and all on whom they laid their hands4 ,every pretense of a miracle from then till now1 has been nothing but a lying pretense4 ,not a genuine miracle has been done4 ,we have in the ,bible the clear statement that the spiritual gifts--the supernatural gifts--would be superseded by 8a more excellent way20 that tongues should cease1 prophecies should fail1 and knowledge--the supernatural gift of knowledge--should be done away4 ,in accordance with these statements1 these gifts have ceased1 and thus fulfilled ,paul's statement1 and proved that the ,spirit of ,god was in him4 ,the eternal ,spirit saw1 and1 through him1 foretold that these gifts should cease1 as he did in the ,apostle ,john1 at the close of ,revelation1 the conclusion of the sacred canon1 that nothing more was to be added1 and nothing taken away4 ,this ended the revelations from ,god4 ,we have had not one word since1 and will not have till the end of time4 ,,cain',s ,,wife4 ,we do not know 8who was ,cain's wife10 only that she was ,mrs4 ,cain4 ,we do not know that it is of any more importance to us who ,cain's wife was than who the wife of any other man was or is4 ,we must not fall out with the ,bible because it does not gratify our curiosity in giving us information on many little particulars of no consequence to us4 ,we do not know who ,president ,grant's wife was4 ,we1 no doubt1 could easily have found out1 but it was of no importance to us to know1 and we have never tried to learn4 ,yet it is of as much importance to us1 and as much in reference to our salvation1 as to know who ,cain's wife was4 ,we can not give information that is not in the ,bible4 ,the ,bible does not tell who ,cain's wife was4 ,,what ,,is ,,essential4 ,we single not out baptism and make it essential1 nor conversion--as a whole--and make it essential2 but we single out what the ,lord requires1 not only in regard to conversion1 or making ,disciples1 but in regard to the life or the practice required of those in ,christ1 in which they are to continue after they have turned to the ,lord2 everything in the law of ,god1 and maintain that it is all essential4 ,the will of ,god is essential1 and that which is not in the will of ,god is not essential4 ,the will of ,god1 or what is required in the law of ,god1 must be done4 ,that which is not in the will of ,god1 or is no part of the law of ,god1 is not to be done at all1 or not to be introduced as religion1 or any part of it1 nor is the peace of the church to be interrupted with it4 ,the only way to avoid the trouble about the unessentials is simply to leave them out--to have nothing to do with them4 ,what regard can a man have for the welfare of the ,church1 the peace of the people of ,god1 and the triumphs of the faith1 who will not only have himself what is not required1 not essential1 and what he admits is not required1 but force it upon others8 ,,what ,,we ,,know ,,is ,,right4 ,we know it is right to 8,let the word of ,christ dwell in us richly2 and with all wisdom teach and admonish each other by psalms and hymns and spiritual songs2 singing with gratitude in our hearts to the ,lord0--to 8be filled with the ,spirit2 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs2 singing and making melody in our hearts to the ,lord40 ,this can be done1 and we know it is right2 but that a man can make melody in his heart to the ,lord 8with an organ10 a fiddle1 banjo1 clarionet1 lute1 fife or jew's-harp1 we do not know1 nor do we believe it4 ,we want to do what is written1 and enjoin it on others1 to do it4 ,what is not written we do not want to do4 ,when the ,lord so minutely describes how we are to do anything1 we want to do it in that way4 ,the way he prescribes will do the thing commanded2 some other way might not do what is commanded at all4 ,,infant ,,sin--,,infant ,,salvation4 ,in our generation1 a vast amount of ink and breath is wasted in writing and preaching about infant sin1 infant salvation1 idiots1 etc4 ,there is one thing certain about it1 and that is1 that our writing and preaching about infant sin1 infant salvation1 ,christ dying for infants and idiots1 never saved an infant1 an idiot1 or anybody else4 ,we do not1 by our writing and preaching about them1 make them sinful or righteous4 ,it is simply writing and preaching about them1 and not to them1 and certainly can do them no good4 ,it is purely curious and speculative1 pleasant for men and women to talk about1 who will not love and obey the ,savior themselves4 ,there are some things so clear in themselves that all can see them on the mere mention of them4 ,infants and idiots can not understand1 believe1 receive1 reject1 or obey the gospel4 ,they can not repent1 pray1 praise ,god or rejoice4 ,the gospel is simply not addressed to them4 ,infants and idiots are plainly and simply not gospel subjects4 ,how are they then to be saved8 ,what salvation do you mean8 ,salvation from sin1 do you say8 ,what sin8 ,they never sinned1 and have no actual sin1 as the schoolmen style it4 ,they are under no guilt4 ,they never transgressed any law1 human or divine4 ,they never rejected ,christ nor the gospel4 ,they have no personal sin or guilt2 no personal condemnation1 and need no personal justification4 ,the justification we receive in believing and obeying the gospel1 is from our own sins1 actual sins1 sins we have committed ourselves4 ,infants have no sins of this kind and need not this justification4 ,the remission of sins received1 in turning to ,god1 is for sinners2 those who1 in their own persons have committed sins1 and not for infants1 who have never sinned--who have no sins of this kind4 ,they have no guilt1 no condemnation1 and need no salvation from 8old sins10 as ,peter has it1 or past sins4 ,they have no sins of this kind4 ,but1 then1 this is only a partial view of the matter4 ,we all need something more than this4 ,we need another salvation beyond pardon1 or salvation from actual sins2 we need to be ransomed from the grave1 raised from the dead2 our bodies changed1 glorified1 immortalized4 ,the infant and idiot need this4 ,this salvation is future4 8,as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive40 8,by one man1 sin entered into the world40 8,in ,adam's fall1 we sinned all40 ,but we are not under the guilt of ,adam's sin2 only under the consequences4 ,these consequences came on us without our will1 volition or consent2 without our action4 ,we had no power to avert the calamity4 ,it came on us unconditionally4 ,the first ,adam1 without our volition or action1 involved us in it4 ,the second ,adam1 the ,lord from heaven1 unconditionally removes it from us4 ,without our volition or action1 he takes it away4 ,the first ,adam involved us in death4 ,our turning to ,god1 becoming christians and obtaining remission of sins1 does not save us from death4 ,we all die the same as those not ,christians4 ,after we die1 the best of saints1 we need the same ransom from the grave1 as infants do4 ,to be made alive2 to be changed1 immortalized and glorified4 ,this is the salvation from ,adam's sin1 or the consequences of it1 and this is needed for the saints and infants alike4 8,if one died for all1 then we are all dead40 ,i4 ,cor4 v4 #ad4 ,this includes infants and idiots4 ,christ then died for all4 8,as in ,adam all die1 even so in ,christ shall all be made alive40 ,the same 8all0 that die in ,adam shall be made alive in or by ,christ4 ,christ1 then1 died for all1--all that die in ,adam1--and will make the same 8all0 alive1 or raise them from the dead4 ,he1 then1 in dying for all1 died for infants and idiots1 and secured for them resurrection from the dead1 and they need to prepare them for the world to come4 ,they can receive no gospel1 and need none2 they can not repent1 and need no repentance2 they can not pray or commune1 and need no prayer or communion2 they need no religion1 and are simply not subjects of religion4 ,they need no church4 ,the gospel1 repentance and remission of sins1 the church and all that is in it1 is for pardoned persons--those washed from their sins--the redeemed by the blood of ,christ1 and not for those who never sinned1 had no guilt1 and needed no pardon--those who have no faith and know not the ,savior4 ,,our ,,authoritative ,,religion4 ,we have not time to elaborate it now1 but we can state1 that there is one religion that is the supreme and absolute authority--that is simply the religion of ,christ4 ,there is nothing but human authority in any other4 ,that religion presents a heaven and a hell1 the one as certain as the other4 ,it is not to be tampered with1 nor trifled with4 ,it offers life and threatens death4 ,it has justification and condemnation1 its rewards and punishments4 ,it has ,god in it1 ,christ and the ,holy ,spirit1 prophets1 apostles and martyrs4 ,men submit when they come to it1 and yield to it1 in doing which they submit and yield to its ,divine ,author4 ,the secrets of men will be judged by ,jesus ,christ according to the gospel4 ,if we expect to enter the everlasting city1 we must listen to the ,bible4 ,,reflections ,,for ,,dancers4 ,while we were in ,carlisle1 ,kentucky1 in ,may1 we learned that ,bro4 ,reynolds1 who was engaged in an interesting meeting a few miles off1 had announced that he would preach on dancing on a morning4 ,as we had no appointment for preaching that morning1 ,bro4 ,jones proposed to take us to the place to hear ,bro4 ,reynolds4 ,on arriving we found a good audience in attendance1 and ,bro4 ,reynolds prepared for his work4 ,he pressed us to address the people1 but we declined on the ground that he had announced his subject1 the people had come to hear him1 and that we were interested in the matter and desired to hear him4 ,he then entered upon his work4 ,bro4 ,reynolds is a self-made man1 and not a man not made at all1 but made in the genuine sense1 an effective and telling man4 ,he is a cool1 deliberate and pointed speaker2 speaks with perfect ease1 and interests an audience from first to last4 ,he is simply himself1 and imitates no one4 ,we decided before he was near through his discourse to write out an epitome of it1 but one thing after another has hindered us till weeks have passed1 and we took not a note1 and we fear now that our article will be but little more than an article about the discourse4 ,,motto4 8,prove all things2 hold fast that which is good40 ,i4 ,thess4 v4 #ba4 ,this means to test or try all things1 consider their claim1 and determine which are good4 ,hold that fast4 ,exod4 xv4 #bj1 we find an account of dancing3 8,and ,miriam the prophetess1 and the sister of ,aaron1 took a timbrel in her hand2 and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances40 ,several things are to be noticed in this dancing4 #a4 ,it was in daylight4 #b4 ,the women alone danced4 #c4 ,it was a religious exercise1 in rejoicing over their wonderful deliverance from ,egyptian bondage and the pursuit of their enemies1 and to the praise and honor of ,god4 ,they were religious people1 praising and honoring ,god4 ,exod4 xxxii4 #ai1 we have an account of dancing3 8,and it came to pass as soon as he0 7,moses7 8came nigh to the camp1 that he saw the calf1 and the dancing1 and ,moses' anger waxed hot1 and he cast the tables out of his hands1 and brake them beneath the mount40 ,we are not informed who danced in this instance1 but the whole procedure was idolatrous4 ,the shouting and dancing were in devotion to the molten calf4 ,judges xi4 #cd3 8,and ,jephthah came to ,mizpeh unto his house1 and1 behold1 his daughter came to meet him1 with timbrels and with dances1 and she was his only child2 beside her he had neither son nor daughter40 #a4 ,this dancing was in daylight4 #b4 ,one female danced alone4 #c4 ,she simply danced in joy to meet her father1 and her dance was soon followed with a terrible calamity4 ,judges xxi4 #ai-ba3 8,then they said1 ,behold1 there is a feast of the ,lord in ,shiloh1 yearly1 in a place which is on the north side of ,beth-el1 on the east side of the highway1 that goeth up from ,beth-el to ,shechem1 and on the south of ,lebonah4 ,therefore they commanded the children of ,benjamin1 saying1 ,go and lie in wait in the vineyards2 and see1 and behold1 if the daughters of ,shiloh come out to dance in dances1 then come you out of the vineyards1 and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of ,shiloh1 and go to the land of ,benjamin40 ,this dancing was in daylight4 ,the females alone danced4 ,we are not told what the object of the dancing was4 ,i4 ,sam4 xviii4 #f3 8,and it came to pass1 as they came1 when ,david was returning from the slaughter of the ,philistines1 that the women came out of all the cities of ,israel1 singing and dancing1 to meet ,king ,saul1 with tabrets1 with joy1 and with instruments of music40 #a4 ,this dancing was in daylight4 #b4 ,the women alone danced4 #c4 ,it was rejoicing in view of a special favor of ,god4 ,i4 ,sam4 xxx4 #af3 8,and when he had brought him down1 behold1 they were spread abroad upon all the earth1 eating1 and drinking1 and dancing1 because of all the great spoil they had taken out of the land of the ,philistines1 and out of the land of ,judah4 ,and ,david smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day2 and there escaped not a man of them1 save four hundred young men1 who rode upon camels1 and fled40 ,in this case the dancing was with eating and drinking1 and for amusement4 ,it was revelling4 ,they were not religious people1 but the wicked1 and the calamity soon came upon them4 ,,ii4 ,sam4 vi4 #ab-ad3 8,and it was told ,king ,david1 saying1 ,the ,lord hath blessed the house of ,obed-edom1 and all that pertaineth unto him1 because of the ark of ,god4 ,so ,david went and brought up the ark of ,god from the house of ,obed-edom into the city of ,david with gladness4 ,and it was so1 that when they that bear the ark of the ,lord1 had gone six paces1 he sacrificed oxen and fatlings4 ,and ,david danced before the ,lord with all his might2 and ,david was girded with a linen epod40 ,this dancing was in daylight4 ,david alone danced4 ,it was a religious exercise1 in devotion to the ,lord4 ,i4 ,chron4 xv4 #bi3 8,and it came to pass1 as the ark of the covenant of the ,lord came to the city of ,david1 that ,michal1 the daughter of ,saul1 looking out at a window1 saw ,king ,david dancing and playing1 and she despised him in her heart40 ,this dancing was in daylight4 ,david alone danced4 ,he danced as a religious exercise4 ,it was not dancing for amusement4 ,psalms cl4 #d3 8,praise him with a timbrel and dance2 praise him with stringed instruments and organs40 ,also1 ,psalms cxlix4 #c3 8,let them praise his name in the dance40 ,this also is a religious exercise4 ,eccl4 iii4 #d3 8,a time to weep1 and a time to laugh2 a time to mourn1 and a time to dance40 ,we do not remember the point made on this4 ,we have seen from the ,scriptures already cited1 that in the former ages1 when they danced as a religious exercise1 it was always in daylight1 and in no case promiscuous dancing of men and women together1 and the time for it was when the ,lord had wrought some great deliverance or brought some signal1 given some great victory4 ,job xxi4 #aa-ah3 8,they send forth their little ones like a flock1 and the children dance4 ,they take the timbrel and harp1 and rejoice at the sound of the organ4 ,they spend their days in wealth1 and in a moment go down to the grave4 ,therefore they say unto ,god1 ,depart from us2 for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways4 ,what is the ,almighty1 that we should serve him8 and what profit should we have if we pray unto him81 ,lo1 their good is not in their hand2 the counsel of the wicked is far from me4 ,how oft is the candle of the wicked put out6 and how oft cometh their destruction upon them6 ,god distributeth sorrows in his anger4 ,they are as stubble before the wind1 as chaff that the storm carrieth away40 ,here we have a terrible description of the dancers for pleasure1 amusement2 of their godless character and utter ruin4 ,mark vi4 #bb3 8,and when the daughter of the said ,herodias came in1 and danced1 and pleased ,herod and them that sat with him1 the king said to the damsel1 ,ask of me whatever you will1 and ,i will give it to you4 ,and he swore to her1 ,whatever you shall ask of me1 ,i will give to you1 to the half of my kingdom4 ,and she went forth and said to her mother1 ,what shall ,i ask8 ,and she said1 ,the head of ,john the ,baptist4 ,and she came in straightway with haste to the king1 and asked1 saying1 ,i will that you give me by and by in a charger the head of ,john the ,baptist40 ,here we have a fine sample of the taste1 the spirit and refinement of the dancer and her mother4 ,what had ,john the ,baptist done that his head should come off to gratify the mother of a dancing damsel8 ,john had said1 8,it is not lawful for you0 7,herod7 8to have your brother's wife40 ,this insulted ,mrs4 ,herod1 and she sought and obtained revenge through her dancing daughter and a rash vow of the king4 ,what a reward this for dancing and pleasing the king--the head of the best man in his kingdom1 a prophet from ,god6 ,this was dancing for pleasure1 for amusement4 ,this dancing for amusement1 pleasure1 is revelling1 and excludes from the kingdom4 ,gal4 v4 #ba3 8,now the works of the flesh are manifest1 which are these3 ,adultery1 fornication1 uncleanness1 lasciviousness1 idolatry1 witchcraft1 hatred1 variance1 emulations1 wrath1 strife1 seditions1 heresies1 envyings1 murders1 drunkenness1 revellings1 and such like2 of the which ,i tell you before1 as ,i have also told you in times past1 that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god40 ,bro4 ,reynolds gave a definition of the word 8revelling10 and the original ,greek word komos1 which it represents1 which we have not at hand and do not recollect2 only that dancing for pleasure1 amusement1 with eating and drinking1 is revelling1 and they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,he also made a happy hit on the clause1 8such like0--that is1 8revellings and such like02 that it included the plays of folly1 the innocent games for amusement1 etc4 ,we are sorry that we have forgotten so much of the comment and so many of the good points in the discourse4 ,it was in grand contrast with much that we have4 ,he is not trying to determine how much folly and sin we can practice and still be saved1 but how fully men and women can be saved from all folly and sin4 ,the ,lord strengthen his hands and the hands of every other man walking nobly in resistance against the demoralizing influences now upon us4 ,,spirit ,,of ,,indifference4 ,the worst difficulty there is to encounter is the general state of indifference4 ,there is a general state of don't-careitiveness4 ,the ,galio feeling abounds4 ,of all the opponents the preacher of ,christ has to contend with1 there is none that we so much dread1 as the man who cares for nothing--who is wholly indifferent--who scarcely has vitality enough to sit up in his pew1 unless he can sleep sitting4 ,there are men in these times1 who by custom1 mere habit1 indifferently float along with the current to the place of worship1 and sit1 lean down1 lie down1 or lounge in an audience before a preacher1 who seem to say1 by every motion1 every cuticle of the face1 expression of the countenance and move of the eye1 in thunder tones1 to the discerning preacher1 ,i do not care what you say--whether your doctrine is true or false4 ,this discomfits the preacher4 ,what can be done for a man who does not care8 ,what can a preacher do for a man whose spirit is so calloused and numbed as to be incapable of giving attention to a single discourse8 ,what can be done for men who have so lost the love of the truth1 all interest in it1 and so unfeeling to all its appeals1 as to sit before him who pleads its holy claims with earnestness1 wholly inattentive8 ,to such men the whole appears idle tales1 a kind of dream or kind of dim vision4 ,many in this description1 in church and out of it1 cannot be aroused from their stupor1 awakened from their slumbers and brought out from the almost impenetrable spell of thick darkness that envelopes them1 by the efforts of any preacher4 ,the thunders of ,sinai would not do it4 ,the melting strains of gospel love will not do it4 ,heaven's beneficence to man is all nothing to them4 ,many1 in this generation1 will never be awakened from this deep and awful slumber1 and the thick darkness that surrounds them1 till the voice of the archangel from heaven and the trumpet of ,god shall summon them to the judgment of the great day4 ,an effort is demanded1 such as we1 as a people1 have never made2 such as man has rarely made2 in any age1 an equal to anything in the power of man to make1 to awaken our cotemporaries from this terrible and fearful state of death4 ,none but men who are in earnest can do anything in this work4 ,men who have no concern themselves1 or who are nearly in the same predicament1 may deliver their little1 dry and lifeless harangues1 but they make no impression4 ,men must be fully alive1 have the benevolence of ,god at heart1 enter the work with the whole soul1 and labor mightily for the ,lord4 ,we must feel the need of a great effort1 to save man1 maintain righteousness and restrain the world from sin1 and our efforts must make men feel the necessity of such an effort4 ,it is not necessary that the imagination should be wrought up1 but merely that the people be made conscious of the reality1 to move those in the reach of reason and argument4 ,but1 we defer approaching any other point1 for a month4 ,,apology ,,for ,,creeds4 ,apology ,first4 8,it is not necessary to make such an incessant war upon our creed2 it is just like the ,bible2 it is all scriptural40 ,in this case admitting1 for the sake of argument1 what is not true of any human creed1 that it is 8just like the ,bible10 we reply1 that is useless1 and will do no better than the ,bible itself4 ,if it is just like the ,bible it will accomplish nothing more than the ,bible1 and be just as deficient4 ,nothing can be gained by it2 nothing can be accomplished by it which the ,bible itself could not accomplish1 so that it must be utterly useless4 ,in that case there can be no excuse for having it--not only so1 but the person holding on to and contending for such a creed1 is inexcusable on another account4 ,to give up a creed just like the ,bible1 and take the ,bible itself as a rule of faith and practice1 a man would lose nothing1 for he would find all his creed in the ,bible4 ,we insist1 therefore1 that one of the most inexcusable1 unreasonable and unjustifiable positions a man can occupy1 is to hold on to1 contend for and insist that he can not do without a creed which he insists is just like the ,bible1 though he can have the ,bible itself6 ,the ,bible will certainly accomplish all that any creed just like it can4 ,apology ,second4 8,it is useless to be contending against our creed4 ,it contains nothing that is not in the ,bible4 ,it is simply an abstract1 epitome or abridgment of ,bible doctrine1 so arranged as to be convenient and show at a glance what we hold40 ,this is quite a specious apology1 and has succeeded in deluding and deceiving many persons1 and silencing their consciences1 and is1 therefore1 more especially deserving of attention4 ,this apology is dangerous because it acknowledges that the creed contains and sets forth what the party believes--its faith4 ,now1 we assert1 without hesitation1 that any man who believes no more than is set forth in any human creed on earth1 and will do no more than any human creed requires1 has neither faith nor obedience enough to be acceptable with ,god4 ,there is not a human creed on earth1 that contains the whole ,christian faith4 ,their faith is too narrow4 ,we have no confidence in epitomes1 abstracts1 or abridgments of the faith4 ,nothing less than the faith1 the whole faith of ,christ1 is sufficient to meet the divine approbation4 ,no man's faith not as broad as the ,bible is broad enough for us4 ,his faith must contain ,moses and ,jesus1 the prophets of the ,old ,testament and the apostles of the ,new4 ,there must be no abstracting1 no epitomizing1 no abridging4 ,the man not willing to receive ,christ1 and the whole ,christian faith1 as ,god has set him and the faith forth1 in the ,holy ,scriptures1 is not a christian1 and had better make no pretence to christianity4 ,we do not wish a man to come describing how he views every point of doctrine4 ,we do not desire him to come declaring that he receives ,christ as a ,trinitarian or ,unitarian1 a ,calvinist or an ,arminian1 but to come with a contrite spirit1 avowing it as the desire of the heart1 and his full determination1 to receive ,christ with all his heart1 as ,god has revealed him in the prophecies of the ,old ,testament and the apostolic preaching of the ,new4 ,the advocate of a human creed says1 he wants his creed to 8show at a glance what we hold60 ,look over your creed1 then1 right carefully1 and see what you hold1 and look over the ,new ,testament with the same care1 and see what an amount it contains that you do not hold1 or that is not in your creed1 and you will see that your creed is not a respectable skeleton--that it not only lacks the flesh1 blood1 muscles1 arteries1 veins1 etc41 of the body1 but it lacks many of the bones and1 what is vastly more1 it lacks the life1 the soul1 the spirit4 ,if it contains what you hold1 much as precious as any part of the ,christian faith1 and as binding as any thing ,god has revealed1 clearly and as explicitly laid down in the ,new ,testament1 is not contained in what you hold at all4 ,much of as precious truth as is contained in the ,bible1 a vast amount as clear to the children of ,god as anything contained in the ,christian faith1 an immense deal as consoling to the dying saint as any thing in the word of ,god1 as any man who has ever looked must admit1 is not found in any human creed4 ,we say again1 and can prove at almost any length1 that there is not a human creed in the world that is a respectable skeleton1 that is even a perceptible shadow of the ,christian faith4 ,indeed1 no creed appears to have been intended simply to set forth the ,christian faith4 ,it does not appear to be the object of any human creed to set forth the simple faith of ,christ or ,christianity4 ,none of the creeds claim to be the ,christian faith1 the ,christian confession1 ,christian discipline or ,christian system1 but one is 8,the ,philadelphia ,confession10 another 8,the ,westminster ,confession10 and a third 8,the ,methodist ,discipline40 ,the object of these books1 and all of the same kind1 appears to be more to set forth the views their authors had of certain points of doctrine1 or their notions of these points1 than to set forth the whole ,christian faith itself4 ,their object is much more to show how the parties adopting them held certain points of doctrine1 and to distinguish their views from some others1 than to set forth the ,christian faith4 ,the creeds1 then1 are but little more than epitomes of men's views of certain points of ,christian doctrine1 their abridged understanding of these points4 ,now1 the belief and reception of men's views of the ,christian faith will not save any man1 much less the belief and reception of their views of a few points of doctrine2 but to be saved1 a man must believe and receive the ,christian faith--the whole ,christian faith itself4 ,,hear ,,ye ,,him4 8,but we want something binding40 ,look then1 at the command accompanying this oracle1 or confession1 or immediately following it1 if you desire something binding1 or authoritative4 ,we allude to the authoritative utterance1 8,hear ,him40 ,god1 who made the worlds--,god1 who rules among the armies of heaven--who hurled angels down to hell for disobedience--whose voice shook the earth4 ,god1 who holds the destinies of all the nations in his hand1 who 8weighs the hills in a balance1 and handles the isles as a very little thing10 in connection with the revelation of his ,son1 to all the nations of the earth1 with all the majesty of his authority1 says1 8,,hear ,,him20 give him audience2 regard him2 bow to him2 follow him2 be guided by him2 honor and obey him forever4 ,how utterly futile and insignificant the attempt of puny and erring mortals to add anything to the great oracle1 or confession1 in which is concentrated the whole christian institution1 and with which is connected the authoritative words of the ineffable ,jehovah1 8,,hear ,,him40 ,if a man receives the revelation ,god makes of his ,son1 or1 rather1 if he receives his ,son1 from the revelation he has made of him1 and bows in submission to him1 in accordance with the command to 8,hear ,him10 confesses with the mouth before men1 what he believes in the heart1 that 8,jesus ,christ is the ,son of ,god10 and submits to the ,divine test of loyalty1 in the requirement to be buried with his ,lord in baptism1 while that great formula is uttered over him1 8,i baptize you in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit10 he gives the highest assurance in his power to give1 that he is changed in heart1 that he loves ,god and will serve him1 and is bound by the strongest pledge1 the highest and most solemn obligation that ever did or ever can bind a human being1 to love and serve ,god4 ,to add a thousand human ceremonies to this1 would give no higher assurance of the preparation of the heart1 the designs and resolutions being genuine1 and bind the individual no more solemnly to be faithful to the end4 ,the confession that ,god requires1 is the greatest confession that man can make1 and the making of it is the best evidence a man can give that his heart is right4 ,the first test of loyalty ,god has required of the penitent confessor1 is the strongest1 highest1 and most solemn to which man can submit1 and the submission to it1 is the strongest evidence of loyalty the person can give4 ,the authority that requires this submission1 is the highest and most binding that can rest upon a human being2 and1 if it does not govern1 control and restrain the person1 no authority can4 ,if such a confession as this--one that takes in ,god and man1 heaven and earth1 the ,savior and his words1 the whole revelation from ,god1 the sublime confession that ,jesus ,christ is the ,son of ,god1 made in a proper manner1 will not show that the heart is right4 ,you need not add any such catechisms or experiences as are common in these times4 ,they are all perfect nothingness compared with this great confession1 which1 like the spider's web1 may catch flies and gnats1 while the dangerous wasp and hornet will pass through with ease4 ,the safe ground1 and the only safe ground1 is to follow the simple and infallible leadings of the ,spirit of ,god4 ,appeal to the sacred record1 and examine his divine and unerring procedure the day he came down from heaven and guided the apostles into all truth4 ,what did he require of men on that day1 before receiving them into the church8 ,follow him as he guided the apostles in all the cases of conversion mentioned in the sacred record4 ,what did he require in all these cases8 ,the same must be required now1 and no more4 ,we must be led by the ,spirit of ,god1 in converting sinners1 and not by human creeds2 we must be guided by the wisdom of ,god and not by the wisdom of man2 we must have confidence in the ways of ,god and show no hankering after the ways of man4 ,god will depart from all who turn away from the simplicity of the apostolic practice1 under the immediate guidance of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,no man is led by1 or has the spirit1 who has not full confidence in requiring precisely the same of all who enter the church required by the apostles1 as by the ,holy ,spirit1 who guided them4 ,he simply required the confession with the mouth1 of the faith of the heart4 ,,evangelists ,,and ,,evangelizing4 ,we have had a continuous series of writing and preaching about properly qualified ,evangelists1 and numerous schemes have been set on foot and advocated1 for raising up and qualifying men for this great work4 ,still1 the ,evangelical field is not at all supplied4 ,no scheme set on foot is supplying1 or likely to supply1 the field4 ,some few preachers are being manufactured1 but where do they go8 and what do they do8 ,how many of them go out into the field and preach the gospel1 convert sinners1 plant and build up churches8 ,where is one doing anything of this kind8 ,in many parts of the country1 they have made people believe that the old preachers who have planted the churches and made the principal part of all the converts that have been made1 are behind the times1 and incapable of preaching1 discouraged and driven many of them from the field1 and the work is not progressing4 ,we need1 and must have1 if we ever progress1 evangelists1 or missionaries1 who will travel throughout the length and breadth of the country1 visit the churches1 8see how they do10 8set in order the things that are wanting10 recruit their numbers1 and maintain the faith once delivered to the saints4 ,we need1 and must have1 men who will visit weak churches1 enter new communities1 where there are no churches1--bold adventurers1 pioneers to open the immense forests1 and make the rude desert blossom like the rose4 ,this work must be done1 and we must have the men that can and will do it4 ,where are we to obtain this class of men8 ,can we never learn anything from the history of the past1 from all experience8 ,where did the men come from1 who have done pretty much of all this kind of work that has ever been done8 ,is a miracle to be expected8 ,will men for this work1 come from a source whence such men never came8 ,no6 never while man is man1 and human nature is human nature4 ,men brought up in school houses1 fed and clothed from their father's pockets1 without ever knowing what it was to earn a dollar1 or a coat for their backs1 without knowing anything about the hardships and buffetings of the world1 no matter if they become scholars1 and learn how to say a few fine things1 never will and never can do the work we are speaking of4 ,they have not the constitution1 the physical energies to do it4 ,they have not the knowledge of the world1 the ways and manners of the people to do it4 ,they know nothing of the toils1 hardships1 and burdens1 of the masses of mankind2 are incompetent to sympathize with them1 mingle with them1 become a fellow creature with them1 and preach the ,gospel of ,salvation to them1 in an acceptable and successful manner and save them4 ,they not only are wholly incompetent1 incapable1 and could not1 if they would2 but it is not their atmosphere1 not their congenial sphere1 and they never will do the work in the ,lord's great ,evangelical field4 ,they never have done the work1 and never will4 ,we must turn our eye in another direction4 ,we must look to men who have come up in our midst1 among the people1 who are of the people1 in active life1 habits of industry1 who have known what it was to earn a living--men who have found out what a dollar is worth by earning it2 learned the people by mingling with them2 developed their physical man by active and industrious life2 know the ways of the world by being in it4 ,we must look to men of this description whose hearts have been overcome by the love of ,christ1 whose energies have been enlisted in the churches1 and who are brought forth by the churches1 and should be reared up and encouraged by the churches4 ,here is where we must look for ,evangelists4 ,the church must open the way for her young men1 set them forth1 and bring out all the talent she has within2 and every man that has the natural endowment1 the energy1 the love for man1 the anxiety for man's salvation1 necessary for one who would go out into the world to save men1 will make his way into the ,evangelical field1 and make his mark in the world4 ,if he lacks learning or information1 and has the proper zeal1 desire for his work1 and natural endowment1 he will acquire the learning and knowledge4 ,we must open the way for such1 in all the churches2 show our young men that we are looking for them to come forth and enter upon this great work4 ,we must give them opportunities and encourage them to speak1 to read the ,scriptures and pray in public1 and we shall soon find that the ,lord has plenty of material of the first quality1 for this great work4 ,here is the source whence our laboring men have come--our active effective men who are doing1 and have always done the work4 ,it is useless for us to be deluded by the vain hope that the men we need1 will ever come from any other source4 ,we must turn our attention to the ,evangelical work1 concentrate our energies upon it1 and do all in our power to promote it4 ,every man that can preach at all2 every man that can turn a sinner to the ,lord1 should be engaged in the work1 with all zeal and power4 ,we must preach the word both publicly and privately1 with the tongue1 and pen through newspaper1 pamphlet1 magazine1 tract and book2 in every possible way1 and by all means1 we must preach the word of ,god from the rivers to the ends of the earth1 and make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery1 which1 from the beginning of the world1 hath been hid in ,god1 who created all things by ,jesus ,christ4 8,go10 brethren1 the ,lord says1 8,go into all the world1 and preach the ,gospel to every creature20 8,go10 says he1 8therefore1 and teach all nations40 ,let every man go1 who can call a few people together1 and preach the word of the ,lord to them4 ,yes1 go if you can preach at all1 turn sinners to ,god and save them2--go and preach4 ,go under a sense of the mighty work1 remembering the language of that great preacher and apostle to the ,gentiles1 8,wo is me if ,i preach not the ,gospel40 ,god requires those who have the gospel and the ability1 to preach it now1 and this same wo will rest upon them if they do not do it4 ,what a crying sin against the ,lord1 who gave us the gospel1 and man to whom he commands it to be preached1 for those with the ability1 to refuse to preach the gospel of the grace of ,god8 ,who but these shall answer to ,god1 if the people perish for the word of ,god8 ,the first disciples1 when dispersed from their homes1 deprived of all their earthly good1 8went everywhere preaching the word40 ,a ,,working ,,ministry4 ,men do not get a support1 or do much good1 in any calling1 without work1 and there is no calling on earth where the distinction is wider1 between the industrious and indolent1 than in the christian ministry4 ,we can not be supported in the ministry without work1 and it is not right that we should be4 ,the ,lord puts us upon the same footing as other men4 ,we must rise early1 be at our books1 off to our appointments1 through winds1 rains1 and snows1 cold and heat1 with zeal and earnestness2 preach with spirit and power1 whether the audience is great or small1 rich or poor1 both early and late4 ,we must come to the people with something cheering1 strengthening1 inspiring1 awakening1 stirring1 and thrilling the hearts of men with the theme of ,calvary4 ,there must be no murmuring1 complaining1 and repining about the amount we have to do2 we must do it cheerfully1 and show that we delight in our ,lord's work4 ,it is a most sacred honor to us--a mercy from ,god--that we are permitted to work for him1 in his most glorious cause at all2 and the work must be performed cheerfully1 freely1 and with all the heart1 or it will not be acceptable to him1 whether we are supported or not4 ,the ,lord has said that 8the laborer is worthy of his hire10 and if the preacher of ,christ imparts spiritual things1 he is to receive in return1 temporal things2 but a 8laborer0 is a working man1 and the ,divine rule is1 8if we sow sparingly1 we shall reap sparingly40 ,the man who preaches the gospel is by all reasonable men expected to do as much labor as his strength will permit4 ,it is reasonable that he should be expected to apply his energies as men of other pursuits4 ,the field is wide open before him1 and he should be a zealous1 enterprising1 and persevering man1 making full work in his calling4 ,a man who does not work any save a little on one or two days in a week1 does not receive much reward in any business1 unless obtained by fraud4 ,the physician who makes a good support1 works early and late1 both good weather and bad4 ,the lawyer who makes a good support1 is one of industry and energy4 ,the farmer who prospers1 rises early1 toils hard1 and perseveres late4 ,in all departments1 industry1 perseverance and energy characterize men who prosper4 ,this is as true of the ministry as any class of men on earth2 they can never prosper without the most untiring industry and perseverance4 ,it is utterly useless for a man of idle habits1 addicted to loafing1 wasting his precious time in useless gossip to speak of his wants1 his lack of support1 or to try to induce persons of industrious habits to feel that he is in need4 ,they will throw the whole matter off by saying1 8,let him make an effort and apply his energies1 as ,i have to do1 and he will have plenty40 ,but let a preacher apply himself to his calling2 persevere in it1 making every effort in his power2 thus showing to all who know him1 that his labors are actually arduous and incessant1 and he will receive full credit from not only his brethren1 but the community generally1 for his industry and faithfulness1 and his temporal wants will as certainly receive attention1 as that his work is of ,god4 ,the ,lord has men yet in this world1 good and true1 who will reward labors of the faithful and persevering preacher of the gospel and support him4 ,indeed1 there is a kind of fixed principle among men1 as well as in the ,divine administration1 that industry shall be rewarded and indolence punished1 and it is not more certainly a settled principle in reference to any class of men than preachers4 ,we can not expect to be wrapped in cloths1 silks1 and satins1 with fine salaries1 for preaching one or two short discourses on ,lord's day1 and then lying in the shade all the week2 much less can we expect christianity to prosper1 or the approbation of heaven rest upon us1 in such an order of things4 ,we must penetrate the whole land in every nook and corner1 and preach the ,word of the ,living ,god to every creature4 ,we have not written this for any preacher older than ourself1 but for the sake of young men1 whom we desire to see useful1 influential1 and well sustained ministers of the ,word of ,god4 ,all such we entreat1 to study and labor to do the ,lord's work1 and he will supply their wants out of his inexhaustible storehouse4 ,,present ,,punishment ,,will ,,not ,,save4 ,the mere circumstance of a man being punished for his sins in this life1 has nothing in it to purify his soul1 purge his conscience1 or prepare him for the enjoyment of ,god4 ,the ,egyptians1 the ,antediluvians1 the ,sodomites1 and the ,jews1 had a just recompense of reward sent upon them in this world1 but this only sent them down to tartareous1 to be reserved1 with the angels that sinned1 to the judgment of the great day1 where1 we are assured1 ,sodom and ,gomorrah shall appear4 ,some men appear to think1 that if men are punished1 to use their own style1 as much as their sins deserve1 they must necessarily be happy then4 ,but men can not be happy--can not enjoy ,god1 without justification1 purification of heart and conscience2 and1 unless thus prepared for the enjoyment of ,god1 they can not enjoy the world to come4 ,this is a work that punishment can not do4 ,the hurling of angels1 that sinned1 down to hell1 the drowning of antediluvians and ,egyptians1 the burning of ,sodomites1 and slaying of ,jews1 did not purify one of them4 ,if men live in unbelief1 commit some capital offence1 and are executed for it1 though this may be a just recompense of reward1 it will not purify their souls and prepare them to enjoy ,god4 ,when men pass the boundary line of life1 they pass all the means1 in the economy of ,god1 for preparing them for heaven1 and no punishment will ever do what the grace of ,god could not do4 ,,the ,,mission ,,of ,,infidels4 ,the mission of infidels is not to build up anything but to pull down churches1 civil laws1 governments1 morals1 the characters of men and women1 peace1 happiness1 protection of home1 property and life4 ,they come with a mission of denials of the truths contained in the ,bible--a mission of war upon the ,bible1 religion1 and the friends of purity and mercy4 ,they come not with a mission of peace and good will to man1 but a mission of hatred towards the ,bible and all it enjoins--a mission to pull down and destroy--to spread desolation among other men's labors and lay their work in ruins1 leaving nothing but wrecks and devastation4 ,they come to neutralize1 paralize and dishearten all efforts for the amelioration of man's condition--to discourage1 enfeeble and ignore all efforts to rise4 ,they come not into our midst with a warm1 kind and affectionate appeal to the attentive1 thinking and reflective portion1--the more spiritually minded2 but appeal to the lukewarm1 back-sliding1 or the apostate1 who is beginning to stand at a distance1 who already is descending upon the retrograde plane--not to rescue him1 or to prevent his retrograde movement1 but to accelerate it4 ,the appeal to him is not to give him confidence1 but to destroy his confidence in his ,bible1 his religion1 his brethren1 and fill him with doubts and distrusts4 ,it is not to embolden him1 but to intimidate him and fill him with fears1 and discourage him from all good forever4 ,the mission of infidels is not to enlighten1 civilize and ennoble the nations4 ,they have never enlightened1 civilized or elevated a nation or a people since the world was made4 ,they have never organized society1 established peace and order in any place on this earth4 ,they have established no civil institutions1 no system of morals1 no code of laws1 no system of education1 and no institutions of learning that deserve the name4 ,even the literature of the country has almost entirely been left to the believers in the ,bible4 ,it is an easy work to pull down civil government1 subvert the foundation of organization1 condemn the means of enlightenment1 and object to them4 ,it is an easy matter to deny everything and prove nothing2 to doubt1 vacillate and fear4 ,it is an easy matter to distrust1 fill others with distrust1 destroy confidence1 throw everything into confusion and uncertainty4 ,some men have fallen so fully into this state1 that they hardly will venture to say they believe anything1 have confidence in anything1 or know anything4 ,one man1 under the blinding1 benumbing and stupifying influence of unbelief1 when asked whether he knew that he existed1 hesitated to say he did4 ,what ability1 knowledge or learning does it require1 to deny everything8 ,the most ignorant1 illiterate and stupid1 can deny as stoutly1 as the most learned1 enlightened1 and talented4 ,it requires no strength of mind to stand and deny--to declare in the most pertinacious manner1 disbelief1 want of confidence1 doubts1 distrusts and uncertainties in everything4 ,a man who never read the ,bible once through in his life1 nor ten other books1 who has the most corrupt character1 can talk of inconsistencies1 incongruities1 contradictions and absurdities1 in the ,bible1 as stoutly as anybody4 ,any blockhead could leap over the ,falls of ,niagara1 or from the ,suspension ,bridge below4 ,in the same way1 any man with or without much mind1 learning or talent1 can leap into the dark abyss of unbelief1 rejecting1 contemning and despising all evidence2 but1 would it not be the part of prudence1 of wisdom and discretion in such1 to look before they leap8 ,it is a fearful experiment they are making4 ,if the step is a mistaken one1 it can never be retraced beyond this life4 ,he who makes the experiment1 obtains nothing now1 only the unbridled privilege of declaring the ,bible false--religion priest-craft--that man will never be called to account1 hence all men can do as they list4 ,the mission of infidels is to risk1 and induce all men to risk the loss of everything1 without the possibility of gaining anything in this world1 or the world to come4 ,they have no worthy object--they can have no worthy object in opposing the ,bible4 ,they have no reason for opposing it1 for they do not propose to make the world any better4 ,they have no proposition to make the world more true1 kind1 affectionate or happy4 ,indeed1 the very fact of their malignity towards the ,bible1 shows that it is no fable4 ,the land abounds with acknowledged fables2 why are they not enraged at these8 ,they are read by the million2 but1 sceptics are no more enraged at them than other men4 ,if they are satisfied the ,bible is all fiction1 false or human1 why trouble us about it8 ,why not let it pass8 ,we hear thousands contending about the 8signs in the moon10 but we care nothing about them1 and do not even trouble those who believe in them2 the reason is1 we are well and fully satisfied1 that there is nothing in them4 ,why do they not let the believers in the ,bible pass in the same way8 ,the reason is obvious2 they are in doubt1 not fully satisfied1 and feel that there is uncertainty in their position4 ,they see and are constantly impressed with the fact1 that if the ,christian could be mistaken that his mistake amounts to nothing--that he is as happy now1 and has as high assurance in regard to all beyond this life1 to say the least of it1 as they2 and that if the sceptic should prove mistaken1 his mistake will be an irreparable one4 ,they see that a mistake on the part of a ,christian involves no danger1 no serious consequences in this world or the world to come2 while a mistake on their part involves eternal consequences4 ,they are not constantly impressed1 too1 with the fact1 that they are relying upon that which amounts to anything like certainty2 for a large proportion who have occupied their position1 before death have repudiated and renounced it1--many of them in the immediate expectation of death1--and warned all their friends against it4 ,they find on the other hand1 that all who believed the ,bible when in health1 also believed it when approaching death1 and that no man who has contended for its truth till he was in the immediate expectation of death1 has then denied it4 ,they must1 then1 see that their mission is simply to fill the world with doubts and distrusts1 involving all in darkness and uncertainty4 ,,is ,,it ,,possible ,,to ,,arouse ,,the ,,people8 ,is it not possible to rescue the people from the pernicious and blinding influences of speculative theories and theorists1 and induce them to receive the simple faith of ,christ1 become his disciples1 love him and serve him8 ,have the leaders of the people1 in these times1 as they did in the days of the ,lord's pilgrimage on earth1 stolen away the key of knowledge1 and fastened them down with such an impenetrable spell of thick darkness that they are unwilling to be rescued from this servile slavery to human speculation to the rejection of the sun of righteousness8 ,or is the world so lost1 the mind of the people so bewitched1 the delusions around us so enchanting1 that it is impossible to attract the attention of the people1 arrest their affections or impress their hearts1 by the love of ,god to man1 by the sufferings of ,christ1 by all the divine sanctions of the blood of the everlasting covenant1 by the glories of heaven1 or the terrors of hell1 to turn to the ,lord and follow him who loved us and gave himself for us8 ,is the public mind so distracted1 and are the people so confused and lost to all that ,god has said and done1 that they can not be induced to love ,christ better than all human theories1 regard him and feel the force of all his love to our lost and ruined world8 ,are the people so set upon gnawing the bone of contention1 keeping up sectarian feuds2 disputing upon the lifeless1 soulless and profitless controversies thrust upon them1 that they will neither hear the ,lord nor be interested in the word of his grace8 ,must the public mind be wholly occupied with the useless distinctions between the views of men1 the useless comparisons of doctrines and commandments of men1 the comparative merits of different human systems1 and an eternal train of customs unknown to the primitive church1 thus bewildering the people and blinding their minds that they may neither see the ,lord nor regard his authority8 ,is it impossible to bring the authority of the ,almighty again to bear upon the world1 to lift up the ,lord before the people1 that he may draw all men unto him1 convert them to the ,lord and place them under him8 ,is it impossible to rescue the people from the blinding influences of these times--from being merely followers of men1 and believing human theories1 which have no power to save1 in the place of believing the great truth1 that ,christ died for our sins1 according to the ,scriptures--that he was buried1 and that he rose from the dead8 ,is it impossible to interest the public mind with the things of ,god--with the revelation from ,god to man1 with the religion of ,christ itself8 ,is the love of ,god gone from the world8 ,has the ,holy ,spirit of ,god abandoned the church8 ,is the human race mad1 insane and ruined1 so that all pleadings and entreaties to turn to ,god must fail8 ,must the holy religion of ,christ be set aside for the silly disputes of these times8 ,shall that holy religion that saved such vast multitudes in the days of the apostles1 fired the hearts of the missionaries of the cross and supported the holy martyrs in passing through all the cruel scourgings1 tortures and privations for the name of the ,lord1 be contemned1 despised and rejected by the people of our day8 ,o1 that ,god would enable us to arouse the people of this generation from the awful stupor and deep slumbers of carnal security to prepare to meet ,god6 ,a ,,mother',s ,,grave4 ,earth has some sacred spots where we feel like looseing the shoes from our feet1 and treading with holy reverence2 where common words of social converse seem rude1 and the smile of pleasure unfitting2 places where friendship's hands have lingered in each other's2 where vows have been plighted1 prayers offered1 and tears of parting shed4 ,oh1 how the thoughts hover around such places1 and travel back through unmeasured space to visit them4 ,but1 of all the spots on this green earth1 none is so sacred as that where rest1 waiting the resurrection1 those we once cherished and loved--our brothers1 our sisters1 or our children4 ,hence1 in all ages1 the better part of mankind have chosen and loved spots for the burial of their dead2 and on these spots they have loved to wander at eventide1 to meditate and weep4 ,but1 of all places1 even among the charnel-houses of the dead1 none is so sacred as a mother's grave4 ,there sleeps the nurse of our infancy--the guide of our youth--the counselor of our riper years--our friend1 when others deserted us--she1 whose heart was a stranger to every other feeling but love1 and who could always find excuses for us when we could find none for ourselves4 ,there she sleeps1 and we love the very earth for her sake4 ,with sentiments like these1 ,i turned aside from the gayeties of life1 to the narrow habitations of the dead4 ,i wandered among those who had commenced life with me in hope4 ,here distinctions were forgotten2 at least1 by the quiet slumberers around me4 ,i saw the rich and the great1 who scorned the poor1 and shunned them as infected with the plague1 quietly sleeping by their side4 ,,tendency ,,of ,,universalism4 ,that the obvious tendency of ,universalism is irreligious2 that it is opposed to holiness1 to reformation of life2 that it is in eternal hostility to all efforts to make the world better2 that it paralyzes and neutralizes the efforts of men to serve ,god--is one of the most manifest impressions upon the mind1 both from the theory itself1 and from the history of its practical workings among men4 ,no pretended system in our time has been characterized by such daring and unblushing effrontery4 ,it comes forward under a pretense of faith1 but ridicules the most awful and fearful things which that faith reveals4 ,it discards the eternal discriminations which the faith of the ,lord ,jesus maintains between the righteous and the wicked--between those who serve ,god and those who serve him not--between the vice and virtue--except the reward of one and the punishment of the other1 received in this life4 ,it proposes to believe the ,bible1 and would have men believe that it teaches that he who was an atheist1 a deist1 and a scoffer at all that ,god has said1 and a blasphemer of the name of ,god till he breathed the last breath1 shall be received up into glory1 and seated down with the holy martyrs of ,jesus1 and enjoy ,god forever6 ,no other system has so far imposed upon the credulity of mankind1 as to face the world1 as well as the heavens1 and declare that the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels1 where the beast and the false prophet shall be tormented day and night1 forever and ever--the gehena of fire1 where the worm dieth not1 and the fire is not quenched--is in this world1 and that the wicked we see are actually enduring its punishments6 ,no infidel desires any better opposition to religion than this4 ,no man who hates the ,bible1 and wishes its influence upon the world counteracted1 desires any more effectual method of doing it than this1 so far as men will receive it4 ,those who fall under its influence will neither worship ,god nor keep his commandments4 ,atheism itself has all the incentives to a righteous life found in this system1 and may be trusted just as far4 ,its influence is to harden the heart1 and fill the world with impenitence and indifference4 ,,value ,,of ,,learning4 ,if a man's learning is combined with piety1 devotion1 and consecration to ,jesus ,christ1 and he is possessed with the humility and meekness inculcated in ,christianity1 and his learning enables him to unfold the unsearchable riches of ,christ1 with the simplicity1 sincerity and devotion necessary to commend it to the hearts and consciences of men1 it is of great value4 ,if the ,lord dwells in a man1 if the great matters of the kingdom of ,god fill his soul1 and if his learning is used in presenting the simple gospel of ,christ in meekness1 it may be of great service to him2 but1 it requires much care to keep the ,lord in front of it1 so that the hearers will see nothing but him4 ,the more gifted the man1 the more learned and powerful1 the better1 if all his powers are engaged in setting forth and honoring the ,lord1 sanctifying ,him in the eyes of the people4 ,at the same time1 he should rely upon not learning only1 or talent1 or power that he possesses1 but upon the ,lord1 upon his gospel--the power of ,god unto salvation1 to every one who believes4 ,he must look to heaven for the means to move men to repent2 he must appeal to ,god1 keep ,god and his works before his audience1 and in this way show that his confidence is in ,christianity itself1 and the author of it1 and not in himself1 not in man4 ,whether men have what the world calls learning or not1 they must know ,god1 and have the love of ,god in their hearts1 if they would induce others to love him and turn to him4 ,,the ,,bible ,,infallibly ,,safe4 ,can men lead the people astray by insisting upon their adhering strictly to the law of ,god1 uniting upon it1 living in peace and love8 ,let the ,lord reign4 ,let his law be the supreme authority4 ,the ,bible is right if anything is right4 ,all led by it are led rightly2 all under its influence are under proper influence2 all opposed to it are wrong--all the way wrong4 ,there is not one ray of light from heaven that has ever reached the abodes of men in any creed1 any book1 or any man that is not in the ,bible4 ,if the man who honestly reads the ,bible to know his duty or the will of ,god1 and does it to the best of his ability1 praying daily for the divine aid1 both in understanding and doing1 is not safe1 infallibly safe and right2 no man in this world is safe4 ,,excuse ,,for ,,creeds4 ,one of the most common excuses offered for human creeds is1 that 8,we want something to keep us together--something to bind us in union40 ,this apology is based virtually upon the same two preposterous assumptions we have before mentioned4 ,it assumes1 with great apparent innocence1 that the ,bible can not keep us together1 that it cannot bind us in union4 ,then it assumes1 with much modesty1 that a human creed can keep us together--bind us in union--can do what the ,bible can not do4 ,this1 it appears to us1 should startle any good man at once4 ,these assumptions are arrogant in the extreme1 and not only arrogant1 but made without any regard to facts4 ,do human creeds keep churches together8 ,we assert1 fearless of successful contradiction1 that the whole history of human creeds proves that they do not keep churches together4 ,let us take one look at three of the most popular creeds in this country1 and see what they have done in keeping churches together4 ,how has the ,baptist creed succeeded8 ,has it kept the ,baptists together8 ,by no means4 ,from the one original ,baptist stock we have now not less than nine or ten parties of ,baptists4 ,how has the ,presbyterian creed succeeded in keeping its adherents together8 ,it is thought to be a very wise and powerful document4 ,has it kept ,presbyterians together8 ,it has succeeded no better than the ,baptist creed4 ,with all its adhesive power1 ,presbyterians1 within the last century have sundered into some eight parties4 ,this needs no commentary4 ,how has the ,methodist ,discipline succeeded8 ,it is itself nothing but an offshoot of the ,episcopalian creed1 which did not prevent the ,methodists from stranding off from the established church4 ,the ,discipline has not been in operation more than one hundred and twenty years4 ,how has it succeeded in keeping ,methodists together during that period8 ,during that time ,methodism has stranded into some eight or ten fragments4 ,what comment this furnishes upon the efficacy of human creeds to cement together4 ,other creeds have done no better2 and yet1 in the face of all this1 men want human creeds to keep them together6 ,all history shows1 beyond all dispute1 that wherever human creeds have prevailed1 divisions have abounded1 partyism has increased1 and unity has been diminished4 ,but where the people had confidence in the ,bible1 the law of ,god1 the 8perfect law of liberty10 union has more widely extended1 and peace has more generally prevailed4 ,why then1 in the name of reason1 hold on to human creeds to keep churches together1 when they have so universally failed1 and refuse the ,bible1 which has never failed8 ,faith in a creed can not convert persons1 or bring them to ,god4 ,if they are ,christians at all1 faith in ,god1 the ,redeemer and ,savior of men1 in the ,word of ,god1 in the ,gospel of ,christ1 has made them such1 and to ,god and the word of his grace they should commit themselves1 their everlasting trust1 and not allow themselves to be divided by human creeds4 ,,over ,,and ,,through ,,the ,,mountains4 ,this day was presented us some of the grandest objects of admiration1 both of nature and art1 we ever beheld4 ,we saw some of the grandest1 most stupendous and wonderful achievements of human enlightenment1 combined with industry1 we had ever seen4 ,at one moment we found ourselves hundreds of feet above the tall pine trees1 away in the valley below1 where1 if we had been thrown off the track1 we must have been precipitated hundreds of feet down among the craggy rocks4 ,in another moment1 we passed from the skirts of tree-tops1 plunging into the dark and dreary tunnel1 cut through solid rock1 hundreds of feet under ground1 where we could no more see than if we had never had eyes4 ,truly is this a mighty and wonderful achievement for mortals--poor1 weak and dying mortals8 ,it is overwhelming that men should ever have projected1 prosecuted1 and completed such a conveyance as this1 such a vast distance through this expanded and rugged region of country6 ,but1 vast as this achievement may appear1 when we are looking at it as a work of man1 it diminishes1 dwindles and sinks into utter insignificance and nothingness1 when we lift our eyes above it1 to 8the everlasting hills10 the workmanship of ,him who 8weighs the hills in a balance1 and handles the isles as a very little thing40 ,also1 how our hearts are filled with reverence and our spirits impressed with awe1 when we lift our eyes above the hills1 to the vast mountains1 and think of the thousands of miles over which this mighty range extends1 as well as others on our great universe6 ,we are1 at the same time1 filled with awe and gratitude1 that we have the blessed assurance that we are not overlooked1 forgotten1 and lost in the immensity of the innumerable works of the ,creator6 ,but1 blessed be his glorious name1 vast and innumerable as are his marvellous works1 he has the time1 the goodness and compassion to provide for the fowls of heaven1 and the fish of the sea1 as well as the beasts of the forests4 ,among all the variegated multitudes of the feathered tribes1 not even a sparrow falls to the ground unobserved by ,him2 and1 by the same ,omniscient ,one1 we are assured1 by our adorable ,redeemer1 the hairs of our heads are all numbered4 ,to the same amount1 and for the same purpose1 he says1 8,if an earthly parent knows how to give good things to children1 how much more shall the ,heavenly ,father give his ,holy ,spirit to those who ask him60 ,how comforting to think that he has promised1 saying1 8,i will never leave you nor forsake you1 but will grant you grace and glory1 and no good thing will ,i withhold from you80 ,how secure1 too1 we can feel1 and how strengthening to reflect1 when dashing through these fearful mountains1 conscious that though in one moment an accident might occur by which our earthly career might be terminated1 the everlasting arms are underneath2 and though the earthly building may be destroyed1 we have an house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4 ,to his ,almighty hand we commit our all2 in ,him is our everlasting trust4 ,to him be praises forever and ever4 ,,reason1 ,,providence1 ,,and ,,the ,,spirit ,,of ,,god1 ,,teach ,,us ,,to ,,obey ,,god4 ,some men are guided by reason1 others by providences1 and others by spiritual influences1 separate from1 or without the word of ,god4 ,in regard to all this1 it is not necessary to make much war upon them1 provided their reason1 providences1 or influences1 lead them to obey the gospel1 which we know was preached with the ,holy ,spirit sent down from heaven4 ,but1 it is a sad comment on their reason1 providences1 or spiritual influences1 when it leads them to disobey the teachings of the ,spirit of ,god in the ,bible4 ,right reason1 true providences1 or real spiritual influences1 could not lead any in our day to disregard what the ,spirit of ,god taught in the establishment of ,christianity4 ,in one short sentence3 8,the ,spirit of ,god would not lead men to disobey what he has clearly required in the ,bible40 ,no reason1 providences1 or spiritual influences1 therefore1 can be of the ,spirit of ,god to lead men to disobey what the ,spirit of ,god taught in the ,bible1 or required at the beginning4 ,the ,spirit of ,god required precisely the same of all persons1 who sought the way into the ,kingdom of ,god1 in the days of the ,apostles1 that he does of all who seek the way now4 ,the ,holy ,spirit has not changed4 ,it is1 then1 a most arrogant and unfounded pretence1 for any man who now attempts to set forth the way for sinners to come to ,god1 to claim that he is led by the ,holy ,spirit1 while he evades and refuses to set forth the plain and unequivocal requirements of the ,holy ,spirit1 as set forth in the ,new ,testament1 or attempts to improve upon them4 ,nothing can be taken from those requirements1 or added to them1 without incurring the curse of ,heaven4 ,the ,spirit of ,god1 if he did lead men independent of his word1 could not lead them to incur this awful curse2 he1 therefore1 manifestly1 does not lead any man who will add any thing to1 or take anything from1 what he required when he spake through the apostles1 of all whom he showed the way into the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,that which he required in one case1 he required in all cases4 ,if he required one man to believe1 in order to become a disciple1 he required all to believe4 ,if he required one man to confess ,christ1 he required all to confess him4 ,if he required one man to repent1 he required all to repent4 ,if he required one man to 8be baptized in the name of ,christ1 for the remission of sins10 he required all to do the same4 ,if he promised one man pardon and the importation of his ,holy ,spirit1 upon his compliance with his requirements1 he promised all who complied with the same1 whether all the items mentioned in one case1 are found in all1 or not4 ,no matter if faith is not mentioned in the case of the three thousand on ,pentecost2 it is not left out2 they all believed2 for1 without faith1 it is impossible to please ,god4 ,they that come to ,god must believe4 ,no matter if repentance is not mentioned in ,saul's conversion4 ,acts xxii4 #af1 he repented1 for ,god requires all men1 everywhere1 to repent4 ,the same is true of all the items4 ,we1 therefore1 are the only people now known1 who proceed upon the infallibly certain method of collecting1 and arranging in proper order1 all the items required by the ,holy ,spirit in the conversion of sinners2 we mean the inductive mode of reasoning4 ,we have no preference for any particular part of ,scripture2 it is all precious to us4 ,we have no particular class of ,scriptures1 as ,calvinists1 ,universalists1 ,unitarians1 etc41 but we take the whole ,scripture2 not to prove our doctrine1 but as the perfect and complete system of doctrine itself4 ,when we wish to examine any point of doctrine1 we proceed upon the inductive plan1 and take all the ,bible contains as the mind of ,god upon that point4 ,when we would ascertain what the ,holy ,spirit of ,god requires of sinners1 in their conversion and admission into the ,kingdom of ,god1 we proceed through all the conversions of the ,new ,testament1 collect all the items1 and ascertain their order1 and insist that the ,holy ,spirit requires the same now2 nothing more1 nothing less4 ,let us1 then1 take a brief look through the ,new ,testament1 at all the conversions1 and ascertain precisely what is required and what is promised4 ,we open at the following words of the ,philippian ,jailor3 8,sirs1 what must ,i do to be saved80 ,here is a ,pagan whose attention is for the first time called to the subject4 ,what reply does the apostle make to him8 ,the answer is1 8,believe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved1 and thy house10--,acts xvi4 #cj-ca4 ,here is an important item in the form of requirement1 and one1 too1 that can not be dispensed with1 for the ,holy ,spirit says3 8,he that cometh to ,god must believe40 ,it is not only a requirement that he should1 but a positive and unequivocal demand is that he must believe1 and this indispensable demand of him that 8cometh to ,god40 ,see ,heb4 xi4 #f4 ,but now for the order of this item4 ,is it a first1 second1 third1 or fourth item8 ,is it the first item1 for the apostle says1 in the context1 8,without faith it is impossible to please ,god40 ,it is in vain1 then1 to try to do any thing else to please him1 so long as a man does not believe4 ,it is the first item1 because the apostle required it first of a man who had complied with no other item1 in such a way as to lead him to believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ the first thing he did4 ,it is the first item1 because 8whatever is not of faith is sin40--,rom4 xiv4 #bc4 ,it must1 therefore1 be the first item1 because everything else proceeds from it and is done by it4 ,the first item in the commission is ,faith1 and he that sets aside that item will be condemned1 let him think and act as he may in regard to all other items4 8,he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved1 and he that believeth not shall be dammed10 says the ,lord4 ,the first requirement1 then1 is to 8believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ10 and without complying with this requirement1 or taking this step no person can ever take another4 ,there is no reaching the second step without taking the first4 ,unless the first step is taken1 it will eternally stand between any man and the second4 ,this indispensable step was required of1 and taken by all who came to ,god under the guidance of the ,holy ,spirit who spoke through the apostles to the people to lead them to ,god4 ,never did one1 from the days of the apostles to the present time1 get round1 or by1 this great requirement1 and come to ,god4 ,it is true1 that when the ,pentecostians and ,saul inquired what they should do1 they were not commanded to believe2 but it was not that faith was dispensed with in their cases1 or that the ,lord had a different method of conversion for them1 but for the good reason that they already believed1 and their faith caused them to inquire what they should do4 ,acts iii4 #ai1 we find the following requirement laid down3 8,repent ye1 therefore1 and be converted1 that your sins may be blotted out1 when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the ,lord40 ,this requirement was uttered to an assembly that had just witnessed one of the most manifest miracles of the apostles--one which the enemies mentioned shortly after1 admitting that it was known to all who dwelt in ,jerusalem and that they could not deny it1 and at the close of a discourse which they had heard1 and which had convinced them that the work was of ,god4 ,the ,holy ,spirit1 on this occasion1 demanded of them to repent1 reform1 or amend their lives4 ,this demand too1 is as wide as the actual sinners among men4 ,in the times of ignorance before the gospel1 ,god did not hold men to a strict account for their sins1 8but now he commands all men1 everywhere1 to repent1 because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness10 ,acts xvii4 #cj-ca4 ,repentance1 too1 is indispensable4 8,except ye repent1 ye shall all likewise perish40 ,luke xiii4 #c4 ,what does the ,lord mean by this word1 8except08 ,john iii4 #c1 he says1 8except a man be born again1 he can not see the kingdom of ,god40 ,two verses after this1 he says1 8except a man be born of water and of the ,spirit1 he can not enter into the kingdom of ,god40 ,here we have the same word1 8except10 again4 ,what does he mean by it8 ,at verse seven1 he explains as follows3 8,marvel not that ,i said unto thee1 ,ye must be born again40 ,you must repent or perish1 then1 is the meaning of the words1 8except ye repent1 ye shall perish40 ,repentance is then required of 8all men1 everywhere10 and is indispensable--must be4 ,but what evidence have you that repentance is the second item8 ,it is the second item1 because we have shown that faith is the first1 which shows that repentance can not be the first2 and because ,peter--,acts ii4 #c1 and iii4 #ai1--;addressing people who believed1 but had not repented or done anything else1 commanded them to repent4 ,he makes it the second item4 ,it is the second item1 because a man can not repent till he believes in the ,lord1 before whom he must repent1 and who convinces him of sin1 for1 8by the law is the knowledge of sin10 which shows that it must follow after faith2 and because there is no other item in all the records of conversions required1 that he can acceptably comply with1 till he does repent4 ,an impenitent person can not pray1 confess1 be baptized1 or do anything acceptable to ,god4 ,the person1 therefore1 who is a believer in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 can not get over repentance1 or do any thing else acceptable to ,god till he repents4 ,his faith will do no good so long as he continues in impenitence4 ,for his impenitence1 if he persists in it1 he must perish4 ,in the order of ,god1 it is the second step1 and unless taken1 will eternally stand between him and the third step4 ,no advance can ever be made till he repents4 8,except ye repent1 ye shall perish40 ,it is true1 that ,ananias did not command ,saul to repent2 but it was not because it was omitted in his case1 for no man ever entered the ,kingdom of ,god without repentance2 but he was not commanded to repent1 for the good reason he had repented before ,ananias came to him4 ,we are not to expect any historian1 in giving records of conversions1 and so many instances1 to mention all the items in each case4 ,,what ,,is ,,campbellism8 ,this has been a puzzling question4 ,it is hard to find out precisely what it is4 ,not a man yet1 of all who have been engaged in fighting this monster1 has defined it1 explained it1 or told what it is4 ,it has been called a dangerous heresy1 and so many hideous warnings have been given against it1 that the hair would almost stand upon a man's head to hear about it1 and yet no one has told what it is4 ,the reason no one has defined ,campbellism1 is1 simply1 that there is no such thing in existence1 except in the imaginations of some misguided doctors4 ,as near as any man can now come1 at what they mean by ,campbellism1 it is ,christianity itself1 unmixed1 unadulterated1 and without any other name4 ,this is evident1 for1 when they hear a man preach1 who preaches nothing but ,christianity1 nothing but ,christ1 simply aiming to convert men to him1 and induce them to receive him as their only ,leader1 they call it ,campbellism4 ,it is nothing but a nick-name they have given the gospel1 to keep men from hearing it4 ,in the same way1 they call the preacher a ,campbellite1 who will preach nothing but the gospel1 nothing but ,christianity1 to raise prejudice against him and prevent people from hearing him4 ,in precisely the same spirit1 here comes ,rev4 ,n4 ,l4 ,rice1 of heresy-hunting memory1 in a tract of forty pages against ,campbellism1 which the reader may think as he pleases about1 but which is as much against the religion of ,christ1 and those trying to receive it1 practice it1 and maintain it1 and it alone1 as was in the power of ,dr4 ,rice to make it1 without1 in so many words1 saying so4 ,no man in this country1 at this time1 can preach simply the gospel of ,christ in the name of the ,lord1 under any other name1 and maintain the law of ,god1 as the only rule of faith1 without being called a ,campbellite1 and branded with preaching ,campbellism4 ,,young ,,preachers ,,must ,,be ,,practical4 ,the young man who would become a preacher1 while he is receiving knowledge1 or obtaining the theory1 must ply himself to the work1 making a practical use of what he learns4 ,a man may study for years and acquire an immense amount of knowledge1 but having no practical use of it1 he is as helpless as an infant4 ,in precisely this predicament are thousands who have gone through the manufacturing process of making preachers1 without any practical use of all they have learned4 ,indeed1 many of them have learned nothing of consequence1 of one of the most important chapters in a real preacher's learning1 viz3 8,the ways of the world40 ,the knowledge of the ,bible--general 8book-learning10 is all right4 ,it is indispensable4 ,but to know man1 is equally important4 ,man must be studied to be known4 ,we must converse with him face to face4 ,we must know the world by actual contact with it4 ,we must know the church by actual observation4 ,we must know the obstructions in the way of truth and righteousness by actual contact with them1 with actual and personal efforts to remove them4 ,not only so1 but the people must know the preacher--see him1 hear him1 and have personal interviews with him4 ,his work can not be done by proxy4 ,he must go himself and put his own hands to the work4 ,he must be with them and give them a personal example of deportment and religious conversation1 read the ,bible to them1 pray with them in their families1 give thanks at their tables1 go with them to the place of worship1 preach to them and persuade sinners to repent4 ,a man who does not do this1 is really no preacher of ,christ1 and will accomplish nothing for his name4 ,,christianity4 ,christianity literally subverts everything else1 sets aside all isms1 doctrines and commandments of men of every grade1 as the most insignificant childish play4 ,it comes to men1 claiming the right to have the attention of all as though all beside were undeserving of any note or any regard whatever4 ,not only so1 but it gives no chance to assail1 expose and refute1 for it maintains nothing but the ,bible1 but ,christianity1 but what ,god has given by inspiration and proved by supernatural signs and wonders1 accompanied with gifts of the ,holy ,spirit1 which all its assailants have to admit true6 ,can we expect to present the only true religion2 the religion of ,jesus ,christ itself2 the only true system2 ,christianity itself2 the only revelation from ,god2 that contained in the ,bible2 the only authority of ,god2 the authority of the ,word of ,god2 the only true doctrine2 the ,gospel of ,christ itself2 and declare everything else unauthorized--null and void2 hindrances to the progress of truth and righteousness2 to the edification of saints and the conversion of the world1 and meet no opposition8 ,not rationally4 ,the watchmen on the old party walls of their little ,zions will see the tendency of all this4 ,they will see--they can not help seeing--that precisely in proportion as we succeed in fixing the attention of the people upon ,god1 his authority1 his ,son1 our gracious ,redeemer and ,savior1 his word1 his law1 his religion1 as a distinct1 complete and perfect system1 with all the power1 grace1 wisdom1 mercy1 benevolence1 and authority of the ,almighty in it1 calling the attention of man to it as the only medium of salvation1 all their systems must necessarily lose their attraction1 their command and influence1 and hasten to ruin4 ,many of these watchmen are pledged for life1 too bigoted to look if they may be mistaken1 too obstinate1 and self-willed to yield1 and will oppose to the last4 ,,keep ,,politics ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,if a man has a leading object in view1 no matter whether religious or worldly1 let him come out in his proper color1 declare his object1 and drive directly at it4 ,if a man has a favorite political scheme let him declare it1 publish a paper advocating it1 or maintain it in public addresses2 but not under the name of ,christian2 not in the name of the ,lord1 nor under a pretence of preaching ,christ2 for this would be a manifest imposition1 no matter how good the political doctrine4 ,but every attempt to make the religion of ,christ auxiliary to political ends1 is a perversion1 and in direct opposition to the whole spirit and entire bearing of the ,lord's own reply1 when charged with being a political aspirant4 ,when arraigned before ,pilate1 and charged with claiming to be a king1 he explained the matter1 and obviated the charge1 or set it aside1 by saying1 8,my kingdom is not of this world2 if my kingdom were of this world1 then would my servants fight1 that ,i should not be delivered to the ,jews2 but now is my kingdom not from hence40 ,john xviii4 #cf4 ,while he frankly admitted that he was a king1 and that he came into the world to bear witness to the truth1 he set aside all ground of suspicion against him1 as an aspirant to the throne1 or any other part in the civil government1 or one who would in any way meddle in the civil institutions of his country1 by declaring that his kingdom is not of this world4 ,this declaration was no evasion1 but a clear1 important and divine truth1 and must be shown in the lives of the disciples of ,christ1 by following his example1 or the cause will suffer immeasurably4 ,our ,lord was so careful to keep his kingdom and his mission distinct from civil affairs1 that when he was appealed to1 to arbitrate a dispute touching an inheritance1 he inquired1 who made him an arbiter in such matters1 or where was there any authority for him to step aside from his mission1 or1 rather1 pervert his mission and his office from their high1 spiritual and divine object1 to a worldly1 temporal and business object4 ,he was so careful to keep his mission distinct from the world1 and worldly relations1 that when engaged in the work of his mission1 he refused to recognize a fleshly relation--his own mother1 brother and sister4 ,in his kingdom he recognized no fleshly relation1 as a basis for any application to him1 or a reason for his institution conferring any benefit on any human being1 not excepting his own mother1 according to the flesh4 ,those who do the will of ,god1 regardless of all fleshly ties1 political conditions1 or worldly circumstances1 whether male or female1 bond or free1 are mother1 sister or brother1 to the ,redeemer and ,savior of man4 ,so perfectly distinct did our ,lord and the apostles keep their mission from politics that there is not the remotest hint that they ever participated in civil affairs1 in a single instance1 in the whole of the sacred record4 ,they either never participated in politics in any way1 or else looked upon the whole matter as so distinct from their mission and work1 as not to be once mentioned in the whole ,christian revelation4 ,so distinct is the ,new ,testament from political institutions1 that it contains not one word of instruction to civil officers1 in regard to their duties1 not one hint what kind of men we should vote for1 or what form of government we should favor4 ,it simply enjoins that ,christians 8obey every ordinance of man1 for the ,lord's sake30 8submit to the powers that be2 for the powers that be are ordained of ,god10 and declares that 8rulers are not a terror to good works1 but to the evil02 that 8the ruler is the minister of ,god1 and bears not the sword in vain40 ,the ,christian law enjoins that we 8follow peace with all men and holiness1 without which no man shall see the ,lord40 ,it is not enjoined that we follow peace with a political party1 but 8peace with all men10 and holiness4 ,the ,lord said1 8,blessed are the peace-makers1 for they shall be called the children of ,god40 ,the angels of ,god shouted when ,jesus was born1 8,glory to ,god in the highest1 and on earth peace and good will toward man40 ,shall that religion enjoining its adherents to 8follow peace with all men10 promising a blessing upon the peace-makers1 whose divine ,author was introduced into the world1 with an angelic shout of 8peace on earth10 be made an instrument in the hands of a misguided and worldly priesthood1 in the political strifes of the world8 ,if it shall1 we betide him who does it4 ,it will kill every preacher and every church that ever had the ,spirit of ,god in them1 to do it4 ,indeed1 all of this description are now dead4 ,not a man nor a church among them1 throughout the length and breadth of the country1 is doing anything for the cause of ,god4 ,not a sinner is converted by them1 nor a saint comforted4 ,many of them1 old men1 that formerly had the spirit of the ,lord1 preached ,christ with great power1 with their souls full of the love of ,god1 converted sinners1 edified and comforted the children of ,god1 now sit in the company of worldlings1 read and discuss politics on the ,lord's day1 while the house of ,god is forsaken4 ,our mission is to preach ,christ1 ,christianity1 and to disentangle it from all connection with these side-artifices1 devised to draw men away from the ,lord4 ,we have only alluded to slavery1 and the excitement about it1 so far as to discover the proper course for a christian1 but not to discuss its merits1 as a system1 at all4 ,in doing this1 we have simply applied to it the rule that we do to all questions of the kind1 viz3 ,to inquire for the course pursued by the ,lord1 the apostles1 and the first ,christians1 and follow it as infallibly safe and right4 ,in doing this1 we have certainly shown that those warring upon us in this matter1 have no commission from heaven1 from ,christ1 or his apostles1 or1 in anything in all their lives and practice4 ,we shall1 therefore1 as far as ,god shall enable us1 preach the pure gospel of the grace of ,god1 both ,north and ,south1 ,east and ,west1 to all1 both great and small1 high and low1 rich and poor1 bond and free2 and thus labor to bring them into the kingdom that is not of this world--a kingdom that can not be moved--where the pure in heart can enjoy ,god1 his ,holy ,spirit1 and his people1 though the wicked rule and the civil governments are corrupt1 with the blessed assurance that they shall one day be delivered from all the perplexities of an imperfect and sinful state4 ,here we must all turn our attention at last4 ,civil governments can never be perfected4 ,they will always be working wrongs and cruelties some place4 ,the wisdom and power of man can not avoid this4 ,the wickedness and selfishness of men1 also1 are in the way1 so that the civil institutions of the country can never be perfected2 and he has studied ,christianity to but little purpose1 who thinks its aim to be the perfection of the human contrivances of the world4 ,it looks above this1 to the purification and perfection of individuals1 in their regeneration and personal sanctification1 and preparation for a better state4 ,it does not1 like some fleshly systems1 look upon this world as man's all2 but1 as momentary1 a pilgrim state1 not our home1 not our continued city1 but merely the preparatory state to a better world4 ,how soon this world will all be nothing to all these political wranglers1 who have suffered themselves to be made tools for political parties1 to the neglect of the church of ,god1 without one soul ever being able to see that all their noise1 ever did any good in any way4 ,how silly it is1 as well as unchristian1 for old friends1 neighbors and brethren to disagree and fall out about the intricate and deceptive schemes of political wire-workers4 ,such men are doing no good for their church or country4 ,the very circumstance of their falling out with their best friends1 shows that they are insane upon the very subject upon which they propose to enlighten the world1 and1 of all men in the world1 the most unsafe1 to guide either church or state4 ,,unprofitable ,,servants4 ,looking at the eternal benefits ,christianity has conferred upon us1 and the rich inheritance it proposes to confer in the world to come1 the little a poor mortal can do in a short lifetime sinks into nothingness1 and deserves not to be mentioned4 ,when we think of him who became poor1 that we through his poverty might be rich--that he became a little lower than the angels1 that he1 by the grace of ,god1 should taste of death for every man--that he had not where to lay his head--that he died for us--think of the holy apostles and martyrs of ,jesus1 with all their labors and sufferings--all we do1 or can do1 dwindles into perfect insignificance4 ,to ,god1 over all1 blessed for ever and ever1 through ,jesus ,christ1 we owe eternal gratitude1 praises and thanksgiving that he has ever received us and permitted us to labor in his gracious cause at all4 ,to his name be honor and power everlasting4 ,,boundary ,,line ,,of ,,repentance4 ,the boundary line of repentance4 ,life is the boundary line of repentance4 ,what the ,scriptures call 8time10 contains the whole period during which man can turn to ,god4 8,to-day if you will hear his voice1 harden not your hearts1 as in the bitter provocation1 in the day of temptation in the wilderness40 ,if we are ever molded into the image of ,christ1 made conformable to his death1 and prepared for the society of the blessed1 it must be while we are in time4 ,to show that we are inside of the clear revelations of ,god1 we shall make two or three references to the ,new ,testament4 ,one man1 more curious to know the fate of the masses1 than his own duty to ,god and man1 in our ,lord's lifetime asked him3 8,lord are there few that be saved80 ,to this the ,lord responded3 8,strive to enter in at the straight gate2 for many1 ,i say unto you1 will seek to enter in1 and shall not be able40 ,luke xiii4 #bc1 #bd4 ,he then proceeds to the time when this shall be1 as follows3 8,when once the ,master of the house is risen up1 and hath shut to the door1 and ye begin to stand without1 and to knock at the door1 saying1 ,lord1 ,lord1 open unto us2 and ,he shall answer and say unto you1 ,i know you not whence you are40 ,in reply1 they make an appeal to the fact that the ,lord had been accustomed to eat and drink in their streets4 ,he replies1 8,i know you not whence you are2 depart from me all ye workers of iniquity40 ,this must be after death1 for ,he refers to the future1 8,when ye shall see ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and all the prophets in the ,kingdom of ,god1 and you yourselves thrust out10 or thrust away4 ,it is after death1 because the ,master of the house has never risen up and shut to the door of the kingdom1 in this life4 ,as we sing sometimes1 8,the doors of gospel grace stand open night and day40 ,none1 in this life1 stand and knock at the door1 crying1 ,lord1 ,lord1 open to us1 whom the ,master refuses to receive4 ,his language now is1 8,whoever will1 let him come and take of the water of life freely40 8,he who cometh to me1 ,i will in no wise cast out40 8,he who seeks shall find2 to him who knocks1 it shall be opened10 and 8whoever calls upon the ,lord shall be saved40 ,but the time will come1 when the ,lord shall have arisen and shut the door1 and men shall stand without1 knocking and crying1 ,lord1 open to us2 but ,he refuses them admittance and thrusts them away1 declaring that ,he never approved them4--,nothing like this can be found in this life4 ,it refers to the time when the fear of the wicked cometh as a whirlwind2 when distress and anguish shall overtake them2 then shall they call upon the ,lord1 but ,he will not answer them4 ,see ,prov4 i4 #bf1 #bg4 ,another passage to which we refer1 to show that death is the boundary line of repentance1 is the case of the rich man and ,lazarus1 ,luke xvi4 #ai1 #ca4 ,this rich man died1 8and in hell he lifted up his eyes1 being in torments40 ,here we find a man in torments after death4 ,lazarus has also died1 and been carried by angels to ,abraham's bosom4 ,dives1 once the rich man1 but now a beggar1 looks up and seeth ,abraham afar off1 and ,lazarus in his bosom1 and cries to him1 8,father ,abraham1 have mercy on me1 and send ,lazarus1 that he may dip the tip of his finger in water1 and cool my tongue1 for ,i am tormented in this flame40 ,now1 the question of repentance1 or obtaining relief from punishment after death1 is fairly before us4 ,in a case stated by our ,lord himself1 an application is made for the mitigation of torment after death4 ,but what is the response of ,abraham1 who speaks in the place of the ,almighty1 here8 ,it is1 8,son1 remember that thou in thy lifetime received thy good things1 and likewise ,lazarus evil things2 but now he is comforted1 and thou art tormented40 ,here are two men after death1 one comforted and the other tormented4 ,can any change be made in their condition8 ,let us hear ,abraham4 ,he then proceeds3 8,besides all this1 between us and you there is a great gulf fixed2 so that they who would pass from hence to you can not2 neither can they pass to us that would come from thence40 ,this is an end of all change of condition4 ,in that world there is no turning to ,god nor falling from grace4 ,the rich man1 then despairing of any mitigation of his torments1 or change of his condition1 makes one more appeal to ,abraham4 8,i pray thee1 therefore10 said he1 8that thou wouldst send him to my father's house2 for ,i have five brethren2 that he may testify unto them1 lest they also come into this place of torment40 ,having fallen into torments1 on account of his unbelief1 and having five brethren also unbelievers1 he desired testimony presented to them from the dead1 lest they also come to this place of torment4 ,but ,abraham answers1 8,they have ,moses and the prophets1 let them hear them40 ,the rich man persists3 8,if one went unto them from the dead1 they will repent40 ,this is the only ,new ,testament account of a request for a departed spirit to be sent to our world to lead sinners to repentance2 but this request1 coming from one already in the torments of a wicked man after death1 was refused in the following words3 8,if they hear not ,moses and the prophets1 neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead40 ,this shows that ,god will allow no means employed to save sinners save only those of his own appointment1 and writes the seal of condemnation upon all visitations of the spirits of dead people to save sinners4 ,the next and only passage more to which we shall refer1 to show the boundary line of repentance1 is ,rev4 xxii4 #aa1 8,he that is unjust1 let him be unjust still2 he who is filthy1 let him be filthy still2 and he who is righteous1 let him be righteous still2 and he that is holy1 let him be holy still40 ,this is an end of all repentance1 of all turning to ,god1 and also an end to all departing from him4 ,the holy shall remain holy1 and the wicked remain wicked1 from this time forward4 ,jesus made his personal efforts to save man in this world4 ,when he left the world1 he committed to the apostles the ministry and word of reconciliation1 and they made their efforts in this world4 ,all the means ever employed to save man1 have been employed in this life4 ,all the cases of acceptable repentance that we have ever known anything about1 were in this life4 ,if1 therefore1 men ever turn to ,god1 it must be in time4 ,we proceed in the third place1 to consider the state of man between death and resurrection4 ,there were1 in the days of our ,lord's pilgrimage1 a class of materialists1 who not only denied the resurrection of the dead1 but that there was an angel or spirit4 ,many were the debates which they had with the ,pharisees who differed with them upon these three points4 ,knowing that our ,lord had sanctioned the doctrine of the ,pharisees1 that there were angels and spirits1 and would be a resurrection of the dead1 the ,sadducees approached the ,lord with the puzzle1 touching the resurrection of the woman and seven husbands4 ,as if they had said1 8,now1 ,master1 you agree with the ,pharisees1 and teach that there will be a resurrection of the dead2 but this doctrine involves a difficulty2 for a certain woman1 in the course of her life1 had seven husbands1 and we should be pleased to know which one shall have her in the resurrection80 ,our ,lord soon explains this matter4 ,he says1 8,in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage1 but are as the angels of ,god40 ,he proceeds1 8,now that the dead are raised1 even ,moses showed at the bush1 when he calleth 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 living1 for all live unto him40 ,while those departed from this life1 are dead to us1 they are alive to ,god--8for all live unto ,him40 8,the inner man10 as ,paul calls him1 or 8the hidden man of the heart10 as ,peter styles him which is eternal1 8not corruptible10 but immortal1 which ,jesus says1 man is not able to kill1 though separated from us1 or dead to us1 is alive to ,god1 8for all live unto ,him40 ,see ,luke xx4 #bg-ch4 ,the ,transfiguration of ,christ presents us the three states1 the fleshly1 the intermediate1 and the resurrection1 or eternal state1 all at once4 ,the ,lord is changed into the glorified state1 is seated upon the throne1 as we would see him to-day1 if we were before him in heaven4 ,hence ,peter says1 8,we were eye witnesses of ,his majesty1 for he received from ,god the ,father1 honor1 and glory1 when there came such a voice from the excellent glory4 #8,this is my ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4'0 ,on this august occasion1 ,peter1 ,james and ,john represented the fleshly state4 ,they were present in the flesh4 ,moses was here1 not in the flesh1 for he had died some fifteen centuries before this4 ,he was not in the resurrection state1 for ,christ was the first-born from the dead of every creature1 that in all things he might have the pre-eminence4 ,but he was in the intermediate state1 or the man ,moses was there separate from the body2 alive1 conscious1 and held a conversation with the ,lord1 in regard to his great sufferings to be accomplished at ,jerusalem4 ,though ,moses had been dead to the world fifteen hundred years1 and his body mingled and lost in the dust1 he was alive to ,god all this time1 and so are all the dead4 ,he had not lost his identity1 nor his name1 but is known and mentioned as the man ,moses1 in a conscious state1 seeing1 hearing and talking4 ,our friend1 so much loved1 lamented1 but now dead to us1 is alive to ,god1 and as conscious1 and maintaining his identity as much as when here in the body4 ,another dignitary present at the transfiguration1 was ,elijah1 who was taken to heaven without seeing death4 ,he was in the glorified state1 in the body1 glorified1 spiritual1 as all the bodies of the blessed are4 ,probably the ,lord took him to heaven without seeing death1 in view of this very occasion4 ,what a grand scene is now before us4 ,the ,lord of the universe is before us upon the throne2 the old prophet ,elijah1 stands before him who was the great prophet of all the authority1 before the witnesses of ,christ4 ,here stands ,moses1 the ,law-giver of ancient ,israel1 and recognizes the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and surrenders up all authority to him4 ,just at this wonderful and interesting moment1 the ,almighty from the upper world1 called out1 8,this is my ,son1 the beloved in whom ,i am well pleased3 hear him40 ,let us hear ,paul once1 on this subject4 8,therefore we are always confident1 knowing that whilst we are at home in the body1 we are absent from the ,lord40 ,in a few words1 he says1 8,wherefore we labor1 that1 whether present or absent1 we may be accepted of ,him40 #b ,cor4 v4 #i4 ,how could we be 8present with the ,lord10 and 8accepted of ,him10 when absent from the body1 if there be not an inner spiritual man1 who will exist separate1 or absent from the body8 ,no man living can ever reconcile this passage with the preposterous theory1 that when a man dies1 he has no conscious existence4 ,to this we add only one more scripture4 ,when ,john1 in the ,island of ,patmos1 was in awful and sublime vision1 and saw the whole panorama of the future ages passing in review1 he says1 8,i saw under the altar1 the souls of them who were beheaded for the word of ,god and for the testimony of ,jesus ,christ1 and they cried and said1 how long1 ,o ,lord ,god ,almighty1 holy1 just and true1 dost thou not avenge us of our blood on them who dwell on the earth40 ,here were souls1 alive1 looking back to what had been done on earth1 and looking forward to what would be done in future4 ,they had not lost their identity nor memory1 forgotten the past nor distrusted the future1 but were alive4 ,the intermediate state is1 therefore1 a conscious state1 the righteous are comforted1 and at rest with the ,lord1 in ,abraham's bosom1 or ,paradise2 the wicked are in ,tartareous1 in prison1 tormented1 reserved unto the judgment of the great day1 with the angels that sinned4 ,in the fourth1 and last place1 let us take one look forward to the eternal1 or resurrection state4 ,looking to the close of the intermediate state1 ,john says1 8,i saw a great white throne1 and him that sat on it1 from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away1 and there was found no more place for them4 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god2 and the books were opened2 and another book was opened which is the book of life2 and the dead were judged out of these things which were written in the books1 according to their works40 ,rev4 xx4 #aj-ab4 ,after thus presenting the dead in judgment1 he proceeds to tell us where they came from1 as follows3 8,and the sea gave up the dead that were in it2 and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to their works40 ,the ,greek hades1 here translated hell1 simply means the invisible1 or unseen state4 ,in this invisible state1 the book of ,god reveals two distinct1 or separate apartments4 ,one is ,paradise1 the other is ,tartareous4 ,in this same book of ,revelations1 ,john1 speaking in the person of ,christ1 says1 8,i am he who was dead and am alive forevermore2 ,i have the keys of hell and of death2 ,i can open and no man can shut1 and shut and no man can open40 ,the amount of this is1 that ,i have the keys or power1 to open the grave1 and raise the bodies both from land and sea1 and ,i have the power to open the invisible state1 both ,paradise and ,tartareous1 and bring forth the spirits of the dead1 both righteous and wicked1 re-uniting soul and body1 to stand in judgment4 ,when the last righteous sentence is passed upon man1 in the last judgment1 the final separation follows4 ,whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire4 ,this is the second death4 ,here is the last account of the wicked1 the incorrigible1 and we must leave them where ,god leaves them without any attempt to dwell upon their deplorable and irremediable condition4 ,let us now turn our attention to the righteous--the good and virtuous of all ages--those who feared ,god and worked righteousness in every nation4 ,john says1 8,i saw them coming from every nation1 kindred1 tongue1 tribe and people1 who had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb1 and they shouted1 blessing and glory1 and honor1 and might1 and dominion unto him who sits upon the throne and to the ,lamb1 for ever and ever60 ,and again they shouted1 ,hallelujah to the ,lamb6 ,the ,lord ,god ,omnipotent reigns6 ,john looks again1 and says1 8,i ,john1 saw the holy city1 new ,jerusalem1 coming down from ,god out of heaven1 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband4 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of heaven1 saying1 ,behold1 the tabernacle of ,god is with men1 and he will dwell with them1 and they shall be his people1 and ,god himself shall be with them and be their ,god4 ,and ,god shall wipe all tears from their eyes2 and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 for the former things are passed away40 ,shall we who are bathed in tears1 here to-day1 reach the holy city1 where we shall be called to pass through the deep waters of affliction no more2 where we shall hear the groans of the sick and dying no more2 where there will be no visiting of the sick1 nor funeral occasions2 where we shall no more be called to give up fathers and mothers in death1 husbands or wives1 or precious children2 but where the wounded heart shall be made whole1 the weary spirit shall be at rest1 and the mourner comforted4 ,how ineffable the bliss6 ,how unutterable the joys6 of a state where we shall not only be free from all the afflictions that encompass us here1 but see the ,lord and dwell with him forevermore6 ,how invaluable the rich boon proposed to man1 through the ,lord ,jesus ,christ6 ,what everlasting obligations we are under to love ,god and serve him6 ,let us put our everlasting trust in the ,lord1 our strength and our ,redeemer4 ,,receiving ,,sinners ,,without ,,baptism4 ,it is an unfavorable step toward 8educating a man up to the importance of being buried with his ,lord and ,master in baptism10 to set the law of ,god requiring it aside1 and receive him without it4 ,this would only lead him to doubt whether we saw or cared for the importance of it ourselves4 ,it never can have a good influence on any sensible man to see religious people so anxious to get him into their party as to set aside their own established principles1 and what they hold to be clearly the law of ,god1 for a man not willing to submit to the law of induction into the heavenly family4 ,this is not liberality1 but disloyalty all around4 ,it is not a question about what we will do1 but what the ,lord will do4 ,mere refinement and respectability have nothing to do in the matter4 ,it is a matter of faith and respect to the supreme and absolute authority4 ,has a man the faith1 the humility and the obedient spirit that will learn of ,jesus and yield to what he requires8 ,we are not vying with any people in this country in efforts to be liberal and easy in our views and practice1 but we desire to see who can live nearest to the ,lord and follow him most closely4 ,he laid down the law of induction1 or the law for receiving members1 and we have no discretionary power in the matter4 ,we do not make the terms1 but simply exhort men to comply with them1 as found in the ,book of ,god4 ,,the ,,fall ,,of ,,beecher4 ,the ,american people are so familiar with the name and character of ,henry ,ward ,beecher1 that no explanation of what follows1 is needed by the present generation4 ,beecher is the most gifted and noted liberalist and progressionist in ,america4 ,he is out at sea1 without chart or compass4 ,the movements of the wind1 and the motion of the current1 determine his course4 ,he cares not whither he sails or where he lands1 or whether he lands at all or not1 so that the breeze is pleasant and the waves smooth4 ,his great mind1 glib tongue1 and tireless pen1 have enabled him to unsettle and pervert the faith of thousands of honest and unsuspecting people4 ,even some preachers among the disciples1 who are noted for their adherence to the fixed principles of revealed religion1 have been seduced by ,beecher4 ,the good providence of ,god1 in time1 revealed the true character of the man of no faith1 and men now see it blackened and tarnished by crime and immorality4 ,let the liberalists and progressionists among the disciples of ,christ1 take warning from the downfall of the far famed ,beecher4 ,scandal has come2 disgrace and shame that would make any conscience1 not seared with a hot iron1 tingle2 or any face1 not past feeling1 blush4 ,but the ,bible is no way responsible for it1 not even in appearance4 ,beecher was no ,bible man4 ,bible men were not his admirers1 nor the men that gathered around him1 that liked him only the more for his broad views1 his liberality1 when he pronounced that beautiful benediction on the ,pope1 8,god bless his old soul10 and said he could commune with the ,pope1 or worship at a pagan altar2 declared that there is not a particle of divine authority1 in any church in the world2 that he was inspired as much as the apostles2 and would baptize a man every month if he desired it2 that there is no authority for infant baptism2 but he was for it now stronger than ever1 because it was a good thing--it had been tried6 ,this man identified with the ,bible8 ,not a word of it4 ,the ,bible is responsible for none of the scandal and disgrace that hang upon him and must hang there forever4 ,no1 not a word of it1 you unbelieving man2 we turn all over to you2 we have here a specimen of your work2 unbelief2 what it can do in a short time2 how it can drag a man down1 and the ruin to which it can bring him4 ,here is the fruit of unbelief2 he can eat of it1 and all unbelievers can view it1 and see what comes of a man that contemns the ,bible and puts its authority at defiance4 ,gentlemen1 unbelievers1 if you like to view the results of unbelief1 and the ruin that follows in its train1 come up here and see what it has done in the case of an illustrious man2 a man whose fame has extended throughout the civilized world2 a man of wonderful versatility of thought1 and immense gifts as a speaker and writer1 with such an opening as no other man on the continent had4 ,this man had reached mature years1 and his influence had become so great1 that many good people would not hear a word against him1 nor believe that his terrible skeptical talk meant any harm4 ,it was only independence4 ,but1 in the midst of such a career of popularity1 and that not of an ephemeral character either1 as no other man in this nation ever had1 up springs trouble in the midst of his most intimate friends1 and those he knew better1 and had associated with more intimately than any others4 ,it comes not from persecutors without1 nor from enemies or envious preachers within1 but his most intimate friends1 who know him better than all others4 ,but1 why do not infidels make an ado about infidels falling8 ,they never fall6 ,they have never attained to anything from which they can fall4 ,they are at the bottom and there is nothing below them to which they can fall4 ,we know of a case where an infidel has recently covered himself all over with slime1 but nothing of consequence is said about it4 ,why not8 ,if he had been a preacher of the gospel his case would have been published half round the world before now4 ,but he is an infidel1 and the idea of purity is not associated with infidelity1 in the public mind4 ,there is no noise about it4 ,his brethren1 infidels1 bring him to no trial1 call him to no account1 appoint no committee1 and have no examination of the case6 ,why not8 ,he professed nothing1 and they profess nothing4 ,such things do not disgrace them1 or bring scandal on them4 ,,speak ,,pleasantly4 ,the opponents of the truth will catch every unkind or unpleasant word2 every unlovely expression or harsh sentence1 and comment on it1 in the absence of argument1 and even divert attention from the main matter4 ,we should1 then1 simply study how to present the truth1 in the clearest1 most agreeable and acceptable manner2 how to show people the truth1 convince them and enlist their souls in it4 ,this is the great matter to study1 and not how to avoid differences and not discuss them at all4 ,we are studying how to practice this1 and we desire all the friends of the ,lord to study it and give the adversary no advantage4 ,,various ,,kinds ,,of ,,scepticism4 ,sceptics float in thin ether1 if not some times in pure vacuum1 in vast1 unknown and unknowable regions of pure fancy and idle imagination4 ,they roam in everlasting inquisitiveness in the immense realms of intangibles and invisibles4 ,they are variously styled in ,new ,testament terminology1 8clouds without water10 8wandering stars10 8filthy dreamers10 etc41 etc4 ,they spend their time1 confuse themselves and shatter their brains1 in explaining 8degrees in glory10 8degrees in punishment10 8different spheres10 8the possibility of holding converse with departed friends10 8the origin of sin10 8how ,god will overrule evil for the good of man and his own glory10 8the origin of the devil1 if there be any10 or1 8who made the devil10 or1 8whether he is a real being1 or only a personification of evil10 8whether ,god did not know1 when he created man1 that he would sin10 8why he created man1 knowing that he would sin10 8whether he did not know1 when he made man1 who would be saved and who would be lost10 and1 if he did1 8why he created those he knew would be lost10 8whether angels are a distinct order of beings from men10 8whether we shall know each other in the eternal state10 8with what body the dead will be raised10 8whether the righteous and wicked will rise at the same time10 8where the spirit is between death and the resurrection10 8whether it is conscious1 or can exist separate from the body10 8when the end of the world will be10 etc41 etc4 ,we have now an immense swarm of these idle dreamers2 some of these have already reasoned themselves into the hallucination that they are in the ,new ,jerusalem state1 and that the christian dispensation1 or the mediatorial reign of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ has passed away6 ,these idle away their time in discussing the ascension1 through the different grades of spheres1 which they imagine they shall eternally be attaining and passing through1 with other kindred topics4 ,another class reason themselves into absolute fatalism4 ,with them1 all the actions of men1 and the very thoughts that lead to them1 are of necessity1 and cannot be anything else6 ,there is no praise of one class1 or condemnation of another1 for all do just what they do from an eternal necessity6 ,off1 at another angle1 another party is found1 theorizing upon the whimsical notion of human pre-existence1 in which state1 they think a consistent origin for sin may be found6 ,yet another class perceive1 that deep down in the ,bible1 where1 till recently1 none had ever penetrated1 the doctrine is found1 that1 at judgment1 the wicked will be stricken out of existence1 thus ridding them of the idea of endless punishment1 which had previously given them much distress6 ,still another class of these1 have rid themselves of the same distressing and annoying doctrine1 by making the astonishing discovery1 that there is no devil1 no hell1 nor punishment of any kind1 beyond the present state1 and1 therefore1 no danger of any endless punishment6 ,still another class became perplexed with these metaphysical reasonings1 subtleties and theorizings1 in things that they cannot help feeling conscious can have no possible beneficial effects upon mankind1 and rid themselves of the entire concern1 by making the discovery that all things come by chance1 that there is no ,god1 ,savior1 angel or spirit1 and death is an eternal sleep6 ,but we sicken at the effort of trying to describe the vain and idle speculations of all these 8wandering stars10 and shall proceed to something more tangible4 ,scepticism has no foundation1 no basis1 no reality upon which to rest4 ,it has nothing to build upon2 no rock2 no pillars of any kind4 ,nor has it any materials or builders4 ,nothing can be built without a foundation1 materials and builders4 ,sceptics are not builders4 ,their work is merely pulling down old buildings4 ,this is the reason they make so much show2 their work is easy1 requires but little skill and no goodness4 ,anybody can tear down1 but it takes a workman to build4 ,scepticism is a mere negative1 consisting wholly of denials4 ,it affirms nothing1 establishes nothing1 and builds up nothing4 ,it is a natural impossibility to build upon a mere negative4 ,a system cannot1 in the very nature of things1 be built upon a mere denial--a mere negative4 ,if a man would deny1 repudiate1 and condemn all the foundations of all the houses in his city1 or if he would go and tear his neighbor's foundations all down1 it would give him no foundation for a house1 but would simply put them in the same condition with himself--that is1 without any foundation4 ,in the same way1 if infidels could successfully deny1 disprove and overthrow the foundation of every system of religion in the world1 it would lay no foundation for them1 but would simply put the rest of us upon a level with them--that is1 without any foundation4 ,the work of all sceptics has been1 simply to tear up the foundation of ,christians1 and not to lay any foundation for themselves4 ,not a man in all the ranks of unbelief has ever presented any foundation1 or has any4 ,their entire clamor is against the ,bible1 but if they could expunge the ,bible from the universe1 they are no better off--they have nothing to stand upon4 ,scepticism has no center of attraction1 no gravitation1 no great central pervading idea1 drawing everything to one common center4 ,a system must have a common center of attraction1 holding it1 in its revolutions1 from flying into atoms4 ,but1 scepticism has no pervading idea1 doctrine or constitution1 in which everything centers1 around which everything revolves1 with power to attract and bind4 ,it consists1 simply in denials of what others believe4 ,if the things which they deny were untrue1 and should be denied1 the denial of them is no foundation or center of attraction4 ,their denial amounts to nothing in their favor1 but is simply unfavorable to others--destructive of the attraction binding others together4 ,a million of the most unequivocal denials of the most absurd and preposterous doctrines the world ever contained1 forms no center of attraction1 doctrine or constitution1 in which is embodied and concentrated any principal of attraction that can bind in a system4 ,denying simply frees men and cuts them loose1 in their own estimation1 from that which they deny1 or what others believe1 but binds them to nothing4 ,scepticism has no law1 gives no advice1 and has nothing in it about the characters of men4 ,it does not say that a man shall1 or shall not1 have a good character2 that he shall or shall not have a bad character4 ,it contains no such words and has no such idea1 or keeps up no such distinctions as good and bad4 ,it says nothing about love and hatred1 revenge and pity1 covetousness and benevolence1 vice and virtue1 happiness and misery4 ,it contains not one sentence touching all the relations in life1 providing nothing for individuals1 families or nations4 ,it consists of one negative principle1 viz3 ,the denial of the truth of the ,christian religion4 ,any man can see that there is no law in this4 ,if they could succeed in this denial1 and show beyond all contradiction that christianity is not true1 it amounts to nothing4 ,it is no law1 and accomplishes nothing in any way1 only to bring christians upon a level with them--with precisely nothing4 ,scepticism has no rewards for the good4 ,it promises nothing in this world nor that which is to come4 ,it holds out no rewards1 no inducements of any kind for the good1 in time or eternity6 ,scepticism has no punishments for the bad1 here nor hereafter4 ,it contains no punishments for evil doers--the profligate1 dissipated1 and corrupt2 thieves1 robbers and murderers4 ,it knows nothing of crimes or punishments for crimes1 of any grade or atrocity4 ,scepticism has no reformatory power4 ,a denial1 or a train of denials1 even denials of error1 can never restrain sinners nor reform men4 ,the influence is simply negative4 ,in the very nature of things1 it cannot act positively4 ,denials or negatives require nothing1 give nothing1 and1 as a matter of course1 can produce no reformation4 ,it is a negative system1 if we may be allowed to call it a system at all1 and in the very nature of things1 its influence must be negative4 ,it is like cold1 which is simply the absence of heat2 for the suffering1 in the absence of heat1 is from want of heat4 ,scepticism is simply the absence of the heat of christianity4 ,darkness is merely the absence of light1 or it is the negative of light1 else it and light could exist at the same time1 in the same place4 ,in precisely the same way1 scepticism is the absence of gospel light1 or faith4 ,the soul without faith is empty1 cold1 dark1 and hungry1 suffering and perishing1 for light1 heat and food4 ,scepticism is no system1 not a reality1 substance or entity of any kind1 but the absence of all these4 ,to speak in general terms of faith1 both christian faith and all other faith1 the absence of it1 would be the absence by far of the greater part of all we know1 or that may be known by man4 ,there is nothing more certain than that a man who knows much1 must believe much4 ,scepticism is not the possession of reformatory principles1 but simply the absence of them4 ,there is nothing that a man can be more conscious of1 than that scepticism never did1 and never can1 make a man better4 ,inherently1 there is nothing in it4 ,it is the absence of something4 ,the mere absence of faith1 of religion1 doctrine and principles1 most indisputably can do a man no good1 and can have no power to save him in any sense4 ,to speak of saving a man from starving by the absence of food1 saving him from thirst by the absence of water1 or from darkness by the absence of light1 or from sickness by the absence of the only medicine that could save him1 is not more absurd1 than to speak of unbelief reforming man4 ,scepticism is not heat1 but the absence of it2 not light1 but the absence of it2 not faith1 but the absence of it2 not knowledge1 but the absence of it2 not medicine1 but the absence of it2 not nourishment1 but the absence of it4 ,the sceptic is a man perishing with cold1 while he is graciously offered the warmth of christianity2 groping in darkness while the light of heaven is as free for him as the rays of the sun2 starving1 with an invitation to eat of the bread that comes down from heaven2 dying with thirst1 while ,god is holding out to him the water of life2 a sick man refusing to take an infallible remedy from the physician1 simply exercising the power to reject all that could do him any good1 resting1 refusing1 denying and dying4 ,,christ ,,the ,,center4 ,in the kingdom of ,god the ,lord is the center4 ,he said1 8,i1 if ,i be lifted up1 will draw all men to me40 8,as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of ,man be lifted up1 that whoever believeth on him should not perish1 but have everlasting life40 ,the great apostle to the ,gentiles1 after giving a brief summary of side considerations1 and many of them weighty1 in his situation1 says of them all1 8,i count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of ,christ ,jesus my ,lord2 for whom ,i have suffered the loss of all things1 and do count them but refuse that ,i may win ,christ40 ,phil4 iii4 #h4 ,again1 said this man of ,god1 8,i determined to know nothing but ,christ and him crucified40 ,he would not be drawn aside from the center of attraction in the kingdom of ,god4 ,in the close of his elaborate letter to the ,corinthians1 among whom many distracting annoyances were operating1 and in reference to those who disturbed the peace and love of the church1 he declares that 8,if any man love not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 he will be accursed when the ,lord comes40 ,i4 ,cor4 xvi4 #bb4 8,whoever hateth his brother1 is a murderer2 and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him40 ,john iii4 #ae4 ,again1 says the holy apostle1 8,these be they who separate themselves sensual1 having not the spirit40 ,james xix4 ,the ,lord says1 8,by this shall all men know that you are my disciples1 if you have love one to another40 ,from him who thus teaches1 we are not to be drawn aside1 whether we precisely agree upon every side question1 or the manner of procedure in reference to it or not4 ,by him we must stand forever more4 ,to him we must pay supreme homage4 ,this can only be done by standing firmly upon his precise teachings1 as far as poor1 imperfect creatures possibly can1 and putting our everlasting trust in him4 ,the cause is now progressing1 its prospects brightening1 and its way opening beautifully in almost all directions4 ,the good1 the reliable1 the faithful and working men1 are gathering up afresh1 combining and accumulating strength1 which will be expended upon the armies of the enemy around1 with tremendous effect4 ,let every man who can lift a ,bible speak a word1 or give an expression of countenance1 for the ,lord1 and for his work1 do it2 do it with earnestness1 spirit and power2 do it with strong faith and determination1 and it will tell upon the world for good1 in ages to come4 ,let us make an effort1 united1 energetic and mighty1 in the ,lord's name1 for his cause2 and let the effort continue while the ,lord shall give us life1 and exhort the brethren to push it onward with our dying breath4 ,to his name1 be honor and power1 everlasting4 ,,riches ,,of ,,faith4 ,god has created man with credulity1 or the ability to believe2 he has graciously given us the truth1 that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of the ,living ,god1 to belief2 with the divine testimony that incontestably proves the truth4 ,but he does not compel any man to read the testimony1 to hear it read1 to examine it1 try to understand and appreciate it4 ,he lays it before the world1 and demands of the nations to hear it4 ,it is like all the other blessings ,god has afforded man2 it must be sought1 inquired after and received1 or do men no good4 ,men may be none the better of its ever entering into the world4 ,it may be that ,god has created a rich mine of gold in some part of the earth4 ,one man seeks all the information he can obtain1 in reference to it1 becomes satisfied of its richness and accessibility2 he makes a proper effort and obtains a fortune4 ,another man1 with equally as good endowments1 treats the whole question with indifference to it4 ,without examining the testimony1 he pronounces all delusion1 humbuggery1 a chimera1 and ridicules it1 and the man that seeks information1 or inquires into it4 ,what good will the gold mine do him8 ,none whatever4 ,so far as he is concerned1 it might as well never have been created4 ,but1 it fares infinitely worse than this with him who treats with indifference the pearls of ,jesus ,christ4 ,he who prefers the darkness of this world to the light of the ,son of ,god1 turns away his ears from the holy and lovely lessons of the benevolent ,redeemer1 refuses to inform himself in reference to ,him1 to whom ,god requires all nations to be attentive1 incurs a responsibility for which he will certainly answer at the most solemn tribunal4 ,he who turns his back upon the ,lord of heaven and earth1 when we would call attention to him1 not only loses or forfeits the benefits proposed through him1 but incurs censure for indifference1 ingratitude and disrespect1 if not contempt of his ,creator and merciful ,benefactor4 ,god has created him with a heart to believe1 given the truth1 and furnished the testimony to convey it to the understanding1 and holds him responsible for the exercise of his abilities4 ,come1 then1 dear reader1 and let us fix our minds upon ,jesus of ,nazareth1 and carefully consider his claims upon our attention4 ,the whole question is about him4 ,what do you think of him whom we claim as the ,savior of the world8 ,do you love him and those like him8 ,or1 are you opposed to him8 ,,one ,,baptism4 ,we take it as ,wesley did1 that 8by one ,spirit10 is by the direction of one ,spirit1 we are all immersed into one body4 ,it is clear that the baptism alluded to is the initiatory rite1 for there is no other baptism into one body4 ,the immersion in the ,spirit is not into one body1 or into anything4 ,at the house of ,cornelius they were immersed into ,christ after they had been immersed in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the immersion in the ,spirit was to convince ,peter and his ,jewish brethren that ,god intended to receive the ,gentiles as well as the ,jews4 ,hence1 when ,peter1 in his rehearsal of the matter to his ,jewish brethren1 when he came to this1 exclaims1 8,what was ,i that ,i should withstand ,god80 ,the 8one baptism0 of ,paul is the initiatory rite--the baptism of the ,commission1 connected with the faith and repentance for the remission of sins1 and will remain as long as there is one to believe1 repent or seek remission of sins4 ,the faith1 repentance1 confession1 immersion and remission of sins stand connected in the gospel of the grace of ,god1 and we see not how any man can be so perverted as to try to evade any one of these items4 ,,disturbing ,,element4 ,the ,bible is not the disturbing element1 or property that prevents fusion1 for all the sects have the ,bible1 speak well of it and commend it4 ,they all bold the ,bible in common4 ,it is well received among all denominations4 ,the ,bible is not1 then1 the divisive element1 or the repellent property among them that renders fusion impossible4 ,the ,lord is not the repellent element1 or property that prevents fusion1 for they all speak well of him4 ,indeed1 they all claim to have him with them and to love him4 ,the ,holy ,spirit is not the disturbing element1 or property1 for they all speak well of him1 and claim to love him and to have him dwelling in them4 ,what1 then1 is the repellent property among them that prevents fusion1 or union8 ,it is this very pet1 dear and precious creature that they all press to their hearts1 guard so sacredly1 and love so dearly1 and hold on to as to life itself--denominationalism4 ,this is the element1 the corroding element1 the foreign property1 that will not fuse4 ,it is constitutionally a rebel against union4 ,it is antagonistic and repellent4 ,what is it that makes the denomination8 ,it is that which is peculiar to it4 ,it is not the ,bible that makes a ,methodist1 nor the love of the ,bible1 nor anything in it1 for the ,presbyterian has the ,bible1 loves it1 and all that is in it1 as well as the ,methodist4 ,it does not make him a ,methodist4 ,it is not the ,lord1 for the ,presbyterian receives the ,lord as fully as the ,methodist1 and the ,lord does not make him a ,methodist4 ,it is not the ,holy ,spirit1 for all the first ,christians received the ,holy ,spirit1 and they were not ,methodists2 there never was a ,methodist before ,john ,wesley4 ,what1 then1 is it that makes the ,methodist8 ,it is simply that which is peculiar to ,methodists1 and that which is not received by a ,presbyterian4 ,what is it that makes a ,presbyterian8 ,that which is peculiar to ,presbyterians1 and not received by ,methodists4 ,why1 then1 can not ,methodists and ,presbyterians fuse into one mass1 or unite8 ,because the ,methodists will not give up ,methodism1 that which is peculiar to ,methodists2 and the ,presbyterian will not give up the ,presbyterianism1 or that which is peculiar to ,presbyterians4 ,that which is peculiar1 makes the denomination2 it is the disturbing element in the way of fusion1 or union1 and that must be given up1 or union can never take place4 ,the ,lord prayed that those who believe may be one1 that the world may believe4 ,this denominationalism is the very element in the way of union1 or the cause of division1 and division is in the way of the world believing1 or a main cause of the world not being converted4 ,the way is now opened for carrying the ,bible into all the world and turning the world to ,god4 ,shall that ever be done1 or shall our power be expended in sending denominations into the countries now open for the one pure and holy religion of our ,lord and ,savior ,jesus ,christ8 ,or1 can we not now1 under the influence of the love of ,christ1 receive the one religion of the ,new ,testament and nothing else2 unite on it1 and carry it to ,italy1 and every other country now in ,divine ,providence1 opened up for the reception of ,king ,jesus8 ,what need we care for denominations8 ,the body of ,christ1 the church of the ,living ,god1 the kingdom of ,god1 is denomination enough for a man who loves the ,savior2 and the ,book of ,god1 containing the law of ,god and the gospel too1 is creed enough for all who sincerely love our ,lord ,jesus1 the ,christ4 ,what a grand and glorious work could be performed1 if1 all in good earnest in the work would unite under ,god1 put their hearts into the work and determine to push the cause of ,christ1 the gospel of the grace of ,god1 the kingdom of ,god1 through the world4 ,we have one book1 a book no where in doubt--the volume of ,god1 the ,bible1 and1 can all with one heart1 and one soul1 push it through the world1 enforce it on men to read it1 teach it to others1 and make it the great power in the earth1 to break down and wipe out ,romanism2 to sweep away all pagan gods1 temples1 and altars1 and all sectarian denominations1 and unite all the friends of the ,lord under ,prince ,messiah2 let him go before them1 lead and guide them forever and ever4 ,what is a mere denomination1 separated from others by some peculiarities not mentioned in the ,bible1 nor received by any other party on earth1 compared with what the ,lord styles1 8my church10 ,matt4 xvi4 #ah2 the body of ,christ2 the kingdom of ,god1 containing all the people of ,god8 ,this is what we have in our view2 we will go for nothing less than the body of ,christ1 the kingdom of ,god4 ,it is of ,god1 the denomination is of man4 ,,women ,,in ,,the ,,church4 ,read the ,bible carefully1 and note the part the women took1 the greatest and best of them1 as well as all classes1 in the ,patriarchal1 ,jewish and ,christian institutions1 and follow what you find there4 ,it is safe to follow that1 and for the good of all1 both men and women4 ,no improvement can be made upon that4 ,as we depart from that we injure all4 ,we desire to see women curtailed in no privilege or blessing2 nothing that can make them happy1 useful1 wise or good4 ,but the less they have to do in the business meetings1 the ruling or discipline of the church1 the better for them and all concerned4 ,they have a natural and scriptural work to do1 and men cannot do that work for them1 and men do not lose any of their rights1 when not appointed to do the natural and scriptural work of women4 ,in the same way women lose no rights1 are excluded from no privilege1 nor are they in any way degraded in being limited to their legitimate sphere of operation4 ,the ,bible gives women the highest honor they can have1 and lays down the road to the highest happiness4 ,it has elevated women from the abject slavery in which ,paganism had bound them down1 and given them the strong arm of the man to protect and support them4 ,the nearer they follow the ,bible1 the ,lord1 and the apostolic teaching the better4 ,this is the road to greatness1 happiness and goodness4 ,,who ,,crucified ,,the ,,savior4 ,peter charges the crucifixion on the ,jews4 ,but the ,jews only instigated it2 the ,romans1 who were ,gentiles1 executed him4 ,the ,jews were the more responsible party1 as they persisted in clamoring for his crucifixion1 when ,pilate1 the ,roman judge wanted to let him go4 ,the ,jews premeditated1 designed and instigated the crucifixion2 the ,romans performed the deed1 or were tools in the hands of the ,jews and executed the will of the ,jews4 ,but when the matter is more fully comprehended the whole world were represented in the transaction4 ,the entire nation of ,israel was represented in the ,sandhedrim1 and the nations1 apart from the ,jews1 the ,gentiles1 were represented in the ,roman court1 and thus all the world was represented and implicated in the awful act of crucifying the ,lord of glory4 ,the ,jews were1 as we have said1 the instigators of the crucifixion1 but did not1 therefore1 have the sole responsibility1 as the ,gentiles1 or the ,roman court1 had the power to release him and desired to do so1 but voluntarily yielded to the wishes of the ,jews in giving him up to be crucified1 and with their own hands executed him4 ,the ,jews had no power to inflict capital punishment without the assent of the ,roman court4 ,the ,jews were the instigators and the ,romans the willing tools to execute their will4 ,,christian ,,zeal4 ,the leading method employed anciently to impede the progress of christianity was to persecute its adherents4 ,this scheme of opposition was well tried during the first three centuries of the christian era1 but1 although it1 to some extent1 gratified the malice of the persecutors1 it was never very successful4 ,there is a very plain reason for this4 ,the tendency of persecution is invariably to lead the disciples of our ,lord1 to examine the ground of their faith and the value of their profession with great care2 and when this is done1 there is but little danger of 8departing from the holy commandment delivered to us40 ,nothing has ever caused men to scrutinize their profession and the whole premises thereof1 in such a candid and solemn manner as the severe persecutions imposed upon the early followers of our ,lord2 and yet it is an important truth1 that1 during these severe persecutions1 apostasies were comparatively few4 ,this is not all4 ,persecution has always led the true followers of ,christ to plead for the claims of the cause with greater power4 ,men1 when speaking in a cause and their lives at stake1 speak from the very bottom of their hearts1 and exert every power with which they are possessed to make an impression4 ,at such times there is no dull formality1 but all is life and interest4 ,every one feels what he saying and doing4 ,there is no sermonizing1 no preaching by the day1 but every man carries the cause in his bosom1 and labors as for eternity4 ,all this is calculated to defeat the ostensible intention of all persecution1 and in the place of impeding the progress of the cause must tend to spread it4 ,not only so1 but persecution has a tendency to diminish worldly-mindedness1 and cause the entire affairs of this life to appear transient and fleeting4 ,its constant bearing1 like all sufferings in this life1 is to direct the christian mind to another world1 where the bondage of corruption shall be put off1 and where he shall enjoy pleasures for evermore4 ,under such circumstances1 how the mind is filled with piety1 and how the spirit adorns the redeeming love which1 through ,jesus ,christ1 has brought the tidings of deliverance6 ,finding no abatement of persecutions here1 no mitigation of suffering1 the afflicted pilgrim looks to another world for a home--for a city upon the immovable rock1 the maker and builder of which is ,god1 where he anticipates he will enter the eternal rest4 ,in all this1 the effect is precisely the opposite of what is intended by persecutors4 ,they intend to cause people to abandon christianity by persecuting them1 whereas it only causes them to esteem it more sacred and press it more closely to their hearts4 ,how perfectly had all worldly considerations dwindled into nothingness when the apostle counted all things but loss1 that he might win ,christ1 and when he estimated the intolerable affliction imposed upon him1 light1 compared with the eternal weight of glory in prospect6 ,such heavenly mindedness is the direct tendency of persecution1 and only calculated to make the glories of christianity shine with greater luster1 and1 consequently1 serves not the designs of those by whom it is inflicted4 ,it1 nevertheless1 has been tried in thousands of instances1 since the first three centuries1 in various parts of the world1 even down to quite a modern date1 but has never been able to extinguish the light emanating from the lofty fountain of all light and all knowledge4 ,from modern developments1 it would seem1 that it is now being ascertained by the great opposer of all good1 that methods more effectual may be employed1 to impede the progress of the gospel1 of which we can not now speak in detail4 ,indifference1 however1 or a general lack of conscientiousness1 is now the order of the day4 ,anciently1 when a doctrine was preached which the people did not believe1 they were greatly excited by it4 ,on the other hand1 when they did believe it1 they moved forward most warmly and energetically4 ,it was the character of the ,jewish people to follow their impressions with great tenacity4 ,to the people of our times1 it would seem strange that the preaching of the apostles should have so excited the people4 ,this generation can listen to doctrine entirely adverse to their views1 with comparatively little excitement4 ,they will frequently seem scarcely to have heard it4 ,this is because they do not hold themselves responsible for what is taught1 nor feel any very deep concern and interest in forming the public mind4 ,they are indifferent to what is taught4 ,this is one of the most dangerous features of our times4 ,it grows to a considerable extent out of reading light trash1 of a novel and imaginary character1 which throws away every thing sentimental1 with all concern about the impression it may make upon the human heart4 ,it destroys concern for one of the most important items in the world1 and seems to suppose that our children may1 with perfect safety1 hear whatever may chance to fall in their path4 ,when a man becomes indifferent1 or falls into such a state as not to care what is taught1 he is measurably beyond the reach of all instruction1 for he places no value upon instruction4 ,when the gospel of our ,lord was first spoken1 it moved the souls of those who heard it1 and caused them to act most energetically either for or against it4 ,this was because they cared for public sentiment1 and were deeply concerned about what was taught4 ,they were really conscientious and felt highly responsible for all their actions4 ,but how different where this feeling of responsibility is lost8 ,the most awful consequences may be referred to1 the most terrible appeals may be made1 and the most powerful inducements may be placed before them1 but ,galio like1 they are all unheeded and unappreciated4 ,in this case1 conscientiousness1 if not even consciousness itself1 if not entirely lost1 is so greatly diminished as entirely to cease to perform its office4 ,this state of indifference is not confined to the world alone1 but has long since entered the precincts of the church4 ,it is in the way of every meeting1 of every ordinance1 of every discourse1 and of every good work4 ,those under its influence are ever ready to drawl out1 8,it is of no use0--8it can't be done0--or1 8,i do not care anything about it40 ,sometimes it is evaded1 by objections or some fault being found4 ,how perfectly disheartening all this is to those who desire to do good1 and carry forward the conquest of a great and glorious cause4 ,how few there are who can properly press the claims of christianity1 knowing that such an irresponsible and indifferent state of feeling prevails4 ,it is hard to manifest a becoming zeal in the midst of such a state of apathy4 ,yet he who rightly reasons upon the cause of our ,lord1 and keeps the subject ever present in his mind1 must be moved forward4 ,he can not be discouraged1 cowed down1 nor deterred4 ,he is invincible in his course4 ,the spirit that burns in his breast is unconquerable4 ,the more he has to contend with1 the more grace and ardor of soul he seems to possess4 ,he looks to ,jesus1 who for the joy set before him1 endured the contradiction of sinners1 even unto the death of the cross1 and yet overcame1 and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of ,god4 ,he asks the question3 ,why did our ,lord make the good confession before ,pontius ,pilate8 ,why did he yield to the ignominious death of the cross8 ,why did the holy apostles suffer as they did8 ,why did the first christians wade through floods and flames8 ,why were they bathed in tears and blood8 ,why all their zeal and perseverance under all this8 ,because they endured1 by faith seeing him who is invisible4 ,they looked forward to the recompense of reward4 ,they held daily and spiritual communion with ,god4 ,their hearts were in heaven1 whence1 also1 they looked for the ,savior1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,who that has the grand theme of good tidings and great joy to all people1 first announced by angels at the birth of our ,lord and ,savior1 dwelling richly in his heart1 can fail to have a burning and a constant zeal to spread the same grand and glorious theme to the ends of the earth1 and thus contribute in causing it to bless the nations8 ,if the winds of heaven and the waves of the sea1 if the diseases of the sick and the terrors of death1 if the graves of the dead and the gates of hades1 were obedient to the mandate of ,jesus ,christ1 and1 if the veil of the temple was rent in twain1 the rocks were sundered1 the earth trembled and the sun was veiled in darkness when the ,lord of glory died--should not the human heart always be filled1 when his name is mentioned8 ,if the mighty angels fall prostrate at the feet of ,jesus1 and hasten to perform the most august message at his command1 should it not be the delight of those redeemed by his blood1 to do his will1 that they enter by the gates into the city1 and have a right to the tree of life8 ,who can1 who dare slumber in his presence8 ,who dare be indifferent to the theme that dwelt upon his gracious lips8 ,when he speaks it is the voice of a king--more1 it is the voice of the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords2 it is the voice of him who is to bear all rule1 all authority and power1 until all his enemies are subdued4 ,heaven is his throne and the earth his footstool4 ,shall we not adore his name1 that he has graciously promised to confess us before his ,father and before his angels8 ,to his name be honor and dominion forever and ever4 ,,judgment1 ,,the ,,ground ,,of ,,repentance4 ,when ,paul stood in the midst of ,mar's hill1 he boldly declared the ignorance and superstition of the ,athenians1 before the gospel1 and stated to them1 that 8in the times of this ignorance1 ,god winked at10 or that he did not hold them to a strict account4 ,he concedes1 here1 the principle expressed by the ,savior1 that where there is but little given there is but little required2 and on this ground1 admits that ,god would not deal with them strictly according to their works4 ,but he approaches a different state of things4 ,a change was about to take place in the dealings of ,god with that people4 ,how is it to be now8 ,the apostle responds1 8,but now he commandeth all men everywhere to repent40 ,in the times of the ignorance before the gospel1 this command to all men every where1 to repent1 did not exist4 ,but1 now that the gospel is preached to every creature1 he commands all men everywhere to repent4 ,but he does not stop here1 but proceeds to give us the reason why ,god commands men to repent4 ,that reason is not1 that there is no day of judgment to come1 which might serve as a reason why men need not repent4 ,why1 then1 does ,god now command all men everywhere to repent8 ,the apostle answers1 8,because he hath appointed a day1 in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained40 ,it is not strange1 with this passage before us1 that preaching ,universalism never causes anybody to repent4 ,the preachers of that doctrine deny the cause of repentance2 and while the ,lord calls upon men to repent1 because he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness1 they spend their time in preaching that there will be no judgment to come4 ,in this they set aside the grand reason why men should repent4 ,while the preaching of the true gospel leads men to sorrow that they have sinned1 in view of a righteous judgment to come1 the preaching of that disgraceful doctrine--which we are sorry to have necessity to mention upon our pages--leads wicked men to laugh and trifle1 both in view of their sins1 and all that the ,bible says of the great judgment day4 ,the apostle1 however1 does not merely state that ,god has appointed a day in which he will judge the world1 but he alleges that he has given assurance of the fact4 ,his words are1 8,whereof he hath given assurance unto all men1 in that he hath raised him from the dead40 ,here he arrives at the foundation of all--the resurrection of ,christ from the dead4 ,his logic runs thus3 ,christ rose from the dead4 ,what assurance does that give8 ,it is the assurance that ,god has given that he has appointed a day1 in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained4 ,and what if that is the case8 ,why1 then1 he commands all men everywhere to repent4 ,as certain as ,christ rose from the dead1 there will be righteous judgment2 and because there will be a righteous judgment1 men are commanded to reform and become righteous4 ,jesus ,christ was judged by the highest ecclesiastical court on earth1 and in the highest civil court--but in both cases condemned unjustly4 ,he could not have righteous judgment in this world2 but1 when the unrighteous sentences were passed upon him1 and he had yielded to the penalty1 and his body was consigned to the prison-house of death1 while his spirit was in the unseen world1 he appealed the case1 and had it referred to the high1 the holy and inflexible court of heaven1 where the case was tried righteously4 ,when this was done1 the former decisions were condemned1 as partial and unjust1 and ,jesus was 8justified by the ,spirit10 or1 as ,peter expresses it1 8he was quickened by the ,spirit40 ,the decision in the case was not only reversed1 but the penalty1 which had been executed1 and was beyond the power of those who inflicted it to reverse it1 was reversed by the great and righteous tribunal to which ,jesus had appealed4 ,he was justified from the guilt of their decision1 when the ,spirit of ,god condemned their sentence as unjust1 and justified from the penalty when he was 8quickened by the ,spirit10 or raised from the dead4 ,when justified1 he breaks forth in most triumphant language3 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 ,almighty2 ,i am he that liveth1 and was dead2 and1 behold6 ,i am alive forevermore1 ,amen2 and have the keys of hell and death40 ,he had been condemned unjustly1 but had gone to a righteous judgment1 where the decision was changed1 and he was justified2 the penalty of death was removed1 and he was made alive forevermore2 hence1 8he ever liveth to make intercession for us40 ,he had obtained justice4 ,in this case1 we have an assurance of a day being appointed in which ,god will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained4 ,if ,god1 after the death of ,jesus1 judged in the case of the great leader of all christians1 and changed the unrighteous sentence previously passed upon him1 and justified him1 why may we not expect him to judge all the world after death2 and1 where the righteous have been condemned1 as has frequently been1 and as will be1 the case in this world1 reverse the decision1 and justify them2 and1 on the other hand1 where the guilty have been justified1 the decision changed1 and they condemned4 ,there is not a more consoling sentiment on earth1 to a righteous man1 than that there is a day appointed when impartial justice will take place4 ,the ,lord ,jesus will judge among the nations1 and mete out to them according to their works4 ,the thought1 that justice will never take place1 may be pleasing to rogues1 and such a view might be contended for with great zeal1 on the part of those who know that a righteous judgment must condemn them1 and such as care not how deep a stab they inflict upon the morals of the world2 but to the man who maintains a conscience void of offense toward ,god and man1 and who intends1 to the best of his ability1 to deport himself righteously1 nothing can be a higher satisfaction1 than the doctrine1 that all false decisions will be reversed1 and that a just and equitable sentence will be passed upon all4 ,such a judgment we anticipate1 and such judgment1 we are assured by the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ from the dead1 will take place4 ,,the ,,genealogy ,,of ,,christ4 ,one thing that has caused an apparent difficulty touching the genealogy of ,christ1 is1 that inquirers are not aware of the fact1 that ,matthew traces the genealogy of ,joseph1 from ,abraham down1 and that ,luke traces the genealogy of ,mary up to ,adam4 ,matt4 i42 ,luke iii4 ,this will account1 in some degree1 for the disagreement in names4 ,they are evidently two distinct lines of genealogy1 and the best authorities we can appeal to at present1 give ,matthew's to ,joseph and the other to ,mary1 and it is clear to any one1 that one descends and that the other ascends4 ,the best evidence we can command1 sustains the idea that ,matthew wrote at an earlier date than ,luke1 and that he took his genealogy from the ,jewish records1 from ,abraham to ,joseph1 as the ,jews would be willing to believe their own records2 and1 that when ,luke wrote1 ,joseph had been adopted into the family of ,heli1 7,eli1 the same7 ,joseph's father-in-law1 some years1 and1 consequently1 ,luke copied the genealogy of ,joseph through ,heli1 which was properly ,mary's genealogy1 up to ,adam4 ,there are1 however1 difficulties in these genealogies1 which1 we presume1 no one can reconcile2 but ,matthew and ,luke are not accountable for them1 as they simply give these as the commonly received genealogies1 which those in the day when they had the records to appeal to1 never disputed4 ,had the ,jews been able to involve the ,apostle and ,luke in a contradiction1 they1 no doubt1 would willingly have done it1 but this they could not do1 without disputing their own records4 ,,adhering ,,to ,,the ,,bible4 ,no man should go to the ,bible1 or the ,god of the ,bible1 to teach him what man is1 or what he should be2 but he should go to the ,bible to learn what he is1 what he ought to be1 and what he ultimately shall be4 ,he should not go to the ,bible to show what it should teach1 but to learn what it does teach1 for to this we shall all come in the end1 whether it is congenial with our desires or not4 ,we intend1 therefore1 to maintain it as it is1 whether the number in favor of it is small or great4 ,we intend to maintain the old distinction between saint and sinner1 vice and virtue1 good and bad1 with the same meaning attached to them1 regardless of all consequences4 ,we shall speak of men being saved and lost1 happy and miserable1 justified and condemned1 with the same ideas attached to the terms as heretofore1 and sustained by all sound rules of interpretation1 whether it shall be considered sense or foolishness4 ,we shall continue to use the ,bible terms1 rewards and punishments1 life and death1 heaven and hell1 in the same sense as we have been wont to do1 knowing1 as we do1 that we are supported by the whole canon of sound criticism1 and we most solemnly admonish all who fear ,god1 against the glosses of that sickening and supercilious affectation1 that induces any man1 for one moment1 to hesitate to declare to his fellow man1 in the most faithful manner1 the terrible threatenings of the ,almighty against the impenitent4 ,let no preacher shrink1 in this age of sinfulness and pride2 let no man of ,god be deterred by the ridicule of ,universalists1 by low wit of sceptics1 or the vulgar mocking of atheists1 from declaring the terrors of the ,lord1 for he says1 8,the ,lord shall judge his people40 8,it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living ,god40 8,with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad1 whom ,i have not made sad1 and strengthened the hands of the wicked1 that he should not return from his wicked way1 by promising him life40 8,it is better to enter into life having one eye1 than having two eyes1 to be cast into hell1 into the fire that shall never be quenched40 8,the rich man died1 and in hell he lifted up his eyes1 being in torment40 ,such is but a tithe of what abounds of this description throughout the ,new ,testament4 ,is he a friend to his ,god or his fellow man1 who knows such language to abound in the word of ,god1 and shuns to declare it to those who hear him8 ,,exchanging ,,pulpits4 ,what confidence would we have in the preacher who would exchange pulpits with a priest of the ,papacy1 not only a member of the ,romish ,church1 but made such before he knew there was a ,god1 or a ,savior1 an idolater1 or an unregenerated man8 ,the book of ,god forbids the saints from keeping company with such a man1 or eating with him1 or to bid him ,god-speed4 ,we can meet a ,romish priest and treat him as a citizen1 if he is one1 a neighbor1 or gentleman1 but we do not know him as a preacher of ,jesus1 or as a teacher of saints1 or as a ,christian4 ,he bears no such relations as these to us1 and we recognize him in none of these relations4 ,in the same way1 any man made a member of the church without any faith1 or before he knew there was a church1 or even a ,god1 or who has had water sprinkled on him for baptism1 is not in the body of ,christ1 and we feel kindly toward him as a fellow-creature1 as a citizen1 neighbor or gentleman1 if he is one1 but we do not know him as a preacher of ,jesus1 nor a teacher in the kingdom at all4 ,we can extend to him all the amenities and courtesies of life as a fellow-creature1 citizen1 neighbor1 gentleman1 etc41 but we simply know him1 not as a preacher of ,jesus1 or a teacher of the children of the kingdom4 ,he is not in the kingdom1 and is not the man to perform any service there4 ,the first thing for him to do1 is to submit to the divinely ordained process by which to enter the kingdom and become a citizen1 according to the law of the ,great ,king1 and then he is ready to do any service for which he is qualified in the kingdom4 ,but he can not work in the kingdom till he is in it1 and it is a sham1 a pretense and hypocrisy to act toward him as if he were in the kingdom1 an insincerity before the people that leads to a false impression with some1 and destroys the confidence with others4 ,such procedure is intended as a show of liberality1 broad and liberal views4 ,but is it sincere8 ,is it candid8 ,is it honest8 ,what is meant by it8 ,if these men with whom you exchange pulpits are not in ,christ1 what do you mean when you place them before the people as preachers of the gospel and teachers of the saints8 ,do you mean that in your expanded liberality you would act toward a man as if he were a brother and a preacher1 when you know he is not in the kingdom at all1 but if he wanted to become a member of the church1 you would not receive him1 or give the right hand of fellowship till he was immersed8 ,this will do for people with no religious convictions1 no settled principles and no law of ,god on which to act4 ,they can act in this way or that as they think will be popular1 or suit the caprice of the people4 ,but among men with religious convictions1 settled principles1 and the law of ,god before them1 it is only a want of principle1 consistency1 and regard for the law of ,god4 ,it is simply a manifest disrespect to the ,majesty of heaven and earth1 a bold1 open showing that the law of ,god is ignored1 overlooked and disregarded1 in courtesy to a man not in the kingdom at all1 in deference to a man that was never initiated into the body of ,christ6 ,this is openly trampling down the law of ,god and showing contempt for it1 in an empty show of liberality to those to whom the grace of ,god is as free as any others1 but who have never come in the ,lord's appointments into the kingdom of ,god4 ,we are as desirous to be courteous and liberal as anybody1 but religious convictions1 sacred principles1 and last1 though not least1 the law of ,god must not be ignored1 overlooked1 or treated with contempt4 ,no good man will respect any man for setting aside his religious convictions1 principles1 or the law of ,god4 ,,kind ,,of ,,preachers ,,and ,,preaching ,,needed4 ,we want no mere excitement about a man1 nor after a man1 who1 as ,simon the ,sorcerer1 induces the people to think that he is some great one4 ,we want the clear1 solid and telling preaching of the gospel1 enlightening the people in reference to our ,lord1 the way to him1 and how to serve him4 ,we do not expect1 as a general rule1 to see much move among the people for the first ten days1 but a gradual increase in the audience1 the interest in the preaching and conversations about it2 an account of the people hunting up their ,bibles1 inquiring whether these things are so1 and occasional argument in reference to the matter4 ,but after due time and deliberation1 persons begin to step forward and confess ,christ4 ,while a good song is sung1 everything in the assembly is solemn1 and the impression deepens4 ,while a few remarks are made of a solemn and impressive nature1 and the confessions are taken1 the audience sits in profound silence1 in the deepest and most serious meditation1 and tears are seen to flow freely from many faces4 ,the audience disperses1 and quietly retires1 as if from a funeral4 ,this is what we mean by gospel work4 ,we want nothing sensational1 no tricks1 no comic performance2 no private maneuvering to induce any one to promise1 8,if you will join1 ,i will20 no artifice to get round the people1 come on them suddenly and surprise them4 ,come directly to the people from the start1 and let them know what you mean1 and work directly to the one point--the enlightenment and salvation of men4 ,the man that can tell the story of the cross1 and of a ,savior's love1 in the most artless and unaffected manner1 lose sight of and forget himself in his theme most completely1 will accomplish the most in the ,savior's name4 ,may we learn and tell the story of infinite compassion and love in all its fullness and completeness more successfully1 with more faith and power than ever1 and may we be enabled to bring souls to ,christ more abundantly than ever4 ,,where ,,is ,,the ,,power8 ,the genuine power--the power that will enable us to stand against all opposition and triumph at last--is not in this man or that1 money or learning1 talent or popularity1 but in the true position4 ,learning is profitable1 if used wisely1 as a help in finding and determining the true position2 but the power is not in the learning nor talent4 ,a man of very ordinary learning and talent may find the true position1 stand on and defend it4 ,no matter what a man's learning1 talent or popularity may be1 if he forsakes the truth1 the right ground1 if he undertakes to advocate false theories1 it will become perfect weakness1 and will be swept away like chaff4 ,if men desire to stand1 let them not think of their own power1 learning1 popularity1 or personal influence1 and talent1 but of the true ground1 8the right way of the ,lord10 and depend on truth and the ,god of truth2 never deviate from the truth1 but be faithful to it1 maintain their integrity to it1 and the ,god of all truth and righteousness will hold them up4 ,they will realize that the strength of the everlasting hills is underneath1 and they cannot be moved4 ,if men who once knew the truth1 begin to higgle1 tamper and trifle2 if they1 little by little1 begin to show a want of integrity1 a lack of moral honesty2 a disposition to compromise with sectarianism2 to ignore the distinctions between truth and error1 the body of ,christ and sectarian bodies2 the way of the ,lord and other ways1 and finally begin to abandon leading principles and leading points of teaching1 they will find their power gone and will soon amount to nothing4 ,many men have1 in this way1 literally thrown themselves away1 and others are now going the same road4 ,if men desire to stand1 they should seek the true ground1 try to ascertain and determine what the truth is2 find1 with certainty1 the true position1 and place themselves squarely in it2 maintain and defend it1 not depending on their own strength1 learning1 talent1 influence or popularity1 but on the truth2 the true position2 the right way4 ,but some one is ready to inquire3 8,how can we find truth in the midst of so much error2 the right way in the midst of so many ways80 ,this may be a little difficult to some4 ,there is1 however1 one thing indispensable to it1 and that is that a man receive 8the love of the truth40 ,this lies at the foundation of the whole matter4 ,men will never be successful in finding1 advocating1 maintaining or defending the truth1 who have never 8received the love of the truth20 nor will they succeed in abiding in the truth4 ,this is the very ground-work of the whole matter4 ,all a man's pretences of seeking the truth1 are nothing but an empty sham1 if he has not in him the love of the truth4 ,he must have in him 8a good and an honest heart10 to constitute him the 8good ground0 in which the seed of the kingdom1 the word of ,god1 will grow4 ,but the man that loves the truth1 desires it1 longs for it1 and has in him a good and honest heart1 will make most diligent1 careful and critical search for it4 ,he sets out1 not to prove this or that2 not to maintain this theory or that1 but to find the true ground--the truth itself1 8as it is in ,jesus0--and rarely fails to find the desired object1 the highly prized jewel1 the most precious gem4 ,the love of the truth has an influence on a man1 in different ways1 in favor of his finding it1 as follows3 ,first4 ,it leads him to make diligent search for it4 ,a man will certainly strive to find an object that he loves1 and if he loves the truth1 he will make most diligent search for it4 ,second4 ,it leads him to exercise the utmost discrimination1 to distinguish between truth and error1 that he may not be imposed on and deceived1 and induced to think something is the truth that is not1 and thus have a spurious article imposed on him4 ,third4 ,the love of the truth has wonderful power over a man to cause him to retain it4 ,if he loves it he will not give it up4 ,if a man receives not the love of the truth1 it affects him badly in the following respect3 ,first4 ,he will exercise no diligence1 to find it4 ,he will not search for it4 ,second4 ,he will not be honest when it is presented to him1 but will evade1 cavil1 quibble and mystify it if possible2 kick up a dust to blind his own eyes1 and thus keep him from understanding and receiving the truth4 ,the ,lord will abandon such men to 8believe a lie1 because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved40 ,there are many men now who receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved4 ,they will never be enlightened or brought to the knowledge of the truth4 ,the truth condemns them and they do not want it4 ,they hate it and those who love it4 ,truth has one grand quality about it2 the more you know about it1 the more clearly you see that it is the truth4 ,it is like an honest man2 the more you know about him1 the more clearly you see that he is an honest man4 ,the more you know about error1 the more clearly you perceive it to be error4 ,in the same way1 the more you know about dishonest and heartless men the more clearly you see that they are dishonest4 ,be careful and occupy the right ground1 the true position1 and no man can ever overthrow it1 or prove it to be anything else but the true ground4 ,it is a great thing in favor of an army to take a strong position4 ,we have taken the strongest position that can be taken1 and if we fall back from that1 no matter what we fall back to1 we shall find it a weaker position4 ,we have gone back to our ,lord and looked up to him1 and committed ourselves to him4 ,he has given us a position and placed us on it4 ,it is not our position but his position4 ,we know it is right1 because it came from him and is his4 ,we have simply received him1 with all he said and did--his holy and inspired apostles1 with all they said and did4 ,we have nothing of our own1 but have received ,christ and his gospel1 the apostles of ,christ1 and the gospel of the grace of ,god1 which they preached2 the teaching of ,christ and his apostles2 all things as they came from this divine source1 without anything added or taken away1 anything more or less4 ,none can find a position above this4 ,it is the highest ground that can be taken4 ,the gospel which the apostles preached is right4 ,the apostles' teaching for the churches is right4 ,this nobody denies4 ,we have no position of our own1 or doctrine of our own1 but have taken precisely the position of the first ,christians1 and the teachings under which they were placed1 and no other4 ,we1 therefore1 have nothing but our ,lord1 his gospel and teachings1 as they emanated from himself and his inspired apostles1 and no position only the one on which they have placed us to defend4 ,we are weak and can do but little4 ,let us not rely on our own position1 but the one the ,lord has appointed2 our own views or theories1 but the clear teachings of our ,lord and his apostles4 ,here is the strength1 and those who stand here will find the ,lord of hosts with them4 ,we must plead for the ,lord1 the gospel1 the teachings of ,christ and the apostles1 the ground on which they stood1 maintain that and nothing else4 ,here is the power1 and it is nowhere else4 ,,communion4 ,the ,lord gave the commemoration of his sufferings and death to his disciples1 and ,paul1 in ,corinth1 gave it to the congregation of the saints1 and not to any others4 ,those who are his disciples1 who are in ,christ1 in the body1 are communicants1 and those not in ,christ1 are not communicants4 ,we 8neither invite nor exclude10 but show to whom the ,lord has given the communion1 and that no others have any right to it1 only those in good standing in the body1 and give it to no others4 ,but for any preacher or church to arrange purposely for communion with persons whom they know are not in ,christ1 not in the kingdom1 and try to blur over the clear violation of the law of the kingdom1 as thus deliberately arranged for1 by defining the position of his church to be that they 8neither invite nor exclude10 is certainly a weak and shallow device4 ,it is an attempt to ignore the very act by which we enter into union with the ,father and with the ,son1 as1 also1 the 8whole family in heaven and on earth10--immersion into ,christ1 into the name of the ,father and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit1 under the sham pretext of a union meeting1 a union communion4 ,there is no ,christian union in any meeting that intends to ignore the clear law of induction into the kingdom of ,god4 ,it is only a union in disloyalty to the ,great ,king--ignoring his law4 ,,wandering ,,pilgrims4 ,we know of two or three wandering pilgrims that are now old men1 of good enough talent to have made a permanent record long ago1 and yet received in doubt wherever they go1 held in distrust1 and1 to say the least1 they have nothing that could be called a standing4 ,to be safe1 all the overseers in the church need do is simply to receive no man till he produces clear evidence of good standing4 ,look back over the record and see where the men have gone to who have tried the gospel of soul sleeping4 ,where are ,elias ,shortridge1 ,wm4 ,p4 ,shockey1 ,wm4 ,s4 ,speer1 ,j4 ,k4 ,speer1 ,snooks1 and others of the same ilk8 and where are their works8 ,a streak of desolation has followed in their train all the way4 ,they have divided churches1 set the people of ,god at variance1 and sown the seeds of discord4 ,this is the kind of fruit that has been gathered from their work4 ,look back over the ground and see what has followed every man that has stranded among us4 ,nothing but ruin has followed4 ,men that stood fair1 had line talent and valuable attainments1 by some kind of departure or other1 have gone1 little by little1 blaming those that loved them1 and would1 had it been in their power1 have done anything to make them happy1 till all is lost and they feel averse to almost everything4 ,this is what it brings to get restless and dissatisfied with the plain truth of the ,scriptures4 ,the race of some men is short1 and the mischief they do is certain4 ,the ruin they bring to the churches is inevitable4 ,nothing is more important than that the churches should guard against false teachers4 ,in the place of being flattered that all is well1 and that they mean all right1 we should be on the lookout2 watch all unscriptural words and phrases2 every false move and pretence2 every doubtful man and measure1 and encourage that which is safe1 sound and good4 ,make every public man sensible that it is of importance to him1 and to the cause1 to be known to be sound in teaching2 to hold fast the form of sound speech that can not be condemned2 to be entirely safe and reliable2 to have a good record during his past history as a preacher4 ,make all our young men specially sensible of the importance to them to become permanent men1 firm1 decided and determined in their course4 ,we want no milk-and-water men1 a little this way and a little that1 but men of settled principles1 religious convictions and reliable purposes4 ,be careful who you 8indorse0 as preachers of the gospel4 ,men who want good indorsers should be good men4 ,,dedication ,,of ,,church ,,edifices4 ,nothing is more common than reading of the dedication of the ,temple by ,solomon as appropriate on dedication occasions4 ,only a few short years ago1 a young brother of fine talent read of the dedication of the temple1 and appropriated it to the occasion of dedicating a new meeting-house4 ,but this is a perversion of a very inexcusable character4 ,it loses sight of the significance of one of the most important types of the ,old ,testament4 ,the temple was no type of a meeting-house1 nor was the dedication of the temple a type of dedicating a meeting-house4 ,the ,lord did not give us the minute description of the building of the temple and the dedication to show us how to build fine houses and dedicate them4 ,the temple was the type of the spiritual building2 the congregation of the saints1 lively stones1 built together for an habitation of ,god through the ,spirit4 ,this is the temple that ,god dwells in--the house of ,god4 ,the dedication of that ancient temple was typical of the dedication1 or the consecration of men and women to the service of ,god4 ,the work of the ,pope is to lose sight of the dedication1 or the consecration of men and women to the service of ,god1 symbolized by the dedication of the temple1 and turn the eyes of the people to great gatherings of people1 to the flummery and parade of laying corner-stones1 dedicating houses1 immense piles of stone1 brick1 wood and mortar1 baptizing bells and furniture1 etc41 etc42 but this is no work for the followers of ,jesus1 nor is there anything in it to put one in mind of our ,lord4 ,we have no objection to holding a good meeting in a new house1 setting the congregation of the ,lord in order1 if it needs it in it1 and preaching the gospel to the people of the world4 ,but we see no use then in making a great ado about it1 or thinking any more of it than a good meeting in an old house4 ,we do not like extra occasions4 ,we like the regular worship appointed by the ,lord1 with every item from him1 and not an item not from him4 ,we love the things of ,god1 but nothing not of him4 ,we want no dedication occasions1 nor any others not authorized in ,scripture4 ,when a new house is built1 go into it and use it precisely as you would if it had been there fifty years4 ,what the ,lord has appointed will occupy our whole minds and hearts and hands4 ,,the ,,church ,,in ,,the ,,wilderness4 ,there was certainly an assembly or congregation in the wilderness1 as mentioned by ,stephen4 ,acts vii4 #ch2 but this congregation or assembly in the wilderness was the nation1 or the national assembly of ,israel--fleshly ,israel4 ,it consisted of the fleshly descendants of ,abraham1 as described in the language of ,god to ,abraham1 8,those born in thy house10 or the ,jews4 ,this congregation or assembly1 the nation of ,israel1 or the ,jews1 was not the church1 or body of ,christ1 but1 as a body1 it rejected ,christ1 persecuted him and instigated putting him to death1 persecuted his followers and the church he established4 ,those of whom the church on ,pentecost was composed came out of that old persecuting church1 abandoned it and 8were added to them0--to the apostles and the one hundred and twenty brethren--the new church--the one the ,lord said 7,matt4 xvi4 #ah71 8,i will build40 8,on this rock ,i will build my church0--the 8one new man0 7,eph4 ii4 #ae71 8to make in himself of twain one new man1 so making peace40 8,man0 here is used figuratively1 and stands for church1 and one new man is one new church4 ,it is not the perpetuation of an old church1 ,adamic1 ,abrahamic1 ,mosaic or any other1 but to build one new church was what the ,lord intended and accomplished4 ,the matter now is1 not to be a descendant of ,abel1 nor of ,abraham1 nor ,jacob1 or ,israel2 nor to be of any particular line of flesh and blood1 but to be born again--born from above1 born of ,god4 8,that which is born of the flesh is flesh2 that which is born of the ,spirit is spirit40 ,this new church has a new basis of membership1 not in the flesh but in the ,spirit1 not in being born in the family of ,abraham1 but in the family of ,god1 not in the first birth1 but the second birth1 not in a birth of the flesh1 but a birth of the ,spirit1 not founded in natural generation1 but in regeneration1 not children of ,god by blood1 but 8all the children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus40 ,this church in which we are 8all the children of ,god by faith in ,christ0--by virtue of a new creation1 a birth of water and of the ,spirit1 is not the one in the wilderness1 nor any other church1 congregation or assembly found before ,pentecost1 but it is the one the ,lord said1 8,i will build10 but which was not built when the ,lord said this2 the one new man1 or new church which the ,lord made of the twain1 or the two1 the ,jews and the ,gentiles4 ,this is the 8one body0 into which all were immersed in the time of the apostles--the body of ,christ--the 8temple of ,god10 in which ,god and ,christ and the ,holy ,spirit dwell4 ,to be 8in ,christ0 is to be in this one body1 to be 8in the kingdom of ,god10 8in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit10 to be in union with the ,father and with the ,son1 with the whole family in heaven and on earth4 ,to be in this one body brings us to all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus4 ,this is the body or the church that ,jesus loved1 and for which he gave himself1 that 8he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word0--8the church of the living ,god1 the pillar and support of the truth40 ,it is 8the building of ,god10 established 8according to his eternal purpose0 to 8the intent0 that 8to the principalities and powers in heavenly places may be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of ,god40 ,see ,eph4 iii4 #aj4 ,,sound ,,men4 ,why do men regret to hear us say of a man1 8,he is a gospel man20 8,he is a sound man20 8,he is a ,new ,testament man40 ,it implies that there are some that are not 8gospel men10 not 8sound10 not 8,new ,testament men40 ,what if it does8 ,why need any man be troubled about that8 ,certain men will be suspected of being unsound6 ,indeed6 ,must we shut our eyes and think contrary to what we know to be matter of fact1 that all are sound8 ,but1 you imply that some are not sound6 ,certainly1 and you imply that some are not honest1 when you put a lock on your stable1 crib or smoke-house1 lock and bolt your doors at night1 and when you will not trust all men alike4 ,when you say1 8,i will trust him1 his word is as good as his note10 you imply that some other man is not good--that his word is not as good as his note4 ,but we tell you of ,a1 ,b1 ,c1 ,d and ,e1 that we have trusted1 and they have all paid1 and we believe all are alike honest1 and will pay4 ,if you are a business man1 you will reply1 8,yes1 and ,i have trusted many more than that1 all of whom paid1 but ,i have trusted a long list that did not pay1 and you need not preach to me that all will pay40 ,so referring to a few men who1 on a few occasions preached the gospel faithfully1 does not prove that all do this1 or even that these few always do it4 ,that we have the men now who are making it a constant and prayerful effort to reproduce the gospel and all its fruits2 to reproduce the ,church and all its blessings to man2 to maintain all things as delivered to us by ,christ and his apostles1 we rejoice to know4 ,that we have another class of men1 who have no heart in this1 and have even repudiated the idea1 we entertain not a doubt4 ,those determined to reproduce the gospel of ,christ and all its fruits1 the ,church1 and all its blessings to man1 introduce no innovations2 nothing new and foreign to destroy the peace of the children of ,god1 and are the cause of no dissensions and no divisions4 ,those standing off are not from among them4 ,they will stand with ,god1 with ,christ1 with the ,holy ,spirit1 with the things of ,god as set forth in ,scripture4 ,we stop not to count the number1 whether great or small1 nor to consider whether they shall be popular or unpopular1 rich or poor4 ,the only question is1 are they of ,god8 ,does ,god require that the gospel of his grace1 as given by his ,son and the apostles1 shall be reproduced8 ,does he require that the church shall be reproduced8 ,we maintain that he requires that the gospel1 in all its entirety and completeness1 shall be reproduced1 and we shall be satisfied with nothing short of it4 ,he requires that the ,church1 in its entirety and completeness1 shall be reproduced4 ,these are matters settled with us4 ,the man whose heart is not in this work1 and who aims not at it1 is not one with us1 nor in sympathy with us4 ,,christmas4 ,we do not believe that the #beth of ,december is the birthday of our ,lord4 ,we have seen abundant reasons for this1 and could adduce them1 if the importance of the matter required it1 though we have not the works at hand now to refer to1 as we think1 settling the matter4 ,there is not an intimation of the first ,christians making anything of the birthday of our ,lord1 observing it religiously in any way1 or regarding it as a holiday1 or a holy day at all4 ,this accounts for the uncertainty about the day4 ,if the first ,christians had observed it1 or in any particular way celebrated it1 as the ,jews did the ,passover1 there never could have been any doubt about the day4 ,anti-christ is great on holy days1 specially if1 of his own appointment1 or if some paganism is mixed in them4 ,this was one source of corruption in the primitive church--the continual tendency to mix up pagan ceremonies and superstitions with the simple1 pure and holy religion of our ,lord4 ,worldly and carnal-minded men in the early ages conceived the idea of popularizing the religion of ,christ and commending it to the world by mixing pagan ceremonies1 customs and superstitions with it2 adorning it with philosophy and the pagan ideas of refinement4 ,but all this only corrupted and degraded it4 ,the ,romish apostasy now has some forty holy days in a year1 and as many human laws about observing them1 while those involved in it gormandize1 drink1 revel and gamble on the ,lord's day1 and thus encroach upon the laws of a civilized and enlightened people4 ,protestants are patronizing them in this1 and recognizing their holy days1 and at the same time making nothing of celebrating the sufferings of our ,lord1 on the first day of every week1 as all history assures us was the practice of the first church6 ,instead of recognizing the glorious resurrection of our ,lord1 in the assembling on the first day of the week1 they talk of the ,sabbath1 and instead of 8the communion of the blood and body of the ,lord0--the commemoration of his great sufferings for us1 they listen to a pitiful ditty called 8a sermon10 and then put on long faces and keep ,christmas1 ,good ,friday1 ,easter1 etc41 not named in the law of ,god at all1 but derived from paganism4 ,if we had no other objection to sectarianism but this1 we would stand clear4 ,people who see nothing in 8the first day of the week0--8the ,lord's day0--but ,sabbath1 or rest1 and see not the importance of celebrating the ,lord's death1 commemorating his sufferings1 in obedience to some of his last instructions1 such as the injunction1 8,do this till ,i come0--8,do this in memory of me0--need to be enlightened before they can be regarded as worshipers in any true sense1 under ,christ4 ,this is the very life1 the heart1 the soul1 and if it be left out1 all is a sham1 an empty pretence--nothing4 ,the question is not about ,christmas1 ,good ,friday1 nor ,easter1 of ,romish and pagan authority1 but of 8the ,lord's day10 and 8the communion of the blood and body of the ,lord10 having the supreme and absolute authority of the ,great ,king4 ,,preachers ,,belonging ,,to ,,no ,,church4 ,we think it is quite proper for men who belong to no church to make it known1 and then if people want to uphold such anarchy1 disorderly men1 as preachers of the gospel1 they can do so with a clear understanding4 ,if preachers can live out of any church and do the will of ,god1 other people can do the same4 ,this is not all nor the worst of it4 ,these men claim not only that they can live out of any church and do the will of ,god1 but they claim that they can do more good out of any church than in one4 ,this only needs to be run out to its legitimate result to see the absurdity of it4 ,outside of any church is not only outside of churches of human device1 but outside of the church of the living ,god1 the pillar and support of the truth4 ,the ,lord has established one church1 one body1 one kingdom4 ,he gave himself for that church4 ,he built it on the rock4 ,he sanctified and cleansed it with the washing of the water by the word4 ,he made one new man1 so making peace1 or one new church4 ,it is the ,lord's one flock of which he is the one ,shepherd2 the temple of ,god1 in which ,god1 ,christ1 and the ,holy ,spirit dwell2 the kingdom which we have received that can not be moved4 ,outside of any church is outside of this church4 ,outside of this church is the world1 and inside of it is the kingdom of ,god--all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in ,christ4 ,a ,,choir4 ,we find some brethren call a few members of the church who sit together and lead the singing a choir4 ,this is no choir in the popular sense1 nor is it at all objectionable1 specially if the singing is so conducted that the members generally sing4 ,but this is not the meaning of choir4 ,the choir in a church is composed of artistic performers1 who sing for the church2 sing difficult pieces that the masses can not sing1 for music and musical display1 to attract1 entertain and gratify the people--to charm them with music4 ,these are professional singers1 chosen without any regard to their piety1 and frequently without any regard to their moral character4 ,they sing to show how they can sing1 amuse and entertain4 ,,courtesy ,,in ,,fellowship4 ,any man who is a christian1 or is in ,christ1 can be received into the fellowship of the church4 ,if a man is not a christian1 not in ,christ1 he can not1 in any consistency1 be received into the church or into the pulpit4 ,we would not give much for any man's principles1 who can set them aside for a little act of courtesy1 or a little pretence of liberality4 ,it is nothing but a sham1 an empty pretence and hypocrisy1 to receive a man into the pulpit1 and recognize him before the people1 to whom you would not give the right hand of fellowship4 ,it is liberality to allow every man the same liberty you enjoy1 but a sham1 a pretence and hypocrisy to recognize him as a preacher of ,jesus1 when you do not believe he is in ,christ1 and would not give him the right hand of fellowship and take him into the church4 ,nor is it courtesy to receive such a man into the stand as a preacher1 but hypocrisy4 ,a man who is in ,christ is a brother1 and1 if a preacher of ,christ1 may be received as such1 in good faith4 ,such an one has a right to all the privileges of the body of ,christ1 by virtue of being in it4 ,but the man who ignores the law of the ,king1 and recognizes persons who are not in ,christ as brethren1 christians and preachers1 instead of displaying a broad liberality1 an extended charity1 shows that he has no settled principles--that he disregards principles and law4 ,who ever thought a ,mason or an ,odd ,fellow was discourteous for not recognizing a man as a ,mason who did not belong to the order8 ,certainly no man of intelligence4 ,they have their initiation1 and without it you are not in the order1 and they do not recognize you1 charitably or uncharitably4 ,,praise ,,god ,,by ,,singing4 ,we never heard ,dr4 ,knox announce a song to be sung in public1 while we were with him in ,prince ,edward ,island1 when he did not say1 distinctly and very audibly1 8,we will praise ,god by singing10 etc4 ,this opens out with the right idea4 ,how grand and sublime to praise ,god in song6 ,we ought to sing in worship1 not for music1 or even fine singing1 but to praise ,god1 to worship the ,lord our ,god as an act of devotion to ,god4 ,we ought not to enter into it with the heart set on music1 either instrumental or any other sort1 but on ,god and our gracious and merciful ,lord ,jesus the ,christ4 ,the words ought to be read frequently and a few words of comment on them1 calling attention to the sense1 the praises1 thanksgiving and supplications4 ,then people who know not ,god will see1 as many christians appear to fail to see1 the propriety of the word in one of our hymns3 8,let those refuse to sing who never knew our ,god40 ,it is a contradiction of all common sense of the very meaning of the worship in song1 for those who never knew ,god1 or who never even professed to be christians or tried to turn to ,god1 to say nothing of vile characters1 to attempt to enter in the worship in song4 ,we care not how well people sing if they praise ,god1 give thanks and pour out their souls to him4 ,enter into the song with heart and soul1 and sing out with full voices1 enraptured with the theme of the song1 ,him whose praises they sing1 the salvation he graciously gives and the immortality he proposes to bestow4 ,the theme of the song is the great matter4 ,to sing with the spirit and the understanding is commanded1 and to teach and admonish in singing is also commanded4 ,the main body of the singing now done is not with the spirit nor the understanding1 nor is anything taught or any one admonished4 ,this is no worship4 ,singing merely to make music is no more worship than performing on a piano or violin4 ,,christ ,,will ,,come4 ,but that ,christ will come--8that same ,jesus0--as literally as he was seen go up into heaven from ,mount ,olivet1 we entertain not one doubt4 ,that the dead will be raised and pass the final judgment1 after which the wicked will go away into everlasting punishment--into the fire of gehena1 where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched1 at the same time that the righteous enter into life eternal--we entertain not one doubt4 ,these are clear and awful matters of divine revelation1 and the main matters to set forth and enforce on men1 and not theories about these great matters4 ,is it true that a man may 8lose his own soul80 that a man may be 8cast into hell80 that 8both soul and body0 may be 8destroyed in hell80 that wicked men 8shall go away into everlasting punishment80 that they may be 8tormented day and night1 forever and ever80 ,is it true that ,god 8has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness1 by that man whom he has ordained2 of which he has given assurance to all men1 in that he has raised him from the dead80 ,beyond all question1 it is true4 ,in raising ,jesus from the dead1 ,god has given assurance to all men that he will judge the world in righteousness4 ,the assurance that ,god will judge the world in righteousness is the reason for repentance4 ,he commands all men1 everywhere1 to repent1 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness4 ,,one ,,religion4 ,is there one true and divine religion in the world8 ,the answer of the people in this country generally is1 that there is4 ,touching this answer we entertain not a doubt4 ,there is in this world one religion from ,god1 and of supreme and absolute authority4 ,it covers the whole ground1 and leaves not the least room for any other4 ,all others are departures from it1 corruptions of it1 or amalgamations with something else4 ,that one religion was given by ,christ and his apostles4 ,christ is the ,author of it4 ,he is the ,alpha and the ,omega--the ,beginning and the ,ending4 8,all authority in heaven and on earth is given to him40 ,his religion1 and no other1 has the divine1 the supreme1 and the absolute authority in it4 ,there is not one particle of divine authority in any other4 ,all others are usurpations1 existing in antagonism and rebellion1 and will be overthrown4 ,the ,papal religion is a compound1 or an amalgamation of ,judaism1 ,christianity and ,paganism1 the latter1 by far1 preponderating4 ,its great love for1 and attachment to the ,latin1 is in deference to ,paganism4 ,while it contains some truth1 and some parts of the religion of ,christ1 it can not be said1 in truth1 to be that religion4 ,it is another1 a departure1 an apostasy2 beyond recovery1 and the divine command to the people of ,god involved in it1 is to 8,come out of her1 that you be not partaker of her sins1 and that you receive not of her plagues40 ,rev4 xviii4 #d4 ,god says1 8,her sins0 7the sins of ,mystery ,babylon7 8have reached to heaven1 and ,god has remembered her iniquities40 ,this iniquitous system1 as a distinct religion1 was not in the world for ages after the true religion was established4 ,we need inform no one a little acquainted with the ,new ,testament1 that no such being as the ,pope was in the church1 nor in the world1 in the time of the apostles2 nor does he appear in the early history of the church at all4 ,we might as well look into the ,bible or early history for an account of ,mohammed1 or the ,mormon prophet1 as for the ,pope4 ,neither the ,pope nor ,mohammed appear at all in history1 for hundreds of years after the establishment of the only true religion4 ,nor was there a ,cardinal or an ,archbishop1 during the same period4 ,these dignitaries were not developed till long after the founding of the ,new ,institution4 ,the entire priesthood of the ,papacy1 as now found1 as also the ,nuns and ,sisters of ,charity1 are wanting in all the history1 and1 we may safely say1 in everything written in the early centuries4 ,there is not a trace of them in the ,bible1 except in prophecy1 nor in any writing1 for hundreds of years after the apostles4 ,this any man knows who has read and reflected at all4 ,the idea of the ,papacy existing1 except in embryo1 insidiously coming up1 without a ,pope1 a ,cardinal1 an ,arch-bishop1 a ,bishop1 a ,priest1 a ,nun1 or ,sister of ,charity1 for centuries after ,christ1 is one of the most preposterous things ever imposed on the credulity of mankind4 ,yet the very mention of these dignitaries is lacking in all the writings of several of the early centuries1 either in the ,bible or out of it4 ,there is not a trace of them in any writing of the period of which we speak1 ,jewish1 ,christian1 ,infidel or ,pagan4 ,there is nothing clearer than that the ,papal religion came up too late to have the least claim to be the true religion4 ,the same is true of the ,mohammedan religion4 ,the true religion was in the world long centuries before ,mohammedanism had an existence4 ,it was born too late to be the true religion4 ,the true religion was born in ,jerusalem4 ,the ,papacy was born in ,rome4 ,rome has been its seat--its ,eternal ,city4 ,it did not begin in ,jerusalem1 but in ,rome4 ,mohammedanism was not born in ,jerusalem1 but in ,mecca4 ,it did not originate with ,jesus but with ,mohammed4 ,a religion not known till hundreds of years after ,christ and his apostles1 most unequivocally is not the true religion4 ,we need not trouble the reader with the mention of any religion1 born at a later date1 in another place1 or originating with another person4 ,such a religion certainly has no claim to be the true one4 ,the true religion originated with ,jesus1 in ,jerusalem1 and in the time of ,christ and the apostles4 ,any religion that did not originate with ,jesus1 in ,jerusalem1 and in the time of ,christ and the apostles1 and that does not appear in the accounts found on the pages of the ,new ,testament1 nor any writings of the first three centuries1 is out of the question4 ,if the very name of any religion1 the person with whom it originated1 and other important matters connected with it1 are not found in the ,bible1 nor a trace of it in history for hundreds of years after ,christ1 it is out of the question4 ,is there any way to determine what the true religion is8 ,is it anywhere distinctly set forth1 revealed and embodied in writing1 so that we can find it separate from everything else8 ,it is distinctly set forth by ,christ and his apostles1 separate from everything else4 ,they revealed it as complete religion in itself1 containing all things necessary to life and godliness--the final the last will of ,god to man4 ,it is the culmination1 the embodiment and consummation of infinite wisdom and goodness in one religion1 for all nations of men that dwell on all the face of the earth4 ,can we find it8 ,can we tell what it is8 ,can we practice and enjoy it8 ,we claim that we can find it1 practice it and enjoy it4 ,can we determine what it requires us to believe1 what it requires us to do1 and what it promises us8 ,if we have to say no to all this1 we are in a deplorable condition truly4 ,but we claim that we can find the true religion1 determine what it is1 practice and enjoy it2 that we can determine what it requires us to believe1 what it requires us to do1 and what it promises us4 ,this being so1 there is not an excuse for any man being irreligious1 taking up with a wrong religion1 thinking that something is the true religion that is not1 believing something that it does not require1 doing something it does not command1 or hoping for something it does not promise4 ,there is one book in which the religion of ,christ is set forth4 ,that one book is the ,bible4 ,in that book the one religion1 the only true religion1 is set forth2 set forth correctly by the unerring ,spirit of all revelation and all divine wisdom4 ,not another religion is found in that book1 now in force4 ,no man goes to that book to find an account of the ,pope1 a ,cardinal1 or an ,archbishop of the ,papal type4 ,no man of intelligence goes there to find an account of ,mohammed1 or the ,koran4 ,no man of intelligence goes to the ,bible to find an account of the ,church of ,england1 its origin1 rise1 or any part of its history4 ,no man goes to the ,bible to find an account of ,lutheranism1 its origin1 rise1 or any part of its history4 ,there never was a ,lutheran before ,martin ,luther lived1 in the sixteenth century4 ,no man goes to the ,bible to find an account of the origin of ,presbyterianism4 ,there never was a ,presbyterian before ,john ,calvin4 ,no man goes to the ,bible to find the origin1 rise1 or any part of the history of ,methodism4 ,there never was a ,methodist before ,john ,wesley4 ,we do not go to the ,bible to find an account of ,george ,fox1 ,ann ,lee1 ,joe ,smith1 etc42 nor of ,quakerism1 ,shakerism1 or ,mormonism4 ,these persons are not ,bible characters1 and these religions are not ,bible religions4 ,they came not into existence till long ages after the last words of the ,bible were written4 ,the true religion had been in the world ages before these were born4 ,this ends all controversy about their claims to be the true religion4 ,the true religion was a finality4 ,in its closing words it forbids any addition4 ,there is not an item in any religion in the world that is right that did not come from the ,bible4 ,all parties admit that all that comes from the ,bible is right1 and all that does not come from the ,bible is without authority4 ,their differences are about what is not in the ,bible and not about what is in the ,bible4 ,they all believe the ,bible1 but they do not believe what each other have in their other books that is not in the ,bible4 ,it is not the ,bible that makes the ,baptists1 for there is nothing in the ,bible about the ,baptists1 and then the ,episcopalians have the ,bible and believe it as much as the ,baptists do1 and it does not make them ,baptists4 ,it is not the ,bible that makes ,episcopalians1 for the ,presbyterians have the ,bible and believe it as much as the ,episcopalians do1 and it does not make them ,episcopalians4 ,it is not the ,bible that makes ,presbyterians1 for there is nothing in the ,bible about ,presbyterians1 and then the ,methodists have the ,bible and believe it as much as the ,presbyterians do1 and it does not make them ,presbyterians4 ,the movement about the beginning of this century was not to establish a new church1 or a new religion1 but to return to the ,lord1 find the old religion and the old church2 receive1 believe and practice what the old religion1 as set forth in ,scripture1 requires1 and nothing else4 ,no movement can go back of this1 nor rise above it1 if it does what it claims4 ,what remains for us1 is to stand to it1 maintain it and carry it out practically and faithfully4 ,a4 ,,campbell',s ,,successors ,,and ,,critics4 ,some fifteen years ago a few of our more advanced men gradually commenced opening up to our benighted minds1 the fact1 that ,a4 ,campbell was not the great man we had thought he was2 that he was not the scholar we had thought2 that some of his chief ideas were erroneous1 and that we should have much trouble in undoing what he had done wrong4 ,we were growing up many young men1 and being illiterate and unlearned1 we knew not but we had over estimated ,a4 ,campbell1 and that some mighty men were rising among us1 that would throw him in the shade4 ,but we had one comfort all the time1 and that was that we were not alone in the opinion that ,a4 ,campbell was a man of superior learning and parts4 ,we noticed that he attracted the fire of the great guns of the infidels1 the ,universalists1 the ,roman ,catholics1 the ,methodists1 the ,presbyterians1 and sectarians in general4 ,he attracted the attention of the great men of ,christendom1 distinguished the hills of ,bethany1 and gave them a name that will extend down to the end of the ages4 ,no man on this continent called forth anything like the same amount of attention he did1 for the space of forty years4 ,it was not a mere fortuity that gave him notoriety1 but sound learning1 correct and abundant information1 persistent and determined work1 with a fixed and settled purpose1 to which he addressed the energies of his life4 ,he was a mighty man in the highest sense1 and to this the impression he made on the people of this great country1 will testify till the ,lord shall come4 ,we have been amused with two classes of men among us4 ,those of one class were adjusting themselves for the mantle of ,a4 ,campbell to fall on them when he would depart4 ,had that mantle fallen on one of them1 he would have appeared like a boy with his father's great coat on--it would have fit nowhere4 ,the other class are finding his errors and going beyond him4 ,but it is remarkable1 that in almost every instance1 these advanced men prove to be wrong themselves4 ,instead of their discovering some new truth1 they resurrect some old error4 ,we do not think it is advancing very far ahead of ,a4 ,campbell to resuscitate the ,romish and ,restorationist idea of an obscure ,scripture4 ,we frequently think of the man's invention1 that claimed that he could grow sheep without wool--it is more curious than profitable4 ,it is not inventive genius we need in the ,church1 nor explorers to invent something new1 or to make discoveries2 but we need humble and honest men1 who know and love the truth1 and will press it on the world4 ,we know humble men1 of but limited talent and information1 who are building up churches1 reforming men and women1 and bringing them to ,god4 ,we know also men of considerable learning and talent1 who do not turn a bare dozen to the ,lord in a year1 and who build up no churches nor anything else1 but who are starting subtleties1 speculations and questions to no profit1 but only tend to subvert the hearer4 ,why can men not be content with the plain truth1 the precious truth that makes men wise to salvation1 through faith in ,christ8 ,it is easily learned1 easily preached and readily believed and obeyed to the salvation of the soul4 ,it is for the people1 the whole people1 and adapted to them4 ,the kind of greatness we need1 is that which manifests itself in preaching great truth in plain and easy terms1 and bringing it to the comprehension of the people4 ,the command is1 and will be till the ,lord comes1 8,preach the word40 ,,authority ,,of ,a ,,single ,,congregation4 ,a single congregation of the ,lord in any community can administer and execute the work of the ,lord in all its parts4 ,this is true of every congregation4 ,when assembled it is a divinely-authorized body to act in the matters of the kingdom of ,god4 ,there is no other divinely-authorized body on earth to act in the matters of the kingdom of ,god4 ,this body is under the old commission from the ,lord3 8,observe all things whatever ,i have commanded you40 ,,classification ,,of ,,missionary ,,men4 ,we have been trying to classify our missionary men1 so that we can think of them with intelligence4 ,we put them down as follows3 ,first4 ,men who go ahead and preach1 and continue on preaching4 ,these are missionary men in the true sense4 ,second4 ,men that contribute liberally of their substance to support those who are devoted to preaching1 and see that their money goes to the men that do the work4 ,these are missionary men also in the true sense4 ,third4 ,men who devise plans1 inaugurate missions1 and call on other people to give the money1 stand ready where the money comes out1 or at the missionary box1 to catch it1 and propose1 when they get #aj1jjj1 to send somebody to preach6 ,these may be great on devising1 planning and inaugurating2 but we can not work ourself into the belief that they are missionary men in the true sense4 ,we want to see some proposition for them to go2 and we want to know that they are going4 ,this hanging on to rich churches and fine salaries1 and proposing to receive the money of the people1 and send somebody to preach1 is not 8the ,lord's plan10 nor any other that will stand in the day of judgment4 ,the people of ,god can find plenty of good preachers whom they know to be worthy1 who are devoted to preaching the gospel1 and not ruining or corrupting it1 to whom they can apply all they can give1 and not have a dollar consumed by secretary1 or any 8middle man10 but all will go to the laborer who is worthy of his hire--to the man that does the work4 ,the means thus given will do four times as much work as if sent through so many hands1 and all go as intended by the donor4 ,the work is not a local work1 and needs no concentration of funds1 but is at the door of every man1 and the way is open for every man that has it in him to do anything1 to do according to the ability that the ,lord gives4 ,,influence ,,of ,,the ,,dance4 ,one dancing-master in a community1 with some concessions of a preacher who has an easy conscience on the follies of the age1 a little in his favor1 with one saw of his bow across the strings of an old fiddle1 will inveigle a whole community of wild and thoughtless young people into the dance and hold them there half a night1 and not one of them will complain of the long meeting4 ,restraining these influences is not so easy4 ,it requires a combined effort of all the godly4 ,we have done all we could to restrain those terrible demoralizing influences1 and a noble band of as true men and women as live have stood by us and encouraged us by extending their patronage and words of comfort4 ,truly are we thankful to these and to the ,lord who has put it into their hearts to do what they have to aid us4 ,we have this consciousness1 that to the best of our ability we have done our part4 ,we have tried all the time to exercise the best wisdom we could1 and have continually implored the ,lord for wisdom and strength to perform the difficult part of the work1 in the providence of ,god committed to our hand4 ,,no ,,modification ,,of ,,the ,,divine ,,plan4 ,no modification of principle has ever made any impression on our mind1 only the impression that he who proposes it1 is ready for back-sliding4 ,there are some principles that are self-evidently right4 ,they can not be modified4 ,we may depart from them1 but can not modify them4 ,the law of ,god is supreme in its authority4 ,it is absolute4 ,those of us who have taken it can stand by and maintain it1 on the one hand1 or depart from it on the other4 ,we can not change it or modify it4 ,there are but two things for men to do1 who are not under the law of ,god4 ,one is to come under the law4 ,the other is to reject it4 ,there are also but two things for those who have come under it4 ,one is to observe it4 ,the other is to abandon it4 ,we are thankful to be assured that the great body of those who have come under the law of the ,great ,king1 are well pleased with him and his law4 ,they regard it as holy1 just and good1 and regard every man who departs from it untrue4 ,the true stand by it1 and the untrue depart from it4 ,but1 we have a few claims to put in for the law of ,king ,jesus1 and we want the attention of our liberal men to these claims3 ,we claim for the law of ,king ,jesus that it is most magnanimous and liberal4 ,it excels in its liberality all laws ever published4 ,it offers citizenship to all who will come and be naturalized1 with full1 free and equal rights4 ,it offers to all1 the privilege of becoming children in the heavenly family by adoption1 and makes them all heirs of ,god and joint heirs with ,christ1 on the same terms4 ,it offers the same pardon and on the same terms to all the world4 ,it offers the same divine designations to all1 the same gospel1 and the same spirit of life2 the same ,bible1 and the same law for all4 ,the same grace of ,god has appeared to all men4 ,god is no respecter of persons1 but he who fears and works righteousness is accepted with him4 ,it has the same liberal terms of union and communion for all who come to ,god4 ,,one ,,way ,,to ,,god4 ,we will1 for the sake of the inexperienced1 state the argument4 ,when we set forth the way1 as laid down in ,scripture1 we are in the affirmative--must show it to be the way1 maintain and defend it4 ,when some other way is affirmed1 we affirm nothing and have nothing to prove1 but simply deny4 ,it is no part of our work to prove that there is no other way4 ,we simply have nothing to prove4 ,let him who affirms that there is some other way prove it4 ,call on him for his proof1 and in default of any proof he loses the case4 ,he trusts his soul1 and tries to induce others to trust their souls1 on another way1 for which he can bring no proof4 ,this is the 8vantage ground40 ,the way is in the ,bible1 and can be easily pointed out4 ,another way is not in it1 and can not be pointed out4 ,let him try it who pleases--it simply can not be done4 ,charitable or uncharitable1 narrow or broad1 liberal or illiberal1 another way can not be pointed out in the book of ,god4 ,let there be no cavil4 ,we are speaking of gospel subjects1 and the way set forth for them to come to ,god4 ,,popular ,,union ,,meetings4 ,suppose a modern popular revivalist such as ,mr4 ,moody1 in one of his great meetings should tell his audience that he would read the great commission of our ,lord to his apostles1 and proceed to read as follows3 8,go you1 therefore1 and teach all nations1 baptizing them into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit2 teaching them to observe all things whatever ,i have commanded you40 8,go you into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,he that believes and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believes not shall be damned80 ,then1 suppose he should follow this up with the words of ,peter1 in reply to the three thousand on ,pentecost1 when they inquired1 8,what shall we do80 when he said1 8,repent1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of sins1 and you shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,spirit10 or that he should also quote the instructions of ,ananias to ,saul3 8,why do you tarry8 ,arise1 and be baptized1 and wash away your sins1 calling on the name of the ,lord20 what think you would become of the great union meeting and the wonderful co-operation of so many parties8 ,they would disperse almost as rapidly as the ,jews did from our ,lord when he overthrew the tables of the money changers and drove them out of the temple4 ,they would hear him no more4 ,these great union meetings1 in which many of different parties unite and co-operate1 put a part of the word of ,god--the language of the ,spirit of ,god--on the same level with their partisan peculiarities and opinions1 and ignore all together1 the human and the divine6 ,they make no difference between the human and divine1 in ignoring1 but simply ignore the matters in which they do not agree1 no matter whether human or divine4 ,we make this difference2 we ignore all that is human1 and recognize all that is divine4 ,the true union ground is the divine4 ,we are not to unite simply on what we agree about4 ,we may agree in the wrong--the erroneous--the false4 ,the true ground is to ignore everything that did not come from ,god1 and recognize everything that did come from ,god4 ,the entire revelation from ,god to man is that on which to unite4 ,all included in that is of supreme authority1 and all not included in that is of no authority at all4 ,men may join in union meetings1 co-operate in them or unite permanently in them1 but so long as they are alliances1 leagues or confederations1 in an understood1 settled and persistent ignoring of clear instructions from the ,lord in reference to the way of salvation1 the approbation of the ,lord will not be there4 ,it matters nothing about the number that unite in these meetings1 nor the variety of different parties1 nor how many conversions may be claimed1 the approbation of the ,lord is not there so long as his authority is ignored in deference to people that do not receive it4 ,these meetings1 the different parties pushing into them1 and the various preachers participating in them1 are simply demonstrations of the confused state of the public mind4 ,neither the preachers nor the people are settled4 ,they are out at sea and ready for anything new1 or anything better1 but know not where to find it4 ,they have become so bewildered that they can trust in almost anything1 except the clear revelation of ,god4 ,whatever a man thinks is right1 that is right to him1 unless he thinks the law of ,god is right4 ,they can not admit that that is right if a man does think it is right6 ,but it is right1 whether they think it is right or not1 and will be right for ever and ever4 ,,where ,,is ,,the ,,army ,,of ,,the ,,lord8 ,where1 then1 is the army of the ,lord8 ,it is not in an aggregated body1 some vast assembly headed by great clergymen1 making display and show1 of imposing ceremonies and vast assemblies4 ,like the ancient disciples1 they are 8scattered abroad10 and are going 8everywhere preaching the word40 ,in their humble homes1 their neighborhoods1 among plain and sincere people1 they are sowing the good seed of the kingdom of ,god1 training their children in the way of the ,lord1 and1 by their godly lives1 personal influence and pious instructions1 spreading the knowledge of ,god1 and building up congregations4 ,these are scattered in all these ,states1 and in all the principal ,territories in our countries4 ,some of them are found in all the ,british ,provinces1 except ,newfoundland1 in ,america1 in ,england1 ,ireland and ,scotland1 in ,wales and ,australia1 as also in ,jamaica4 ,if we could enumerate these1 we should find a larger army of them than many think4 ,all of these1 true to their principles1 and at work where the work is in their reach1 and most convenient to them1 and so far as they1 in any respect1 promote the work1 advance the cause1 and build up the kingdom of ,god1 they are co-operating in the same great work of saving man1 and are 8laborers together with ,god40 ,their work is 8associated effort0 in spreading the knowledge of ,god1 and filling the world with his glory4 ,they are standing together as one man1 and 8striving for the hope of the gospel40 ,,future ,,success ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,army4 ,we believe that the heart of the great body is true as ever1 and that the army is stronger than ever1 and there never was a greater determination to maintain every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the ,lord1 than at the present time4 ,a vast army of young men are rising1 true as ever lived1 determined to maintain their ground1 and will maintain it till the last4 ,the pens of many are already employed1 and many more are ready for the conflict4 ,thousands of preachers are in the field fighting the battle1 and more are coming1 and the ground will be maintained every inch4 ,the ,almighty ,arm is underneath and will carry the work on4 ,,feet ,,washing4 ,there is no evidence in ,scripture1 or in any early writing1 of any such practice as washing feet1 in time of worship1 or associated with worship1 either public or private1 as a religious rite1 an ordinance1 an act of devotion1 or in any other way4 ,there is no intimation that the washing of the saints' feet alluded to1 ,i4 ,tim4 v4 #aj1 was a religious rite1 or an ordinance connected with worship1 any more than lodging strangers4 ,it is put down in the list of 8good works10 and not religious rites or devotions4 ,in like manner1 the feet washing mentioned1 ,john xiii4 #a-aj1 was not in time of worship1 nor at the time of the ,passover1 but 8before the feast of the ,passover10 and after supper1 or 8supper being ended10 he 8rose from supper and laid aside his garments1 and took a towel1 and girded himself40 ,this was not in public at all1 but in the private circle4 ,it was not in a meeting1 nor in time of worship at all1 but after a common meal4 ,the washing of feet was not a new thing with them1 nor were any surprised at feet washing1 for it was common1 and a necessity4 ,that which was new about it1 was for the ,lord and ,master to wash the servants' feet4 ,had the order been for the servant to wash the ,master's feet1 there would have been nothing new to them in it4 ,but they were abashed at the idea of their ,lord and ,master washing their feet4 ,with this view1 ,peter said1 8,lord1 dost thou wash my feet80 ,the ,lord responded1 8,what ,i do you know not now2 but you shall know hereafter40 ,peter persisted1 not against feet washing1 but against the ,lord washing his feet4 8,thou shalt never wash my feet40 ,if washing the saints' feet had been a religious rite connected with the communion1 how could ,paul have omitted it1 when giving that which he received of the ,lord8 ,see ,i4 ,cor4 xi4 #bj-cd4 ,he says1 8,i received of the ,lord that which ,i delivered to you40 ,he then proceeds to tell us what it was4 ,see ,i4 ,cor4 xi4 #bc-be4 ,this was instituted on 8the same night in which the ,lord was betrayed40 ,the occasion of the feet washing 7,john xiii4 #a-aj7 was not on 8the same night in which the ,lord was betrayed10 but 8before the feast of the ,passover40 ,the feast of the ,passover was over before the communion was instituted4 ,we think the following is true in regard to the matter3 ,that the feet washing was before the ,passover1 and the institution of the communion was after it2 that two days intervened1 and that the two things done were also at two places1 the one at one place and the other at another4 ,the washing of feet did not occur at the same time nor in the same place of the institution of the communion1 nor is there the least evidence that it ever was practiced in connection with the communion in the primitive church1 nor is there the least authority for it4 ,we have never witnessed anything of the kind1 but we have been informed repeatedly that where they practice this ceremony now1 they only wash one foot of each person4 ,we would like to know where they get this4 ,it is not in ,john xiii4 #a-aj4 ,,success ,,to ,,good ,,men4 ,we desire to see every man succeed who is for the 8right way of the ,lord10 and hope the ,lord and his people will hold up the hands of every such man4 ,we know the ,lord will hold up the hands of every such man2 never leave him nor forsake him2 but will grant him grace and glory1 and withhold from him no good thing2 and we know1 too1 his people1 when they have time to reflect and the means of knowing before them1 will stand by the good and true1 the sincere and faithful4 ,they will let religious adventurers pass1 and turn their backs on them4 ,they want no charlatans under the garb of religious teachers4 ,be good and true1 faithful and honest1 sincere and sound1 in the true sense1 and there is no danger of the people getting to think you are unsound4 ,,our ,,plea4 ,our straightforward and direct appeal to the people to turn their backs on all that is human and accept all that is divine2 on all that is of earth1 and receive all that is from heaven2 to open the ,scriptures and receive all that came from the ,lord1 as set forth in his own revelation2 receive the religion of ,christ itself1 as he has laid it before the world1 in his own word1 and nothing else1 is so manifestly correct1 indisputably safe and right1 that it can not fail to strike the mind favorably4 ,it is simply a plea to turn away from all human religions1 and except the only divine religion4 ,this is the sum and substance of the whole matter4 ,we have thrown overboard all that is human1 and simply maintain what is divine4 ,if the ,bible can be maintained over all human books2 if the religion of ,christ can be maintained over all human religions2 if the doctrine of the ,lord1 and the commandments of ,god1 can be maintained over the doctrines and commandments of men2 if 8the right way of the ,lord10 can be maintained over the wrong ways of men1 then the plea we have been making can be maintained4 ,but we should not expect to revolutionize the public mind at once4 ,such a thing is impossible in the nature of things1 and is not desirable4 ,we could not maintain the position if gained in that way4 ,we desire a healthy and a reliable state of things4 ,sudden revolutions always leave things in an unsettled state4 ,a gradual change is transcendently better4 ,it is1 then1 not of impulse1 sensation or emotion1 but of faith4 ,when the testimony comes to the mind gradually1 and the faith becomes stronger and stronger1 it finally rises to 8the full assurance of faith20 a settled conviction1 and the soul is established4 ,but the leaven is working in the meal1 much faster than many are aware of1 and the mind of the people is changing1 and the way is opening more and more4 ,we have never seen a reason for a doubt about the righteousness of the cause1 and the possibility of maintaining it1 since the day we entered it4 ,we are now as firm in the conviction that it is the only true ground1 and the only ground that can be maintained1 and the only ground on which all the true ,israel of ,god can unite and stand1 as we are that the ,bible is a divine book4 ,in all this the past year has furnished additional assurances4 ,,no ,,campbellites4 ,there is no such thing in this country as ,campbellism1 nor is there any such body of people as ,campbellites4 ,there is a people in this country that have gone back to our ,lord to learn what he gave to the apostles and authorized them to preach1 and to the apostles and learned what they preached to the world1 and what they taught the church2 who receive what the apostles preached and taught1 and believe it in full2 no more1 no less4 ,in this they claim to receive the religion of ,christ itself1 as he and his authorized ambassadors set it forth4 ,they receive and believe it on the authority of its divine founder1 the ,lord1 from heaven1 and enforce it on all who hear them1 as the only complete1 perfect and divine system in the world2 the only true religion2 the religion of ,christ itself4 ,they claim to be ,christians1 followers of ,christ1 children of ,god4 ,the body to which they belong is simply the body of ,christ1 the kingdom of ,god1 the church4 ,christ is their head2 their infallibility4 ,they believe on him4 ,they obey him4 ,they hope for all he has promised1 and fear all he has threatened4 ,to be in him is to be in his body1 in the kingdom1 in the church1 to be a ,christian1 a follower of ,christ4 ,they receive him and all he has said1 but reject all that did not come from him4 ,this is no ,campbellism1 nor ,methodism2 but the religion of ,christ itself4 ,that is what we are for1 and we are for it because it is from ,god1 and has the authority of ,god in it4 ,,converting ,,the ,,cities4 ,they must be brought to know that they must be revolutionized1 created anew1 conformed to ,christ1 and then taught to worship according to the ,scriptures4 ,the work is not to be done by wholesale1 nor by the device of man4 ,nor need we think we can take the great cities by getting a few rich or popular men4 ,we must preach the gospel to the people1 the whole people1 and turn them4 ,the gospel invariably commences with the humbler classes1 and works up through them till it reaches all grades4 ,it did not commence by converting emperors1 kings1 or governors2 nor did it reach these for a long time4 ,it did not commence by converting rich men1 but mainly with the poor2 but in time reached the rich4 ,it did not commence with converting priests1 but after a time we read that a great number of priests became obedient to the faith4 ,in the main1 this has been the case in our time4 ,we commenced with the humbler people in the cities and have reached through to every class4 ,we gained the attention of vast numbers of people in the country1 and turned them to the ,lord1 when they were poor4 ,they have been prospered1 and gained wealth2 gone to the cities1 and thus augmented the churches there2 but1 in many instances1 they are not the good people they were1 nor loving and maintaining the truth as they once did4 ,a ,,happy ,,meeting4 ,at ,lower ,blue ,lick1 in ,robertson ,county1 ,kentucky1 in the month of ,september1 #ahge1 ,elder ,franklin met his beloved father in the gospel and veteran in the cause of reformation1 ,eld4 ,samuel ,rogers4 ,he thus describes the happy meeting1 and expresses his high regard for a true man of ,god3 ,one morning when we were in the stand1 waiting a few minutes for the audience to assemble and become composed1 we saw once more the venerable form of ,samuel ,rogers1 making his way up the aisle4 ,we could scarcely restrain our emotions when we saw the old saint1 bringing before our mind in visible form what has been our lifetime idea of one of the old prophets4 ,we met him in the aisle1 when he spoke out with the tears tracing down his noble face3 8,bro4 ,ben1 ,i am in the land of the dead and dying1 but shall soon be in the land of the living40 ,we could give utterance to no words4 ,peter said1 in the mountain of transfiguration3 8,it is good for us to be here40 ,so it was to us on this occasion4 ,more than forty years had elapsed since we first saw him1 and he appeared to us old then4 ,he is now in his eighty-sixth year4 ,he sees to read without glasses by holding the print close to his eyes1 and hears better than when we saw him last4 ,he converses with readiness and ease1 and his voice is remarkably good4 ,his plain and striking comparisons are as ready as ever4 ,he styles a dry and prosing exhortation1 after a good sermon1 8snow in ,august40 ,he tells a preacher1 trying to be learned and profound in his preaching1 that he 8puts the fodder too high up in the rack--the sheep can't reach it40 ,the main trouble is that there is no 8fodder0 there4 ,he says3 8,we used to have men and women1 but now we have ladies and gentlemen40 ,he says he still eats his dinner and supper and lets the rest of them dine and take tea4 ,when at home he spends many hours alone1 and some of the friends inquired whether he did not get lonesome4 8,no10 said he1 8,i never get lonesome4 ,i talk to the ,lord and he talks to me4 ,i talk to him in my prayers1 and he talks to me in the ,bible40 ,this is keeping good company1 and a glorious way to keep from getting lonesome4 ,he reads up and keeps fully posted in all that is transpiring among us1 and is fully alive to all the dangers now threatening the cause--the insidious steps now tending to undermine and overthrow all we have done4 ,still1 like ,paul1 none of these things move him4 ,he is firm as the everlasting hills4 ,he has settled convictions and purposes1 and can not be turned away from them4 ,he can see1 as ,solomon says1 that 8one sinner destroyeth much good10 but adheres to another saying of much importance from the same source3 8,fret not thyself because of evil-doers40 ,the ,lord is with him and he is as happy as he can be1 full of love and good-will to ,god and man4 ,thanks be to ,god for the faith of ,christ that has the power to bear up the spirit1 to console and comfort him in extreme old age1 and opens to his view1 now that he is about to let go this world1 8a house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens20 and now that he is about to surrender up this life1 that opens to his view a life that never ends4 ,blessed be the ,lord who is pleased thus to deal tenderly and kindly with him in his near approach to another world4 ,,church ,,decisions4 ,but may not public opinion1 or even the ,church1 decide wrong8 ,it may1 and1 no doubt1 does sometimes4 ,so may any court1 man can establish2 and it may turn out that the world may become so bad1 or the church may become so perverted or corrupted1 that a man can not get a fair decision4 ,still1 it is the best that can be done1 for us all to be free alike1 before the court of public opinion1 and the church1 and if we should get a wrong decision here1 the last or final appeal is to the court of heaven1 to the judgment of the ,great ,day4 ,but in a country like this1 where a man has been among a people all his life2 been an upright and true man2 conducted himself with consistency and propriety2 there must be something very singular in his course1 and peculiar indeed1 if he can not get a fair hearing and decision from public opinion1 or from the church4 ,there must be something very peculiar in his course to unsettle their confidence2 to start doubts in their minds in reference to his soundness2 to fill the public mind with distrust4 ,there must be something not straightforward4 ,,reign ,,of ,a ,,thousand ,,years4 ,we know of no proof that the righteous will be raised a thousand years before the wicked4 ,the ,lord says1 8,the hour is coming when all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth2 they that have done good to the resurrection of life1 and they that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation40 ,we see no thousand years between the resurrection of those that have done good and those that have done evil here4 ,the quotation from ,john v4 #bh-bi1 above1 connects the coming of ,christ and the resurrection1 and the following connects the coming of ,christ and the judgment3 8,i charge you1 therefore1 before ,god and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing 7his coming7 and kingdom40 ,,ii4 ,tim4 iv4 #a4 ,other ,scriptures show the same4 ,at the close of ,matt4 xxv4 it will be seen1 as it is from other ,scriptures1 that all will be judged at the same time1 and at the same time that the righteous 8enter into life eternal0 the wicked 8go away into everlasting punishment40 ,this connects the coming of ,christ1 the resurrection1 the judgment1 the separation of the righteous and the wicked1 and the entrance into life on the one hand1 and the going away into everlasting punishment on the other hand4 ,we listened to the ,millerites in #ahdc1 read pretty much all they wrote about a thousand years' reign of ,christ1 between the resurrection of those who are ,christ's and those who are not his1 and whatever the thousand years may mean in words1 8the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were ended10 we find no clear evidence of its coming between the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked4 ,sundry ,scriptures show that the judgment of all1 will be at the same time4 ,christ sitting on the throne of ,david does not make him a king1 in the temporal sense1 as ,david was1 but only that he is in the royal family1 and1 in the sense of that ,scripture1 he is now in that reign1 and not to be in the ,millennium4 ,in the end he will deliver up the kingdom to ,god1 even the ,father1 when he shall put down all rule1 and all authority and power4 ,for he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet4 ,see ,i4 ,cor4 xv4 #bd1 #be4 8,when all things shall be subdued to him1 then shall the ,son also himself be subject to him1 who put all things under him1 that ,god may be all in all40 ,i4 ,cor4 xv4 #bh4 ,the ,lord has come to receive a kingdom1 and is now reigning over that kingdom--a kingdom not of this world--and on ,david's throne1 in the only sense he ever will be4 ,,methodist ,,clerical ,,pretensions4 ,who duly appointed the ministry in the ,methodist body8 ,a body that is not1 and admits that it is not1 the body of ,christ6 ,where did this body get authority to appoint a ministry8 ,it has no authority to appoint any thing in the kingdom of ,god4 ,who 8divinely called0 the ministry in the ,methodist body8 ,not the ,lord1 for he has no ,methodist body4 ,he never called a man to minister in a body that he never authorized4 ,the men called in that body were not called of ,god at all1 nor divinely called4 ,they either called themselves1 or were called by a body that has no divine authority in it1 and therefore are not divinely called4 ,nor are they divinely qualified4 ,the apostles were divinely qualified4 ,they had the ,holy ,spirit to guide them into all truth4 ,they never preached any ,methodism1 nor built up any ,methodist churches4 ,they never authorized a ,methodist steward1 class-leader1 circuit-rider1 presiding elder1 or bishop1 any more than they authorized that unmeaning bread and water love-feast1 the band-society1 the class-meeting1 circuit or conference1 either quarterly1 annual or general4 ,the ,methodist church has not a duly-appointed ministry1 a divinely-called and sent1 or divinely-qualified ministry in it4 ,its worship1 ordinances and discipline are not duly nor scripturally administered4 ,indeed1 it has but little in it that hears any similitude to the original church4 ,to talk of its having a divinely-qualified ministry will strike any one a little acquainted with the ,scriptures with peculiar force4 ,a more absurd idea could hardly be uttered4 ,the apostles were divinely called1 sent and qualified1 and should one of them appear in a ,methodist revival1 where persons are 8seeking religion10 crying1 8,what shall we do80 as they did on ,pentecost1 and answer as ,peter did on that occasion1 8,repent1 and be baptized every one of you in the name of ,jesus ,christ for the remission of sins10 in the place of the loud response1 8,amen10 dismay would run all along the line1 and the divinely-qualified ministry would want the divinely-qualified apostle out of the meeting4 ,his voice would be a strange voice in their meeting4 ,if he were to tell the seekers1 as ,ananias did ,saul1 8,why do you tarry8 ,arise1 and be baptized1 and wash away your sins1 calling on the name of the ,lord10 they would soon want him out of their meeting4 ,,moody ,,and ,,sankey4 ,the above named men referred to in the following1 were popular evangelists among the sects1 and1 though not educated for the ministry1 or ordained to that holy calling1 performed all the functions of those divines who claim to be called and sent of ,god4 ,the recognition they received in the great cities of the land1 by clergymen of all sects1 ,bro4 ,franklin regarded as a surrender of their clerical pretensions and as equivalent to an acknowledgment of the fact that any christian man1 possessed of good christian character1 and a knowledge of the word of ,god1 may preach the word4 ,j4 ,a4 ,h4 ,in the operations of ,moody and ,sankey1 as also others that have conceived virtually the same idea1 and their surroundings1 we have some lessons of much importance4 ,to some of these we now invite attention3 ,in all the principal parties there are some clerical pretensions4 ,they nearly all have some kind of clerical standard1 that a man must pass1 to enter into holy orders at all4 ,they have some kind of regular process through which a man must pass1 to be an authorized minister1 or to be permitted to minister in holy things at all1 or to make ordinances valid administered by his hands1 or to give him official grace and functions4 ,but here come ,moody and ,sankey1 ,whittle and ,bliss1 or ,hammond1 without ever having been tried by the clerical standard1 or ever having passed through the regular process to holy orders1 and never made clergymen at all1 preaching and exercising ministerial functions4 ,all sorts of clergymen are rallying to them1 recognizing and indorsing their work6 ,what becomes of clerical pretensions in all this8 ,clergymen of all sorts recognizing and indorsing laymen preaching1 and laymen exercising all the functions of the ministry1 who have never been measured by the ministerial standard1 and never have been made clergymen4 ,in this they are conceding that their clerical pretensions and claims are empty--that there is nothing in them1 that men that have never been measured by the standard1 nor made clergymen at all1 have as good a right to preach and minister in holy things as they4 ,in this they concede that the clerical cloak is nothing1 and that men can and may rightfully preach the word of ,god1 without having it on4 ,the people ought to lay hold of this concession1 read the ,scriptures1 learn them and teach others1 and thus go on till they fill the earth with the knowledge of ,god4 ,no man need wait to have clerical hands laid on him to authorize to preach ,jesus1 or teach the saints in the way of righteousness4 ,to know the gospel and the teaching of ,christ1 and be able to preach ,christ and teach saints the way to heaven1 prepares any man to preach and teach4 ,to appear in a proper manner and exercise a good influence in preaching and teaching1 a man must be a christian1 and have a good life as such1 a life of piety and devotion1 corresponding to the preaching and teaching4 ,but a man is in no shape to appear before the world as a preacher of ,christ1 and a teacher in the kingdom of ,god1 who has no standing in the church of ,god1 where his home is1 and a good recommendation to satisfy those abroad that his standing is good at home4 ,,too ,,late ,,for ,,the ,,cars4 ,on going to the depot we found our information about car time was wrong1 and we got to the depot just in time to see the train go out and leave us4 ,this has two lessons in it3 #a4 ,that it is not true 8that what a man thinks is right1 is right to him40 ,the time we thought was right proved not to be right4 #b4 ,that we ought to be cautious about saying1 8,there is time enough yet40 ,,lord',s ,,day ,,meetings4 ,churches should not be compelled to hear preaching every ,lord's day1 and that the dullest and dryest kind1 from the same man1 the same thing1 over and over again2 but instead of this1 have a variety of good songs2 sundry readings of interesting ,scriptures1 from different persons1 each occupying from five to ten minutes1 with two or three prayers at suitable intervals1 and words of exhortation4 ,the overseer who can so conduct these matters as to interest the whole congregation1 develop and bring out the most talent1 and make the whole the most conducive to the edification of all1 is the most efficient and successful overseer1 whether he can preach or not himself4 ,no man1 overseer or not1 ought to appear before the people publicly more than is acceptable to them4 ,many men kill themselves off by talking too much and being too officious4 ,,laying ,,the ,,corner ,,stone ,,of ,a ,,catholic ,,cathedral4 ,but what was to be done8 ,what was all this about8 ,we are ashamed1 for humanity's sake1 to tell4 ,it was to see a bishop pow-wow over a corner stone1 bless it and lay it for a ,romish meeting house6 ,that was what all this was about6 ,what was there in that8 ,no more than any other pagan ceremony4 ,no more than to see any other ,irishman laying any other stone or brick in any other building1 aside from tradition and superstition4 ,this is the procedure of the ,anti-christ1 the ,man of ,sin1 the power gone out to deceive the whole world with sorceries2 a compound of ,judaism1 ,paganism and ,christianity1 but described in the book of ,god as the ,apostasy4 ,it has corrupted the four quarters of the earth with its abominations and idolatries4 ,it has two hundred millions of the human race under its domination4 ,it has caused the blood of fifty millions of martyrs to flow4 ,but the tide is receding4 ,the wheel is turning back4 ,his secular power has departed4 ,he does not have ,victor ,emmanuel to bow down and kiss his great toe1 nor to come and crave favors of him4 ,but he goes to ,victor ,emmanuel to know what favors he can have4 ,this puts the shoe on the other foot4 ,prince ,bismarck banishing the ,jesuits from ,germany1 is another turn in the same direction4 ,the revolution in ,mexico is in the same direction4 ,the ,pope gets no favors in all these moves4 ,he is strengthening his hands in the ,united ,states a little just now1 but this is only temporary1 and1 we trust1 will only serve to open the eyes of the people in this country4 ,our people need a few demonstrations to rouse them from their slumbers4 ,they need to be made sensible who they are that want their drinking saloons1 and want them open on ,sundays1 that intend to parade our streets with bands of music and long processions on the ,lord's day1 who they are that are trying to undermine our common schools and ruin them1 who they are that publish in our faces that our marriages are all null and void--that we are all living in adultery because we were not married by priests6 ,we need a little more of this impudence in our faces to rouse us up and cause us to see the viper we have taken into our bosoms1 and see what claim this ,mystery of ,iniquity has on our charities4 ,it refuses to allow its adherents to become members of the ,masonic order1 because it is a secret ,order4 ,the trouble is that it is a secret ,order itself1 with its sworn members and bound priests1 its prowling ,jesuits1 nuns and friars1 the most dangerous and complete and perfect--the consummation of all secret ,orders1 from the hired girl in the kitchen1 and the hired man on the farm1 up through every position held1 every situation in life1 and every office held by a ,papist1 to communicate intelligence to a set of men bound up in this ,order of secrecy1 who are not even citizens in our ,government1 that they may report to the ,holy ,see in ,rome6 ,it is a secret1 ,pagan and ,jewish mixture with ,christianity2 an intriguing1 insidious and stealthy scheme1 prying into the secrets of every nook and corner of every land1 and every move of every civil government on earth1 and a friend to no civil government on the face of the earth1 only so far as it can be made subservient to the purposes of the ,pope4 ,the new ,cardinal in this country is a minion of the ,pope1 and1 without being a citizen of the ,united ,states1 when he pleases to do so1 will control the vote of some six millions of our population2 and this all done by the secret workings of the ,papacy1 without any man seeing the secret wires that are pulled to do it4 ,these priests1 bound all over by religious vows or oaths1 in a secret conclave1 plan schools to be taught by nuns1 all in the secret ,order1 and gather up vagrant children1 while many of their own children are beggars1 to make ,romanists of them1 and shut them out from the light of the common schools and colleges of this country4 ,then how do these priests propose to gain power8 ,do they propose to come out in open day2 publicly teach the people and enlighten them8 ,not a word of it4 ,do they propose to discuss their claims8 ,not a bit of it4 ,how then are they doing this work8 ,insidiously4 ,it is all in the dark1 except an occasional demonstration like that we had here on the first ,lord's day in ,july4 ,what were the people taught on that day8 ,did any one hear any instruction8 ,thousands of dollars were expended4 ,thousands of people were weary and exhausted1 but no one was enlightened4 ,no one was taught even ,romanism1 except those1 who from the word of ,god have learned the power of the grand delusion1 the mystery of iniquity that now works4 ,they can understand the power of the sorceries practiced to deceive and allure unwary souls4 ,,universalism ,,unbelief4 ,the mission of unbelief1 in this direction1 is-- ,first4 ,to force the ,bible to agree with the ,atheist1 in theory1 that a man's conduct in this life1 no matter what it may be1 can not destroy his happiness in another life4 ,second4 ,that there shall be no reward in another world1 for virtue1 righteousness and obedience rendered to ,god in this life4 ,third4 ,that there shall be no punishments in the world to come1 for disobedience1 corruption1 and crime1 committed in this life4 ,fourth4 ,that the death of ,christ amounts to nothing1 as the consequences of sin all follow now1 and fall upon man just as they did before he died4 ,fifth4 ,that repentance amounts to nothing1 as the punishment of sin is simply the natural result of a violation of a natural law1 and must follow its violation whether you repent or not4 ,sixth4 ,that there is no pardon of sin--that as you put your hand in the fire1 the burn must follow--as you spend your money1 you must become poor--as you dissipate1 your physical energies must be impaired2 so1 as you sin1 in all cases the penalty must follow4 ,seventh4 ,all this being conceded1 the grace of ,god is at an end4 ,there is no such an attribute as mercy in the government of ,jehovah4 ,eighth4 ,no love of ,god is manifested either in the life or death of ,jesus1 nor has his death produced any change in the world4 ,no wonder that infidels hail this theory with joyfulness1 flock around the ,universalian preacher1 and call him 8brother40 ,his operations are fatal to the ,bible1 to the mission and divine authority of the ,lord ,jesus1 and better calculated to turn the whole subject of religion into ridicule1 than any open infidelity ever advocated in the world4 ,by this kind of circumlocution1 the ,bible is now sought to be subverted1 and its influence upon the world destroyed4 ,but all men of discernment can see1 that this is only a scheme to pull down and destroy--that it has no efficacy to save1 to make good1 or improve mankind--that it can do no good1 in any event1 to one soul of our race1 either in this world or the world to come4 ,it is only an instrument1 one of the most effectual instruments of unbelief1 in destroying all good1 all virtue1 and all piety4 ,,personality ,,of ,,the ,,devil4 ,denying the personality of the ,devil4 ,here we have more negative preaching--more denying4 ,what a world of gospel there is in this6 ,who is to be saved by denying the personality of the ,devil8 ,who is comforted and built up with this sort of stuff8 ,the infidel laughs4 ,the ,universalist nods assent2 but who repents8 ,the scoffer is delighted4 ,that is the man for him6 ,but does he quit scoffing8 ,we have recently heard of a man who had stripped his feet bare after a rain of a warm summer's day1 and1 walking up through the mud to an old preacher1 denied the personality of the ,devil2 when the preacher1 pointing behind the man1 replied3 8,he must be alive and personal1 for there is his track fresh in the mud60 ,another preacher allowed that when the ,devil has a man so completely blinded that he does not believe there is any ,devil1 or that he is a personal being1 he never expects to have any more trouble with him4 ,he will never listen to the truth any more4 ,,clerical ,,young ,,pastors4 ,that there should be occasionally a young man1 with the views that have been fostered and encouraged by some among us1 of a 8pastorate10 who would assume authority to cast persons out of the church1 and give letters of commendation1 is not strange4 ,there were some even in the time of the apostles1 when no such views of a 8pastorate0 existed1 who assumed such prerogatives and 8prated against us0 7the apostles47 ,in ,,iii4 ,john #i1 #aj1 we have a reference to one of them4 8,i wrote to the church10 says ,john1 8but ,diotrephes1 who loves to have the pre-eminence among them1 receives us not4 ,wherefore1 if ,i come1 ,i will remember his deeds which he does1 prating against us with malicious words3 and not content therewith1 neither does he himself receive the brethren1 and forbids them that would1 and casts them out of the church40 ,we have fallen on the track of a few young men1 and some old ones1 of this stripe2 but their race is short4 ,the brethren1 whatever else is true of them1 are not prepared for clerical assumptions4 ,they will not have the manacles put on them4 ,such men will not trouble us long4 ,some of them will go over to sectarianism at once1 thinking that the shortest road to a 8pastorate40 ,others will go to law1 medicine1 or to nothing4 ,but the main body of our young men are true and noble in the highest sense1 as humble and faithful as can be found anywhere4 ,they are studying to know and do the will of ,god4 ,we are not sure that1 as a class1 they are not generally sounder than their instructors in the gospel4 ,we regret to see anything like collision or rivalry between old and young preachers4 ,young men get a little fast sometimes1 and old men become a little cross2 but these matters will all work their way out4 ,as a humorous writer said some years ago1 after writing a long piece about nothing1 as a burlesque on certain persons1 8,we are all poor critters40 ,we need a great deal of mercy and grace4 ,it is a little trying for old men1 after toiling a lifetime in the cause1 and when they are struggling under the infirmities of age1 to be shoved aside1 as we know some of them are1 and treated with contempt by the young men who ought to be a comfort and consolation to them4 ,the cause is the ,lord's1 and we are his1 and we shall all give account to him4 ,let us keep pure ourselves1 and keep the church pure2 let us make a record of which we shall not be ashamed when the ,lord shall come4 ,we must study to bear our burdens1 and to do so without murmuring4 ,what we can not cure1 we must endure4 ,,everlasting ,,and ,,eternal4 ,everlasting and eternal are from the same in the original4 8,everlasting punishment10 and not everlasting annihilation1 nor everlasting extinction of being1 nor everlasting non-existence1 is what the ,lord threatens4 ,matt4 xxv4 #df4 ,at the same time the righteous enter into 8life eternal10 the wicked 8go away into everlasting punishment40 ,the original word aionion here is translated1 in the common version1 8eternal0 in one place1 and 8everlasting0 in the other4 ,there is no reason for not translating this word the same way in both places4 ,it means precisely the same in both places4 ,at the same time we repeat1 that the righteous enter into 8life eternal10 the wicked 8go away into eternal punishment40 ,the same word used by the ,lord1 in the same sentence to express the duration of the life of the saints1 is used to express the duration of the punishment of the wicked4 ,it is as likely that the life of the saints shall terminate1 as that the punishment of the wicked shall cease4 ,there is no word in any language that more certainly expresses unlimited duration than this word aionion4 ,it is used to express the duration of the life of the saints1 the praises of ,god1 and even the existence of ,god4 ,a word may be used with less than its full import1 but never with more4 ,,enduring ,,hardness ,,as ,,good ,,soldiers4 ,it matters not from what cause we suffer1 whether inability on the part of brethren1 or parsimoniousness1 we must bear hardness as good soldiers of ,jesus ,christ1 suffer and toil on1 for we shall reap if we faint not4 ,we must not raise up a money-loving and worldly people2 and in order to this end we must not be money-loving preachers1 nor worldly men ourselves4 ,this is our security against the evil of covetousness4 ,we do not believe the ,lord will accept meeting in two or three conventions in a year1 and making three or four contributions and a few speeches for missionary work4 ,we must have more telling evangelizing than this4 ,this kind of work is demoralizing the brethren and drying up all the veins of generosity in them4 ,we shall have more and more dying churches till we change our course and go out into the field as we did thirty-five and forty years ago1 and hunt up these churches and wake them up4 ,we must not live with the idea of sending some one to them1 but we must go to them2 and they must not be helpless creatures1 and think to support those who go to their relief by relating their stories about their being few and poor1 but do according to their ability1 and not let the preacher who visits them sacrifice more than a dozen of them1 and they only do their little occasionally1 and he making his sacrifices every meeting4 ,this will not stand in the day of judgment4 ,,how ,a ,,preacher ,,may ,,stand ,,fair4 ,all we have to do to stand right before the people1 is to be sound in heart1 in the faith1 in the life2 true to the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 honest and faithful in the whole matter2 maintaining1 defending1 advocating it1 as the only divine and gracious system for the salvation of a lost world2 enforcing it on men for its own sake1 and for the sake of humanity4 ,our safety is not in a tribunal of learned men1 who are censors for us1 but in the judgment of an intelligent and enlightened brotherhood4 ,they render no hasty judgment and make no uncertain decisions4 ,they do not anathematize nor hate any man4 ,they do not pronounce on a man for a single utterance or an inadvertence4 ,but when a man becomes perverse1 his general course and bearing evincing alienation1 and a disposition to be in the wrong--an aversion to the good1 the true and the faithful--they begin to lose their interest in him4 ,every step he takes in the wrong direction lessens the affection for him in the hearts of the people of ,god1 till he finds himself cut off1 if not literally by the action of a church1 that which is equally as fatal1 the general turning away from him1 and utter failure in any sense to support him4 ,may we all maintain soundness in the faith1 in the gospel1 integrity to it1 faithfulness to it in all things1 soundness in character1 purity and holiness4 ,may we strive to live nearer and still nearer to ,god4 ,,delay ,,in ,,turning ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,if a person has delayed turning to the ,lord1 till some hindrance comes1 so that he can not take the steps1 or do what the ,lord has commanded1 to become a christian1 he has simply delayed till he can not become a christian4 ,if he defers on any account1 he simply defers becoming a christian4 ,at some point1 a man passes the possibility of becoming a christian4 ,that point1 or period1 is generally thought to be at death4 ,some still sing1 8,while the lamp holds out to burn1 the vilest sinner may return10 but this is not true4 ,it is true that after death none can turn to ,god1 but it is not true that before death all can turn to ,god4 ,the apostle speaks of some men who were living in the literal sense1 but whom he compares to 8trees twice dead and plucked up by the roots4 ,such a tree as that never grows again40 ,he speaks of other men 8past feeling10 and others1 still living1 for whom nothing remains 8but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation1 which shall devour the adversaries10 and still others for whom nothing remains but 8the blackness of darkness forever40 ,some are given over to believe the lie and be condemned4 ,our opinions are worth nothing in reference to those who can not do what the ,lord commands4 ,we do not know a thing about the salvation of any person only as the ,lord has promised4 ,he has promised that 8,he who believes and is immersed1 shall be saved10 and commanded1 8,repent1 and be immersed every one of you1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 for the remission of sins40 ,he who obeys the command has the promise4 ,outside of this we know nothing about it4 ,not only so1 but if we give some charitable opinions for those who can not obey1 or in reference to deferring1 on account of hindrances1 these cases will become more frequent1 and these opinions will be applied not simply to cases where persons can not obey1 but where they can not conveniently1 and in a short time we have a system of salvation for those who never obey1 and the gospel is set aside by our opinions4 ,there are but few sick persons that can not be immersed4 ,we have immersed some half-dozen in the most critical situations1 and some of them in less than two days of their death1 without any physical injury1 and with great relief to the mind4 ,but we only allude to this to show that there are not many cases where it is not possible to obey the gospel1 and not because this is the time to obey4 ,it is not the proper time to be baptized1 or to make a profession4 ,the proper time is when persons first hear and believe the gospel2 when their health1 and strength1 and reason1 are unimpaired1 and they can voluntarily yield themselves to the service of ,god4 ,when we come to die1 one promise of ,god is worth more than all the opinions of uninspired men put together4 ,,wielding ,,the ,,sword ,,of ,,the ,,spirit4 8,the sword of the ,spirit0 is defined by the ,spirit himself1 through ,paul4 ,it is the word of ,god4 8,why is it called the sword of the ,spirit8 ,because the ,spirit gave it1 and not because he uses or wields it40 ,the ,spirit gave it to men that they might use or wield it4 ,there is not a more unsupported theory in this apostate age than the one that teaches that the ,spirit wields the sword4 ,he did not do this even in the age of miracles4 ,jesus said to his ,father 8,the words that thou gavest me ,i have given them40 ,given to whom8 ,to the apostles4 ,what did he tell them to do with these words1 or1 which is the same1 the gospel8 ,he commanded them1 8,go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature40 ,preaching the gospel is preaching the word1 or wielding the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,god4 ,after ,jesus died and rose and ascended into heaven1 he sent the ,spirit to guide the apostles into all truth2 to bring all things to their remembrance4 ,on ,pentecost the ,spirit came1 and they spake as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,the history says1 8,when they heard this0--the word spoken--8they were pierced in their heart40 ,the ,spirit brought the word to their remembrance1 and the apostles preached it--spake as the ,spirit gave them utterance4 ,in ,solomon's porch1 ,peter preached1 or wielded the sword--the word of ,god4 ,philip wielded the sword in ,samaria4 ,peter wielded the sword at the house of ,cornelius4 ,paul commanded ,timothy to 8,preach the word40 ,this was wielding the sword of the ,spirit1 the word of ,god4 ,this whole theory about the word being a dead letter1 whether so intended or not1 is the very thing to neutralize the gospel1 and cause honest people who believe the gospel1 to wait for some immediate power to do something more for them before they come to ,god4 ,this very theory1 in the place of being ,scriptural1 is directly opposed to the very spirit and intention of the ,scriptures1 and is1 we doubt not1 chargeable with hindering more souls from turning to the ,lord and receiving the salvation of ,god than all the out-and-out infidelity in the country4 ,they hear the word of ,god--the gospel of their salvation--the power of ,god to salvation to every one that believe it1 and honestly believe it4 ,they hear the preaching of the cross of ,christ1 the wisdom of ,god and the power of ,god1 and believe it with their whole hearts2 but the preacher says you must wait till the ,spirit makes it effectual1 and till the ,spirit quickens you and prepares you to receive it1 about which there is not one word in the book of ,god4 ,,we ,,are ,,no ,,sect4 ,we belong to no sect or heresy1 no 8denomination10 and recognize none in any sense1 only as existing in opposition to the will of ,god--in a rebellion against the government of ,god4 ,we know sects only as antagonistic powers to the law and kingdom of ,god4 ,they are heretical and schismatical1 in alienation to each other and to the kingdom of ,god4 ,we find them in no complete union on anything of importance1 except in opposing the gospel of ,christ4 ,in this they are a unit4 ,never did loving brethren more completely unite than they one and all do in this4 ,one voice sounding out the gospel precisely as preached by the apostles1 and propounding the terms of pardon as they came from the ambassador of ,jesus1 to whom he gave the keys of the kingdom of ,god1 will silence all their jars among themselves1 their differences and disputes1 and bring them all around side by side1 facing the common foe4 ,it will call out their confusion of tongues1 and the cry1 8,lo6 here1 and lo there10 will be heard on all hands4 ,the cry is raised4 8,to your tents1 ,o ,israel6 to your tents6 ,danger6 danger6 dangerous doctrine6 ,do not hear him6 ,keep away6 keep away6 ,he will unsettle your views60 ,why are they all opposed to this8 ,there is a very good reason for it4 ,it is opposed to all of them4 ,in its very nature it proposes to sweep them all away4 ,it leaves not an inch of ground for one of them to stand on4 ,we came not with a new doctrine1 but with the gospel of ,christ1 a distinct entity in itself1 not only having no fellowship with any other gospel1 but pronouncing a curse on man or angel who shall preach any other1 no matter whether near like it or not near like it--a perversion of it or mutilation4 ,the gospel of ,christ itself is the thing to be preached1 and nothing else2 the power of ,god to salvation to every one that believes2 the preaching of the cross1 the wisdom of ,god1 and the power of ,god4 ,to this nothing is to be added1 and from it nothing is to be taken away4 ,in this gospel1 ,christ1 the 8one ,shepherd10 is presented1 and the one kingdom of ,god1 or one body of ,christ4 ,all the followers of ,christ are members of this one body1 or citizens of this one kingdom4 ,there are no 8denominations0 of them4 ,they are all members of his body1 citizens of his kingdom by faith1 the children of ,abraham1 heirs of ,god and joint-heirs with ,christ1 saints1 holy brethren4 ,they know no other king but the 8,king of kings1 and ,lord of lords40 ,their ,king1 in his times1 will 8show who is the only ,potentate40 ,their ,king has no negotiations with any other spiritual kings4 ,he puts them down against him4 ,he has no communications nor negotiations with ,pope ,pius1 or any other ,pope4 ,he has no fraternal greetings for any of them1 but his ,father has sworn with an oath that he shall reign till he shall put down all rule and all authority and power--till he has put all his enemies under his feet4 ,the kingdom of ,christ recognizes no other kingdom4 ,it is an absolute monarchy4 ,christ is the ,monarch4 ,he has no ,parliament1 no ,senate or ,congress1 no legislative body in his kingdom4 ,as the rightful ,sovereign and the absolute ,monarch1 he is the ,law-giver4 ,his will is the law1 as spread on the pages of ,scripture--the absolute authority--and his subjects have simply to consult the law1 ascertain what it requires1 and obey it4 ,they are not responsible for the law4 ,they need not trouble themselves about results or consequences4 ,do as the ,supreme ,authority commands1 and leave the consequences with him4 ,he is so wise1 good and great1 that he will bring all out right1 for all those that put their trust in him4 ,his subjects stop not to counsel with those who have other laws1 to compare them with the law of the ,lord ,messiah1 to see how near they are to his1 or how far from it4 ,they have no authority to make any other laws1 no matter how near like his law1 or how far from it4 ,their business is to throw aside all other laws1 and accept him as their ,monarch1 and his law1 and obey it4 ,this is simply all there is of it4 ,he who is not for him is against him4 ,the citizens of his kingdom have no authority from him for negotiating with any sectarian party1 about union with his people1 comparing their views and determining how nearly they agree4 ,he has left them no discretionary power to compromise with anybody1 or to stipulate terms of union and fellowship4 ,he has stipulated the terms for us all4 ,if we comply with these terms he receives us1 and we are bound to receive each other1 and certainly will desire to do so4 ,if we comply not with these terms he will not receive us1 and no saint has any right to receive us4 ,no man has a right to prescribe terms on which to receive any man4 ,the terms are already prescribed in the law of the great ,king4 ,we must not go to man1 but to the ,king1 to know who shall be received4 ,it is not a question whether man will receive us1 but whether the ,lord will receive us4 ,,maintain ,a ,,pure ,,faith ,,and ,,worship4 ,who1 in the midst of all this demoralization1 will stand for ,god1 for the anointed and for the eternal ,spirit2 for the only supreme and absolute1 the final authority1 the revelation from ,god to man1 as set forth in the ,bible8 ,we must maintain this or we shall be ruined forever4 ,we must resist all broad-guagism1 liberalism1 this terrible demoralization1 and maintain the purity of the religion of ,christ itself4 ,we have taken our stand on the highest ground and must maintain the highest purity and order1 the greatest perfection and refinement of which we are capable4 ,we must maintain pure morality1 pure faith and worship1 utter abstinence from follies and all doubtful practices1 all things held in suspicion among good people4 ,it is a time for general humiliation and supplication--one mighty and united appeal of all the true and holy to heaven to save us from the general avalanche of iniquity that threatens the ruin of the country1 and specially of religion4 ,jews may look on with a sneer1 infidels may mock and scoff1 and hell may appear to exult2 but the ,lord ,god the ,omnipotent reigns1 and the wicked will be overthrown4 ,it matters not how popular they may be1 how great their talent1 how much money they may have1 nor how great their number1 the strong arm of the ,almighty can reach them and bring them down4 ,their doom is certain4 ,,things ,,not ,,forbidden4 ,where has ,god forbidden infant baptism8 ,where has he forbidden sprinkling for baptism8 ,where has he forbidden the offering of incense1 the counting of beads1 in worship8 ,what harm is there in all this8 ,this is sophistry1 deception1 delusion1 and that1 too1 of a very low and unworthy order at that4 ,where is the divine authority for doing this or that8 ,if there is no divine authority for doing this or that1 in religion1 or worship1 that very circumstance is divine authority against it4 8,who hath required this at your hand80 is the inquiry of the word of ,god1 to all such as introduce things into religion or worship1 not authorized in ,scripture4 ,we may add nothing to the religion of ,christ1 the faith or practice1 the precept or example1 the worship1 the rewards or punishments4 ,those who consider themselves free to do anything not forbidden in ,scripture1 are out at sea1 pretty much cut loose from the ,bible4 ,they have in their horizon a broad range4 ,they are not in search of divine authority1 not engaged in that for which there is divine authority1 but things for which there is no divine authority--things not forbidden4 ,they are not studying how to do the commandments1 but whether men can not be saved without doing the commandments2 how to obey the gospel1 but how men can be saved without obeying the gospel2 not how to build up the church of ,god1 set it in order and keep it in order2 how to worship according to the ,scriptures2 but how to make the church attractive1 entertaining and popular4 ,their theme is not the gospel1 nor is their mission turning the world from darkness to light1 and from the power of ,satan to ,god2 but to so model and fashion the church as to please the world as it is1 in its unconverted state1 without the work of turning it to ,god4 ,let them have their way1 and the church1 in a short time1 will be so let down that men will need no conversion to come into it4 ,there will be no cross nor self denial in it4 ,be careful and not fall 8into the trap10 as ,luther did4 ,if there is no divine authority for a thing1 that is enough4 ,we need no ,scripture forbidding it4 ,we can unite on the things required in ,scripture--the things commanded--but we never can unite on the things not forbidden4 ,there are too many of this latter class2 they are too various1 contradictory and inconsistent4 ,let us stick to the things that are written4 ,these are divinely authorized4 ,the things not written are not divinely authorized4 ,let us stand to the prescribed terms of pardon1 the prescribed life of the saints1 and the prescribed worship4 ,those who depart from this are going back4 ,,branches ,,of ,,the ,,church4 ,when we say the body1 we do not mean any sort of body1 or any kind of body1 but the body of ,christ2 the one body into which all were immersed in the time of the apostles4 ,this is the same as in 8the ,church of ,god10 8the kingdom of ,god40 ,the body of ,christ has no branches except the individual members4 ,there are no branch bodies4 ,the kingdom of ,god has no branches4 ,every citizen is in the kingdom1 and those not in the kingdom are not citizens at all4 ,the ,church of ,god1 the body of ,christ1 or the kingdom1 is a divine institution4 ,the ,lord built his church on the rock1 and no man who understands the matter1 8loves the ,lord ,jesus ,christ with all his soul0 while he says1 8,i care not to what church a man identifies himself40 ,the man who identifies himself with the ,church of ,god1 or the body of ,christ1 identifies himself with ,god1 ,christ and the ,holy ,spirit--with the entire heavenly family4 ,this is what we care for4 ,but identifying a man with those bodies styled branches is another matter4 ,we can not love the ,lord ,jesus ,christ with all the soul and care not whether we are identified with his body1 or1 which is the same1 with him or some other body or person4 ,but let us inquire about these branches4 ,are they branches of the ,church of ,god8 ,the ,church of ,god has never branched any that we know of4 ,the body of ,christ has no branches except the individual members and they all belong to the body1 and not to a branch of the body4 ,a man is simply in the body1 or not in it4 ,the kingdom of ,god has no branches4 ,a man is simply a citizen1 or he is not4 ,if our correspondent desires to know whether he is in a branch of the ,church of ,god let him trace the branch with which he is identified back to where it branched off1 and see what it branched off from2 whether it branched off from another branch1 or from the main body4 ,if it branched off from another branch1 then he might trace that other branch and see what it branched off from4 ,before he gets back to the body he may find some branches that are no credit to anybody4 ,the departures from the body and from the law of ,god are not honored as branches of the body4 ,they are styled in ,scripture a 8falling away10 the apostasy4 ,they are departures from ,god1 from ,christ and from the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the great apostasy is styled the ,man of ,sin1 the ,son of ,perdition4 ,that is the first branch4 ,we do not want to be identified with it1 or any branch of it1 or any branch of a branch of it4 ,we have gone back to the body of ,christ from which it departed1 and become identified with that body itself1 and will recognize no departure from it1 no matter how many pretty names may be given to it1 nor how many good people belong to it1 but will still hold it to be an apostasy1 or a departure from ,god4 ,there can be no union in branches only branch union2 there can be union in the one body1 in the one faith1 under the one ,lord1 and nowhere else1 such as the ,lord will approve4 ,,whom ,,the ,,lord ,,receives4 ,there is no half-way fellowship to which we can receive persons1 and allow them all the privileges we enjoy1 and they not in full fellowship4 ,it is not a question about our receiving a person1 but the ,lord receiving the person4 ,the very act in which the penitent sinner comes and is received by the ,lord is baptism4 ,when he comes in full assurance of faith and penitence1 and is immersed into ,christ1 the ,lord receives him4 ,all we do in the matter is to execute the law of ,christ4 ,the entire matter of inquiry is about how the ,lord receives persons4 ,this is all we inquire about4 ,when we turn aside from the way the ,lord receives persons1 and receive them in some other way1 it is no difference what that other way is4 ,it may be styled more liberal than the way in which the ,lord receives persons1 but the ,lord does not propose to present something more liberal than men2 but he is a ,law-giver1 and lays down the law on which he will receive men1 and if men desire him to receive them1 they must come in the way laid down in his law4 ,but if we only desire to be received by men1 we can consult them and learn the terms on which they will receive us2 but when we act thus we must not deceive ourselves1 and think we are becoming servants of the ,lord in so doing4 ,we are simply becoming servants of men4 ,,not ,,of ,,one ,,class4 ,in what sense except an extremely general one are the ,romish1 ,episcopalian1 ,methodist and ,presbyterian clergy of one class8 ,not that there is much fraternity1 fellowship or agreement among them2 nor even that there is any general sympathy1 harmony or co-operation2 nor that they are engaged in one work4 ,they belong to separate kingdoms4 ,in their official acts they never act together4 ,if they act together at all1 it is not officially1 nor in any sense1 only on certain occasions1 to be friendly1 courteous and polite toward each other1 but with the distinct understanding that it is not official4 ,their actions are as distinct as those of a ,united ,states ,congressman and a member of the ,british ,parliament4 ,they are both officers of ,state1 and so far on common ground1 and1 as such1 treat each other with respect and courtesy2 but1 in their official acts1 they have no fellowship1 and are not under the same government4 ,in the same way the clergy of the different parties we have mentioned1 in their official acts never act together1 and have no fraternity4 ,they are not acting under the same government1 nor are they officers in the same kingdom4 ,the official acts of one of them are not regarded by another at all4 ,in what sense1 then1 are they classed together1 or what is it that is common among them8 ,simply that they are ministers of religion1 or men whose lives are devoted to religious instruction1 and matters of church4 ,but not of the same order1 nor of the same church2 not of the same religion2 not of the same faith1 nor of the same practice4 ,they do not speak the 8same thing10 nor are they of the 8same mind and the same judgment10 or 8perfectly joined together40 ,they are not of the 8one fold and one shepherd40 ,they are not 8one as we0 7the ,father and the ,son7 8are one20 nor were they 8all baptized into one body10 nor are they in 8one body10 with 8one ,spirit0 and 8one hope10 under 8one ,lord10 and with 8one faith10 and 8one baptism10 and 8one ,god and ,father of all1 who is above all1 and in you all40 ,we have not a railing accusation to bring against these men as a class1 nor do we hate or denounce them2 nor have we an unkind feeling toward them4 ,we can recognize every good trait they have2 all the moral influence1 the learning and intelligence1 as well as their devotion to their several causes4 ,we can make all reasonable allowance for early training1 association and education1 and admit all their good intentions4 ,we can treat them with all the common courtesies and civilities of an enlightened and a refined age1 as gentlemen1 and moral and orderly men4 ,all this and much more we can do4 ,what we can not do is not from any unkind feeling toward them1 nor because they have treated us with a special indignity1 or given us any personal offence1 or anything of the kind4 ,but it is because we can not1 without setting aside principle that we are as certain is correct as we are that the ,bible contains a revelation from ,god1 recognize their airs1 pretensions and claims4 ,we can not without ignoring1 overriding and utterly disregarding matters of the most vital1 fundamental and central importance4 ,it is not the class of men that we denounce1 or that we speak against1 but the positions they assume1 the work they are doing and the obstruction they are in the way of the work of ,christ4 ,,how ,,the ,,world ,,regards ,,dancers4 ,the people of the world look upon a member of the church1 that enters the dance1 as let down1 degraded1 and his profession trailed in the dust4 8,look there10 he exclaims1 8that lady is a member of the church4 ,i saw her immersed1 and have seen her commune2 she is no better than ,i am1 and ,i know ,i am no ,christian40 ,if the dancing professors could hear the numerous remarks thus made1 in regard to their letting themselves down1 degrading their profession and putting themselves on a level with the world1 or below that level1 their faces would burn1 if they were not too much hardened to exercise a lively conscience4 ,we are only deceiving ourselves1 and that too1 most woefully1 if we think that the dancers1 theater-goers1 horse-racers1 gamblers and drunkards1 claiming to be members of a church1 are on their way to heaven4 ,their baptism is all nothing4 ,their communion is mockery1 an insult to the ,majesty of heaven and earth4 ,their sitting in choirs and taking into their polluted lips the pure words of praises1 supplications and thanksgiving1 in the midst of the pure worship of saints1 is a desecration of the appointments of ,god4 ,when we think of saving men1 we must not think merely of getting them into immersion1 or into the church1 but1 in the true sense1 we must turn them to ,god--turn them from their sins4 ,the love of sin must be destroyed in them1 and the love of ,god established4 ,they must1 in the full import of the term1 be made 8new creatures10 conformed to the image of ,christ4 ,we must see in them not simply a desire to see how near they can be like the world1 and not be excluded from the church2 how deep they can dip into the follies of the world1 and not be lost2 how near the verge of perdition they can run and not fall in4 ,but they must 8love not the world1 nor the things of the world10 make it a matter of prayer1 and study how to live and walk with ,god2 how to have the continual care and gracious providence of ,god over them4 ,no man is a profitable member of the church1 that simply escapes being turned out1 any more than he is a good citizen who barely escapes fines1 imprisonment and the gallows1 or who does everything and any thing that the law does not expressly forbid4 ,a man may be a bad and worthless fellow and not be fined nor imprisoned4 ,so a member of the church may be bad1 and not only worthless but injurious to the church1 and not be turned out4 ,there may not be enough spiritual life1 moral standing and respect for the law of ,god1 in the church1 to enforce the law of ,christ4 ,may we awake to the state of things1 cry aloud and spare not1 and never cease our supplications to heaven till we see an improvement4 ,we are only deceived in dancers to allow them to remain in the church1 and thus permit them to enjoy the idea that they are ,christians4 ,,saved ,,without ,,baptism4 ,jesus don't say1 8,he that is not baptized shall be damned40 ,suppose he does not4 ,baptism is a commandment4 ,to do a commandment is an act of obedience4 ,to refuse to do a commandment is to refuse to do an act of obedience4 ,the ,lord will take vengeance on them who know not ,god1 and obey not the gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,but our friend says1 8,i believe if a man willfully and stubbornly refuses to receive the ordinance of baptism1 that man will be lost40 ,what1 then1 of all those people who have the ,bible in their houses1 printed plainly in their mother tongue1 and know that baptism is commanded1 or may know it1 as certainly as they know their names1 and will not be baptized8 ,and what of the preachers who encourage them in it8 ,the ,lord's will is that they should obey--be baptized4 ,they refuse to do this4 ,they know his will and do it not4 ,will they be saved8 ,but there are cases in which baptism is impossible4 ,there are cases where the gospel can not be administered4 ,where the gospel can not be administered1 we can not have the promise of the gospel4 ,but will they not be saved by the atonement8 ,the atonement is the reconciliation1 and reconciliation is by the ,mediator1 or by the belief and obedience of the gospel4 ,but what of those who can not hear the gospel8 ,they are not gospel subjects4 ,the gospel can not be administered to them4 ,what will you do with them8 ,nothing4 ,where the gospel can be made known preach it to the people4 ,where they can believe and obey it1 urge them to do it1 that they may be saved4 ,gospel salvation is the only salvation we have anything to do with4 ,it is freely and graciously offered to men who believe and obey the gospel4 ,the work of the preacher is to preach the gospel to all and exhort all to obey it1 showing that 8,god commands all men everywhere to repent10 and that this repentance is in view of the judgment4 ,but what of infants8 ,gospel salvation1 or the salvation of the commission1 is salvation from sin1 or remission of sins4 ,infants have never sinned1 and need no remission of sins4 ,they need nothing only precisely what a saint needs--to be raised from the dead1 changed1 immortalized and glorified4 ,,recognition ,,of1 ,,by ,,sects4 ,what do we want recognition of any sects for8 ,what do we want to come on a level with them for8 ,not one of them has a creed that is indorsed by any party but his own4 ,there is not a party in ,christendom that receives or believes the ,methodist creed except the ,methodist party4 ,the same is true of every other party4 ,their creeds are not even popular1 only as they agree in the human-creed idea that they must have a human creed4 ,what a coming down1 for a man that has a creed that they all believe--the ,bible--to come down on a level with a man1 standing on a little side platform1 discarded by every religious party1 in the world1 except his own4 ,we do not want his recognition and do not intend to recognize him till he abandons his side platform4 ,the ,evangelical ,alliance have been trying1 twenty-five years or more1 to make a platform and are as far from making one that these parties can stand on as they were at the beginning4 ,what use have we for tampering in this way8 ,we have a creed that every party in ,christendom admits to be right4 ,the ,bible is that creed4 ,we have a doctrine that they all admit to be right--8all ,scripture given by inspiration of ,god10 as ,paul says1 8is profitable for doctrine40 ,there is no doubt about it4 ,we have 8the faith once for all delivered to the saints0--the belief 8that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of the ,living ,god10 and not a party among all the contending parties doubt or denies this faith4 ,the doubts are not about what we hold1 but about what these others hold4 ,we hold and practice no doubtful baptism4 ,the burial of a penitent believer in baptism is valid baptism with all the parties of any note4 ,we can take down the books from their own libraries and show from their standard works that all we hold1 teach and practice1 is found in their main works1 indorsed and sanctioned in numerous ways4 ,we are not standing upon any doubtful ground4 ,we know we are right1 and what remains for us to do is to make every possible effort to attain to a more perfect practice of what we know to be right1 and not be trying to get recognition from any of these modern parties4 ,they will never indorse us till we abandon our ground1 and this1 many among us will never do4 ,,wealth ,,of ,,alexander ,,campbell4 ,first4 ,this matter of gaining wealth does not depend altogether nor chiefly on loving money4 ,if it depended altogether or chiefly on loving money1 many more would gain wealth than do1 for no doubt more love money as ardently as those that obtain it4 ,men who love money devote themselves to schemes of money-making1 or what they consider such1 and1 in some instances1 break at it1 and come out bankrupt4 ,a4 ,campbell never did devote himself to making money4 ,but he was right in two respects3 #a4 ,he was a good manager in temporal things4 #b4 ,he was an economist4 ,he knew the use of money and never wasted it4 ,he built no fine houses1 rode in no fine carriages and drove no fine horses4 ,he was a plain man4 ,he had everything necessary for comfort and nothing for show4 ,we think he lived in the same house in which he was married1 adding considerable1 but plain buildings to it1 affording accommodations for his numerous guests1 but nothing costly or fine1 in any part of it4 ,in this he was a noble example4 ,on the one hand not an indication of parsimoniousness1 and on the other1 not an item of extravagance4 ,the same was true of the entire outfit1 furniture1 table and all4 ,there was an abundance for all1 and nothing wasteful or extravagant4 ,second4 ,this thing of gaining wealth is not fully to be explained4 ,it is not to be ascribed entirely to the art of man1 to his great business capacity1 his industry or energy1 for we find plenty of men that have these qualities1 but accumulate but little4 ,wealth gathers round some men as naturally as it departs from others1 when no man can see the reason4 ,some call it fortune1 others luck1 and1 in other cases we say1 they know how to make it4 ,true1 there must be the industry1 the energy1 the management and economy2 there must be the good judgment1 sagacity1 etc4 ,these are main articles in running the world1 but wealth bears no just proportion to these4 ,we speak not of a fortuity1 which brings an estate at once1 but of the growing up of an estate4 ,there is something lying back of all industry1 economy1 management1 foreseeing sagacity1 etc41 call it fate1 luck1 fortune or providence1 or what we may1 that no philosophy or reason can fully explain4 ,men accumulate a vast estate without struggling for it1 aiming at it1 or seeming to think about it4 ,alex4 ,campbell was of this class4 ,we can see that he managed well1 that he wasted nothing1 that he saw that business was in shape1 etc41 but this does not account for the amount that accumulated around him4 ,much of it came in a way that he knew not1 and certainly never planned4 ,third4 ,alex4 ,campbell did not raise himself up4 ,god raised him1 not for himself1 nor for us to glory in him1 but for his own glorious purpose1 and he did not leave him without the means to accomplish that great purpose4 ,he always provides a way for a man to do the work for which he has raised him up4 ,alex4 ,campbell could not have gone1 as he did1 at his own charges1 traveling thousands of miles1 and for many long months at a time1 and through immense districts of country1 where he had no kind brethren to entertain him and support him1 if the means had not been provided4 ,nor could he have started1 maintained and sent forth a publication1 coming in collision with all the religious publications in the world without the means to sustain him4 ,god provided him the means1 so that he never lacked4 ,no man ever had the power to stop his mouth by cutting off his support4 ,he stood independent1 except upon ,god1 who was with and prospered him4 ,how could he have founded a seminary first and then a magnificent college and prosecuted his great work without means8 ,how could he have supplied his extension table1 always extended in his long dining hall1 along which the vast numbers that visited him at all seasons1 but specially on commencement occasions1 sat1 were fed and satisfied1 and went away admiring their noble host1 of whose munificence they had partaken1 had not the ,lord prospered him8 ,god enabled him to give examples in generosity1 hospitality1 and to push on his great work4 ,it was of the highest importance that he should be free from all pecuniary pressure and embarrassment1 and the ,lord kept him in that condition all the time--made 8all grace abound0 to him4 ,growing rich and money making from the love of money1 or money's sake1 were ideas that occupied no place in his great mind or heart4 ,he made and used money1 as ,god intended it1 as a means for doing the work of ,god1 and means that the work could not have been done without4 ,fourth4 ,but how did so large an estate accumulate if he did not love money1 or love 8filthy lucre80 ,we answer that a large amount of his estate came to him as he explained to us1 when we visited him1 in the only conversation we ever had with him about his temporal affairs1 and that a very brief one4 ,we can not remember the particulars1 but we do remember distinctly all that is of any interest here4 ,several large items--items that would have changed the amount largely--came to him without the most distant idea of ever making money4 ,this occurred in his listening to the importunities of friends to loan them money1 and securing it by mortgaging lands then cheap1 and these lands thus finally falling into his hands1 by the failure of his friends1 to whom he had loaned the money1 to pay4 ,these lands remained in his hands many years1 and he was not necessitated to sell them4 ,as the country improved and railroads were constructed1 these lands proved to be in important places1 where in many years they grew up in into heavy amounts in value4 ,in this there was no far seeing nor reaching for 8filthy lucre10 nor any thought of obtaining it4 ,he simply listened to the requests of his friends to help them1 and in many long years it turned out to yield him a heavy amount4 ,fifth4 ,his talents put forth in ,bethany1 the works he issued from there and the establishment of the college1 made employment for many persons1 called a number of these as educators and students1 established the church there1 and resulted in building up quite a village4 ,this enhanced the value of the fine tract of land owned by him there1 and certainly without his foreseeing and working to that end1 made a considerable item in the estate he left behind him4 ,sixth4 ,the sale of his various works toward the latter part of his life brought a considerable income4 ,this could not have been foreseen and planned to make money4 ,in the early part of his life1 and the time he put forth his most vigorous efforts1 he had no assurance that such works as he issued would ever be a source of profit4 ,men who start out to make money do not start out against the main current of mankind4 ,we have some now whose business is making money1 but they do not start out nor travel the road trod by ,alex4 ,campbell4 ,they do not make a square issue with the religious world1 nor war upon the men in power4 ,they do not generally think that is the way to the gold mines4 ,had he been starting with money in his eye1 his keen perception would have seen something of more promise than a square fight with the popular clergy of the world2 the creeds1 councils1 conferences1 assemblies1 etc4 ,it1 however1 turned out that his productions found a sale that resulted in an income4 ,there was no close management or calculating on his part1 nor careful looking after the matter4 ,but the pen of ,alex4 ,campbell was a terror to men who did not love 8the right way of the ,lord10 and his words were burning2 but the idea that he was morose and unamiable is entirely an erroneous one4 ,his very nature was amiable and lovely2 and1 in his devotions1 he was as humble as a child4 ,we never heard any man who could pray like he could4 ,his terms1 in addressing our heavenly ,father1 were characterized with a sense of the absolute dependence1 profound awe and reverence of us1 the creatures of mercy1 and the simplicity of a child4 ,all was easy and utterly without affectation4 ,the reader may think we have occupied too much space with this matter4 ,we think not4 ,there are great lessons in these matters4 ,,faith1 ,,repentance1 ,,and ,,baptism1 ,,do ,,not ,,pardon4 ,faith changes1 purifies or christianizes the heart1 or converts the subject in heart4 ,repentance changes1 purifies or christianizes the man in character1 or converts him in character4 ,but this is all simply a change in the man1 but no change in his relation or state4 ,it is simply preparing the man to enter into a justified state1 or a state of pardon4 ,there is no forgiveness of sin in all this4 ,there is no salvation of the soul from sin here4 ,the salvation of the soul from sin1 pardon or forgiveness of sins1 is as distinct from all the preparation of heart and life1 or all the change in the subject1 as heaven or earth1 as the work of ,god and the work of man4 ,man believes1 repents1 feels and confesses1 but ,god pardons4 ,no believing1 repenting1 feeling or confessing1 saves the soul or pardons4 ,it is ,god that pardons4 ,nor does baptism save the soul4 ,it1 too1 is but the act of the creature2 but it is the initiatory rite1 consummating or transition act1 where pardon is promised in the divine process4 ,the candidate is baptized 8into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,all the prophets bear witness of him1 that through his name1 whoever believeth in him1 shall receive remission of sin4 ,his is the only name given under heaven and among men whereby man can be saved4 ,when we come into his name1 there is salvation1 or forgiveness of sins4 ,as many as have been 8baptized into ,christ1 have been baptized into his death40 ,in his death1 his blood flowed to wash away sin4 ,when man comes into his death1 he comes to his blood that cleanses from all sin4 ,when he enters the body of ,christ1 he comes to the life1 to all spiritual blessings in ,christ1 to the salvation of our ,god4 ,,protracted ,,meetings1 ,,excitements4 ,,etc4 ,it has been a question of serious doubt with some of the most excellent on earth1 whether the protracted meeting is compatible with the genius of the ,christian ,institution1 and whether more evil does not attend it than good4 ,but from the day we engaged in the service of our ,redeemer1 to this hour1 we have had no doubt of the propriety of protracted efforts for the conversion of men4 ,it is true1 these efforts may be made in such a manner2 such policies and appliances may be employed and a resort may be made to such means of excitement1 as would be wholly unjustifiable4 ,but this may be done on any other occasion1 as well as at the protracted meeting1 and the fault is not in the protracted effort1 but in the means employed4 ,all efforts made to excite men without enlightening them2 to rouse the feelings without informing the judgment2 to produce action without the knowledge how to act1 are wholly unscriptural1 and equally at war with the best interests of mankind4 ,to hold a protracted meeting1 while talented orators shall picture to men1 in the most startling manner1 the sinfulness of sin1 the lost condition of man1 the awfulness of death1 the ineffable bliss of heaven1 and the unutterable horrors of hell1 without giving any adequate instructions how to obtain deliverance from sin1 or the dangers of punishment1 and an ultimate admission into the felicities of the eternal state of the blessed1 we all admit to be as irrational as unscriptural4 ,indeed1 we can not conceive anything more incompatible with all enlightenment and all revelation1 than to awaken the human soul to a sense of its danger1 without affording a knowledge of the means of escape4 ,that such1 however1 is the case in thousands of the revival movements of our times1 no intelligent person can deny4 ,who has not seen the penitent1 when the invitation has been extended1 come1 inquiring1 8,what must ,i do to be saved80 and not a man on the ground who could answer the question4 ,who has not heard the preacher invite1 persuade and entreat the sinner to come to the ,lord1 assuring him that he who seeks shall find--he who comes shall in no wise be cast out--that if any man knocks at the door1 the ,lord will open to him1 and1 when persons1 induced through such invitation1 come seeking the way1 not a man present could point it out8 ,we have all witnessed occasions of this kind4 ,nay1 more1 we have known such seekers to come1 time after time1 seeking1 honestly and devoutly seeking1 but still not finding6 ,yes1 this is not the worst4 ,we have heard the preacher advise them to join the church1 that probably the ,lord would bless them1 that persons had been known to 8get religion0 after joining the church1 etc41 etc41 and we have known them to take this advice1 join the church1 and remain for years1 seeking all the time1 and still failing to find6 ,every community can testify the same4 ,now it is not strange that men should become sceptics1 under the influence of such a system as this4 ,it is a failure4 ,it makes false promises1 and men try them and find them to be false4 ,such a system promises1 that they who seek shall find1 and hundreds1 even thousands1 have sought--have done1 and have done honestly1 all the preachers pointed out for them to do1 and have failed to find4 ,they know positively that the system is a failure1 for they have tried it1 and found it to be such4 ,it is precisely what we might expect1 that persons trying such a system1 seeking and striving honestly for years and not finding1 should be brought to doubt that there is any truth or reality in the whole concern2 and we have no doubt1 that such unenlightened excitement will be chargeable with a large amount of the unbelief1 so rapidly increasing in our times4 ,but if the preachers on all such occasions1 were enlightened1 so that when any sinner is awakened1 becomes penitent1 and desirous to know what he should do to be saved1 and he could and would tell him forthwith what ,god required him to do1 in the unequivocal language of the ,new ,testament1 who can fail to see that the results would be entirely different8 ,this1 we affirm1 may and should be the case in every instance1 and we hesitate not to say1 in the most unequivocal language1 that such is the case under the preaching of enlightened men4 ,we go even further1 and declare with all possible emphasis1 that ,god never authorized any man to preach who could not1 on any occasion1 point out to the believing1 inquiring penitent1 what he should do to be saved1 or what he should do to enter into the kingdom of ,god4 ,we have it recorded from the ,lord's own lips1 and from the lips of his inspired apostles1 what they directed inquirers or seekers to do1 to obtain pardon and admission into ,christ's kingdom1 and any preacher who can not or can1 but has not the honor to do it1 give their holy and infallible directions to the dying sinner1 seeking his way to ,god1 was never called1 sent nor authorized by ,god to preach the gospel1 and should not be regarded as such4 ,it is also of the highest importance that we employ gospel means for the awakening sinners and arousing them from their slumbers4 ,some preachers have contracted the habit of making an immense variety of appeals to affecting occurrences--describing sympathetic scenes1 simply for the purpose of producing feeling in the audience4 ,great injury may be done in this way1 by arousing human sympathy1 moving the soul and causing men to act1 who do not love the ,lord and have not had the first serious thought of consecrating their lives to his holy service4 ,we say not this1 because we fear too much excitement1 too much feeling1 or too much interest1 but because the excitement is not of the right kind4 ,the work is of no value unless it be the ,lord's work4--,it is not his work unless done by his acknowledged and approved instrumentalities4 ,the gospel is his power for salvation4 ,the excitement produced in a community by preaching ,christ--the work produced in the heart by preaching the gospel1 is the ,lord's work4 ,it is a divine cause1 producing a divine effect4 ,but if the cause be merely human1 the effect can be no more than human4 ,we want the protracted meeting then1 to deliver an unbroken series of gospel discourses to the people--that we may be enabled to call off their attention from the ordinary cares of life1 and more especially from their sins1 and place our glorious ,lord and ,redeemer before their minds--induce them to consider him1 in all his gracious condescension1 his life filled up with acts of kindness1 goodness and humanity1 his prayers1 agonies and tears1 his wonderful death1 his descent to the grave1 his victorious conquest over death and his triumphant and glorious ascension into heaven and coronation1 as the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords--that he is now exalted to the heavens--to the throne of the universe1 to grant repentance and remission of sins1 and that there is no other name given under heaven1 nor among men whereby ye can be saved4 ,when a full exhibition of ,christ--of the gospel1 is made to men1 in a series of discourses1 and their hearts are moved1 their souls filled with love and gratitude to him whom they discover to be their only ,benefactor1 their ,lord1 their ,savior and only ,redeemer1 then we meet them with his own infallible directions1 as they fell from his own lips and the lips of his holy apostles1 and we never find it fail to give peace to the soul1 and if carried out to give the utmost assurance in after life and death of acceptance with ,god and an eternal reward4 ,go on1 then1 brethren1 with the protracted meetings1 and preach the word of the everlasting ,god to sinners as long as a man can be found who will bear it1 and then be careful to take care of the young converts and keep them in the work of the ,lord4 ,,scene ,,in ,a ,,hotel4 ,october #gth1 we started for ,lebanon1 where we had an appointment at night4 ,the rains not having extended east1 the road was fine and we glided along beautifully and reached ,germantown about twelve o'clock4 ,not being acquainted with any person in the place1 we drove up to the only public house we saw1 and called for dinner and horse fed4 ,on entering the bar room1 the landlord skipped around the counter1 and running his keen eye over the immense assortment of intoxicating liquors which lined one end of the room1 politely inquired what we would drink4 ,we answered1 8a cup of cold water sir1 if you please1 when dinner is ready40 ,his countenance fell1 but he recovered himself and invited us to take a seat4 ,presently in came a dirty1 rough looking fellow1 with his greasy pants patched from top to bottom1 and placed himself at the counter1 with his feet about as far apart upon the floor as his legs were long1 and rolled up his red eyes as he looked out from his bloated face1 while the landlord called out1 8,what will you have sir80 ,he answered1 8,hand down old ,rough and ,ready10 when a huge bottle of the fiery stuff was instantly set down4 ,he poured a common sized glass tumbler two-thirds full1 swallowed it1 smacked his lips and took his seat4 ,during this time he uttered some dozen or two of the most horrid oaths he could think of4 ,one after another came in till some twenty had entered the room in a similar style1 among whom there was not one1 not excepting the landlord1 who was not a profane swearer4 ,now the dinner bell rang1 and in a perfect rush we gathered round the table well spread with the bounties of life4 ,the stream of oaths continued from almost every mouth4 ,presently my right hand man commenced entertaining the company by giving an account of his travels among the ,hoosiers1 how ignorant they were1 and that he had some notion of turning out preacher among them1 as he was certain he could have made lots of money in that way6 ,poor silly creature thought we2 you must get sense enough to eat your dinner in a civil manner1 when you are in the company of a stranger1 before you can even be an impostor4 ,should we call at such a house to stay over night1 we should surely leave1 after finding what kind of company we had fallen into4 ,to be annoyed by the awful stench of tobacco smoke1 spit and snuff1 with the wretched scent of a company of men who are never sober1 is what we will not endure if there is any other chance4 8,,faith ,,comes ,,by ,,hearing40 ,how remarkable the difference between the apostles' method of producing faith1 and that pursued by some modern preachers4 ,the latter class frequently theorize on faith1 and the method through which it comes1 but the former1 understanding his mission more perfectly1 first1 set forth the things to be believed1 and secondly1 the witnesses by which ,god intended to prove them to the world4 ,an august phalanx they are too6 consisting of all the prophets and apostles4 8,they all bear witness of him40 ,suppose we could see them standing in a long rank1 and among the most distinguished we could see ,enoch1 ,elijah and the venerable ,abraham4 ,we could place our eyes upon the great commander of the hosts of the ,israel of ,god1 and the mighty law-giver1 who feared and trembled1 in the midst of thunderings and smoke at ,mount ,sinai1 viz4 ,moses4--,we look again and behold ,samuel1 ,isaiah1 ,daniel and ,ezekiel4 ,passing the lesser prophets1 we behold the commanding face and hear the voice of ,john the ,baptist4 ,still gazing we behold ,peter1 ,james and ,paul and last of all the eye rests upon the venerable ,john4 ,we then pause1 and reflect upon the tears1 the poverty1 nakedness1 hunger1 thirst1 stripes1 imprisonments and deaths through which these men passed and inquire what was all this suffering for8 ,the fact re-echoes back upon us in the awful and sublime sentence3 8,for the word of ,god and the testimony of ,jesus ,christ40 ,did they thus suffer on this account8 ,they did4 ,could they have been anything else but faithful men8 ,surely not4 ,they must have been the most sincere and solemn men the world ever produced3 ,well could they have been mistaken4 ,impossible4 ,the things concerning which they bore witness they ,,saw and ,,heard4 8,we were with him in ,jerusalem1 in the land of the ,jews1 and saw him after he rose from the dead40 ,we say then emphatically that they could not have been insincere nor mistaken1 and what they said must have been infallibly true4 ,,what ,,must ,i ,,do ,,to ,,be ,,saved8 ,awakened sinners feel that they must do something1 but they see1 or think they see1 some 8lion in the street0--some difficulty in the path which they have marked out to ,christ1 which prevents them from finding the ,savior in the pardon of their sins4 ,the chief reason1 perhaps1 why every inquirer does not rejoice in a felt sense of ,god's pardoning love1 is1 that they seek in their own way4 ,they endeavor to arise and 8go to ,jesus10 in their own strength4 ,no sinner ever did find ,christ1 seeking thus4 ,he must first arrive at the point where he can feel his own helplessness1 before ,christ will help him4 ,when he does realize this helplessness1 then ,god will meet him and give him the new heart4 ,would you know1 then1 what you must do to be saved8 ,the essence of the whole matter1 we think1 is this3 #a4 ,you must resolve that you will put off the interest of your soul no longer1 but that you will go earnestly about the matter1 and seek and persist in seeking1 until your sins are pardoned4 #b4 ,you must see your own helplessness and feel it4 #c4 ,having arrived at this point1 humbly submit to ,christ4 ,with the prodigal1 let the feelings of the heart be1 8,i will arise and go to my ,father0--,he can help me--,i can not help myself--if he save1 well--if not1 8,i can but perish if ,i go40 ,and1 did ever a sinner perish with such feelings8 ,no1 thanks to ,christ1 not one6 ,try it1 dear sinner1 try it4 ,we clip the above from the ,presbyterian ,advocate1 as a specimen of 8the blind leading the blind40 ,why is it that when men attempt to answer ,scripture questions1 they can not give ,scripture answers8 ,when the ,philippian ,jailer propounded substantially the above question1 the holy apostle answered him1 8,believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved1 and thy house4 ,and they spoke unto him the word of the ,lord1 and to all that were in his house4 ,and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes2 and was baptized1 he and all his1 straightway40 ,acts xvi4 #cj-cb4 ,when this pagan officer asked what he should do1 he was not blindly told that he could do nothing--that the first lesson to learn in salvation was that he could not do anything1 but he was told what to do1 and forthwith did it and was saved4 ,when ,saul asked the important question1 8,lord1 what wilt thou have me to do80 he was by no means told that he could not do anything4 ,but he was told to 8,arise1 and go to ,damascus1 and there it shall be told thee1 all things that are appointed for thee to do40 ,acts xxii4 #i-aj2 see verse #af4 ,would ,god appoint things for men to do1 and say1 8,why tarriest thou8 ,arise1 and be baptized and wash away thy sins1 calling on the name of the ,lord10 if he knew they could not do anything8 ,when three thousand cried out1 8,men and brethren1 what shall we do80 there was no blind guide to say1 8,you can do nothing10 but there were present apostles1 under the influence of the infallible ,spirit of all wisdom1 who said1 8,repent and be baptized1 every one of you1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 for the remission of sins40 ,acts ii4 #ch4 ,,evangelists--,,pastors4 ,the evangelist is not an officer in a church1 or for a church1 but his work is at large1 to build up the churches1 strengthen them and turn sinners to the ,lord4 ,he should introduce the gospel into new places1 establish churches1 and in due time set them in order4 ,he is not an ecclesiastic1 an official dignitary1 who has much to say about his office and authority1 but a gospel man1 a man of influence1 and can command respect and do a good work4 ,a shepherd1 or1 which is the same1 pastor1 is not an officer at all1 but a figurative term applied to him who takes care of the flock4 ,the flock means the church1 and the shepherd is the correlative of flock1 and is applied to an overseer1 or one who oversees or looks over the flock as a shepherd4 8,pastoral work0 is1 then1 the work of a shepherd1 or overseer1 who can not be a novice or a young convert4 ,the work of the evangelist is now needed as much as ever1 and the evangelist is by no means done away4 ,so the shepherds to take care of the flock are now needed as much as ever1 and the teachers are in demand as much as ever4 ,these are not now raised up and qualified by miracle1 but by ordinary means2 nor is the work gone that they are severally to do4 ,the evangelizing is now needed as much as ever2 so is taking care of the churches and teaching the disciples all things that ,jesus commanded4 ,true1 as our brother has said1 there is no office in the church except overseer and deacon4 ,the office of an evangelist is not a church office4 ,we have a glorious army of young men now called into the field1 capable of one of the noblest works ever done by men4 ,they have it in their hearts to do that work2 but if they are perverted they will be ruined and will never accomplish the work to which they have given themselves4 ,they must not1 on the one hand1 be discouraged and disheartened1 but encouraged and their way opened2 and1 on the other hand1 they must not be arrogant1 conceited and vain1 but humble1 gentle1 and kind2 examples of piety1 purity and moral excellence4 ,they must not think to leap into authority by virtue of being preachers1 but1 by faithful labor and noble deeds1 win their way and gain an influence among the people of ,god4 ,if1 now and then1 one of them is puffed up1 filled with conceit and arrogance1 the same is true of other classes of men1 and it is no argument against them as a class1 but against the individual4 ,,the ,,secret ,,of ,,success ,,in ,,preaching4 ,nothing short of the highest morality and the most perfect subordination can ever secure complete success4 ,most indispensable is high reputation in all its public functionaries4 ,a religious body whose public organs do not sustain purity of morals1 chastity of address1 and dignity of character1 with most elevated natural and acquired attainments1 can never do much towards the purification and elevation of the debased and degraded children of men4 ,so important is this that some rule seems to be necessary to enable us to distinguish those who labor to show themselves off to a good advantage1 from those who seek the honor of the blessed ,master4 ,it is one thing to preach in such a way as to make the people think of and confess their sins1 but it is quite another thing for the mere actor to show himself off1 in such a way as to induce the hearers to say1 he is the greatest man we ever heard6 ,a fine speaker may present such a beautiful theory on faith1 as to delight a popular audience1 without producing faith in a single soul1 while the most immethodical speaker1 whose heart is greatly impressed with the facts to be believed1 will throw out the great realities of revelation with such earnestness and zeal as to make believers wherever he goes4 ,just so fine theories on repentance may be delivered in the shape of sermons1 and listened to with applause1 without inducing any one to think of repenting1 while some old-fashioned preacher reasoning upon righteousness and a judgment to come1 in the most immethodical manner1 will cause sinners to tremble all around4 ,the reason of this is not that one class has method while the other has not1 but one class presents the mighty truth of ,god1 while the other simply presents a fine theory concerning the truth4 ,the result is that in one case the truth itself is believed and admired1 while in the other case the fine theory is the only thing seen1 and the preacher who delivered it the only object adored4 ,,tediousness ,,in ,,public ,,devotions4 ,we wish to allude to some errors into which some elders have fallen1 for their advantage4 ,we have an opportunity of being better acquainted with some difficulties in churches than the elders themselves can4 ,when we visit some congregations1 the elders complain that they will not turn out to meeting4 ,the brethren say the reason more will not turn out is1 that the elders are in the habit of preaching long and uninteresting sermons1 which they have heard over and over again1 until they know every comma and semi-colon4 ,and now the congregation has dwindled down to insignificance1 and the few who are faithful enough to attend are annoyed with a lengthy harangue on the subject of the non-attendance of the members4 ,there is certainly a great impropriety in this course4 ,but few men are able to interest an audience with a lengthy discourse on every first day of the week4 ,those men who have been most successful in holding large audiences1 where they preach very frequently in the same place1 are usually very brief in their addresses1 and very fearful of wearying the patience of their hearers4 ,some men of very fine talent have lost their audiences1 on no account but their tediousness2 and if it thus fares with men of talent1 what may we expect from men of slender abilities8 ,it is very wearisome to those1 who can hardly be induced to attend the place of meeting at any time1 to hear a brother of limited information1 and a poor speaker1 for the space of an hour or an hour and a half4 ,time seems doubly long to them4 ,the uneasiness seen in this class1 causes all the rest to be uneasy1 and every one wishes the sermon to close4 ,some begin to leave1 others begin to button up their coats1 get their hats and whips ready1 look at their watches1 and appear almost on the rise1 while some through respect try to appear contented4 ,let the fault lie where it may in such cases1 it is as certain as any thing can be1 that the preaching is doing no good4 ,if the same brethren would make their addresses very short1 and be as interesting as possible1 they would not have to complain half so often about the delinquency of their brethren in attending meeting1 and secure the reputation of much better preachers4 ,there is another kind of tediousness1 almost as insufferable as long sermons4 ,the selecting and singing of long hymns1 in a cold and formal manner1 after a tedious sermon1 can have no good effect4 ,lengthy ceremonies in administering the communion1 are always in opposition to its good influence1 and very wearisome to the restless4 ,but last1 though by no means least1 it is not to be endured for elders to detain the audience1 while they may consult together five or ten minutes1 about appointments and other matters of this kind1 and then be very tedious in announcing them4 ,all matters of this kind ought to be despatched with readiness4 ,,resurrection--,,adamic ,,sin4 ,we doubt not that precisely what was lost in ,adam will be restored in ,christ1 or1 that whatever the injury that resulted from the agency of ,adam was1 it will be removed by ,christ4 ,whatever was included in the word 8die0 will be counteracted by what was included in the words 8made alive40 ,the penalty inflicted on account of the ,adamic sin will all be removed from the whole race1 in ,christ1 the second ,adam1 or the ,lord from heaven4 ,no man will be lost in the world to come on account of the ,adamic sin4 ,there is not an intimation in the ,bible of any man being punished in the world to come on account of original sin4 ,the punishment in the world to come is threatened in view of our own1 or what schoolmen call 8actual sin40 ,the penalty sentenced on account of ,adam's sin has fallen1 as a consequence1 on the whole race4 ,by ,christ1 in the resurrection1 this consequence will be removed1 and pardon1 through the blood of ,christ1 will release all who come to the ,savior1 from their own sins1 or their actual sins1 and thus save them from punishment in the world to come4 ,,paying ,,preachers ,a ,,stipulated ,,sum4 ,if a man1 or a certain body of men1 wish to control the labors of a farmer or mechanic1 and apply them as they may see proper1 it is but the voice of reason and ,scripture that they give him a reasonable compensation to support him while performing his labor4 ,in precisely the same way1 if any man1 church or co-operation1 wish to control and appropriate the labors of the preacher of the ,word1 they should give him a reasonable compensation4 ,but when the question is under advisement1 of employing a man at a certain point1 and for a certain amount1 the question is not whether he will preach1 but whether he will preach at that point and for that amount4 ,he is bound in his covenant with the ,lord to preach1 but the ,lord has left him to select his own field of labor4 ,he selects his field1 performs his labor1 and looks to the ,lord for his support4 ,but all this does not say1 that his brethren should not promise him a certain amount1 and with the utmost punctuality fulfill their promise4 8,i do not think it is right to promise a certain amount10 says one1 8we can not tell what we shall be able to give40 ,did you hire that man to work on your farm without promising him a 8certain amount80 ,did you buy that farm that you are in debt for without promising a certain amount8 ,we judge not1 and not a small amount at that4 ,why1 then1 should men1 constantly in the habit of promising certain amounts for everything else1 be so cautious about promising the poor preacher of the word of ,god--the man to whom society is more indebted than any other man1 for all that is pure and good1 a certain amount to subsist upon while he sojourns in this life8 8,i thought you said the preacher should trust to the ,lord for his support10 says one8 ,certainly he should1 just as you trust to the ,lord for his preaching4 ,you trust to the ,lord to enable him to perform his preaching according to arrangements1 and he trusts in the ,lord that you will be enabled to support him as promised1 the same as your hired man trusts in the ,lord for what you promised him1 or as you trust in the ,lord for the products of your farm4 ,yet the preacher knows not the ability the ,lord may give him1 nor what amount of money he may need4 ,it may be more or less1 but it is not his reward for his labor1 but merely his support--or1 if you prefer it1 his board while he labors for the ,lord4 ,but he does not intend to spend the whole reward of his labor in this life1 but is laying up a good foundation against the time to come4 ,they are prodigals who run through all their earnings as fast as earned4 ,the ,lord does not intend his servants to do this4 ,he gives them a subsistence as they pass along1 or money for their expenses1 but the main bulk of their wages is laid up in heaven1 and can not be estimated by dollars and cents4 ,may ,god put it into the hearts of the children of ,god to look to the temporal wants of the young men who have entered this great work4 ,,self-,,laudation4 ,to see the mere worldling1 whether the politician1 the lawyer1 physician1 or whatsoever1 an egotist--full of self-laudation--giving himself the glory for everything good1 and acquitting himself from everything evil1 is contemptible enough in all conscience4 ,nothing can sink a man faster in the estimation of sensible men4 ,but in the kingdom of ,christ1 where all is purely of the grace of ,god--where none has anything that he did not receive1 and where all are held responsible in proportion to the ability that ,god gives1 and where each one has to get down upon his knees1 before his holy and perfect ,master1 and confess his weakness1 imperfection1 shortcomings1 and nothingness in the sight of ,god1 how transcendently ridiculous to see egotism1 self-laudation and an effort to glorify the creature in the place of the ,creator6 ,and how perfectly incompatible1 too1 such a spirit with the meek and lowly spirit of ,christ and the apostles6 ,,preach ,,christ1 ,,not ,,ourselves4 ,paul says1 8,god forbid that ,i should glory1 save in the cross of ,christ40 ,again1 he says1 8,i determined to make known nothing among you1 but ,christ and him crucified40 ,i come not to you with excellency of speech1 and the wisdom of men's words1 but with the demonstration of the ,holy ,spirit and of power4 ,he further asserts that the gospel which he preached1 he did not receive from man1 but by the revelation of ,jesus ,christ4 ,many such expressions are found in the writings of the holy apostles going to show the precaution constantly used by them1 lest the glory of ,christ should be attributed to them4 ,the very first sentence that escaped the lips of ,peter in ,solomon's portico1 was to the same effect4 8,why look ye so steadfastly upon us1 as if by our own power or holiness1 this man had been made whole80 ,he proceeds3 8,the name of ,jesus ,christ1 through faith in his name1 hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all80 ,the good ,cornelius tried ,peter1 at the same point1 on his first approach into his presence4 ,he fell down before the apostle and was about to worship him4 ,peter told him to stand up--that he himself was also a man1 and demanded of him why he had sent for him4 ,after hearing the account given by ,cornelius1 of his prayer1 his having seen an angel1 and what the angel said to him1 the apostle began upon the great burthen that he carried upon his soul4 ,in a few words he declared that ,god anointed ,jesus of ,nazareth with the ,holy ,ghost and with power4 ,this was the great subject the apostles carried upon their hearts4 ,respecting themselves1 they knew not what would befall them1 save the testimony of the ,holy ,spirit1 that bonds and imprisonment awaited them2 nor did they count their lives dear unto themselves1 but they counted all things but loss1 if they could but win ,christ4 ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,christ ,a ,,proselyting ,,institution4 ,one of the most striking differences between the ,mosaic and ,christian institutions is1 that the latter is a proselyting institution1 while the former was not4 ,errorists among the ,jews1 contrary to the spirit of their institution1 ran into great proselyting efforts2 while errorists in the kingdom of ,christ1 contrary to the spirit of their institution1 leave the spirit of proselyting4 ,those ,jews who had such a desire for proselyting1 should have been ,christians1 and the ,christians who have no zeal for proselyting should have been ,jews4 ,it would have suited their capacity1 views and feelings better1 to have been born into a church as they were born into the world2 and a sign in the flesh1 such as circumcision1 as a mark of distinction between them and the rest of mankind1 put upon them when eight days old2 and when the numbers of the church were replenished by natural generation and birth1 and not in an institution where men can not enter except by being born again--where they are begotten1 not of corruptible1 but of incorruptible seed1 by the word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth forever--where men can not enter by natural generation1 but must enter by regeneration or not enter at all4 ,if men who have no zeal to proselyte1 had been born in an institution where every child born of church members is also a church member1 they would have suited well to them the lessons from the law of ,moses on the ,sabbath day1 and perform the dull and spiritless ceremonies of the synagogue4 ,no doubt they could have gone through the performances with as much formality and as little grace as a ,jewish rabbi4 ,many of these1 if they had the priestly robe1 ,aaron's rod1 the pot with manna1 the shew bread1 etc41 would figure much more decorously back among the types and shadows1 than they do here among the good things to come4 ,they are better adapted for the letter than for the spirit1 for they almost convert the house of ,god--the spiritual building1 where the spirit of ,god dwells1 and where we are required to worship in spirit and in truth--into the dry and irksome ceremonies of the ,jewish synagogue4 ,,observing ,,the ,,sabbath4 ,what is there in teaching that ,christians must keep the seventh1 or ,sabbath day1 to impart or perpetuate spiritual life8 ,the very seed of ruin is in such teaching4 ,there is no ,christ in it4 ,it did not originate with ,christ1 but is anti-christian4 ,the ,lord never taught his disciples to keep the seventh or ,sabbath day1 nor did his apostles ever teach this4 ,the first ,christians did not meet on the seventh day 8to break bread10 but on the first day4 ,when they met on the first day they did not observe it as the ,sabbath4 ,it was a different day from the ,sabbath1 took its rise from a different event1 and had a different object and entirely different associations4 ,the ,sabbath originated in ,god's resting on the seventh day4 ,it pointed to this rest and originated in it4 ,it had no ,christ in it1 did not originate with ,christ1 nor point to him4 ,it had nothing in it to bring him1 or anything he ever did to view1 and nothing can be done more directly calculated to draw the mind entirely off from ,christ than to fill the mind of the christian with the ,sabbath1 and get the first day of the week and all its hallowed associations and memories out of his mind4 ,the first day of the week derives its entire religious significance from the resurrection of our ,lord1 and the commemoration of the ,savior's sufferings keeps his death continually before us1 pointing back to his death for our sins1 and forward to his second coming4 ,are ,christians to be perverted and their minds and hearts carried away from the death of ,jesus1 his resurrection and his coming1 and all the sublime associations and memories connected with the first day of the week2 turned back and put to the meditations of a ,jew1 commemorating the rest of ,god on the seventh day1 after he had completed the work of creation8 ,nothing can be more anti-christian than this4 ,this is ,judaism in the most deadly type4 ,it is literally turning away from ,christ to ,judaism2 from the day that brings the great event to view1 that lies at the foundation of the faith and the entire kingdom of ,god2 the resurrection of our ,lord from the dead1 and the death of ,jesus for our sins4 ,if purposely designed to lead us away from the ,savior and ruin us1 nothing could be more completely suited to the purpose than this ,judaizing1 ,sadducean1 no-spirit1 no-angel and no-resurrection theory4 ,the theory1 on its face1 carries its own condemnation2 but1 in the numerous cases of ruin wrought by it1 we have the demonstration of its destructive character4 ,,mark ,,those ,,who ,,cause ,,divisions4 ,we have no confidence in men and theories that have no power except to scatter1 tear down and destroy4 ,the time has come when the brethren should put their mark upon all this description of men we care not what their idol may be1 who are simply prating1 whining1 complaining1 and murmuring among loving disciples gathered by the labors and sacrifices of other men1 but who never built up a church1 healed a difficulty1 or promoted peace any place in their lives4 ,nothing is so ridiculous as for such men to go grumbling round the country1 finding fault with everything1 pulling down other men's labor1 and building up nothing1 all the while prating about progression and reformation4 ,tremendous progress1 that miserable prating1 whining1 and grumbling that never builds up anything but always pulls down1 catches the sheep and scatters them6 ,mighty reformers they1 who never reformed anybody since ,god made them1 who never built up a church or gave any prosperity to the cause1 any place1 or did anything more than scatter and devastate6 ,atheism has done this much1 and will do it again4 ,if men have found any new light worth anything1 and are themselves men of any force1 improvement will appear2 fruits will follow their labors4 ,but nothing can be more manifest than that ,god did not send those men who only spread desolation1 who only pull down1 scatter1 and kill1 we care not what fine theories they propagate1 nor how prettily they may talk4 ,we want men who will preach the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who will regard him1 adore him1 and obey him1 and not a set of self-willed men1 who idolize their own notions1 and are determined to have them and propagate them1 if the ,lord's name is forgotten1 and the fold scattered asunder4 ,mercy and peace upon the ,israel of ,god4 ,mark them who cause divisions and contentions4 ,,religion ,,and ,,politics4 ,are we1 as disciples of ,christ1 citizens of a kingdom not of this world1 a religious community1 to be distracted1 disconcerted1 and thrown into confusion8 or1 are we drawn to a common center1 by an attraction so heavenly1 commanding1 and binding1 that no side-influence can divert us from our course8 ,the ,lord is about to test us1 prove us1 and show whether we are true1 sincere1 and men of integrity to the great principles which we profess1 and have been inculcating1 or will turn traitor to them1 despise them1 and trample them under our feet4 ,we have been preaching union upon the ,bible1 and the ,bible alone1 to our neighbors2 but1 the time has come to test us practically1 and compel us to apply our philosophy in an instance of the greatest moment1 and best calculated1 of all others1 to show its power--its moral and spiritual efficacy among ourselves4 ,what course shall we take1 then1 during the coming campaign8 ,shall preachers of the gospel of ,christ enter the pulpit1 with exciting political news in their heads and hearts1 and make ,kansas-,nebraska1 and anti-,kansas-,nebraska1 ,slavery and anti-,slavery speeches8 ,shall their themes be the ,constitution1 ,liberty1 ,popular ,sovereignty1 ,north1 ,south1 ,fillmore1 ,buchanan1 ,fremont1 ,american1 ,democratic and ,republican4 ,shall these be the themes that consecrate the house of ,god during the coming months1 while thousands are perishing for the word of ,god1 and dying in their sins8 ,we say1 and would if we had a voice louder than the seven thunders of the ,apocalypse1 and more immutable than the oath of the angel of ,god1 standing with one foot upon the land1 and the other upon the sea1 say1 no1 by ,,no ,,means1 for the following reasons3 ,first4 ,jesus and his apostles1 in all their official acts1 never attempted to correct the political institutions of the country1 no matter how corrupt they were1 but left them1 and those who made them1 to take care of their own responsibilities4 ,we must follow their precedent1 or we are not the disciples of ,christ4 ,second4 ,our ,lord and his apostles1 in all their official procedure1 never made a decision1 or gave even an opinion1 upon the merits or demerits of any form of civil government1 republican1 monarchical1 either limited or absolute4 ,they left all these matters to take their course1 and lifted their thoughts above them to a spiritual kingdom1 that shall endure when time shall be no more4 ,we must do as they did1 or forfeit our claim to be one with them4 ,third4 ,the ,lord and his apostles never made a decision1 or gave an opinion1 on any system of slavery1 though slavery existed1 in some form or other1 in every country where they preached and wrote1 in all their official career4 ,we must humble ourselves to the same limits4 ,fourth4 ,we have the infallible directions of the ,spirit of ,god1 to believers1 connected with slavery1 both masters and servants1 and these directions we must give1 when we speak on the subject at all1 or depart from the faith1 because we are opposed to it4 ,every man who does not do this1 manifestly repudiates the practice and teachings of the holy apostles4 ,fifth4 ,jesus and his apostles did not found slavery of any kind1 and neither our ,lord nor his religion can be responsible for any system of slavery or its results1 no matter how good or how bad4 ,slavery is an institution of the world1 as all other political institutions are1 and neither the kingdom of ,god nor its subjects are responsible for its results4 ,sixth4 ,our ,lord and his apostles never formed an issue between the kingdom of ,god and the kingdoms of this world4 ,how utterly preposterous and absurd it is1 to the mind of one who has noticed1 that our ,lord never made an issue between his kingdom1 or his religion1 and any civil government or kingdom of the world1 to see some misguided creature trying to form a direct issue between the kingdom of ,god and whatever political institution he may chance to fall out with and trying to set the citizens in the kingdom of ,christ in battle array with the citizens of the civil government6 ,such a man has no use for a church only as a kind of battering-ram to beat down some sinful institution that he has just perceived is to ruin the nation4 ,he would have the kingdom of ,god a convenient engine1 properly adjusted and poised1 himself commander-in-chief1 so that he can now bring it to bear upon ,masons1 then upon ,odd ,fellows1 anon upon ,sons of ,temperance1 then upon ,slavery1 or any other monster that may rise4 ,but the man who stands upon an eminence lofty enough to discern the kingdom of ,god1 beholds an institution with an aim transcendently higher than deciding upon the rights and wrongs of the political governments of the world1 amending1 correcting1 and perfecting them2 the superlatively noble1 grand1 and beneficent object of translating individuals1 whether high or low1 rich or poor1 bond or free1 whether their political institutions are good or bad1 out of darkness into light1 and out of the kingdom of ,satan into the kingdom of ,god1 and in their few remaining days here1 no matter what their earthly condition1 prepare them for guests of the redeemed hosts who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb1 in the house not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens4 ,seventh4 ,christianity is the thing to be promoted1 and not to be used as a mere instrumentality1 by men who care nothing about it1 and who are doing but little to advance it1 to promote some object of their own worldly ambition4 ,we must promote ,christianity itself1 and not employ it as a mere means to promote something else4 8,well1 sir1 what would you have a christian do in regard to rulers and civil governments80 says one4 ,when acting as a citizen in the kingdom of ,god1 or in the house of ,god1 8,pray for kings and all that are in authority1 that we may lead a peaceable and quiet life1 in all godliness and honesty40 8,be subject to the powers that be10 remembering that 8we have no continuing city here10 and that 8this world is not our home40 ,when acting as a citizen of the civil government1 be candid1 quiet1 peaceable1 and kind1 and do just what you think right1 allowing every man the same privilege1 as ,christ has left us all free here1 and leave the event with ,god4 ,there are spiritual-minded persons in almost all the parties around us2 and if we determine to know nothing but ,christ1 nothing but pure ,christianity1 and confine ourselves strictly to the clear revelations of heaven--preach the pure gospel of the grace of ,god--preach ,christ1 and determine to know nothing else1 while a mere carnal and worldly priesthood harangue their assemblies on politics1 mix up church and ,state1 law and gospel1 turning their religious organizations into mere political engines1 the very thing we have condemned the ,romish priesthood for1 thus wounding the feelings of all the more spiritual-minded members and splitting their parties asunder1 thousands of them will seek a church where the name of ,jesus has charms1 where the ,lord is loved and worshipped1 and where the true worshippers worship the ,father in spirit and in truth4 ,let us keep the way clear for such1 receive them to the fold of ,christ1 and show them how they can serve ,god and get to heaven1 whether they can ever understand the slavery question or not4 ,many of us have labored long and hard and sacrificed the main energies of our lives in gathering the many thousands to the fold of ,christ that now throng places of public worship1 and we can not remain silent and see them scattered by the indiscreet and imprudent course of brethren1 in thrusting upon them1 and seeming to think that their souls' salvation is suspended upon their rightly understanding the question of ,american slavery4 ,we admonish the brethren to have nothing to do with any such question in the church4 ,the ,lord has not required the church1 the preachers1 or religious editors to make any decision1 or to hold any particular class of opinions on the subject1 nor can any man be blameless and push any such question into the kingdom of ,god4 ,we will stand square upon the ,bible1 by the ,lord1 the apostles1 and every man who will stand by them4 ,the ,lord direct us6 ,,prayer ,,books4 ,the ,church of ,england has abounded toward her people in all wisdom and prudence4 ,in doing so she has supplied them with the 8,prayer-,book10 not only for weak members1 who can not pray1 but for her strong members1 specially the clergy1 giving the very words they must pray on all occasions4 ,in this exuberance of her benevolence she has supplied a deficiency in the will of ,god1 an omission in the law of ,god1 an item that ,paul overlooked when he 8shunned not to declare the whole counsel of ,god20 an item not in the 8all things that pertain to life and godliness10 mentioned by ,peter1 nor in 8all ,scripture given by inspiration10 mentioned by ,paul1 to 8perfect the man of ,god and thoroughly furnish him for all good works40 ,there are many among them that can read prayers1 as they have them in print in the 8,prayer-,book10 and do read them1 but we are not aware that they have any more that can pray than those who have no such 8,prayer-,book40 ,if we can not learn from the ,lord and the apostles how to pray2 from the ,scriptures1 so that we can pray we would not learn from all the prayer-books ever printed4 ,read the prayers of the ,lord and holy men1 recorded in ,scripture1 and the instructions of the ,lord and the inspired writings2 take the 8,concordance0 and run through the ,bible1 read and study all you find about it1 and practice it daily1 and you find not only that you can learn how1 but to love to pray1 and to be impressed continually with the importance of it4 ,let the desire be in the heart in the words1 8,lord1 teach us how to pray10 and you will soon learn to ask for any thing you need4 ,,upward ,,tendency--,,reformation ,,not ,a ,,failure--,,missionary ,,work4 ,the effort we have made1 and are now making1 at reformation1 can never prove a failure upon any ground1 unless it be that we have not moral courage enough1 as the disciples of ,christ--have not sufficient integrity to the great principles of the gospel1 to which we have pledged ourselves1 to maintain them against the mighty torrent of opposition from the various ranks of bigotry1 prejudice1 and partyism1 together with the combined influence of unbelief and sin4 ,the position we occupy can never fail4 ,while the holy prophets live and speak in their writing2 while the preaching of the apostles1 their lives1 miracles and martyrdoms1 live in the memory of men2 while ,jesus lives1 and the throne of the ,almighty1 upon which he sits1 stands unmoved1 the position we occupy can not fail4 ,the gospel will live and he who believes it shall never die4 ,the men who believe the gospel1 who love it1 and hold on to it--keep the faith1 press it to their hearts1 love and reverence him who gave it1 will live co-existent with the years of ,god4 ,they will never fail2 their lives1 in this mortal state1 will fail2 but they1 at the same moment1 will triumph4 ,they are not in any doubt and uncertainty1 in calling upon their fellow man to return to the faith as it was at the beginning4 ,they have no fears that they are wrong1 or that they can possibly be mistaken in making the best effort in their power to determine precisely what the ancient faith was1 separating it from everything else1 and maintaining it before the world4 ,they know they are right in this4 ,in one word1 they believe the gospel1 maintain and defend it1 and nothing else4 ,it is the system they believe1 maintain and defend and nothing else4 ,they may not understand everything contained in it1 as others who have other systems1 do not understand everything in their system2 but the system itself we know to be right1 infallibly right and that we are infallibly right in maintaining it2 not because we understand everything contained in it2 but because we know the author of it1 and know him to be divine--infallible4 ,we know him1 love him and regard him2 therefore we know that what proceeds from him is infallible1 and love it and regard it4 ,,men ,,can ,,believe ,,and ,,do ,,believe4 ,why does the speculator offer one dollar more to-day1 than he did yesterday1 per barrel for flour8 ,because he believes the news he has received1 of an advance in some other market4 ,why does that pork dealer advance the price one dollar per barrel8 ,because he believes the news of an advance in some other market4 ,why does that trader refuse that bank bill8 ,because he believes the statement in the detector1 that it is under par4 ,look through the various departments in life1 business transactions and all1 and see what a vast amount of it is done by faith4 ,all business men are daily and hourly acting in matters where thousands of dollars are involved upon faith1 and acting with great confidence1 too4 ,look at that man at the post office1 opening a letter and reading6 ,in a few minutes you see him stopping quickly and closing an engagement1 involving thousands of dollars6 ,what is he acting upon8 ,faith in the letter just received and read4 ,look at that other man1 waiting for a dispatch4 ,presently he receives and reads it4 ,in a few minutes he is waiting the arrival of the cars4 ,as the cars approach1 you notice him eyeing the passengers as they come out of the train4 ,presently he rests his eye upon a man4 ,in the next moment the man is arrested6 ,what is he acting upon8 ,faith in the telegraphic dispatch he had just received4 ,thus we perceive men are constantly acting upon faith in all the affairs of this life4 ,is it possible that men who are thus constantly1 and without hesitation1 acting upon faith1 will have the assurance to apologize for their unbelief in matters of religion1 by saying they cannot believe8 ,it will also be observed that the men thus acting are not merely a few credulous and thoughtless persons1 but business men of all classes--men of the first order of mind1 thus showing that they can believe and do believe1 in matters of great importance1 and thus demonstrating that they can believe in matters of religion1 as well as others1 if they will but give a candid attention to the evidence4 ,the same faculties of the mind exercised in believing the news of the day1 political1 commercial1 or of sickness1 health1 or accidents1 etc41 are exercised in believing the divine testimonies4 ,the same mind that believes the testimony of men1 is exercised in believing the testimony of ,god4 ,the difference in the effect produced upon the human soul1 by divine testimony1 or divine faith1 from that produced by human testimony1 or what is purely human faith1 is not that the same mind1 or the same faculties of the mind are not exercised in both cases1 nor is it owing to the difference between divine and human testimony2 but the difference is in the things believed--the difference between divine and human things believed4 ,heavenly things believed would1 beyond all dispute1 make a different impression from that produced by the belief of earthly things1 however true they might be4 ,a mere earthly truth1 even if proved by divine testimony1 could produce no more than an earthly impression2 but a heavenly truth1 if proved by earthly testimony1 would produce a heavenly impression4 ,the same mind that understands and believes that there is an advance in the flour market1 believes that the ,lord rose from the dead1 but the effect produced by the faith in one instance1 is very different from that produced in the other instance2 not because different powers are exercised in believing2 nor because the testimony differs2 but because the things believed differ4 ,the relation a thing believed sustains to the believer1 is the main cause of its effect upon him4 ,robert ,owen1 who professed to have read1 and traveled forty years1 without being able to find any evidence of the truth of christianity1 has lately become a believer in ,spiritualism4 ,how is it1 that he is so slow to believe in one case1 but so ready to believe in the other8 ,the reason is to be found in the relation these two things to be believed1 sustain to him4 ,the belief in modern ,spiritualism involves nothing1 requires nothing and promises nothing4 ,it is merely a speculative subject1 for vain and idle curiosity2 placing no man under any new obligations who believes it4 ,it is a very suitable thing to catch a man of a perverted mind and heart2 one who has rejected ,jesus2 resisted the testimonies of the ,holy ,spirit1 and despised the ,bible during an earthly pilgrimage of many years1 which ,god has mercifully and graciously granted him4 ,but the fact that ,jesus of ,nazareth is the ,son of ,god--that he is divine--that he is alive and lives forever and ever1 is a fact sustaining a different relation to time4 ,it is not a speculative fact for idle curiosity2 not a mere theme for empty1 cold and unfeeling hearts2 for idle1 confused and wandering brains2 but a fact1 intimately connected with all mankind2 a fact1 in which the destinies of all men are involved2 one1 too1 bearing upon the lives and conduct of all men4 ,here is the reason that many are so slow to believe this1 the greatest and most important of all the facts presented for the belief of mankind3 it requires a holy life4 ,a strange feature truly is it1 in men1 that they should prefer to believe that which requires nothing1 proposes nothing and promises nothing1 to that requiring the purest life1 most exalted character1 and ennobled feelings1 promising the approbation of the ,almighty now1 and eternal joy in the world to come6 ,what reason can any man give for such opposition8 ,no man believes that the ,lord ,jesus ,christ ever made any human being worse4 ,no man sincerely believes that the ,bible makes any person worse2 or that the ,christian religion does any harm to any one of our sinful race4 ,no human being solemnly believes that any harm could result from the universal prevalence of pure christianity1 as set forth upon the pages of the ,new ,testament1 throughout the world4 ,all men1 upon cool and deliberate reflection1 must be satisfied1 that if all the peoples1 nations1 tribes and tongues of the earth1 were fully under the power and influence of the ,bible1 mankind would be infinitely blessed by it4 ,not a sceptic in the world can give a reason for his opposition to the ,lord ,jesus and the ,bible4 ,o1 that men knew ,jesus6 ,o1 that they possessed his spirit and temper6 ,o1 that they would love him and be blessed by him6 ,,church ,,membership4 ,the act of uniting with a church is not with the idea of being changed or made better1 in ourselves1 but to be placed in the right relation4 ,the man who is a christian ought to be united with other christians in a congregation where he can worship according to the ,scriptures4 ,it is one thing to become a christian1 and another thing to find and unite with a congregation of christians where the ordinances are kept and the authority of ,christ is maintained4 ,it is one thing to become a member of the body of ,christ1 or1 which is the same1 enter into the kingdom of ,god1 and another thing for a person to unite with a local congregation4 ,the ,ethiopian officer became a christian1 or entered into the kingdom of ,god1 or the body of ,christ1 in obeying the gospel2 but this did not make him a member of any particular local congregation1 where he would meet with other christians and worship4 ,this required an additional step4 ,by faith1 repentance and baptism he entered into ,christ1 or in the body of ,christ1 or became a christian4 ,but if he has thus come into the general body1 or thus become a christian1 and then united with the ,baptist church1 or any other church1 where he can not worship according to the ,scriptures2 where they do not commemorate the sufferings and death of ,jesus regularly on the first day of the week1 as the first christians did2 where they have an unauthorized name1 a human creed and other things contrary to ,scripture2 he has a right1 and more1 he ought to seek a gospel church where he can worship according to ,scripture4 ,,believers ,,only ,,to ,,be ,,baptized4 ,baptism1 the initiatory rite1 or the act of entering the church1 is a command4 ,all commands must be preceded by faith4 ,the divine authority1 requiring baptism1 must be recognized1 before the command can be obeyed2 and the divine authority can only be recognized by faith4 ,how1 then1 can a command be obeyed by one without faith1 without a consciousness of divine authority1 or even the knowledge that the command exists8 ,such a practice subverts the command of ,god in every case where it obtains1 and if it should become universal1 would set aside and annihilate all obedience to the command to be baptized4 ,in every case1 where an infant is baptized1 and prevailed upon1 in after life1 to be content with its baptism and infant membership1 one person is effectually prevailed upon never to obey the command to be baptized1 and never1 personally1 to bow to the authority of ,jesus in voluntarily entering into covenant with him4 ,the person is deceived1 and made to think1 when come to the years of accountability1 that two things have been done that never have been done1 viz3 #a4 ,that the command to be baptized has been obeyed4 #b4 ,that the requirement to enter into the church has been complied with4 ,neither the one nor the other has been complied with at all4 ,,the ,,knowledge ,,necessary ,,before ,,baptism4 ,some person1--name not known--writing from ,ripley1 ,ohio1 inquires whether persons baptized when very young1 under excitement1 having but little understanding of the import of baptism2 and1 after coming to mature years1 become dissatisfied and desire to be baptized over again1 should he then be baptized again8 ,this question is entirely outside of the ,new ,testament1 and purely a question of opinion4 ,among the many thousands baptized by the apostles1 there were many1 evidently1 who had but an imperfect understanding of the whole matter1 not only of very young persons1 but many very illiterate persons4 ,yet there is no account of any1 on coming to a fuller understanding1 who desired to be baptized in the name of the ,lord4 ,it matters not how little understanding persons have1 if they believe in the ,lord1 repent of their sins1 confess and obey the ,savior4 ,nor is the circumstance that a person afterward understands the matter more fully1 a reason why such an one should be baptized again2 but simply an evidence of a proper growth in knowledge4 ,there has been much said about the measure of understanding that must be had before baptism1 that would cut off one half of the apostolic converts4 ,conversion is simply turning to ,god1 and there are but few who aim not to do this4 ,,paul ,,and ,,james1 ,,on ,,justification ,,by ,,faith4 ,the difficulty in this case is not to be solved in dreams about different kinds of faith4 ,writers may speculate upon different kinds of faith till doomsday1 and neither extricate themselves from the difficulty1 nor their readers4 ,james and ,paul were speaking of precisely the same kind of faith2 but ,paul's 8deeds of the law0 are not the same as ,james' 8works20 or no man can avoid a contradiction4 ,paul and ,james are both speaking of the faith that justifies man1 but neither of them are speaking of faith alone4 ,paul and ,james were speaking of the faith of ,christ1 by which the heart is purified1 8without the deeds of the law0 of ,moses1 and both would have agreed any time1 that by the deeds of the law of ,moses1 no man could be justified in the sight of ,god4 ,but the deeds of the law of ,moses and the deeds of the gospel--the 8good works which ,god has ordained that we should walk in them0--as mentioned by ,paul--,eph4 ii4 #aj--;and the works of ,james1 are not the same by any means4 ,paul was arguing against opposing ,jews1 who contended that men could be justified by the works or deeds of the law of ,moses1 and maintained in opposition to them1 that1 by the deeds of their law1 no man could be justified in the sight of ,god2 but man is now2 justified by the faith of ,christ1 that works by love and purifies the heart--through the deeds of the gospel--the good works of the gospel--not the deeds of law1 but the works of faith1 like the works of ,abraham1 of which ,james speaks4 ,neither ,paul nor ,james believed that justification was by faith alone4 ,neither of them believed1 or taught1 that justification was by the deeds of the law of ,moses4 ,neither of them believed that a man could be justified by faith1 without the works of the gospel4 ,justification is by faith1 not in the law of ,moses1 but in ,christ2 not alone1 but1 as ,paul has it1 in the 8good works 7of the gospel7 which ,god hath ordained that we should walk in them20 or1 as ,james has it1 in the case of ,abraham1 his faith1 wrought with his works1 and through the divine appointment of both his faith and his works1 the ,lord justifies those who come to him4 ,it is neither faith nor works1 either of law or gospel1 that justifies the sinner4 ,it is ,god that justifies2 but he only justifies those who come in a proper spirit1 to his appointments4 ,,controversy4 ,let no man infer from this1 however1 that we favor1 or in any way encourage1 a love for controversy4 ,this is another thing entirely4 ,by no means do we love controversy4 ,it is deplored always1 or at least the occasion of it4 ,but shall a man1 because he deplores controversy--because he is sorry to come in collision with men--because he knows unpleasantness will arise1 and the smooth surface will be ruffled1 evade the issues between light and darkness--between christianity and everything else8 ,we did not make these issues and are not responsible for them4 ,they exist whether we say anything about them or not1 or whether we see them at all4 ,the simple question is1 whether we will stand by christianity and maintain it--whether we will face the issue1 in a kind1 a manly and noble manner1 or shrink1 depart from it and allow it to be crushed down4 ,our motto is1 ,meet the issue fairly and squarely1 in every instance of opposition to the gospel1 in that way that shall prove most effectual4 ,let there be no evasion1 but stand firm and present an unbroken front4 ,,controversy ,,about ,,the ,,spirit4,a ,many brethren are inquiring of us about the ,spirit1 8correct views of the ,spirit10 and of 8the influence of the ,spirit10 and insisting that we should respond to some things that are published1 etc42 but1 for the present1 to all this we must simply say1 that the ,lord knows our hearts4 ,he knows who have the ,spirit1 who are led by the ,spirit1 walk in the ,spirit1 mind the things of the ,spirit and endeavor to keep the unity of the ,spirit in the bond of peace4 ,he knows them who are his1 who love him and keep his commandments4 ,blessed be his name2 he is able to keep them from falling1 make all grace abound to them and preserve them to his heavenly appearing and kingdom4 ,with them1 his great work is a reality1 a real work1 the greatest and best of all the works in which human beings have ever engaged2 and they believe he is with them1 will be with them while they shall struggle for his cause in this world1 and will be with them in the day when ,god shall judge the secrets of men by ,jesus ,christ1 according to the gospel4 ,in him they have put their everlasting trust2to him they have committed their cause1 and to him they look for their final reward4 ,they fear not what man can do to them1 nor what he can say of them1 but they fear him who is able to save and able to destroy1 who is able to kill and able to make alive4 ,we have nothing at stake only the cause of truth1 of righteousness and humanity4 ,we have no theory of our own to maintain1 no philosophy to defend1 nor pride of opinion to guard1 but are willing to learn of the most humble disciple in the whole kingdom of ,god4 ,if any brother really has more of the spirit of the ,lord than we have1 we envy him not because he has more than we1 but we are only sorry that we have less than he4 99 99 99 99 99 ,by the way1 as we now appear agreed that the ,spirit of ,god should be actually received and enjoyed by the saints1 whether that agreement be enforced by the terms of ,scripture merely1 or from the heart1 ,god knows4 ,there remains but a single point of importance in our mind4 ,that is not1 and has not been1 whether the ,spirit of ,god is actually received and enjoyed by the children of ,god2 but whether any teachings are communicated to man1 or revelations made1 either before or after conversion1 to saint or sinner1 except through the senses4 ,are not the revelations of ,god inscribed upon the sacred pages of the ,bible1 the only teachings from heaven1 for both the church and the world1 and are not these imparted to man through the senses8 ,we do not believe that there are any revelations from ,god1 or teachings1 binding upon man1 for saint or sinner1 only those in the ,bible1 and these are imparted to man through the senses4 ,if this is sensuous philosophy1 then we are in for it4 ,a ,a discussion of the subject of ,spiritual ,influence was carried on among the ,disciples during the ,decade1 beginning in the year #ahef4 ,benjamin ,franklin's position1 and indeed the gist of the controversy1 is presented in the opening and closing paragraphs of an editorial in the ,a4 ,c4 ,review4 ,,sectarianism4 ,much as has been said upon the evils of sectarianism1 within the last forty or fifty years1 it is still true1 that no one has given the subject too high a coloring4 ,its evils are equal to the most brilliant description we have had4 ,indeed1 it is difficult to conceive how any one could speak1 in too strong terms1 of this one evil2 yet1 the sin of partyism1 like many other sins of these times1 is so fashionable and popular1 that it is scarcely seen to be a sin at all4 ,it is true1 all seem to look upon it as a sin1 for a man to create partyism and strife in the party to which he belongs1 or any other party4 ,but1 to keep up the parties now in existence1 and defend the peculiarities upon which they are predicated1 and from which they receive their very existence1 is considered serving ,god4 ,now1 if it can be considered service to the ,lord1 to build up and keep up that old mother and mistress of all heresy1 the ,roman ,catholic ,church1 then1 why was not the very mystery of iniquity1 already working in ,john's day1 doing service to ,god1 in originating that grand establishment of sin and iniquity8 ,surely1 it is giving as much glory to ,god to set on foot a great or a small religious scheme1 as to keep it in motion after it is once started4 ,if it is doing the will of ,god to build up and sustain the ,episcopalian ,church now2 surely1 he was doing the will of ,god who originated it4 ,this1 no one will doubt4 ,the same is true of the ,lutheran1 the ,presbyterian1 the ,methodist ,episcopal and all the indescribable parties which have descended from them4 ,if it is service to the ,lord now1 to build them up1 it was equally as great service to him to originate them4 ,it is a fact1 too1 that all these parties honor their originators as the greatest and best men the world has had4 ,now1 how much should the opinions of these parties be considered worth8 or1 how much are the most earnest and solemn decisions they ever made1 to be regarded8 ,they would consider us highly uncharitable1 if we did not regard these decisions as most solemnly true4 ,well1 if the ,roman ,catholic ,church ever made an earnest1 an authoritative decision1 in the world1 it was when she declared ,martin ,luther a heretic4 ,and what man1 since his day1 has broken off from an old party and established a new one1 without most earnestly and solemnly being declared a heretic8 ,no such man can be mentioned4 ,the old party always decides that a new one1 that breaks off from it1 is a heresy4 ,in this way1 all the parties now in existence1 have been decided heresies1 and the leaders in them heretics4 ,yet1 these heresies1 as they have styled them1 headed by those who have been decided heretics1 have grown up1 and are now called 8evangelical churches40 ,how is all this8 ,if the ,lord never authorized them to be started1 did he authorize their perpetuation8 ,and if he did authorize them to be started1 were not the old parties awfully wicked in condemning them1 when they were doing the will of the ,lord8 ,it1 then1 presents a fearful picture--turn the matter which way you may4 ,if the parties1 passing sentences1 were wicked1 and opposing the will of ,god1 then are almost all wicked and sinful--for all the older and more popular1 have passed such sentences4 ,but if those upon whom sentence has been passed1 are sinful1 and under condemnation1 then there are but few good1 for such sentences have been passed upon nearly all4 ,such is the dilemma1 in which partyism has involved the religious world4 ,if ever the adversary of man discovered an effectual stratagem1 by means of which to defeat all piety1 and do execution in opposing the faith of ,god's elect1 it was when he succeeded in sowing the seeds of dissension in the church of ,god4 ,our ,lord's words show that he had this before his mind1 when he uttered the solemn prayer1 ,john xvii4 #bj2 8,i pray not for these alone1 but for them also who shall believe on me through their word2 that they may all be one1 as thou1 ,father1 art in me and ,i in thee1 that they also may be one in us2 that the world may believe that thou hast sent me40 ,here it is clearly implied1 that if those who believe1 through the word1 were one1 the tendency would be to induce the world to believe4 ,nor is this any more clearly implied than the opposite1 viz3 that the lack of union among believers1 leads to unbelief4 ,how vain and imaginative the thought1 that the existing parties of our times1 will ever be instrumental in the hand of ,god1 in converting the world1 when the structure of their own organization1 in itself1 has a continual tendency to infidelity4 ,are we told that such is an ungenerous charge8 ,well1 who can avoid it8 ,the language of the ,lord1 just quoted1 clearly implies that the faith of the world depends on the unity of believers2 and we all admit1 that the world cannot be converted without faith1 for 8without faith it is impossible to please ,god2 for they that would come to him must believe that he is1 and that he is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him40 ,the matter is too clear to be misunderstood4 ,the ,lord saw that the world would not believe1 till his people were one2 hence1 he prayed that they might be one1 that the world might believe4 ,need we pray for the conversion of the world8 need we send missionaries to convince the pagan nations8 need we print and circulate bibles8 need we build churches1 and preach with the zeal of apostles1 in all the length and breadth of the land8 ,i say1 need we do all this1 thinking to convert the world1 while we maintain our own unhallowed divisions among believers8 ,and1 if we do1 what evidence have we that the object we have in view will ever be attained8 ,not the least in the world2 for so long as the ,lord prays that we may be one--that the world may believe--we need not expect the world to believe1 while we are not one4 ,it is true1 we may convince1 convert and save some1 under the most disadvantageous circumstances2 but what is this1 compared with the world believing or being converted8 ,it is only a drop to the ocean4 ,why not1 then1 come back to this great obstacle1 and remove it1 that the conquests of righteousness and grace may extend over the earth8 ,it is confessed by all1 in our time1 that the ,lord's people are a spiritual people1 and if any have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 they are none of his4 ,all are aware1 too1 that carnality is the opposite of spirituality4 ,what1 then1 is an evidence of carnality8 ,i4 ,cor4 iii4 #c1 ,paul asserts3 8,for ye are carnal40 ,what reason does he give for this assertion8 8,for10 says he1 8whereas there is among you envying1 and strife1 and divisions2 are ye not carnal1 and walk as men80 ,he here alludes to their divisions1 as an evidence of their carnality1 or want of spirituality4 ,but he argues the case further1 as follows3 8,for while one saith1 ,i am of ,paul2 and another1 ,i am of ,apollos2 are ye not carnal80 ,he here continues the charge1 that their following different leaders is an evidence of their carnality4 ,it should be kept in mind1 too1 that the divisions among the ,corinthians were of the mildest form4 ,if they could not be justified by the apostle1 none since his time could be1 for none less offensive have ever existed4 ,if the ,corinthian church1 then1 deserved the charge of carnality1 as they certainly did1 how will the parties of our times escape the same charge8 ,now1 let reason ask--let righteousness ask--let every thing great and good ask3 ,can the believers now on earth1 sincerely1 devoutly and fervently1 pray and labor for the conversion of the world1 to the ,lord ,jesus1 in this state of carnality8 ,it is alleged that carnality1 or the absence of the ,spirit of ,god in the hearts of believers1 is not the cause of division8 ,then who are they that separate themselves8 ,let the ,scripture answer3 8,these be they who separate themselves1 sensual1 having not the ,spirit40 ,there is no higher nor surer evidence of sensuality1 carnality1 and the absence of the ,spirit of the ,lord1 than division among the professed followers of ,christ4 ,while this evil exists among the believers1 can we pray in faith for the conversion of the world8 ,can carnal professors1 in the absence of the ,spirit of the ,lord1 without a sufficiency of the love of ,christ1 to fellowship but a small portion of those for whom ,christ died1 and who profess to love and serve him1 hope that ,god will make them instrumental in converting the world8 ,no1 we need not flatter ourselves with the fond conceit1 that anything like general saving influence will ever be felt by the world1 until those for whom ,jesus prayed are one4 ,the meek and lowly ,spirit of the ,lord is displaced by the proud and fierce spirit of the partisan4 ,the lovely and inviting character of the first church has disappeared and in its stead we have the inducements of gorgeous worldly and fleshly establishments4 ,in the place of even being truly turned from sin to righteousness--from the power of ,satan to ,god--we have conversions that merely consist in opposing all creeds and parties but the one into which the converts happen to fall1 while they frequently love the ,lord no better than before their conversion4 ,in the place of that universal philanthropy exhibited by our ,lord's death1 for the whole world1 such converts are merely filled with party bigotry1 which dislikes--yes1 even hates--every body not of the 8same faith and order40 ,under the influence of such religion1 people live near each other1 see each other every day--yet associate not1 nor allow their children to associate1 nor even worship the ,lord their ,god in the same house4 ,and why this careful separation8 ,they differ in faith6 ,what difference8 ,well1 they cannot tell exactly1 but the learned doctor who sermonizes for them1 knows the difference4 ,go to him1 and he will explain it to you4 ,this is no extreme case4 ,nine-tenths of the members of churches cannot tell the difference between their own church and another4 ,yet1 it is so great1 that they cannot fellowship the other4 ,,dancing ,,is ,a ,,healthful ,,exercise4 ,to make serious reply to this deceitful1 deceptive and empty pretence1 is a little hard to do4 ,to see a person who can not go three squares to the house of ,god on foot1 especially if it should be a little unpleasant1 who can dance till midnight1 8for amusement10 speaking of its being healthful1 is ridiculous in the extreme4 ,it may be1 for anything we know1 that for any person who has become so useless as to sit1 day after day1 and not move enough to circulate their blood1 dancing would prove healthful4 ,but there are a thousand things better for them4 ,a visit to the sick1 to the poor and the distressed1 with something for their necessities1 would be vastly better for both soul and body4 ,almost any kind of useful labor would be more healthful1 and leave vastly less remorse of conscience4 ,but if a person has such an aversion to labor to visiting the sick1 the poor and needy1 or doing anything useful1 they deserve no health1 and the world will only be the better off when they are out of it4 ,more health1 permanent happiness and real enjoyment are found in an industrious and useful life than all the seekers of pleasure ever knew4 ,the man of useful life has no time for pleasure and amusement4 ,his time is taken up1 wholly taken up1 and he is so happy in it1 that it appears short1 in constant acts of usefulness4 ,but pleasure-seekers are constantly devising how to while away time1 to pass it off or murder it4 ,time appears the greatest burthen they have1 through their whole life1 and1 at death1 the trouble is1 that they have not more time4 ,the good man appears pressed through life to do the good he desires to do1 but when death comes1 his work is done1 well done1 and he dies in hope of hearing the ,lord say1 8,well done1 good and faithful servant2 enter thou into the joys of thy ,lord40 ,,prayer4 ,there is nothing in ,scripture called 8family worship10 and yet what we mean by that expression1 is the oldest worship in the world4 ,holy men in every age worshipped ,god in the family4 ,but the time and manner of conducting it1 is left to the sense of propriety1 and discretion of the head of the family4 ,paul says3 8,i will therefore1 that men pray everywhere40 #a ,tim4 ii4 #h4 ,he also speaks of remembering the brethren in his prayers1 night and day4 ,he could not do this1 without praying 8night and day40 ,the ,lord went out into a mountain and continued in prayer all night4 ,luke vi4 #ab4 ,the first disciples 8continued with one accord in prayer and supplication40 ,acts i4 #ad4 ,cornelius said1 8at the ninth hour1 ,i prayed in my house40 ,acts x4 #cj4 ,this1 we presume he got from pious ,jews1 as it was before his conversion to the christian faith4 8,when they prayed the place was shaken where they were40 ,acts iv4 #ca4 ,these are but meager specimens of what the ,scriptures say about prayer4 ,the history of the first ,christians is full of prayer4 ,if you wish to know where they prayed you only need find where they were1 for they were 8instant in prayer0--8prayed night and day0--8prayed always0--8prayed everywhere0--8prayed without ceasing40 ,they prayed 8on the house-tops10 8in the house10 by the 8sea-shore10 8in the prison10 and 8in the assembly40 ,they prayed wherever they were4 ,we should do the same4 ,they spent much more time upon their knees1 than the professors of religion in our day4 ,the sin that we fear is not that brethren do not pray in their families1 but that they do not pray any place half as much as they should4 ,now if the first ,christians prayed wherever they were1 even when confined in a prison1 why should any man who wishes to do the will of ,god hesitate to pray in his family8 ,can any man show a better place1 ordinarily1 for reading the ,scriptures and prayer8 ,can there be any objection to this place8 ,are not christians required to pray everywhere8 ,will not ,god hear a christian in his family8 ,no one doubts that it is as suitable and appropriate as any place on earth4 8,why then1 is it not commanded80 ,because there are thousands of christians who have neither houses or families1 and the ,lord has left the way open so that they can worship ,god just as acceptably in whatever place they may be1 as the man who has an orderly family and home4 ,the ,lord has left the head of the family free to determine the appropriate place to worship4 ,but woe to that christian who objects to the family circle1 as a suitable place1 and then does not worship any place4 ,but we never saw a good reason and do not believe there is any1 against the orderly custom of reading a portion of ,scripture and praying in the family1 and we believe that those fathers and mothers whose children never heard them pray1 will most solemnly lament it when they see the ,lord ,jesus at his coming4 8,pray without ceasing1 rejoice evermore1 and in everything give thanks40 ,,we ,,have ,a ,,perfect ,,gospel ,,to ,,preach4 ,we claim that the religion of ,jesus ,christ is a complete1 perfect and divine system1 in itself2 distinct from1 superior to1 and as high above every thing else as heaven is above this earth2 and that all who desire to do so1 can determine what it is1 practice it and be christians4 ,we claim that the gospel is complete1 perfect and divine2 distinct from1 and independent of1 everything else1 and that he who desires it1 may know precisely what it is1 believe it with all the heart1 obey it and be saved by it2 otherwise the ,lord could not be just and good in condemning the man who does not believe it1 or does not obey it4 ,the matter1 therefore1 with us now is not to determine what the truth is1 or the gospel2 this we have long since settled4 ,we1 as a people1 know the truth1 the saving truth1 the only saving truth1 as a whole1 or in its embodiment1 or concentrated form1 though many may not understand it in detail1 and the great matter now is to practice it1 enjoy it and advocate it4 ,god intends or purposes it for all mankind1 as much as he did for us4 ,it is now our duty to make it known among all mankind2 or1 as ,paul expresses it1 8to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery1 which1 from the beginning of the world1 hath been hid in ,god1 who hath created all things by ,jesus ,christ2 to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places1 might be known by the church1 the manifold wisdom of ,god1 according to his eternal purpose40 ,,bible ,,names4 ,but there is one course infallibly safe for us1 and that is to follow the ,new ,testament phraseology4 ,we ought not only to use ,new ,testament names1 but should pay some regard to the frequency of the use of those names4 ,when a man uses the name christian more in one half hour than it is used in the whole ,new ,testament1 it is a clear evidence that there is something wrong with him4 ,the same is true of the name ,disciple1 or any other designation found in the ,scriptures4 ,the man who is truly under ,jesus1 not only uses ,new ,testament designations for the people of ,god1 but uses them in the same manner as found in ,scripture4 ,we never find 8,christian church0 in ,scripture4 ,we find no 8,disciple church10 or 8,disciples' church10 in the ,new ,testament4 ,such names are incongruous4 ,yet they are current in some sections of country4 ,in some parts of ,kentucky and ,indiana you hear of the 8,christian church0 very frequently4 ,in the ,western ,reserve1 ,ohio1 you will hear both 8,disciple church0 and 8,disciples' church0 very frequently4 ,in the ,new ,testament 8the church of ,christ0 is found2 but 8the church of ,god0 much more frequently4 ,the members are called ,christians1 ,disciples1 and frequently only designated 8people of ,god10 8children of ,god10 8brethren10 etc4 ,by giving a little attention1 we can converse in the same way4 ,in nine cases out of ten1 we can express ourselves in the simple words1 8the brethren10 8the church10 etc41 and be as perfectly understood as if we would adopt the most sectarian designation4 ,the adoption of all names unknown to the ,new ,testament1 is wholly unwarrantable4 ,there is no matter of more importance than this4 ,let us learn to use the precise language of the ,new ,testament1 and use it in the same sense as used there2 and1 above all1 see to it1 that we not only call ourselves ,christians and ,disciples1 but that we be indeed ,christians1 ,disciples4 ,,individuality ,,after ,,death4 ,will the dead maintain their identity and individuality8 ,is there any clear light on this8 ,we will not discuss it1 but refer to a few evidences4 ,fifteen hundred years after ,moses died1 and before any had risen from the dead1 he held a conversation with ,jesus in the mountain of transfiguration4 ,he had not lost his identity nor his individuality4 ,he did not lose his consciousness4 ,see ,matt4 xvii4 #a-d2 ,mark ix4 #b-d2 ,luke ix4 #bh-cj4 ,the rich man died1 and in hades he lifted up his eyes in torment4 ,see ,luke xvi4 #bc4 ,he did not lose his identity1 individuality or consciousness4 ,nor is there any account of his existence being such as he had before he was born4 ,nor did ,lazarus lose his identity1 individuality or consciousness4 ,these men were both identified1 conscious1 and retained their individuality4 ,they were not in the same place or state1 though both were in hades4 ,there was a great gulf between them--the one in ,abraham's bosom1 and the other in tartaros4 ,we are not to assume that1 because we find soul and spirit used interchangeably in some instances1 they always mean the same1 much less that they always mean life4 ,when ,paul prays that the 8whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless10 he does not use the words soul and spirit in the same sense1 any more than he uses the words soul and the body in the same sense4 ,he does not use the spirit1 soul and body1 in the same sense1 or as meaning the same thing1 but each having its own meaning4 ,the word soul is used with more latitude than the word spirit4 ,the word soul is frequently used in the sense of person1 as 8the soul that sinneth shall die20 8eight souls were saved in the ark10 and other cases4 ,the word soul is used in the sense of life1 in some instances4 ,but it is used synonymously with spirit1 in the following3 8,are not able to kill the soul40 ,matt4 x4 #bh4 ,man can kill the body and the natural life1 but the soul or spirit1 man can not kill4 ,the living being that dwells in the body1 or the 8inner man10 does not die when the body dies4 ,this 8inner man0 may be 8at home in the body1 or absent from the body and present with the ,lord40 ,this 8inner man0 may be caught away to paradise1 in the body or out of the body4 ,but we cannot go into the discussion of these matters1 now4 ,we do not receive the idea of men losing their identity1 individuality or consciousness2 the transmigration of the soul1 or the pre-existence of the soul2 nor the atheistic idea that 8death is an eternal sleep40 ,we can find better1 and certainly more profitable themes than these1 on which to dwell1 both in our meditations1 preaching and writing4 ,let us be careful and not get out where the water is too deep--we might find it over our heads4 ,,belief ,,in ,,the ,,bible ,,is ,,infallibly ,,safe4 ,it is infallibly safe1 because no man has ever been able to show any evil consequences that could possibly follow the believer1 upon any hypothesis4 ,no man of any reason has ever doubted the safety of relying upon the ,bible1 if it be true4 ,but we go beyond this1 and declare1 without hesitation1 that if it were possible for it to prove untrue1 it is infallibly safe to believe and rely upon it4 ,its moral precepts1 to say the least1 are good as any on earth4 ,its requirements in all our present relations are competent to make us as good and happy as we are capable of being in this life4 ,and1 certainly1 if it could possibly prove untrue1 the belief of it could not endanger our happiness in the life to come4 ,beyond all controversy1 he who believes and practices the ,bible1 attains to the highest perfection and happiness of which his being is capable in this life1 and stands as good a chance for happiness in the life to come as he who rejects it4 ,and if1 in the end1 the whole could be shown to be a mistake1 no man living can show that the believer in the ,bible can possibly be in danger1 in this world or in the world to come4 ,no evil consequences can possibly follow the believer1 in any event4 ,it is strange1 if that which is infallibly safe1 should not prove true4 ,,revelation ,,of ,,the ,,mystery4 ,god is unchangeable2 the same yesterday1 to-day and forever4 ,jesus1 the manifestation of ,god in the flesh1 and the exact representation of his person1 in whom dwells all the fullness of the ,godhead1 bodily2 the concentration and embodiment of all divine benevolence1 goodness and perfection1 is unvaryingly the same--the constant1 the ever blessed and merciful philanthropist4 ,christianity1 as set forth upon the sacred pages of the ,new ,testament1 is but the revelation of the mystery from the beginning of the world1 hid in ,god who created all things by ,jesus ,christ1 but the development of the eternal purpose of ,god1 the unfolding of the infinite benevolence1 mercy and goodness1 in a gracious system of pardon1 restoration and final redemption1 for all them who obey him1 through the proclamation of the glorious gospel of the blessed ,god4 ,it was the infinite goodness that prompted it1 the infinite will that resolved it1 the infinite wisdom that devised it1 and infinite power that executed it4 ,god first purposed the gracious scheme of benevolence4 ,he then promised it to ,abraham1 saying1 8,in thee1 and in thy seed1 all the nations of the earth shall be blessed40 ,he succeeded this promise by many clear predictions of the prophets1 and divine testimonies from their hallowed lips4 ,yet these things were not understood by mortal man4 ,great and good men believed the promise and the testimonies of the prophets1 rested in hope and died in faith1 without understanding2 fully appreciating or comprehending the full import of the good things to come4 ,eye had not then seen1 ear had not heard1 nor had it entered into the heart of man to conceive the good things ,god had prepared for them that love him4 ,the things now revealed in the gospel1 had been hid for ages1 and not made known to the sons of men4 ,christianity is now a mystery explained1 a secret revealed--that which was hid in ,god1 made known--the purpose of ,god developed--a promise fulfilled according to the ,scriptures of the prophets1 and the commandment of the everlasting ,god1 made known among all nations for the obedience of faith4 ,,earnestly ,,contending ,,for ,,the ,,faith4 ,an apostle has thought it needful to enjoin upon us1 8,earnestly contend for the faith formerly delivered to the saints40 ,an old soldier of the cross1 when about to put off his armor1 rejoiced that he had fought a good fight1 kept the faith and finished his course4 ,in the course of his warfare1 we are informed that he disputed 8two whole years0 in a certain school1 or contended for the faith4 ,this warfare1 disputing or contending1 is an advocacy1 a defence and maintenance of the faith once delivered to the saints4 ,the first thing1 in order to this advocacy1 is to ascertain what the 8faith once delivered to the saints0 is1 and the next thing is to advocate it1 maintain and defend it with every power4 ,the faith exists in two forms3 #a4 ,in its concentrated1 embodied1 or constitutional form1 as it is presented for the confession of the new convert1 in a single proposition1 that it may be received or rejected by either an affirmative or a negative answer4 #b4 ,in its fully developed or detailed form1 as we find it spread upon the pages of the christian ,scriptures4 ,this is the creed of the church by which she is governed and guided in all her journey through this world4 ,the whole of the detailed or fully developed creed1 so far as its truth or authority is concerned1 is in the concentrated1 embodied or constitutional creed4 ,indeed the whole system of christianity was in the purpose of ,god1 which he purposed in ,christ before the world1 in the promise to ,abraham1 in the good news borne by the angels to the shepherds of ,bethlehem1 in the last commission1 in the same sense that it was in ,christ4 ,but it was not put in due form for mankind to confess1 receive and place themselves under it4 ,the same that was in the 8eternal purpose0 of ,god1 in the promise1 in the good news of great joy and in the commission1 was in the announcement1 8,this is my ,son1 the beloved1 in whom ,i am well pleased10 in the confession of ,peter1 8,thou art the ,christ1 the ,son of the living ,god10 the same that ,john testified that we might believe1 when he said1 8,these things are written that you might believe that ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god10 or that ,god uttered in the mountain when he gave him honor and glory1 or the same is contained in any one of these that is contained in 8the gospel40 ,any one of these expressions1 and many others that could be maintained1 contain christianity in its concentrated1 embodied or constitutional form4 ,these all embrace ,christ4 ,all christianity centers in him1 comes from him and is authorized by him4 ,through the holy witnesses of ,jesus1 men are made acquainted with ,christ1 convinced that he is a divine person1 the ,son of ,god and the ,savior of the world2 and1 in the confession1 receive him as their only ,leader4 ,this is simply receiving christianity in its constitutional form1 without having examined its details or knowing what they are4 ,we do not1 therefore1 read christianity through1 sitting in judgment1 as we do1 a merely human composition1 noticing every expression to see whether it is good or true4 ,when we become acquainted with the ,author1 find him sent from ,god1 declared his ,son in his resurrection from the dead1 divine and infallible1 we place ourselves under him1 and receive his holy instructions implicitly1 only wishing to know that they are from him4 ,christianity1 therefore1 in its embodied1 or constitutional form1 embraces christianity in its details4 8,the faith once delivered to the saints10 is simply christianity1 the complete system as the ,lord gave it4 ,all who have confessed ,christ intelligently1 have received christianity1 committed themselves to it4 ,this is 8the faith10 that which is to be advocated1 maintained and defended4 ,the man who has received it with the whole heart1 practices it1 and enjoys it1 is a christian4 ,the requirement of heaven resting upon him is1 to earnestly contend for the faith1 advocate1 maintain and defend it4 ,,thirty ,,years ,,ago4 ,we showed from the pulpit1 fully thirty years ago1 that the answer of ,peter to the three thousand on ,pentecost1 was not the same as the answer of ,ananias1 to ,saul1 of ,tarsus1 and the answer to ,saul was not the same as the answer of ,paul1 to the ,philippian jailer1 and gave the reason for the difference4 ,but that was not a difference between then and now1 but difference in view of the difference in the conditions of persons at the same time4 ,the same difference is observed now1 by all intelligent preachers1 where they find the difference in the conditions of persons4 ,if a man is a believer1 they do not command him to 8believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ40 ,if he has repented1 they do not command him to repent4 ,or1 if he has been immersed1 they do not command him to be immersed2 but to go on and unite with others who have been immersed into ,christ1 and observe all things1 whatever the ,lord has commanded4 ,but attention to this is no difference between then and now1 nor did the preacher1 thirty years ago1 fail to observe this difference1 any more than now4 ,on the contrary1 the preachers then generally understood this better than the preachers do now4 ,we noticed the articles in question1 carefully1 to see the difference in the condition of things now1 demanding the different treatment1 but in vain2 we did not see it4 ,the plain state of the case is1 that there is no general difference1 and we now need the same gospel1 presented in the same manner1 as they needed then4 ,preaching always did take better effect1 when presented in a pleasant manner1 than when presented in an abrupt and repulsive manner4 ,this we knew thirty years ago1 as well as we know it now4 ,all that can be truthfully said about this1 opens the way for no change--no new departure4 ,whatever was then true in this respect1 is true now4 ,a good and acceptable manner in presenting the gospel was appreciated then as much as it is now1 and was of precisely the same value4 ,it was understood then as well as it is now1 that every improvement in manner had its value1 and more attention was given to the matter then1 than now4 ,there was then more sound preaching and teaching1 than there is now1 and less that was unsound4 ,we need solid and sound men now1 faithful and true1 not to preach something different1 but the same1 not in a different manner from what we had thirty years ago1 but in the same manner2 not to undo what has been done by the labors of the holy men of the past fifty years1 many of whom have fallen asleep in ,jesus1 but a few remain to this present2 but to maintain1 defend1 perpetuate1 and transmit it down through the ages1 to the end of time4 ,we want men that will not demoralize the people1 specially our young preachers1 by opening the way for something new and different2 but maintain the same things1 and be of the same mind1 and of the same judgment2 not preparing the way for something new1 but maintaining and defending the old1 tried and unquestionable2 not getting ready for change--new departure--but 8preach the word0--8continue in the things they have learned1 and been assured of10 and not demoralize our young preachers with the idea of being on the wing2 on a flight from one thing to another1 in some wonderful career of progress2 but exhorting them to be 8rooted and grounded in the truth20 yes1 more1 in the 8love of the truth20 not only to maintain 8sound speech that can not be condemned0--8sound words10 but the very 8form of sound words40 ,,jesus ,,revealed ,,as ,,the ,,savior4 ,we turn our eyes to the infant in a manger in ,bethlehem1 and place them upon the child of promise1 born according to the divine purpose1 to whom ,god had been pointing from the beginning of time1 who is to be the rise and fall of many nations1 and the hope of the world1 and find that all the divine prophets1 and holy ,seers of olden times1 have been looking to him2 that the attention of all heaven is directed to him1 and1 that the object now is1 to engage the attention1 enlist the hearts1 and center the affections of the whole family of man in him who is called ,jesus4 ,accordingly1 wonders surround him of a stupendous character1 when he is born4 ,angels of heaven appear1 exclaiming1 8,we bring you good news of great joy1 which shall be to all people4 ,unto you1 this day1 in the city of ,david1 a ,savior is born1 which is ,christ the ,lord40 ,after a few incidents connected with his birth1 and up till he is two years of age1 he passes pretty much without observation1 through the period of his minority1 and the time comes for the ,lord to make him known to ,israel4 ,we look and see him approach ,john the ,baptist1 demanding baptism at his hands4 ,the good man knew him not as the ,messiah1 though he knew him as a kinsman1 and1 in humility says1 8,i have need to be baptized of thee1 and comest thou to me40 ,the ,lord replied1 8,suffer it to be so now1 for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness40 ,with this righteous explanation1 the ,baptist walked by the side of his ,lord1 not knowing him to be his ,savior1 for he says1 8,i knew him not1 but he who sent me to baptize1 said1 #8,on whomsoever you see the ,holy ,spirit descending and remaining1 that is he4'0 ,down they enter1 hand in hand1 into the water4 ,the immerser takes his ,redeemer in his hands1 and lowers him till his person is buried in the waters of ,jordan1 and then gently raises him up4 ,as they ascend from the water1 they lift their eyes and behold the opening heavens1 and the descending ,spirit as it forms a visible appearance1 and rests upon him whom ,god would have revealed to ,israel4 ,at this moment1 the ,almighty ,father spoke from heaven1 in the audience of the people1 announcing3 8,this is my ,son1 the beloved1 in whom ,i am well pleased40 ,,can ,,not ,a ,,man ,,know ,,that ,,he ,,is ,a ,,christian8 ,the grand question to be solved1 in this generation1 is1 whether men can follow the ,lord1 the only ,potentate1 the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords1 as their only ,leader1 receive his truth as their only guide1 his faith as their only faith1 his religion as their only religion1 and be simply his disciples and no more4 ,is there such a thing in this world as christianity8 ,all the conflicting parties around us admit that there is4 ,can we determine what it is8 ,if we can not1 no man knows whether he is a christian or not4 ,if we can determine what christianity is1 then1 why not adopt it1 and nothing else8 ,can we determine what the gospel is8 ,if we can not1 then1 no man knows whether he is a believer or not1 and knows not whether he will be saved or lost4 ,if we can determine what the gospel is then1 why in the name of reason not preach the gospel and nothing else8 ,if we can not determine what the church of ,christ is1 then no man can determine whether he is in the church of ,christ or not4 ,if we can determine what the church of ,christ is1 there can be no excuse for forming any other church1 or belonging to any other4 ,if we can not determine what christianity is1 we can not determine who is near to it1 or far from it4 ,if we can not determine what the gospel is1 we can not decide who comes near to it1 or swerves far from it4 ,if the right way can not be known1 no man can tell who is near the truth and who is far from it4 ,if we can not tell which the way to heaven is1 we can not tell who is near and who is far from it4 ,the world is lost4 ,we are enveloped in impenetrable darkness4 ,the light of heaven is blown out4 ,hell has triumphed4 ,all is thrown into chaos4 ,an eternal confusion spreads a universal reign4 ,doubt1 uncertainty and gloom extend over the whole habitable earth4 ,the purpose of ,god has failed1 and the malignant purpose of hell has triumphed4 ,the hope of all nations is lost4 ,our world is ruined6--,black1 fearful and awful despair prevail everywhere among men4 ,is this the condition of our world8 ,tell us1 all you who think that the man is a bigot1 a simpleton and pretender1 who says he can know the only true ,god1 and ,jesus ,christ whom he has sent--that he can know the truth that makes man free--that he can know the gospel--that he can know christianity--that he can know that he is a christian--that he can know the true church2 tell us1 all you who despise this man for claiming that he can know all this1 if you say you cannot know these things1 how do you know whether you are right or wrong1 in the way to heaven or hell8 ,how can you tell1 if you know not these things1 whether you are near right1 or far from it8 ,how can you tell anything about it8 ,,exalted ,,position ,,of ,,jesus4 ,this glorious person is the soul of the ,bible1 the center of the whole spiritual system1 the attraction for all nations1 the ruler1 not only among the saints on earth1 but also the armies of heaven4 ,god gave him honor and glory1 the apostle says1 when he proclaimed him his ,son in the holy mountain4 ,he walks at the head of the army of ,god1 the true ,israel1 and among the inhabitants of the earth1 proclaiming with all authority1 both in heaven and on earth1 8,i am the way1 the truth and the life2 no man cometh to the ,father but by me40 8,i am the resurrection and the life0--8,i am he who was dead and am alive1 and behold ,i live forever and ever0--8,i have the keys of hell and of death2 ,i can open1 and no man can shut2 ,i can shut1 and no man can open0--8,i am the bright and the morning star1 the root and the offspring of ,david0--8,i1 if ,i be lifted up1 will draw all men to me40 8,if any man would be my disciple1 let him take up his cross and follow me40 ,such are a few of the many expressions setting forth the exalted position of the ,christian's ,king and the ,christian's ,lord4 ,when he was coronated in heaven1 crowned ,lord of all1 the ,almighty ,father swore that he should reign till all his enemies should be put under his feet--that to him every knee should bow1 and every tongue should confess4 ,lift up your hearts1 all you saints1 and behold your ,king6 ,he is the head of the church4 ,set your affections on him1 follow him1 and consecrate yourselves to him forever more4 ,,public ,,opinion--,,infant ,,damnation4 ,,st4 ,,louis1 ,,mo41 ,may #ahth1 #ahgd4 ,to the ,editor of the ,globe3 ,i will give a reward of fifty dollars to any one who will give the name of a ,presbyterian minister1 who is a member of a ,presbytery1 under the jurisdiction of the ,general ,assembly of the ,presbyterian ,church1 of the ,united ,states of ,america1 who has1 at any time1 preached the doctrine of infant damnation2 and ,i will give fifty dollars additional reward1 to any one who can point out any article in the ,confession of ,faith or ,catechism of this ,church1 teaching this horrid doctrine4 ,as infant damnation has been charged upon ,presbyterians in an editorial1 of recent date1 in the ,globe1 the above reward is offered for the proof4 ,that the elect are incapable of sin1 is also stated in the same editorial1 to be a doctrine of the ,presbyterian ,church4 ,this also is untrue4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,aughey4 ,we publish the above to show where the pressure comes1 and not that we expect any 8fifty dollars reward10 for such men as the writer of this1 always have a loop-hole through which to escape1 but we will see whether the ,presbyterian ministry believe 8this horrid doctrine40 ,if they do not believe the ,confession of ,faith1 they are sailing under false colors and their profession is a sham4 ,if they do believe their ,confession of ,faith1 we leave the reader to judge whether they believe 8this horrid doctrine40 ,let us hear the ,confession3 8,god from all eternity did1 by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will1 freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass2 yet so as thereby neither is ,god the ,author of sin1 nor is violence offered to the will of the creature1 nor is the liberty of contingency of second causes taken away1 but rather established40 ,con41 page #ah1 ,god's ,eternal ,decree1 chap4 iii4 ,the reader will see nothing about infant damnation in that4 ,very well2 let us see what is in it4 ,this is in it--that ,god did foreordain unchangeably whatever comes to pass4 ,there is more than this in it--he did this 8from all eternity40 ,now let us hear the ,confession tell what one of these decrees is3 8,by the decree of ,god1 for the manifestation of his glory1 some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life1 and others foreordained to everlasting death40 ,con4 page #ah4 ,when was this done8 8,from all eternity40 ,what was it done for8 8,for the manifestation of his glory40 ,what was done8 8,some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life1 and others foreordained unto everlasting death40 ,that makes a plain case of it4 ,let us hear the ,confession again3 8,these angels and men thus predestinated and foreordained are particularly and unchangeably designed1 and their number is so certain and definite that it can not be either increased or diminished40 ,con4 page #ai4 ,this decree of predestination and foreordination is particularly and unchangeably designed1 and the number thus particularly and unchangeably designed can not be increased or diminished4 ,but it will be said that this is not said of infants1 but of 8angels and men40 ,so it is4 ,but when was this decreed8 8,from all eternity40 ,these men 8foreordained to everlasting death0 were thus 8particularly and definitely designed0 8from all eternity40 ,we may not be able to explain precisely the meaning of the words 8from all eternity10 but they evidently mean before they were created4 ,before they were born1 then1 some men were foreordained to everlasting death4 ,when they were born they were infants2 yes1 infants 8particularly and unchangeably designed0 to everlasting death4 ,those of these infants foreordained1 8particularly and unchangeably designed to everlasting death10 who die in infancy are lost4 ,here1 then1 in the ,confession of ,faith1 which ,presbyterian ministers profess to believe1 is the doctrine of infant damnation--yes1 8the horrid doctrine10 whether they believe it or not4 ,but then infant damnation is no worse than the damnation of adults who are foreordained to everlasting death1 particularly and unchangeably designed to everlasting death1 the number so definite that it can be neither increased nor diminished4 ,let us hear the ,confession again3 8,those of mankind that are predestinated unto life1 ,god1 before the foundation of the world was laid1 according to his eternal and immutable purpose and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will1 hath chosen in ,christ1 unto everlasting glory1 out of his mere free grace and love1 without any foresight of faith or good works1 or perseverance in either of them1 or any other thing in the creature as conditions or causes moving him thereto2 and all to the praise of his glorious grace40 ,con41 page #ba4 ,in view of this1 where is the difference whether infants or adults8 ,the decree of ,god--his design--settled the matter before they were born1 and made it so definite1 that the number can neither be increased nor diminished1 and that1 too1 without any foresight of faith or good works in the creature4 ,the immutable decree and design of ,god has settled the matter1 and that1 too1 before time began4 ,the elect can never be lost1 and the non-elect can never be saved1 no matter whether infants or adults4 ,to unchangeably foreordain an infant to everlasting death1 is no worse than to foreordain a man to everlasting death--design him to it before he was created4 ,but we must1 since the account is opened1 administer yet another item or two on this matter4 8,calvin's ,institutes of the ,christian ,religion10 is a standard work among ,presbyterians1 and used as a text-book in their theological schools4 ,let us hear from this work1 ,vol4 ,i4 page #aff3 8,hence appears the perverseness of their disposition to murmur1 because they intentionally suppress the cause of condemnation1 while they are constrained to acknowledge it themselves1 hoping to excuse themselves by charging it upon ,god4 ,but1 though ,i ever so often admit ,god to be the ,author of it1 which is perfectly correct1 yet this does not abolish the guilt impressed upon their consciences40 ,calvin here says1 to confess that ,god is the ,author of sin1 which is the cause of condemnation1 8is perfectly correct40 ,let us hear him again3 8,i confess1 indeed1 that all the descendants of ,adam fell1 by the ,divine will1 into that miserable condition in which they are now involved2 and this is what ,i asserted from the beginning1 that we must always return at last to the sovereign determination of ,god's will1 the cause of which is hidden in himself10 ,inst41 page #aff4 ,here ,calvin says1 8,adam fell by the ,divine will40 ,let us hear him once more3 8,if ,god simply foresaw the fates of men1 and did not also dispose and fix them1 by his determination1 there would be room to agitate the question1 whether his providence or foresight rendered them at all necessary4 ,but since he foresaw future events only in consequence of his decree that they should happen1 it is useless to contend about foreknowledge1 while it is evident that all things come to pass rather by ordination and decree40 ,inst41 page #aga4 ,here it is argued that ,god foreknows 8only in consequence of his decree40 ,but we must hear this great master in the ,presbyterian ,israel again3 8,i inquire again how it came to pass that the fall of ,adam1 independent of any remedy1 should involve so many nations1 with their infant children1 in eternal death1 but because such was the will of ,god80 ,inst41 page #agj4 ,is there any infant damnation in this8 ,but he says1 8independent of any remedy40 ,he does so say1 but for the non-elect there is no remedy4 ,they and their infant children are involved in eternal death1 and that 8because such was the will of ,god40 ,in these passages we have it clearly taught that ,god is the ,author of sin2 that not only ,adam1 but many nations1 with their infant children1 are involved in eternal death1 and that1 too1 according to the will of ,god1 because he willed1 designed--decreed it4 ,see one more item from the ,confession1 chap4 v4 sec4 #d3 8,the almighty power1 unsearchable wisdom and infinite wisdom and goodness of ,god1 so far manifest themselves in his providence that it extendeth itself to the first fall1 and all other sins of angels and men1 and that not by a bare permission1 but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding1 and otherwise ordering and governing of them1 in a manifest dispensation to his own holy ends40 ,it is seen from this that the ,confession teaches that even the providence of ,god extends not only to the first fall1 but to all other sins of angels of men1 and that not by a bare permission1 but such as has joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding1 and otherwise ordering and governing of them1 in a manifest dispensation to his own holy ends4 ,let us hear the ,larger ,catechism1 page #aie3 8,they who have never heard the gospel1 know not ,jesus ,christ1 and believe not in him1 can not be saved1 be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature or the laws of that religion which they possess2 neither is there salvation in any other1 but in ,christ alone1 who is the ,savior only of his body1 the church40 ,what becomes of all those who die without remedy1 with their infant children8 ,if ,presbyterian ministers do not believe this horrible doctrine of infant damnation1 it is because they do not believe their own ,confession of ,faith1 and standard works4 ,we can supply them with plenty more of the same sort1 if there is any demand for it4 ,,the ,,warning4 ,the antediluvians would not be warned by the preaching of ,noah1 and suspected nothing till the flood came1 and swept them all away4 ,the ,jews in like manner would not be warned by our ,lord and his apostles1 and could not be aroused from their apathy and indifference till their devoted city was invested with armies4 ,so shall it be at the coming of the ,son of man4 ,great trials are upon those who intend to maintain truth and righteousness4 ,may we be able to stand the coming conflict4 ,the love of many is growing cold1 and those weary of the restraints of ,christ are coming to the surface4 ,let us not slumber1 but watch and strengthen the things that remain and are ready to die4 ,let us hold fast and be faithful1 lest the trying hour come on us unexpected4 ,let us sing1 and sing with the spirit and the understanding3 8,nearer1 my ,god1 to thee40 ,may we find grace to stand in the evil day1 and having done all to stand4 ,,how ,,the ,,cause ,,of ,,reformation ,,was ,,advanced4 ,with preachers from the farms1 shops1 stores1 law offices1 doctors' offices1 with a little learning1 and many almost without it1 we carried this cause forward1 and in defiance of all opposition have triumphantly planted it in all directions in this and in many other countries4 ,the power was not in the men but in the truth of ,god2 the clear and unquestionable truth1 that could be made plain and reliable to all men1 and that1 too1 with very little learning or talent4 ,the ground taken was invulnerable1 manifestly right4 ,the ,bible is from ,god1 divine1 and admitted by all to be right1 and there is not a reason in the world for not taking and going by it4 ,we have struck down all human authorities1 human names1 and humanism of every sort1 and restored to the people of this generation to a wonderful degree the divine1 the supreme and absolute authority of the ,bible1 and are now commanding respect in a remarkable degree1 not as a new denomination1 but as the people of ,god1 called out from the world and from ,babylon1 and planted upon the ,rock of ,god4 ,the man that runs against this cause and opposes it is not simply running against men and opposing them1 but against ,god1 and must come to nothing4 ,the cause is simply right1 infallibly right1 and nothing opposed to it is right4 ,in this view we started in it1 and have never had a doubt about its correctness and supreme authority over everything else in the name of religion4 ,in our incipient movements every member was a preacher1 if not publicly1 privately1 and every preacher was at work1 as opportunity opened the way1 in private1 the social circle1 the prayer-meeting1 the established and regular meeting on the ,lord's day for the commemoration of the suffering of ,jesus1 anywhere and everywhere1 as a sense of propriety dictated on all occasions4 ,there were additions at almost every meeting1 whether for prayer1 or on the ,lord's day1 and frequently when there were no meetings4 ,all were missionaries1 and missionaries all the time4 ,great numbers were almost daily added to the church1 of both men and women4 ,indeed1 many of the sectarian priests became obedient to the faith4 ,we had discipline in the church--order1 and the members were looked after2 not only the popular and rich1 but the afflicted and the poor4 ,all were enlisted in the work1 and had time to give attention to it4 ,the evangelists were self-sacrificing men1 seeking the salvation of the people1 and preached in private dwellings1 school houses1 in barns1 mills1 groves1 anywhere and everywhere that a few people could be found1 who would hear the word of the ,lord4 ,the people crowded out to hear1 and1 hearing1 believed to the salvation of their souls4 ,they were of one heart and of one soul4 ,the ,bible was their book4 8,thus saith the ,lord0 was their watchword1 and a man that would sneer at it would have been regarded as a skeptic4 8,it is written0 would be heard in the preaching and conversations4 8,the chapter and verse0 were demanded4 ,it was not the novelty of the cause that gave it the victory1 but the certainty that it was right--that it was from ,god and of supreme authority--that carried it to the hearts of the people4 ,it was not unsupportable human schemes and devices that gave it power among the people1 but the invulnerable nature of the cause itself4 ,it was not the polish of classical and plausible men that carried it through the country1 but the manifest authority of ,god in it4 ,jesuits can only excel in being ,jesuits2 schemers can only excel in scheming2 but 8the excellency of the power0 that pushed this cause through this country was not of ,jesuits nor schemers1 but of ,god2 the preaching of the cross1 the wisdom of ,god and the power of ,god4 ,we knew nothing but ,christ and him crucified1 and went ahead with our plain and unvarnished story of ,calvary4 ,god was with us4 ,a ,,phalanx ,,of ,,young ,,men4 ,a grand phalanx of younger men1 with fine education1 abundant talent1 and as true hearts as ever beat1 are rallying to the principles1 coming to the rescue1 and have set their seal that 8,god is true10 and that 8the word of ,god is not bound40 ,ten of these for every one of the old men falling are making their appearance4 ,they are rousing up all over the country1 and new pens are coming to the rescue4 ,god is with these young men1 dwells in them and will hold them up4 ,they are not mercenary men1 but men of ,god--men of faith4 ,we could name scores of them4 ,they are found in all directions4 ,they are reading1 working1 preaching the gospel and bringing sinners to the ,lord4 ,these are for the old ground--8,the ,bible and the ,bible alone40 ,many of them are now wielding master pens1 and are master speakers4 ,they are becoming masters of the situation4 ,they will walk through the progressive elements1 like ,sampson carrying away the gate-posts1 or pulling down the pillars of the house4 ,while others will become 8offended because of the word10 these will love the word1 and all the hallowed principles involved1 more and more1 and stand true till the ,lord comes4 ,they will hear them ringing out the old watchwords1 8,it is written10 8,thus saith the ,lord10 etc41 etc4 ,they will find a formidable array of these--a wall of them that can never be broken down4 ,they will find that the great masses of the followers of ,christ have never been perverted1 have never departed from their principles1 and have not the least idea of ever doing so1 but intend to stand by them till the last4 ,these are the great stamina of the cause4 ,a few city people1 who read but little1 have studied but little1 and are governed by sound and show1 do not control in these matters1 nor a few rich men4 ,the great body of the numbers who are scattered abroad1 hear good gospel preaching1 take the papers1 read them1 and read the ,bible1 decide the course1 tell the story4 ,these are not led away by a few glittering words1 by sound1 nor by clerical pretensions4 ,you need not read to them your dreamy philosophy1 metaphysical speculations1 distinctions where there are no differences1 prosing through your long articles of twenty to thirty pages2 they will not read all this1 nor will they believe without reading4 ,they are plain and practical people1 and must known what they are doing4 ,these know the gospel and love it4 ,they know the right way of the ,lord and will not walk in any other way4 ,we work in faith1 rest in hope1 with the strong and blessed assurance that this cause will live and go on triumphantly when our part of it shall be finished4 ,what we are concerned with1 is how to do our part1 that may still remain1 to the best purpose4 ,,bodies ,,resurrected1 ,,not ,,spirits4 ,there is nothing in the ,bible about the resurrection of souls or spirits4 ,the resurrection has to do with bodies1 not souls nor spirits4 ,it was the body of ,jesus that rose from the dead4 ,it was bodies that came forth after ,jesus rose and were seen of many4 ,mortal bodies shall be quickened4 ,the resurrection has nothing to do with the spirit in the way of raising it or making it alive4 ,if man becomes extinct at death there is nothing to raise from the dead4 ,other beings might be created1 but the words resurrection and creation are not of the same meaning4 ,the creation of ,adam was not the same as raising ,lazarus from the dead4 ,we use the two words1 or find them used in the ,bible1 create and resurrection1 to express two distinct ideas4 ,if man becomes extinct at death there remains no man to raise from the dead4 ,other persons might be created1 and there would be no identity to lose1 for they would not be identical1 but others4 ,we need plain ,bible truth2 the matters of the ,bible1 and not theories about the pre-existence of spirits or the transmigration of souls4 ,the plain truth of the ,bible will save us2 idle speculations will ruin us for this world and the world to come4 ,let us study and preach the clear truth of divine revelation and enforce it on our race4 ,it is the only hope for all nations1 kindreds1 tongues and peoples of the earth4 ,,anointing ,,with ,,oil4 ,touching the 8anointing with oil in the name of the ,lord10 we think no literal 8anointing with oil0 is enjoined4 ,the praying for him1 in the ,christian dispensation1 answers to the 8anointing with oil10 in the old institution4 ,it is simply a figurative allusion to the anointing1 and not the actual use of oil4 ,the praying for the sick1 in the name of the ,lord1 is the anointing4 ,the ,lord raises sick people up1 in numerous instances1 without any miracle4 ,he may do this now1 in answer to prayer1 when consistent with his will4 ,it matters nothing that we can not tell how he does it4 ,he can do it4 ,this is enough4 ,,giving ,,up ,,principles4 ,there is nothing more important for individuals or bodies of people than clearly defined and well settled principles4 ,to stand the test1 and be of any importance to the world1 the principles of an individual or a body of people1 must be correct1 and of vital importance4 ,they should also be clearly defined1 well understood1 and constantly kept in view4 ,it is then not only safe1 but of the highest importance to adhere to them with the most determined pertinacity1 fixed purpose and inflexible firmness4 ,when principles are of the character we have described1 it is dangerous to swerve1 shrink or depart from them1 in the least degree4 ,adherence--the most strict1 rigid and determined adherence--to correct1 clearly defined and settled principles1 of a vital character1 is indispensable to permanence1 stability and happiness4 ,if the principles thus defined are divine1 departure from them is apostasy4 ,we are not speaking of subtle principles1 requiring the utmost stretch of intelligence or learning to understand1 or even to perceive them1 when clearly set forth4 ,there may he principles of this kind1 correct ones1 too1 but we think1 never practical4 ,that which is practical and vital1 is never so subtle as to require the utmost stretch of intelligence1 either to set it forth or understand it4 ,the ,bible has its deep things1 profound and wonderful1 requiring the utmost stretch of human intelligence to set them forth1 or understand them2 or1 it may be1 deeper than human intelligence can fully fathom1 but they are not the practical1 and if vital in any sense1 it is not vital that we should understand them4 ,if we could not be ,christians1 serve1 or please our heavenly ,father1 without understanding all such1 it would certainly put it out of the power of the masses1 to be acceptable at all4 ,we know this is not so4 ,in precisely the same way1 in nature1 there are certain things that we must know1 or we can not enjoy the blessings ,god has in nature for us4 ,there are certain principles in nature that are practical and vital1 and we must know them and act in continual reference to them1 or we will come to inevitable ruin4 ,but they are not subtle1 deep and profound principles1 requiring the utmost stretch of intelligence to set them forth or understand them4 ,these lie upon the surface1 are the first things we come to1 and may be easily learned1 and understood sufficiently for all practical purposes4 ,god has wisely arranged1 in both nature and grace1 or in the temporal and spiritual kingdoms1 so that what we must know may be easily learned1 thus showing his benevolence in both1 and that both have marks of the same ,authorship4 ,in these matters there is no excuse for being misled4 ,in other words1 if any one is misled1 he must be an easy dupe1 a willing victim4 ,in religion1 on the part of the man of faith1 certain principles are settled1 and not to be opened anew1 and investigated from the foundation1 every time any new phase may appear4 ,certain other matters are so self-evident1 that they need only to be well stated to satisfy any ordinary mind4 ,these are the matters that move the world1 and not the abstruse and subtle things4 ,they are the matters that carry conviction to the mind1 settle the understanding1 and leave it in a state of satisfaction and rest4 ,they call out the response1 almost involuntarily1 that is so4 ,it does not have to be proved again4 ,as an illustration3--,in a union meeting in which we participated1 many years ago1 and after the discussions had continued eight days and nights1 in which some ten parties participated1 on the last evening of the meeting1 a gentleman rose and inquired if he might speak1 at the same time explaining that he was a sceptic4 ,the chairman said that it was no church meeting1 and if he intended speaking to the point before the meeting1 he should be heard4 ,several expressed a desire to hear him1 and no one objected4 ,he said he only intended to say a few words4 ,pointing to those of us who contended for union on the ,bible1 he said3 8,if the ,bible is true1 these men are right1 for they insist on your taking the ,bible and going by it4 ,if the ,bible is not true1 ,i am right1 and there is no show at all for the balance of you40 ,that is a case that needs no argument4 ,before we belonged to the church1 we spent a few days in a worthy family4 ,the head of the family was a class leader in the ,m4 ,e4 ,church1 a kind-hearted and good man4 ,he was zealous1 and desired to benefit us religiously1 and made sundry attempts to talk to us4 ,we knew but little about the matters of which he talked1 and really did not desire to say enough to discover to him how little we did know4 ,but after further acquaintance we inquired of him as follows3 8,if a man will take the ,scriptures1 read them1 believe them1 and do what they require1 will he not be a ,christian80 ,with somewhat of an air of surprise1 he replied3 8,no2 he must have something more than that40 ,this 8something more than that0 was the perplexing part4 ,what more could there be than the ,scriptures require8 ,then1 if there is something more than the ,scriptures require1 how did any man find it out8 ,and1 still further1 what is it8 ,if it is not required in ,scripture1 how does any man know that it is required at all8 ,of course we mean on the human part1 or that which is required of man4 ,when we inquire how a man is to obtain a crop of corn1 we do not mean how he is to make soil1 how he is to get atmosphere1 sunshine1 rain1 etc41 but how he is to perform his part4 ,if the soil has not in it the qualities to produce corn2 if the right state of atmosphere is not given1 the sun does not shine1 and the rain does not come1 he is not to blame4 ,it is useless to preach about the properties of the soil1 the atmosphere1 the warm sunshine1 the rain1 etc41 in showing a man how to grow corn4 ,on all these matters a man might preach philosophically1 learnedly and correctly1 but not another grain of corn would grow1 for all his fine talk4 ,this is not the practical nor the human part4 ,but the man must be instructed how to put the ground in order1 how to plant and cultivate1 in showing him how to obtain a crop of corn1 with the divine blessing1 but certainly not without it4 ,first4 ,we have long since settled the question about the authority of the ,bible4 ,that is no more an open question1 unless we please1 for the sake of argument1 to look at it as an open question4 ,we receive what the ,bible says implicitly1 or because the ,bible says it4 ,second4 ,then it is the rule1 and there is not a reason in this world for not taking it and going by it4 ,it is the rule1 the final1 the absolute authority4 ,it must be received in all things4 ,third4 ,then the gospel preached by the apostles--precisely1 no more1 no less1 no other--must be preached by us4 ,what they preached then or in their time must be preached now or in our time4 ,fourth4 ,the gospel preached by the apostles was precisely what the people were required to believe1 in their time1 and what they did believe to the salvation of their souls4 ,this same gospel precisely is what the people in our time are required to believe1 and what they must believe to the salvation of their souls1 or not be saved at all4 ,fifth4 ,the things commanded to be done in the preaching of the gospel by the apostles were the things which they did that they might be saved4 ,the same things precisely which they were commanded to do1 and which they did to be saved1 are the things now commanded to be done by those who believe the gospel1 that they may be saved4 ,these things must be done now for precisely the same purpose as they were then4 ,sixth4 ,if1 with precisely the same faith1 the same things are done1 for the same purpose1 the same result will follow4 ,no man can give a reason against this conclusion4 ,seventh4 ,when persons are turned to the ,lord now or have become christians1 the same instructions imparted to the first ,christians should be imparted to them1 to show them how to serve ,god and be finally saved4 ,if this is not so1 then no man can show how we are to be guided to the everlasting city4 ,we give these as a few of the clear principles from which we can not turn away without apostasy and utter ruin4 ,these are vital and fundamental matters1 and no man can infringe on them or treat them with indifference without being held in distrust4 ,no man will turn round and repudiate all of them at once1 but those who turn away will depart little by little1 introducing a little new1 leaving a little out1 and encroaching on these principles1 first in this and then in that4 ,such men will flounder and think themselves abused if we do not think they are perfectly sound4 ,but there are some things we can not think4 ,we can not think white is black1 or that black is white4 ,we can not believe without evidence4 ,if men desire us to think they are sound they must give us the evidence to prove it and we will rejoice to believe it4 ,they can easily do this if they are sound4 ,,my ,,church4 ,we never say my church4 ,there is no being on earth who has a right to say my church4 ,the ,lord says1 ,matt4 xvi4 #ah3 8,on this rock will ,i build my church40 ,he has a right to say 8my church40 ,he gave himself for the church4 ,the church belongs to him4 ,he sanctified and cleansed it4 ,this church1 in ,scripture1 is frequently styled simply 8the church10 and in our conversation about it1 in nine cases out of ten1 we can be understood sufficiently explicitly1 if we say 8the church40 ,we read of 8the church in ,jerusalem10 8the church in ,corinth10 8the church in ,rome10 8the church in ,ephesus10 etc4 ,we may say 8the church in ,cincinnati10 8the church in ,covington10 8the church in ,louisville10 8the church in ,indianapolis10 etc4 ,it is called in ,scripture 8the body10 8the body of ,christ10 8the church of ,god10 8the church of the living ,god10 8the kingdom of ,god10 8the kingdom of heaven10 8the kingdom of ,god's dear ,son10 etc4 ,these latter designations refer to 8the whole family0 in the aggregate4 ,this body1 or building1 or temple1 is the one of which ,solomon's temple was only a type4 ,according to ,scripture1 there is no other church but this4 ,the ,spirit of ,god is in this4 ,the life of ,christ is in it4 ,god dwells in it4 ,in it is life4 ,out of it there is no life4 ,it does not belong to the members1 but they belong to it4 ,it does not belong to the preachers1 but the preachers belong to it4 ,we repeat1 there is no other church but this according to ,scripture4 ,this church originated in ,jerusalem more than eighteen hundred years ago4 ,it was established in about one week after our ,lord ascended into heaven4 ,the ,king was coronated and crowned ,lord of all4 ,the great ,high ,priest had entered the true holy place1 not with the blood of slain beasts1 but with his own blood1 to make one offering in the end of the ages to purge us forever from our sins4 ,the ,spirit of ,god descended1 inspired the apostles1 and the church was established4 ,that is the true church1 according to ,scripture1 and there is no other church that has one particle of divine authority in it4 ,the ,romish ,church was born hundreds of years too late4 ,there is not a trace of a ,pope in ,scripture1 except in prophecy1 referring to him as the man of sin and son of perdition1 nor in any other writing for centuries after the founding of the true church4 ,nor is there a reference to a ,roman ,catholic4 ,there really was not one in the world1 much less a ,romish ,church4 ,for the first three centuries there was no church but one1 8the church of the living ,god10 in existence4 ,all others have come into existence since then1 and have not one spark of authority4 ,does the reader say1 8,you are not in that church yourself80 ,we are not discussing that question2 but if we are not in it the loss will be as great to us as to any one else not in it4 ,speaking of this church1 or building1 ,paul says3 8,i1 as a wise master-builder1 have laid the foundation1 and other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid1 which is ,jesus ,christ40 ,no man of any intelligence thinks there is but one kingdom of ,god1 or but one body of ,christ4 ,if we are in that we are in ,christ1 in the ,father and in the ,son4 ,to be out of the one body1 or one kingdom1 is to be out of ,christ1 out of the ,father and of the ,son4 ,there is no union with the ,father and with the ,son1 only in the body or in the kingdom4 ,we have no time to pursue this matter at present1 but can easily1 when we have time1 amplify and explain to any extent1 showing that the principles now only briefly sketched1 pervade the ,scriptures throughout4 ,it means something to be in the kingdom of ,god1 as it does to be 8in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit10 8in ,christ10 8in the ,father and the ,son40 ,it is to be in a state of justification1 or acceptance with ,god4 ,,the ,,bible ,,and ,,bible ,,men4 ,we have identified our fortune--our all--for this world and that which is to come1 for time and eternity1 with the ,bible4 ,it is the only revelation from ,god1 the only guide for a sinful world4 ,christ1 who is the only ,light of the world1 is seen and apprehended through the ,bible1 and in no other way4 ,all claims to revelation1 separate from the ,bible1 are mere empty pretences1 idle and unfounded delusions and impostures1 deserving to be exposed and banished from the earth4 ,they1 as a general thing1 are wicked and malicious inventions1 aimed to subvert and thwart the merciful and benevolent purposes of the ,bible4 ,the ,bible is the only book from ,god2 the only book that can be defended2 the only book upon which all the pure and holy can unite4 ,those who adhere to the ,bible1 are happy while they live1 and happy in death4 ,it is emphatically the book for man4 ,we are for it1 now and forever1 and against all that is against it1 or subversive of it1 either directly or indirectly4 ,we are for no half way work1 no compromise nor equivocal ground4 ,let every man be for the ,bible1 or against it2 on the ,lord's side1 or against him2 for christianity1 or nothing2 for heaven1 or hell4 ,we want no man who stands in doubt4 ,if a man can not define his position1 so that all can tell which side he is on1 we have no use for him4 ,we count no man whose position is doubtful4 ,all men whose position is doubtful1 are really on the enemy's side1 and would surrender any post we have1 if the opportunity would offer4 ,we are not to be gulled by these1 nor induced to depend on them4 ,we would greatly prefer that they would stand where they belong1 so that all would know where to find them4 ,we have identified ourself with ,bible men4 ,their cause is our cause1 and their ,god is our ,god4 ,their work is our work4 ,with them we are enlisted in a mighty effort to circulate the ,bible as far among the nations of the earth as possible4 ,we are proud to stand among the men of the ,bible1 to be enrolled with them1 and in the enjoyment of their fellowship4 ,the prospect before these is brighter now than ever before2 their work is going on more triumphantly1 and success is more certain1 than at any former time4 ,,baptism ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,since this practice of praying for the baptism of the ,spirit is continued with such pertinacity1 we have concluded to make a few remarks upon it4 ,for the sake of making our remarks the more easily apprehended1 we will arrange them numerically1 as follows3 ,first4 ,the baptism of the ,holy ,spirit was a miracle4 ,it does not exist in our day1 for miracles are not done now1 not designed to be1 nor of any use if done4 ,miracles can not be done but by the will of ,god1 nor can they be suspended1 but by his will4 ,he did them when they were needed1 and suspended them when they were not needed4 ,no man can allege that miracles ought to have been continued in the church1 without alleging that the all-wise ,god ought to have done what he has not done4 ,this is absurd4 ,second4 ,the baptism of the ,spirit was seen4 ,nothing of the kind occurs now that is seen4 ,therefore1 there is now no baptism of the ,spirit4 ,third4 ,the baptism of the ,spirit was heard4 ,nothing of this kind is heard now4 ,therefore1 there is no baptism of the ,holy ,spirit now4 ,fourth4 ,cloven1 or divided tongues1 like as of fire1 sat upon those baptized with the ,spirit4 ,nothing of this kind sat upon those claiming to have been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit now4 ,therefore1 none have been baptized with the ,holy ,spirit in our day4 ,fifth4 ,those baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 spoke with tongues4 ,none claiming to be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit now1 speak with tongues4 ,therefore1 none now are baptized with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,sixth4 ,those baptized with the ,holy ,spirit prophesied4 ,none claiming to be baptized with the ,holy ,spirit now prophesy4 ,therefore1 none are baptized with the ,holy ,spirit1 now4 ,seventh4 ,it is wrong to pray for the baptism of the ,holy ,spirit1 because it is a gift that does not belong to us4 ,simon1 the sorcerer1 asked for a gift that did not belong to him1 on account of which the ,apostle said1 8,thou art in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity10 and instructed him to 8pray ,god1 if perhaps the thought of his heart might be forgiven him40 ,eighth4 ,it is wrong to claim to have the baptism of the ,spirit1 because the claim is as false and delusive1 as to claim to be an ,apostle4 ,it is as shallow1 empty and unfounded as the claims of ,mormons4 ,,small ,,improprieties ,,and ,,annoyances4 ,to pour the wine1 or divide it into several cups1 before thanks1 at the ,lord's table4 ,we thank the ,lord for the cup1 and not cups4 ,thanks should invariably be given for the one cup1 while the wine is in the one cup4 ,for some one to start and push his way out through the assembly while an invitation is pending4 ,this is a most manifest impoliteness and disorder4 ,for some one that has eat about three dinners at once1 to doze and nod in time of preaching1 and in the midst of the exhortation1 just when the preacher is trying to make an impression1 to stretch his limbs1 gape and crowd up to the pulpit1 and get a drink to extinguish the fires burning within him4 ,this is ridiculous4 ,to see some great strapping saphead get up in the middle of a discourse1 and go stamping out1 thus interrupting the whole audience4 ,if these could see themselves as others see them1 they would be very clear of showing themselves1 as they frequently do4 ,to see a beautiful young lady sit in time of preaching1 and then stand in time of an invitation1 with her mouth spread and a broad and supercilious grin upon her face4 ,to see some fellow draw his watch and snap it at the preacher1 as he shuts down the case1 as much as to say1 8,i consider it is time you would stop40 ,to see a lady sit and play with her infant1 in time of preaching1 laugh at its little pranks1 and try to induce others around her also to laugh at them4 ,to see a lady get into a quarrel with her babe1 in time of preaching2 slap it1 jerk it1 hold it1 and thus keep it squalling for about half an hour4 ,if the preacher can keep the thread of his discourse1 in a case of that kind1 he is a pretty good preacher4 ,to have some man standing near the preacher1 in time of prayer1 chewing an enormous quid of tobacco1 and about once in half a minute1 hear a large spoonful of the filthy spittle splash upon the floor4 ,,one ,,immersion4 ,certainly not1 but one immersion 8into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,there is but one immersion commanded in ,scripture2 that one is in water1 and 8into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,peter said1 8,can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized1 who have received the ,holy ,spirit as well as we80 ,here the water is mentioned as the element in which they were to be immersed1 and they had already been immersed in the ,holy ,spirit2 and in the next verse we are informed that 8he commanded them to be immersed in the name of the ,lord40 ,the immersion in water1 then1 is the one commanded1 and the only one4 ,the immersion in ,spirit is not commanded2 and the command1 if it existed1 to be immersed in ,spirit could not be obeyed4 ,suppose the ,lord would command any one to be immersed in the ,spirit1 how would he obey8 ,no man ever was commanded to be immersed in the ,spirit1 nor was any man ever commanded to immerse any one in the ,spirit4 ,man can not immerse in the ,spirit4 ,the immersion in water is commanded1 and is the immersion 8into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit10 8into ,christ10 8into one body10 the initiatory rite into the ,new ,institution4 ,immersion in the ,holy ,spirit never initiated any one into any institution or anything4 ,it was never commanded4 ,no man ever administered it4 ,the ,lord was the only administrator of the baptism of the ,spirit4 ,it was a promise4 ,it was a miracle4 ,it imparted miraculous power4 ,it never occurred except on ,pentecost1 and at the house of ,cornelius4 ,on ,pentecost the subjects of it were in ,christ before it occurred1 and at the house of ,cornelius they were not in ,christ after it occurred till they were immersed in water4 ,in both instances they spake with tongues and prophesied4 ,when ,paul wrote the letter to the church in ,ephesus there remained but 8one immersion10 the one of the last commission1 connected with salvation1 the remission of sin1 or induction 8into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,this is ,paul's 8one immersion40 ,it is not 8one pouring10 8one sprinkling10 or 8three immersions10 but 8one immersion40 ,three immersions has not one scrap of authority in the commission or anywhere else4 ,in the same sentence where the apostle has 8one body1 one ,spirit1 one hope1 one faith10 he has 8one immersion10 and it would be in no more direct violation of his language to talk of three bodies1 three ,spirits1 three hopes1 three faiths1 than of 8three immersions40 ,there is no method by which the language can be so tortured as to get three immersions out of the words1 8immersing them into the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,spirit40 ,such a thing was never thought of till the dispute about the ,trinity sprung up4 ,this dispute originated it4 ,there is not a trace of trine immersion till more than a hundred years after the apostles were gone2 till the shallow nonsense of infant sin1 infant regeneration1 infant immersion and infant damnation were introduced4 ,here1 and not in the ,bible1 the friends of trine immersion go to find it1 and here they find it among those who taught that infants were guilty of original sin and liable to eternal damnation2 that infants must be regenerated2 that the stain of ,adam's sin must be washed away2 that this can not be done except in baptism1 to prepare them for heaven4 ,they practiced no infant sprinkling1 but infant immersion1 and1 in time1 trine immersion1 or immersed them three times4 ,we think some of the ,greeks do this to the present day4 ,,innovations ,,in ,,the ,,church ,,of ,,christ4 ,in reading the history of the church1 one is overwhelmed to see how innovations have crept in and eat the vitals out of the church4 ,at every period of the church1 when there was any vitality in it1 any spirituality or devotion to ,god1 there has been a constant effort on the part of the enemy1 through some well-meaning1 but worldly minded professors of religion1 to work things into the church1 or to work something out of it1 in the nature of the case calculated to corrupt and destroy it4 ,we must be awake to these wily manuverings and guard against them1 or they will ruin the great work so well begun and so successfully carried on in our time4 ,the insidious1 wily and stealthy machinations of the ,grecian and ,gnostic philosophers1 did an immense work in corrupting the primitive church4 ,many of these did this1 too1 with the best intentions in the world4 ,they thought it would be a grand acquisition to the ,christian religion1 an accomplishment and refinement1 to append to it philosophy1 and require every preacher to be a philosopher4 ,these were constantly edging into the pure religion of ,christ their fine philosophical notions1 pagan customs and ceremonies1 and destroying the church whenever they did it4 ,on the other hand1 learned ,judaizers were foisting ,judaism into the church at every opportunity4 ,between ,judaizers on the one hand1 and ,gnostic philosophers on the other1 they amalgamated ,christianity1 ,judaism and ,paganism1 and made ,romanism4 ,it was easy to obtain the idea of infant membership from ,judaism1 the idea of image worship from ,paganism1 and the idea of one true church from ,christianity1 and thus incorporate a system with a membership based in the flesh1 making all the infants members1 without any regeneration1 under pagan idolatry1 in worshipping images1 and at the same time1 with the idea that they are the true church4 ,,the ,,bible ,,ground4 ,for fifty years1 we1 as christians1 have stood on the ,bible alone1 as a rule of faith and practice4 ,till recently1 no difficulty was experienced in reducing it to practice4 ,for forty years after the effort was first made in this country1 to return to original ground1 to the apostolic faith and practice1 and restore the ancient order of things2 submit to the law of the ,lord in all things2 we found no difficulty of consequence4 ,but on the other hand we realized our vantage ground1 answered all the cavils of creed-mongers1 fought our way through1 built up churches on ,christ1 set them in order under the law of ,god1 and thus were happy in the ,lord4 ,no people in this country have ever been as happy and prosperous4 ,all worked well4 ,we silenced all opposition4 ,but more recently1 subtle schemes are on foot to invent an excuse for something like the traditions of the elders among the ,jews1 substituted for the law of ,god1 the unwritten traditions of ,rome1 that has assumed the place of the law of ,god1 or the doctrines and commandments of men1 in our time1 embodied in human creeds4 ,one man finds a 8law of conscience10 another 8a law of love10 another thinks we are not under law1 but under grace1 but does not notice that ,paul's law1 that we are not under1 is the law of ,moses1 and1 that ,paul's grace1 that we are under1 embraces the 8law of ,christ20 the 8perfect law of liberty10 the 8law of the ,spirit of life40 ,another man finds a law of expediences1 more extended than the ,jewish ,talmud1 or the unwritten traditions of ,rome4 ,he soon has more opinions than faith1 more expedients than commandments of ,god1 more charity than law or gospel1 more love for the pious unimmersed than for immersed believers1 more charity than hope4 ,his gospel consists largely of tuning-forks1 note-books1 hymn-books1 choirs1 organs1 concerts1 festivals1 church fairs4 ,he is great on themes not in the ,bible2 the unwritten word2 the traditions of the fathers4 ,these are dead weights on the body4 ,they are enemies within1 sensual1 not having the ,spirit4 ,we must meet them with the same arguments that cut our way through sectarianism forty years ago4 ,we must rouse the spirit of the glorious pioneer men who fought the early battles1 cleared away sectarian rubbish1 built up churches all over the land and set them in order1 and never stop till there is an end to all the subtleties and sophistries1 and all the insidious devices now subverting 8the right way of the ,lord0 and spreading dissension among the children of ,god4 ,we must stop all the loopholes being invented for the introduction of humanisms1 and innovations of all sorts1 put away from among us the corrupt1 the enemies of the cause1 and the worldly1 and inculcate the pure teaching of the ,new ,testament among all1 and live nearer to it than ever4 ,we met all this twaddle about a printed hymn-book1 a meeting-house1 etc41 not provided for by divine legislation1 before we were in the ,church one year1 from sectarians1 and answered and exploded it4 ,now we have men among us that talk of progress1 learning and an advanced age1 who have advanced back1 and are trying to build an excuse of the same matters for human legislation4 ,they want to supply the deficiency in the law of ,god by human law4 ,with them there is no church government in the law of ,god1 and1 therefore1 we must make one4 ,after we have governed the churches by the law of ,god1 fifty years1 they have advanced to the discovery that there is no church government in the law of ,god4 ,what do they propose8 ,to make a church government4 ,there is a shorter road than this to sectarianism1 and one that will be much less trouble1 and that is1 to go back at once to some sect that has set aside the law of ,god1 and made one of its own1 and adopted it4 ,they have made as good human laws as we can make1 and better1 for they are old and experienced hands1 and we would be but new and bungling beginners4 ,the efforts we have seen are mere abortions4 ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,the ,,disciples4 ,our heart is enlarged and our spirit is stirred within us1 when we look at the great opening before us4 ,the ,lord has not raised us up1 put into our hands such immense power1 and made us such a great people1 without an object4 ,he has a great work for the ,reformers of the nineteenth century4 ,we1 as a people1 are set for the defence of the gospel4 ,we occupy the only ground upon which man can stand and successfully do battle with unbelievers1 with schismatics of every sort1 and maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace4 ,we are the only people who occupy the proper ground for the evangelization and salvation of the world4 ,we have cut ourselves loose from every thing but ,christ4 ,we present him to the world and defend him1 both in his divinity and humanity1 as the ineffably glorious person in whom dwells the fullness of the ,godhead bodily4 ,we believe in him1 in all he ever said or did1 in his religion1 beginning1 middle and ending1 and nothing else4 ,we will defend him and all he ever said and did4 ,we will defend his word1 his doctrine1 the whole of it4 ,our work is not to defend our views1 our doctrines1 or ourselves1 but to defend our ,master and his doctrine4 ,our work is pre-eminently the following3 ,first4 ,to convert the world to ,christ1 put men under him as their ,leader1 ,savior and everlasting trust1 to follow him for evermore4 ,second4 ,to collect from ,babylon--spiritual ,babylon--the wandering1 bewildered and confused children of ,god1 bring them back to their one shepherd1 one fold1 and unite them in one body under ,christ1 their only living head1 that their name may be one1 that they may be one1 as he and his ,father are one4 ,third4 ,to defend the faith once delivered to the saints1 maintain it and spread it throughout the world4 ,fourth4 ,to inculcate piety1 humanity1 works of righteousness--in one word1 implicit submission to ,jesus the ,lord in all things4 ,this is our work1 and this1 the ,lord being our helper1 we will do4 ,we are pledged to ,jesus1 the ,christ1 to do this1 for his glory and our good1 and1 by the grace of ,god1 we will do it4 ,we are not our own2 we are the ,lord's4 ,the work we are in is not our own2 it is the ,lord's4 ,the ,lord our ,righteousness is our ,king4 ,it is his will--his bidding that we do this work4 ,he has commanded and the work must be done4 ,brethren1 see to it that the armor is in order1 that it is on1 properly adjusted1 and every man at his post4 ,keep your eyes upon our ,commander-in-,chief4 ,whatever he requires do it4 ,no matter where he calls you to go1 go at his bidding4 ,he will bring us off conquerors1 and more than conquerors4 ,go not in your own strength1 nor in your own name1 and rely not upon your own wisdom4 ,go in the strength1 in the name and wisdom of the ,lord4 8,o1 ,lord of hosts1 blessed is the man that trusteth in thee60 ,,not ,,to ,,keep ,,company4 8,but now ,i have written unto you not to keep company1 if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator1 or covetous1 or an idolater1 or a railer1 or a drunkard1 or an extortioner2 with such an one no not to eat40--,i4 ,cor4 v4 #aa4 8,let every man examine himself and so let him eat40 --,i4 ,cor4 xi4 #bh4 ,the passage evidently has reference to common associating--in visits1 ordinary1 eating and the like4 ,such a man should not be in the church at all1 to say nothing about communing4 ,christians should not visit and receive visits from such persons1 or associate with them1 but make them feel keenly the smart of being thus low and corrupt4 ,the remark of the apostle1 8,let a man examine himself1 and so let him eat10 is misapplied almost invariably every time it is quoted4 ,it certainly has no reference to examining to determine whether a man is worthy to commune or not1 for he says1 8,let a man examine himself1 and so let him eat40 ,the examination was to precede the eating1 and not to decide whether he should eat or not4 ,the matter of trouble among the ,corinthians was not to determine who shall eat1 but how to eat worthily4 ,they were not to do this by coming together and eating a pagan feast1 not discerning the ,lord's death and blood1 by partaking of the loaf and wine1 as the ,lord appointed4 ,it is not the work of the administrator to tell who are communicants1 when administering1 any more than he should tell who should sing1 pray1 or give thanks4 ,the communion was delivered to the church1 and we are communicants by virtue of being in the church4 ,if any are walking disorderly they should be dealt with1 and not allowed to continue in disorder1 but forbidden to commune4 ,the whole church should be kept in order and all worship1 not at the ,lord's table only1 but in all parts of the worship4 ,the question is about who are members of the church1 and not about who shall commune4 ,all the members should commune1 all christians1 and there should be no others in the church4 ,,extent ,,of ,,one ,,man',s ,,influence4 ,every preacher that becomes secularized1 and ceases to employ his energies in behalf of the poor1 of mercy1 of righteousness1 of ,god1 is an immense loss to the world4 ,there is no calculating or estimating the difference in the condition of the world1 in the day of judgment1 all growing out of the indolence or indifference of one man1 though he might see that he was effecting but little in his operations4 ,let any man of reflection select a preacher of but humble abilities1 who was operating zealously in the great cause of truth only twenty years ago1 and trace the effects which a finite being can clearly see have grown out of his labors1 and he will be astonished to see how different the present state of society would have been1 had he relaxed his energies4 ,but1 let his influence extend twenty years more1 and where will be its boundaries8 ,let it extend one hundred years and who could compute it8 ,but all this may be but a drop to the ocean of the vast train of influences that would all have been lost by one man failing to act his part4 ,with this before us1 is it strange that ,god should hold him highly accountable8 ,but this is not the worst case4 ,let a man of talent1 influence and energy1 fall from his station1 and become an apostate and enemy1 let the cause be made to bleed and suffer from his want of reputation1 while he hurls back his javelins with all the malice and fury of the ,prince of the bottomless pit2 and then1 compute the change made in the condition of the church and the world8 ,no one1 short of the ,infinite ,being ,himself1 can compute the vast number that will be seriously injured1 in one century1 by such a miserable being4 ,who1 then1 can tell the difference his conduct can make in the condition of the world1 at the adjudication of all things8 ,let preachers1 then1 remember that they are laborers together1 and that no one can be lost without an injury to all4 ,,pulpits4 ,we have1 in our own mind1 long since repudiated pulpits entirely1 as a useless1 and worse than useless appendage4 ,no work done1 that we know of1 with the idea of usefulness1 more completely misses its aim than that of erecting pulpits in which for men to stand to preach the gospel of ,christ4 ,we have1 for a long time1 utterly refused to go into many of the castles we find around the country4 ,in many houses the preacher is hoisted high in a pulpit1 from twenty to thirty feet from the nearest person to him1 and many of his hearers fifty and sixty feet off4 ,this is all as irrational as it can he4 ,if there had been a special study how to defeat the preacher1 no better method than this could have been invented4 ,in a large house1 there should be a platform some fifteen feet square and sixteen inches high1 with a small table1 the height of a common table1 for a ,bible and hymn book1 which the preacher could set in front of him1 if he desire it1 or if not1 set back against the wall4 ,there should also be a few chairs on or about the platform for speakers1 where there are several1 or for persons hard of hearing4 ,the speaker can then advance forward near enough to the people to address them effectively1 and they can see him from head to foot4 ,the floor of the house should rise some twelve inches in twenty feet4 ,if the house is crowded1 persons can then be seated all round the speaker1 leaving him simply room to stand4 ,there should be two brilliant lights back of him1 near the wall1 elevated a little above his head1 and some ten feet apart1 so as to shine down each side of him into the book before him4 ,if the speaker desire to stand back near the wall1 he can then do so2 or if he prefers1 as we certainly do1 to stand on the front of the platform1 he can have the privilege1 and have room to walk about a little1 which is both a relief to the speaker and audience4 ,if the house is small1 the platform should not be more than ten feet square and eight inches high4 ,,why ,,infidels ,,oppose ,,the ,,bible4 ,neither ,joseph ,barker1 nor any other man on the continent can give one good reason for his hatred of the ,bible1 or desire to ridicule it4 ,suppose it were all he says of it2 superstition or what not2 why is he so enraged at it8 ,what is it that exasperates him so8 ,what is it that puts such men to so much trouble8 ,we suppose the stories of witches1 ghosts1 etc41 the signs of the zodiac1 the moon1 etc41 etc41 are superstitions1 but they do not trouble us1 and we do not think it worth while to war upon them4 ,why do not modern sceptics put the ,scriptures down on the same list with these1 give them the go-by1 and be at no more trouble about them8 ,ah1 why not8 ,simply because they can not4 ,they have within them spirits that can not rest4 ,the ,bible is a book they can not let alone4 ,it will not let them alone4 ,it follows them by day1 and thunders in their ears at night4 ,it is before them when they rise up and when they lie down4 ,it is before them in public and in private4 ,it alarms them with the terrible announcement that the dead shall be raised1 that the world shall be judged in righteousness1 and that the ,lord shall render to every man according as his work shall be4 ,it annoys them with terrible threatenings1 fearful punishments and righteous retributions4 ,it follows them with the only impartial history the world ever had1 spreading out alike the good and the bad1 and showing up the entire history of man4 ,why do they not let the ,bible alone8 ,if it is only a fable1 a legend1 or mere fiction1 why trouble about it8 8,let it alone60 says the sceptic1 8how can ,i let it alone1 when it constantly tells me of every sin ,i ever committed1 describes even the thoughts of my heart1 and exposes every wicked desire ,i ever had8 ,i can not let a book alone that describes and publishes me to the world as a sinner40 ,what of all that1 if you do not believe it8 ,there is the trouble4 ,the apprehension that it may be true1 after all1 hangs about men4 ,they may rant1 ridicule1 defy1 scoff and laugh1 but the fearful apprehension still rises1 thundering1 8,it may be true1 after all40 ,there is no getting rid of the fearful apprehensions1 the wonderful forebodings1 the consciousness that all scepticism might be a mistake1 after all4 ,they know they have nothing settled1 nothing established1 no fixed principles1 no certain knowledge4 ,they know that they are acquiring no substantial knowledge4 ,their work has not been to settle any thing1 to fix any thing4 ,they are drifting about1 floating in an uncertain current1 not knowing whither they are going4 ,with them1 all is in doubt1 uncertainty1 and obscurity4 ,they are completely unsettled1 wandering in the dark1 and without a resting place4 ,they are poor and miserable1 blind and naked4 ,they have no encouragement1 no support1 and no promise1 and nothing to promise anybody else4 ,their pursuit is an empty chase1 without any promise or hope4 ,there is not a more vain and empty bubble in this world1 than that pursued by these men4 ,they are working without an object4 ,they know not what they are aiming at4 ,their work is not to prove any thing1 to settle any thing1 or establish any thing2 but to unsettle1 confuse and throw into doubt4 ,what have they done for the world8 ,what do they propose to do for man8 ,nothing1 only to pull down religion1 do away with the church1 and put the ,bible out of the world6 ,they appear to think that the principal thing now required to do1 for the happiness of the world1 is to rid it of all religion4 ,but where is the evidence that they are doing any good8 ,where have they made the people happy8 ,where have they done any good8 ,what good are they now doing8 ,none under the shining sun4 ,,miracles4 ,what is a miracle8 ,a miracle is not1 as ,hume defined it1 8something contrary to the laws of nature10 but something above the laws of nature1 or something that the laws of nature1 in their legitimate and ordinary operations1 could not produce4 ,for instance1 the laws of nature1 in their legitimate and ordinary operations1 from parents1 can produce offspring1 and bring them to manhood and womanhood4 ,but the laws of nature1 in their legitimate course of operation1 never produced a man and a woman1 without parents1 or never brought into existence a man and a woman1 at sufficient maturity to care for themselves and live1 without parents4 ,no law of nature1 in its legitimate and ordinary course of operation1 brought ,adam and ,eve into existence1 at maturity1 and without parents4 ,in other words1 no law or laws of nature1 in their legitimate and ordinary operation1 ever began the human race4 ,in the plainest terms1 no law of nature ever produced a human being without parents4 ,in other words1 it is not a miracle for children to come from parents1 but it was a miracle to create the first human pair4 ,all who admit that the human race ever had a beginning1 must admit that it began by miracle4 ,it is not a miracle for an oak to produce an acorn1 nor for an acorn to produce an oak2 but it is a miracle to produce an oak without an acorn1 and equally a miracle to produce an acorn without an oak4 ,the laws of nature1 in the legitimate and ordinary course of their operation1 never produced an acorn without an oak1 or an oak without an acorn4 ,the first acorn1 or the first oak1 was1 unquestionably1 a miracle4 ,the first man was a miracle4 ,the second man1 the ,lord from heaven1 was a miracle4 ,isaac1 the child of promise1 and the only son of ,abraham1 as ,jesus was the child of promise1 and the only begotten of the ,father1 was a miracle4 ,to sum all up1 and express it in one sentence1 everything1--every species of animal1 insect and vegetable1 began by miracle4 ,the laws of nature create nothing1 give us no new species or kind1 but simply propagate and perpetuate that which was given by miracle at first4 ,by the established laws of nature1 the human race have been propagated and perpetuated1 but the human race had its commencement in miracle4 ,the laws of nature never raised a man from the dead1 instantaneously gave hearing to the deaf1 speech to the dumb1 or sight to the blind4 ,no laws of nature can heal a leper in an instant1 multiply 8five loaves and a few small fishes10 till the amount will be sufficient to feed five thousand persons1 leaving 8twelve baskets full of fragments10 or enable men to speak in some fifteen or seventeen languages1 never studied or learned in the ordinary way4 ,a miracle may suspend laws of nature for the time being1 do something above them1 or something that they never perform2 but to be a miracle at all1 something must be done above all human art1 device or ability1 and something which we know the laws of nature1 in their legitimate course1 and ordinary operation1 never perform4 ,when anything of this kind occurs1 we know that it could not have taken place without foreign and direct interposition4 ,this is a miracle2 it is above and superior to all human art or device2 above and superior to any thing ever done by the laws of nature1 as well as different from anything they ever do4 8,,affirmative ,,gospel40 ,we heard an illusion to the fanciful idea that some have conceived of preaching an 8affirmative gospel10 or1 as some have expressed it1 8preaching the gospel affirmatively10 or1 as we suppose1 to come a little nearer their idea1 merely to preach1 maintain and defend the truth affirmatively1 and let the negative alone2 or still1 if possible1 to be more fully understood1 to preach truth and not preach against what is not truth2 to preach what is to be done and not what is not to be done4 ,look at the following ,psalm ,i43 #a4 8,happy is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly40 #b4 8,nor stands in the way of sinners40 #c4 8,nor sits in the seat of the scornful40 ,these three items are negative--things that the man whom the ,lord pronounces happy1 does not4 ,this is not leaving the negative part out1 but inserting it first1 and pronounces the man happy that does not these things4 ,in contrast1 the ,psalmist of ,israel proceeds to give us the following1 which is affirmative3 #a4 8,his delight is in the law of the ,lord40 #b4 8,in his law he meditates day and night40 ,the ,lord gives the following guarantee to those who do not say the negative part1 but do the affirmative3 8,he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water1 that brings forth his fruit in his season2 his leaf also shall not wither1 and whatever he does shall prosper40 ,what an awful contrast with this is the ungodly3 8,the ungodly are not so2 but are like the chaff which the wind drives away4 ,therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment1 nor sinners in the congregations of the righteous40 ,to this the ,lord adds the following conclusion3 8,the ,lord knows the way of the righteous10 or approves it1 8but the way of the ungodly shall perish40 ,the negative is to be preached and taught in all that pertains to preaching and teaching as zealously and faithfully as the affirmative1 and is to be regarded equally as much of divine authority4 ,the first commandment the ,lord ever gave to a human being was negative4 ,it was in these words3 8,you may not eat of it40 ,this was negative--what must not be done4 ,the ,bible abounds with this negative teaching1 setting forth what may not be done4 ,look at the following list1 gathered from ,i4 ,cor4 xiii4 #d-h1 setting forth affirmatively and negatively1 or what love will and will not do4 ,first look at the affirmative side1 or what love will do3 #a4 ,it suffers long4 #b4 ,it is kind4 #c4 ,it rejoices in the truth4 #d4 ,it bears all things4 #e4 ,it believes all things4 #f4 ,it hopes all things4 #g4 ,endures all things4 ,this is the affirmative side1 or what love will do2 but the divine authority does not stop at that1 but tells us what love will not do4 ,see the following3 #a4 ,it is not envious4 #b4 ,vaunts not itself4 #c4 ,is not puffed up4 #d4 ,does not behave itself unseemingly4 #e4 ,seeks not her own4 #f4 ,is not easily provoked4 #g4 ,thinks no evil4 #h4 ,rejoices not in iniquity4 #i4 ,never fails4 ,the negative is longer than the affirmative in this enumeration4 ,the man with his affirmative gospel is like the man with his two oars1 faith and works1 to his skiff4 ,he pulled one alone for a time1 and run round and round one way1 and then pulled the other1 and run round and round the other way1 and then seized both and pulled them at the same time1 when his skiff moved straight ahead beautifully4 ,we must take the whole of the divine teaching1 the affirmative and negative2 what we are to believe1 and what we are not to believe2 what we are to do1 and what we are not to do4 ,we are to show not only what is truth1 but what is not truth2 what is of divine authority1 but what is not of divine authority4 ,had some of our affirmative gospel men been in the place of ,paul1 when he came to ,athens1 they would have made no attack on the altar with the inscription3 8,,to ,,the ,,unknown ,,god10 but would have gone on with their affirmative gospel4 ,paul was not of that type of preacher1 but brought their view of the unknown ,god into direct contrast with the revelation of the true ,god--the ,jehovah4 ,he admits that theirs was to them an 8unknown ,god10--8,god who made the world1 and all things therein0--8,lord of heaven and earth10 and who 8dwells not in temples made with men's hands10 and 8is not worshipped with men's hands1 as though he needs anything1 seeing that he gives to all life1 and breath1 and all things1 and has made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth1 and has determined before the times appointed1 and the bounds of their habitation2 that they should seek the ,lord1 if haply they might feel after him1 and find him1 though he be not far from every one of us40 ,not content with this attack on their altar1 and the inscription on it1 he proceeds to quote and turn their own poets against them3 8,certain of your own poets have said1 #8,for we are also his offspring4'0 ,hear him as he proceeds1 and see how he wades into their ignorance and superstition1 and1 above all1 how utterly exclusive he is3 8,for as much then1 as we are the offspring of ,god1 we ought not to think that the ,godhead is like gold1 or silver1 or stone1 graven by art and man's device40 ,now for the charitable part of his discourse3 8,and the times of this ignorance ,god winked at2 but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent40 8,the times of this ignorance0 was before the gospel came1 and the 8now10 brought in contrast with it1 is since the gospel has come4 ,seeing that the light has come1 men are inexcusable to be in ignorance4 ,he proceeds to give a reason for the commandment1 8to all men everywhere to repent10 in the following words3 8,because he has appointed a day1 in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained40 ,but he knew that some man might call that in question1 when he closed up with the following3 8,whereof he has given assurance to all men in that he has raised him from the dead40 ,that is1 he has given assurance to all men1 by the resurrection of ,jesus ,christ from the dead1 that he will judge the world in righteousness1 by that man whom he has ordained4 ,the logic runs thus3 ,as he raised ,christ from the dead1 he will judge the world2 and as he will judge the world1 all men1 everywhere1 are commanded to repent1 in view of the judgment4 ,the inscriptions to the unknown ,god must be set aside1 with all the doctrines and commandments of men2 the traditions of ,jewish rabbis and ,romish priests1 with all the unauthorized lumber of ,protestants1 and the devotees to each and all of them1 must be shown that they are unauthorized1 and the man who shuns to do this1 only does half work1 or rather1 only half does his work1 and will be responsible to the great ,shepherd and ,bishop of souls4 ,,household ,,baptisms4 ,it is claimed that whole households were baptized1 and that these must have included infants2 as1 for instance1 the following3 #a4 ,lydia and her house4 ,all that is said of ,lydia is found in two verses1 ,acts xvi4 #ad1 #ae1 and the passage contains not one word about an infant1 or a child of any sort4 ,it is stated that 8she was baptized and her household40 ,but it is not stated that she was a married woman1 that she had any children1 much less that she had any infants2 and1 therefore1 there is nothing here about any infant baptism4 #b4 ,the next household mentioned is that of the ,jailor1 ,acts xvi4 #cc4 8,and they--,paul and ,silas--spoke unto him the word of the ,lord1 and to all that were in his house4 ,and he took them the same hour of the night1 and washed their stripes1 and was baptized1 he and all his straightway4 ,and when they had brought them into his house1 he set meat before them1 and rejoiced1 believing in ,god1 with all his house40 ,here are two things stated of these that can not be said of infants4 ,they spoke unto him--the ,jailor--the word of the ,lord1 and to all that were in his house4 ,the ,jailor rejoiced1 believing in ,god with all his house4 ,here it is asserted of the household that they rejoiced1 believing in ,god4 ,the word of the ,lord was spoken to them1 they rejoiced and believed in ,god4 ,this can not be said of infants4 #c4 ,the next case of a household1 which we shall mention1 is that of ,cornelius1 ,acts xi4 #ad4 ,here1 however1 is conclusive evidence that there were no infants1 for the angel said1 8,send men to ,joppa1 and call for ,simon1 whose surname is ,peter2 who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved40 ,infants are not told words whereby they are saved4 ,those who practice infant baptism do not tell them words whereby they may be saved1 and do not believe they are saved in or by baptism4 #d4 ,there is but one other household mentioned in the ,new ,testament1 in connection with baptism4 ,that is 8the household of ,stephanas40 ,i4 ,cor4 i4 #af4 ,in the same letter we find one thing affirmed of this same household that can not be affirmed of infants4 8,they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints40 ,i4 ,cor4 xvi4 #ae4 ,this is a thing infants can not do4 ,there were1 then1 no infants in these households1 and nothing particularly strange about that4 ,the writer has baptized many households and never baptized an infant4 ,,knowing ,,and ,,not ,,doing4 8,that servant who knew his ,lord's will1 and prepared not himself1 neither did according to his will1 shall be beaten with many stripes40 ,see ,luke xii4 #dg4 ,from this language there is no escape4 ,if the men of whom we speak1 say1 they are not servants1 then they will be condemned for refusing to be his servants4 ,there can be no middle ground1 no neutral ground4 8,he who is not for us is against us10 says the ,lord4 ,we are not simply to do some benevolent deeds favorable to the ,lord1 or to his cause1 but we must be on his side1 belong to him1 be his2 identified with him2 one with him1 so that his cause is our cause1 and his will is our will4 ,but to the mystery again3 ,how can it be1 that a man can love the ,savior1 his people and cause1 so as to defend them1 give his money to aid them1 have confidence in them1 and be pleased with their work2 but decide to stand1 in relation with their enemies1 in the same state with them1 and not in relation with the ,lord and with his people2 in the same state with them8 ,what a fearful thing it is to be against the ,lord1 and to encounter his terrible sentence3 8,shall be beaten with many stripes40 ,why should a man stand in such a condition a single day8 ,we see not how a man could rest for an hour with such a responsibility on his soul6 ,why should any man not be willing8 nay1 more1 why should he not seek to place himself under the guidance of ,him who is so wise that he can not err1 and so good that he will do all things well8 ,what a blessedness for man1 that he can have infallible wisdom to guide him1 and almighty power to save him6 ,how can it be possible for any well disposed man to stand aloof from the ,lord and from his divine arrangement for our happiness1 and trust to his own wisdom and his own strength1 when he could have the wisdom and power of ,god pledged for his security8 ,why not come to the ,lord2 let his kind hand lead1 and his gracious providence guide in the way of life everlasting4 ,there were old men1 too old to be on the muster roll1 and boys too young1 the history informs us1 who fought in the battle of ,bunker ,hill1 in the ,american ,revolution4 ,these received much praise for their good will to the cause and the service they rendered3 but they did not belong to the army and received no pay4 ,in the same way1 we fear1 many of these good friends that defend the cause and even pay their money to support it1 will lose their reward1 because they have never enlisted4 ,they do not belong to the army4 ,many such men have noble wives striving to serve the ,lord1 to train their children in the way of righteousness and bring them to ,god4 ,these are dearer to them than life4 ,can they stand out in the ranks of the enemy1 and see their companions who gave them their hearts and hands in their better days1 struggling to save their precious children1 and not stand by their side1 aiding and encouraging them8 ,what a responsibility there is here6 ,they know their ,lord's will1 and do it not and will be beaten with many stripes6 ,the ,lord suffered and died for these4 ,he hung on the ignominious cross for them1 as well as for us all1 and poured out his warm heart's-blood to cleanse them from sin4 ,all this appeals to them4 ,all the exhortations of saints1 their prayers1 songs1 tears and solicitudes appeal to them1 by all the tender mercies of ,god and the infinite compassion1 to come to the ,savior and live4 ,if they resist all this1 turn their ear away from it1 and1 in the midst of all these entreaties1 go down to ruin1 what an everlasting source of regret it will be to look back and see what was done for them1 but all in vain6 8,turn you1 turn you10 says the prophet1 8and live40 8,you would not come to me that you might have life10 says the ,lord4 8,he is not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance40 8,the ,spirit says1 ,come1 and the bride says1 ,come1 and whoever will1 let him take of the water of life freely40 ,,the ,,bible ,,vs4 ,,human ,,creeds4 ,it is admitted on all hands1 by all ,protestants1 that we should receive nothing more than is contained in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,it is also admitted1 that we should receive nothing less than is contained in the ,scriptures4 ,it is admitted1 that the ,holy ,scriptures must not be altered1 but must be received precisely as ,god gave them to the world4 ,it is acknowledged that the ,christian ,scriptures constitute a 8perfect law of liberty40 ,all acknowledge that this perfect law of liberty was given by the infallible wisdom of ,god1 and by his undeniable authority4 ,now1 the precise opposite of this is true of every human creed on earth4 ,for instance1 it is admitted-- ,that we may receive more than is contained in any human creed in the world4 ,it is admitted1 that we may receive less1 or that we are not bound to receive everything in any one of them4 ,it is universally admitted that they may be altered and amended4 ,it is admitted1 that no creed but the ,bible1 constitutes a 8perfect law of liberty10 hence1 those who use other creeds are frequently altering or amending them4 ,it is admitted1 that no creed but the ,bible1 was given by the infallible wisdom of ,god4 ,these are undeniable truths1 admitted by all ,protestants1 as must be seen by the most common observer4 ,now we ask any man in his right mind1 how it can be1 that it is safe to receive a creed1 not containing all that a christian is bound to receive1 containing also some things that may be rejected1 one that may be altered1 one admitted not to be a 8perfect law10 and one not given by the wisdom and authority of ,god2 and yet unsafe1 to receive as our only creed that ,book1 containing all that a ,christian dare receive1 no less than he must receive1 one that dare not be altered1 that is 8the perfect law of liberty10 and was given by the wisdom and authority of ,god8 ,,glorying ,,in ,,the ,,cross ,,of ,,christ4 ,the ,apostle ,paul says1 8,god forbid that ,i should glory1 save in the cross of ,christ40 ,why glory in the cross8--or1 why not glory in his miracles1 in his feeding five thousand1 his calming the sea1 raising the dead1 opening the eyes of the blind1 or giving hearing to the deaf8--or1 why not glory in his own resurrection1 his ascension1 coronation1 and being crowned ,lord of all8 ,because it was not at any of these points ,peter denied him2 it was not here that he was condemned2 it was not here that he suffered--that he was put to shame--that he was mocked1 derided and despised4 ,but ,paul looks at him when he was on trial1 when ,peter denied him1 when he was condemned2 when he was delivered into the hands of enemies1 despised and degraded2 when he was nailed to the cross1 crowned with thorns1 and buffeted2 when all his friends had forsaken him2 when all the angels had withdrawn1 and the ,almighty ,father had turned his face away--had forsaken him--and he was in his blood--in the agonies of death1 with the sins of the world upon him2 we say1 ,paul looked upon him here1 and gloried in him4 ,it was not the cross that he gloried in1 literally4 ,the expression is metonymical4 ,the cross stands for ,him who hung upon the cross4 8,god forbid that ,i should glory1 save in him who hung upon the cross40 ,we are not to glory in men2 neither in ,paul1 ,apollos1 nor ,cephas1 but in ,christ4 ,,the ,,pardoning ,,power ,,is ,,only ,,in ,,god4 ,in precisely the same way1 the appointment in the case of ,naaman1 in itself1 had no virtue to cure leprosy4 ,if another leper had gone to the place the next day1 and dipped himself1 he would not have been healed4 ,naaman did not go home praising the waters of ,jordan1 nor exulting in his dipping1 nor his faith1 but he said3 8,behold1 now ,i know that there is no ,god in all the earth1 but in ,israel40 ,,ii4 ,kings v4 #ae4 ,the ,lord purposely selected an appointment that had not in it1 in itself1 any curative efficacy1 that the man might know the cure came directly from ,god1 and might believe and put his trust in the ,god of ,israel4 ,the same is true of the appointment for the ,israelites1 bitten of the fiery serpent4 ,the ,lord wisely selected something that all men would know had no efficacy1 in itself1 to heal the bite of the serpent1 that the glory might be given to ,god and not to the brazen serpent4 ,it is no question about whether the ,lord could have saved the ,israelites in some other way4 ,no one doubts that he could4 ,but the question1 in this case1 is simply about what he did4 ,the people did not heal themselves4 ,their faith did not heal them4 ,their prayers did not heal them4 ,their looking did not heal them4 ,the brazen serpent did not heal them4 ,god healed them4 ,when did he do it8 ,when they obeyed him4 ,where did he do it8 ,in his own appointment4 ,the faith of the army of ,joshua did not throw down the walls of ,jericho4 ,there is nothing in faith1 in itself1 to do a work of this kind4 ,the marching round ,jericho1 did not throw down the walls1 nor have any tendency to throw them down1 if they had continued to march round till this time4 ,the blowing of the trumpet did not throw down the walls4 ,nor did the shout of the army4 ,god broke down these massive walls4 ,when did he do it8 ,when they obeyed him4 ,where did he do it8 ,in his appointment4 ,the work was just as much of ,god1 as divine and miraculous1 done in this appointment1 as if it had been done without any appointment at all4 ,the appointment was precisely such an one1 as to direct the heart of the people to ,god1 as the author of the victory4 ,but had they refused to march round the walls1 shout and blow the trumpet1 though they might have prayed till now1 the ,lord would not have answered them nor saved them4 ,in all these cases1 they might have prayed for saving power till they breathed the last breath1 and no saving power would have come4 ,the saving power was promised1 but promised in certain appointments--not because the ,lord could not1 but because he would not save in any other way1 only as he had appointed4 ,the same is true of saving men in our time4 ,we have no dispute about what the ,lord can do4 ,the only question we have is about what the ,lord will do4 ,the ,lord will do precisely what he has promised1 and no man in the world can produce one particle of evidence that he will do anything else1 to save any man4 ,if the ,lord had said1 8,he that believeth and prays1 and is prayed for1 shall be saved10 every one that prays and is prayed for1 would be saved4 ,but such1 it is admitted on all hands1 is not the fact4 ,many pray1 and are prayed for1 who1 it is admitted1 are not saved or pardoned4 ,the ,lord's appointment is1 8,he that believeth1 and is baptized1 shall be saved4 ,repent and be baptized every one of you1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 for the remission of sins1 and you shall receive the gift of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,why tarriest thou8 arise and be baptized1 and wash away thy sins1 calling on the name of the ,lord40 ,here is the ,lord's appointment1 and he who comes here1 has the promise of the ,lord that he shall be saved1 or pardoned4 ,this appointment is like those we have been looking at4 ,it is evident to all1 there is no virtue or merit in faith1 in itself1 to save a man4 ,it is equally evident that there is no merit or virtue in repentance1 in itself1 to save any one4 ,it must be equally evident to all1 that there can be no virtue1 merit1 or efficacy in baptism1 in itself1 to save or pardon4 ,it is ,god that pardons4 ,who does he pardon8 ,those who obey him4 ,when does he pardon them8 ,when they obey from the heart1 that form of doctrine delivered to them4 8,being then made free from sin1 they have their fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life40 ,where does he pardon them8 ,in his appointments4 ,,the ,,action ,,of ,,baptism4 ,referring to the position of the disciples on the action of baptism1 a correspondent says3 8,that1 in regard to the sacrament of baptism1 the whole christian world have been in the dark1 from the earliest history of the church until within three hundred years1 and much the greater part are still behind60 ,he adds1 8,not deceived1 be it remembered1 about some things not essential to the ordinance1 but in regard to the very nature of it4 ,and what is yet more singular1 denominations possessing much the greater share of learning are most in the dark60 ,he proceeds1 8,nay1 even the christian fathers1 who were1 some of them1 ,greeks1 and men of learning1 and who certainly should have known something about their own language1 were in serious error upon this very subject60 ,all this is said1 by our worthy friend1 in reference to our position1 that nothing but immersion is baptism4 ,it contains several items1 and to give them all possible conspicuity we notice them separately4 ,first4 ,his first trouble is about the whole christian world being in the dark1 if our position is true4 ,this expression1 8the whole christian world10 must be simmered down a little4 ,we strike out of it1 then1 all the christians of the first two centuries1 as not in the dark1 for they held and practiced nothing but immersion for baptism4 ,this is sufficient1 if we could say no more4 ,but we add to this all ,baptists of modern times1 who have not been in the dark on this point4 ,no fact is better authenticated than that for the first thirteen centuries immersion was invariably practiced by all professed christians1 except1 after the third century1 in cases of extreme weakness1 where they thought immersion could not be endured1 they decided that affusion would do2 but these could never hold office in the church4 ,even the ,episcopalian church1 in the time of ,mr4 ,wesley1 almost invariably immersed4 ,now sum up all these1 and then decide how large the number in the dark1 and you will find that the sprinklers are a mere drop in the bucket4 ,second4 ,the above shows that they have not possessed much the greater share of learning1 but much the smaller share of learning4 ,third4 ,the christian fathers1 so called1 are not to be entered in that list4 ,they were on the other side1 and practiced immersion and nothing else4 ,the remark of the ,cyprian shows that he is defending something new and in doubt2 hence his remark that 8it is of equal validity with the laver of salvation40 ,there was no doubt about what he calls 8the laver of salvation10 but there was doubt about sprinkling4 ,the one needed argument and the perversion of the passage in ,ezekiel to support it2 the other was universally acknowledged4 ,we admit that the evidence is abundant 8that pouring and sprinkling were used0 from the beginning of the fourth century not only to the rise of the ,anabaptists1 but till now2 but that pouring and sprinkling were held in doubt1 in general1 and utterly repudiated by many1 is equally abundantly proved4 ,the discovery that baptizo means immerse1 and nothing else1 could not have been made by any of the fathers1 for at that time no one denied that such was its meaning4 ,in the few instances where sprinkling or pouring was used1 it was not on the ground that baptizo meant pour or sprinkle1 but on the ground that pouring or sprinkling would do in extreme cases of weakness where they deemed the persons unable to endure immersion4 ,no man can produce one scrap of authority to show that any man at that early period1 or for many long centuries after1 ever attempted to defend pouring or sprinkling on the ground that baptizo meant pour or sprinkle4 ,those who practiced sprinkling or pouring generally in the early ages1 did not think they were doing what the ,lord commanded1 or what the apostles practiced1 but something else that would do4 ,luther1 ,calvin1 ,wesley and ,clarke1 admitted that the ancient practice was immersion1 but they thought sprinkling or pouring would do4 ,this was the ground of argument for many long centuries4 ,the idea of trying to prove that any person was ever sprinkled or poured upon1 for baptism1 in the time of the apostles1 is a mere modern invention1 and the idea that baptizo means sprinkle or pour1 is of equal modern date4 ,these are new grounds altogether1 taken by modern men1 who have been driven from the old ground4 ,it will not do in our time to admit--as all the ancients did--that the apostles immersed--that immersion was the ancient practice--that baptizo means immerse1 and nothing else1 but that 8this rite has been changed somewhat10 and that something else will do as well4 ,this is too barefaced for our time1 and the opposition have changed their ground1 and are now trying to make us believe that their practice is sustained by the meaning of baptizo and the ancient practice4 ,,shorter ,,catechism ,,for ,,universalians4 ,during our discussion in ,decatur1 ,ill41 we presented the following1 substantially1 as the 8,shorter ,catechism0 for ,universalians to test their pretences to a belief in the ,scriptures3 #a4 ,phil4 iii4 #ah1 #ai1 ,paul1 speaking of the enemies of the cross of ,christ1 says1 8,whose end is destruction40 ,can a man of sense believe that the end of a man is destruction1 and at the same time believe that his salvation8 ,the end of a man will certainly be his last state1 and if that is destruction1 his end can not be salvation4 #b4 ,mark iii4 #bi1 the ,lord says1 he who shall blaspheme against the ,holy ,spirit1 8hath never forgiveness40 ,can a man of sense believe that a man who 8hath never forgiveness10 shall be saved8 ,to save a man without forgiveness1 would be to save him in his sins4 #c4 ,john iii4 #cf1 the ,lord says1 8,he that believeth not the ,son1 shall not see life1 but the wrath of ,god abideth on him40 ,can a man of sense believe that those who believe not the ,son1 shall not see life1 and yet believe that they shall see life8 #d4 ,rev4 xxii4 #ai1 the ,scriptures say of certain persons1 that 8,god shall take away their part out of the book of life1 and out of the holy city1 and from the things which are written in this book40 ,can a man of sense believe that a man whose 8part is taken out of the book of life1 and out of the holy city1 and from the things which are written in this book10 can be saved8 #e4 ,heb4 xii4 #ae1 the ,scriptures speak of men 8failing of the grace of ,god40 ,can a man of sense believe that men may 8fail of the grace of ,god10 and be saved8 ,what6 saved without the grace of ,god8 #f4 ,john viii4 #ba1 the ,lord said to certain persons1 8,ye shall die in your sins2 whither ,i go ye can not come40 ,can a sensible man believe that men shall 8die in their sins10 and that whither the ,lord went they could not come1 and still believe that all will be saved8 ,do not refer to what the ,lord said to his disciples1 for he said more than this to them4 ,he said to his disciples1 8,whither ,i go1 thou canst not follow me now2 but thou shalt follow me afterward40 ,john xiii4 #cf4 ,this he did not say to the ,jews4 ,but he did say to the ,jews1 8,ye shalt die in your sins3 whither ,i go ye can not come40 ,is that true8 ,it is4 ,then ,universalism is not true4 #g4 ,heb4 x4 #bf1 #bg1 ,paul says1 8,if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth1 there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins1 but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation1 which shall devour the adversaries40 ,can men of sense believe that a man for whom 8there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins10 but for whom their remains 8a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries10 will be saved8 #h4 ,john v4 #bi1 the ,lord declares that 8they who have done evil shall come forth to the resurrection of damnation40 ,can a man of sense believe that those who have done evil can 8come forth to the resurrection of damnation10 and yet all men be saved8 #i4 ,rev4 xx4 #ac-ae1 we find an account of the dead standing before ,god and being 8judged every man according to their works10 and the declaration is made that 8whosoever was not found written in the book of life1 was cast into the lake of fire40 ,can a man of sense believe that the dead shall be raised and judged according to their works1 and the wicked1 or those whose names are not written in the book of life1 shall be cast into the lake of fire1 and yet all men be saved8 #aj4 ,gal4 v4 #b1 ,paul testifies to certain men1 8,christ shall profit you nothing40 ,can a man of sense believe that those shall be saved whom ,christ shall profit nothing8 #aa4 ,heb4 vi41 ,paul declares of certain persons1 that it is impossible to renew them again to repentance4 ,can a man of sense believe that those can be saved whom it is impossible to renew again to repentance8 #ab4 ,heb4 ix4 #bg1 ,paul says1 8,it is appointed unto men once to die1 but after this the judgment40 ,can a man of sense believe that 8it is appointed unto men once to die1 but after this the judgment10 and not believe that ,god will judge men after death8 #ac4 ,luke xvi4 #bb1 #bc1 we read of a 8certain rich man10 that 8the rich man died1 and was buried2 and in hell he lifted up his eyes1 being in torments40 ,can a man of sense believe that a man after he died and was buried1 was 8in torments10 and believe that there are no torments after death8 #ad4 ,matt4 xxv41 the ,lord says of the wicked1 8,these shall go away into everlasting punishment2 but the righteous into life eternal40 ,be it observed1 these righteous are in the life of a christian already1 or before they go into life eternal1 and the wicked are in all the hell there is for them in this world already4 ,but here at the time the righteous enter eternal life1 the wicked enter everlasting punishment4 ,the same ,greek word aionion1 in the same sentence1 expresses the duration of the life of the righteous and the punishment of the wicked4 ,can a man of sense believe that the ,lord used aionion in a limited sense in one place and an unlimited sense in the other8 #ae4 ,luke xiii4 #bc1 we are informed that a man inquired of our ,lord1 8,are there few that be saved80 ,the ,lord did not answer his silly question1 but said to him1 8,strive to enter in at the straight gate2 for many1 ,i say unto you1 will seek to enter in and shall not be able40 ,can a man of sense believe this statement1 that they shall not be able to enter1 and still believe that all shall enter8 ,do not begin to think of entering the church here now1 for we know that all who seek to enter the church are able4 #af4 ,ez4 xiii4 #bb1 the ,lord says1 8,with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad1 whom ,i have not made sad2 and strengthened the hands of the wicked1 that he should not return from his wicked way1 by promising him life40 ,can a man of sense believe that he strengthens the hands of the wicked1 that he should not return from his wicked way1 by promising him life1 and still believe that he is doing good in preaching that all men shall have life8 ,when our ,universalist friends get so that they can answer these questions and explain the difficulties involved clearly and satisfactorily1 the people may become satisfied that they are not sceptics4 ,,popular ,,amusements4 ,remarks upon a communication complaining of the increasing prevalence of revelry1 under the plea of 8innocent amusements40 ,published in the ,a4 ,c4 ,review1 for ,july1 #ahfj4 ,we have no doubt that many professors of religion are greatly sinning1 as well as disgracing and dishonoring their profession1 in the manner above described4 ,but there is one trouble in writing or publishing any thing for that class4 ,they are beyond the reach of writers4 ,they subscribe for no religious publications1 pay for none1 and read none4 ,they read nothing1 unless it be some silly love tale1 book of fashion1 or mere novel4 ,they can only be reached at all through older1 wiser1 and better heads1 and then only occasionally1 and but slightly4 ,in most instances1 the slightest reference to their inconsistent lives of folly and vanity1 is regarded as a mortal offence4 ,we were threatened1 not long since1 with being held personally responsible for alluding to the mischief done by dancing masters1 in a public discourse4 ,it turned out that one was present1 and1 as if to publish himself as a live dancing master1 distinguish himself and render himself as notorious as possible1 immediately after the allusion to men of his calling1 he cast his eye around the house1 and saw all eyes upon him1 when he bounced from his seat and went stamping out of the house1 as if he intended trying the strength of the floor1 every time he set down his foot4 ,his profession was too sacred to be alluded to without his being insulted4 ,some of the people1 we learned1 called him ,professor----6 ,talk of preaching for such men6 of writing to reform them6 ,they would not hear an angel from heaven1 unless he would wink at their dancing4 ,they would not hear one who would rise from the dead1 unless he would wink at their sin4 ,if they could1 they would lead our fair daughters to ruin1 chuckle over the feat achieved1 and dance on the graves of heart-broken fathers and mothers4 ,they are leeches upon society1 sucking the very life's blood from the veins of better people1 who suffer themselves to be gulled by them1 and1 at the same time1 grinning like a weasel while cutting the throat of a chicken1 and sucking its blood4 ,the entire clan of amusement manufacturers1 from the poor music grinder on the street1 up to ,barnum1 are pulling down1 discouraging and destroying the good built up by the hard toiling and struggles of good people4 ,it is useless to talk of their being gentlemen1 polite1 or moral2 their work is to pull down1 to ruin1 to destroy1 and to sink men and women in hell4 ,their work is against every prayer1 every exhortation and sermon2 every ,sunday school1 church and gospel mission4 ,we may preach and pray1 toil and struggle in tears1 with our hearts aching and bleeding1 trying to save men1 and so long as we countenance worthless and silly amusements1 we shall not be successful in saving men4 ,not only so1 but if we allow those who are determined to run their length in all these amusements1 to hang upon us1 they will sink us all4 ,,activity ,,in ,,the ,,ministry4 ,the preacher's life should be one of activity and industry1 one of enterprise and diligence4 ,the preacher can not be a gentleman of leisure4 ,this is not his profession4 ,he can not afford an hour or two every morning in primping1 turning himself first this way and then that before a glass1 smoothing down his hair1 stroking his mustache and fitting on his attire4 ,he can not afford another half-hour sucking an enormous cigar and filling a filthy spittoon1 a thing that ought to be tolerated in no parlor1 or genteel society4 ,he should be a man of no idle habits1 such as lounging upon cushions1 loafing on the streets1 at the corners1 in shops1 stores or places of business1 or idleness4 ,he should rise early1 unless prevented from getting to rest sufficiently early1 by preaching at night1 dress himself out and out for the day in fifteen minutes1 and spend at least five hours in his books4 ,this should be a regular work1 an every day work4 ,five hours only brings him to about ten o'clock in the morning1 about the proper time to see sick persons1 the poor1 or any whom it may be his duty to visit4 ,three hours can now be devoted in this way4 ,this brings him to one o'clock4 ,allow him two hours to take refreshment and rest himself4 ,now it is three o'clock1 a good hour for him again to be among the people1 where he may frequently spend two hours profitably4 ,if the preacher is a man of enterprise1 he can have an engagement for a sermon1 a lecture1 a meeting for prayer1 or something of the kind almost every night1 either in the church1 or some place in a short distance in the community1 where he may be waking up some interest among the people4 ,it is the business of the preacher to seek an opportunity for something of this kind1 and have some work all the time going on round him1 arresting the attention of the people1 rousing them from their slumbers1 setting them to thinking and working4 ,it is useless to stand and preach in one pulpit and wait for the people to come there1 thus depending upon that wholly for saving men4 ,we must go beyond that1 find every nook and corner where a few people can be collected and preach the word to them1 exhort them1 persuade them and plead with them to turn to the ,lord4 ,the preacher must make it an every day work to preach4 ,we must get in the way of preaching from house to house and from place to place1 thus filling the whole land with the doctrine of the cross4 ,we must be men of activity1 perseverance and zeal1 not waiting for 8calls10 but penetrating the land from its center to its circumference4 ,we must go into the field and do the work of the ,lord1 and the ,lord will open the way and take care of us4 ,we are anxious to see an army of zealous1 powerful and enterprising young men1 willing to go out into the world and convince the world of their ability and usefulness1 by saving men1 building up churches and extending the cause4 ,in this way1 they will soon make an opening for themselves and secure a permanent field of operation4 ,how much more noble and manly this1 than looking round for a rich church1 raised up to hand by the labors of other men1 where a young man can sit down with a fat salary and merely live upon the labors of those who have gone before him4 ,,summary ,,of ,,arguments ,,on ,,the ,,action ,,of ,,baptism4 ,it is a fact that our ,lord was baptized of ,john in ,jordan4 ,is it then more probable that he was sprinkled of ,john in ,jordan1 than that he was immersed of ,john in ,jordan8 ,it is a fact that after the ,lord was baptized 8he went up straightway out of the water40 ,is it more probable that 8he went up straightway out of the water10 in going from sprinkling1 than from immersion8 ,it is a fact that the people were baptized of ,john in the river of ,jordan4 ,is it more probable that they were sprinkled of ,john1 in the river of ,jordan1 than that they were immersed in the river of ,jordan8 ,it is a fact that 8,john was baptizing in ,enon1 near ,salim1 because there was much water there40 ,is it more probable that he sprinkled in a place1 because there was much water there1 than that he immersed in a place because there was much water there8 ,it is a fact that ,philip and the eunuch1 both went down into the water1 and he baptized him4 ,is it more probable that they both went down into the water to sprinkle1 than that they both went down into the water to immerse8 ,it is a fact1 mentioned by ,paul1 as a result of baptizing1 that the body is washed4 ,is it more probable that the body is washed in sprinkling1 than that the body is washed in immersing8 ,it is a fact1 stated by ,paul1 that 8we are buried with him in baptism40 ,is it more probable that we are buried with him in sprinkling1 than that we are buried with him in immersion8 ,it is a fact1 stated by ,paul1 that we are buried with him by baptism4 ,is it more probable that we are buried with him by sprinkling1 than that we are buried with him by immersion8 ,we have now presented eight questions on the probabilities of the case4 ,now for the possibilities of the case3 ,it is a fact that the ,lord was baptized in ,jordan1 and it is a fact that he went up straightway out of the water4 ,this shows that when he was in ,jordan1 he was in the water1 or he could not have gone 8out of the water40 ,as a question of fact and possibility1 could the ,lord have been sprinkled in the water8 ,it is a fact1 stated by ,paul1 that in baptizing1 or1 as a result of it1 the 8body is washed40 ,as a question of possibility1 can the body be washed1 or1 as a question of fact1 is the body washed at all1 when sprinkling is performed in the usual way8 ,it is a fact1 stated by the ,apostles1 that 8we are buried with him in baptism40 ,as a question of fact1 is this done in sprinkling8 ,as a question of possibility1 can persons be buried in sprinkling8 ,it is a fact1 stated in ,scripture1 that 8we are buried with him by baptism40 ,as a question of fact1 are persons buried by sprinkling8 ,as a question of possibility1 can persons be buried by sprinkling8 8,a ,,mighty ,,good ,,foundation40 ,some years ago1 our ,bro4 ,burnet resided some eight miles in the country4 ,we were in ,mt4 ,healthy1 a short distance from his residence1 and took an omnibus for the city4 ,in a few minutes the omnibus stopped in front of the residence of ,bro4 ,burnet1 with two respectable looking gentlemen in it1 one sitting facing the residence and the other with his back towards it4 ,the one facing the residence said1 8,here is where ,mr4 ,burnet resides40 ,the other replied1 8,who is he80 8,a celebrated ,campbellite preacher10 was the answer4 8,what do the ,campbellites hold80 inquired the other4 8,that the ,bible is their foundation--their only creed10 was the reply4 8,they have a mighty good foundation--a very good creed10 answered the other4 8,yes10 was the reply2 and here the conversation ended4 ,the same must be the response of every honest believer in the ,bible4 ,it is certainly a good foundation--a good creed4 ,if there is any good doctrine1 or teaching1 as the word doctrine means1 in the world1 it is in the ,bible1 and the man who takes the ,bible1 finds it in his book4 ,if there is any sure foundation for all our hopes beyond this life1 it is found in the ,bible4 ,if there is any sure lamp to the path of weary and dying pilgrims in this world1 it is the ,bible4 ,all other books are nothing compared with the ,bible4 ,it is the book of all books1 the authority of all authorities1 the only sure and infallible guide from this world of sin to the land of rest4 ,a ,,hard ,,question ,,for ,,preachers4 ,the ,lord said once to a preacher1 8,simon1 lovest thou me more than these80 ,this question has been variously expounded4 ,it has had at least the following three interpretations given to it3 #a4 8,lovest thou me more than these other disciples love me80 #b4 8,lovest thou me more than thou lovest these other disciples80 #c4 8,lovest thou me more than thou lovest these fisheries80 #a4 ,the ,archbishop of ,cincinnati had the honor--if it be any--of giving the people the first of these1 in the debate with ,mr4 ,campbell4 ,he thinks the ,lord meant1 8,simon1 lovest thou me more than these other disciples love me80 ,he thinks ,peter did love his ,lord more than the other disciples did1 and this is one of his mighty arguments to prove that ,peter was the first ,pope4 ,but how ,peter could answer such a question as that1 unless1 indeed1 he was already the ,pope1 and infallible1 we can not conceive4 ,certainly the ,lord did not expect ,peter to know whether he loved his ,master better than the other disciples loved him1 unless he was infallible4 ,the ,lord himself could have answered that question1 but certainly no man could4 ,such a question was not only1 in the very nature of the case1 one that no man could answer1 but one that could have no practical bearing nor use4 ,not only so1 but the answer of the ,lord was inappropriate1 if he had intended ,peter to be ,pope4 ,he commanded him1 8,feed my sheep40 ,this was the last thing he would have commanded him if he had intended him to be ,pope4 ,in that case he would have commanded him1 8,fleece my sheep10 and not 8feed my sheep40 ,the business of ,popes has ever been to fleece the sheep1 and not to feed them4 #b4 ,the question1 8,lovest thou me more than thou lovest these other disciples80 though ,peter might have been able to answer it1 would certainly have been one of but little importance4 ,not only so1 but the language is scarcely capable of this import1 and1 therefore1 it is not probable that such was the intention of it4 #c4 ,the sum of the question was1 8,lovest thou me more than these fisheries80 ,or1 to express it more fully and liberally1 8,lovest thou me more than thou lovest these fisheries80 ,the state of the case was1 that the ,lord had called them to be preachers4 ,they had from the beginning been under a mistaken notion4 ,their idea was1 that ,jesus was to be a king in an earthly kingdom4 ,this1 they supposed1 would all take place in his lifetime1 on this earth4 ,it never entered into their minds that ,jesus would die before his reign commenced4 ,it specially never entered into their minds that he would die by crucifixion4 ,when he was crucified and actually dead1 they thought he was defeated1 that his enemies had triumphed1 that all was lost and their mission at an end4 ,in this view1 ,simon ,peter said1 8,i go a fishing40 ,another disciple replied1 8,i go along40 ,this was utterly giving all up for lost4 ,poor men2 like most preachers1 who quit their proper work of preaching the gospel1 and turn aside to some secular avocation1 they did not prosper4 8,they toiled all night and caught nothing40 ,what a caution to preachers who turn aside from their work6 ,the ,lord appears to them and inquires of them1 8,children1 have you any meat80 ,they reply1 8,we have none40 ,he commands them1 8,cast your net on the right side of the ship40 ,they cast the net and take the most astonishing draught of fish they ever saw4 ,he caused their business to prosper beyond anything they had ever experienced4 ,their prospects in this avocation were now brighter than ever before4 ,they are now in the midst of an excitement of prosperity1 intensely engaged with their nets and fish4 ,every thing is purposely made as attractive and fascinating as it can be4 ,while it is all before their eyes1 in its most exciting1 fascinating and attractive form1 the ,lord tries them1 puts them to the test3 8,lovest thou me more than these80 probably at the same moment1 pointing his finger to the nets and fish4 ,peter replied1 8,lord thou knowest that ,i love thee40 ,the ,lord commands1 8,feed my sheep40 ,that is1 8,if you love me more than these fisheries10 and are willing to forsake these and do my work1 8,feed my sheep40 ,this question1 8,lovest thou me more than these80 is one of so much importance that it is repeated three times over1 and the ,lord says to them1 8,i will make you fishers of men40 ,this remark he had made to them when he first called them from their fisheries4 ,after this last charge1 8,feed my sheep10 8,feed my lambs10 we have no account of their ever fishing any more4 ,we find that there are many preachers in our time to whom the ,lord puts the question1 8,lovest thou me more than these80 ,not1 however these fisheries1 but these lands1 cattle1 horses1 mules1 bank stocks1 railroad stocks1 houses1 barns1 mills1 shops1 stores1 offices1 politics1 wives1 children1 fathers or mothers4 ,he is very exacting and speaks very decidedly4 8,if you love these more than me1 you can not be my disciples40 ,this is most fearful language4 ,what is the test8 ,the test is simply this1 if we love the ,lord more than these1 we will follow him and do his work4 ,if we love the ,lord less than these1 we will forsake the ,lord's work and follow these4 ,this is a matter that preaching brethren ought to put to their consciences4 ,can men who have the ability to preach ,christ1 who have tried it and know they can succeed1 and whom the ,lord has blessed in their efforts1 turn from this great work to the pursuits of the world1 at will1 with impunity8 ,we do not believe they can4 ,it is a fearful thing for them to do so4 ,we know men of great ability--men who can shake up society from its center to its circumference1 if they will try1 whose talents are measurably buried1 or what is the same thing1 devoted to the world4 ,these will certainly give a most strict account4 ,,man',s ,,accountability4 ,every sane man can and does believe and decide that he will do this1 and that he will not do that1 every day of his life4 ,hence our ,lord1 when he wept over ,jerusalem1 cried1 8,o ,jerusalem6 ,jerusalem6 how oft would ,i have gathered your children as a hen gathers her brood1 but ye would not40 ,in this view of the subject1 the man of ,god could say1 8,choose ye this day whom ye will serve40 ,in the same spirit1 the ,lord says1 8,if any man will come after me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross daily and follow me40 ,to the same amount1 the apostle ,paul says1 8,to whomsoever you yield yourselves servants to obey1 his servants ye are40 ,in the same ,spirit1 the ,new ,testament closes1 saying1 8,whoever will1 let him come40 ,this justifies the ,lord in saying1 8,he is not willing that any should perish1 but that all should come to repentance40 ,this all being so1 the ,lord1 in referring to the last judgment1 refers to the wickedness of man1 as the ground of their condemnation4 ,he says1 they who have done evil1 shall come forth to the resurrection of damnation4 ,they who do his commandments1 shall enter by the gates into the city1 and have a right to the tree of life4 ,the ,lord says1 8,because ,i have called and ye refused2 ,i have stretched out my hand and no man regarded2 but ye have set at naught all my counsel1 and would none of my reproof3 ,i also will laugh at your calamity1 and mock when your fear cometh2 when your fear cometh as desolation1 and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind2 when distress and anguish cometh upon you4 ,then shall they call upon me1 but ,i will not answer2 they shall seek me early1 but they shall not find me2 for that they hated knowledge1 and did not choose the fear of the ,lord4 ,therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way1 and be filled with their own devices4 ,for the turning away of the simple shall slay them4 ,but whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely1 and shall be quiet from fear of evil40 ,prov4 i4 #bd-cc4 ,this1 my friends1 is the wisdom of ,god4 ,it will stand when all human reasoning will go for nothing4 ,,the ,,new ,,and ,,the ,,old4 ,we do not desire to prevent discussion and investigation1 or to deprive brethren of great inventive genius from exercising their extraordinary powers1 nor to deprive men of the pleasure of making discoveries2 but we are not favorable to allowing every man the privilege of taking out a patent right for everything that may be new to him2 because it may not only be old with others1 but useless1 or even an old and oft exploded error4 ,what we need now is1 not so much men to make discoveries and invent something new1 as men to push the old1 the well-tried1 and that which is known to be valuable4 ,we do not desire1 on the one hand1 to be everlastingly hearing some new thing1 nor1 on the other hand1 prohibited from hearing any thing new4 ,we do not desire to be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth1 nor to be never learning2 but to have our eyes open to anything profitable1 that may be advanced1 and continue in the faithful practice of what we know4 ,but the main work is to push the truth through the world which we already have4 ,nothing is more sickening and disgusting1 than for some mere boys1 who have hardly read a half-dozen volumes1 to start out under a pretence of discovering new truth1 8going on to perfection10 explaining the inner and outer man1 the inner light1 inner consciousness1 conscience1 the will1 new modes of revelation1 the manner of the ,spirit's work1 etc41 etc4 ,we have had a perfect surfeit of all this kind of thing4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we do not need proud and vain young men to invent something new and glorify themselves1 but humble and devoted young men1 who will be content to 8preach the word10 8contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints10 and persevere in pushing the gospel through the world4 ,we have no faith in these young sap heads who are trying to render themselves famous by pointing out to the world the errors of ,alexander ,campbell4 ,it is true that it is not absolutely impossible that even a very young man should discover some important new truth1 or an old one1 that had1 for a time1 been neglected and covered up1 but it is not at all probable2 and certain it is1 that it is not the province of young men to spend a large share of their time in trying to present something new4 ,we claim not to have comprehended all truth1 so as to render it impossible for any thing more to be discovered2 but the main work is to impress the truth we have upon the rising generation1 and bring as many as possible under its influence4 ,we want humble1 working1 and pious men1 to spread the principles of the gospel through the world4 8,,my ,,kingdom ,,is ,,not ,,of ,,this ,,world40 ,no people can or ought to prosper that will not respect the wisdom of ,god as set forth in both the teaching and example of our ,lord and his apostles4 ,we can not make ourselves1 as a great1 rapidly increasing and prospering body1 an exception to this rule4 ,if we desire and intend to prosper in the great and good work of uniting saints1 building up the church and saving men1 we must confine ourselves strictly to the gospel--to the things of the kingdom of ,god and the name of ,jesus ,christ--determined to know nothing but ,christ and him crucified--to glory in nothing but the cross of ,christ4 ,our mission1 as a religious body1 as a christian ministry1 and as christian writers1 is not of this world4 ,the weapons of our warfare are not carnal1 but mighty through ,god1 to the pulling down of strong holds4 8,we wrestle not against flesh and blood1 but against principalities1 against powers1 against the rulers of the darkness of this world1 against wicked spirits in the heavenly regions40 ,our ,king commanded one of his men1 when he drew a sword1 and commencing battle with it1 struck off the ear of the servant ,malchus1 to put up the sword1 adding that they who take the sword shall perish by the sword4 ,the apostle ,paul fits out the christian soldier and equips him for his work4 ,the following are the habiliments for the warfare3 ,the loins are to be girt about with truth1 the breast-plate of righteousness is to be put on1 the feet are to be shod with a preparation of the gospel4 ,the shield of faith is to be taken1 the helmet of salvation and the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the word of ,god4 ,here is the christian armor--our preparation for war4 ,there is nothing carnal about it--no preparation to war against flesh and blood4 ,we must hold fast to this armor--the heavenly armor--and use it with skill1 resorting to no other1 and we shall see the tall sons of men in thousands fall before us and join the army4 ,,policy ,,in ,,preaching4 ,public men must be prudent1 judicious and noble in their bearing1 presenting the truth in the love of it4 ,men must not miscalculate their influence1 their power1 and time for presenting things4 ,preachers must know when and where things are to be said and done4 ,many men drive their audiences away1 by their repulsive course1 and think it the opposition of the people to the truth1 that drives them away4 ,we speak plainly on all the great issues between ourselves and the parties around us1 in the pulpit1 and yet seldom give offense1 and never fail to have a good hearing from the parties around us1 and seldom fail to gain some of them to the truth4 ,and1 what is better1 when they are gained1 they are gained indeed--not by persuading them that there is but little difference between us1 but by making them both see and feel the difference1 and convincing them of the truth4 ,any thing short of this is of no account4 ,some men are for using a little ,jesuitism4 ,they would preach on common ground matters till they draw their hearers on and gain their attention4 ,but we have nothing to do with any such policy4 ,there is a vast amount of the most important and plain truth in the gospel1 that the parties around us know comparatively nothing about1 and consequently have no objection to it4 ,they will hear it and be pleased with it4 ,the main matter is to develop fully and largely1 in the simplest style possible1 with heart and solicitude for the happiness and salvation of the people1 the whole scheme of redemption from the beginning1 as if the people knew nothing at all about it4 ,this must be done with power1 and not in a prosing1 indifferent and unfeeling manner4 ,it will find way to honest hearts1 in almost any community in this country4 ,,the ,,cause ,,of ,,christ ,,is ,,above ,,partisan ,,politics4 ,we have done a noble work1 and that work is not to be foiled1 defeated and destroyed by men who know not our ,master and love not his cause4 ,we have been raised up by the ,lord to be a mighty community4 ,god has a mission for us1 a great mission1 and we are not to be defeated in it4 ,that mission must be done4 ,the ,lord has put into our hands facilities for doing this great work1 and he requires it at our hands4 ,that work is simply to restore his own pure religion to the people of this generation1 and build up the church as it was at the beginning4 ,we have ascertained that the ,lord laid but one foundation1 reared but one building upon it1 had but one temple1 one body1 one family1 but one church4 ,this one body had but one head1 but one leader1 and we are to keep our eye on him1 follow him1 love him and serve him for ever4 ,we can not turn aside to the strifes of the world1 from our legitimate work4 ,we have preached union among the children of ,god1 struggled for it and prayed for it long and ardently1 and we now appreciate its value more than ever1 since we feel its power and influence in time of trouble4 ,an influence that can bind us in one body1 in one fellowship1 in the midst of such commotions and excitements1 is not of this world4 ,it is not an earthly influence1 but above the earth4 ,it is from ,god4 ,we know each other as the children of ,god1 the disciples of ,christ1 as christians1 and not as political partisans4 ,we know not a man because he belongs to this political party1 or that2 not because he lives on the one side of a geographical line1 or the other2 not because he holds to this political creed or that2 but we know him because he is a child of ,god1 an heir of the same inheritance1 and redeemed by the same blood of the ,covenant4 ,the bond that binds us together is not an earthly bond1 and it is not limited by time4 ,it is the love of ,god4 ,it is not limited to this world1 but shall last co-existent with the years of ,god4 ,it shall live and be fresh and vigorous when all worldly schemes and policies and their advocates1 shall be forgotten4 ,those who enjoy it shall also live beyond all the turmoil of political strife1 beyond all the struggles and trials that beset our faith in this life4 ,may we not live in vain1 but do good in our day and generation4 ,mercy and peace upon the ,israel of ,god4 8,,come ,,out ,,of ,,babylon40 ,the ,lord calls to his people wherever they may be scattered in ,babylon1 saying1 8,come out of her1 my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins1 and that you receive not of her plagues40 ,we live emphatically in the time for extending this cry1 and we must extend it4 ,the warning to those in danger1 is a most righteous and benevolent warning1 and those who hear it shall praise ,god forever1 that it has reached their hearts1 and induced them to abandon the devoted city4 ,there is no escape for one soul1 only by fleeing to the ,lord1 and that can only be done by abandoning all human laws1 and adhering to the law of the ,lord4 8,see that ye refuse not him that speaketh2 for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth1 much more shall not we escape1 if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven2 whose voice then shook the earth2 but now he hath promised1 saying1 ,yet once more ,i shake not the earth only1 but also heaven4 ,and this word1 ,yet once more1 signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken1 as of things that are made1 that those things that can not be shaken1 may remain4 ,wherefore we receiving a kingdom which can not be moved1 let us have grace1 whereby we may serve ,god acceptably1 with reverence and godly fear40 ,thanks to ,heaven1 there is a kingdom that can not be moved4 8,not every one that saith unto me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall enter into the kingdom of heaven2 but1 he that doeth the will of my ,father who is in heaven40 8,he10 says the ,lord1 8who hears these sayings of mine1 and does them1 ,i will liken him to a wise man40 8,he who hears these sayings of mine1 and does them not1 ,i will liken him to a foolish man40 ,our work is to try and call the attention of all nations to the sayings of our ,lord1 and induce them to hear him4 ,they must hear him1 or be lost for ever4 ,come out of ,babylon1 ,o you saints of the ,lord1 wherever you are1 and commit yourselves to the hands of the ,lord4 8,come out of her1 my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins1 and that you receive not of her plagues40 ,hear the holy ,john describe her destruction3 8,a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone1 and cast it into the sea1 saying1 ,thus with violence shall that great city1 ,babylon1 be thrown down1 and shall be found no more at all4 ,rejoice over her1 thou heaven1 and ye holy apostles and prophets2 for ,god hath avenged you on her40 8,after these things1 ,i heard a great voice of much people in heaven1 saying1 ,alleluia3 ,salvation1 and glory1 and honor1 and power1 unto the ,lord1 our ,god2 for true and righteous are his judgments2 for he hath judged the great whore1 which did corrupt the earth with her fornication1 and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand4 ,and again1 they said1 ,alleluia1 and her smoke rose up forever and ever4 ,and the four and twenty elders1 and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped him that sat upon the throne1 saying1 ,amen2 ,alleluia6 ,and a voice came out of the throne1 saying1 ,praise our ,god all ye his servants1 and ye that fear him1 both small and great4 ,and ,i heard as it were the voice of a great multitude1 and as the voice of many waters1 and as the voice of mighty thunderings1 saying1 ,alleluia2 for the ,lord ,god omnipotent reigneth4 ,let us be glad and rejoice1 and give honor to him1 for the marriage of the ,lamb has come and his wife hath made herself ready40 ,wonderful things are before us1 and let us be in readiness for their approach4 ,when ,paul was leaving the disciples1 expecting to meet them no more in the flesh1 he said1 8,i commend you to ,god and to the word of his grace1 which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified40 ,this same word1 another ,apostle says1 is able to save your souls1 and the ,lord says1 8,the words which ,i speak to you shall judge you in the last day40 ,his word lives and abides forever and ever4 ,if we were making our dying request1 and that to the dearest friends we have on earth1 we would request them to abandon all human authorities and hold on to the word of the ,lord for ever4 ,,preach 8,,first ,,principles40 ,there is no telling the evils that have arisen in some old congregations1 from preachers assuming that their audiences knew all about what are usually called first principles1 and not preaching them4 ,in this way1 they never get their audiences to understand the principles of the gospel at all4 ,they preach to their half-sleeping audiences1 not hearers1 some little1 exhortatory sermon1 of twenty-five or thirty minutes1 and not a syllable is recollected two days4 ,the people are thankful that the sermon was short1 and the preacher thankful that 8service0 is over4 ,in this way the gospel has literally been shut out of some churches1 and year after year passes without any thing like a clear development of the gospel1 and neither the church nor the regular hearers understand the gospel1 or know the difference between the gospel and something else4 ,this also gives rise to textuary preaching and preaching a sermon 8to develop a single thought40 ,we heard of one preacher who delivered a sermon on the text1 8,and there shall be no night there40 ,the wording was soft as a summer breeze and as harmless as a butterfly4 ,now1 we must say that we abominate this as mere trash4 ,we want good1 sound1 solid and manly preaching1 containing principles and practical instruction1 that will make an audience think and feel1 and that to some purpose4 ,let us advocate the cause1 maintain and defend it1 with zeal1 earnestness and power4 ,unfold the great principles of the faith1 spread them out and let the world see them1 and see at the same time that we intend they shall prevail4 ,the principles are self-evidently right1 and there is no reason why any man should be ashamed of them1 or afraid to advocate them4 ,they can be carried through the world1 and we have the men and ability1 and1 the ,lord helping us1 we shall spread them throughout the land4 ,,developing ,,the ,,talents ,,of ,,the ,,young4 ,we must make an effort to bring out our young people4 ,if they are brought into the church1 and not employed any way1 not induced to do anything1 nor in any way made useful1 one half of them will be led off into the world again4 ,a bishop who understands this matter1 will engage not simply the attention of the young1 but their ability1 whatever it may be1 and bring it out4 ,we fell in company with a bishop of this kind a few evenings since1 on the cars1 who informed us1 if our memory is not at fault1 that out of about forty male members in his congregation1 in ,illinois1 all but some three took some part in the public worship1 by way of reading1 prayer1 or exhortation4 ,we have recently heard of several churches of this sort4 ,these can worship without a preacher1 can 8draw out an audience10 and will1 in a short time1 send out preachers4 ,bishops who thus bring forward their young men1 are bishops indeed4 ,they do not imagine that their work is to sing1 pray1 preach1 break the loaf1 rule1 and do every thing1 and that the duty of the audience is simply to obey them4 ,it is the work of a ,christian bishop to develop and bring out the talent in the congregation1 and apply it to the work of the ,lord4 ,here is where our preachers are to come from4 ,the church must furnish the preachers of ,christ4 ,no other institution will ever do it4 ,we need not look to our colleges to make preachers4 ,they will never do it4 ,we need the colleges as much as any of our brethren have ever thought2 but not to make preachers1 but to educate our young men who want to preach or do anything else4 ,,what ,a ,,preacher ,,must ,,be4 ,he must be earnest4 ,men who preach the gospel of ,christ must be earnest4 ,they must not trifle with the gospel and the souls of men4 ,the theme is too vast1 the responsibility too great and the issues too momentous to be treated in a careless1 indifferent and prosing manner4 ,the idea of a man speaking of questions of life and death1 eternal happiness and eternal misery1 the glories to be revealed at the appearing and coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and the terrible destruction that shall be the destiny to all who obey not the gospel1 in a cold1 dull and unfeeling manner1 is preposterous4 ,these are the most awful1 momentous and sublime themes that ever dwelt upon the lips of men2 and let him who speaks of them1 remember that he is pleading in a case of life and death4 ,let him speak with earnestness1 spirit and power4 ,he must be a man of perseverance4 ,a man who can not preach a week without any success1 and not become discouraged1 had better go home4 ,he is not the man4 ,it is nothing strange to preach a dozen or fifteen discourses without success4 ,let him preach again4 ,if he still has no success1 let him humble himself before the ,lord1 in most fervent prayer1 and make another effort4 ,if he shall still fail in one place1 go to another1 and try again4 ,remember ,noah1 who preached one hundred and twenty years1 without an addition1 and preach on and pray on4 ,trust in the ,lord1 and work on4 ,he must be a man that can not be discouraged4 ,he must be determined that he will listen to no discouraging tales4 ,when met by some faint-hearted1 sickly1 and half-believing brother1 who doles out his story about the troubles among the brethren1 the opposition to be encountered1 and how 8hard a place it is10 where he is operating1 he must pay no attention to it1 but rise above it1 and bear it in mind that there are good and honest-hearted souls in every community1 who will receive and obey the gospel1 if it is faithfully presented4 ,keep these in your mind1 preaching brother1 and try to save them1 and you will succeed in a vast majority of cases4 ,inspire your audience with courage and confidence1 especially the brethren4 ,allow no whining1 complaining1 and saying1 8,we can't do anything10 and believe nothing of the kind4 ,you can do something1 and you must tell the people so1 and keep on till you do it4 ,you must not work in doubt1 but in strong confidence that you have the truth--that you are advocating the cause of righteousness--that ,god is in it1 will be with you1 never leave you nor forsake you--that you can1 by the help of the ,lord1 make the cause prosper1 and will do it4 ,,theory ,,and ,,practice4 ,it is one thing for a man to say he is for the ,bible1 the whole ,bible and nothing but the ,bible1 and it is quite another thing to learn and practice some of the first and clearest lessons of the ,bible4 ,the only authority there is in the ,bible for preaching the gospel at all1 requires that it be preached in all the world--to every creature4 ,yet1 strange to say1 the first thing many seem to think of1 and the only thing1 is the mere vicinity where they reside4 ,they are frequently few1 weak and uninfluential2 can get no preacher to their vicinity2 or if they do get one once in a great while1 they entertain him with an account of their weakness and inability to pay1 make him sacrifice more to preach for them than they all sacrifice to support him4 ,in other words1 if they ought to give him thirty dollars1 by a hard stretch they raise fifteen dollars1 and send him off fifteen dollars minus what he ought to have had4 ,after thus disheartening him1 breaking him down and starving him1 or especially his wife and children1 they comment upon the old adage1 8charity begins at home40 ,declaim against foreign missions1 and prepare to give the ,state ,board twenty-five dollars if the ,board will send them one hundred dollars worth of preaching4 ,after they treat a preacher in this way a few times1 he is compelled from absolute necessity to abandon them4 ,thus1 isolated1 forsaken and helpless1 they take no publications1 know nothing of what is going on1 pine away and die4 ,this shows the utter fallacy of little1 weak and helpless congregations keeping themselves isolated4 ,they should act with their brethren1 report themselves1 be known in all their efforts1 and send in their contributions1 no matter how small4 ,the ground of complaint here is1 however1 more on the part of preachers than any place else4 ,in all our preaching1 we should inculcate a missionary spirit1 the importance of acting in harmony1 unitedly and with energy in all our undertakings to evangelize the world4 ,,the ,,converting ,,power4 ,men are talking of justification by faith alone2 but the main trouble is1 that they have no faith4 ,they have no confidence in the gospel1 the power of ,god4 ,they have no confidence in preaching the cross of ,christ1 the power and wisdom of ,god4 ,they have no confidence in preaching ,christ to save the world4 ,they never preach ,christ with any animation--any spirit or power4 ,they have deserted ,god's ordained power to save men1 and are dealing out their insipid theories of spiritual influence1 their views and philosophies1 which have nothing in them to save1 if they were all true4 ,preaching theories of the ,word or of the ,spirit1 of the mode of the ,divine existence1 or of anything else1 has no power to convert or save any one4 ,all the preaching of ,calvinism or ,arminianism1 of ,trinitarianism or ,unitarianism1 of ,necessity or ,freedom1 or all the other theories ever preached1 whether true or false1 never saved one soul of our poor fallen race4 ,but the preaching of the gospel1 preaching ,christ1 the cross of ,christ1 is the ordained work for the ,christian ministry4 ,this is unequivocally the power ,god has authorized them to exercise in saving sinners4 ,we know it will save sinners1 from the following three reasons3 #a4 ,the ,holy ,spirit declares it to be 8the power of ,god1 to every one that believes40 #b4 ,the apostles and first ministers of ,christ preached it to the salvation of thousands in a single day1 and millions in a few years4 #c4 ,we are preaching the gospel almost every day of our life1 and find it bringing sinners to ,christ4 ,we have all faith in the gospel1 the ancient gospel1 preached in its purity and simplicity1 as the only means of saving man4 ,it will save men4 ,it is the power of ,god to save men4 ,we realize this more and more every year4 ,the blessing of the ,lord is attending every man who has faith in ,christ1 in his word1 and preaches the gospel honestly4 ,but we know that those brethren who oppose us in this1 are wrong1 for the following reasons3 #a4 ,the ,lord never said that their theories upon any subject1 were the power of ,god unto salvation to anybody1 either ,jew or ,greek4 #b4 ,the apostles never preached in their style4 #c4 ,they convert nobody when they do preach4 #d4 ,the church dies under their preaching in every instance4 ,brethren1 have all confidence in the gospel of your salvation2 preach it1 advocate it1 propagate it2 perpetuate and hand it down to the future generations4 ,we have all confidence in it2 expect to lean upon it while living and when dying4 8,we commend you to ,god and to the word of his grace1 which is able to build you up1 and give you an inheritance among all them who are sanctified10 said an old saint1 when leaving a church1 and when assuring the disciples that they should see his face no more4 ,the gospel will live2 and1 those who have confidence in it1 love it1 preach it1 and practice it1 will live co-existent with the years of ,god4 ,,imperfect ,,medium ,,for ,a ,,perfect ,,revelation4 ,human language1 perfect or imperfect1 is the only medium through which a revelation to man ever was or ever can be made4 ,we do not claim for the medium that it is perfect1 but the revelation itself is perfect4 ,the imperfection of language and instability form the occasion for new translations and revisions4 ,revelation1 when first given to man1 was perfect and the language employed to convey it to the mind of man answered the purpose4 ,in the providence of ,god1 the original languages through which revelation was made died1 and consequently ceased to change4 ,but1 in the very nature of things1 a living language is always changing4 ,the circumstance1 however1 that language is an imperfect vehicle through which to convey divine things1 is no objection to the divine things thus conveyed to us4 ,it maybe a reason why our knowledge of revelation will never be perfect in this life2 but certainly no reason why revelation itself shall be considered imperfect4 ,it may be alleged that revelation to man is more difficult on account of the imperfection and instability of language2 but the same difficulty lies in the way of every kind of communications to men4 ,the true state of the case is1 that the medium of language is sufficiently perfect and entirely adequate for all the purposes of a revelation to mankind4 ,the communication from ,god to man found in the ,bible is sufficiently clear and intelligible for all the purposes of its original design4 ,the man who will make an honest effort1 can understand the will of ,god concerning him--can discriminate between good and evil1 right and wrong1 the way to hell and the way to heaven4 ,but the man who will not make an honest effort1 would not be a ,christian if one would rise from the dead before his eyes4 ,if he had seen the ,lord in person he would have found occasion for caviling4 ,the seed of the kingdom must fall into a good and honest heart4 ,it is useless to fall out with the medium through which revelation has come to man4 ,the best medium in existence was employed1 the very one through which we communicate man with man1 and the one with which man is more familiar than any other--the medium of language4 ,,overlooking ,,humble ,,but ,,good ,,men4 ,we have lately been reflecting upon an opportunity for doing great good perfectly within our reach1 to which many are paying but little attention4 ,who among our brethren are thinking how many humble1 unassuming and comparatively obscure men we have1 who are actually doing a great work1 and not only doing it at their own charges1 but doing it without thanks or even credit from their brethren8 ,while we are paying much attention to a few men of popularity1 influence and fame1 we are overlooking a large number of the best1 truest1 most self-sacrificing men the ,lord has given us4 ,these1 too1 are the men who are doing the main body of the work1 and they are the main supports of the cause4 ,they are men of good sense1 piety and devotion2 men of excellent character1 an honor to the cause and a credit to the brotherhood1 who are penetrating the private neighborhoods1 preaching in private houses1 school houses1 barns1 shops1 and open groves1 and bringing thousands to the fold every year2 and in the place of the brethren making any arrangement to support them1 or even saying anything to encourage them1 they are saying discouraging things of them1 such as that 8they can't preach0--8they are little preachers10 etc41 etc4 ,now1 we desire to hear of some old church1 where wealth abounds1 instead of monopolizing money and talent in preaching in their midst1 where probably they can do but little good1 making arrangements outside to sustain some good man1 such as we have described1 to visit those by-ways all through the land1 where most numbers may be converted and the work of the ,lord greatly extended4 ,we have the men to do this work1 good men1 men in whom we have all confidence1 who desire to do this work1 and are doing it measurably without charge4 ,these men do not desire large wages for their work4 ,indeed1 they have shown1 in many instances1 that they will work on1 pay or no pay4 ,but they could do vastly more if they were supported4 ,now1 the idea of our fixing our eye upon a few talented men1 paying them large salaries1 and wholly neglecting these1 is manifestly wrong4 ,it is sinful4 ,we saw six or eight preachers such as we allude to1 together in ,mexico1 ,missouri1--and we find them in every community1 and we vouch for the fact1 that more than one-half of all the accessions reported are from men of this description4 ,we live in a time when humble men and good men are overlooked2 when working men are forgotten and neglected2 and we desire to make a plea in behalf of these4 ,they are the men who are willing to go into all the highways and by-places--to preach in the private house1 the school house1 the barn1 the shop or the grove4 ,a large proportion of all the work that has been done is the result of the sacrifices1 labors and toils of this class of men4 ,they are the men that will now do the work1 do it well1 and with less expense than any others4 ,there are hundreds of men of this description that have never received one hundred dollars in a year for all their hard labor4 ,we have in our mind several of this class1 who have brought into the fold large numbers every year1 and have received for their labor comparatively nothing4 ,will not the brethren make arrangements to do something for these brethren8 ,they are willing to go among the poor1 the destitute1 and preach to them the unsearchable riches of ,christ4 ,if those who have means to expend for the cause1 will look to this class of men and to their work and aid them1 they will do one hundred per cent4 more with their means than is generally the case4 ,these will go where another class of men will not go1 and do a work that another class of men will not do1 and yet a work every way as important to the conversion of the world4 ,send these men all through the land1 and convert the country1 and then we can easily convert the city4 ,we have a large number of this class of men who can be employed for two1 three and four hundred dollars a year1 to preach a great portion of their time1 and they are the only men who can and will penetrate all the nooks and corners of the land4 ,the ,lord help us to appreciate these good men1 and see that they are aided in their labors of love and work of faith4 ,,suggestions ,,to ,a ,,young ,,sceptic4 ,a young gentleman had called for the reconciliation of certain points in the ,new ,testament narratives1 which1 to his mind1 seemed incongruous4 ,after noting each of the points separately1 in the ,a4 ,c4 ,review1 for ,may1 #ahei1 the editor added3 ,but1 my dear sir1 the reconciling what to you may be apparent discrepancies1 is no reason for your becoming a ,christian2 nor should you think me unable to reconcile them1 or should ,i really be unable to reconcile them1 or should all men be unable to reconcile them1 that would still be no reason why you or any man should reject ,christ4 ,the inability to reconcile these matters may arise from our ignorance and not from the fact that they are irreconcilable4 ,it would not be a reason for rejecting the gospel1 if the statements of these witnesses were really in themselves irreconcilable or inaccurate4 ,the inaccuracy might easily have found its way into their testimony1 in translating1 transcribing1 or interpolation1 and ,christ still be divine4 ,the whole matter rests upon ,christ1 and not upon the congruity or the incongruity of the sacred narratives1 unless their consistency can be so impaired as to destroy their testimony concerning ,christ4 ,the matter is not whether you can reconcile all the statements of ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke and ,john1 whether you can show their consistency and understand them throughout1 but whether you believe in ,christ or not1 whether you will receive him or not4 ,can you say1 sir1 that you are pondering in your mind whether to regard ,jesus as divine or an imposter8 ,this is the question for you to fix your eye upon4 ,you have not time now to study the whole ,bible and decide upon a sentence at a time1 whether you believe it or not4 ,it would take you a long time to become a ,christian in that way4 ,you should not go to the ,bible for that purpose1 but go there to learn all about ,christ1 the purity of his life1 his wonderful teachings1 his miracles1 his perfect knowledge of what is in man1 the fulfillment of all the prophecies in him1 with an eye simply upon the question--is he the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god8 ,you can shape your inquiries in different forms1 though constantly bearing upon the same question1 by inquiring as follows3 ,was ,jesus perfect in his life8 ,if he was1 he was more than man1 for no mere man ever was perfect4 ,were his teachings perfect8 ,if they were1 they were not of man1 for no mere man ever gave the world perfect teachings4 ,all merely human teachings1 in all the world1 and in all ages1 have been imperfect1 and1 it is a miracle in itself1 for a perfect being to appear among men1 in human form1 or a perfect system of teaching to be presented by him to man4 ,he emphatically spake as never man spake4 ,can it be possible that you1 my dear sir1 are vacillating in your mind whether ,jesus is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god8 ,can you doubt whether he was the friend of man8 whether he loved man8 whether you would be infallibly safe under his guidance8 ,can you doubt whether he was good8 whether his teaching was good8 whether it was safe8 ,you must feel conscious that he is the ,christ1 the ,son of ,god--the friend of man--that he loved man--that he went about doing good--that you are infallibly safe in following him--that his teaching is good--that it is divine4 ,you would not now deny him for the world4 ,your eternal all is in him4 ,if the worst things infidels have ever said of him were true1 it is better and safer to follow him1 than them2 for they admit that he was better than they1 and his teaching better than their own4 ,as you value your soul1 follow him4 ,,dialogue ,,about ,,the ,,preacher4 ,the following dialogue between ,dr4 ,pietus and ,dr4 ,fastidious1 occurred in a social company1 in a parlor1 and1 thinking it might be profitable to some brethren1 and even churches1 we have concluded to publish it entire1 without recommending or condemning it2 therefore1 we let it speak for itself3 ,,dr4 ,,fastidious4--,i have1 for some time1 desired an opportunity to say a few words1 though confidentially to you1 ,dr4 ,pietus1 touching our preacher4 ,i think he is not a suitable man1 for such a prominent place as this4 ,you know that we frequently have men of distinction here4 ,besides1 our city is one of prominence1 and we ought to have a man of distinction4 ,,dr4 ,,pietus4--,i think our preacher is a good man1 ,doctor1 a sound man1 and a man of great moral worth4 ,i thought he gave us one of the best exhortations at the prayer-meeting1 on last ,wednesday night1 ,i ever heard4 ,did you not think so8 ,,dr4 ,f4--,i was not there4 ,he is so uninteresting that ,i but rarely go to hear him4 ,i know that he is a good man1 and sound enough4 ,but then1 he is a very common man1 and not sufficiently showy and eloquent for us4 ,we need a first-class preacher in a city like this2 a man who can draw out an audience4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,i never think of such a thing as a preacher to draw ,christians out to meeting4 ,the ,lord draws me out to meeting4 ,he has promised to be there1 and ,i have never found his promise to fail4 ,i am never disappointed1 for ,i go to meeting believing that he will be there1 and ,i always find him4 ,but those who only go because they love some preacher1 frequently get disappointed2 for the preacher being a fallible creature1 often fails to attend4 ,but ,i do think our preacher is a good preacher4 ,i do not know where we could get a better man4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,we need a man of distinction and notoriety1 who will attract attention1 and draw out an audience4 ,i would then go out and try to do something4 ,but1 ,i have no faith in doing anything1 till we have a more attractive preacher4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,my dear sir1 we will never get a preacher who can draw out an audience1 unless we draw too4 ,as much depends upon a church in drawing out an audience as the preacher4 ,no preacher can draw out an audience unless the church does its part4 ,we must do our part as a church1 or no preacher in the world can do us any good4 ,i still think our present preacher has done about as much for us1 as any man could have done under the circumstances4 ,it is not a different kind of preacher we need1 but a different kind of a church4 ,we need members that will attend the public worship1 sing1 pray1 exhort1 and stand at their post4 ,in one word1 we need a church that will stand by the preacher1 encourage1 sustain him1 and hold up his hands4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,i never saw such a man as you are4 ,you can be satisfied with any kind of preaching4 ,i never saw you present when any man preached1 when you did not appear satisfied1 no matter how bungling he was4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,i think but little about preachers1 have fewer favorites1 and more rarely speak in praise or complaint of preachers1 than almost any man you can find4 ,i am not thinking of the messenger1 but of the message4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,i can not bear a prosing1 stammering and dry preacher4 ,i have not heard our preacher present anything new in three months4 ,i like to learn something when ,i go to hear preaching4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,when were you at meeting last8 ,i do not recollect seeing you for some three months in the meeting house4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,i have been pressed with--,i have not been very well--the preaching has not suited me1 and there are many in the church that should have been excluded long since4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,no wonder you have heard nothing new from our brother2 for you have not heard him at all4 ,if his preaching had been the best in the world1 it would have done you no good1 while you did not hear it4 ,i will tell you1 my dear brother1 how to make preaching better to us3 ,read the ,scriptures every day2 pray night and morning2 talk to every one you meet about religion1 and your heart will be full of the theme4 ,you will then like to hear any man who can preach at all4 ,attend all the meetings1 participate in the songs1 prayers1 exhortations and all the other parts of public worship1 and you will then be interested in all that you hear from good men4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,your notions of preaching will not do4 ,our city is one of intelligence4 ,this community1 you must recollect1 is highly enlightened1 and we must have a man here that keeps pace with the age4 ,we frequently have statesmen1 lawyers1 physicians and men of the first rank in attendance1 and it is useless to think of interesting these with any common talents4 ,we must have a man of taste1 refinement1 and highly accomplished4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,when did our ,lord ever try to arrest the attention of the elite of this world by show1 by mere human polish and flourish8 ,never1 never1 ,doctor1 as you certainly know4 ,are you not aware1 my dear sir1 that the wisdom of ,god is not in this vain and worldly thing that you speak of8 ,sensible people1 those truly enlightened and great1 can understand the gospel1 appreciate and receive it1 when it is simplified and made appreciable to the masses of the people4 ,not only so1 doctor1 but the class you aim to please1 though enlightened in the things of the world1 and accomplished1 they are more unenlightened in the things of the kingdom of ,god1 than many that you never think of pleasing4 ,i am for a preacher that will try to please the ,lord1 whether he pleases your distinguished men or not4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,we have had some of the best speakers in the world here1 and the truth is1 the people here know what good talent is1 and they will not be satisfied with ordinary men4 ,the people here have been well taught4 ,no man can attract attention here unless he is a superior man4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,that the people here have heard some men of good preaching talent1 is true2 but that they are well-read and well taught in christianity1 is far from true4 ,that they understand ,jesus or the apostles well1 is far from true4 ,many perfectly country places and rural districts contain far more gospel light than may be found in the bounds of our congregation4 ,we presume that we are wise1 while many plain men from the country are astonished when they converse with us1 that we are so ignorant4 ,to be plain with you1 my dear brother1 ,i know of no place where there is1 at this time1 more need of plain1 old-fashioned1 ,new ,testament preaching than here4 ,it is not worldly show that we need2 we have that now in abundance4 ,we need the simple teachings of ,jesus1 solemnly and affectionately impressed upon our hearts1 by some good man who loves us and will try to save us4 ,in the place of being inflated with the conceit that we are well taught1 far advanced and highly elevated in christian attainments1 so that no man except one of the most exalted accomplishments can teach us1 we should be sensible of what is the true state of the case1 viz3 ,that almost any plain and good man who preaches among us1 can teach us many useful lessons that we do not know4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,i can not agree with you4 ,i have had my face burn more than once1 in listening to some ignorant brother1 blundering and trying to preach1 who evidently did not understand his mother tongue1 and that1 too1 in the presence of some distinguished persons4 ,i can never countenance such a state of things4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,doctor1 ,i had rather hear some good man1 who can not speak his mother tongue correctly1 tell the plain story of the cross of ,christ1 in the love of ,jesus1 and in the spirit and power of a holy man of ,god1 a thousand times1 than to listen to one of your showy men1 who can preach a beautiful sermon without any ,jesus1 ,holy ,spirit1 love of ,god1 or anything else1 but the man himself in it4 ,i desire preaching that will convert men to ,jesus--to christianity and not to men4 ,the converts will then love ,jesus1 meet and worship him and do those things that are pleasing in his sight4 ,we do not want a man here to worship him1 but to preach ,jesus to us and teach us to worship ,him4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,with your views of the subject1 we shall never do any good4 ,we shall never draw out an audience1 nor accomplish anything4 ,i am in favor of procuring a man at a salary of #b1jjj or #b1ejj1 that will command the respect of our city4 ,then we shall do some good4 ,i am willing to give liberally when such an arrangement can be made1 but ,i do not think our preacher is doing any good1 and shall not give anything for his support4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,i am sorry to hear you speak so4 ,nothing1 in my estimation could be more disastrous to us4 ,this would consume about all we could possibly raise1 so that we could not raise a dollar for missions1 for colleges1 the poor or anything only to pay a man to preach to us4 ,at this rate our large congregation would only just be able to support itself and bear its own weight6 ,who is to convert the world at this rate6 ,if we can not do anything more than sustain ourselves who are to support missions1 build colleges and take care of the poor8 ,if you had such a preacher as you want1 he would have to do everything himself1 or you would not be satisfied4 ,not a brother in the church would ever pray1 exhort1 or do anything that would call forth a gift1 or develop any talents that might be among our numbers4 ,hence in all these city churches where some great man is the center of attraction1 they rarely ever bring forward any young preachers1 or develop any new talent4 ,they simply monopolize talent brought out and developed some place else4 ,i am in favor of preachers of ability1 not only in our city churches1 but as far as possible1 in all the churches4 ,but the way must be opened among us for the development of talent in the church4 ,our pride must not despise incipient efforts--plain and humble men1 nor human weakness4 ,it is in all men more or less1 though not always developed in the same form4 ,,dr4 ,f4--,i think if we had such a preacher as ,i wish1 we would draw out an audience1 convert many people and greatly extend the cause in one year4 ,,dr4 ,p4--,no1 ,doctor1 that would not be the case4 ,the preacher we have is just as good as any man we can get4 ,he is a man of unquestionable talents and piety and if we stand by him1 aid him and encourage him1 thus showing to the world that we respect him1 those without will also respect him and he will succeed4 ,if we had the most gifted man on the continent and the members of the church would treat him as they have done our present preacher he would do nothing4 ,by our absenting ourselves1 we virtually say1 what you have in so many words said1 that our preacher can do no good here4 ,when the members of the church thus speak and act1 neither a man nor an angel can do any thing2 and1 if ,i were the preacher1 ,i would not stay a moment with brethren who would thus treat me4 ,i would go where ,i could be appreciated4 ,doctor1 come to meeting and let us make one good effort and see if we can not bring our church out4 ,let us produce a change in the church1 and then probably our preacher will do well enough4 ,i think we need a change in the church more than in the preacher1 or preaching4 8,,the ,,love ,,of ,,christ ,,constrains40 ,the preachers who love ,christ better than partyism1 will preach ,christ1 will call the people to ,christ1 and induce them to love him1 and love all that do love him4 ,they will inquire his will1 and do it4 ,they will exchange the love of party for the love of ,christ1 and find it so much higher1 holier1 purer and happier1 that they will ignore all party feuds1 wrangling and strifes1 and maintain simply 8the faith once delivered to the saints40 ,no doctrinal corrections1 or corrections in ordinances1 or in organization and government1 will ever amount to anything1 or save a people1 who have not the love of ,christ4 ,we may be told that we may be mistaken1 that they do love ,christ4 ,we cannot be mistaken in this1 for the ,lord says1 8,from the abundance of the heart1 the mouth speaks4 ,a man full of the love of ,christ1 will speak of ,christ4 ,the theme of his heart will dwell upon his tongue4 ,where ,christ has promised to be1 they will be with him40 8,where two or three are met together in my name1 there10 says the ,lord1 8,i will be40 ,how many go to these places where ,jesus has promised to be8 ,how many go to the ,lord's table1 to remember his dying love8 ,how many of the preachers will sit down together1 as loving disciples1 and meditate upon his dying love1 his great suffering1 as he bore our sins on the accursed tree8 ,when we have lost friends1 we go to the grave1 and think of them1 try to bring them up in our memories4 ,we talk with our friends about them1 and about seeing them and meeting them in another state4 ,how often do the professors of religion1 in our times1 think of the grave of ,jesus1 his resurrection1 his coronation8 ,how often do they commemorate his sufferings1 and meditate upon his great love to us8 ,his name is almost set aside1 his sufferings almost forgotten1 his love1 even his dying love1 scarcely mentioned6 ,yet the word of the ,lord1 when translated into ,english1 thunders in our ears6--8,if any man love not the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 he will be accursed when the ,lord comes40 ,we shall hear these words1 and be judged by them1 in a day when we shall feel their force4 ,jesus is the 8one ,lord10 the one object of love1 the one head and king4 ,shall we make an effort to rescue the people from party influence1 and win their hearts and affections from all the frivolous objects upon which they are placed in partyism1 and place them upon ,him who is the express image of the invisible ,god1 the brightness of the ,father's glory1 and in whom all the fullness of the godhead dwells bodily8 ,who1 with the love of ,christ in his own breast1 can fail to see that the work now for good men1 is to call the attention of all men to ,christ1 to his word1 his cause1 his church1 his salvation1 his way1 that they may love him supremely1 and be his for evermore8 ,,conclusion ,,of ,,the ,,year4 ,dear ,reader1 we are now about closing another year4 ,this number completes our weekly visits for another year4 ,the time appears short since we made the first visit this year1 still1 fifty-two weeks have run their course4 ,another year has fled1 and is now numbered with the years before the flood4 ,the good deeds of the righteous are entered on the records of eternity1 to come up to their everlasting honor in the day when the righteous judge shall award to every man according to his works4 ,not only so1 but all the crimes1 the transgressions1 and acts of disobedience of every variety1 in a long catalogue1 have gone up and been registered in the book of remembrance before the ,lord4 ,what a list must that be6 ,what a spectacle must this world be1 with all its dark crimes and acts of rebellion against the ,majesty of heaven and earth1 to the eye of the omniscient ,one6 ,every den of drunkenness1 debauchery1 profanity1 lying and gambling1 lies spread open to the ,all-seeing eye4 ,not an oath falls without his notice1 not a fraud1 a deception1 cheat1 lie1 or crime of any sort escapes ,omniscience4 ,all1 all sins1 transgressions and misdemeanors of every sort are treasured up and kept in store for the day of final account4 ,what adds to the solemnity of the matter is1 that no amends can be made in acts of the past4 ,there they stand irrevocably1 so far as we are concerned4 ,the ,lord may wash away every stain in his own precious blood1 where persons come to him in a proper manner4 ,but even this does not amend for the past4 ,it takes away our guilt1 and is a means of saving us4 ,but the wrongs done remain wrong and will so remain for ever4 ,repentance changes not the wrong done4 ,in the same way1 the good neglected1 during the year now closing1 will so remain for ever4 ,we can do good1 it is true1 the coming year2 but that we could have done1 and that it would have been our duty to have done1 if we had done good all last year4 ,opportunities for doing good never return4 ,other opportunities may come1 but they would have come if no previous opportunities had been neglected4 ,you had an opportunity this year to have ministered to the wants of the poor widow1 the orphan1 the sick1 the afflicted and distressed1 but these opportunities are now gone1 and gone forever4 ,if neglected1 there is no remedy2 that neglect remains forever4 ,we may repent1 obtain forgiveness and do good in time to come1 but all that good could have been done just as well had there been no previous neglect1 and would have been more liable to have been done1 for one delinquency opens the way for another and has a tendency to induce it4 ,in closing the year1 it is well enough for us to cast an eye back over the ground1 not to amend the year now closing1 for that is impossible1 but to see where the delinquency has been1 and determine that a similar delinquency shall not be found in the work of the coming year4 ,in this way1 we may profit by looking over the past4 ,what1 then has been entered to our account on the records of eternity8 ,what have we done as a great religious body8 ,what have we done as individual congregations1 or communities8 ,what have we done as families8 ,what have we done as individuals8 ,what have we done as teachers in the ,sunday schools8 ,what have we done as preachers of the gospel8 ,what have we done as religious editors8 ,now is the time to review and see how the account stands before the ,lord4 ,if the ,lord should call on us for our annual report1 ,,are ,,we ,,ready8 ,,finis4 ,,john ,,burns1 ,publisher ,bookseller1 #gag ,,olive ,,street1 ,,st4 ,,louis1 ,,mo4 ,invites the attention of authors and others to his facilities for ,,publishing ,books1 ,tracts1 ,pamphlets1 ,catalogues1 ,sermons1 ,programmes1 ,,letter ,,heads ,,for ,,preachers1 ,,and ,,anything ,,in ,,the ,,printing ,,line4 ,your orders are respectfully solicited for anything that may be wanted for your library4 ,publications of the ,christian ,church ,is my specialty1 yet ,i supply ,books in every department of literature and learning1 by mail1 at my expense1 on receipt of publisher's retail price2 this brings the book-store to your door4 ,church ,records1 with ,printed ,headings1 only #a4jj2 ,church ,letters1 very neat and ,convenient1 ,one ,hundred in ,book1 with ,stub1 #a4jj2 #ej in ,book1 #fj;c4 ,communion ,sets1 ,photographs of ,styles sent on ,application2 ,contribution ,records1 #a4jj and #a4ej4 ,collection ,envelopes1 ,baptismal ,suits1 ,sunday ,school ,supplies1 ,superintendent's ,record ,books1 ,class ,books1 ,song ,books1 ,scholars' and ,teachers' ,helps1 ,sunday ,school ,papers1 ,maps1 etc4 ,a ,,large ,,assortment ,,of ,,reward ,,cards4 ,,banners ,,furnished ,,on ,,application4 ,,anything ,,you ,,may ,,want ,,for ,,church ,,or ,,sunday ,,school ,,will ,,receive ,,prompt ,,attention4 ,special ,discounts to ,preachers1 ,students1 and ,sunday ,schools ,purchasing ,libraries4 ,,terms3 ,,cash ,,with ,,order4 ,correspondence ,solicited and ,prices ,quoted when desired4 ,a ,,symposium --,,on-- ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 --,,by-- ,a4 ,b4 ,,jones1 ,g4 ,w4 ,,longan1 ,t4 ,,munnell1 ,j4 ,z4 ,,taylor1 ,a4 ,,campbell4 ,,bound ,,in ,,cloth1 #ge ,,cents4 ,the ,publisher presents this volume to the ,public in the hope that much good may result4 ,it contains the mature thought of some of our ablest writers on an important ,bible theme4 ,while ,symposium may be a novel thing among us1 the ,publisher would fain hope that an appreciative public will commend this method of presenting a subject from different angles of vision4 ,it is believed that the times are propitious for the ,disciples to make themselves more widely felt by their contributions to the religious literature of the age4 ,it is the ambition of the ,publisher to make this volume the first of a uniform ,series2 each to be composed of ,essays on the living issues in ,christian thought4 ,the subjects for the different volumes will be chosen so as to make the ,series comprehend a wide range4 ,should the plan be successful1 the whole ,series when complete1 will form a unique and valuable addition to the libraries of wide-awake religious people4 ,the ,publisher sincerely hopes that the reception of this book may demonstrate a general desire on the part of the public for books of like merit and method2 and that he may be able in this convenient form to send broadcast over the land the richest thought of the ripest minds among us1 and be of service to the ,master's cause1 and to his day and generation4 ,,what ,,they ,,say ,,about ,,symposium ,,on ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,this is an elegantly bound little book4 ,the style is of the highest order1 all of the authors being first-class writers4 ,the subject is profound1 and so is the treatment4 ,it has been handled in a masterly manner4 ,the authors are not agreed1 but it is a book of investigation and not of controversy4 ,while the reader may not agree with some of the writers1 he will feel that everything is said in a fair and manly way4 ,the subject is viewed from every stand-point1 which makes the treatise valuable to those searching for the truth4 ,as the name indicates1 this little book truly presents a feast4--,c4 ,m4 ,wilmeth4 ,brethren ,a4 ,b4 ,jones1 ,g4 ,w4 ,longan1 ,j4 ,z4 ,taylor and ,thomas ,munnell4 ,these are among our most thoughtful writers4 ,they have done their work well1 and we commend the book to all who feel an interest 7and all ought to7 in having and holding correct views on the subjects of the influence of the ,holy ,spirit as our indwelling comforter4 ,the book concludes with a selection--,the influence of the ,holy ,spirit in ,conversion and ,sanctification--from the writings of ,a4 ,campbell4--,dr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,hopson4 ,a neat little volume1 executed in faultless style4 ,it consists of several essays1 original and reprint1 from leading thinkers of the ,christian ,church4 ,it opens with an article by ,elder ,a4 ,b4 ,jones1 upon 8,consciousness and the ,holy ,spirit10 and this is followed by one by ,g4 ,w4 ,longan4 ,there are essays by ,thomas ,munnell and other writers1 upon the same subject1 taking a different view of the same subject4 ,but the most important in the volume is an old essay of ,a4 ,campbell1 on the ,holy ,spirit4 ,to those desiring the views of able men upon this question we would commend the book4--,b4 ,w4 ,johnson4 ,address all orders to ,,john ,,burns1 ,publisher1 #gag ,olive ,street1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo4 ,,what ,,they ,,say ,,about ,,the ,,life ,,and ,,times --,,of-- ,,benjamin ,,franklin1 ,taken altogether1 this book is deserving of hearty approval as a valuable contribution of material towards the proper understanding of the work of a past generation1 and of the life of one who1 whatever may have been his errors1 developed in his life many of the characteristics of true greatness--an indomitable worker1 a ready writer2 a powerful preacher1 whose strong practical sense1 boundless energy1 and earnest devotion to his work would have made him a man of mark in any department of life2 and which in his chosen department1 lifted him out of poverty and obscurity to a position of great influence and successful leadership1 and won for him the admiration and affection of multitudes4 ,the publisher has done his work in creditable style4 ,the book ought to have a large sale4--,isaac ,errett4 ,,life ,,and ,,times ,,of ,,elder ,,benjamin ,,franklin4--,we have just received a copy of the above work1 from the office of the publisher1 ,john ,burns1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo4 ,it is a very handsome volume of #ejh pages1 good1 plain type1 on nice1 white paper1 and neatly bound in cloth4 ,we were very anxious to see the book1 and rejoice that it has been published4 ,we regard it as a valuable addition to our ,christian literature1 and think a copy of it should be put into every ,christian library1 by the side of the lives of ,stone1 ,smith1 ,johnson1 the two ,campbells1 ,walter ,scott1 and others4 ,these biographies of our great and good men should be read and studied by all1 and especially our young preachers4--,j4 ,m4 ,mathes4 ,the work comprises a biography of ,elder ,franklin from his childhood--embracing his early life and surroundings1 his conversion1 consecration to the work of preaching2 his early efforts1 trials1 sufferings and encouragements4 ,there are in this portion of his life some touching and pathetic incidents concerning his wife's struggles with poverty4 ,his labor and growth as a preacher are recorded1 his mistakes and faults are presented with fairness4 ,his career as a writer is given1 his connection with the various questions that presented themselves as matter of controversy with the denominations and among the disciples1 his positions1 changes and arguments are presented with fairness4 ,short sketches are given of many of the associates of ,elder ,franklin4 ,the style is plain1 direct and very attractive4 ,we found it difficult to lay the book aside when we had once looked into it until we finished it4 ,our readers will find it an interesting and instructive volume4 ,we hope all of them will get it and read it4--,d4 ,lipscomb4 ,the publisher has done his work well4 ,there is nothing flashing nor fanciful in its make up4 ,the man whose deeds it records was a plain1 practical man4 ,on pages #fh and #ga is a very just tribute to the humble1 patient woman1 the wife of ,benjamin ,franklin1 who waits a little longer until the summons comes to call her home4 ,the paragraph is a just and beautiful tribute from an affectionate son to a pious and devoted mother4 ,read it4 ,i hope that the book will have a very wide circulation4 ,let every one who can do so buy and read the ,life and ,times of ,benjamin ,franklin4--,b4 ,b4 ,tyler4 ,we are much pleased with a cursory glance at its contents4 ,the tribute of love and affection which ,joseph ,franklin pays to his mother1 when reciting her trials and tribulations as the wife of a poor and struggling preacher1 and when recalling her devotion and self-sacrifice in the darkest days of a pioneer's life1 starts tears unbidden from our eyes1 and causes us to thank ,god that he has given to the ,church such peerless and faultless mothers4--,john ,f4 ,rowe4 ,we have received from the publisher1 ,john ,burns1 8,the ,life and ,times of ,benjamin ,franklin40 ,it is a very neat and attractive volume of #ejh pages4 ,the publisher deserves much praise for the mechanical execution of the work4 ,it is printed on good paper1 and in large type1 and old persons can read it with pleasure4 ,we will speak of it again when we shall have read it4--,dr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,hopson4 ,benjamin ,franklin was a great man4 ,he was one of nature's noblemen4 ,he was not a favorite of fortune4 ,the golden gods never wove a chaplet around his brow1 nor emptied their treasures in his lap4 ,he was one of the hardy sons of toil4 ,his greatness was not the greatness of accident4 ,he made himself great by the nobility of his life4 ,he loved ,god and the truth4 ,he never trimmed his sails to popular breezes4 ,he was always on one side or the other of every important question1 and generally on the right side4 ,though you might not always agree with him1 you always knew where he stood4 ,he gave no uncertain sound4 ,he was a man for the people4 ,his simplicity1 his faith1 and his devotion to the truth were simply sublime4 ,in this lay his power4--,frank ,g4 ,allen4 ,there is a real charm in biography1 especially when the deeds and struggles of a valuable life are recorded4 ,few studies are so fascinating to a thoughtful man as that of the growth of a human soul1 the upbuilding of a noteworthy human life4 ,we cannot think of a man who has made his mark in the world1 without wishing to know the processes of his development2 to mark the conflict of forces within1 and limitations without1 under the moulding power of whose interactions he became1 at last1 what we know him to have been4 ,in this case it is the world-old story of struggle and conflict of a strong1 earnest nature1 grappling bravely with adverse surroundings1 and pressing forward with indomitable energy to final victory4 ,the world is full of instances1 doubtless1 which illustrate the power of man over outward circumstances2 but there are few such which are more satisfactory1 ,i think1 than that of the life traced in the volume before us4 ,from the materials now accumulating1 the historian of another generation will be able to do the chief actors of the last twenty-five years the justice of impartial judgment4 ,since each shall be present in the grand assizes of heaven1 he can the more willingly commit his reputation on earth to the care of impartial posterity4 ,the enterprising publisher1 ,john ,burns1 deserves much credit for the handsome shape in which the book is brought out4--,g4 ,w4 ,longan4 ,it might be thought1 by some who read the work1 that there is too much of the 8,times0 and not enough of the 8,life0 of ,benjamin ,franklin2 but as the author justly claims1 it could not have been done otherwise and be faithful4 ,i regard the book as a faithful portraiture1 which1 indeed1 should be allowed by all1 especially since in the statement of propositions and differences1 the author gives both sides4 ,a good part of the life of ,bro4 ,franklin was the life of an editor1 and my pen is uneasy to say something about the manner in which he conducted religious periodicals1 but ,i must restrain it4 ,editors and preachers now-a-days think theirs is a toilsome1 weary lot4 ,dear me6 ,well1 let them read the ,life of ,benjamin ,franklin and become ashamed of themselves4--,l4 ,b4 ,wilkes4 ,o4 ,a4 ,carr4 ,address all orders to ,,john ,,burns1 ,publisher1 #gag ,olive ,street1 ,st4 ,louis1 ,mo4