{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_28208/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_28208","id":"gutenberg_28208","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28208","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Religion/Spirituality","Christianity"],"text":"The Gospel Day;\n\n Or,\n\n The Light Of Christianity.\n\n By Charles E. Orr.\n\n 1904:\n\n Gospel Trumpet Company,\n\n Moundsville, W. Va.\n\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS\n\n\nPreface.\nIntroduction.\nPart I. The Morning.\n Chapter I. Christianity A Light.\n Chapter II. The Holy Scriptures.\n Chapter III. Sin.\n Chapter IV. Salvation.\n Chapter V. The Way From Sin To Perfect Salvation.\n Chapter VI. Fruits And The Two Works.\n Chapter VII. The Church Of God.\n Chapter VIII. The Ordinances Of The New Testament.\n Chapter IX. Divine Healing.\n Chapter X. The Soul.\n Chapter XI. Spiritual Culture.\n Chapter XII. The Course Of The World.\n Chapter XIII. The Domestic Relation.\n Chapter XIV. Evil Habits And Injurious Indulgences.\n Chapter XV. The Trinity.\n Chapter XVI. Miscellaneous Subjects.\nPart II. The Noonday.\n Chapter I. The Date Of The Beginning Of Noonday.\n Chapter II. Scriptural Predictions Of An Apostasy.\n Chapter III. False Teachings Of The Apostasy.\nPart III. The Evening.\n Chapter I. The Apostasy In Two Days.\n Chapter II. The Time Of The Evening.\nFootnotes\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE.\n\n\nOur task is finished. It has not been a disagreeable, unpleasant one, but\njoyous. Many times our soul was blessed and lifted up as the Spirit set\nbefore our mind the wondrous beauty of Christianity. In our soul we\nexperience a deep sense of gratitude to God for his aid and guidance in\nthis work. Many were the prayers we offered unto him for the aid of the\nHoly Spirit in the prosecution of this work. He has heard and answered our\nprayer, and we are satisfied. Praises be unto God! We lay no claims to\nliterary ability; we have not studied to display such talent in this\nvolume. We have only endeavored to give simple, plain truth respecting a\nholy life. We have endeavored to lift up true Christianity to its proper\nplane and to remove as far as possible, the clouds of error that have long\nobscured its beautiful, pellucid light. How far we have succeeded we leave\nto the reader.\n\nThis work would not be much of a production for some minds, but for ours\nit is quite an achievement. It is much more original than we at first\nintended it to be: however, we have selected from the _Gospel Trumpet_ the\nfollowing subjects: \u201cWoman\u2019s Freedom,\u201d \u201cEating of Meat,\u201d and \u201cThe Sin\nAgainst the Holy Ghost,\u201d which were written by Geo. L. Cole, Russel\nAustin, and A. L. Byers, respectively. All other selections are, we\nbelieve, properly acknowledged where they appear.\n\nSeventy-six pages of the original manuscript were lost in the mail. This,\nat first, presented itself as a discouragement, but we at once remembered\nthat all things work together for good to them that love the Lord,\nconsequently we concluded that the Lord wanted some truth brought out that\nwas not contained in the first writings; so we set to our task of\nreproducing the lost pages with a will, and God has crowned our efforts\nwith a much greater satisfaction to ourselves. We now feel we have done\nwhat we could, and as this manuscript leaves our hand it shall be with a\nprayer that God will make it a rich blessing to many hearts.\n\nShould this book be the means of lifting up some weary, despondent soul,\nor succeed in turning some sinner from the error of his way, or helping\nsome deceived one out of his deception, or inspiring some fallen one to a\ntruer, nobler life, I shall be many, many times repaid for my labor, and\nshall indeed give God the glory. If some one detects an error in this work\ndo not be hasty in condemning me, but write me, thus giving me opportunity\nof explaining the supposed error, or of humbly confessing my fault. With\ndeep affection in my soul, I pray the God of heaven to bless every reader\nof this book, and kindly ask all who pray to pray that I may do all the\ngood I can in this world and gain an eternity in the blissful fields of\nheaven. Yours in Christian love,\n\nChas. E. Orr, Federalsburg, Md.\n\n\n\n\n\nINTRODUCTION.\n\n\nIn Jesus\u2019 name we are here to unveil before the reader the picture of a\nbeautiful virgin, whom we shall call Christianity. Never was there a\ncharacter seen upon the earth half so beautiful as she. In her loveliness\nshe has won the heart of many. The proud and noble have been brought down\nto worship at her feet. The lowly have been lifted up to admire her\ngracious charms. Peasants have invited her into their humble homes, where\nshe reigned as a queen of light and peace. Gloom and darkness is driven\naway by her sweet angelic smile. She has lifted the despondent out of the\nvortex of despair, and by her animating presence encouraged them to bright\nhopes and a happy life. The bitter lot of the poor she has sweetened, and\nthe burden and care of riches takes wings and flies away at her approach.\nShe has been brought into the presence of kings and almost won their\nhearts. Men have sacrificed the world to gain her love. She is a ray of\nheavenly light in this dark world.\n\nThe words of finite man are inadequate to describe the true character of\nChristianity. In our description we shall exalt her only by the words\ncontained in the book sent down from heaven. That alone is worthy to\neulogize her name. When the reader has followed our delineation to the\nclose, and inspected every feature of this virtuous queen, we trust the\ndecision of his heart will be yet deeper than his who said, \u201cAlmost thou\npersuadest me to be a Christian.\u201d\n\nChristianity should be full of interest to all mankind. She not only cools\nthe heated brow, cheers the drooping heart, and strews life\u2019s pathway with\nflowers of peace, but she deals with man\u2019s eternal destiny. She will\nsmooth the rough places all along his journey of life, and when he has\ncome down to the end, it is she that will bear him across the valley and\nwelcome him to the home prepared for his eternal inhabitancy.\n\nSince the day of her nativity she has had a bitter obstinate foe, Satan,\nand wicked men have combined to bespoil her white robes and mar her fair\nform. They have struggled long and hard to bring her low. They have\nendeavored to extinguish her radiant light and defame her true character.\nWe have only to take a stroll through the halls of denominationalism to\nlearn how far they have succeeded. To many pews and pulpits our virgin has\nno excellence or beauty. In the pulpit orator\u2019s exposition of her she is\nnot exalted one whit above the coarse, vulgar world. Satan has succeeded\nin veiling her fair form and true virtues from the hearts of many. In the\nopinions of many she is reduced to a mere nothing. Angels weep to see her\nfair robes trailed in the dust. Those who pretend to love her have brought\nher to shame. The low, degrading opinions entertained regarding her\nthroughout the realms of sectarianism grieves the souls of her true\nadmirers. They have brought her down from her pure, high throne and\nmingled her with the lives of ordinary sinful men. They have stripped her\nof her clean, white garments and covered her with a cloak of many colors.\nThey have robbed her of her virtues and have stained her fair name until\nto-day all that is seen of Christianity in the aristocratic circles of\nChristendom is a maiden weeping over her stained vesture, lost virginity\nand reproached name. Thank God, such is true only in appearance. True\nChristianity is seen by her few devoted followers to-day the same pure,\nspotless virgin, the same queen of peace and light, as when she crowned\nthe brow of the lowly Nazarene and his immediate followers. She has lost\nnone of her virtuous charms. She is true. She reigns a lovely queen,\nglorious in power, pure in principle, \u201cClear as the sun, fair as the moon,\nand terrible as an army with banners.\u201d\n\nSatan has robed a harlot and named her Christianity and succeeded in\nimposing her upon many in the world. They are fondling with her. She\nindulges them in sensuality, while encouraging them to hope in a peaceful\nimmortality. The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her.\nThey are reveling, feasting and banqueting with her, crazed by her\nseductive charms. She has neither purity, peace, nor power. Her robes are\ndenied by sin. She scoffs at pure Christianity and calls her\nold-fashioned. This strange young woman is using every device to allure\nsouls into her wanton chamber. She is most subtle of heart. She\n\u201cflattereth with her words. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black\nand dark night, she walketh in the streets, and lieth wait at every\ncorner, that she might catch and kiss him who is void of understanding.\u201d\nWith a beguiling, impudent face she says to him: \u201cI have peace offerings\nwith me; I have decked my bed with tapestry, with carved works, with fine\nlinen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.\nCome let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace\nourselves with love.\u201d\n\nSuch is the gay, fast, frivolous Christianity of the popular present day\nreligions of our honored land. The generality of denominational membership\n(we speak in love) desire a Christianity that will go with them to the\nhalls of pleasure; that will dine with them at the banquets; that will\nsmile on them as they walk in the ways of sin and worldliness, calming\ntheir fears with her flattering words and peace offerings. Primitive\nChristianity, they consider, was good enough for primitive days, but she\nwould be a horrid enough old maid in these days of progress. In this fast\ndriving age the Christianity that crowned the life of the holy apostles is\naltogether too antiquated. She drew men from the world, she crucified\ntheir lust, she taught them to practise self-denial and keep their body in\nsubjection; she brought them in humility at her feet; she led them in the\npaths of virtue and honor; she upbraided them for sin, and told them of\nthe vengeance and wrath of God against every evil.\n\nThe world to-day, in general, is saying, \u201cAway with such an old-time\nChristianity; she has no charms for us. She is too common and plain, too\ngrave and sober. We will not walk with her; give us the gay and dashing\nyoung harlot that we may walk with her amid the pleasures of the world,\nand with her gratify our lusts. She never chides us for sin, nor troubles\nus about the anger of God nor the torments of hell. She invites us into\nher bosom and gives us a sweet opiate draught of \u2018stolen waters and the\nbread of secrecies,\u2019 and bids us take our \u2018fill of love.\u2019 \u201d\n\nDear reader, \u201cgo not after her.\u201d \u201cLet not thine heart decline to her ways,\ngo not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many\nstrong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going\ndown to the chambers of death.\u201d\n\nThe mission of this volume is to exalt true Christianity to her proper\nplane and reveal her true character by relating to the reader the\nteachings of Christ\u2014her beloved consort\u2014and the experience and teachings\nof his inspired followers, and thus tear off the sacrilegious robes of the\nharlot of false religions and expose her shame to the gaze of every honest\nsoul.\n\nChristianity is not a mere profession, but a principle. Every being is\npossessed with a principle. Satan has a principle, which might properly be\ntermed devilanity; Christ has a principle which is termed Christianity.\nWhen this Christ principle is instilled into man\u2019s soul by the Spirit of\nGod he becomes a Christian. He possesses the Christ-life, nature, or\nprinciple. Now Christ was the truth. Then the Christ nature or principle\nis according to the truth, whether it be in Christ or man. We have only\nthen to lift up the whole truth, which by the wisdom and grace of God we\nshall do in this work, which will reveal true Christianity and expose\nevery imposition. Christ is the vine; Christians are the branches. The\nvine and the branches are of the same nature. The branches retain life by\nabiding in the vine. They who abide in Christ walk (or live) even as\nChrist walked (or lived); that is, the vine and the branches bear the same\nkind of fruit. This is the philosophy of true Christianity. Anything\nbearing fruit in nature contrary to the truth or Christ principle is not\nChristianity, but is devilanity. \u201cYe are of your father the devil, and the\nlusts of your father will ye do;\u201d or sinful fruit ye will bear.\n\n\n\n\nChristian Power.\n\n\n Christianity\u2014stately queen,\n Virgin\u2014loveliest ever seen,\n Fairest art thou upon the earth,\n And of a higher, nobler birth.\n When king Agrippa heard thy name,\n And how abroad was spread thy fame,\n And saw thee lovely as thou art,\n Thou almost won his heathen heart.\n When in the midnight\u2019s gloomy hour,\n The Romish jailer saw thy power,\n When thund\u2019ring tones his ear did greet,\n He trembling worshiped at thy feet.\n When kneeling down beside the dead,\n In sacred, solemn tones, thou said,\n \u201cDorcas, in Jesus\u2019 name arise,\u201d\n And opened were the woman\u2019s eyes.\n When man our days in death had lain,\n Thou gavest him back his life again.\n When woman did her sin deplore,\n Thou whispered, \u201cGo, and sin no more.\u201d\n When wicked Simon saw thy power\n He strove to win thee with a dower;\n Within his sinful heart he thought\n Thy power with money could be bought;\n Thou spurned his offer and made bold,\n To bid him perish with his gold.\n They lied to thee and lost their life,\n Both Ananias and his wife.\n Such was thy power in days of yore,\n And such \u2019twill be forevermore.\n\n\n\n\nChristian Purity.\n\n\n Fairest art thou among the fair,\n Thy graces none but thee can wear;\n In trailing robes of snowy white,\n Thou art on earth a gleam of light;\n Thy cheeks are comely as the rose,\n Thy neck as white as winter snows;\n Thy lips are like a scarlet thread,\n Thy locks like silver on thy head.\n To him who with thee is in love,\n Thou\u2019rt meek and gentle as the dove;\n Virgin, so pure and bold and free,\n No spot is found at all in thee.\n Such was thy purity of yore\n And such \u2019twill be forevermore.\n\n\n\n\nThe Gospel Day Seen In Prophecy.\n\n\nUpon reading the account of man\u2019s creation in the first chapters of\nGenesis we conclude that he enjoyed perfect peace and happiness. From the\nbeautiful description given there of the garden of Eden\u2014man\u2019s abode\u2014we\nunderstand that God was interested in his felicity. In the nature of\ncreated things he could retain this happiness only by obedience to the\nCreator\u2019s laws. By a subtle foe he was induced to transgress those laws\nand thus became acquainted with sin and sorrow. After the transgression he\nhid himself among the trees of the garden from the presence of the Lord\nbecause a fear rested upon his conscious being.\n\n\n Man in sweet felicity was made,\n But sorrowed when God he disobeyed.\n\n\nThe man was turned out upon the world to earn his support by labor. The\nground was cursed for his sake. It brought forth thorns and thistles, and\nin sorrow he must eat of it all the days of his life. Cherubims and a\nflaming sword prevented his return to the tree of life, which stood in the\nmidst of the garden. The apostle John in his revelations beheld this sad\nscene. He saw the book of life\u2014tree of life\u2014to be sealed with seven seals,\nand he saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, \u201cWho is worthy to\nopen the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor\nin earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to\nlook thereon,\u201d and he wept much. Rev. 5:1-4. How sad the scene! Man was\ncreated in holiness and happiness. He dwelt in the garden of Eden and had\naccess to the tree of life, the very source of peace. But sin entered his\nheart. He was driven away to be in sorrow all his days. No man in heaven\nnor earth could secure his return. God saw his wretchedness and that his\n\u201cwickedness was great in the earth\u201d and \u201cit grieved him at his heart.\u201d\nGen. 6:5, 6. Sin swayed its scepter over the heart of man and he groaned\nbeneath its tyrannical power, but God\u2019s mercy was not \u201cclean gone\nforever.\u201d They cried unto the Lord because of the oppressors and he\npromised to send them a \u201cSavior, and a great one,\u201d to deliver them. Isa.\n19:20. Man was encaged in the prison-house of sin, but God promised to\nsend a deliverer \u201cto proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of\nthe prison to them that are bound.\u201d Isa. 61:1.\n\nThe beloved apostle John, in the vision before mentioned, wept because no\nman was found worthy to open the book; but one of the elders said unto\nhim, \u201cWeep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,\nhath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.\u201d\nPraise God! John in his vision saw the man fall from his pure and happy\nstate into sin and the book of life becoming sealed. He also saw that no\nman in heaven nor earth was able to restore him to his original place and\nholiness, and it caused him to weep. But in his vision there appeared one\nwho prevailed to open the book and \u201credeem us unto God out of every\nkindred and tongue and people and nation.\u201d\n\nIn the prophetic days of ancient Israel men who walked with God and\ntrusted in his promises were permitted a visionary look down through the\ncenturies to behold the dawning of a day glorious in the effulgency of its\nlight and the greatness of its power. Even in those dim, remote days the\nwondrous glory of a day when the \u201cPrince of Peace\u201d should come was\nforeseen by the prophets, who break forth in beautiful strains of music,\nexpressing their joy and admiration. Isaiah in speaking of that expected\nday says, \u201cArise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord\nis risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and\ngross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his\nglory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light,\nand kings to the brightness of thy rising.\u201d Isa. 60:1-3.\n\nIt is a day of wonderful light. When the prophet speaks of the Gentiles\ncoming to the light the reader begins to understand the time of the\ndawning. He further says, \u201cViolence shall no more be heard in thy land,\nwasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls\nSalvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by\nday; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the\nLord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy\nsun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the\nLord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall\nbe ended.\u201d Isa. 60:18-20.\n\nThe prophet by a long stretch of faith passed through the gates of Praise\nto within the walls of Salvation and beheld a light above the brightness\nof the sun and the softness of the moon. We quote these texts, and the\nfollowing, to impress the reader\u2019s mind and heart with the greatness of\nthe light and the wonders of that coming day as seen in expectation by\nthose ancient holy men. After a while we will come to the dawning, then\nthe noontide, then the evening of this great day and we will find the\nglory and the wonders to be as the prophets foresaw and described.\n\nWhat can the holy seer mean by saying, \u201cViolence shall no more be heard in\nthy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders\u201d? We have only to\nturn to the eleventh chapter, where we have this clearly explained. Let us\nread: \u201cAnd there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a\nBranch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest\nupon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel\nand might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall\nmake him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not\njudge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of\nhis ears; but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with\nequity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the\nrod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the\nwicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and\nfaithfulness the girdle of his reigns. The wolf also shall dwell with the\nlamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the\nyoung lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.\nAnd the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down\ntogether: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child\nshall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand\non the cockatrice\u2019 den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy\nmountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the\nwaters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,\nwhich shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles\nseek: and his rest shall be glorious.\u201d\n\nWho does not know who is referred to by the words \u201cthe Root of Jesse,\u201d\nwhom the Gentiles shall seek, \u201cand his rest shall be glorious\u201d? We hear of\none saying in the New Testament, \u201cCome unto me, all ye that labor and are\nheavy-laden, and I will give you rest.\u201d \u201cViolence shall no more be heard\nin thy land.\u201d \u201cThe wolf shall dwell with the lamb\u201d in the day when the\nGentiles shall seek rest in the Root of Jesse. This prophecy will never\nhave a literal fulfilment, as some erroneously teach. It only exalts the\nsalvation of the Branch of Jesse to deliver men from the wolf and lion\ndisposition. It is the peacefulness of Christianity. In the day the\nprophet is speaking of there shall be peace on the earth. Man can find\ndeliverance from sin and obtain a peaceful rest\u2014not being disturbed by\nevil and ill dispositions.\n\nIsaiah in again beholding this glorious rest-day discovers a way which is\ncalled the way of holiness. He says, \u201cThe unclean shall not pass over\nit;... no lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon,\nit shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: and the\nransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and\neverlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and\nsorrow and sighing shall flee away.\u201d Isa. 35:8-10. Any one can understand\nthat a literal beast is not meant here when he speaks of a lion, but that\nwicked, unclean men can not walk in the way of holiness\u2014only the redeemed\ncan walk there.\n\nEarlier in this chapter he speaks of the eyes of the blind being opened,\nand the ears of the deaf being unstopped, and the lame being made to leap\nas a hart, and the tongue of the dumb being made to sing. We have only to\nread the New Testament to learn of the fulfilment of this prophecy. In\nthat day men of unclean, ravenous, and lion-like natures shall find\ndeliverance and be made gentle, lowly and humble\u2014\u201cThe wolf and the lamb\nshall dwell together.\u201d What a wonder and expectation must have filled the\nhearts of those devout men in those days of darkness and gloom, as they\nlooked forward to that time when the blind should see, the deaf hear, and\nthe lame walk; when there should be no more violence nor destruction nor\nwasting, but there should be songs of everlasting joy, and sorrow and\nsighing would flee away.\n\n\u201cIn that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; we have a\nstrong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.\u201d Isa.\n26:1. In that day salvation\u2019s walls shall surround the people of God. In\nthe time of this prophet it was stone walls that surrounded their city,\nbut he looked forward to a time when the walls of salvation would surround\nthe city of God. Salvation means deliverance. In that day the people of\nGod should find a deliverance or cleansing from sin. It is the gospel day\nwhen Christ should offer a sacrifice for the whole world. The people cried\nunto God because of their oppressors, and he sent them a Savior, and a\nstrong one, to deliver them. Isa. 19:20.\n\nWere we to turn to the first chapter of the gospel by Luke we would there\nlearn who this deliverer was. There we read: \u201cBlessed be the Lord God of\nIsrael: for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a\nhorn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by\nthe mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:\nthat we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that\nhate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his\nholy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he\nwould grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our\nenemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before\nhim all the days of our life.\u201d\n\nBy reading the whole of this chapter you will learn that this horn of\nsalvation, this deliverer, was the child Christ Jesus. This deliverer was\nto appear in that day. The most simple will at once understand that the\nday foreseen and foretold by the holy seers was the Christian\ndispensation, or the day of \u201cgrace and truth.\u201d\n\nThe prophet again exclaims: \u201cAnd in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I\nwill praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned\naway, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust,\nand not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he\nalso is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of\nthe wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord.\u201d\nIsa. 12:1-4. \u201cIn that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and\nglorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for\nthem that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that\nis left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called\nholy.\u201d Isa. 4:2, 3.\n\nThe prophet Joel in contemplation of that day of great blessings says:\n\u201cAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down\nnew wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah\nshall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of\nthe Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.\u201d Joel 3:18.\n\nZechariah in beholding this fountain exclaims: \u201cIn that day there shall be\na fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of\nJerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.\u201d Zech. 13:1.\n\n\n Wonderful Fountain of cleansing,\n The prophet did foresee,\n Deep Fountain of peace and glory\n Opened to all shall be.\n\n\nThe prophet again in beholding the glory and purity of that day says: \u201cIn\nthat day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE\nLORD.\u201d Zech. 14:20.\n\n\n The prophet did foretell a day,\n Through which extends a holy way,\n Where walk the ransomed of the Lord,\n Made pure in heart, through Jesus\u2019 blood.\n\n\nAnother man of God is permitted to look down through the darkness and see\nthe glory of this day of cleansing. \u201cBut who may abide the day of his\ncoming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner\u2019s\nfire, and like fullers\u2019 soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier\nof silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold\nand silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in\nrighteousness.\u201d Mal. 3:2, 3. In that day there shall be a fountain of\ncleansing, or a fire of refining, when hearts shall be made pure as gold\nand silver is refined and made pure. It is the day in which Isaiah says,\n\u201cThough your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though\nthey be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.\u201d Isa. 1:18.\n\nThe day foretold by this holy train of Old Testament prophets was spoken\nof as a day of \u201cpeace and rest\u201d; a day of \u201cpraise and salvation\u201d; a day of\n\u201crefining\u201d; a day when a \u201ccleansing fountain shall be opened\u201d; a day when\n\u201cscarlet stains shall be made white as snow\u201d; a day when \u201cthe lame man\nshall leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing,\u201d and the deaf\nears shall hear, and blind eyes be made to see; a day when the ransomed of\nthe Lord shall return and come unto Zion with songs and everlasting joy\nupon their heads; a day when \u201cthe desert shall blossom as the rose\u201d; a day\nwhen the wolf and the lamb shall dwell together; a day when the \u201cBranch of\nthe Lord shall be beautiful and glorious.\u201d Praise God!\n\nThat day seen so far away by those righteous men awakened songs of praise\nin their hearts. They were not speaking of the eternal day in the glory\nworld; neither of a supposed millennial age, but of this present glorious\ndispensation of grace and salvation. It requires only two texts to clearly\nprove this. The first is Isa. 49:8: \u201cThus saith the Lord, In an acceptable\ntime have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee.\u201d The\nsecond is found in 2 Cor. 6:2. Paul here quotes this promise the Lord\nmade, and then says, \u201cBehold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the\nday of salvation.\u201d Again in Rom. 13:12 the apostle speaks of his having\narrived at that day. He says, \u201cThe night is far spent, the day is at hand,\nlet us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the\narmor of light.\u201d How beautiful! The Christian\u2019s armor in the \u201cday of\nsalvation\u201d is one of light, the darkness is flown away. The Old Testament\nwriter said that in that day God would send a Savior. In the New Testament\nit is recorded that \u201cunto you is born this day in the city of David a\nSavior, which is Christ the Lord.\u201d The Savior God had promised was the\nChrist, and the day was now come.\n\n\n All hail the glad gospel day,\n Peace and good will to men;\n The darkness has flown away,\n And grace has conquered sin.\n\n\nBy many a prophetic Old Testament text that day of wonderful light and\nglory was spoken of as a day when God\u2019s salvation should appear. In the\nsecond chapter of Luke it is recorded that there lived in Jerusalem a just\nand devout man, who knowing those prophetic sayings concerning that great\nday of consolation, waited for its dawning. It was revealed unto him by\nthe Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen the\nLord\u2019s Christ. He came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents\nbrought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,\nthen took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, \u201cLord, now\nlettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine\neyes have seen thy salvation.\u201d Simeon, as he looked upon this young child,\nsaw the salvation the ancient prophets saw only by faith. The day of which\nthey prophesied the Holy Spirit witnessed to his heart he should live to\nsee, and he saw it. It was the dawning of the day of Christian power and\npurity, in which we shall find came to pass all the prophetic wonders of\nsalvation. You need not look forward to some marvelous coming age in which\nto find a fulfilment of these prophecies, but \u201cto-day if ye will hear his\nvoice, harden not your hearts.\u201d \u201cHow shall we escape if we neglect so\ngreat salvation?\u201d\n\nFor convenience and clearness we have thought best to divide this work\ninto three parts. Part first to consist of the revealing of Christianity\nas seen in the life and teaching of Christ and the teaching and lives of\nhis followers during the first few centuries of this Christian era, which\nis termed the morning of the gospel day. Part second will consist of the\napostolic prophecies with possibly a few Old Testament prophecies\nconcerning an apostasy during the middle centuries, or, the noontide of\nthe gospel day; also showing that these prophecies find an exact\nfulfilment in the customs and doings of the popular religious\ndenominations of this present time. Part third will consist of the\nprophecies relating to the restoration of the glorious truths of\nChristianity, or a return of God\u2019s people to the apostolic plane of\nChristian faith and power and teaching in the evening of this day of\nsalvation. With this introduction we feel confident the reader understands\nthe plan of this work and will readily comprehend its teachings. \u201cConsider\nwhat I say; and the Lord give thee understanding,\u201d is my prayer.\n\n\n\n\n\nPART I. THE MORNING.\n\n\n Or,\nChristianity In The First Centuries Of This Gospel Age As Revealed In The\n Life And Teaching Of Christ And The Apostles.\n\n\nIn this division of this work we desire to set forth in a clear,\ncomprehensive manner the true character and principles of Christianity as\nseen in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is our only source\nof knowledge respecting the true nature of a Christian life. Man may\npresume, but the Scriptural declarations are in verity. The New Testament\nsets forth in such clearness the nature of a Christian heart and the\nconduct that naturally issues from such a heart that none need be deceived\nas to their spiritual standing. Christianity is in absolute and perfect\naccord with the Holy Scriptures. This is a fact that all must concede. No\nmatter what may be the philosophy and theory of man, Christianity is just\nwhat the Bible plainly declares it to be. A life that is out of harmony\nwith the sacred truth can not be a Christian life. For this reason we\ndesire to set forth the principal teachings of the New Testament\nrespecting practical Christianity.\n\n\n\n\nChapter I. Christianity A Light.\n\n\nThroughout the Scriptures Christianity is spoken of as a light. The\nChristian era is referred to as a day. A day is when the light shineth. In\nspeaking of the beautiful dawning of the Star of Christianity the prophet\nsays: \u201cAnd the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the\nbrightness of thy rising.\u201d \u201cArise, shine; for thy light is come.\u201d \u201cThe sun\nshall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon\ngive light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting\nlight, and thy God thy glory.\u201d Isa. 60. It is not meant to say here that\nChristians have no need of the light of the sun or the moon, but to teach\nthat the light of the sun and the brightness of the moon is not to be\ncompared to the transcendent light of Christianity. Whose heart has not\nbeen touched with a feeling of admiration as they beheld the bright\ndawning of the round, red sun, or the beautiful rising of a full moon?\nThese are not to be compared with the \u201cbrightness of the rising\u201d of the\ngospel day. \u201cTo them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is\nsprung up.\u201d Mat. 4:16. \u201cThrough the tender mercy of our God, whereby the\ndayspring [sun rising\u2014margin] from on high hath visited us, to give light\nto them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet\ninto the way of peace.\u201d Luke 1:78, 79.\n\nJesus says of himself, \u201cI am the root and the offspring of David, and the\nbright and morning star.\u201d Rev. 22:16. Christ speaking to the church at\nThyatira, says to those that overcome and keep his works unto the end,\nthat he will give them the morning star. Rev. 2:28. He will give them the\ntrue light and glory of Christianity, or his own light and nature. All\nwill do well to take heed to do his works \u201cuntil the day dawn and the day\nstar arise in their hearts.\u201d\n\nIn the natural world there is a literal solar system consisting of the\nsun, moon and planets. The sun is the center around which all the planets\nrevolve, and from which they receive their light. The moon borrows its\nlight from the sun. When some object interposes between the moon and the\nsun the moon is left in darkness. In the spiritual world there is a\nspiritual solar system consisting of sun, moon and stars. As in the\nliteral system, the moon and stars revolve around the Sun and borrow their\nlight therefrom.\n\n\n\nThe Spiritual Sun Or Light.\n\n\nIt is not difficult to glean from the Scriptures the knowledge of the true\ncenter of this spiritual solar system, or the true source of light. The\nlast writer of the Old Testament Scriptures, in his last chapter says:\n\u201cBut unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with\nhealing in his wings.\u201d All understand this text to refer to the Lord\nJesus. His visitation to this world, through the mercy of God, is termed,\n\u201cThe sun-rising.\u201d Luke 1:78, margin. Christ is the Sun and true source of\nlight of the gospel day. The church of God collectively is the moon of\nthis spiritual solar system, and its individual members are the stars. In\nthe Savior\u2019s prophecy as recorded in Mark 13:24, 25, the term \u201csun\u201d is a\nmetaphor, signifying Christ; the \u201cmoon,\u201d the church, as a whole; the\n\u201cstars,\u201d Christians, or especially the ministry.\n\nThis darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars we will\nclearly explain in part second of this work. The church of God receives\nits light from Jesus. He is \u201cthe light of the world.\u201d In the language of\nIsa. 60:1 the church is addressed: \u201cArise, shine; for thy light is come.\u201d\nChrist is her light. The church shines by the light of Christ, as the moon\nshines by the light of the sun. \u201cOut of Zion [the church of God], the\nperfection of beauty, God hath shined.\u201d The church as a whole is a\nbrilliant reflector to reflect the light of Christ to this universe. Every\nChristian is a bright spot in this luminous reflector. Amen. \u201cLet your\nlight so shine.\u201d\n\nA few years ago, one beautiful Sunday summer evening, as we were on our\nway to an appointed meeting, we observed the moon rising in the splendor\nof its fulness. It shed its soft, peaceful rays over the earth in marked\nbeauty. After a short time we became aware of a gathering darkness. On\nlooking up we saw a dark object gathering over the moon. Slowly, but\nsurely the dark object crept on until all was darkened. Not one ray of\nlight fell from the moon. The sun had ceased to shine upon her. We\nunderstood that the world had come in between the sun and the moon and\nobstructed the sun\u2019s rays. The same is true of the spiritual moon, the\nchurch. In the first few centuries of this Christian day it shone with the\nlight and glory of God, but the time came when the \u201cmoon [church] ceased\nto give her light,\u201d and all because, as we will learn, the world came\nbetween it and the Sun (Christ).\n\n\n\nChristian Power And Purity.\n\n\nChristianity is a light in this world because of the greatness of its\npower and the excellence of its purity. John, who is denominated the\nforerunner of Jesus, or the heralding star of Christianity, said that \u201che\nwas not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was\nthe true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.\u201d John\n1:8, 9. Of whom speaketh the prophet then? The Son of God will answer this\nquestion in these words: \u201cI am the light of the world: he that followeth\nme shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.\u201d John\n8:12. Jesus was the light of the world because of his power and purity.\nAll power was given unto him in heaven and in earth. Mat. 28:18.\n\nHe was holy, harmless and undefiled. Heb. 7:26. The Lord Jesus lived a\npure and holy life. \u201cHe did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.\u201d\nHe had power to open the blind eyes, to unstop the deaf ears, to loose the\ndumb tongue, to make the lame man leap as a hart, and to heal all manner\nof diseases, and to raise the dead. There is no sin in heaven; there is no\nsickness there. He brought the light of heaven to this world in displaying\nhis power over sin and disease. Glory to his name!\n\nWe wish to impress this fact upon the reader\u2019s mind that he was a light\nbecause of his purity and power, and because he was the \u201cTruth.\u201d And now\nif you will but believe it, that is the true light of Christianity. The\nLord Jesus was only a visitant. His stay on earth was transient. He came\nfrom heaven, and heaven soon again received him. Referring to his\ndeparture he said to his disciples: \u201cYet a little while is the light with\nyou. Walk while ye have the light; ... while ye have light, believe in the\nlight, that ye may be the children of light.\u201d John 12:35, 36.\n\nAgain he says, \u201cAs long as I am in the world, I am the light of the\nworld.\u201d John 9:5. We learn the sad story of his crucifixion, then the glad\nnews of his resurrection, and then his ascension in a cloud to the glory,\nfrom whence he came. Is the light of Christianity gone from the world? Is\nthis world left again in darkness? No; thank God! Jesus now says to his\ndevoted followers: \u201cYe are the light of the world. A city that is set on a\nhill can not be hid.\u201d Mat. 5:14. It is the \u201ccity of Zion, the perfection\nof beauty,\u201d out of which God doth shine. \u201cThe glory of God is risen upon\nher.\u201d Jesus told them to believe in the light while they had the light,\nthat they might be the children of light. Paul, in exhorting Christians to\na holy life, said: \u201cThat ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of\nGod, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among\nwhom ye shine as lights in the world.\u201d Phil. 2:15. \u201cFor ye were sometimes\ndarkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.\u201d\nEph. 5:8. \u201cYe are all the children of light, and the children of the day:\nwe are not of the night, nor of darkness.\u201d 1 Thes. 5:5.\n\nThis is the spiritual moon reflecting the light of the Sun. It is \u201cGod\nthat shineth in thee.\u201d They are \u201clight in the Lord,\u201d and they are\ncommanded to \u201clet their light shine, that God might be glorified.\u201d This is\nbeautiful. Oh, what a privilege\n\n\n To be a vessel transparent,\n Clear as the crystal sea,\n Letting the glorious light of heaven\n Brilliantly shine through thee.\n\n\nBeloved saints, take heed that there be not one spot in thee to obstruct\nthe light of God. \u201cLet it shine.\u201d Submissively place thyself in the\ncrucible and there be polished and refined and purged and cleansed until\nthou art \u201cpurer than snow, and whiter than milk, and more ruddy than\nrubies.\u201d\n\nHow can the Lord now, since his ascension, shine through his church? The\nScriptures make this very plain. Jesus told his own that he would not long\nbe with them, but said, \u201cI will pray the Father, and he shall give you\nanother Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of\ntruth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither\nknoweth him: but ye know him for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in\nyou. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.\u201d John 14:16-18.\n\nIn verse twenty-six he tells us the Comforter is the Holy Ghost. In the\nsecond chapter of Acts we have the account of the Holy Spirit\u2019s coming. If\nyou will again look over the quotation from John 14:16-18 you will notice\nhe uses \u201cComforter\u201d and \u201cI\u201d interchangeably. He will give you another\nComforter. \u201cI will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.\u201d The\nHoly Spirit\u2019s coming on Pentecost was Christ in another personage. Christ\nin the Spirit has now come to dwell in the midst of his people, and to be\na light in them. Jesus was here in the body on a mission of mercy. He\ntasted death for every man. He comes again in the Spirit to \u201creprove the\nworld of righteousness, of sin, and of judgment.\u201d In Heb. 10:5 Jesus says,\n\u201cA body hast thou prepared me.\u201d A body in which to offer a sacrifice for\nthe sins of the world. He now has a body in which he dwells in the Spirit.\nChristians are \u201ca holy temple in the Lord, in whom they are builded\ntogether for a habitation of God through the Spirit.\u201d Thus God inhabits\nhis people, \u201cdwells in them, and walks in them.\u201d The church of God is now\nthe body of Christ. He is the \u201chead over all things to the church, which\nis his body.\u201d Eph. 1:22, 23; see also Col. 1:18.\n\nIn speaking of saints in 1 Cor. 12:27 the apostle says, \u201cNow ye are the\nbody of Christ and members in particular.\u201d He was the light of the world\nin his incarnation, and now the church, his body, is the light of the\nworld. Incarnate he was a light because of his purity and power, and he\nlives the same pure life and manifests the same marvelous power in his\nbody, the church, as when here in his personal ministry. He healed the\nsick, cast out devils, opened blinded eyes, unstopped deaf ears, and\nraised the dead. After the Holy Spirit\u2019s coming he performs the same\nwondrous works in his body, the church. Through the apostle Peter he\nhealed a lame man, restored to life a dead woman, etc. He is \u201cthe very\nsame Jesus.\u201d When he was here in the flesh he could be seen and his\nmarvelous works witnessed by the natural eye. The Holy Spirit is\nimperceptible to the natural eye, and therefore can only reveal himself to\nthe world as he works in the midst of his people. It is thus that\nChristians reflect the light of Christ.\n\nIn the sixteenth of Mark the Lord commanded his disciples to go \u201cinto all\nthe world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and\nis baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And\nthese signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out\ndevils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents;\nand if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay\nhands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had\nspoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right\nhand of God.\u201d Ver. 15-19.\n\nIn verse nineteen it is said the Lord was received up into heaven and sat\non the right hand of God. In verse twenty it is said, \u201cThey [the\ndisciples] went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them,\nand confirming the word with signs following.\u201d The Lord worked with them;\nthen he must have returned. He did in the manner we have told you. He\nreturned to be a light in the midst of his people by confirming the truth\nwherever it is lifted up. He did do it, and he now does it. God bears\nwitness to his truth, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles,\nand gifts of the Holy Ghost. Heb. 2:4. For Christianity to be a light\nthere must be the performance of signs and wonders and divers miracles.\nSuch is true Christianity, and such is her light, a queen swaying her\nscepter over the works of Satan, setting at liberty the captives, breaking\nthe bands of Satan asunder, healing the diseased, and scattering peace and\nbright hopes in the hearts of men. Glory to God forevermore!\n\n\n\nThe Beauties Of Christian Character.\n\n\nNot only does the Lord dwell in the midst of his people to perform deeds\nand signs of wonder, but he dwells in them in all the beauty of his\nholiness. In their hearts he rules a \u201cKing of peace\u201d and purity. Those in\nwhom he dwells \u201cwalk even as he walked,\u201d and \u201cas he is, so are they in\nthis world.\u201d\n\nA certain writer speaks thus of the beauties of Christian character: \u201cLive\nas we may, age dims the luster of the eye, and pales the flush of the\ncheek, while infirmity mars the human form divine. But while this is true,\ndim as the eye is, pallid and sunken as may be the face of beauty, frail\nand feeble that once strong, erect and symmetrical form, the immortal\nsoul, just fledging its wings for heaven, may look out through those faded\nwindows, as beautiful as a dewdrop on a summer\u2019s morning, as melting as\nthe tears that glisten in affection\u2019s eye, by growing kindly, by\ncultivating sympathy with all mankind, by cherishing forbearance toward\nthe follies and fribbles of our race, and feeding day by day on that love\nof God and man which lifts us from the brute and makes us akin to angels.\u201d\n\nChristian character is the same whether it be in Christians or in Christ.\nThe character of the Savior is also the character of those in whom he\ndwells. Their nature is the same, and their outward life is the same. This\nis what is meant when it is said: \u201cWe should walk even as he walked.\u201d For\nthe clear proof of these few assertions we will arrange in parallel\ncolumns a few texts of Scripture describing the character of Jesus and a\nfew describing the character of Christians, and we will find that not\nanything more is said of the Savior with respect to a holy life than is\nsaid of his devoted followers.\n\nCharacter Of Christ. Character Of Christians.\n\nLovely.\n\n\u201cHis mouth is most sweet: yea, he \u201cBehold, thou art fair, my love;\nis altogether lovely.\u201d S. of Sol. behold, thou art fair; ... thou art\n5:16. all fair, my love; there is no spot\n in thee.\u201d S. of Sol. 4:1, 7.\n\nLowly.\n\n\u201cTake my yoke upon you, and learn \u201cBetter it is to be of a humble\nof me; for I am meek and lowly in spirit with the lowly, than to\nheart.\u201d Mat. 11:29. divide the spoil with the proud.\u201d\n Prov. 16:19.\n\nObedient.\n\n\u201cFor as by one man\u2019s disobedience \u201cWherefore gird up the loins of\nmany were made sinners, so by the your mind, be sober, and hope to\nobedience of one shall many be made the end for the grace that is to be\nrighteous.\u201d Rom. 5:19. brought unto you at the revelation\n of Jesus Christ; as obedient\n children.\u201d 1 Pet 1:13, 14.\n\nCompassionate.\n\n\u201cBut when he saw the multitudes, he \u201cFinally, be ye all of one mind,\nwas moved with compassion on them, having compassion one of another,\nbecause they fainted and were love as brethren, be pitiful, be\nscattered abroad as sheep having no courteous.\u201d 1 Pet. 3:8.\nshepherd.\u201d Mat. 9:36.\n\nFaithfulness.\n\n\u201cFaithful is he that calleth you, \u201cAnd the things that thou hast\nwho also will do it.\u201d 1 Thes. 5:24. heard of me among many witnesses,\n the same commit thou to faithful\n men, who shall be able to teach\n others also.\u201d 2 Tim. 2:2.\n\nForbearance.\n\n\u201cWhom God hath set forth to be a \u201cForbearing one another, and\npropitiation through faith in his forgiving one another.\u201d Col. 3:13.\nblood, to declare his righteousness\nfor the remission of sins that are\npast, through the forbearance of\nGod.\u201d Rom. 3:25.\n\nMeekness.\n\n\u201cTake my yoke upon you, and learn \u201cBut let it be the hidden man of\nof me; for I am meek and lowly in the heart, in that which is not\nheart.\u201d Mat. 11:29. corruptible, even the ornament of a\n meek and quiet spirit, which is in\n the sight of God of great price.\u201d 1\n Pet. 3:4.\n\nLong-Suffering.\n\n\u201cAnd account that the \u201cWith all lowliness and meekness,\nlong-suffering of our Lord is with long-suffering, forbearing one\nsalvation.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:15. another in love.\u201d Eph. 4:2.\n\nHumbleness.\n\n\u201cAnd being found in fashion as a \u201cLikewise, ye younger, submit\nman, he humbled himself, and became yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all\nobedient unto death, even the death of you be subject one to another,\nof the cross.\u201d Phil 2:8. and be clothed with humility: for\n God resisteth the proud, and giveth\n grace to the humble.\u201d 1 Pet. 5:5.\n\nSpotlessness.\n\n\u201cBut with the precious blood of \u201cPure religion and undefiled before\nChrist, as of a lamb without God and the Father is this, To\nblemish and without spot.\u201d 1 Pet. visit the fatherless and widows in\n1:19. their affliction, and to keep\n himself unspotted from the world.\u201d\n Jas. 1:27.\n\nMercifulness.\n\n\u201cThe Lord is merciful and gracious, \u201cBlessed are the merciful: for they\nslow to anger, and plenteous in shall obtain mercy.\u201d Mat. 5:7.\nmercy.\u201d Psa. 103:8.\n\nHarmlessness.\n\n\u201cFor such an high priest became us, \u201cThat ye may be blameless and\nwho is holy, harmless, undefiled, harmless, the sons of God, without\nseparate from sinners, and made rebuke, in the midst of a crooked\nhigher than the heavens.\u201d Heb. and perverse nation, among whom ye\n7:26. shine as lights in the world.\u201d\n Phil. 2:15.\n\nGuilelessness.\n\n\u201cWho did no sin, neither was guile \u201cJesus saw Nathanael coming to him,\nfound in his mouth.\u201d 1 Pet. 2:22. and saith of him, Behold an\n Israelite indeed, in whom is no\n guile!\u201d John 1:47.\n\nSinlessness.\n\n\u201cFor we have not an high priest \u201cWhosoever is born of God doth not\nwhich can not be touched with the commit sin; for his seed remaineth\nfeeling of our infirmities; but was in him: and he can not sin, because\nin all points tempted like as we he is born of God.\u201d 1 John 3:9.\nare, yet without sin.\u201d Heb. 4:15.\n\nThus we could go on to a much greater length, showing by the Scriptures\nthat the character of a Christian, or his nature or life is the same as\nthe life or character of Christ. Christianity is Christ in us. The life of\na true Christian is one of great beauty. It is a light in this world. It\nis far above the ways of sin and worldliness. It is the Christ-life in\nman. The self-life of man has ceased, is crucified; nevertheless he lives,\nyet not he, but it is Christ that liveth in him. The Christian life is\ninspiring, ennobling, clothed in humility. It points the way to Christ and\nheaven. It is a brilliant ornament, which in the sight of God is of great\nprice. God places great value upon a Christian life. It is worth more than\nten thousand worlds. Is it not a shame that it is trifled with as it is?\nThousands are taking the name of Christian, when it is impossible to\ndistinguish them from the world; they emit not one ray of light.\n\nEsthetics is the science of the beautiful, and treats of the feelings\nproduced through the senses by objects of beauty. The most vile and\ndishonest admire honesty in others; thus gentleness, kindness, meekness,\nproduce pleasant feelings and are called beautiful. God is the source of\nmeekness, gentleness, and love. He is the source of the beautiful.\nChristianity is God in man, exhibiting his beauty. \u201cLord, let thy beauty\nbe upon us.\u201d The dewdrop sparkles like a diamond as the sun\u2019s rays fall\nupon it. The life of man sparkles with an unsurpassed beauty as the rays\nof light and salvation fall upon it from the throne. As we behold the\nbeauty of God assimilated into the life of man and thus revealed we think\nwhat a pity that all in the world are not Christians.\n\n\n Christian, oh, may thy tribe increase,\n Thy light and glory ne\u2019er decrease;\n Shine on and magnify the Word,\n And point the world to Christ and God.\n\n\n\n\nChapter II. The Holy Scriptures.\n\n\nWe have said before that Christianity is in perfect accord with the Bible.\nThe Word of God reveals Christianity to us. It is an infallible expression\nof its doctrines and duties. Jesus is the way to everlasting rest; the\nBible is the guide. Some one has said, \u201cBoth are equally certain, equally\ndivine. Let us be thankful for such unspeakable gifts. Next to the mercy\nof a Savior, able and ready to save to the uttermost all who come unto God\nby him, is the book of inspiration of God, which as a lamp to our feet,\nand a light to our path, conducts us to such a Friend, and teaches us the\nway of salvation.\u201d\n\nThe Word of God is a lamp and a light to guide to everlasting bliss, \u201cThe\nentrance of thy word giveth light.\u201d The word is written in the Christian\u2019s\nheart. In his conduct he adorns the doctrine of God our Savior and thus\nreveals the light of the gospel. Christianity is therefore a light,\nbecause it is a product of the truth. We can understand at once then that\nanything that is in opposition to the Scriptures can not be a light. The\nnearer the life accords with the whole truth the greater the light. The\nScriptures contain all that is necessary for the formation of a perfect\nChristian. Whosoever submits heart and life to the Word of God and walks\nin obedience to its commands will be transformed into the glorious image\nof the Son of God and made ready for that better land. The apostle says,\n\u201cAll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for\ndoctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:\nthat the man of God may be perfect [a perfect Christian], thoroughly\nfurnished unto all good works.\u201d 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.\n\nTradition is unnecessary for the production of a true Christian character.\nThe Scriptures contain all the doctrine, reproof, correction and\ninstruction needful. The Scriptures have but one true interpreter, and but\none interpretation. All who rightly understand the Bible understand it\nalike. We are aware this is contrary to much of the present day teaching.\nMany are now saying that \u201cwe can not understand the Word of God the same,\ntherefore just as we understand it so it is unto us.\u201d This is very loose\nand robs the \u201ctwo-edged sword\u201d of all its sharpness and power. It leaves\nman to interpret it in a manner that will not condemn his sinful life. A\nclass of grammar students, if allowed to analyze sentences and parse words\neach according to his understanding, would never become perfect\ngrammarians. One may parse a word as a \u201cverb,\u201d another the same word as an\n\u201cadverb,\u201d another as a \u201cparticiple,\u201d and if each were right according to\nhis understanding, how could we have any fixed rules of grammar? All would\nbe confusion and no one would know what is proper speech. Students to\nbecome efficient scholars must understand mathematics, astronomy, botany,\netc., alike. Every volume written by man if understood rightly must be\nunderstood alike by all.\n\nTo allow every man his own private interpretation of Scripture, or every\nreligious society its interpretation is to admit of no certain, no fixed\nrules governing a Christian life. We can illustrate it better in this way.\nA certain rich man has a number of circulars printed. These circulars he\ndistributes among the poor of a certain neighborhood. On these circulars\nhe tells them that at the end of twelve months he will give one thousand\ndollars to each one complying with the conditions given below. The\nconditions are these: You must not steal. \u201cLie not one to another.\u201d Do not\nrender evil for evil. Love your enemies, and pray for those who\ndespitefully use you. \u201cIf thine enemy hunger, feed him; and if he thirst,\ngive him drink.\u201d \u201cSpeak evil of no man.\u201d \u201cReturn good for evil.\u201d \u201cAs ye\nwould that others should do to you, do ye even so to them.\u201d If a man smite\nyou upon the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Prefer others before\nyourself. \u201cDo all things without murmuring.\u201d Do not wear gold or pearls or\ncostly array. Pray when you are afflicted. Do not jest or talk foolishly,\nbut have a sound speech. Greet one another with a kiss. Wash one another\u2019s\nfeet. You must all speak the same thing. You must be of one mind. If ye do\nthese things you shall receive the inheritance, but he that offends in one\nis guilty of all.\n\nNow who of a sound mind could not understand as plain and simple language\nas this? But suppose one man or woman does not want to lay off their gold\nand pearls, so they decide he meant that for women of ancient times and\nnot for us. Another thinks the command to greet with a kiss means to shake\nhands. Another thinks to visit my neighbor when he is sick is washing his\nfeet. To pray when we are afflicted is meant for the people of olden time.\nOne man whose heart is full of hatred against a neighbor decides no man\ncan love his enemy, therefore this command does not mean what it says, so\nhe will go on hating his enemy, but expects to get his inheritance. One\nman decides one command means one thing, another that it means something\nelse, each one making each command to mean that which is most pleasing to\ndo. Who would receive the one thousand dollars at the time appointed? You\ncan at once see the folly of their entertaining hopes of receiving the\ninheritance.\n\nThousands are thus treating the Word of God, saying this and that\ncommandment does not mean what it says, but means thus and so, or, it was\nfor a people of some other time, etc. At this present day there are many\nwho are taking the traditions of men and customs of some religious society\nfor their rule of life and duty.\n\nRecently while passing through a strange part of the country we stopped at\na farmhouse to inquire our way. It became convenient to tell the lady, who\ncame to answer our inquiry, that we had come into her neighborhood to hold\na few religious meetings. She invited us into her house to see her four\nweeks\u2019 old baby which was sick. While talking with her she said that she\nbecame afraid that her child was going to die, so she sent for the\nminister and had it christened. I asked her if she believed that if the\nbabe had died without being christened that it would have gone to hell.\n\u201cNo,\u201d she said, \u201cI do not believe that, but I believe that it would have\ngone to heaven.\u201d I then asked her, Do you not believe that if your little\nchild lives that it will go into sin and some day will have to repent and\nbe converted in order to get to heaven just the same as if it never had\nbeen christened? She said that she believed it would. I then asked her\nwhat good the christening had done her child. She answered, \u201cI do not\nknow.\u201d I then asked her to give me one commandment in the Bible obligating\nher to christen her child. She said, \u201cI know of none.\u201d I then asked her\nwhy she had her babe christened. She said, \u201cBecause most all the people do\naround here.\u201d\n\nShe like thousands of others was taking the custom of the neighborhood, or\nreligious order, and never searched the Scriptures to know what are the\ncommandments of God. We need to be doers only of the Word of God. \u201cNot\nevery one that saith, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;\nbut he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.\u201d The God of\nheaven has given laws and fixed rules and recorded them in the Holy\nScriptures to govern our daily life. These laws we are positively\ncommanded to obey. To disobey is a sin. 1 John 3:4. Sinners do not go to\nheaven. There is not one text in the whole Bible encouraging us to hope of\ngoing to heaven if we are knowingly disobeying any commandment of God. In\nthis present day a mighty concourse of people are passing on down the way\nto an eternity, professing to be children of God, but living careless and\nnegligent, doing many things they should not do, and failing to do a great\nmany things they should do.\n\nThis greatly reminds me of the way the people regarded a certain stock law\nthat was passed by the legislature of our district in my boyhood days.\nThis law forbade the running at large of cattle, hogs, sheep, etc. Now\nthere was in our neighborhood much of what was called \u201ccommons.\u201d It was\nunfenced land, and was used as a common pasture land for all. Consequently\nthe enacting of such a law was obnoxious to nearly all of the citizens of\nthis neighborhood, and it was almost unanimously violated; and because it\nwas violated by so many it was never enforced. Cattle, sheep, and hogs\ncontinued to run at large the same as if there was no law prohibiting the\nsame. After a time most people had forgotten there was such a law.\n\nThe same is true respecting the Word of God. People have gone on in their\nown ways, violating those holy laws until many are doing things, and do\nnot know there is a law of God forbidding it. God\u2019s laws are not held in\nthe high esteem they should be. They are his power unto salvation to all\nthat believe. They are able to save the soul. They are to be kept in\nremembrance, to be kept in the heart, to be obeyed. They are to search, to\nmeditate upon, to trust in, to rejoice in, to delight in, to taste, to\nlong after, to stand in awe of, to esteem as a light, and to be let dwell\nrichly within us. It is the Word of God that shall judge us in that great\njudgment-day. They that love God and keep his words, \u201cagainst such there\nis no law;\u201d consequently they will \u201chave boldness in that day.\u201d God\u2019s law\nis eternal; it shall never pass away. The Lord Jesus says, \u201cHeaven and\nearth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away.\u201d \u201cThe word of\nGod which liveth and abideth forever.\u201d 1 Pet. 1:23.\n\n\n The earth and all that therein is shall pass away,\n But God\u2019s pure Word shall live and stand for aye and aye:\n Man runs his race of life, then, passing from the scene,\n Returns to dust, and is as though he ne\u2019er had been\u2014\n This is not spoken of the inner man, the soul\u2014\n This, says the Word, shall live while ceaseless ages roll.\n The city with its walls and towers of granite stone,\n Shall be to dissolution brought by rain and sun;\n The ships which round the world on crested wave have flown.\n Go down amid the storm, and never more are known;\n The daring mountain peak, all covered o\u2019er with snow,\n Shall mid terrific blast descend to depths below;\n The proud empire whose scepter sways o\u2019er land and sea,\n Shall fall and pass away ere dawns eternity;\n And haughty finite sovereign power no more shall be,\n The stars in firmament above shall quit their place;\n The waning moon shall cease her still nocturnal race,\n And earth no more sail through immensity of space.\n Because of sin all these shall pass fore\u2019er away,\n Shall melt with fervent heat in that avenging day,\n But God\u2019s pure Word shall live and stand for aye and aye.\n\n\n\n\nChapter III. Sin.\n\n\nThe time was when there was no sin in this world. At that time it was an\nEden. By man transgressing God\u2019s holy law sin entered this world.\n\u201cWherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;\nand so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.\u201d Rom. 5:12.\nThis is the origin of sin in this world and the awful consequence. God\u2019s\ndesign was that his creation be sinless and pure, but by disobedience sin\nhas marred the scene of God\u2019s creative purity. The following texts will\nacquaint the reader with the characteristics or nature of sin.\n\n1. _Sin is defiling._ \u201cThere is a generation that are pure in their own\neyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.\u201d Prov. 30:12. \u201cThough\nyour sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be\nred like crimson, they shall be as wool.\u201d Isa. 1:18. Here we see the\ndefiling nature of sin. It stains the soul as with scarlet. White is the\nemblem of purity. The pure soul is spoken of as being clothed in \u201cfine\nlinen, clean and white.\u201d Sin stains those robes with crimson, or scarlet\nspots. Though you wash with niter, or with much soap, those deep-dyed\nmarks of iniquity can not be thus cleansed away.\n\n2. _Sin is deceiving._ \u201cBut exhort one another daily, while it is called\nto-day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.\u201d\nHeb. 3:13. One sin has opened the gate or way to many more. There is a\nkind of opiate power in sin that renders its victim unconscious of its\nawful magnitude, thus its deceitfulness.\n\n3. _Sin is reproachful._ \u201cRighteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a\nreproach to any people.\u201d Prov. 14:34. We can not enable you to see that\nsin is a reproach in any better way than by placing two pictures before\nyou. One picture is that of a community where all the citizens, old and\nyoung, love and fear God. They live together in peace and love; there are\nno quarrelings or contentions, envyings or unkindnesses among neighbors,\nneither in home life. There is no stealing, lying, cheating, swearing,\ndrunkenness, fightings, backbitings, vulgarisms, unholy revelries, etc.\nSuch manner of life exalts that community, and all good people are\ndesirous of making their homes there.\n\nThe second picture is that of a community where neighbors are quarreling,\nhating and lawing with each other. In home life there are angry words and\nbitter feelings and estrangements. There are lewd revelries and wanton\npleasures. There are stealings and lyings, cheatings, fightings,\nswearings, drinking, chewing and smoking, slang phrases, etc. Such is a\nreproach, and thus we learn how righteousness exalts a nation and sin\nbecomes a reproach to any people.\n\n4. _Sin gives death its horror._ \u201cThe sting of death is sin.\u201d 1 Cor.\n15:56. Many a thing in this world carries a sting by which it inflicts\npain. Death and the thoughts of death are painful and cause a shudder and\nfear because death has a sting. It is sin.\n\n5. _Sin excludes the soul from heaven._ \u201cThen said Jesus again unto them,\nI go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I\ngo, ye can not come.\u201d John 8:21. Heaven is a pure and holy place. No sin\nwill ever enter there. If we die in our sins heaven is lost unto us\nforever.\n\n\n\nWhat Is Sin?\n\n\nMany people have become confused concerning a sinless life because they\ndid not understand what sin was. A temptation or trial is not a sin, but\nit is the yielding to temptation that is a sin. \u201cAll unrighteousness is\nsin.\u201d 1 John 5:17. All that is wrong is sinful. There are but few people\nthat will not confess that we should live right in this world. To live\nright in every way is the fruit of righteousness. James says, \u201cTherefore\nto him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.\u201d 4:17.\nTo refuse to do a good thing known unto us when we have opportunity is\nwrong and displeasing to God. Solomon says, \u201cThe thought of foolishness is\nsin.\u201d \u201cIn a multitude of words there wanteth not sin.\u201d The apostle John\nclearly and positively defines sin in these words: \u201cWhosoever committeth\nsin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.\u201d\n1 John 3:4.\n\nTo transgress or violate any known law of God is sin. This is clear and\ncomprehensive. For instance, a man knows it is wrong to steal, therefore\nif he steals it is a sin. A man knows it is wrong to tell a falsehood,\ntherefore if he speaks falsely he commits a sin. A man knows it is wrong\nto become intoxicated, and yet he does become so; he has violated a known\nlaw of right and wrong, and has therefore committed a sin. Who is the man\nof common sense that does not know it is wrong to lie, steal, swindle,\ndefraud, curse, drink, get angry and cross; to refuse to help a needy\nneighbor when he can, to talk foolishly, to tell unseemly tales, to\nbackbite, slander, commit adultery, hold enmity against another, or to be\nproud and vain, etc.?\n\nAll these, and many more, the Bible says are wrong, and man knows them to\nbe wrong; therefore to do them is a sin. Sin brings man into bondage. John\n8:34. Man is unable to liberate himself from sin, but God has sent a\nDeliverer. Praise his name! \u201cIf the Son therefore shall make you free, ye\nshall be free indeed.\u201d John 8:36. Of this glorious deliverance we shall\nspeak in the following chapter.\n\n\n\n\nChapter IV. Salvation.\n\n\nSalvation is the song that was to be sung by the redeemed in that day.\n\u201cBehold now is the day.\u201d Our salvation has come. \u201cGlory to God in the\nhighest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.\u201d Salvation means\ndeliverance. A prophecy concerning the Christ\u2014our salvation\u2014says: \u201cHe hath\nsent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the\ncaptives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.\u201d Isa.\n61:1. Christ our Savior came to deliver us from the prison-house of sin.\n\nIn the preceding chapter we learned that sin left its crimson and scarlet\nstains upon the soul. Salvation cleanses the soul, removing the stains,\nmaking it as white as snow. Washing in \u201cniter and much soap\u201d will not\nprove effectual, but the blood of Jesus will remove every stain. Sin\nreproaches, but the salvation of Jesus exalts. It lifts man up from the\ncoarse, degrading, shameful life of sin, and exalts him to integrity,\nnobility, and purity. It removes the discontentments, uneasiness,\ncondemnations and fears, and brings joy, peace and rest. Salvation breaks\nthe strong fetters of sin and man rejoices in the beautiful light and\nliberty of this gospel day. The scepter is wrested from the cruel tyrant,\nsin, and righteousness in quietness and peace sways the scepter, and man\nrejoices. Sin is dethroned and Christ is crowned King of glory, and his\ntriumphant reign is in the heart and life of man. Sin no longer has\ndominion. Christ hath made us free.\n\n\n O God, thy vict\u2019ries I extol\n With all the freedom of my soul.\n\n\nSalvation removes the awful sting of death and allows man to approach the\nlast hour\n\n\n \u201cLike one who wraps the drapery of his couch\n About him and lies down to pleasant dreams.\u201d\n\n\n\nA Present Salvation.\n\n\n\u201cBehold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.\u201d 2\nCor. 6:2. The present dispensation, or gospel day, is the salvation age.\nIt is the accepted time, or the time which God has accepted for the\nsalvation of man. That there is another dispensation of time beyond this\npresent Christian era in which man can be saved is Satan\u2019s falsehood to\ncause man to neglect salvation in this \u201caccepted time,\u201d beyond which he\nknows there is no escape. \u201cHow shall we escape if we neglect so great\nsalvation?\u201d \u201cTo-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts.\u201d\n\nThe apostle Paul says, \u201cThe grace of God that bringeth salvation hath\nappeared to all men.\u201d Titus 2:11. It \u201chath appeared.\u201d This is the time\nwhen salvation has appeared unto all men, and all men must accept it in\nthis time or lose it forever. In Titus 3:5, Eph. 2:5, Rom. 6:22, Jude 1, 1\nCor. 1:2, and many other texts, salvation is spoken of as having been\nreceived. Beyond controversy salvation is a present attainment.\n\n\n\nSalvation By Grace And Not By Works.\n\n\nSalvation from sin is by the grace of God. The word \u201cgrace\u201d is defined by\nlexicographers as favor or mercy. Grace is a characteristic in the nature\nof God which offers mercy or favor though wholly unmerited by the\nrecipient. Man is an offender against God. Through repentance he finds\nfavor or grace in God\u2019s sight without any worthiness, excellence or\nmeritoriousness in himself, but because of the merciful nature of the\nLord. \u201cFor by grace are ye saved through faith.\u201d Eph. 2:8. \u201cBy grace ye\nare saved.\u201d Ver. 5. \u201cWho hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling,\nnot according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,\nwhich was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.\u201d 2 Tim. 1:9.\n\u201cBeing justified freely by his grace.\u201d Rom. 3:24.\n\nIf man could attain to salvation by works, then he could plead his own\nmerits; but we are taught that we can only plead the mercy of God. The\napostle says that salvation is \u201cnot of works, lest any man should boast.\u201d\nEph. 2:9. If it were by works man would have some cause for boasting; but\nbecause it is wholly by grace, he has nothing of self in which to boast.\nAgain he says, \u201cNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but\naccording to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and\nrenewing of the Holy Ghost.\u201d Titus 3:5.\n\n\n\nSalvation Perfect.\n\n\nThere is no weakness nor incompleteness in God\u2019s salvation. It saves to\n\u201cthe uttermost.\u201d Heb. 7:25. Salvation is so complete that man requires no\nadditional cleansing or purifying to fit him for heaven.\n\nThe salvation to which the apostle had attained made him \u201cready to be\noffered.\u201d There is no cleansing beyond the gates of death, but in this\nlife we are commanded to make ready. \u201cThough your sins be as scarlet, they\nshall be as white as snow.\u201d This text proves the efficacy of the blood or\nthe completeness of salvation.\n\nAlso the following texts magnify the preciousness and perfectness of\nredemption: \u201cThen will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be\nclean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse\nyou.\u201d Ezek. 36:25. \u201cPurge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me,\nand I shall be whiter than snow.\u201d Psa. 51:7. \u201cYe are complete in him.\u201d\nCol. 2:10. \u201cThe blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.\u201d\n1 John 1:7. \u201cIf we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us\nour sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.\u201d 1 John 1:9. It is\nsin that excludes us from heaven. It is salvation that saves us from sin,\ntherefore we, when saved, are ready for that better land.\n\n\n\nFuture Salvation.\n\n\nThere are a few texts of Scripture which teach a salvation yet in the\nfuture. \u201cAnd ye shall be hated of all men for my name\u2019s sake: but he that\nendureth to the end shall be saved.\u201d Mat. 10:22. \u201cWherefore, my beloved,\nas ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in\nmy absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.\u201d Phil.\n2:12. These texts do not prove that there is no salvation only at the end\nof human life, else what could be the meaning of the many texts that speak\nof a present salvation? These two texts are very easily harmonized with\nthose teaching a present experience of saving grace.\n\nAs long as we are in this world it is possible for us to lose our\nsalvation. Though we are now saved from sin by grace it is possible for us\nto be overtaken in some way and lose this experience. As long as we are\nhere we must endure temptation. But if we endure unto the end when this\nmortality puts on immortality we pass beyond the possibility of losing\nsalvation, hence, we are saved eternally. By resisting temptation, by\npraying and watching, we \u201cwork out our salvation.\u201d The time comes when\nthere are no more temptations to resist, and we are safe and saved\nforever.\n\nI am saved now from all sin, but to keep this experience I must watch,\npray, work, resist and endure unto the end of my life, and then my\nsalvation receives the seal of eternity\u2014saved in glory forever. Amen.\n\n\n\nWonders Of Salvation.\n\n\n When man the wonders of creation\n Beholds in deepest contemplation,\n Adores not the Almighty One,\n Must have indeed a heart of stone.\n\n Thou mortal! seest not the sun\n His daily course so proudly run?\n The moon in her nocturnal race,\n With sweet and tender, smiling face?\n The stars in pale but beauteous light,\n Twinkling, shining all the night?\n Stupendous ocean, wild and free,\n Bold image of eternity?\n The mountain cliff that checks the storm,\n And sheds its tears on valley farm?\n Poor soul twice dead indeed must be,\n And plucked up like uprooted tree,\n Or dulled by sensuality,\n Or lured by prodigality,\n Which does not bound with admiration,\n Or feel a warmth of true devotion\n Upon beholding this creation.\n\n All nature smiling sweet and tender,\n Sun, moon and stars in wondrous splendor,\n And mortal man, a bit of sod,\n Reveals the handiwork of God.\n Howe\u2019er there is one work divine,\n Excels all others of my rhyme,\n The making of a world like this,\n Sent circling through so vast a space;\n Bright worlds above in glory streaming,\n Can not compare with this remaining.\n It claims all Heaven\u2019s admiration,\n It moves all Hell to disputation,\n Excels the glorious translation\n Of Enoch from his brief probation\n To higher plane of situation.\n All that\u2019s been done in whole creation\n Is naught, compared with man\u2019s salvation;\n Saved from the scarlet stains of sin,\n By power of God been born again;\n Then by the Holy Spirit\u2019s power\n Made pure in instantaneous hour.\n\n Oh, new and wonderful creation,\n Exceeds by far the old formation;\n Sun, moon and stars and mountain\u2019s plane,\n The dark and deep blue ocean\u2019s main,\n Do not God\u2019s power so much display\n As when he takes man\u2019s sins away.\n Old things are gone, all things are new,\n All heaven by faith is now in view;\n And peace, sweet peace fills all the soul,\n And rest, though stormy billows roll;\n Such is man\u2019s happy situation\n In this most wonderful salvation.\n\n\n\n\nChapter V. The Way From Sin To Perfect Salvation.\n\n\nWe have learned that sin entered this world and that all mankind have\nsinned. We have also learned that Jesus came to save man from his sins.\nNow the question may arise in the mind of some, what must I do to be\nsaved? We hope in this chapter to quote such scriptures as will plainly\nteach you the way of salvation, or how to be fully saved, and also the\nscriptures describing each experience.\n\n\n\nRepentance.\n\n\nThe first step for the sinner is to repent. When on Pentecost men were\npricked in their hearts and cried, \u201cWhat shall we do?\u201d Peter answered,\n\u201cRepent.\u201d It is in accordance with God\u2019s plan of redemption, also with\nnature and reason, that man should repent of his sins in order to receive\npardon. Repentance was the theme on which John preached in the wilderness\nof Judea. It seems also to have been the first subject on which the Lord\npreached. Mark 1:15. It is the will of God that men should repent of their\nsins. \u201cThe Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count\nslackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should\nperish, but that all should come to repentance.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:9. It is here\nimplied if man does not repent he shall perish. Jesus says, \u201cExcept ye\nrepent, ye shall all likewise perish,\u201d even as did those whose blood\nPilate mingled with their sacrifices, and those eighteen on whom the tower\nof Siloam fell.\n\nThe first round in the ladder that reaches to eternal rest is repentance.\nIf man never takes this step upon the way he can never reach that happy\nend. Because repentance includes so much, many men would gladly overstep\nthis first round and begin their Christian life on some round higher up.\nThis they can not do; they must take this first step, or perish. And\nshould they strive to climb up some other way they are dishonest, and the\nSavior calls them \u201cthieves and robbers.\u201d\n\nWhen the Pharisees and Sadducees came to the baptism of John he said unto\nthem, \u201cBring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.\u201d Mat. 3:8. There\nare fruits of repentance. The tree is known by its fruits. When man really\nrepents of his sins, by his fruits or manner of life it will be made\nknown. One of the fruits of repentance is sorrow. We might have said that\nrepentance is sorrow, for \u201cgodly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation\nnot to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death.\u201d\n\nA well known politician became an embezzler of the county fund, and was\nsentenced to a few years in the state\u2019s prison. After having received his\nsentence he, in the sheriff\u2019s charge, passed out of the court-room, and\nwith tears flowing from his eyes said, \u201cMy reputation is gone forever.\u201d\nThat was a sorrow of the world and is not the way to salvation. Had the\ntears been flowing because he had sinned against God, who loved him, it\nwould have been sorrow that \u201cworketh repentance.\u201d\n\nThe apostle says in 2 Cor. 7:11, \u201cBehold this self-same thing, that ye\nsorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what\nclearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what\nvehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge!\u201d These are the fruits\nof repentance. The first here mentioned is \u201ccarefulness.\u201d The impenitent\nlives a reckless, careless life; but a watchfulness comes into the heart\nof the penitent. He becomes mindful of his acts and carefully avoids the\nways of sin. He turns away from sin. Oh, what carefulness it works in him.\nHe complies with the commandment of God, \u201cLet the wicked forsake his way.\u201d\nThe marginal reading of Mat. 3:8 is \u201cbring forth fruit answerable to the\namendment of life.\u201d The penitent carefully turns away from sin, and there\nis therefore an amendment of life.\n\nThe second fruit of repentance mentioned in 2 Cor. 7:11 is \u201cclearing of\nyourselves.\u201d Men usually in their sinful life do many a wrong deed. When\nthey have a godly sorrow they are very willing to do all they can to\n\u201cclear away,\u201d or right the wrongs they have done. For instance, a man has\nin conversation with one neighbor spoken evil of another neighbor and\ninjured his character. When he repents of his sins he will acknowledge to\nhis neighbor that he spoke falsely, and will do what he can to repair the\ninjury he has done. Debts he has long neglected he will pay when he\nrepents of his sins, if it is possible. Wherein he has stolen or defrauded\nin any way he will restore as far as he is able. Zacch\u00e6us, when he came\ndown from the sycamore tree, had a penitent heart, and said: \u201cThe half of\nmy goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by\nfalse accusation, I restore him fourfold.\u201d Luke 19:8. God does not command\na fourfold restoration, but he does demand a restoring of an equal amount\nof what has been taken. If the penitent is unable to do this he can, no\ndoubt, make confession, and promise to restore as soon as possible.\n\nIt is very consistent and reasonable that God makes such demands of the\npenitent. No man can rightly object to such requirements. It establishes\nconfidence in the hearts of unbelievers. They see a beauty in the\nChristian religion. It not only saves a man from doing wrong deeds in his\nfuture life, but calls upon him to repair as far as possible the wrongs\nand injuries he has done in his past life. In talking about two of the\nleading members of a certain religious denomination an unbeliever recently\nremarked: \u201cIf these men would pay me what they owe me I would have more\nconfidence in Christianity.\u201d We saw then how consistent it was that God\nrequires man to correct his past life as far as he can. It forces\nconfidence in the hearts of the unsaved and gains their attention. This is\nthe \u201cclearing of yourselves.\u201d\n\nThe penitent gladly turns away or forsakes his evil ways. He abhors sin.\nAh, what \u201cvehement desire\u201d to be free; what zeal! He gladly does all he\ncan to repair the injuries he has done. When he has defrauded man of money\nhe will confess it and restore it. When he has contracted debts and long\nneglected them he will confess his negligence and strive to pay them.\nWhere he has misrepresented any one and thereby done him an injury he will\nmake confession. And wherein man has wronged him and he has hatred in his\nheart against him, he will freely forgive. Jesus says, \u201cIf ye forgive not\nmen their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.\u201d\nMat. 6:15.\n\nWhen the penitent has met all the requirements of the Scriptures, and\nconfesses all to God, he has promised to forgive him. \u201cIf we confess our\nsins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.\u201d 1 John 1:9. After\nthe forsaking of sins and the restitution of wrongs and the forgiveness of\ninjuries, and confession to God, there remains yet for man to\n\n\n\nBelieve.\n\n\nA prison-keeper inquired of Paul and Silas: \u201cSirs, what must I do to be\nsaved?\u201d And they said, \u201cBelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be\nsaved.\u201d Acts 16:30, 31. At this point Satan has succeeded in confusing\nmany an honest soul. They have forsaken all to follow Jesus, but have not\nthat perfect confidence that God forgives and accepts them. Satan will\nallow them to believe that God will save them in some future time, but\nstruggles hard to prevent their believing that Jesus saves them now. The\napostle says, \u201cBy grace are ye saved through faith.\u201d Eph. 2:8. \u201cWhosoever\nbelieveth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.\u201d 1 John 5:1. \u201cBut as\nmany as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God,\neven to them that believe on his name.\u201d John 1:12. \u201cTherefore being\njustified by faith, we have peace with God.\u201d Rom. 5:1. It is not by\nenthusiasm or excitement that we are saved, but \u201cby grace through faith.\u201d\n\nJesus on one occasion said, \u201cWhich of you intending to build a tower,\nsitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient\nto finish it.\u201d Luke 14:28. He uses this illustration to teach us the\nmanner in which we should come to him. The cost is \u201ca death to sin and the\nworld.\u201d The prize is heaven and eternal glory. When you have carefully\ncounted the cost and deliberately decided in your soul to follow Jesus,\nthen believe on his name, \u201cand thou shalt be saved.\u201d\n\n\n\nJustification.\n\n\nThe term justification is used both in the Old Testament and the New.\nThere is a difference between the justification under the law and the\njustification by grace. The one was obtained by the blood of animals and\nthe other by the blood of Jesus. Since we are writing upon the glorious\nthemes of the New Testament we shall say but little of the justification\nby the sacrifices of animals.\n\nJustification implies a forgiveness of sins. The sense of guilt resulting\nfrom a transgression of God\u2019s law is removed. The justified therefore\nexperience a safety, a peace and rest. Fears and uncertainties are\nbanished, and the soul is filled with confidence and hope. \u201cTherefore\nbeing justified by faith we have peace with God.\u201d Rom. 5:1. Peace is the\nnatural result of justification. It is sin that destroys the happiness of\nman. Before sin entered into this world man lived in a delightful Eden.\nHis heart was open and frank before God, and he rejoiced in his presence.\nSin brought a sense of shame and guilt, and he hid from the presence of\nGod. All men admire the innocency of childhood. The peaceful countenance\nof an infant, its freedom from care, anxieties and unrest but remind us of\nthe peacefulness of pardon.\n\nThere was a justification by the law, but the law day has passed away. We\nhave come to the gospel day in which no flesh shall be justified by the\nworks of the law, but by \u201cthe faith of Jesus Christ.\u201d Gal. 2:16; 3:11. The\nBible promises nothing more in justification than a full pardon of all\ntransgression and restoration to childhood innocency. \u201cAnd Jesus called a\nlittle child unto him and set him in the midst of them and said, Verily I\nsay unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye\nshall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.\u201d Mat. 18:2, 3. A justified man\nis as innocent and free from transgression as a little child. Is it not a\njust cause of surprise that men will teach the forgiveness of sins\nnecessary to the experience of justification, and yet teach that the\njustified commit sin? \u201cO Consistency, thou art a jewel.\u201d\n\nIt occurs to our mind that if men would use consideration, mingled with\nreason and judgment, they would see the inconsistency of the above\nteaching. Should a man who had used abusive language to you come and\npenitently ask your forgiveness, you would forgive, but that does not give\nhim liberty to continue his abuse. When the penitent comes to God he will\npardon, but this does not give him liberty to continue in sin. God created\nman with an intelligence, a reason and common sense. The ravages of sin\nhave greatly impaired these qualities of the mind that believes that\njustification necessitates a forgiveness of sins, yet the experience can\nbe retained while committing sin. A sound writer has said, \u201cCommon sense\nis a quality of mind not so common as the words imply. Many claim it who\nhave no right to its possession. It is a high standard of mental worth.\nThe brain coin that bears its imprint has a par value wherever man is\ngoverned by pure reason.\u201d No true Christian believes he can live in sin\nand be a Christian. Even those who are governed by pure reason do not\nbelieve such. By the blood of Jesus \u201call that believe are justified from\nall things.\u201d Acts 13:39.\n\n\n\nRegeneration.\n\n\nJustification by grace through faith in Jesus does not end with a\nforgiveness of past transgressions only, but includes the impartation of\nthe divine, or eternal life to the soul. The blood of animals offered for\nsins in the Jewish economy was unable to impart this life to the offerer\nof the sacrifice. Jesus says, \u201cI am come that ye might have life.\u201d\n\u201cWhosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.\u201d\n\u201cHe that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath\nnot life.\u201d \u201cGod hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his\nSon.\u201d\n\nThe process by which man enters the natural life is termed a birth or\ngeneration. The process by which man enters the spiritual life is\nexpressed by the words, \u201cbeing born again,\u201d or \u201cregeneration.\u201d With the\nwords \u201cbeing born again\u201d we naturally associate life. When Nicodemus heard\nthe words he thought the process of bringing into physical life was to be\nrepeated. The Savior told him, \u201cThat which is born of the flesh is flesh;\nand that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.\u201d John 3:6. In life there\nis activity and power. Not only are the transgressions forgiven, but by\nregeneration life and power come into the soul, which gives man strength\nto resist sin. The Israelite only hoped for a forgiveness of his past sin\nthrough his offering. That beautiful hope of constant victory over sin was\nnot his to enjoy. He knew the power of sin and the weakness of his\noffering; consequently he expected naught else but to offer his sacrifices\nover and over, day by day, and year by year continually. He who to-day\ncomes to God pleading for forgiveness of his sins through the offering of\nthe eternal Son and expects to still continue in sin enjoys no better hope\nthan a Jew. He dishonors the great sacrifice of God\u2019s Son by counting it\nno more than the sacrifice of animals.\n\nIn regeneration the holy, pure, divine life comes into the soul. Man\npasses from \u201cdeath unto life.\u201d The dominion of sin has come to an end. Sin\nis dethroned and its kingdom destroyed. Regenerated man is crowned a king.\nThe royal robes of white enshroud him. The scepter of righteousness he\nsways triumphantly and reigns a mighty conqueror, \u201ca king and priest unto\nGod.\u201d Praise and honor to his name!\n\nThis new life within man\u2019s soul finds expression in a new life without.\nSince the new life within is holy and pure the new life without is holy\nand pure. \u201cMake the inside of the cup and platter clean and the outside\nwill be clean also.\u201d The apostle John tells us the manner of life that\nfollows \u201cbeing born again.\u201d \u201cWe know that whosoever is born of God sinneth\nnot, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one\ntoucheth him not.\u201d 1 John 5:18. \u201cWhosoever is born of God doth not commit\nsin, for his seed remaineth in him: and he can not sin, because he is born\nof God.\u201d 1 John 3:9. This text does not teach the impossibility of\ncommitting sin as some have supposed, but the impossibility of committing\nsin and retaining the spiritual birth. In 1 John 2:29 we are clearly\ntaught that righteousness of life succeeds the regeneration of man. Sin\nbelongs only to Satan and sinners. It is not found in the life of God, nor\nof the angels, nor of Christ, nor of the Christians.\n\n\n\nAdoption.\n\n\nThe term \u201cadoption\u201d is a few times used in the New Testament. It is that\npart of justification which places us in the family of God. In the\napostolic days the Romans were accustomed to adopting the children of some\nother family into their own. The law on these occasions demanded a full\nsurrender of the child with all his possessions to his new governor or\nfather. The father received the child as an heir to all his possessions,\nequal with his own children.\n\nSo we in justification give ourselves to God with all our talents and\npossessions, and he receives us into his family, and we become joint-heirs\nwith his Son. This is true, and very precious because it is true. The\napostle in speaking of adoption says, \u201cFor ye have not received the spirit\nof bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,\nwhereby we cry, Abba, Father.\u201d Rom. 8:15. We are here taught that it is in\nadoption that we look upon God as our Father. We are taught the same in\nGal. 4:5, 6. By the Spirit of adoption we look unto God as our Father and\nconsider ourselves his own children. As members in the family of God we\nyield ourselves unto his service and \u201cour members as instruments of\nrighteousness unto him.\u201d This prohibits sin. To live impure, or to commit\nmore or less sin, and have the yoke of Christ upon us, or to be a\njoint-heir with him is indeed very disparaging.\n\n\n\nConversion.\n\n\nSince the word conversion is used in connection with justification we will\ngive it only brief notice. Jesus said, \u201cExcept ye be converted and become\nas little children,\u201d etc. Peter said, \u201cRepent and be converted.\u201d\nJustification properly implies a pardon or forgiveness of our\ntransgressions or sins. Regeneration implies a bringing into the spiritual\nlife. Adoption implies the reception of the new-born child into the family\nof God. Conversion, the turning about, or a change in life. Any one of\nthese terms include all the others. These are all accomplished in what is\nknown as the first work of grace, and is most frequently and properly\ntermed justification.\n\n\n\nSanctification.\n\n\nSanctification is one among the clear and positive doctrines of the New\nTestament. Justification, regeneration, adoption, and conversion are terms\nused to signify the same work of grace, or the same experience in the\nChristian life. Sanctification has reference to a higher work of grace, or\nhigher life. It is an experience obtained subsequent to justification. The\nSavior in praying to the Father for his disciples said: \u201cSanctify them\nthrough thy truth: thy word is truth.\u201d John 17:17. Before making this\npetition he told the Father of their separation from the world and of\ntheir persecution by the world, which are certain evidences of\njustification.\n\nSanctification is defined thus in Webster\u2019s Unabridged Dictionary:\n\n1. Sanctification is the act of God\u2019s grace by which the affections of men\nare purified or alienated from sin and the world and exalted to a supreme\nlove of God; also the state of being thus purified or sanctified. 2.\nSanctifier. One who sanctifies or makes holy, specially the Holy Ghost. 3.\nSanctify. To set apart to a holy or religious use; to make holy or free\nfrom sin; to cleanse from moral corruption or pollution; to make holy.\n\nSanctification is the destruction of the body of sin or depraved nature.\nThe work of sanctification, or the sanctifying process, is expressed as a\ncleansing or purging or refining. It is the restoration of the soul to its\noriginal purity or holiness by the removing of the depraved nature\nincurred by the transgression in Eden. We will conclude this subject by a\nBible lesson.\n\n1. Sanctification is the will of God. \u201cFor this is the will of God, even\nyour sanctification.\u201d 1 Thes. 4:3.\n\n2. Sanctification is effected by God. \u201cAnd the very God of peace sanctify\nyou wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be\npreserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d 1 Thes.\n5:23. \u201cJude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them\nthat are sanctified by God the Father, preserved in Jesus Christ, and\ncalled.\u201d Jude 1.\n\n3. Sanctification is effected by the Lord Jesus. \u201cFor both he that\nsanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he\nis not ashamed to call them brethren.\u201d Heb. 2:11.\n\n4. Sanctification is effected by the Holy Spirit. \u201cAnd such were some of\nyou: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the\nname of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.\u201d 1 Cor. 6:11.\n\n5. Sanctification is through the Word of God. \u201cSanctify them through thy\ntruth: thy word is truth.\u201d John 17:17.\n\n6. Sanctification is through the atonement of Christ. \u201cWherefore Jesus\nalso, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered\nwithout the gate.\u201d Heb. 13:12.\n\n7. Sanctification is perfect salvation. \u201cBut we are bound to give thanks\nalway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from\nthe beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit\nand belief of the truth.\u201d 2 Thes. 2:13.\n\n8. Sanctification as a cleansing removes spots, wrinkles, and blemishes\nfrom the church. \u201cHusbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the\nchurch, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it\nwith the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself\na glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but\nthat it should be holy and without blemish.\u201d Eph. 5:25-27.\n\n9. Sanctification prepares men for the service of God. \u201cBut in a great\nhouse there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood\nand of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore\npurge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and\nmeet for the Master\u2019s use, and prepared unto every good work.\u201d 2 Tim.\n2:20, 21.\n\nBecause this text is very generally misunderstood we feel like giving an\nexplanation of it. It was long misunderstood by us. Only very recently the\nHoly Spirit interpreted it to our heart. One evening we asked God to give\nus an understanding of this difficult passage of Scripture, and the next\nmorning we fully understood it. It is very simple. In a great house there\nare vessels of gold and silver, wood and earth, some to honor and some to\ndishonor. This house represents man in his natural state. There are some\ngood traits of character in most every unregenerated man, and also some\nevil traits. He has some honorable dispositions and some dishonorable.\nFull salvation, which includes both justification and sanctification, will\nsave and purge him from every dishonorable inclination and evil trait of\ncharacter, and fit him for the Master\u2019s use. He will be used only to the\nglory of God. All his fruits will be holy unto the Lord.\n\n10. Sanctification prepares man for heaven. We have quoted from 1 Cor.\n6:11. By reading the two preceding verses we learn that sanctification is\nnecessary to the entrance of heaven.\n\n\n\nHoliness.\n\n\nThere is a sweet melody in the word \u201choliness.\u201d We associate it with\neverything that is heavenly. It is frequently used synonymously with\nsanctification, yet not always with all the forms of the word\nsanctification. On the whole there is a slight difference in the meaning\nof the two terms. Holiness is the consummation of the work of\nsanctification. By transposing a few words in Heb. 12:14 we would have it\nread, \u201cWithout holiness no man shall see the Lord.\u201d Holiness is here a\nnoun objective to the preposition without. In some translations this\nsentence would read, \u201cWithout sanctification no man shall see the Lord.\u201d\nSanctification is here a noun, the object of the preposition without. As\nnouns these words are used interchangeably.\n\nIn Jude, first verse, we have this sentence, \u201cTo them that are sanctified\nby God the Father.\u201d The word \u201csanctified\u201d is here used as a predicate\nadjective, and describes the people addressed. It would not alter the\nmeaning of the text were we to translate it thus: \u201cTo them that are made\nholy by God the Father.\u201d The word holy is here used as a predicate\nadjective, and describes the people addressed. In the sentence, \u201cSanctify\nthem through thy truth\u201d (John 17:17), the word \u201csanctify\u201d is a verb,\ndenoting action, of which we have no form of the word holiness. The word\nholiness can not be used as a verb. The word sanctification frequently\nexpresses action; the word holiness never. They are synonymous when they\nexpress the pure state of man. Sanctification is the act that brings man\ninto a holy state, which is also the sanctified state. Sanctification may\nbe applied to the holy state, and also to the action that brings us into\nthat state. Since the word sanctification contains action it is positive\nproof there is a cleansing in it.\n\nNow we desire by a few Scriptural texts and a few suggestions to deepen\nthe reader\u2019s conception of the state of holiness. Everything in the realm\nof Christianity, or the kingdom of God, from heaven to earth is holy. Let\nus here give you a brief Bible lesson, kindly asking you to carefully read\neach text.\n\n1. God is holy. \u201cIn the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord\nsitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the\ntemple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain\nhe covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he\ndid fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the\nLord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.\u201d Isa. 6:1-3.\n\nIf the reader here obtains a just conception of the holy character of God\nit will give him an understanding of the true nature of Christianity and\nthe manner of life of a Christian. A gentleman once asked me if it was\nwrong or unbecoming to a Christian to attend the present day street\ncarnivals. We replied in about these words: \u201cIf you gain a true conception\nof the holiness of the Almighty you will not need to ask me such a\nquestion.\u201d\n\n2. Heaven is holy. \u201cNow know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will\nhear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.\u201d\nPsa. 20:6.\n\n3. Christ is holy. \u201cFor such an high priest became us, who is holy,\nharmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.\u201d Heb. 7:26.\n\n4. The angels are holy. \u201cWhen the Son of man shall come in his glory, and\nall the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his\nglory.\u201d Mat. 25:31.\n\n5. God\u2019s commandments are holy. \u201cWherefore the law is holy, and the\ncommandment holy, and just, and good.\u201d Rom. 7:12.\n\n6. God\u2019s arm is holy. \u201cThe Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of\nall the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of\nour God.\u201d Isa. 52:10.\n\n7. God\u2019s mountains are holy. \u201cAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that\nthe great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to\nperish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and\nshall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.\u201d Isa. 27:13.\n\n8. God\u2019s hill is holy. \u201cLord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall\ndwell in thy holy hill?\u201d Psa. 15:1.\n\n9. God\u2019s name is holy. \u201cMy mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; and\nlet all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.\u201d Psa. 145:21.\n\n10. God\u2019s works are holy. \u201cThe Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy\nin all his works.\u201d Psa. 145:17.\n\n11. God\u2019s people are holy. \u201cFor thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy\nGod: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto\nhimself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.\u201d Deut. 7:6.\nRead Eph. 1:4; Col. 1:22; 1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Pet. 3:11.\n\n12. God\u2019s people are his holy temple. \u201cIf any man defile the temple of\nGod, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye\nare.\u201d 1 Cor. 3:17.\n\n13. God\u2019s church is a holy church. \u201cHusbands, love your wives, even as\nChrist also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might\nsanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he\nmight present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or\nwrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without\nblemish.\u201d Eph. 5:25-27.\n\n14. The way to heaven is a holy way. \u201cAnd an highway shall be there, and a\nway, and it shall be called the way of holiness; ... the redeemed shall\nwalk there.\u201d Isa. 35:8, 9.\n\nLet us repeat: God is holy; heaven is holy; the angels are holy; Christ is\nholy; the Spirit is holy; God\u2019s Word is holy; the way to heaven is holy.\nReader, we want you to picture before you a holy heaven and the holy way\nthat leads to heaven. Read this text: \u201cFollow peace with all men, and\nholiness without which no man shall see the Lord.\u201d Heb. 12:14.\n\nLooking into the Word of the Lord we find that man was chosen to holiness.\nEph. 1:4. That God calls him to holiness. 1 Thes. 4:7. That God designed\nthat man should serve him in holiness. Luke 1:75. That God chastens man in\norder that he might be partaker of his holiness. Heb. 12:10. That God\npurposes that man shall be saved from his sin and bear fruit unto\nholiness. Rom. 6:22. That God commands him to be holy in all manner of\nconduct. 2 Pet. 3:11. God commands him to be holy because he is holy. 1\nPet. 1:15, 16. Looking unto God\u2019s great and holy plan in redeeming man,\nand the holiness of heaven, and God sitting on his holy throne, and Christ\nthe Holy One at his right hand, and the holy angels shouting praises, how\ncan you entertain a hope of ever entering that glorious land without\nholiness?\n\n\n\nPerfection.\n\n\nMany have stumbled at the command to be perfect. That finite man may be\nperfect in this sinful world sounds ridiculous to many unregenerated\nhearts. This is because they do not understand God nor his power to\ndeliver man from sin. With the many exhortations and commands to\nperfection contained in the Holy Scriptures is it not singular that man\nwill yet say, \u201cWe can not be perfect in this life\u201d? Many people who oppose\nthe doctrine of Christian perfection do not at all understand it. They\nconsider it to be an end of all growth, consequently they do not\nunderstand its nature. There is a perfection of celestial beings not to be\nexperienced by mortal man; but there is a perfection unmistakably taught\nin the Scriptures which Christians are privileged to experience and enjoy\nin this life.\n\nChristian perfection relates to right desires and actions and purity of\naffections. Paul in closing his epistle to the church at Corinth says:\n\u201cFinally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one\nmind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.\u201d\nSurely every one must concede that there is a perfection to which\nChristians can attain. When Christians are exhorted to be perfect is it\nnot folly to say, \u201cThey can not be perfect\u201d? Could we not with equal\npropriety say, \u201cWe can not be of good comfort\u201d? \u201cWe can not live in\npeace\u201d? \u201cThe God of love and peace will not be with us\u201d? etc.\n\nThe apostle in writing to the Philippian brethren uses language which\nclearly implies that some of them had attained to the experience of\nperfection. He says, \u201cLet us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus\nminded.\u201d Phil. 3:15. Some of them certainly were perfect. In verse twelve\nhe does speak of a perfection to which he had not attained. This he\nexpected to attain in the glory world. Christian perfection is a life that\naccords with the Holy Scriptures. Whosoever receives the correction, and\nreproving and the instructions in righteousness contained in the Scripture\nwill become a perfect Christian. 2 Tim. 3:16.\n\nWhosoever lives as the Word of God says that Christians should live, the\nsame is a perfect man. Paul prays that God would make the Hebrews perfect.\nHeb. 13:20, 21. Peter petitions the God of all grace, who hath called us\nunto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after we have suffered a while to\nmake us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us. 1 Pet. 5:10.\n\nJesus was made perfect through suffering. God chastens us that we might be\npartakers of his holiness. The gold and silver to be made pure and perfect\nmust be refined in the crucible. We to reflect the beauty and glory of God\nmust, too, pass through the refiner\u2019s fire. The apostle Paul in writing\nhis first epistle to the church at Corinth says: \u201cHowbeit we speak wisdom\namong them that are perfect.\u201d 2:6. Certainly there were perfect Christians\nin the church at that place. To the Ephesian brethren he says that God\n\u201cgave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some,\npastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints.\u201d 4:11, 12. Now we\nat once know that this work of instruction and perfection is to be\naccomplished in this life.\n\nHe further says, \u201cTill we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the\nknowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the\nstature of the fulness of Christ.\u201d Ver. 13. By stature is meant the height\nof any one. Christ is the stature or height of perfection, and we are to\nmeasure up to it. This accords with what the Savior himself said: \u201cThe\ndisciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be\nas his master.\u201d Luke 6:40. To the church at Colosse the apostle says:\n\u201cWhom [Christ] we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all\nwisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.\u201d Col. 1:28.\nAgain he says, \u201cEpaphras who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth\nyou, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand\nperfect and complete in all the will of God.\u201d 4:12.\n\n\n\nWhat Is Christian Perfection?\n\n\nAs we have before said, There is a perfection only attainable after the\nresurrection, but there is a perfection attainable in this life, and it is\nthe nature of this perfection that we wish to understand. It is holiness\nof nature, right desires and actions and purity of affections toward God\nand man. It implies an entire consecration to God. A young man came to\nJesus inquiring what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said unto\nhim, \u201cIf thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the\npoor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.\u201d\nMat. 19:21. This teaches a resignation of all to God, which is necessary\nthat we might be refined and polished to such a brilliancy that will make\nus a light in the world. Christians are termed jewels in the Scriptures.\n\u201cAnd they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make\nup my jewels.\u201d\n\n\n Oh, to be a brilliant jewel,\n Sparkling, shining for the Lord,\n Polished by the great Refiner,\n Washed and winnowed through the blood.\n\n\nChristian perfection includes soundness and inoffensiveness of speech. \u201cIf\nany man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to\nbridle the whole body.\u201d Jas. 3:2. We consider this a very strong text, and\nan abundance of grace is required to enable us to perfectly fulfil it.\n\n\n\nGod\u2019s Perfection Is The Standard Of Christian Perfection.\n\n\n\u201cBe ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is\nperfect.\u201d Mat. 5:48. The perfection which God designs that Christians\nshall have equal with his own relates to the purity of his nature and\naffection. In the immediate preceding verses the Savior commands\nChristians to love their enemies, bless them that curse them, do good to\nthem that hate them, and pray for them which despitefully use them and\npersecute them. As Christians this is our nature. We will not \u201crender evil\nfor evil.\u201d We will befriend our persecutors, feed our enemy when he\nhungers, and give him drink when he thirsts. In verse forty-five the\nSavior tells us of the Father\u2019s behavior toward his enemies: \u201cHe maketh\nhis sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just\nand on the unjust.\u201d Here we behold the merciful nature of God and how he\ndoes good for evil. If we love only those who love us and do good only to\nthose who do good to us (ver. 46, 47) we are not in the nature of God; we\nare no more than publicans and sinners. But if we love our enemies and do\ngood to those who hate us, we are reflecting the character of God. In this\nrespect he would have us to be \u201cperfect, even as he is perfect.\u201d O\nbeloved, see that you entertain right feelings toward all men. Do good to\nyour enemies; love them, pray for them, and convince them that you are\nmore than the ordinary sinful man, and God will bless you now and\neternally.\n\nIn the parable of the sower and its explanation the Savior said the seed\nwhich fell among thorns are they which hear the word and go forth and are\nchoked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit\nto perfection. Luke 8:14. Christian fruit is loving our enemies, doing\nthem good, doing good unto all men, speaking evil of none, manifesting\nlove, faith, meekness, gentleness, joy, etc. This is Christian fruit, and\nmay God help every reader to bring it forth to the highest degree of\nperfection.\n\n\n\nPurity.\n\n\n\u201cKeep thyself pure.\u201d 1 Tim. 5:22. In such commands there is something\nanimating and ennobling. To enable us to have some conception of purity we\nhave only to think of heaven and of the angels. This world has been\nbetimes visited by celestial beings. They are spoken of as being clothed\nin white and having countenances shining as the light. Mat. 28:3; Mark\n16:5; John 20:12; Acts 1:9, 10. White is an emblem of purity. These\ntransient visitors from above robed in white raiment represent the purity\nof heaven. Purity is not ascribed alone to heavenly beings, but it is a\ncharacteristic of the redeemed upon the earth. Purity is effected through\nthe atoning blood. The sweet singer David said: \u201cPurge me with hyssop, and\nI shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.\u201d\n\nThe beloved John in a vision saw \u201ca pure river of water of life, clear as\ncrystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb.\u201d Rev. 22:1.\nThis \u201criver of water of life\u201d is the cleansing stream of God\u2019s salvation.\n\u201cWhosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.\u201d Rev. 22:17. This\nmeans salvation. \u201cI will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of\nthe water of life freely.\u201d Rev. 21:6. This is the cleansing fountain of\nsalvation. This stream is pure. It flows from the throne of God. It is as\npure as its source. Whosoever enters this crystal stream will be made as\npure as its waters.\n\n\n Though the soul be stained with scarlet stains,\n It shall be white as snow;\n Though the soul be stained with crimson stains,\n It shall be white as wool.\n\n\nThe prophet Isaiah in speaking of the cleansing fountain of salvation in\nthat day, said: \u201cAnd I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away\nthy dross, and take away all thy sin.\u201d Isa. 1:25. The cleansing stream\nwill remove all the dross and leave the soul pure. These are garments of\nsalvation. This is not literal, but the cleansing away of sin and the\ninfusion of righteousness is represented by the taking away of filthy rags\nand being clothed in the garments of salvation. The Lamb\u2019s wife, which is\nhis church\u2014which is his people\u2014was \u201carrayed in fine linen, clean and\nwhite: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.\u201d Rev. 19:8.\n\nWe will now give a Bible lesson describing the purity of man through the\nblood of Jesus.\n\nA pure soul. \u201cSeeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth\nthrough the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love\none another with a pure heart fervently.\u201d 1 Pet. 1:22.\n\nA pure heart. \u201cBlessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.\u201d\nMat. 5:8.\n\nA pure mind. \u201cThis second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both\nwhich I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:1.\n\nA pure conscience. \u201cI thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with pure\nconscience.\u201d 2 Tim. 1:3.\n\nA pure language. \u201cFor then will I turn to the people a pure language, that\nthey may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one\nconsent.\u201d Zeph. 3:9.\n\nPure thoughts. \u201cFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever\nthings are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure,\nwhatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if\nthere be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.\u201d\nPhil. 4:8.\n\nA pure religion. \u201cPure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is\nthis. To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep\nhimself unspotted from the world.\u201d Jas. 1:27.\n\nWhen man is made thus pure in all the faculties of his being he is said to\nbe pure even as Christ is pure (1 John 3:3), and is then a perfect example\nof purity to the world. 1 Tim. 4:12.\n\nThe question is asked, \u201cWho shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who\nshall stand in his holy place?\u201d Psa. 24:3. The answer is, \u201cHe that hath\nclean hands and a pure heart.\u201d Purity is a requisite for heaven. \u201cBlessed\nare the pure in heart, for they shall see God.\u201d In this language there is\nindubitably implied the impossibility of seeing God without purity of\nheart. God is pure, and heaven is a pure place, and without purity of soul\nand heart and life you can never enter heaven nor see God.\n\n\n\nRighteousness.\n\n\nThis is one of the terms used in the Scriptures describing the character\nof God and his people. \u201cThe Lord is righteous,\u201d and the source of all\nrighteousness. Man can not possess righteousness independent of God. It is\nbeautiful to contemplate the righteous character of the Almighty as\nrevealed in the holy Scriptures. It enables us to better understand our\nown nature when we are \u201cfilled with all the fulness of God.\u201d The Savior in\nhis prayer addresses God as \u201crighteous Father.\u201d John 17:25. The Revelator\nin his vision heard an angel proclaiming, \u201cThou art righteous, O Lord.\u201d\nRev. 16:5. The Psalmist in exalting the righteousness of the Lord said:\n\u201cThy righteousness also, O God, is very high.\u201d Psa. 71:19. It is far above\nthe ways and life of natural man: \u201cFor as the heavens are higher than the\nearth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your\nthoughts.\u201d Isa. 55:9. All of God\u2019s ways are in righteousness: \u201cThe Lord is\nrighteous in all his ways.\u201d Psa. 145:17. God\u2019s acts are done in\nrighteousness: \u201cNow therefore stand still, that I may reason with you\nbefore the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord which he did to you\nand your fathers.\u201d\n\nOh, the sublimity of the righteous character of God! How lofty and high.\nHow far above the ways and acts of natural man. Man in his natural state\ndoes not possess any of the righteous principles of God: \u201cThere is none\nrighteous, no not one.\u201d But God in the incarnation of his Son is both God\nand man, and through this means the righteousness of God is delegated unto\nman. In Jesus Christ we have the combining of man and God\u2014the\nrighteousness of God and humanity of man. Through the death of the man\nChrist Jesus and his resurrection the way was prepared for mankind to\nreceive the righteousness of God. \u201cFor he hath made him to be sin for us,\nwho knew no sin: that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.\u201d 2\nCor. 5:21. Jesus in his innocency and righteousness bore the sins of the\nguilty, so that in him we can experience a cleansing \u201cfrom all\nunrighteousness\u201d and receive instead \u201cthe righteousness of God.\u201d\n\nJesus likens himself and his people to a vine and its branches. He says,\n\u201cI am the vine, ye are the branches.\u201d It is through the vine that the\nbranches receive substance and strength and life from the soil. It is\nthrough Jesus that we receive righteousness, grace, and strength from God.\nIt is only in Jesus\u2019 name that we receive anything from the Father. The\nbranches bear the fruit. Receiving the righteousness of God through Jesus\nwe bear the fruit of righteousness. The more of this fruit we bear the\nmore we show forth the praise of God. When there is a large yield of grain\nwe conclude it was sown in good soil, and thus the soil gets the praise.\nWe \u201cbeing filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus\nChrist\u201d do show forth \u201cthe glory and praise of God.\u201d Phil. 1:11. \u201cHerein\nis my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.\u201d John 15:8. Though the\ngrain be planted in good soil, cultivation is necessary to a bountiful\nharvest. Though we be planted in Christ cultivation is necessary to the\nproduction of rich fruit. \u201cAnd every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth\nit, that it may bring forth more fruit.\u201d John 15:2. Sin\u2014all sin must be\npurged or cleansed away in order to bear fruits of righteousness.\n\n\u201cA tree is known by its fruits.\u201d Should there be a tree bearing\npromiscuously throughout apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, etc., who\ncould tell what kind of a tree it was? Should it bear apples alone we at\nonce know the kind of tree. All sin is therefore purged away from the\nheart of a Christian that he may be \u201cfilled with the fruits of\nrighteousness,\u201d and be known as a light in the world. Sin and\nrighteousness do not grow upon the same tree. How clearly and plainly this\nis taught in the sixth chapter of Romans. Except they be blinded by\nprejudice and false teaching all the world must understand this. Verse\neighteen says, \u201cBeing then made free from sin, ye became the servants of\nrighteousness.\u201d There are two things plainly taught in this text that we\nwish to call your attention to. First, to become a servant of\nrighteousness necessitates a freedom from sin. \u201cYe can not serve two\nmasters.\u201d Second, this experience of being made free from sin and becoming\nservants of righteousness the Roman brethren had received some time in the\npast. \u201cYe became the servants of righteousness.\u201d Ver. 20. \u201cFor when some\ntime in their past life ye were the servants of sin ye were free from\nrighteousness.\u201d\n\nIn the face of these two texts how can man be so daring and proud and\nself-conceited as to teach the impossibility of Christians living a pure\nand sinless life in this world? Surely, there is no fear of God before\ntheir eyes. Verse eighteen declares that to become servants of\nrighteousness necessitates freedom from sin; and verse twenty declares\nthat to be a \u201cservant of sin\u201d necessitates freedom from righteousness.\n\u201cWhat fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?\u201d Ver.\n21. Of the things of sin they once engaged in they are now ashamed. \u201cWhat\nfruit had they then?\u201d Ans.\u2014\u201cNo fruit of righteousness.\u201d \u201cBut now being\nmade free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto\nholiness.\u201d Ver. 22. Praise God! You must be made free from sin to be\ncapable of bearing fruit unto holiness or righteousness. The fruit of the\nrighteous is to the praise and glory of God. The Lord makes use of the\nfruit of the righteous to induce sinners to seek him. In this way the\nfruit of the righteous is a tree of life. How blessed and noble to be a\ntree planted by the river of waters richly laden with righteous fruit.\nAmen.\n\n\n\nRedemption.\n\n\nThe authors of the dictionaries define the word _redemption_ as \u201cthe act\nof deliverance, release, repurchase,\u201d etc. The redemption through Christ\nis the deliverance or repurchase of man. Man in his original, primeval\nstate enjoyed unity and an affinity with God. Because of transgression on\nthe part of man this natural agreement between God and man was destroyed.\nAll creation\u2014herb, and tree, beast and fowl, and man\u2014was pronounced very\ngood by the Creator as he beheld it in review after creation. Gen.\n1:29-31.\n\nBut because of Eden\u2019s sin the very nature of all things became changed.\nThe ground became cursed, and thorns and thistles sprang up. Gen. 3:17,\n18. The nature of the beast creation, no doubt, became affected by man\u2019s\ntransgression. Gen. 6:7, 11-13. The transgression in Eden was the entrance\nof sin into this world. Rom. 5:12. Previous to this, all in the world was\nsinless harmony, and the earth itself uncursed by thorns and thistles. By\nthe entrance of sin man\u2019s nature became changed, and since the nature of\nman became depraved there has not been a single individual born of the\nflesh but has possessed a depraved nature, except the child conceived by\nthe Holy Spirit. The Psalmist says: \u201cBehold, I was shapen in iniquity, and\nin sin did my mother conceive me.\u201d Psa. 51:5.\n\nThis same is true of every child. The nature of the child in its formation\nin the womb is depraved. The moral condition of the parents may modify to\nan extent, but never wholly change that nature. The child does not inherit\na depraved nature from its parents. It is not because the parents are\ndepraved that the child is conceived in sin, but because nature is\ndepraved. It required a supernatural conception to beget a pure child,\neverything in nature being depraved. The child does not inherit either\nphysical or moral image directly from its parents. It is true, the child\ngenerally bears a marked resemblance to the parent, both physically and\nmorally, but on the whole it is born in the image of Adam, morally and\nphysically. It is generally the case that if a parent have three arms, or\npossess but one, his offspring will have two, receiving its physical image\nfrom the first created man. Should the parents be holy, the child will\npossess a carnal nature, because it is the nature of all the race.\n\nHow holy parents beget children depraved in nature is a puzzling problem\nto some minds, especially to those who are busying themselves about the\nintricate matters of God. This need be no more puzzling than a deformed\nparent begetting perfectly formed children. Nature, in embryo, begins its\nwork of forming both the physical and moral image of the child, which is\nafter the similitude of the original parents and not the immediate ones.\nWhile justification, which is the forgiveness of actual transgression, the\ninevitable result of a depraved nature, is a wonderful and glorious\nachievement of grace, it is but a very small part of the redemption of\nChrist. The supernatural overthrow of the depraved nature by the power of\nthe Holy Spirit is the principal and real redemptive work. The pardon of\ncommitted sins is the clearing away of the rubbish, or preparation work,\nfor the Third Person in the Holy Trinity to effect a revolution in the\nnature of man. Halleluiah to God! This change in nature is more wonderful\nthan the revolting of nature at the command of Joshua. Man now, instead of\nbeing depraved in nature, is restored to his original holy nature.\n\nThis destruction of the carnal nature and the restoration of the original\nnature is accomplished by the Holy Spirit at the moment of his reception\nas an indwelling Comforter. Peter teaches this truth when he says: \u201cGod,\nwhich knoweth the hearts [or nature], bare them witness, giving them the\nHoly Ghost, even as he did unto us [at Pentecost]; and put no difference\nbetween us and them [Gentiles], purifying their hearts by faith.\u201d Acts\n15:8, 9. Purifying the heart is the purification of man\u2019s affections, or\nnature. This is accomplished at the time of the giving of the Holy Ghost\nas declared in the last text; and this purifying of the hearts of the\nGentiles at the giving of the Holy Ghost, is just what was done for the\napostles at Pentecost. This is a plain, undeniable fact taught in this\ntext. To turn to philosophizing upon how we can be conceived with a carnal\nnature, or how we can be converted and yet be depraved in nature is to\nsoon become spoiled through vain deceit after the rudiments of the world\nand not after Christ. Col. 2:8. In the very nature of things, and\naccording to the Word of God, pardon of sins necessarily precedes the\ndestruction of the carnal, depraved nature by the Holy Spirit. In the fall\nof man there was the act of transgression and also a change in man\u2019s moral\nimage. In his restoration there must be a pardon of transgression and\nsubsequently a change in nature.\n\nIt is a law of God that the redemption of man be accomplished through\nfaith, by his grace. Our faith can not reach beyond our knowledge. By\nknowledge we mean a real soul-consciousness or conviction and not an\nintellectual knowledge. At this point many a dear soul has erred from the\ntruth. They have endeavored to bring their faith up to their intellectual\nknowledge, which ends in presumption. True Bible faith is grounded in the\nsoul. It results from a soul-knowledge, or conviction. To accept pardon of\nsins or healing of the body with only an intellectual knowledge of these\nblessings and not a real heart-conviction is mere presumption, and ends in\nfailure and disgrace. To follow the comprehensions of the intellect, and\nnot the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit upon the soul, concerning the\nmysteries of God\u2019s salvation is to be led into error, because the\nintellect can not fathom the things of God. We do now emphatically say,\naccording to God\u2019s established law, that no unregenerated heart can have a\ncomprehension or conviction of a corrupt moral nature and its\npurification. Why? Because transgression stands between it and purity. The\nawakened guilty soul knows nothing but its guilt, and for forgiveness only\ndoes it plead. After being pardoned, the soul gains a knowledge of\ncarnality, and it is then convicted for the second cleansing.\n\nThose who believe that purity of heart is attained in pardon take as a\nbasis of such belief the language of Paul in 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:1-7; and\nsimilar texts. Now the apostle often speaks of full salvation, or complete\nredemption of the soul, in a general way. He says that \u201csalvation is by\nthe grace of God through faith.\u201d By this he does not mean justification\nonly, but sanctification as well. He has not specified the two works, but\nhas spoken of full salvation in a general way of being by grace through\nfaith. Thus Eph. 2:8-10 includes full salvation. In 2 Cor. 5:17 he again\nspeaks of full salvation in a general way. It is true we are in Christ\nwhen converted, but we are none the less in him when sanctified. To say\nthat Paul is referring to the justified only in this text is an error. By\nthe two preceding verses we have reason to believe he is referring to\nthose who are wholly sanctified. This then is no proof text that carnality\nis destroyed in justification, because you can not prove that he is\nreferring to those who are only justified. In conclusion we would say that\nChrist came to redeem man only. Beast and bird have no part in the\nredemption. They shall perish. The earth is not redeemable, but being\nunder the curse\u2014spotted by sin\u2014it shall be destroyed.\n\n\n\n\nChapter VI. Fruits And The Two Works.\n\n\n\nFruits Of The Spirit.\n\n\nMen are likened unto trees in some Scriptural texts. The righteous are\ntermed good trees, and the wicked evil trees. Now the \u201ctree is known by\nits fruit.\u201d The fruits of the flesh are borne upon the evil tree, while\nthe fruits of the Spirit are borne upon the good tree. The fruits of the\nSpirit are enumerated in Gal. 5:22, 23: \u201cBut the fruit of the Spirit is\nlove, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,\ntemperance: against such there is no law.\u201d We shall describe these fruits\nseparately by the word of truth, as briefly as possible.\n\n\nLove.\n\n\nThis is the sweetest theme in the Scriptures and the greatest thing in\nearth or heaven. \u201cGod is love,\u201d and because he is love he sought to\nrescue, through the sacrifice of his Son, his fallen creatures. It was\nlove that prompted God to make so great a sacrifice for man. It is love\nthat prompts man to sacrifice all for God. When man loves God he loves\neverything in God\u2019s creation. No man can love God and hate his brother; no\nman can love God and hate his enemies. God loves his enemies. It is the\nnature of the love of God. When man possesses the love of God in his heart\nhe will love his enemies. To love those who love us and despise those who\ndespise us, is not a love that is a fruit of the Spirit. When man\npossesses the love of God he does not love the world. 1 John 2:15-17.\nEverything in our service to God if acceptable must be actuated by love.\nSupernatural gifts are nothing without love. 1 Cor. 13:1, 2. The greatest\ndeeds of sacrifice profit us nothing without they are done in love. Ver.\n3. In the following verses of this chapter the nature of love is\nbeautifully and obviously portrayed.\n\n1. Charity suffereth long. By long-suffering is meant to patiently bear\nwith the failings and foibles of our brother, \u201cWith all lowliness and\nmeekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.\u201d Eph. 4:2.\nThere is a beautiful thought in 1 Tim. 1:16. That Jesus might show his\nlong-suffering through us as a pattern for all who may in any way know of\nour life.\n\n2. Charity is kind. Where love is there is kindness. The greater the love\nthe greater the kindness. The lioness in all the fierceness of her nature\nstrokes her whelp in tenderness and kindness. Thus kindness is a product\nof love. Love will put a tenderness in our looks, a gentleness in our\nspeech, and a kindness in our acts. If you are not as kind as you know you\nshould be, seek God for more of his love.\n\n3. Charity envieth not. How impossible to envy those we love. The more\nfortunate they are the more we rejoice. The more they are praised and\nhonored the deeper is our joy. With those we love, we weep when they weep\nand rejoice when they rejoice. If there is a secret envy in your heart\nbecause of the praise and prosperity of others, the love of God is\nwanting. \u201cLet not thine heart envy sinners.\u201d Prov. 23:17.\n\n4. Charity vaunteth not itself. We can only love God at the sacrifice of\nall self-love. When man possesses the love of God there is no self-praise,\nnor seeking of honor; there is no setting self forward, but the lowliest\nseat is the most desirable.\n\n5. Charity is not puffed up. There are no feelings of self-importance in\nthe heart when the love of God is abounding. We love him so devotedly we\ndesire him to receive all the praise. Should God make some use of you it\nwill be natural to give him all the praise.\n\n6. Charity doth not behave itself unseemly. There is a becomingness in all\nthe actions of pure and holy love. There is a beautiful consistency in the\nworship of God when all is actuated by pure love. There is nothing\nunseemly in our behavior toward God or our fellow man, even to the most\ncultured minds, when influenced by love. It is noble and sublime,\nelevating and pleasing to pure hearts. Praise is comely when flowing from\na heart full of love, but a wild hurrahing is unseemly. All unseemly\nconduct in modes and forms of worship\u2014such as tossing the head to and fro,\nswaying the body, the loud stamping of feet, rolling on the floor, lying\nstiff and rigid, shouting until the face reddens and veins distend and\nexhaustion overcomes, are disgracing to God and disgusting to refined ears\nand pure hearts.\n\n7. Charity seeketh not her own. When man possesses the love of God he does\nnot seek his own pleasure and happiness but is interested in the welfare\nand happiness of others; \u201cHe looks not upon his own things but upon the\nthings of others.\u201d We seek opportunities to do good to those we love.\n\n8. Charity is not easily provoked. There is a weightiness in the love of\nGod. It balances all our actions. We are not hasty under provocations; we\nare not excited or vexed at every trivial occurrence.\n\n9. Charity thinketh no evil. The meditations of a heart of pure love are\nholy. A holy man\u2019s thoughts are upon pure and true subjects. He thinketh\nno evil.\n\n10. Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity. Sin saddens and grieves the heart\nof love. Should there be a secret rejoicing in your heart because some\nbrother has fallen into sin, you are proud and an abomination unto God.\n\n11. Charity rejoiceth in the truth. Where the truth is accepted it causes\nthe heart of love to rejoice. Should God use some other individual in\nsetting the truth before people which causes them to rejoice, if you love\nGod and the truth you will rejoice with them.\n\n12. Charity beareth all things. Amid adversities, afflictions,\npersecutions, temptations and trials, when storms gather, and breakers\nthreaten, when friends prove false, and the way grows weary, love looks\ntrustingly up to God and says, \u201cThou doeth all things well, blessed be thy\nname.\u201d\n\n13. Charity believeth all things. Those who love are ever ready to believe\nthe best of everything and everybody. They see all the good qualities of\nman before they see his faults. They are ready to believe all the good\nthey hear of any one and slow to believe evil. They rejoice to put\nconfidence in man, and when man\u2019s evil ways break that confidence they\nstill hope for something good.\n\n14. Charity hopeth all things. It is very difficult to discourage the\nheart that is full of love. When love waxes cold then disappointments may\ncause a murmur. Love hopes for the very best outcome for good of\neverything.\n\n15. Charity endureth all things. The same might be said of this as that\n\u201ccharity beareth all things.\u201d Whatever darkness may arise to-day, Love\nhopes for sunshine to-morrow and patiently endures.\n\n16. Charity never fails. Thank God! Pretended friends may fail you; the\nworld may fail you; wealth and honor may fail you; but love will never\nfail. It will bear you over the rough places in life\u2019s pathway. It will\ndrive away the clouds. It will kiss the chastening rod. It will sweeten\nthe bitter cup. It will soften the hardest pillow, and when you are\nbrought down into the shadow of death Love looks across to the golden\nglories and sings as the cords are being severed\u2014Love never fails.\n\n\n \u201cFairest and foremost of the trains that wait\n On man\u2019s most dignified and happiest state,\n Whether we name thee Charity or Love,\n Chief grace below, and all in all above.\u201d\u2014_Cowper._\n\n\nJoy.\n\n\nThe second mentioned fruit of the Spirit is joy. God is glorified by our\nfruit-bearing. To be filled with joy is honoring God. Not rejoicing only\nwhen the world is smiling upon you and prosperity extends her jeweled\nhand. At these times the ungodly can rejoice. But when the world frowns\nand prosperity hides her face, when trials and temptations are divers, to\nthen rejoice is a golden fruit for God. Tribulations may come, but, when\nfilled with the Spirit, we glory in them. Rom. 5:3. O beloved, look upward\nto God and rejoice. Trust in his promise and count everything joy, no\nmatter what may be the circumstances of life. Trials, temptations,\ndiscouragements, afflictions, imprisonments, persecutions, destruction,\nand poverty\u2014know that nothing can separate you from the love of God; so go\non your way rejoicing.\n\n\nPeace.\n\n\nJesus sets up his throne of peace in the hearts of the righteous and there\nhe reigns a king. Peace he gives unto us, not as this world gives, but a\npeace that flows like a river\u2014a peace that is abiding. \u201cAcquaint thyself\nwith God and be at peace.\u201d Listen to what the Word of God says about the\npeace of the righteous. \u201cGreat peace have they;\u201d \u201cThou wilt keep him in\nperfect peace;\u201d \u201cPeace like a river;\u201d \u201cFilled with all peace and joy.\u201d\n\nA precious fruit, which the Christian should develop by placing greater\nconfidence in God.\n\n\nLong-Suffering.\n\n\n\u201cWith all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one\nanother in love.\u201d Eph. 4:2. When we put on Christ, we put on his nature\nand characteristics. He was long-suffering; and we are commanded to put on\nas the elect of God \u201cbowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind,\nmeekness, long-suffering.\u201d Col. 3:12.\n\n\nGentleness.\n\n\nThe apostle speaks of his gentleness on one occasion in these words: \u201cBut\nwe were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.\u201d 1\nThes. 2:7. \u201cThe servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto\nall men.\u201d 2 Tim. 2:24. \u201cTo speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but\ngentle, showing all meekness unto all men.\u201d Tit. 3:2. That wisdom which is\nfrom above is gentle. Jas. 3:17. Cultivate the grace of gentleness and\nthus glorify God.\n\n\nGoodness.\n\n\n\u201cFor the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and\ntruth.\u201d Eph. 5:9. \u201cDoing good unto all men as we have opportunity\u201d is the\ncommand of God: \u201cSee that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever\nfollow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.\u201d 1 Thes.\n5:15. Let goodness fill our actions toward all. Be good.\n\n\nFaith.\n\n\nIf you have faith in God prove it by your works. Your works are the fruit.\nWhy are you discouraged and cast down if you have faith? Why do you seek\nprotection from the world if you have faith in God? Why do you fear and\ntremble if you have faith? Faith has subdued kingdoms, stopped the mouths\nof lions, quenched the violence of fire, caused the sun to stand still,\nescaped the edge of the sword, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to\nflight the armies of the aliens. Faith overcomes the world and pleases\nGod. Show your faith by your works and thus honor the name of Jesus.\n\n\nMeekness.\n\n\nThis is a beautiful fruit of the Spirit. It is almost synonymous with\nhumility. Christ was meek and lowly. We are to be like him. \u201cShow all\nmeekness unto all men.\u201d God will \u201cbeautify the meek with salvation.\u201d We\nare commanded to put on meekness. Col. 3:12, 13. Wear it constantly, long\nusage will not impair it. We are to manifest meekness in our whole\nconduct. Jas. 3:13. We must instruct those who oppose us, in meekness. 2\nTim. 2:24, 25. Meekness is necessary to a Christian walk. Eph. 4:1, 2.\nWith it we are to restore the erring. Gal. 6:1. It is precious in the\nsight of God. 1 Pet 3:4.\n\n\nTemperance.\n\n\nTo be temperate in our whole life is truly exemplary. In all the things\nGod has given us for use we are to be temperate; in eating, drinking,\nsleeping, laboring, be temperate.\n\nThese are the fruits of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Bear\nthem in profusion and there will be no law against you in that final day.\nAmen.\n\n\nFruits Of The Flesh.\n\n\nSince we have given an exposition of the fruits of a Christian, which have\ntheir origin in heaven, as expressed by the apostle, we deem it necessary\nto set before the reader in a true Bible light the fruits of the flesh,\nwhich have their origin in an evil nature. While we are aware that many\nare deceived as to their spiritual condition, as saith the Scriptures, yet\nnone need to be. The Word of God so carefully enumerates the fruits of a\nChristian heart and the fruits of an evil heart, that all may know by\nimpartial examination what manner of tree they are. \u201cThe tree is known by\nhis fruits.\u201d \u201cKnow thyself.\u201d \u201cNow the works of the flesh are manifest,\nwhich are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,\nidolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife,\nseditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such\nlike: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time\npast, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of\nGod.\u201d Gal. 5:19-21.\n\n1. Adultery and fornication. \u201cBut I say unto you, That whosoever looketh\non a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in\nhis heart.\u201d Mat. 5:28. \u201cWhosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth\nanother, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away\nfrom her husband committeth adultery.\u201d Luke 16:18. This is clear and plain\nlanguage and all can understand it without comment.\n\n2. Uncleanness. This may include filthy habits, but especially impure\nthoughts and conversation, unholy practises and desires.\n\n3. Lasciviousness. All lewdness and wantonness.\n\n4. Idolatry. Covetousness is idolatry. Col. 3:5. Covetousness\u2014A desire to\ngain money, goods, honor, or praise, even at the expense of another.\n\n5. Witchcraft. Enchantments and spells, such as healing by hypnotism, and\nsciences. Omens, signs and superstitions, so frightfully common.\n\n6. Hatred. A feeling of ill-will against any one or anything. \u201cWhosoever\nhateth his brother is a murderer.\u201d 1 John 3:15. Feelings of hatred are\nopposed to feelings of love.\n\n7. Variance. When hatred in the hearts of two individuals develops into\nopen acts, it is variance.\n\n8. Emulation. This is a disposition to strive to excel others, even at\ntheir expense\u2014exaltedness.\n\n9. Wrath. An outburst of hatred.\n\n10. Strife. Contentions, janglings, disputings.\n\n11. Seditions. Divisions, parties, factions, or sects.\n\n12. Heresies. Erroneous teachings and beliefs, forming sects and factions.\n\n13. Envyings. A feeling of jealousy at the success of others. \u201cLet us walk\nhonestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering\nand wantonness, not in strife and envying.\u201d Rom. 13:13. See also 1 Cor.\n3:3; 2 Cor. 12:20; Jas 3:14, 16.\n\n14. Murders. To hate a brother is to become a murderer. See hatred.\n\n15. Drunkenness. An effect produced by drinking fermented wines, or\ninebriating drinks of any kind.\n\n16. Revelings. Worldly amusements of any kind: theater-going, dancing,\npicnics, suppers, fairs, socials, Christmas festivities, etc. They which\ndo such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.\n\nYou will notice that the fruits of the flesh are directly opposed to the\nfruits of the Spirit. By careful and prayerful study of this catalogue of\nevil fruits and an examination of your actions, thoughts, and\ninclinations, you can unmistakably know whether you are prepared or not\nfor heaven. Make your calling and election sure. Never be contented if\nthere is any fruit in your life of the nature of the above. I have been\nasked the question, \u201cWill a Christian ever attend the present day church\nentertainments?\u201d A Christian, largely ignorant of the vast separation from\nthe world salvation makes, may, through the persuasion of friends, or some\nother similar cause, attend such a place of revelry, but he will not enjoy\nthe hour. He will be uneasy and long for the last act that he may get away\nto commune with God. Whoever has a heart to enter into such worldliness\nwith enjoyment has a heart unfit for heaven. He is not a Christian.\n\n\nTwo Works Of Grace.\n\n\nMany treat with scorn the doctrine of \u201ctwo works of grace,\u201d but that can\nnever make it unscriptural. It is very unwise to disbelieve a truth merely\nbecause we have been taught and always believed to the contrary. An early\neducation has a great influence upon the mind. Through the teachings of a\nrelative we embraced an error in our youth. In after years when the\nsubject was read and thought upon it was difficult to comprehend and\nbelieve the plain truths of history. It is wisdom therefore to always\ncarefully and prayerfully examine a doctrine before condemning and\nrejecting it. \u201cWhy does not God fully redeem the soul in one instantaneous\nwork of grace?\u201d many ask. What right have we to question God concerning\nhis plan of redemption? Was not the whole scheme in his hand? What part\nhas man performed in the arrangement of the affair? Then why should he\nquestion? It only remains for us to humbly bow our hearts and accept the\nplan as God has devised it, else we can never have a part in it.\n\nWhy did God require Naaman to dip seven times in Jordan? Why did Jesus put\nhis hands the second time upon the blind man of Bethsaida before he saw\nclearly? Why does God redeem a soul by two works of grace? These questions\nare equally absurd. But you say, God does the thing most reasonable. That\nhe does, and redemption by two works of grace is the very most reasonable\nand natural way to restore the soul to its normal condition. Man was holy\nin his nature in creation. By sin he became possessed of an evil nature.\nThe Psalmist says, \u201cI was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother\nconceive me.\u201d Psa. 51:5. The apostle declares he was by nature a child of\nwrath. Eph. 2:3. Other texts could be quoted, but these together with the\nknowledge of a child\u2019s disposition is sufficient to convince any candid\nmind. Children naturally learn evil things, while good traits more often\nhave to be forced upon them by training. It comes natural for them to get\nangry, to be selfish, to tell falsehoods, to fight, to be proud, etc.; not\nin all to the same degree, but such disposition is largely predominant in\nthe generality of children, and exists to a certain degree in all.\n\nChildren are not responsible for this evil nature as we have previously\nspoken. They are not responsible for their wrong acts, because they have\nno knowledge of right and wrong. They may tell falsehoods before they have\nstrength of intellect to comprehend wrong, and it is no sin to them; but\nwhen the child reaches such maturity of mind as to know right and wrong, a\nfalsehood then told makes him a transgressor and he feels the guilt of sin\nupon his soul, which he never felt unto that hour. The evil nature that\ninfluenced him to speak falsely did not condemn him, it is the yielding to\nsuch a nature that brought the condemnation. God commands him to repent.\nOf what? Not of the evil inclined disposition, but of the sin of lying.\nSuppose the child after a year, or a few years does repent of his sins; he\nrepents of all, even to his first, but his repentance goes no farther; he\nis no farther responsible, and it is impossible for man to repent of that\nfor which he is not responsible. God forgives him, and the forgiveness\nextends just as far as the repentance.\n\nMan is not pardoned or forgiven of that for which he is wholly\nirresponsible. Every committed sin is forgiven, even to the first, and he\nis as innocent and free from sin and guilt as when a babe in his mother\u2019s\narms. This is the first work of grace. He is justified, he is born again,\nor reborn\u2014brought back to the state of his babyhood. \u201cExcept ye be\nconverted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the\nkingdom of heaven.\u201d Mat. 18:3. Conversion or the first work of grace\nrestores us to the happy innocency of childhood. The evil nature still\nremains to be removed in sanctification, the second work of grace. This is\nnot an act of forgiveness or pardon, but a cleansing. It is not through\nrepentance, but consecration.\n\nThe Jewish economy contains types and shadows of this twofold salvation.\nEgyptian bondage is typical of sin. Crossing the Red Sea is typical of\njustification. Crossing the Jordan, that of sanctification. The Jewish\ntabernacle consisting of the holy and most holy place is a shadow of the\nspiritual tabernacle of God\u2014the church. The disciples were saved men\nbefore Pentecost. That was the date of their sanctification. In reading\nthe eighth chapter of Acts we learn at the fifth verse that Philip went\ndown to Samaria and preached Christ, and many believed. Evil spirits were\ncast out and the palsied and lame were healed. They certainly were\nChristians. Reading on to the fourteenth verse we learn that Peter and\nJohn went down and prayed for them and they received the Holy Ghost. The\nHoly Ghost is the sanctifier. Rom. 15:16. Cornelius was a devout Christian\nman, fearing God, giving much alms to the people, and praying to God\nalways. He was directed in a vision by an angel of God to send to Joppa\nfor Peter. When Peter was come he preached unto them, and as he spoke the\nHoly Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. Acts 10th chapter. He\nwith his household were devout Christians before they received the Holy\nSpirit\u2014the sanctifier.\n\nWe will now quote a few texts of Scripture teaching two works of grace.\n\u201cTherefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our\nLord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace\n[sanctification] wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of\nGod.\u201d Rom. 5:1, 2. Paul says to the Gentiles that he was sent unto them\n\u201cto open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the\npower of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and\ninheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.\u201d Acts\n26:18. \u201cNot by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to\nhis mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the\nHoly Ghost.\u201d Titus 3:5.\n\nThe Thessalonian brethren were abounding in faith and love and patience of\nhope in Jesus; however Paul tells them that God wills their\nsanctification. 1 Thes. 4:3. The apostle exhorts the Roman church to a\nperfect consecration of life and all to God that they might \u201cprove what is\nthat good and acceptable and perfect will of God.\u201d Rom. 12:1, 2. This\n\u201cperfect will\u201d is sanctification. These texts we consider sufficient to\ngive light unto the teachable, and any number perhaps would be without\nforce or effect unto the unteachable.\n\nThe two works of grace are very generally misunderstood, especially the\ngrace of sanctification. We believe God will help us here to make it clear\nto many a reader. Justification, the first work of grace, is a full pardon\nof every transgression, a removal of guilt. A justified life is one wholly\nfree from transgression. The justified do not commit sin. Sanctification\nis a destruction of the depraved nature, or a cleansing of inherited sin\nfrom the soul. This grace fully prepares the soul for heaven. The soul is\nas pure in this grace as it will be in heaven. All elements and\ndispositions contrary to the nature of heaven are dethroned. All pride,\nlevity, lust, and impatience proceeding from an evil nature are perfectly\ncleansed away. To have pride in a pure heart is impossible. To have lust\nor lightness or impatience in a pure heart is equally impossible.\n\nWe might ask the question, Will not the sanctified under any circumstance\nhave the slightest yieldings to exaltation, levity and impatience? and, if\nthe sanctified speak a word in lightness or impatience does he forfeit the\nexperience? We will answer these questions in the fear of God. Many who\nhave claimed the experience of sanctification have found discouraging\ntrouble at this point. In the company of flatterers they yielded to the\nspirit of exaltation. In the company of the frivolous they have yielded to\nthe spirit of levity. Under a severe trial they have spoken words of\nimpatience, and are then almost in despair.\n\nMan is a twofold being, an inward spiritual man, and an outward physical\nman. In sanctification the inward man is possessed only by God. The\nphysical members are to be used by the soul to the praise of God. Satan\nwill bring his force to bear against the outward man to influence to evil\nand thus destroy the life of the soul. Thus the physical being becomes the\nbattle ground between God in the soul and Satan. Early in the experience\nof sanctification when there has been but little time for development\nthere may be slight triumphs of Satan without forfeiting the experience of\nsanctification, but the soul is awakened to greater activity and\nearnestness to control every action and word to the praise of God. The\nLord is sought in earnest prayer for more of his power, for more of his\ngrace, that they may be more deeply fortified in the life divine. The\nslight victories of the evil one become slighter and less frequent. The\nindividual thus increases in faith, in humility, in gentleness, in\nkindness, in love according to the additions required to make our calling\nand election sure. 2 Pet. 1. By giving diligence the soul ere long will\ngain such power in God as to authoritatively command the perfect obedience\nof every member of the physical being. The body will be kept under\nsubjection and every member used as an instrument of righteousness unto\nGod.\n\nAny diseased condition of the outward man is an advantage to Satan.\nShattered nerves strengthen his temptations to impatience and\ndiscouragements. That Satan may have no advantage over us, God in his plan\nof redemption made provision for the healing of the body. If the soul\nthrough prosperity or otherwise becomes slothful, disease may be permitted\nto attack the body, or other afflictions may come to awaken to greater\nwatchfulness. To become more hasty of speech, to become less grave, to\nbecome less humble and meek, less patient, is to be correspondingly losing\nthe power of God, and is called backsliding. There are those to-day who\nhave been claiming to be sanctified for some years, and they are no more\npatient nor sober-minded nor sound in speech, no more humble, nor have\nmore faith than they had the first year of their experience. In all\nprobability they are backslidden and have naught but an empty form. By\ndiligence, careful watching and incessant prayer, the soul can reign\ntriumphant. Every look, every action, every word, and thought will be\nunder the direct influence of the divine life, and soul, body, and spirit\nbe preserved blameless until the coming of the Lord.\n\nWe wish to give in parallel columns nine scriptures, describing man raised\nto the plane of justification, and nine describing the state of the wholly\nsanctified. Also a few texts expressing God\u2019s will to the sinner, and\nparallel texts to the justified. And in conclusion a few texts showing the\nprovisions God has made for the justification of the sinner and the\nsanctification of the justified.\n\nState Of The Justified. State Of The Sanctified.\n\n1. _In Christ._ \u201cFor we are his 1. _Perfect in Christ._ \u201cWhom we\nworkmanship, created in Christ preach, warning every man, and\nJesus unto good works, which God teaching every man in all wisdom;\nhath before ordained that we should that we may present every man\nwalk in them.\u201d Eph. 2:10. perfect in Christ Jesus.\u201d Col.\n 1:28.\n\n2. _Obtained grace._ \u201cFor by grace 2. _Abundance of grace._ \u201cMuch more\nare saved through faith; and that they which receive abundance of\nnot of yourselves: it is the gift grace and of the gift of\nof God.\u201d Eph. 2:8. righteousness shall reign in life\n by one, Jesus Christ.\u201d Rom. 5:17.\n\n3. _Justified._ \u201cAnd by him all 3. _Sanctified._ \u201cFor by one\nthat believe are justified from all offering he hath perfected forever\nthings, from which ye could not be them that are sanctified. Whereof\njustified by the law of Moses.\u201d the Holy Ghost also is a witness to\nActs 13:39. us.\u201d Heb. 10:14, 15.\n\n4. _Have light._ \u201cI am the light of 4. _Full of light._ \u201c_The light_ of\nthe world: he that followeth me the body is the eye: if therefore\nshall not walk in darkness, but thine eye be single, thy whole body\nshall have the light of life.\u201d John shall be full of light.\u201d Mat. 6:22.\n8:12. \u201cAwake thou that sleepest,\nand arise from the dead, and Christ\nshall give thee light.\u201d Eph. 5:14.\n\n5. _Have peace._ \u201cTherefore being 5. _Have perfect peace._ \u201cThou wilt\njustified by faith, we have peace keep him in perfect peace, whose\nwith God through our Lord Jesus mind is stayed on thee: because he\nChrist.\u201d Rom. 5:1. trusteth in thee.\u201d Isa. 26:3.\n\n6. _Have life._ \u201cVerily, verily, I 6. _Have abundant life._ \u201cThe thief\nsay unto you, He that heareth my cometh not, but for to steal and to\nword, and believeth on him that kill and to destroy: I am come that\nsent me, hath everlasting life, and they might have life, and that they\nshall not come into condemnation; might have it more abundantly.\u201d\nbut is passed from death unto John 10:10.\nlife.\u201d John 5:24.\n\n7. _Have faith._ \u201cFor ye are all 7. _Full of faith._ \u201cFor he was a\nthe children of God by faith in good man and full of the Holy Ghost\nChrist Jesus.\u201d Gal. 3:26. and of faith: and much people was\n added unto the Lord.\u201d Acts 11:24.\n\n8. _Love God._ \u201cPeter was grieved 8. _Perfect in love._ \u201cHerein is\nbecause he said unto him the third our love made perfect, that we may\ntime, Lovest thou me? And he said have boldness in the day of\nunto him, Lord, thou knowest all judgment: because as he is, so are\nthings; thou knowest that I love we in this world.\u201d 1 John 4:17.\nthee.\u201d John 21:17.\n\n9. _Babes in Christ._ \u201cAnd I, 9. _Men in Christ._ \u201cTill we all\nbrethren, could not speak unto you come in the unity of the faith, and\nas unto spiritual, but as unto of the knowledge of the Son of God,\ncarnal, even as unto babes in unto a perfect man, unto the\nChrist.\u201d 1 Cor. 3:1. measure of the stature of the\n fulness of Christ.\u201d Eph. 4:13.\n\nGod\u2019s Will To The Sinner. God\u2019s Will To The Justified.\n\n_Repentance._ \u201cThe Lord is ... not _Sanctification._ \u201cFor this is the\nwilling that any should perish, but will of God, even your\nthat all should come to sanctification.\u201d 1 Thes. 4:3.\nrepentance.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:9.\n\n_Called to repentance._ \u201cI am not _Called to sanctification._ \u201cFor\ncome to call the righteous, but God hath not called us unto\nsinners to repentance.\u201d Mat. 9:13. uncleanness, but unto holiness.\u201d 1\n Thes. 4:7.\n\n_Commands repentance._ \u201cAnd the _Commands sanctification._ \u201cHaving\ntimes of this ignorance God winked therefore these promises, dearly\nat; but now commandeth all men beloved, let us cleanse ourselves\neverywhere to repent.\u201d Acts 17:30. from all filthiness of the flesh\n and spirit, perfecting holiness in\n the fear of God.\u201d 2 Cor. 7:1.\n\n_The reason for repentance._ \u201cI _The reason for sanctification._\ntell you, Nay: but, except ye \u201cFollow peace with all men, and\nrepent, ye shall all likewise holiness, without which no man\nperish.\u201d Luke 13:3. shall see the Lord.\u201d Heb. 12:14.\n\nProvisions Made For The Provisions Made For The\nJustification Of The Sinner. Sanctification Of The Believer.\n\n1. _The Word._ \u201cFor I am not 1. _The Word._ \u201cSanctify them\nashamed of the gospel of Christ: through thy truth: thy word is\nfor it is the power of God unto truth.\u201d John 17:17\nsalvation to every one that\nbelieveth.\u201d Rom. 1:16.\n\n2. _The Spirit._ \u201cJesus answered 2. _The Spirit._ \u201cThat I should be\nVerily, verily, I say unto thee, the minister of Jesus Christ to the\nExcept a man be born of water and Gentiles, ministering the gospel of\nof the Spirit, he can not enter God, that the offering up of the\ninto the kingdom of God.\u201d John 3:5. Gentiles might be acceptable, being\n sanctified by the Holy Ghost.\u201d Rom.\n 15:16.\n\n3. _The Blood._ \u201cUnto him that 3. _The Blood._ \u201cWherefore Jesus\nloved us, and washed us from our also, that he might sanctify the\nsins in his own blood.\u201d Rev. 1:5. people with his own blood, suffered\n without the gate.\u201d Heb. 13:12.\n\n4. _Jesus._ \u201cAnd he is the 4. _Jesus._ \u201cAnd inheritance among\npropitiation for our sins: and not them which are sanctified by faith\nfor ours only, but also for the that is in me [Jesus].\u201d Acts 26:18.\nsins of the whole world.\u201d 1 John\n2:2.\n\n5. _God._ \u201cWhich were born, not of 5. _God._ \u201cAnd the very God of\nblood, nor of the will of the peace sanctify you wholly; ...\nflesh, nor of the will of man, but faithful is he that calleth you,\nof God.\u201d John 1:13. who also will do it.\u201d 1 Thes. 5:23,\n 24.\n\n\nBeing Like Jesus.\n\n\nHoliness is the image of God. A holy seer, in a vision, saw the Lord and\nhis high throne. He saw the angels hovering over and heard one shouting,\n\u201cHoly, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his\nglory.\u201d Isa. 6:1-3. Nothing in earth or in heaven is so beautiful as\nholiness. The Scriptures are sublime in their description of the\nloveliness of the celestial world. Poets have sung of the exquisite\ndelights of that better land. The crowning feature of attractiveness is\nholiness. Should the despiser of holiness be permitted to stroll through\nthe fields of heaven he would find no object of beauty there. The rose of\nSharon would be but a faded flower, \u201cno beauty that we should desire him.\u201d\nIsa. 53:2.\n\nThe one object and desire in the life of the sweet singer David, a\nholiness admirer, was to dwell in the house of the Lord all his days to\n\u201cbehold the beauty of the Lord.\u201d Psa. 27:4. The beautiful holy image of\nGod was seen upon man in his creation. He manifested the holy character of\nhis Creator. He was in nature like God. The Almighty in looking over the\nworks of creation saw that everything he had made, man included, was very\ngood (Gen. 1:31); therefore we can rightly conclude that as he looked upon\nman he looked upon a creature as pure and holy and faultless as an angel\nin heaven, else he would not have pronounced him very good. Such without\ncontroversy was the state of man by creation: as holy and as pure in his\nnature as his Maker. But a sorrowful change came to man. He transgressed\nthe law of his God, and as a result the holy image of the Creator was\nsupplanted by the hideous deformity of sin.\n\nAfter the transgression, God again looked upon man and \u201csaw that his\nwickedness was very great in the earth, and that every imagination of the\nthoughts of his heart was only evil continually.\u201d Gen. 6:5. This grieved\nhim at his heart, and he repented of having made man. However he purposes\nthat man shall yet enjoy the blessing of a holy state. Accordingly he sent\nhis Son to this world to redeem him. This Son was in the image of the\nFather \u201cin whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which\nbelieve not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the\nimage of God, should shine unto them.\u201d 2 Cor. 4:4. \u201cWho is the image of\nthe invisible God, the first-born of every creature.\u201d Col. 1:15.\n\nThe Father has ordained that man in the Son should be made holy or in his\noriginal purity. \u201cAccording as he hath chosen us in him before the\nfoundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before\nhim in love.\u201d Eph. 1:4. \u201cIn holiness and righteousness before him, all the\ndays of our life.\u201d Luke 1:75.\n\nIn being restored to holiness man is conformed to the image of the Son.\n\u201cFor whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the\nimage of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren.\u201d\nRom. 8:29. It is true God foreknew that some would not believe on his Son\nand be redeemed, and he foreknew that others would. Here we behold the\nwonderful mercy of God. He strives with the heart of the sinner and brings\nall influences possible to bear upon him to turn him from his sin, and all\nthe time knowing he would never be saved; however he thus leaves him\nwithout excuse and makes him wholly responsible for his loss.\n\nWhat is the image of the Son? He was holy, harmless, and undefiled. Heb.\n7:26. He was equal with God. Phil. 2:6. He was in the glory and holiness\nof the Father. God after creation looked over the work of his hands and\npronounced all very good. After the \u201ctransgression\u201d he saw that all was\nvery wicked. Now Jesus comes and presents to the Father one who has been\nredeemed by the all-atoning blood, and as God views him over he stands\n\u201choly and unblamable and unreprovable in his sight.\u201d Halleluiah! Read Col.\n1:21, 22. The redemption obtained through the blood of Jesus is perfect\nand complete. It makes us \u201ccomplete in him.\u201d Col. 2:10. Dear reader, this\nmoment, with open heart before the all-seeing eye of God, does the Spirit\nwitness clearly to your soul that you are \u201choly and without blame before\nhim in love?\u201d To be like Jesus includes only his holy nature. We are not\nto be like him in power to forgive sins, but in a holy life. We are to be\nthus like him in this present life; \u201cbecause as he is, so are we in this\nworld.\u201d 1 John 4:17. In this world, we are to be like him in holiness.\n\u201cBut as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of\nconversation; because it is written, \u2018Be ye holy; for I am holy.\u2019 \u201d 1 Pet.\n1:15, 16. God predestinated that we should be like him. He is holy,\ntherefore he calls the believer unto holiness.\n\nWhen we are restored to the holy nature of God it will be our nature to be\nas merciful as he is merciful. \u201cBe ye therefore merciful, as your Father\nalso is merciful.\u201d Luke 6:36. The mercy of God consists in showing favor\nunsolicited; in bestowing blessings upon the ungrateful. God in his mercy\ngave his Son to die for a wicked world. When we are made partakers of the\ndivine nature, we go about showing favor and kindness to all; though men\nscorn us, revile us, and trample us down without mercy, we eagerly seize\nevery opportunity to do them good.\n\nWith respect to the principles of Christianity we are, when fully\nredeemed, perfect as our Father in heaven. \u201cBe ye therefore perfect, even\nas your Father which is in heaven is perfect.\u201d Mat. 5:48. By reading the\ncontexts we find he is speaking of love. When fully saved there is naught\nin our heart but love, loving just as God loves. Such love enables us with\njoy to show kindness to our enemies, to feed them when they are hungry,\nand give them drink when they thirst. Rom. 12:20.\n\nWhen we are fully saved we are like the Lord in purity: \u201cAnd every man\nthat hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.\u201d 1 John\n3:3. Every crimson stain of sin is cleansed away and we are whiter than\nthe snow. The evil nature incurred by Adam\u2019s sin is perfectly destroyed\nand we are made as pure as though there had never been a sin in this\nworld.\n\nWe will be like our Creator and Redeemer in righteousness: \u201cLittle\nchildren, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is\nrighteous, even as he is righteous.\u201d 1 John 3:7. Some do teach that we can\nnot be righteous. The Word of God declares they are deceivers.\n\nWhen we thus become of the pure, holy, righteous and merciful nature of\nJesus it will of necessity separate us as far from this world and\nworldliness as he was separated. \u201cI have given them thy word; and the\nworld hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not\nof the world.\u201d John 17:14. There lies a great and wide gulf between the\nChristian and the world. Jesus is the bridge for the sinner to cross to\nthe Christian\u2019s land. Sin and Satan is the bridge for the return of the\nChristian to the world.\n\nWhen the children of God are fully redeemed they are one even as the\nFather and the Son are one. \u201cAnd the glory which thou gavest me I have\ngiven them; that they may be one, even as we are one.\u201d John 17:22. This\nmeans a complete annihilation of every partisan spirit, a destruction of\nall strife and division. Should every professed Christian get salvation to\nthe full Bible standard there would not be a sect left upon earth.\n\nGod predestinated you to be conformed to the image of his Son; holy as he\nis holy; merciful as he is merciful; perfect as he is perfect; pure as he\nis pure; righteous as he is righteous; as far separated from the world as\nhe is from the world, and one even as God and his Son are one. Such is the\nperfect redemption offered to man in this life through God\u2019s beloved Son.\nWhat can be more beautiful upon this earth than a soul redeemed from sin\nand a life reflecting the holy life of the Savior. \u201cChrist before Pilate\u201d\nis a rare and much admired work of art, but Christ in the soul and life is\na work more grand and beautiful. For man to properly reflect the divine\ncharacter necessitates a very close walk and deep communion with the\nDeity. There must be a constant feeding upon the divine life. There must\nbe a careful watching and an effort to cultivate a deeper sense of the\npresence of God. Happy and blessed is the man whose heart is so filled\nwith heavenly love and reverence to God as to cause him to give \u201call\ndiligence\u201d to develop into his own glorious image.\n\n\n\n\nChapter VII. The Church Of God.\n\n\nMore than one hundred times the words church and churches are used in the\nNew Testament. It is always translated from _ekklesia_. Most translators\nagree that a more correct translation of this Greek word would have been\ncongregation. \u201cThe church of God\u201d would then have read, \u201cCongregation of\nGod.\u201d \u201cThe church of the first-born\u201d would have read, \u201cThe congregation of\nthe first-born.\u201d The church that was at Antioch would have read, \u201cThe\ncongregation that was at Antioch,\u201d etc.\n\n\n\nWhat Is The Church Or Congregation?\n\n\nThe word church is a much misused word. It is commonly used at the present\nday when speaking of the edifices erected for the purpose of the\nassembling of the church to worship God. The quoting of a few texts will\ngive us the Bible definition of this word.\n\n\u201cLikewise greet the church that is in their house.\u201d Rom. 16:5. This was\nthe home of Priscilla and Aquila. This church was in their house. This\nhouse was not the church. The church was in their house. The command was\nto greet the church. This certainly begins to throw some light upon this\nsubject. See 1 Cor. 16:19; Col. 4:15; Phile. 2. \u201cAnd he hath put all\nthings under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the\nchurch, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.\u201d\nEph. 1:22, 23. \u201cAnd he is the head of the body, the church.\u201d Col. 1:18.\nSee also 24th verse.\n\nThese texts plainly teach the church to be the body of Christ. What is the\nbody of Christ? Ans.\u2014\u201cNow ye [Christians] are the body of Christ, and\nmembers in particular.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:27. The body of Christ is the church.\nThe church is Christians. This enables us to understand how the church\ncould be in Priscilla and Aquila\u2019s house, and how we can greet the church.\nThis is the Bible definition of church.\n\n\n\nWhich, One Church Or Many?\n\n\nIn the writings of the apostles the plural form of the word church is\nfrequently used, but this argues nothing against the unity of God\u2019s\nchurch, nor in favor of the multiplicity of sects. If all the saved people\nin the world could be congregated in one place there would be no occasion\nfor using the plural form of this word. Had it been so in the days of the\nwriters of the epistles, the word would have been used only in the\nsingular. But since there was a church or congregation of Christians at\nAntioch, also a church at Corinth, at Thessalonica, Ephesus, Smyrna,\nPergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, etc., to speak of the\nwhole it would be proper to use the plural of church. \u201cThe churches of\nAsia.\u201d Please notice there is only one in each city, and the same writer\naddresses them all.\n\nIt does not take a town of so great a size to-day to find seven towering\nmeeting-house steeples, where assemble as many different bodies of\nbelievers, termed sects. No one minister addresses them all. No one elder\ngives orders to all these different sects. 1 Cor. 16:1. No one minister\nordains elders in all the separate bodies. 1 Cor. 7:17. The word churches\nwas used to denote the different geographical location of the\ncongregations of the Lord. The minister arguing in favor of the plurality\nof denominations from the plural term churches as found in the Bible is\neither ignorant or unfair. A plurality of sects is Babylon confusion.\n\nThe plural form is used in the Bible with reference to location and not to\nbodies having a different faith or belief. The church at Antioch had no\ncontrary faith with the church at Corinth as we find existing between the\ndenominations of to-day. They were separated by geographical distance, and\nnot by difference of belief. Had these different churches come together in\none place they could all have listened to Paul preach and said, Amen.\n\n\n\nOneness Of God\u2019s Church.\n\n\n\u201cThe multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul.\u201d\nActs 4:32. Can these same words be correctly used when speaking of the\nbelievers throughout the various denominations of to-day? \u201cNow the God of\npatience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another\naccording to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify\nGod, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d Rom. 15:5, 6. \u201cNow I\nbeseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all\nspeak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that\nye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same\njudgment.\u201d 1 Cor. 1:10.\n\nBy these two texts we learn that the church of God has but one mind; it\nhas but one mouth, and all speak the same thing. This is beautiful, this\nis heavenly. \u201cBehold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to\ndwell together in unity.\u201d Psa. 133:1. It is only the church of the Bible\nthat enjoys this pleasant unity, and we must never confound this church\nwith the confusive sects. Babylon has as many mouths as there are sects,\nand they speak contrary things.\n\n\u201cFor ye are all one in Christ Jesus.\u201d Gal. 3:28. \u201cOnly let your\nconversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come\nand see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand\nfast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the\ngospel.\u201d Phil. 1:27. \u201cFulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the\nsame love, being of one accord, of one mind.\u201d Phil. 2:2. \u201cFor as we have\nmany members in one body, and all the members have not the same office: so\nwe, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of\nanother.\u201d Rom. 12:4, 5.\n\n\u201cOther sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring,\n... and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.\u201d John 10:16. The Savior\nwas here speaking of the Gentiles and the Jews. Before the coming of\nChrist there was a partition wall between these two nations, but Jesus\ncame to break down the middle wall of partition, so there should be\nneither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female: but all one in\nChrist Jesus. Gal. 3:28. \u201cFor as the body is one, and hath many members,\nand all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is\nChrist. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be\nJews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to\ndrink into one Spirit.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:12, 13.\n\nThe \u201cmany members\u201d here referred to are individual Christians, and not the\necclesiastical bodies now extant, as some do ignorantly teach. \u201cBut now\nare they many members, yet but one body.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:20. In the fifteenth\nand sixteenth verses the apostle uses the physical body of man with its\ndependent members to illustrate the one body of Christ. These members work\nin blissful harmony and are dependent upon each other. A destruction of\none member impairs the whole body. This is not illustrative of the\ndifferent denominations; they are not dependent upon each other.\nOftentimes they are opposed to each other, and thrive better when others\nare destroyed.\n\n\u201cAnd let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are\ncalled in one body, and be ye thankful.\u201d Col. 3:15.\n\nI am thankful that we are called as humble followers of the Lamb, into one\nbody only, where the peace of God rules in every heart. \u201cNow therefore ye\nare no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints,\nand of the household of God.\u201d Eph. 2:19. God has a household of saints\nhere upon the earth where peace rules. A contentious, quarrelsome, divided\nfamily is no part of God\u2019s united household. One family in heaven and\nearth. Eph. 3:15. It is with great reluctancy that we pass by so many\nbeautiful texts upon this subject, but we will only quote a few more lest\nthis volume swell to too great proportions. \u201cHoly Father, keep through\nthine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we\nare. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: ...\nneither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on\nme through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in\nme, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may\nbelieve that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have\ngiven them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou\nin me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know\nthat thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.\u201d John\n17:11, 12, 20-23.\n\n\n Blessed oneness of God\u2019s own,\n Like the Father and the Son;\n One on earth like heav\u2019n above,\n Bound with cords of perfect love.\n\n O holy Christian band, filled with Heaven\u2019s love,\n Living in sweet accord like angels above.\n\n\n\nDivisions Condemned.\n\n\n\u201cNow I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses\ncontrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them; For they\nthat are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by\ngood words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.\u201d Rom.\n16:17, 18. From the apostle they had learned the doctrine of oneness; he\nnow warns them to avoid any contrary doctrine. \u201cThat there should be no\nschism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for\nanother.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:25. By consulting your dictionary you will find the\nword \u201cschism\u201d to be synonymous with the word \u201csect.\u201d \u201cA man that is a\nheretic after the first and second admonition reject.\u201d Titus 3:10. Many\ntranslators have rendered heretic, sectarian.\n\n\u201cFor first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there\nbe divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also\nheresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest\namong you.\u201d 1 Cor. 11:18, 19. Heresies and divisions are here spoken of as\nmeaning about the same thing; or rather divisions are occasioned by\nheresies. If you will look in the margin of your reference Bible you will\nfind this word translated \u201csect.\u201d\n\nIn Gal. 5:19, 20 is a number of deeds and dispositions classified and\ncalled the works of the flesh, and we are told that \u201cthey which do such\nthings shall not inherit the kingdom of God.\u201d In this catalogue of evil\nworks you will find the word \u201cheresies.\u201d Upon examining other translations\nyou will find it rendered sects. See Emphatic Diaglott.\n\n\u201cNow I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that\nye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions\n[schisms\u2014margin] among you.\u201d 1 Cor. 1:10. \u201cBut there were false prophets\nalso among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,\nwho privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that\nbought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.\u201d 2 Pet. 2:1. In\nthe German version the words \u201cdamnable heresies\u201d is rendered \u201cdestructive\nsects.\u201d Paul sternly reproves the Corinthians and declares them carnal\nbecause of a division that had been manifested among them. 1 Cor. 3:1-4;\nalso 1 Cor. 1:10-13.\n\n\n\nOrganization Of The Church Of God.\n\n\nWe will have to go to the dictionary to find a definition of the word\n\u201corganize,\u201d since the word is not found in the Bible. \u201cTo arrange in\nparts; to form in due order; to furnish with organs,\u201d is the common\ndefinition. While the term \u201corganize\u201d is not contained in the Scriptures,\nyet the work of organizing God\u2019s church was performed, and his precious\ntruth tells us how, and by whom it was done. \u201cFor to one [individual] is\ngiven by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge\nby the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the\ngifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles;\nto another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits, to another divers\nkinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these\nworketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally\nas he will.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:8-11. Nothing need be plainer. It is the mission of\nthe Holy Spirit to impart unto or bestow upon each member of God\u2019s church\nsuch qualifications as will make him a useful and effectual organ in this\nholy structure.\n\nWhat is necessary for the building and furnishing of the church of God is\nnot necessary in the formation and organization of a man-made\necclesiasticism. For man to build what he is pleased to call a church he\ndoes not have to furnish it with \u201ca gift of faith,\u201d nor \u201ca gift of\nhealing,\u201d nor of \u201cworking of miracles,\u201d nor of \u201cprophecy,\u201d nor of\n\u201cdiscerning of spirits,\u201d nor of \u201cdiversities of tongues,\u201d nor of\n\u201cinterpretation of tongues.\u201d Neither does he require the \u201cwisdom of God,\u201d\nnor the \u201cknowledge of God.\u201d It is true he will require much knowledge and\nwisdom of the world, but of all the things necessary in furnishing the\nchurch of God, not one of them is necessary in the building of a sect.\n\n\u201cAnd he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;\nand some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the\nwork of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.\u201d Eph.\n4:10-12. \u201cTake heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over\nwhich the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God,\nwhich he hath purchased with his own blood.\u201d Acts 20:28. \u201cNow ye are the\nbody of Christ, and members in particular, and God hath set some in the\nchurch, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that\nmiracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of\ntongues.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:27, 28. \u201cBut now hath God set the members every one of\nthem in the body, as it hath pleased him.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:18.\n\nWith this as with all other subjects of this work we must be brief.\n\n\n\nWho Receives Applicants Into This Church?\n\n\n\u201cWherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,\nand touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a\nFather unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord\nAlmighty.\u201d 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. \u201cBut now hath God set the members every one of\nthem in the body as it hath pleased him.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:18. \u201cAnd the Lord\nadded to the church daily such as should be saved.\u201d Acts 2:47. \u201cFor by one\nSpirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles,\nwhether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one\nSpirit.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:13.\n\nBy these texts we can plainly see that it is God by the Spirit that\nreceives members into his church, therefore no sinner can enter there.\n\n\n\nWhat Is The Door?\n\n\n\u201cI am the door: by me if any man enter in he shall be saved, and shall go\nin and out, and find pasture.\u201d John 10:9. \u201cI am the door of the sheep.\u201d\nVer. 7. \u201cFor through him [Jesus] we both have access by one Spirit unto\nthe Father.\u201d Eph. 2:18.\n\nJesus is the only entrance into the church of God. He that would climb up\nsome other way is a thief and a robber. John 10:1. We could get into a\nhuman organized body without coming in through Christ, but not into the\ndivinely organized body.\n\n\u201cHe that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;\n... behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.\u201d\nRev. 3:7, 8.\n\n\n\nWho Is The Builder Of The Church?\n\n\nAbraham \u201clooked for a city, ... whose builder and maker is God.\u201d Heb.\n11:10. Like many other holy men who walked with God in those ancient days,\nAbraham looked by faith to the promise that was to come to bring\ndeliverance to the captives. Christ says, \u201cUpon this rock I will build my\nchurch, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.\u201d Mat. 16:18.\n\u201cEvery house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.\u201d\nHeb. 3:3, 4.\n\nJesus purchased the church with his own blood. Acts 20: 28. He gave his\nlife for it. Eph. 5:25. God, or Christ, who was God manifested in the\nflesh, built himself a glorious and pure church\u2014holy, blameless, and\nspotless. It is all his own. He bestows upon it the fond title of Bride:\n\u201cHe that hath the bride is the bridegroom.\u201d John 3:29.\n\n\u201cFor I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you\nto one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.\u201d 2\nCor. 11:2. Paul addresses this letter to the church of God at Corinth. 2\nCor. 1:1. He presents this church as a chaste virgin to her one husband,\neven Christ.\n\nJohn in conversation with an angel from heaven was bid to \u201ccome hither,\u201d\nand he would be shown the bride the Lamb\u2019s wife; and behold he was shown\nthat great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,\nhaving the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most\nprecious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. Rev. 21:9-11. This\nis beautiful descriptive language. This holy city Jerusalem, clear as\ncrystal, is\n\n\n The pure and holy virgin bride,\n The spotless church for which Christ died.\n\n\n\u201cI am my beloved\u2019s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.\u201d\nS. of Sol. 6:3.\n\n\n\nThe Foundation Of The Church.\n\n\n\u201cFor other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus\nChrist.\u201d 1 Cor. 3:11. \u201cAnd are built upon the foundation of the apostles\nand prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.\u201d Eph.\n2:20.\n\nA quotation here from the Old Testament will only add strength and beauty\nto this subject: \u201cTherefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion\nfor a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure\nfoundation.\u201d Isa. 28:16.\n\nGod here gives promise of establishing Zion\u2014the church\u2014upon a sure\nfoundation; namely, Christ in the great salvation day.\n\n\n\nThe Kingdom Of God.\n\n\nFrequent reference is made throughout the New Testament to the \u201ckingdom of\nGod\u201d and the \u201ckingdom of heaven.\u201d When the \u201cGod which is in heaven\u201d was\n\u201crevealing the deep and secret things\u201d unto Daniel concerning\nNebuchadnezzar\u2019s dream, he also revealed unto him that in the days of\nthose kings he would set up a kingdom which should never be destroyed,\nconsequently would stand forever. Dan. 2:44.\n\nWhen John, the swift herald of the gospel day, came preaching, he said:\n\u201cRepent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\u201d Mat. 3:2. The first\nwords in the ministry of the Son of God were, \u201cRepent: for the kingdom of\nheaven is at hand.\u201d Mat. 4:17. The kingdom which Daniel saw was to be set\nup. Great was the speculation throughout Jewry concerning the kingdom of\nGod in John\u2019s days. They were expecting a kingdom to excel in temporal\npomp and glory the grandeur of the kingdom of the C\u00e6sars. The Savior in\nconversation with some Pharisees on one occasion astonished them by\nsaying, \u201cThe kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall\nthey say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within\nyou.\u201d Luke 17:20, 21.\n\nJesus one night explained to a ruler of the Jews how to enter this\nkingdom. He said, \u201cExcept a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can\nnot enter into the kingdom of God.\u201d John 3:5. Again he says, \u201cVerily I say\nunto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall\nnot enter into the kingdom of heaven.\u201d Mat. 18:3. The inspired apostle in\nRom. 14:17 explains the nature of this kingdom: \u201cFor the kingdom of God is\nnot meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy\nGhost.\u201d In the process of the mysterious birth of the Spirit the soul\nexperiences a translation from a \u201cpower of darkness\u201d into the kingdom of\nGod\u2019s dear Son. Col. 1:13.\n\nIt certainly must have dawned upon your understanding ere this that the\nchurch of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same spiritual structure.\nIn the twelfth chapter of Hebrews several terms are used to denote the\nchurch of God. In the twenty-second verse it is designated by \u201cmount\nZion,\u201d the \u201ccity of the living God,\u201d the \u201cheavenly Jerusalem,\u201d and an\n\u201cinnumerable company of angels.\u201d In verse twenty-three it is denominated\n\u201cgeneral assembly,\u201d \u201cthe church of the first-born,\u201d etc. In the\ntwenty-eighth verse it is called the \u201ckingdom.\u201d By this we are made to\nunderstand that the church built by the Lord is identical with the \u201ccity\nof God,\u201d the \u201ckingdom of God,\u201d the \u201cheavenly Jerusalem,\u201d etc. With this\nunderstanding we will better comprehend the meaning of many other texts.\n\n\n\nThe Head Of The Church.\n\n\n\u201cFor the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of\nthe church: and he is the savior of the body.\u201d Eph. 5:23. \u201cAnd he is the\nhead of the body, the church.\u201d Col. 1:18. \u201cBut speaking the truth in love,\nmay grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.\u201d Eph.\n4:15. See also Eph. 1:22; Col. 2:18, 19.\n\nChrist is the head of his church, and as such he is the sole governor, or\nlegislator. \u201cHe that hath ears to hear, let him hear.\u201d\n\n\n\nRecapitulation In Conclusion.\n\n\nThe church is the body of Christ. Eph. 1:21, 22. There is but one body.\nRom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 10:17. Christians are this one body. 1 Cor. 12:27.\nThey are of one heart and soul. Acts 4:32. There are no divisions. 1 Cor.\n1:10. Christ is the head of this church. Col. 1:18. He is the door. John\n10: 7. He is the foundation. Eph. 2: 21. He sets the members in the body\n(1 Cor. 12:18), and prays that they be kept in his name. John 17:11.\n\n\n\nOfficers In The Church Of God.\n\n\nGod sets the members in the body of Christ, which is the church, as\nseemeth best according to his unbounded wisdom. All are not an eye or ear\nor hand or foot. That the church of God may be complete as a body it has\nall the different members. Christ is the head, and the saved men and women\nare the other members of the body according to their calling, all governed\nby the head and consecrated to do his will. The ministry are the feet, the\nburden-bearers, the servants of all. They have the care or burden of the\nchurch. They carry the glad tidings of salvation. They are not to be\ncarried about and served, but they are the servants. \u201cHow beautiful are\nthe feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings\nof good things.\u201d Rom. 10:15.\n\nThe following officers are mentioned in the New Testament: apostles,\nprophets, evangelists, bishops, pastors, teachers, deacons, elders, and\npresbyters. Apostle is from the Greek \u201c_apostolos_,\u201d which is one sent\nforth to plant. Paul was an apostle. He was sent forth by the Holy Spirit.\nActs 13:4. He was sent forth to plant. 1 Cor. 3:6. Prophet is from the\nGreek \u201c_prophetes_,\u201d which is one who is an expounder of prophecies and\nrevelations and of future events. Agabus was a prophet, a teller of future\nevents. See Acts 21:10, 11 and Acts 11: 28. Philip the evangelist had four\ndaughters who did prophesy, or expound or explain the Scriptures. An\nevangelist is one who announces good tidings, while an apostle is one who\nplants churches or goes into new localities, and through whose preaching\npeople are saved and a church thus planted. The mission of an evangelist\nis to visit those planted churches and water them. \u201cI have planted,\nApollos watered; but God gave the increase.\u201d 1 Cor. 3:6.\n\nBishop is from the Greek \u201c_episkopos_,\u201d and means a superintendent or\noverseer. Pastor is from the Greek \u201c_poimen_,\u201d and means shepherd or\nfeeder or overseer, the same as bishop; consequently bishop and pastor are\nthe same, an overseer or shepherd. The word \u201coverseer\u201d occurs but once in\nthe New Testament: \u201cTake heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the\nflock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the\nchurch of God.\u201d Acts 20:28. Overseer in this text is translated from the\nGreek \u201c_episkopos_,\u201d from which same Greek word we have the word bishop.\nPaul was then addressing bishops, and tells them to feed the church of\nGod. Now a pastor is a feeder; therefore bishop and pastor are two words\nused to denote the same office. To note the qualifications of a bishop or\npastor as set forth in the New Testament will doubtless be edifying to the\nreader.\n\n\n\nWhat A Bishop Must Be.\n\n\nA bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of\ngood behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach; patient, ruling well\nhis own house, a lover of good men, just, holy, temperate, etc. See 1 Tim.\n3:2-4: Titus 1:7, 8.\n\nBlameless. This word is synonymous with spotless, faultless,\nirreproachable. A person or thing is blameless when it is free from fault.\n\nThe husband of one wife. No one can meet the New Testament requirements\nfor bishop or pastor who has two wives, though one be divorced.\n\nVigilant. He must be so watchful as to early discover danger of any kind\nand use the utmost precaution to avoid it.\n\nSober. This word is not applied only to freedom from intoxication by\nspirituous liquors, but is synonymous with calmness, quietness, grave,\nsedate, steady, serious, solemn, etc. The Greek \u201c_sophron_\u201d for sober in\nthese texts means sound mindedness.\n\nOf good behavior. Their conduct must be free from levity, folly, or\nanything that tends to degrade morals.\n\nGiven to hospitality. (Lover of hospitality. Titus 1:8.) He must love in\nhis heart to receive and entertain strangers without remuneration, to be\nkind and pleasing in his manners.\n\nApt to teach. He must possess a talent or God-given ability to teach the\nWord to others in a simple manner.\n\nPatient. He must be free from ill passion and irritableness. He must be\ncalm, and possess a tranquility and evenness of life. His composure and\nholy tranquilness is such that commands and quiets all strife, contentions\nand heated discussions.\n\nRuling well his own house. Unless a man has sufficient wisdom, authority,\nlove and firmness, to govern and control his own children he certainly can\nnot be used of God to oversee the church of God.\n\nLover of good men. His very heart and soul must admire and appreciate and\nlove the good he sees in men.\n\nJust. In his admonitions, corrections and reprovings, he is always just\nand impartial.\n\nHoly. His heart and life and affections must be pure and holy, free from\nsin.\n\nTemperate. There are many things from which we are commanded by the\nScriptures to abstain. In the use of all things God has given for use he\nmust not be excessive. He must not be excessive in eating, drinking,\nsleeping, working, talking, sexual relation, etc.\n\n\n\nWhat A Bishop Or Elder Must Not Be.\n\n\nA bishop must not be given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy\nlucre, not a brawler, not covetous, not a novice, not self-willed, not\nsoon angry. See 1 Tim. 3:3-6; Titus 1:7.\n\nMust not be given to wine. Not a wine drinker. He is to be an example and\nabstain from all appearance of evil.\n\nNo striker. A good translation from the Greek would render this _reviler_.\nHe must not strike back with the tongue; in other words, not contentious.\n\nNot greedy of filthy lucre. When man becomes greedy of filthy lucre\u2014loves\nmoney\u2014he can be influenced by it and thus be led to favor the rich.\n\nNot a brawler. This is synonymous with wrangler or contender.\n\nNot Covetous. Covetousness includes more than the love of money. Fame,\nhonor, worldly pleasures, gratification of unholy appetites and passions,\nmay be properly termed covetousness. To entertain for anything an\naffection that is not a pure and godly affection is idolatry, and idolatry\nis covetousness.\n\nNot a novice. One newly converted.\n\nNot self-willed. Not obstinate in contending for his views or desires in\nopposition to others.\n\nNot soon angry. Soon is not found in the original. A more proper rendering\nwould be, Not passionate.\n\n\n\nDeacon.\n\n\nDeacon is translated from \u201c_diakonos_,\u201d meaning minister. By reading the\nwritings of those contemporary with the apostle and those immediately\nfollowing we learn that a bishop or elder is the overseer or pastor of the\nflock, or the one upon whom the greatest responsibilities lie, while the\ndeacons are helpers. This doubtless is what is meant by \u201chelps\u201d in 1 Cor.\n12:28. There was always at least one bishop in one congregation, but often\nmore than one deacon. The qualifications for a deacon are very similar to\nthose of a bishop. See 1 Tim. 3; Titus 1.\n\n\n\nElders Or Presbyters.\n\n\nWebster in defining presbyter, says, \u201cAn elder in the early Christian\nchurch.\u201d Young in his analytical concordance says of presbytery, \u201cAn\nassembly of elders.\u201d These two terms have the same Greek origin,\n\u201c_presbuteros_.\u201d An elder is one grounded in the faith with a sound\nmatured judgment; one capable of giving good advice or counsel. An elder\nis not necessarily a preacher, but one calculated to advise and give\ncounsel in his pastoral duties. They also are especially called of God to\nanoint and pray for the sick.\n\nThese church officers are all called of God. See Gal. 1:15, 16. They are\ncommissioned by Christ. Mat. 28:19. Sent by the Holy Spirit. Acts 13: 3,\n4. They are qualified by God. 2 Cor. 3:5, 6. They are ambassadors from the\nkingdom of heaven with a heavenly message to this lost world. God help\nthem every one to faithfully declare it in the fear of him who has called\nthem.\n\n\n\n\nChapter VIII. The Ordinances Of The New Testament.\n\n\nIn the preceding chapter we considered the church of the New Testament.\nThe Lord Jesus built his church and instituted some ordinances, which he\ncommands the church to faithfully keep. The keeping of the commandments of\nGod is proof that we love him: \u201cFor this is the love of God that we keep\nhis commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.\u201d 1 John 5:3. \u201cHe\nthat hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.\u201d\nJohn 14:21. \u201cIf a man love me he will keep my words.\u201d Ver. 23. \u201cHe that\nloveth me not keepeth not my sayings.\u201d Ver. 24.\n\nWe may profess great attainments in the divine life and wonderful devotion\nto God, but the proof is obedience to his commands. We have learned of\npeople who have become so holy that they were raised above or passed\nbeyond a great portion of the Bible and are not required to keep it. We\nhave heard of but few things so ridiculously foolish. The better and more\nholy we become, certainly the more of the Word of God we will practise in\nour life; and who on earth can live a more perfect Christian life than he\nwho lives in obedience to every word of the Bible? When one gets in\npossession of something that exempts him from obedience to the Scriptures\nhe gets in possession of some very mysterious thing. The only way to\nheaven is by the commandments of the Bible. \u201cBlessed are they that do his\ncommandments, that they may have a right to the tree of life and enter in\nthrough the gates into the city.\u201d\n\nWe will consider some ordinances and ceremonies which belong to the church\nof God as recorded in the New Testament so plainly that a wayfaring man\nthough a fool need not err therein.\n\n\n\nBaptism.\n\n\n\u201cThere was a man sent from God, whose name was John.\u201d John 1:6. In the\nthirty-third verse this same John declares that God sent him to baptize\nwith water. Of the books written on this subject there is scarcely an end.\nThe controversy is very great, and so often very ridiculous.\nLexicographers have defined and analyzed the word baptize in its different\nforms. Liddell and Scott, Robertson, Parkhurst, Scapula, Stokins, Calvin,\nLuther, Campbell, Gill, Stuart, Vitringa, Brenner, Paulus, and many others\nof great erudition have defined the word, and to sum them all up we find\nthe primary meaning is \u201cto dip, to immerse, to plunge in water.\u201d Many of\nthe English translators of the New Testament always render _baptizo_,\nimmerse or dip, as \u201cJohn the immerser,\u201d or \u201cJohn the dipper.\u201d\n\nThis brief reference to the expositions of the learned must suffice for\nthis work. It is with pleasure we resort to the plain and simple teachings\nof the Scriptures.\n\n\nBaptism A New Testament Ordinance.\n\n\nAll Jerusalem, and Judea, and the region about Jordan, were baptized of\nJohn in Jordan. Mat. 3:5, 6. Jesus baptized by proxy. John 4:1, 2. He\ncommissioned his ministry to preach baptism unto all the world. \u201cGo ye\ntherefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the\nFather, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.\u201d Mat. 28:19. \u201cGo ye into\nall the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth\nand is baptized shall be saved.\u201d Mark 16:15, 16. Those who have undertaken\nthe dangerous and Christ uncommissioned task of freeing Christians from\nthe obligations of this ordinance, hold high aloft the following texts:\nEph. 2:15; Col. 2:14, 15; Col. 2:20. Since the Savior\u2019s commission to his\ndisciples was forty days after his resurrection, such teachers are driven\nfrom this position, and to substantiate their doctrine they flee to a more\nfatally exposed one when saying that the baptism of this commission was\nthe baptism of the Spirit. It is a pity that precious time must be taken\nfor the correction of such erroneous teaching. How can men baptize with\nthe Holy Spirit? God alone can do that.\n\nIt is evident that the apostles understood this baptism to be with water,\nsince they taught it and practised it throughout their ministry. We shall\ntake time and space to refer to but two or three instances of the\nadministration of this ordinance recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. The\nfirst is that of a Christ commissioned preacher by the name of Philip, who\nwas sent by an angel to preach the gospel to a Scripturally ignorant man\nof Ethiopia. Unlearned as he was, he readily understood from the preaching\nof Philip the importance of water baptism; therefore when they came to a\ncertain water he said, \u201cSee here is water; what doth hinder me to be\nbaptized?\u201d Acts 8:36. By reading the following verses you will learn that\nthis man was baptized in water and God witnessed to his approval by\nsending him rejoicing on his way. Obedience to the commands of God brings\na joy to the Christian heart.\n\nThe second instance of baptism to which we wish to invite your attention\nis that of the devout Cornelius. He sent for Peter to learn more\nconcerning the ways of the Lord. Peter came and told them of Jesus, of his\nresurrection and his power to save. As he spoke the Holy Ghost fell upon\nall them which heard his words. Then said Peter, Can any man forbid water\nthat these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as\nwell as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.\nHow can an instance of water baptism be more plainly recorded? This\noccurred some eight years after the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus. To\nteach the abolition of this ordinance at the cross, in the face of these\nplainly stated instances of baptism, only proves to us the blinding and\ndeceptive power of the spirit of error.\n\n\nMode Of Baptism.\n\n\nMany of the professed teachers of the gospel have become very liberal. \u201cWe\nall have a right to our opinion,\u201d so many say; and \u201ca thing becomes right\nunto us if we believe it to be right.\u201d Because of this teaching and the\nvaried opinions, there have originated in the minds of the people several\ndifferent modes of baptism. But this great liberality finds no warrant in\nthe Word of God. The Scriptures teach that \u201cthere is one body.\u201d Eph. 4:4.\nIf I should hold in opinion, as many do hold, that there are many bodies,\nwould my opinion prove the Word of God to be in error? Let me say here,\nwith emphasis, that there can be but one true, rightful body. If the\nCatholic body should be the right body, it is the only body upon the earth\nthat is right. If the Presbyterian body is the right and true body, it is\nthe only body. And so with any other denominational body. If we were a\nmember of the Methodist body we would have to believe that that was the\none true body and that all the others were wrong. If there be but one\nbody, how can two bodies be that one body when those two bodies are\ndifferent?\n\nThere is but one Holy Spirit, one true Lord, one gospel faith, and one\ntrue mode of baptism. God has not left us to follow our own peculiar\nfancies, but all must go the same way. Whatever is required of one\nindividual, that same thing is required of every other individual. If\nsprinkling is a right mode of baptism it is the only right mode, and all\nothers are wrong. If pouring is right it is the only mode that is right.\nIf three dips, face forward is right it is the only mode that is right. If\none single immersion is right it is the only mode that is right. The Lord\ndid not set the example in all these different ways. He was baptized. He\nalso baptized by proxy, and we believe that he thus baptized in the same\nmanner he was baptized. This one mode was all they understood by baptism.\nThe apostles perhaps had seen the Lord baptized, they administered baptism\nunder his direction, and when he commissioned them with the authority to\nadminister baptism after he had ascended to the Father, they did not\nquestion him as to which mode. The word baptism meant but one thing and\nthe same thing unto them all. In the after years of their ministry they\npractised just what they had seen their Lord practise.\n\nNow let us learn from the plain, easy language of the Scripture the mode\nas administered by John, the Lord and the apostles. In the third chapter\nof Matthew the inspired writer has given an account of John\u2019s baptism,\nwhich we kindly invite you to read. Now the way to correctly understand\nthe Scripture is to take it in its easiest, plainest, most sensible way.\nDo not attempt to give it some complicated, mysterious meaning, but\nreceive it as you would any easily understood historical fact of this\npresent time. If you should read in your county paper of a man down by one\nof the rivers of your adjoining county who was administering baptism to\nthe people, and the whole neighborhood round about went out to him and\nwere baptized of him in the river, and when he had baptized a certain\nindividual he went up straightway out of the water, what idea would you\nform as to the mode of the baptism? Would you think it was a little water\nsprinkled on the head somewhere in a meeting-house? There is nothing in\nthe account to convey such an idea. How unreasonable it would be for you\nto study to change the meaning of the plain account and mystify it because\nit was not congenial to your desires.\n\nSuppose you should read in your paper of two men traveling along the way.\nOne of them had never heard of Jesus nor of the ordinance of baptism; the\nother talked to him of the Savior, of his death and his resurrection, and\nhow he had authorized him to go into all the world and preach this gospel\nto every creature, and he that believed and was baptized, the same should\nbe saved. And as they traveled on their way they came to a certain water,\nand the one said to the other, \u201cSee here is water, what doth hinder me to\nbe baptized?\u201d The other replied, \u201cIf thou believest with all thine heart\nthou mayest.\u201d He answered, \u201cI believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of\nGod.\u201d Then they stopped their carriage and they went down both into the\nwater and there the one was baptized of the other, and when they came up\nout of the water the one went one way and the other another way, and they\nsaw each other no more. What idea would you form as to the mode of\nbaptism? This is all very plain to the candid heart.\n\nThe other instances of baptism recorded in the New Testament do not\nexpress so clearly the mode as the two we have given, yet they can not\nwith propriety be made to express anything contrary to immersion. The\napostle Paul in his letter to the Roman brethren speaks of baptism as a\nburial. Rom. 6:4. This only confirms in our mind (concerning the mode) the\nideas suggested by the baptism of the Savior and of the man of Ethiopia.\nFor yet greater clearness we will present a few thoughts suggested to us\nby the recent writings of a brother, which we consider very conclusive.\n\nA word, perfectly synonymous with another word can be used in its stead\nwith the same correctness of diction. As, for example, \u201cThe snow is slowly\ndescending from the dark cloud.\u201d To use a word synonymous with\n\u201cdescending\u201d in the above sentence it must express the same thought and\npresent the same elegance of style. We find such a synonym in the word\n\u201cfalling.\u201d \u201cThe snow is slowly falling from the dark cloud.\u201d The idea\nexpressed by these two sentences is precisely the same, and both are good\ngrammar. Let us now read Rom. 6:4: \u201cTherefore we are buried with him by\nbaptism into death.\u201d To find a word synonymous with baptism it will not\ndeprive the word \u201cburial\u201d of its proper meaning. Try the word \u201csprinkle.\u201d\n\u201cTherefore we are buried with him by sprinkling into death.\u201d Please read\nMat. 3:5, 6; Mark 1:9; John 3:2, 3, and use the word sprinkle or pour\nwhere the word baptize is used, and note the great absurdity. Why is so\nmuch time spent in discussion over declarations so simple, clear and\nplain? Because of the perversion of plain language by the spirit of error\nto a self-conceited mind.\n\n\nTrine Immersion.\n\n\nThere is a religious class of people that teach and practise three\nimmersions; one in the name of the Father, one in the name of the Son, and\none in the name of the Holy Ghost. Such teaching is based upon the\nconstruction of Mat. 28:19. Only a little unprejudiced consideration will\nenable you to see the fallacy of such an interpretation. These three are\none. If they were separate and distinct so we could act in the name of the\none to the exclusion of the others then we could better understand such an\ninterpretation of the above text. The apostles well understood that to act\nin the name of one was to act in the name of the whole trinity; therefore\nPeter says, \u201cRepent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus\nChrist.\u201d Acts 2:38. Why did not Peter use the formula of Mat. 28:19?\nBecause to act in the name of one is to act in the name of all. \u201cAnd he\ncommanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.\u201d Acts 10:48. \u201cThey\nwere baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.\u201d Acts 8:16. \u201cWhen they heard\nthis, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.\u201d Acts 19:5.\n\nNowhere in the Acts of the Apostles is the triune name used in baptism.\nPages could be written showing the absurdity of the teachings of trine\nimmersionists, but we consider that what has been written is clear enough\nto convince candid, unbiased minds, and any amount of argument will not\nconvince those who defiantly set themselves against any reasonings\ncontrary to their established notions.\n\n\nThe Object Of Baptism.\n\n\nThere is a baptism taught in the Scriptures that is not water baptism.\nThere is a baptism of the Spirit. See 1 Cor. 12:13; Mat. 3:11. Some not\nbeing able to rightly divide the Word of God have taken some texts that\nteach the baptism of the Spirit to be the baptism of water, and thus\nconfused the true object of water baptism. We will frankly admit that\nthere are some texts which if taken alone and interpreted literally do\napparently teach that baptism is a saving ordinance. We will refer the\nreader to a few of these texts. Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16. These\ntexts seem to plainly teach that water baptism does wash away or remit\nsins. I always prefer to give each text the simplest, plainest rendering\nwhen it does not conflict with some other text. Now to teach that baptism\nby water is a saving ordinance, and so interpret these texts, we place\nourselves in direct opposition to other plain teaching. Some do teach that\nthere is none righteous and base such teaching upon Rom. 3:10. We would\nask such teachers to interpret Titus 2:12; 1 John 3:7, 10; 1 John 2:29;\nLuke 1:75. By such texts they are brought to confusion.\n\nElsewhere in this work we quote the scriptures teaching salvation from sin\nto be by the grace of God. Then to teach that water baptism saves us from\nsin makes the Word of God contradict itself. All is beauteous harmony in\nthe Scriptures when all is correctly interpreted. Water baptism represents\na burial. A burial must of course be preceded by death. We die or separate\nourselves from a life of sin and accept Christ; he accepts us. The real\ndeath to, and destruction of sin and resurrection to life is performed by\nthe power of God\u2019s grace, while baptism expresses in a figure the burial\nand resurrection to spiritual life. This is the true object of baptism.\n\n\nProper Applicants For Baptism.\n\n\nWater baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God. 1 Pet.\n3:19-21. We must obtain a good or \u201cundefiled conscience\u201d before we are a\nScriptural candidate for baptism. How can defilement be purged from the\nconscience? By the blood of Jesus. Heb. 9:14. We are taught in Mat. 3:8\nthat we must bear fruits of repentance to be worthy applicants for\nbaptism. The man of Ethiopia was asked to profess faith in Christ before\nPhilip considered him to be a proper subject for baptism.\n\nInfants can not profess faith in Christ, therefore their baptism is\nunscriptural. We are aware that there are many who teach \u201cinfant baptism,\u201d\nand use a few texts of Scripture and by their misapplication make it look\nas plausible as possible. The commission of the Lord to his ministry is to\n\u201cpreach the gospel to every creature; he that believeth and is baptized\nshall be saved.\u201d Faith precedes baptism in the commission. Infants have\nnot faith. Peter says, \u201cRepent and be baptized.\u201d Acts 2:38. Repentance,\ntherefore, precedes baptism. John understood it thus. Mat. 3:8. Infants\nneed no repentance. There is not a case recorded in the New Testament of\ninfant baptism. After one has reached the years of accountability and\nrepents of his sins and is born of the Spirit he is then, and not until\nthen, a proper candidate for baptism.\n\n\n\nThe Lord\u2019s Supper.\n\n\nIn the teachings of the holy inspired and unblamed apostle Paul, the\nexpression, \u201cThe Lord\u2019s Supper\u201d is to be found. In reproving the\nCorinthians for corrupting the sacred communion service, he says, \u201cWhen ye\ncome together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord\u2019s\nsupper,\u201d 1 Cor. 11:20. In the preceding chapter he uses the word communion\nwhen speaking of the same divinely originated ordinance. \u201cThe cup of\nblessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?\nThe bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?\u201d\n1 Cor. 10:16.\n\nThe apostle in these texts is referring to an ordinance of the New\nTestament instituted by the blessed Savior just prior to his passion as\nrecorded by the writers of the gospels and observed by the church when it\nwas the light of the world. If this sacred and very impressive ordinance\nwas abolished at the death of the Savior, as some erroneously teach, why\ndoes Paul more than a score of years after exhort Christians to its\nobservance and warn them so faithfully against corrupting so sacred a\nrite, telling them that if they eat and drink unworthily they eat and\ndrink damnation to themselves, and admonishing them to examine themselves\nand so let them eat? 1 Cor. 11. It must be clear to all unclouded, candid\nminds by the reading of this chapter that there was an ordinance solemnly\nobserved by the Christians long after the Savior was \u201cnailed to the\ncross.\u201d In very plain and positive language he tells us that the communion\nor Lord\u2019s Supper is a New Testament ordinance: \u201cThis cup is the New\nTestament in my blood.\u201d 1 Cor. 11:25. This is corroborative of Mat. 26:28:\n\u201cFor this is my blood of the new testament;\u201d and of Mark 14:24: \u201cAnd he\nsaid unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for\nmany.\u201d Also of Luke 22:20: \u201cLikewise also the cup after supper, saying,\nThis cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.\u201d\n\nTo one enjoying the full light of the precious gospel to teach the\nabolition of this solemn ordinance appears the very height of folly and\nignorance. In the recording of the Acts of the apostles it is said that\n\u201cupon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break\nbread, Paul preached unto them.\u201d Acts 20:7. The breaking of bread as here\nspoken of signifies nothing else but the observance of the Lord\u2019s Supper.\n\nThe few plain, comprehensive texts of apostolic teaching we have quoted\nupon this subject must make obvious to the mind of the reader that\nChristians of the morning time of this gospel day observed an ordinance\ntermed the Lord\u2019s Supper or communion, done in remembrance of Jesus and\nshowing his death till he come. We will learn in the noontime\u2019s awful\ndarkness how the blinded minds and unregenerated hearts of teachers by\nmisunderstanding and misapplying these plain texts caused their clear\nlight to cease to shine.\n\n\n\nThe Holy Kiss.\n\n\nTrue love manifests itself in many ways. We embrace with the arms, we\ngreet with a kiss, the object of our love. We speak of these love tokens\nofttimes in a spiritual way: \u201cFolded in the arms of Jesus;\u201d \u201cLeaning on\nhis breast;\u201d \u201cSheltered beneath his wing.\u201d The Psalmist says, \u201cKiss the\nSon, lest he be angry.\u201d Psa. 2:12. These were literally practised by the\nSavior and his beloved followers while he was here. After Jesus arose and\nwent to the Father the apostles practised the holy kiss. \u201cThey all wept\nsore, and fell on Paul\u2019s neck, and kissed him.\u201d Acts 20:37. We behold the\nlove they bore for him. It was not a cold kiss of formality, but of love.\nIn the first verse we see the love Paul had for the disciples: \u201cPaul\ncalled unto him the disciples and embraced them.\u201d\n\nIn the epistolary law of the New Testament the holy kiss is five times\ncommanded. \u201cSalute one another with a holy kiss.\u201d Rom. 16:16. \u201cGreet ye\none another with a holy kiss.\u201d 1 Cor. 16:20. \u201cGreet one another with a\nholy kiss.\u201d 2 Cor. 13:12. \u201cGreet all the brethren with a holy kiss.\u201d 1\nThes. 5:26. \u201cGreet ye one another with a kiss of charity.\u201d 1 Pet. 5:14.\n\nSatan ever ready to corrupt the pure precepts and practises of the sacred\nWord has led people into the disgraceful fanaticism of promiscuous\nkissing. Such is not a kiss of love, but a kiss of lust. Everything done\nin the order of the kingdom of heaven is done in the perfection of decency\nand respectability. How natural for the fond husband to embrace and kiss\nthe beloved wife, and the devoted mother her child, the brother his\nsister, all because love exists consistent with natural relation. But the\nstrongest tie of love that binds hearts together is the Christian love.\nThen how natural and becoming for the Christian to greet with a kiss his\nbrother, and the Christian sister her sister in the Lord.\n\nChristian love continued after the apostles\u2019 days were ended, and\nconsequently the practise of greeting with a holy kiss. We will conclude\nthis subject by referring the reader to history as quoted in \u201cOrdinances\nof the New Testament\u201d: \u201cThe fraternal kiss used on admission to the church\nand at the Lord\u2019s Supper were not empty forms, but the expression of a\ntrue feeling, and of a real experience.\u201d\u2014_Butler\u2019s Ecclesiastical\nHistory_, p. 132.\n\n\u201cAfter the prayers ... we greet one another with the brotherly\nkiss.\u201d\u2014_Justin Martyr_, p. 146.\n\n\u201cThe communion was a regular part of the Sunday worship. In many places it\nwas celebrated daily. It began after the dismissal of the catechumens, by\nthe kiss of peace given by men to men and women to women.\u201d\u2014p. 147.\n\nIt is natural for Christians filled with the love of God to greet each\nother with a kiss, but the cold distant forms of men have prevented\nChristians following the natural inclination of the heart.\n\n\n\nLifting Up Of Holy Hands.\n\n\nIn the olden time when the chosen children of God were battling in the\nwilderness against their enemies, as long as the hands of Moses were kept\nuplifted Israel prevailed, and when his hands were let down the enemy\ntriumphed. Ex. 17:8-12. See also Psa. 28:2; 63:4; 88:9; Lam. 3:41. This\nsignal act of triumph is conveyed into the spirit of the New Testament.\nPaul says, \u201cI will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy\nhands, without wrath and doubting.\u201d 1 Tim. 2:8. This is a single text of\nthe New Testament teaching this ordinance. In connection with this text\nsome have used Heb. 12:12; but to our mind it is only an exhortation to\nencourage the feeble and faint-hearted, and not an express command to the\nliterally raising of the hands. However the one text quoted is sufficient\nfor those who love the Lord, for those who love him keep his commandments.\n\nThis ceremony is suggestive of submissiveness and reliance upon God. It is\nnatural for the Spirit-born child of God to imploringly lift his hands to\nGod in petition or praise and thanksgiving. In the time when the spiritual\nbattles wax hot we seek God in earnest imploring prayer, and the lifting\nup of our hands adds strength to our faith and draws God nearer. But, oh,\nlet us make sure that our hands and hearts are holy. It is but mockery to\nspread forth your hands unto God when they are full of blood. From such\nthe Lord hides his eyes, and closes his ears against their prayer. Isa.\n1:15.\n\n\n\nFeet-Washing.\n\n\nTo the proud heart the commandment to \u201cwash one another\u2019s feet\u201d is perhaps\nthe most ridiculous ever given by the Son of God. In the semi-theatrical\nchurch entertainments men may pay a large sum for the privilege of kissing\nthe most handsome lady, and for similar or more shameful indulgences, but\nto humbly wash a brother\u2019s feet would be shocking in the extreme. \u201cIf a\nman love me he will keep my words.\u201d John 14:23. Where true love exists\nthere is no disposition to spurn any of the Lord\u2019s commandments, however\nhumiliating they may be.\n\nThe ordinance of feet-washing was instituted by the Savior, and is\nrecorded in the thirteenth chapter of John. One objection that many bring\nagainst this sacred ordinance is that it is so seldom mentioned in the\nBible. If a man does not love God deeply enough to obey him when he speaks\nbut once, he would not obey him should he speak a dozen times. Jesus says,\n\u201cIf they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,\nthough one rose from the dead.\u201d Luke 16:31. It is never difficult to\npersuade a humble heart to believe the Word of God, though there be but\none single commandment; but the proud in heart will not be persuaded by\nany number if they are not according to their inclinations. About the\nfirst objection offered against this humble ordinance is that it was a\ncustom among the Jews to wash feet, and the feet-washing recorded by John\nwas nothing more than the Jewish custom. There was more here than the mere\ncustom of washing feet.\n\nWe will carefully weigh this objection. Bathing is a custom, naturally so,\nfor cleanliness and health, and is observed by people of every civilized\nnation, and has been in every age of the world. Pharaoh\u2019s daughter went\ndown to the river to bathe when she found the babe in the ark of\nbulrushes. Ex. 2:5. Bathing was not a custom of any particular nation, but\na universal custom. God separated Israel from the world to be his own\nchosen people. He gave them certain laws, which stood as a partition wall\nbetween them and the Gentile world. Among the many ceremonies was that of\nbathing. By reading the fifteenth chapter of Leviticus you will learn of\nthe bathings required of the Jews for certain sins and uncleannesses.\nThese bathings were peculiar to this people alone and served to separate\nthem from other nations. They observed the universal custom of bathing,\nbut these bathings were additional and given by the Lord. When Jesus came\nhe abolished the Jewish ordinances that distinguished them from the world\nand offers salvation to every nation. By his grace he separates his people\nfrom the world and institutes for them the ordinance of baptism. This is\nnot the universal custom of bathing, neither is it the Jewish ceremony of\nbathings for cleansings, but a New Testament ordinance for saved people of\nthis gospel day, representing their death to sin and consequent separation\nfrom the world. All continue in the custom of bathing, but the Christian\nis baptized.\n\nAll people in every age are accustomed, if we may call it a custom, to\neating; but when God separated Israel from Egypt and gave them a law, he\ninstituted a supper called the Passover. This they kept in commemoration\nof their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The Passover supper was not\nthe mere custom of eating supper, but was an ordinance peculiar to the\nJewish nation, and served to distinguish them as God\u2019s own chosen people.\nIn Heb. 9:10 we learn that these meats and drinks, and divers washings,\nand carnal ordinances, were imposed on them until the time of reformation.\nWhen Jesus came he instituted a new order of things. The Passover supper\nwas with the rest of the Jewish ordinances blotted out and nailed to the\ncross. Col. 2:14. Jesus instituted a supper to be kept in remembrance of\nhim by his peculiar, exclusive people. This consists of bread, which\nrepresents his body, and of wine, which represents his blood. This is not\nthe custom of eating, neither is it the Jewish ordinance, but a newly\ninstituted ordinance in this dispensation of grace. All continue the\ncustom of eating, but Christians keep the communion.\n\nWhen Abraham was in the plains of Mamre he was visited by three angels,\nunto whom he said: \u201cLet a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash\nyour feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.\u201d Gen. 18:4. Two angels came\none evening to Sodom, and Lot rose up to meet them, and said: \u201cBehold now,\nmy lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant\u2019s house, and tarry all\nnight, and wash your feet.\u201d Gen. 19:1, 2. By these instances and others we\nunderstand that washing feet was a custom in that time. It was not a law\nof God, but people of all nations observed it as a law of health, comfort,\nand cleanliness.\n\nIn Ex. 30:19-21 and 40:30-32 we learn that God instituted an ordinance or\nceremony of washing feet. This was not the mere custom of washing feet,\nbut was a Jewish rite and served among other rites and ceremonies to\ndistinguish them as God\u2019s own peculiar people. When the Son of God set up\nthe kingdom of grace, this priestly ceremony was blotted out and a new\nordinance of feet-washing was instituted. See John 13. This was not the\nancient universal custom of washing feet. That still continues the same as\neating and bathing. It is not the Jewish ordinance, because they were all\nnailed to the cross; but it is a humble ordinance the Savior instituted\nfor his people saved from sin in this blessed gospel day. The Lord\u2019s\npeople love this precious ordinance. Jesus set the example and intends his\nown to do as he did. \u201cIf I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your\nfeet; ye also ought to wash one another\u2019s feet. For I have given you an\nexample, that ye should do as I have done to you.\u201d John 13:14, 15. Jesus\nset the example in baptism and intends for us to follow. Mat. 3:15, 16. He\nset the example in partaking of his newly instituted supper and intends\nfor us to walk in his steps. 1 Cor. 11:25.\n\nSince the word _ought_ is used some appear to rejoice in the thought that\nit is not obligatory. I, for one, ever since the Lord made me a Christian,\nhave always been willing and glad to do just what I _ought_ to do. We\nscarcely think a man loves God when he refuses to do what he knows he\nought to do. \u201cYe ought to support the weak.\u201d Acts 20:35. \u201cMen ought always\nto pray.\u201d Luke 18:1. \u201cWe ought also to love one another.\u201d 1 John 4:11. \u201cYe\nalso ought to wash one another\u2019s feet.\u201d John 13:14. Let us as professed\nfollowers of Jesus live and do what we _ought_ to do. Happy are ye if you\ndo, but what shall be the result if you refuse? \u201cTherefore we _ought_ to\ngive the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard.\u201d Heb. 2:1.\nWill you do as you ought? Because the widow did what she ought she was\nrecommended to the care of the church. 1 Tim. 5:9, 10.\n\n\n\n\nChapter IX. Divine Healing.\n\n\nThe thirty-fifth chapter of Isaiah is a prophecy beautifully extolling the\nglories and virtues of Christ\u2019s redemptive works. \u201cThe desert shall\nrejoice and blossom as the rose.\u201d \u201cIt shall blossom abundantly, and\nrejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given\nunto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of\nthe Lord, and the excellency of our God.... Then the eyes of the blind\nshall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall\nthe lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.\u201d\n\nIn Isaiah sixty-one, is another prophecy of the Savior: \u201cThe Spirit of the\nLord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good\ntidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to\nproclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them\nthat are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.\u201d Isa. 61:1,\n2. Where this text is quoted in the New Testament, there is added, \u201cand\nrecovering of sight to the blind.\u201d Luke 4:18. This addition is found in\nthe LXX.\n\nAgain the prophet speaking of Christ said, \u201cBut he was wounded for our\ntransgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our\npeace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.\u201d Isa. 53:5. The\nevangelist in speaking of the prophecy of Isa. 53:4, 5, says, \u201cWhen the\neven was come they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils:\nand he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick;\nthat it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,\nHimself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.\u201d Mat. 8:16, 17. In\nverse thirteen is recorded the healing of the centurion\u2019s servant: \u201cGo thy\nway, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant\nwas healed in the selfsame hour.\u201d When Jesus saw the mother of Peter\u2019s\nwife lying sick of a fever, he touched her hand and the fever left her,\nand she arose and ministered unto them. Ver. 14, 15.\n\nIn the ninth chapter of Matthew is recorded the instance of the healing of\nthe man sick of the palsy, and of a woman who had been diseased for twelve\nyears, and of the raising to life of the daughter of a certain ruler; also\nthe restoring of the sight of two blind men. Jesus saith unto them,\n\u201cBelieve ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then\ntouched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And\ntheir eyes were opened.\u201d \u201cAnd Jesus went about all the cities and\nvillages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the\nkingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.\u201d\nVer. 35.\n\nJohn, when in prison, hearing of the works of Jesus, sent two of his\ndisciples who asked the Savior, \u201cArt thou he that should come, or do we\nlook for another?\u201d Now John was acquainted with the prophecy of Isaiah\nconcerning the Christ, so Jesus said to the disciples, \u201cGo and show John\nagain those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight\nand the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead\nare raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them.\u201d Jesus\ntold them that he was doing just what was prophesied that Christ should do\nwhen he came, then this must certainly be he and we need not look for\nanother. Throughout his ministry the Savior continued to cast out devils\nand to heal the sick. He gave his twelve disciples power \u201cagainst unclean\nspirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all\nmanner of disease.\u201d Mat. 10:1. Not only did he give the twelve such power\nover Satan and sickness, but in sending out the seventy he said: \u201cAnd into\nwhatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set\nbefore you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The\nkingdom of God is come nigh unto you.\u201d Luke 10:8, 9.\n\nBefore Jesus ascended to the Father he commissioned his disciples to\npreach the gospel, saying, \u201cGo ye into all the world, and preach the\ngospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be\nsaved: but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall\nfollow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they\nshall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they\ndrink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on\nthe sick, and they shall recover.\u201d Mark 16:15-18. Jesus was the \u201clight of\nthe world,\u201d because he had power over sin and disease. The church becomes\na light in the world in proportion to her power and purity, and when she\nreaches the zenith of her power the same power is exercised by her as by\nthe Lord himself. After commissioning the disciples to preach, Jesus was\n\u201creceived up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went\nforth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming\nthe word with signs following.\u201d Mark 16:19, 20. Although Jesus had\nascended to heaven, yet it is said that he was working with them as they\npreached the word. Here was the secret of their power, \u201cworkers together\nwith God.\u201d\n\nAgain Jesus said, \u201cGo ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them\nin the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching\nthem to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am\nwith you alway, even unto the end of the world.\u201d Mat. 28:19, 20. The Lord\nhere gives promise to be with them unto the end. Although he ascended, yet\nhe says, \u201cI will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.\u201d John\n14:18. The Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost came and dwelt in the midst\nof God\u2019s church in the same authoritative power over sin and demons that\nChrist exercised before his passion. He now comes in the power of the Holy\nSpirit, performing great deeds of wonder through his church. The church\nonly was visible, therefore became the light of the world. After Pentecost\nthe disciples did as Jesus commanded. They began to preach the gospel, and\nJesus working with them, many souls were saved. Peter and John on one\noccasion \u201cwent up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being\nthe ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother\u2019s womb was carried,\nwhom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,\nto ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and\nJohn about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his\neyes on him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them,\nexpecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold\nhave I none; but such as I have give I thee: in the name of Jesus Christ\nof Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and\nlifted him up; and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.\nAnd he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the\ntemple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him\nwalking and praising God.\u201d Acts 3:1-9. This miracle of divine healing was\ndone by faith in the name of Jesus. Ver. 16. The Lord was with his\ndisciples confirming the preaching with signs following.\n\nIn the ninth chapter of Acts is recorded an instance of the dead being\nraised to life. Dorcas, who was a good woman, was taken sick and died. Two\nmen were sent for Peter, who when he was come was brought into the upper\nchamber: \u201cand all the widows stood by him weeping, and showing the coats\nand garments which Dorcas made while she was with them. But Peter put them\nall forth, and kneeled down and prayed: and turning him to the body said,\nTabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter she sat\nup. And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up: and when he had called\nthe saints and the widows, presented her alive. And it was known\nthroughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.\u201d This was when the\nchurch was the light of the world; when the whole pure gospel was preached\nfor the gospel\u2019s sake, and men lived humbly before God, and were workers\ntogether with him.\n\nPaul escaping the waves was cast upon the island of Melita. He says, \u201cThe\nbarbarous people showed us no little kindness; for they kindled a fire,\nand received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the\ncold.\u201d And when he had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the\nfire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And\nwhen the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said\namong themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath\nescaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. Acts 28:1-4. Now was\nthe promise given in the commission to prove true? Jesus said, \u201cThey shall\ntake up serpents.\u201d Here Paul had taken one up. Should he trust in the\npromise of the Savior, or resort to some antidote? It is said, He shook\noff the beast into the fire and felt no harm. The natives were astonished\nand God was glorified. Had Paul sought and obtained relief by medical\nmeans, whatever brought the relief would have been worthy the praise. He\nwas living solely for the glory of God, and by trusting in God and God\nprotecting him it was thus that God was glorified.\n\nThe \u201cgifts of healing\u201d were placed in the church. See 1 Cor. 12:28. As\nlate as the year 60 A.D., twenty-seven years after the Lord had ascended,\nJames tells us what to do when sick. He says, \u201cIs any among you afflicted?\nlet him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you?\nlet him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him,\nanointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith\nshall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have\ncommitted sins, they shall be forgiven him.\u201d Jas. 5:13-15.\n\nThus the Lord worked in the midst of his people in the morning of the\ngospel day. He gave them grace and power to live the same holy, humble\nlife he lived. He gave them power to cast out devils and to heal the sick.\nBy performing the works and living the life of Jesus the church was a city\nset upon a hill, which could not be hid\u2014a light in the world.\n\n\n\n\nChapter X. The Soul.\n\n\nMan as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being.\nHe stands in the highest order of God\u2019s creation.\n\n\n\nHe Is A Compound.\n\n\nMan was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal\nand a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical\ncreation is termed the \u201coutward man,\u201d and the spiritual, the \u201cinward man.\u201d\n\u201cFor which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the\ninward man is renewed day by day.\u201d 2 Cor. 4:16. \u201cFor we know that if our\nearthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of\nGod, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.\u201d 2 Cor. 5:1.\n\u201cYea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up\nby putting you in remembrance.\u201d 2 Pet. 1:13.\n\nIn the quotation from second Corinthians the pronoun \u201cwe\u201d is applied to\nthe inward man, and the \u201cearthly house of this tabernacle\u201d is spoken in\nreference to the outward man. In the quotation from second Peter the\npronoun \u201cI\u201d has for its antecedent the \u201cinward man,\u201d and tabernacle refers\nagain to the outward man.\n\n\n\nThe Outward Man Is Denominated \u201cBody.\u201d\n\n\nIn the fifth chapter of Mark\u2019s gospel there is recorded an instance of a\nwoman who was diseased and suffered many things of many physicians in the\noutward man. She came to Jesus and touched his garment and she felt in her\nbody she was healed of the plague.\n\n\n\nThe Inward Man Is Denominated \u201cSoul.\u201d\n\n\nBy the one text given above it is plainly to be seen that the outer man is\nthe body. Many additional texts could be given but we consider it\nunnecessary, because all at once believe it.\n\nBut why not as readily believe one text which calls the inner man the\n\u201csoul\u201d? Some will not. This is the inconsistency of man. We will quote\nmore than one. \u201cWhen my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord.\u201d\nJonah 2:7. \u201cBut his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within\nhim shall mourn.\u201d Job 14:22. \u201cAnd the man of God said, Let her alone; for\nher soul is vexed within her.\u201d 2 Kings 4:27.\n\n\n\nThe Inner Man Is The Responsible Man.\n\n\n\u201cWill the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of\nrivers of oil? shall I give my first-born for my transgression, the fruit\nof my body for the sin of my soul?\u201d Micah 6:7. Since it is the soul that\nsins, of necessity the soul becomes the responsible man.\n\n\n\nSin Produces Death To The Soul.\n\n\n\u201cThe soul that sinneth, it shall die.\u201d Ezek. 18:4.\n\n\n\nThe Value Of The Soul.\n\n\n\u201cFor what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose\nhis own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?\u201d Mat.\n16:26. Here the \u201csoul,\u201d the \u201cinner man,\u201d is considered of greater worth\nthan this world. He who secures the eternal safety of his soul has\naccomplished more than he who should gain this whole world.\n\n\n\nThe Soul Does Not Lose Consciousness When The Body Dies.\n\n\n\u201cFor to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the\nflesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not.\nFor I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with\nChrist; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more\nneedful for you.\u201d Phil. 1:21-24.\n\nIf there is no conscious existence after death until the final\nresurrection from the grave, how could it be \u201cfar better\u201d for Paul to\ndepart? For him to depart this life is to be with Christ. \u201cWe are\nconfident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be\npresent with the Lord.\u201d 2 Cor. 5:8. How can language be plainer than this?\nTo be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.\n\n\n\nThe Place Of The Soul While The Body Lies In The Grave.\n\n\nThe Son of God in his beautiful narrative of the rich man and Lazarus\ncertainly teaches a conscious existence of the departed souls of both the\nwicked and the righteous. The soul of the rich man was in torment in the\nflames of hell. The angels carried the poor beggar to rest and bliss in\nAbraham\u2019s bosom.\n\n\u201cThere was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen,\nand fared sumptuously every day: and there was a certain beggar named\nLazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, and desiring to be fed\nwith the crumbs which fell from the rich man\u2019s table: moreover the dogs\ncame and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and\nwas carried by the angels into Abraham\u2019s bosom: the rich man also died,\nand was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and\nseeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said,\nFather Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the\ntip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this\nflame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime\nreceivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he\nis comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and\nyou there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence\nto you can not; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.\nThen he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him\nto my father\u2019s house: for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto\nthem, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto\nhim, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said,\nNay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will\nrepent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets,\nneither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.\u201d Luke\n16:19-31.\n\n\n\nSoul-Rest.\n\n\nThe immortal soul of man is a conscious entity, whether in sin or in\nrighteousness. If in righteousness, there is a blessed consciousness of\npeace, rest, and contentment. This internal sense of happiness man enjoyed\nin his primeval state. By disobedience an awful change came over him, by\nwhich the peaceful rest and full satisfaction of the soul was destroyed,\nand the terrible miseries of sin were experienced. In sin the soul still\nretains its consciousness. There is in fallen man an internal knowledge of\nincompleteness. There is a missing link, an awful vacancy, and a kind of\nintuitive knowledge that he must give answer for certain moral\nresponsibilities unto a great Creator. There are deep longings, restless\nfears, dark uncertainties, and desperate strugglings for a satisfactory\nhope.\n\nBy the entrance of sin into the world there was implanted in the nature of\nman a \u201clust of the flesh,\u201d which seeks the pleasures of the world. This\nnever brings contentment to the soul. It reaches to something far beyond\nfor rest. Jesus came to this world as the soul\u2019s Rest-giver. \u201cCome unto\nme, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take\nmy yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and\nye shall find rest unto your souls.\u201d Mat. 11:28, 29. The name of Jesus is\nsweet to the soul whose cry is not stifled by the \u201clusts of the flesh.\u201d It\nis the disposition of the \u201ccarnal mind\u201d to hush the pleadings of the\nhungry, thirsting spirit by bidding it wait until some future time when\nits demands will be given attention. The \u201cflesh\u201d gains its pleasures at\nthe cost of the soul\u2019s rest, and when the soul gains rest it must be at\nthe cost of the lust of the flesh, and thus the war goes on between the\nflesh and the spirit. How often in the days of one\u2019s youth the soul\nstruggles hard for freedom and pleads for rest; the \u201cflesh\u201d quiets its\nfears by promising to yield to its desires in maturer years. Old age comes\non, and the flesh, unwilling yet to make a sacrifice of the world, bids\nthe restless soul to hope for joy in heaven.\n\nThis delusive scheme often proves a success, allowing the flesh to go on\nreaping its carnal lusts with the soul endeavoring to satisfy itself with\nthe hope of rest above. It is true there are wondrous joys in heaven, but\nit is not all who shall get to enjoy them. It is very dangerous and\ndelusive to encourage the heart to hope for a home in heaven when the\nflesh still loves this world. Bright hopes of endless glory in the world\nabove cheer us on amid the storms of life to that precious goal, but we\nwould not desire you to pass through this world heavy-laden, with a hope\nof unloading your cargo of sorrow and pain somewhere in the beyond and\nbeing happy there. As we cross the ocean of life, there is to be found a\nblessed port where you can discharge your load of sin and sorrow and take\non joys to your vessel\u2019s full capacity. Beyond life\u2019s sail there remains\nno port of exchange. The soul fitted for the delights of heaven, enjoys\nheavenly delights in this world. In the divine economy there is a\nsufficiency of grace to enable the soul to be blessedly at rest amid the\nmost trying circumstances of life. When our happy spirits, no longer\nholden by the house of clay, shall soar away to heavenly rest, scenes and\nexperiences will arise of such a nature as to greatly enhance the felicity\nof our hearts, but the revelation of heaven upon a pardoned soul, and\n\n\n \u201cThe enjoyment of heavenly bliss\n E\u2019en in a world like this,\u201d\n\n\nto the humble Christian heart can never be told. Do not therefore, dear\nreader, permit the thoughts of great happiness in the paradise above, nor\nof some fancied coming age of universal peace and joy on earth, to hide\nfrom your soul the precious realization of heavenly enjoyments, sweet\nwalks with God, and tastes of love in this present life and time. We\nrepeat, there is wondrous peace and happiness in heaven; all is joy there,\nand upon the soul yielded to God\u2019s control the sweets of heaven\u2019s graces\nare distilled like the gentle siftings of the evening dew upon the flower,\ntransporting the soul to wondrous joys all along the way of life. \u201cOh,\nthis blessed holy rest is to be found only \u2018on Jesus\u2019 loving breast.\u2019 \u201d\nTrials may come, storm-clouds gather, and billows threaten, yet \u201cin Jesus\nall is bright.\u201d Make him your haven of rest.\n\n\n\nEternal Happiness.\n\n\nHappiness forever\u2014these words sound sweet and dear to almost every heart.\nThere is nothing repulsive in their tone, but, oh, what strength they give\nto the weary, waiting soul. The hope of never-ending happiness in a bright\ncelestial world enables us to patiently endure the tortures and\nafflictions of this sin-cursed, terrestrial sphere. It is not difficult to\npersuade most people that somewhere in the great beyond there is a place\nof peace and bliss, prepared for the children of God to inhabit forever.\nBut few men have disposition of spirit to wrest the clear declarations of\ninspiration on this delightful theme. Perhaps no other subject in the\nBible is so universally received. Eternal rest to the Christian is the\nvoice of the Word forever settled in heaven. Oh, how our hearts glow with\nrapture and our bosoms heave with waves of love and praise to God as we by\nfaith look into an eternity of perfect bliss prepared for us. \u201cCome, ye\nblessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the\nfoundation of the world.\u201d Mat. 25:34. \u201cWell done, thou good and faithful\nservant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.\u201d \u201cIn thy presence is fulness\nof joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.\u201d Psa. 16:11.\n\u201cThe righteous shall go away into eternal life.\u201d Mat. 25:46. \u201cThen we\nwhich are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the\nclouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the\nLord.\u201d 1 Thes. 4:17.\n\nThese few texts are sufficient to convince the reader that there is a\nheaven of eternal joys, but before leaving this subject we will give one\ntext of caution. \u201cNot every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall\nenter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father\nwhich is in heaven.\u201d Mat. 7:21.\n\n\n\nEternal Punishment.\n\n\nMisery, wretchedness and woe forever\u2014these words have an unpleasant sound.\nThey form no enjoyable theme for meditation. People usually reject all\nthoughts of eternal unhappiness. Because of its unpleasantness many have\nsought to explain the doctrine away. However it is as positively declared\nin the sacred volume as the doctrine of eternal happiness. \u201cAnd these\nshall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life\neternal.\u201d Mat. 25:46. The punishment of the wicked in duration is equal\nwith the life of the righteous, but some, who no doubt have not been\nrescued from the fears of hell, have endeavored to make the words\neverlasting and eternal as used in the above texts differ in meaning with\nrespect to time.\n\nUpon this subject we will quote from the treatise entitled, \u201cWhat Is the\nSoul?\u201d by D. S. Warner: \u201cThe words \u2018eternal life,\u2019 as the great gift of\nGod to men, occur in the New Testament just twenty-nine times, and in\nevery instance the word eternal is derived from the Greek word _aionios_;\nthe same word which tells how long the punishment of the wicked shall last\nin Mat. 25:46, and elsewhere. The words \u2018everlasting life\u2019 and \u2018life\neverlasting\u2019 occur in the New Testament fourteen times, and by reference\nto the Greek Testament you will find the word everlasting is, without a\nsingle exception, translated from the same Greek word\u2014_aionios_. Here then\nwe learn the wisdom of Heaven finds and uses no stronger term in all the\nforty-three promises and statements of eternal and everlasting life to the\nrighteous in the New Testament than the word _aionion_, the very same word\nwhich he uses to declare the eternal and everlasting punishment of the\nwicked.... The Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit have described the\nduration of their own existence, attributes and glory by the use of the\nsame word which we have seen fixes the eternal punishment of the wicked.\n\n\u201cIn Heb. 5:9 we read that Christ became the author of \u2018eternal [_aionion_]\nsalvation unto all them that obey him.\u2019 If therefore this word does not\nmean eternal, our salvation will finally fail and drop us back into the\nhands of the devil. In Heb. 9:12 we read that Christ has obtained eternal\n(_aionion_) redemption. If then the word only means a long period of time\nour eternal redemption is not yet secured. In Heb. 9:15 we are told that\nby means of Christ\u2019s death for our redemption, we have \u2018received the\npromise of eternal [_aionion_] inheritance.\u2019 Will the inheritance that\nChrist has purchased by his death come to an end?\u201d\n\nIn speaking of hell-fire in the ninth chapter of the gospel by Mark the\neternal\u2014_aionion_\u2014immortal Son of God five times says it is a fire \u201cwhich\nis not\u201d and \u201cnever shall be quenched.\u201d If it never shall be quenched, can\nwe possibly err in supposing that it will burn forever? \u201cThen shall he say\nalso unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into\neverlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.\u201d Mat. 25:41. \u201cAnd\nshall be tormented day and night forever and ever.\u201d Rev. 20:10. \u201cAnd the\nsmoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever.\u201d Rev. 14:11.\n\nThere are yet many other scriptures which positively teach everlasting\npunishment in an endless hell. Whatever fears this doctrine may bring to\ndeluded souls, and however zealously they may labor for its refutation, it\nstands unshaken. If you fear eternal punishment do not endeavor to calm\nyour fears by seeking to believe there is no endless torment, but seek the\nSavior, who will save you from your sins and fears, and give you hope,\nblessed hope, of everlasting peace and rest.\n\n\n\n\nChapter XI. Spiritual Culture.\n\n\n\u201cAnd this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this\nlife is in his Son.\u201d 1 John 5:11. There is eternal life in Jesus, but for\nman to come into possession of this life he must comply with the\nrequirements made by the Bible. After getting into possession of this life\nthere are certain duties which man must faithfully perform to retain and\ndevelop it. After entering the wide fields of grace development is\nnecessary. \u201cBut grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior\nJesus Christ.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:18. Nutrition necessary for the development of\nspiritual life is contained in the Word of God. \u201cMan shall not live by\nbread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.\u201d\nMat. 4:4. \u201cAs new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye\nmay prow thereby.\u201d 1 Pet. 2:2.\n\nBy proper culture\u2014attending to Christian duties\u2014the Christ-life in the\nsoul will be strengthened, and daily we will become stronger in faith,\nricher in virtue, deeper in knowledge, more strictly temperate, exercise a\ngreater degree of brotherly kindness and godliness, and enjoy more of\nheaven\u2019s pure love in our hearts. Neglect the proper Scriptural culture of\nthe spiritual life and the Christian will degenerate into a few irksome\nduties of cold formality. By the writers of the New Testament we are\nurgently exhorted, yea, commanded, to attend to certain duties necessary\nto keep us in the love of God. Of these especially important are reading\nthe Scripture, prayer, fasting, examination, meditation, etc.\n\n\n\nReading The Scripture.\n\n\n\u201cThy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.\u201d \u201cI love thy\ncommandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.\u201d \u201cThe law of thy mouth is\nbetter unto me than thousands of gold and silver.\u201d Psa. 119:140, 127, 72.\nThe Bible, to the Christian, is a richer treasure than gold. No other book\nis read with such deep, amazing interest. The soul ravishingly feasts upon\nthe pure, simple truth. It is manna. It is life. \u201cHow sweet are thy words\nunto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.\u201d Psa. 119:103. When\nthe soul gets to taste of the honeyed sweetness of God\u2019s Word it endears\nit to God and the Bible so as to make death preferable to separation. \u201cO\nhow love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.\u201d Psa. 119:97. Exile\nto Patmos would not be so lonely to the Christian did he but have his\nBible.\n\n\u201cAll scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for\ndoctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:\nthat the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good\nworks.\u201d 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. The Word of God contains sufficient instructions\nand corrections to properly develop the Christ-life in the soul, if it is\nheeded. By looking into this perfect law of God and continuing in its\nteaching one will imbibe its spirit, its life, its power, until his own\nlife will reveal the truly high and ennobling principles of the precious\nvolume from heaven. The true sentiment of the Bible will be so interwoven\ninto his very existence that his decorum will be so influenced by the\npower of divine truth that all who read his life will but read God\u2019s Holy\nBook.\n\nThe Bible tells us of heaven, the eternal, happy home of the righteous. It\ntells us of sin and how it deprives the soul the privilege of entering\nthat bright mansion of everlasting rest. It tells of a Savior who saves\nfrom sin, and fits and prepares man to receive from God\u2019s hands great\neternal rewards. It unfolds to us the beautiful character of God and\nencourages our souls to imitate his perfect example. It speaks of our\nHeavenly Father\u2019s loving providence, how that he is ever watching over us,\nand guiding us with his eye; how that no harm shall ever befall us, and\nwhen we pass through the rivers they shall not overflow us; when we walk\nthrough the fire we shall not be burned; how that he will withhold no good\nthing from us, but will cause all things to work for our good; how that he\nbears our burdens and shelters us beneath his wing. The Bible is the\nChristian\u2019s guide to a haven of rest; to make sure he is traveling in the\nright course, he must study it well. He must run the way of its\ncommandments. To be a fruitful Christian he must search it and be a doer\nof its precepts, ever gaining knowledge and practising what he knows. Ah,\nmy Bible! it is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway.\n\n\n Precious volume, ever lie\n Very near my heart and eye;\n All the precepts of thy page\n Ever shall my soul engage.\n\n\n\nPrayer.\n\n\nPrayer has brought a comfort to many a sorrowing heart. It has wiped away\nmany a tear. Prayer is the Christian\u2019s stronghold. There can be no real\nprogress in the divine life without earnest prayer. A decline in spiritual\nlife usually begins at the secret closet. Satan knows what a powerful\nweapon prayer is in the hands of a saint. As Cowper has said,\n\n\n Satan trembles when he sees\n The weakest saint upon his knees.\n\n\nThe Bible says, \u201cThe effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth\nmuch.\u201d Jas. 5:16.\n\nPrayer to be effectual must be offered, in faith. The prayer of faith has\naccomplished wonders in every age of the world. It has stopped the mouths\nof lions. It has subdued kingdoms, obtained promises, quenched the\nviolence of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword. By the prayer of\nfaith the weak have become strong and turned to flight the armies of the\naliens. The weak child of God by prayer develops into strong manhood. When\nengaged in a severe contest with the enemy of your soul the prayer of\nfaith draws upon the strength of heaven and thus you become stronger in\nGod. In a time of heavy and sore trials by looking upward unto God in\nconfidence we conquer. For this reason the trial of our faith is more\nprecious than gold. \u201cWhat things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe\nthat ye receive them, and ye shall have them.\u201d Mark 11:24. \u201cIf ye abide in\nme, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be\ndone unto you.\u201d John 15:7. \u201cAnd whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that\nwill I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask\nanything in my name, I will do it.\u201d John 14:13, 14. \u201cHitherto have ye\nasked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be\nfull.\u201d \u201cAnd whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his\ncommandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.\u201d 1 John\n3:22.\n\nWith these promises before us we certainly ought to be encouraged to\nstrive earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. It is the\nprayer of faith that moves God upon his throne. Words offered in mere form\nare powerless. \u201cHe that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he\nis a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,\u201d for \u201cwithout faith it is\nimpossible to please him.\u201d Heb. 11:6. Man that asks of God and wavers in\nhis faith is compared to the restless waves of the sea. \u201cBut let him ask\nin faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea\ndriven of the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall\nreceive anything of the Lord.\u201d Jas. 1:6, 7.\n\nThere is a difference between simple faith and presumption. Some people\ntake things for granted because God has promised similar things, without\nconsidering well if their prayer is according to the will of God. The Lord\nhas promised bodily healing to his children. He says, \u201cThe prayer of faith\nshall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have\ncommitted sins, they shall be forgiven him.\u201d Jas. 5:15. This is\nconditional, the conditions being recorded in the following verse:\n\u201cConfess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may\nbe healed.\u201d The glorious Bible doctrine of divine healing has many times\nbeen disgraced by mere presumption. Many when they are anointed presume\nthey are healed because God has promised it in his Word when they have\nfailed to sit in the valley of humiliation to learn of God their faults\nthat need correction. They find in a short time that their presumption\ndoes not prove effectual and witnesses are made to scorn the idea of\ndivine healing. We hear of no relapsing in a few days of those who were\nhealed by the Lord and his church in the morning light. If any had such\nsevere trials of faith as to be as sick or worse than ever apparently, it\nwas thought wisdom to exclude such testimony from the Bible, and if wise\nto exclude it from the Bible, we are persuaded it is wise to exclude it\nfrom public testimony at any time.\n\nThe same may be said of prayers for spiritual and temporal blessings.\nNever mistake presumption for faith. An individual might ask God for some\ntemporal blessing and because God has promised to supply \u201call our needs,\u201d\nand if \u201cwe ask anything he will do it,\u201d take it for granted he is soon\ngoing to receive it, and when it fails to appear is disappointed and\ndiscouraged. By close examination it will be found that there was not a\nhumble resignation of all things into the hands of God. The prayer was\ntinctured with selfish desire and more presuming than heart-felt faith.\nFor a perfect operation of faith that will draw blessings and life and\npower from God to the soul there must be a humble yielding, a perfect\nsurrender of all to the Father\u2019s loving control. When all is resigned, and\nwe sit in holy submission at his feet, faith will spring up, and if it is\nfor some temporal blessing we are asking, God will answer to the soul and\nwe will know and feel within us that we have the object desired. Though we\nhave it not as yet in our possession it will never fail to appear at God\u2019s\nown appointed time, which is never too late. We believe that many presume\nthat they are sanctified, but afterwards discover that they have not a\nperfect and pure heart. In all probability there was a lack in the\nconsecration, which hindered a perfect operation of faith, and presumption\nwas mistaken for belief. Such has doubtless been the result also in\nseeking justification. Positive faith affects God on his throne and brings\na clear understanding consciousness to the soul.\n\nSome one may wonder in what way the prayer of faith offered when we are\nsick, or prayers for temporal needs can advantage us in the development of\nspiritual life. God has so arranged that the prayer of faith that brings\nhealing virtue to the afflicted body also brings a blessing and an\nincrease to the soul. Prayer that reaches God in a time of temporal need\nnot only moves him to grant the petition, but also adds new strength and\nenergy to the inner being. Thus God may permit us to be afflicted or to be\nin great need of food or raiment to awaken our souls to earnest imploring\nprayer for our spiritual advantage. When all is dark before and behind us,\nwhen storm-clouds hang heavy over us and temptations grow manifold, we are\nmade keenly conscious that our whole and only dependence is upon God. Then\non wings of faith the trembling soul comes into God\u2019s majestic presence to\nimplore his aid, his help, in time of need. In his fatherly care he\nextends his hand and lifts us above the storm-clouds of affliction and\ntemptation into beautiful light. It will be found that our soul is\nwonderfully increased in God. Thus prayer offered in these times of\ngreatest need always prove a blessing to the spiritual life. Our own dear\nchildren could save themselves from much chastisement by obedience. Thus\nthe children of God would doubtless be spared many an affliction if they\nwere more strictly obedient to him.\n\nHow often should we pray? David says, \u201cEvening, and morning, and at noon,\nwill I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.\u201d Psa. 55:17. Again\nhe says, \u201cSeven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous\njudgments.\u201d Psa. 119:164. The apostle Paul exhorts us to \u201cpray without\nceasing.\u201d 1 Thes. 5:17. We do not understand by this last text that the\nChristian is to be constantly in an attitude of prayer. No one can\nreasonably demand such a strict interpretation. For constant spiritual\ngrowth we should follow the example of the holy prophets and apostles and\nhave regular daily visits to our altar of prayer. Beside this if you\ndesire the beautiful character of Christ to unfold in your soul and life\nyou should be careful to constantly maintain a prayerful frame of spirit.\nHow often one should go within their closet, circumstances must decide.\nWhere circumstances afford much time for prayer we assure you to be no\nloser by living much behind your closed door.\n\nThe spiritual man may be compared to the physical man in a sense, or to a\ncertain extent. The physical man demands food for its sustenance. It\nfeasts at the breakfast table, then goes, using the strength derived in\nperforming the vocations of life. In a few hours there will be a demand\nfor more, as the force of the former meal is spent. \u201cBut man shall not\nlive by bread alone.\u201d The soul feasts upon the life of God in prayer and\nis strengthened, you then engage in the duties of life. In a short time\nyou will feel the pangs of hunger in your soul. There is a longing for a\ndeep communion with God. This is your best guide as to how often you\nshould pray if your soul is in a good healthy state. It may not be\nconvenient for you to go into your closet every time you feel your soul\n\u201cpanting after God,\u201d but you can lift up your heart to him in the best\nmanner you can under the circumstances, and then go and feast at your\nprivate altar at your very earliest convenience.\n\nThe physical and spiritual man differ with respect to overeating. Too much\nfood is injurious to the animal man, but the danger of surfeiting was not\nspoken of the soul. The inner man may feast and banquet and drink of\nspiritual stores and streams and the soul will grow and develop\naccordingly. There is but little danger of lingering too long at the\nfeast. There is much danger of famine while the Christian as a citizen of\nthis world has certain secular duties to perform, yet amid these he\ncommunes and walks with God. While he may be intellectually engaged in the\nproblems of life, the higher affections of his soul live upon heavenly\nthings. He thus drinks of the refreshing dews of glory until the beauteous\ngraces of Christ are imbibed and infused throughout his very existence and\nthe holy image of God is seen upon him.\n\nThe effect of a prayer of faith is almost without limit. By it Daniel shut\nthe mouths of lions. The Hebrews walked unhurt amid the flames. Elijah\nshut up the heavens until it did not rain for more than three years. The\nwaters of the sea have been divided, the walls of cities thrown down,\narmies turned to flight, kingdoms subdued, the prison-doors opened, the\nbarren womb has become fruitful, the lame have been made to walk, the deaf\nto hear, the blind to see, the dead raised to life and the soul redeemed.\nOh, the wonders of prayer!\n\nSatan, knowing how disastrous to his kingdom is the Christian\u2019s prayer of\nfaith, will do all he can to hinder. He will heap upon you duties of life;\ntell you that you have no time for prayer. When you do pray he will try to\nmake your prayers hurried and insincere. He will try to divert your\nattention when at the altar of prayer. He will be constantly presenting\nthoughts of secular duties. He will strive to make your devotions formal\nand irksome. He will cast over you a feeling of awful indifference and\nthen advise you not to pray until you feel more like it. He will make the\nheavens appear as brass above you, and tell you God does not hear you.\nChristian, you know by the Word of God what is your duty. It is to pray.\nThen pray you must. It is the language of the Bible. Disregarding your\nfeelings, pray. Disregarding the suggestions of Satan, pray. As you value\nyour soul, pray, and \u201cpray without ceasing.\u201d\n\n\n\nFastings.\n\n\nThat the apostle Paul considered fasting an excellent means for spiritual\ndevelopment is evident from his writings. He says that the ministers of\nGod should approve themselves by \u201cmuch patience, in afflictions, in\nnecessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in\nlabors, in watchings, in fastings.\u201d 2 Cor. 6:4, 5. In speaking of himself,\nhe says he was \u201cin weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in\nhunger and thirst, in fastings often.\u201d 2 Cor. 11:27. In Acts 27:33, we\nlearn that on the occasion of the shipwreck fourteen days were spent in\nfasting. This is not the doing of penance that the priests of mystic\nBabylon bind upon their subjects, but the cheerful service of a humble,\ndevoted heart. God has not left this at the direction of man, but it is\nalone at the dictation of the Holy Spirit.\n\nThere is a secret power in fasting. It separates us farther from self and\ndeepens us in humility, spirituality and reliance upon God. On occasions\nwhere great faith was required, fastings were recommended by the Savior.\nIn speaking to his disciples concerning the devils which possessed a\nchild, he said, \u201cThis kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.\u201d Mat.\n17:21. When Paul and Barnabas were separated by the Holy Spirit unto the\nwork of the Lord, after fasting and prayer hands were laid upon them and\nthey were sent away. When fasting, the mind is clearer and the faith more\nactive. It is a self-denial, which has a tendency to develop the graces of\nthe Spirit.\n\nIt is said of a certain prophetess that dwelt in Jerusalem in the days of\nour Savior\u2019s nativity, that she departed not from the temple, but served\nGod with fastings and prayers night and day. Luke 2:36, 37.\n\nThe most spiritual Christians are ready to acknowledge that fasting is an\nexcellent means of drawing us into a deeper and more intimate communion\nwith God. We scarcely think that any one will attain to any great\nspiritual depth without fasting. When the Christian\u2019s soul is burdened for\nthis lost world it is natural for him to unburden his soul to God in\nfasting and prayer. How beautifully has the Lord arranged all things in\nthe kingdom of heaven! He by his Spirit, lays a burden upon our heart for\nthe souls of lost mankind. This burden causes us to seek God in fasting\nand prayer for these lost ones, and our prayers move him to send forth his\nSpirit to convict this world of sin. Thus it is arranged in the economy of\ngrace, and thus we can all be \u201cworkers together with him.\u201d\n\nIt is sad that comparatively so few know the value of the sincere prayer\nof faith. Fasting and prayer affect this whole world, and heaven and hell.\nChristian, do not be sparing in them. Christians are few, but there are\nenough of them upon the earth, that if all were earnest in fasting and\nprayer this world would be disturbed in her slumber and sinners be made to\nfear before the wrath of God. To be unwilling to fast when we feel the\nmovings of God\u2019s Spirit upon us to that end, is to soon become so dull and\nstupid spiritually that we will have but little burden or concern for\nperishing souls. If we want to walk with God and have a deep concern for\nhis cause and love for lost mankind we must be self-denying and \u201cin\nfastings often.\u201d\n\n\n\nTrials And Temptations.\n\n\nYou may wonder why we have arranged the subject of \u201cTrials and\nTemptations\u201d in the chapter of \u201cSpiritual Culture.\u201d It is because they are\nan excellent means of our growth in divine things. \u201cAll things work\ntogether for good to them that love God.\u201d Trials prove to be for our good\nin the spiritual life if we will boldly and bravely meet them in Jesus\u2019\nname. We are encouraged by the apostle James to count all temptations a\njoy. It is evident that the apostle would not exhort us to count\ntemptations a joy if they were not for our good. The Bible tells us there\nis a tempter. 1 Thes. 3:5. We also learn from the sacred page that God\ndoes not tempt any man. Jas. 1:13. Matthew tells us that the devil is the\ntempter. Mat. 4:1. God permits Satan to try and tempt us as we learn from\nJob\u2019s experience. Satan can not tempt us beyond what God permits, and God\nwill not permit him to tempt us beyond what we are able to bear. He does\nnot permit one to be tempted more than another, but we all have\ntemptations such as are common to man. 1 Cor. 10:13.\n\nJesus was tempted in every manner that man is tempted, yet without sin.\nHeb. 4:15. Jesus was not overcome by temptation, but he faithfully\nendured. Because he was thus tempted and overcame, he knows how to deliver\nthe godly out of temptation. 2 Pet. 2:9. Not only does he know how to\ndeliver us out of temptation, but he is fully able to do so. Heb. 2:18.\n\nTemptations and trials are necessary in the Christian life. But few people\nrealize the value of temptation. But few people, or perhaps none but what\nwould backslide if they did not have any trials. God has so arranged it in\nthe nature of Christianity or spiritual life that in order for the soul to\ngrow and develop it must be tested and tried. Leaning upon God in time of\nstrong temptation only increases our strength in God. Man would become\nindependent of God, however much he may think to the contrary, if he had\nno trials and temptations. No true-hearted Christian has trials only such\nas he needs. Peter says, \u201cWherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a\nseason, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.\u201d 1\nPet. 1:6. Christian, do you not value your spiritual prosperity above all\nelse? Then never complain nor become discouraged because of the heavy and\nmanifold temptations. God knows how to deal with you. You may sometimes\nthink you know best, but in this you are mistaken. Father knoweth best. He\nloves you and will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what your needs\nare, and what he will enable you to bear, if you will but trust in him.\n\nWhen your way grows very dark and temptation\u2019s billows roll high, when the\nflames of fiery trials seem to almost consume your soul, will you not\nremember that just as you are being tempted, Jesus was also tempted, yet\nhe was not overcome? Also remember that he knows how to deliver you, and\nis able to do it. God sees that you need this and he is permitting it to\nmold you and fashion you into his own holy image. These are the refining\nflames that serve to consume the dross and make you perfectly pure. Our\nheavenly Father chasteneth us for our profit, that we might be partakers\nof his holiness. Heb. 12:10. God has given us a promise, which, if you\nwill remember in faith, will enable you to endure. \u201cBlessed is the man\nthat endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive a crown of\nlife, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.\u201d Jas. 1:12.\n\n\n When in trial\u2019s heated furnace,\n In temptation\u2019s deep, wide sea,\n Like with sainted Hebrew children,\n Jesus walketh there with me.\n\n\n\nMeditation.\n\n\nThat meditation does affect one\u2019s spirituality is an unquestionable fact.\nVagrant thought is well calculated to dull the finer sensibilities of the\nsoul, thereby rendering it less capable of impression by the Spirit of\nGod. \u201cKeeping in touch with God,\u201d is a very familiar expression among\nholiness people at this present time, but what does it imply? We are all\nat sea when not in touch with him. To be so kept is to have everything in\nus fully alive to God. Every Christian grace must be in a state of perfect\nhealth and vigorous growth. If there be any dwarfed condition of the\nspiritual being in any part it will be less sensible to God\u2019s touch.\n\nThe blind have been known to cultivate the sense of touch in the physical\nbeing to the amazing acuteness of being able to distinguish color. The\nsense of touch in the soul by careful, earnest husbandry can be refined to\nsuch a degree as to make it susceptible to the slightest impression of the\nHoly Spirit.\n\nIn the creation, the moral being was given the capability of being\ninfluenced and controlled by the Spirit of the Lord. By sin this electric\ncurrent from God\u2019s presence to man\u2019s soul, like the separation of the\nAtlantic cable, was divided. Man becoming thus disconnected from God\u2019s\npower and impressive guidance was left to be operated by the influences of\na wicked world. Through the redemptive power of Jesus\u2019 blood man is again\nbrought into union with God. The divided cable is taken up and united, and\nman\u2019s soul wondrously animated by God\u2019s presence.\n\nSo cultured may become the sensibilities of the inner being, and so\nthoroughly impregnated by God\u2019s enlivening power, that one empty thought,\ncausing the slightest ebbing of life\u2019s current flow is keenly felt. To\nkeep in perfect touch with God is to live where there is a soul\nconsciousness that he is pleased with every act of life; where there is a\nwitnessing \u201csweet and clear\u201d of the Spirit to the inmost soul that the\nwords of your mouth and the meditations of your heart are acceptable unto\nhim.\n\nPure and holy meditations are an excellent means for the culture and\nrefinement of man\u2019s moral being. Useless thought makes the soul coarse,\nand difficult of impression by good influences. By associating with God\nthrough prayer and meditation man\u2019s spiritual entity will develop into his\nown glorious image. By communion with the Lord his pure character is\nassimilated into our own until our lives become but the fruit of a vine\nwhich has its origin in the rich soil around Heaven\u2019s throne. If you can\nindulge a train of careless, vagabond thought, and not be severely smitten\nin conscience, you are far from being in touch with God. The spiritual\ndepression and awful benumbing stupidity, the disrelish for prayer and\nreading the Bible, is often the result of entertaining empty, fruitless\nmeditations. The Scriptures tell us what are wholesome subjects for\nthought, and what are not. \u201cThe thought of foolishness is sin.\u201d Prov.\n24:9. \u201cI hate vain thoughts.\u201d Psa. 119:113.\n\nVain and foolish thoughts are very destructive to spirituality, and should\nbe hated and carefully guarded against by every lover of God\u2019s law. Many\npeople find it difficult to stay their mind upon the Lord. While reading\nthe Bible and in secret prayer their thoughts are disposed to wander. The\nwonderful works of God scarcely awaken any admiration within them. They\ncan not elevate their soul into a profound awe before his awful presence,\nand there is but little conscious depth of inner reverence and devotion to\nhis dear name. There is a blessed remedy for this serious trouble.\nCarefully watch your meditations. Call the oftener upon God in some silent\nsecret place. Select some secluded, hallowed place for meditation. It is\nsaid of Isaac that he went into the field at eventide to meditate. Gen.\n24:63. This is a time well suited to draw the soul out into deep, intimate\ncommunion with God. Learn to admire the wondrous works of the Creator.\nMeditate upon them. The setting of the sun, the starry heavens, the fleecy\nfloating clouds, the silent hills, all will serve to fill your soul with\nreverential fear before God\u2019s majestic presence, and all within you be\nawed to solemn stillness at his footfall. Then you can say with the\nPsalmist, \u201cO how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.\u201d Psa.\n119:97. \u201cI will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy\nwonders of old. I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy\ndoings.\u201d Psa. 77:11, 12. \u201cMy soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and\nfatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember\nthee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.\u201d Psa. 63:5,\n6.\n\nIdle, careless thoughts generate a stupidity that will rob you of joy and\nsoul satisfaction. It will deaden the sensibilities of your inner nature\nand prevent your hearing God\u2019s footstep, and deprive you of many a\nblessing. Communion with the Lord and meditating upon his Word will\nelevate the soul to a plane all radiant with Heaven\u2019s light and love, and\nput a humility in your heart and a sweetness in every expression that will\ndistinguish you from the coarse ways of the world. \u201cI will sing unto the\nLord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my\nbeing. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.\u201d\nPsa. 104:33, 34.\n\n\n\nExamination.\n\n\nClose and impartial examination of our moral character is indispensable to\nspiritual prosperity. He who does not watch the inclinations of his heart,\nnor note the course of its affections, and direct them in the channels of\nheavenly grace, will soon have naught but a \u201cname to live.\u201d As you read\nthe infallible Word of God, ask him to let its light find entrance to the\nremotest chambers of your soul. Too many read the Scriptures in a careless\nway. The severity of God\u2019s judgments are turned aside by the enemy of\ntheir soul. We fear that too many people are to-day building hopes of\nheaven upon an experience of years ago. They will talk of the time when\nthey found the Savior and enjoyed his love. But now they have become\nformal and do not sit in impartial judgment upon their actions. The holy\napostle said, \u201cExamine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your\nown selves.\u201d 2 Cor. 13:5.\n\nClosely examine your actions, your life, your nature, and prove your\nspiritual condition by the Word of God. Thousands to-day are deceived and\non the broad way to eternal night and woe because they never stop to\nreason and to carefully examine their lives and spiritual condition in\nwhat light and knowledge they have of the Scriptures. How many will read,\n\u201cLove not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man\nlove the world the love of the Father is not in him,\u201d and pass on with a\nheart filled with the love of the world, consoling themselves that they\nare on their way to heaven. If they were but serious enough to examine\ntheir hearts they would feel the condemnation of God\u2019s Spirit as they read\nsuch texts, but ofttimes when they are brought to any consideration they\nwill search for evidence to neutralize their guilt. They will again read,\n\u201cMan shall give an account of every idle word,\u201d and go on talking\nfoolishly and jesting, seeking to believe they are God\u2019s own children. And\nthus goes the world.\n\nIf you value your soul and hope of heaven, see to it that your life is in\nstrict accordance with every requirement of the Scriptures. People are\nhaving idle talk, impure thoughts, evil surmising, feelings of pride, envy\nand hatred. They are speaking evil of their neighbors, laying up their\ntreasures upon earth, loving the world and self, rendering evil for evil,\nbackbiting, reveling, and professing to be traveling the narrow way that\nleads to eternal rest the same as if there was no Bible. Such have no\nexamination of their lives, and should they have they use some satanic\nsophistry to gloss their sin. \u201cWho is a wise man and endued with\nknowledge?\u201d It is he that shows out of a godly life that he is a\nChristian. It is he that carefully examines every act and thought and word\nand by Heaven\u2019s grace tolerates nothing in his life in opposition to the\nWord of God. Careful examination is an important factor in our spiritual\nprosperity. By carefully watching our life we can detect its defects and\nthen by earnest prayer these defects can be removed and we grow up into\nthe image of God. If you hold but little or no examination of your conduct\nthere may be many imperfections in your ways of life displeasing to God,\nand yet unknown to you. You will find it beneficial to frequently seclude\nyourself from the busy whirl of life, and enter into profound meditation\nand careful examination.\n\nWe will suggest a few general questions, which may help you in your\nretrospection. Have my meditations been pure and acceptable to God through\nthis day? Have I not spoken one idle word? Am I as thankful to God for\nblessings as I should be? Has there been any feeling of pride in my heart?\nHas there been any feeling of impatience within me? Have I felt and\nmanifested any selfishness? Have I had a due regard for the welfare and\nhappiness of others? Have my devotions been spiritual and full of\nreverence? Do I love God? Am I dead to sin? Do I love secret prayer and\nthe reading of the Bible? Do I feel as deeply as I should the sins of this\nlost world? Have I spent my money for self and withheld from God? All\ntold, what have I done for Jesus? These and many other questions the\nChristian may ask himself to see if he is in the faith.\n\n\n\nBackslidings.\n\n\nIn the chapter of \u201cSpiritual Culture\u201d we have included the subject of\nBacksliding, not that backsliding is in any sense advantageous to\nspiritual development, but it is our certain destiny if we do not\nassiduously employ the means necessary to our growth in grace. By\n_backsliding_ is meant the gradual turning back or away from God; to\napostatize. The Savior gives us warning to \u201cwatch and pray,\u201d that we\n\u201center not into temptation.\u201d The tempter will lay in your pathway all\nthings possible to induce you to turn away from God. He will suggest that\nit is not necessary to pray so much, and we do not have to keep such a\nstrict vigil over our lives and govern and rule the whole by the Word of\nGod. He may tell you that now since you are saved you are safe. God is\nable to keep you, and you have nothing now to do but to silently fold your\narms and sail to heaven on \u201cflowery beds of ease.\u201d There never was a soul\ncreated of God or recreated by his Spirit, not excepting the Savior\nhimself, since the day Adam was made of the dust, to this present time,\nbut what Satan has endeavored, by lies and machinations to turn him away\nfrom God. Thousands of millions have gone down the rapids of negligence\nand carelessness, and been lost in the whirlpool of a cold, formal\nreligion.\n\nSome teach that the soul once born of God can never apostatize. \u201cOnce in\ngrace always in grace,\u201d is the manner in which they state it. We are fully\npersuaded that the individual who teaches such a doctrine is wholly\nignorant of grace and devoid of God\u2019s enlightening Spirit. What would be\nthe need of Christians being warned to \u201cwatch and pray, lest they enter\ninto temptation,\u201d if there be no possibility of being overcome by it? If\nthere is never a return to sin after regeneration, why does John say to\nhis little children, \u201cIf any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,\nJesus Christ the righteous\u201d? 1 John 2:1.\n\nThe reader will not understand us to favor the teaching that Christians\nmust of necessity occasionally commit sin and that none live a sinless\nlife. It is impossible for man to be committing sin and at the same time\nbe a Christian. A sinning Christian is a phenomenon never known in the\nkingdom of grace. The Scriptures plainly teach that when once we enter a\nstate of grace, we should always, by living a pure, holy life, continue in\nthe same. But the teaching that when we once enter a state of grace we\nalways remain in that state, no matter what we do, is certainly very\nforeign to the Holy Scriptures and soul deluding. God spoke by the mouth\nof an Old Testament prophet nearly six hundred years before the coming of\n\u201cgrace and truth\u201d by the Savior, saying, \u201cWhen a righteous man doth turn\nfrom his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block\nbefore him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he\nshall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not\nbe remembered.\u201d Ezek. 3:20. What need be, and what can be, plainer than\nthis text? Here iniquity and sin are used interchangeably and are\nperfectly synonymous. If a righteous man (one in possession of grace)\ncommits sin his righteousness is no longer remembered. This is as much as\nto say he is no longer in grace, but is fallen. In the next verse this\nholy seer receives words from the mouth of the Almighty and gives the\nrighteous man warning that he sin not. If he does not sin he shall live.\nIt is sin that brings death to the soul. Ezek. 18:4. It is sin that\nseparates us from God. Isa. 59:2. It is sin that causes our names to be\nblotted out of the book of life. Ex. 32:33. It is sin that withholds good\nthings from us. Jer. 5:25. It is sin that destroys grace. Rom. 6:1, 2.\n\nWhat is sin? Sin is the transgression of God\u2019s law. 1 John 3:4. Who in all\nthe earth has become so boldly defiant that he can in the face of clear\nand plain Scriptural statements testify that he is in a state of grace\nwhen he is living in known violation of some of God\u2019s commandments? His\nboldness will forsake him and he wither like the frail flower beneath the\nhoary frost when he comes into the awful majestic presence of a righteous\nCreator in that great avenging day.\n\nOne of the inspired writers of the New Testament exhorts Christians to\ngive all diligence that we add virtue to our faith, and knowledge to our\nvirtue, and temperance to our knowledge, and to temperance patience, and\nto patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to\nbrotherly kindness charity. 2 Pet. 1:5-7. In the following verses he tells\nus if these things abound in us we shall be neither barren nor unfruitful\nin the knowledge of our Lord, and if we do these things we shall never\nfall. Does not this obviously imply that if we do not do them that we\nshall fall? Dear reader, if you are now a Christian and feel the glowing\nof God\u2019s pure love in your heart, if you neglect to employ the means for\ngrowth in grace that the Bible commands, that certainly you will\nbackslide, or fall from grace. You may retain a form of worship, but you\nwill be devoid of spirituality and your worship be unacceptable. We are\ncommanded to \u201cgrow in grace.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:18. In the verse above we are\nwarned against being led away by the error of the wicked and falling from\nour own steadfastness.\n\nNow it is a well established fact in the very nature of things that it\nwould be impossible to grow if there was no possibility of a decline. If\nthere be no retrogression, there can be no progression. The beloved John\nfrom the lonely isle writes unto the church of Ephesus and tells them that\nGod had somewhat against them because they had left their first love. He\ntells them to remember from whence they are fallen and repent. They once\nenjoyed the love of God\u2014they were spiritual. His redeeming grace had\nremoved the guilt of sin, but now they are fallen. He that hath an ear,\nlet him hear.\n\nHow often the apostle Paul warns the Christian against backsliding. His\nmotto was, \u201cI press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of\nGod in Christ Jesus.\u201d Phil. 3:14. In writing to the Colossians he says,\n\u201cLuke, the beloved physician, and Demas,\u201d greet you. A greeting was sent\nfrom Demas by Paul to the Colossians in the year 64, A.D. In writing his\nletter to Philemon, A.D. 64, Paul says, \u201cThere salute thee Epaphras, my\nfellow prisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my\nfellow laborers.\u201d Ver. 23, 24. Demas was one of Paul\u2019s coworkers, and\nundoubtedly enjoyed the experience of salvation by grace. In writing to\nTimothy two years later Paul says, \u201cFor Demas hath forsaken me, having\nloved this present world.\u201d 2 Tim. 4:10.\n\nAs on the other subjects of this volume many more texts and strong points\nof reasoning could be given to fixedly establish the New Testament\nteaching of the possibilities of spiritual degeneration and death, but we\nconclude that we have made all plain to the understanding of every candid\nmind. It has not been our purpose to exhaust any subject. It has not been\nour expectation to convince many gainsayers, but to bring light to the\nhearts which the Lord has prepared.\n\nOne text of Scripture used by propagators of the doctrine, \u201cWe can never\nfall from grace,\u201d is found in 1 John 3:9, and reads thus: \u201cWhosoever is\nborn of God doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him: and he can\nnot sin, because he is born of God.\u201d We believe it is safe to always give\nthe Scriptures the plainest, simplest meaning when it does not conflict\nwith the Word of God elsewhere. We should never mystify a text, but accept\nit as it reads. In 1 John 2:1, the author of this epistle says, \u201cMy little\nchildren, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man\nsin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.\u201d\nCertainly every reader understands John to here teach that it is possible\nfor man to sin, or in other words, no man in this life passes beyond the\npossibilities of sin. Now to understand him to say in the ninth verse of\nthe third chapter that when we are once born of God we can not possibly\nsin, makes him to teach contradictory doctrines. Such we know he does not\ndo, and since 1 John 2:1 is too plain to be misunderstood, we must look\nabout to harmonize with it, in the most simple way, 1 John 3:9. We will\nquote Rotherham on this text: \u201cNo one that hath been begotten of God doeth\nsin, because his seed in him abideth, and he can not be sinning, because\nof God has he been begotten.\u201d To be begotten of God is to be pardoned or\nsaved from sin.\n\nThe seed (the Christ-life) abides in the soul in the regenerated state.\nThe seeds of life are supplanted by the seeds of death when we commit sin.\nNo one is born of God when spiritual life has been destroyed by sin. No\nman can be \u201csinning\u201d and be a child of God. One who has been saved may be\novercome and commit sin, but when he does so he is not God\u2019s child. This\ntext does not teach the impossibility of committing sin after we are born\nof God, but only the impossibility of committing sin and being a\nChristian.\n\n\n\n\nChapter XII. The Course Of The World.\n\n\nUnmistakably there exists a wide gulf of separation between the children\nof God and the children of the world. Christ is the only avenue of escape\nfrom the world. The wide, open door of salvation is the exit. He who would\nreturn from the blissful shores of Christianity to the beggarly elements\nof the world can do so only on the transporting barges of Satan. As a tree\nis known by its fruits, so is a true follower of Christ. The fruit borne\nby a Christian is directly opposite in its nature to the fruit borne by\nthe worldling. It is not the profession merely that produces the\nseparation, but it is the manner of life. The Son of God is the great\nexemplar of Christianity. Just what true Christian principles did in him\nwill in the very nature of things do for all who possess like principles.\nWe are forced to the conclusion that the professed follower of Christ is\ndestitute of Christian principles when he delights himself in worldliness.\nJesus said of himself, \u201cI am not of this world.\u201d John 8:23. He says of his\nfollowers, \u201cIf ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but\nbecause ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,\ntherefore the world hateth you.\u201d John 15:19.\n\nPaul bears testimony to his separation from the world by the grace of God.\nIn Eph. 2:2, 3 he speaks of the time when he lived among those who were\nworldly. He says, \u201cWherein [in sin] in time past ye walked according to\nthe course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,\nthe spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom\nalso we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,\nfulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind: and were by nature\nthe children of wrath, even as others.\u201d In the next two verses he\ntestifies to the effects of saving grace: \u201cBut God, who is rich in mercy,\nfor his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins,\nhath quickened us together with Christ; by grace ye are saved.\u201d It must be\nmade obvious to all by these texts that salvation from sin by grace saves\nfrom walking according to the course of the world.\n\nAgain the apostle gives testimony: \u201cBut God forbid that I should glory,\nsave in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified\nunto me, and I unto the world.\u201d Gal. 6:14. How true! When man accepts\nChrist he is by him separated from the world. Jesus was not of the world.\nHe was the light of the world. The world was in darkness. Light is the\nopposite of darkness. Had he been of the world and like the world he would\nnot have been a light. Christians are said to be \u201cthe light of the world,\u201d\nand are to shine as lights in the world. They are lights in the world\nbecause of the righteous principles they possess and manifest. They are\nlike Jesus and in as direct contrast to the world as he. The Savior says,\n\u201cI have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they\nare not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou\nshouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them\nfrom the evil. They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.\u201d\nJohn 17:14-16.\n\nIt is impossible for the heart\u2019s affections to be centered upon opposing\nnatures. For instance, it is impossible for man to admire honesty and\ndishonesty; to love temperance and intemperance; to enjoy peace and\nstrife. It is equally impossible for man to both love and possess sin and\nrighteousness. \u201cNo man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the\none, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the\nother. Ye can not serve God and mammon.\u201d Mat. 6:24. It is impossible to\nlove God and the world: \u201cLove not the world, neither the things that are\nin the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in\nhim. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of\nthe eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the\nworld. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth\nthe will of God abideth forever.\u201d 1 John 2:15-17. \u201cFor do I now persuade\nmen, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I\nshould not be the servant of Christ.\u201d Gal. 1:10. \u201cYe adulterers and\nadulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with\nGod? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of\nGod.\u201d Jas. 4:4.\n\nThese are plain declarative texts. It is not meant by them that Christians\ndo not love sinners and can not be friends to them. Christ loved and died\nfor sinners. He visited them in their homes while here on earth, but never\ndid he approve of their sinful ways. He never participated with them in\nanything that was worldly. He was not influenced by the world into any\nspirit of worldly merriment. He loved the souls of men, but he did not\nlove the world. He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from\nsinners. Heb. 7:26. Christians, like Christ, love mankind, and are\nfriendly and treat with respect and kindness the sinner, but never\nparticipate with him, nor become influenced in sinful, worldly ways. The\naffections of the Christian are set on things above. Col. 3:1.\n\n\n\nPersecutions.\n\n\nIn the early ministry of the Savior there is an intimation that the\nrighteous shall be persecuted. It is found in these words: \u201cBlessed are\nthey which are persecuted for righteousness\u2019 sake: for theirs is the\nkingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and\npersecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for\nmy sake.\u201d Mat. 5:10, 11. From whence may the righteous expect these\npersecutions? We learned in the preceding subject that Christians were not\nof the world. We learn also by the Scriptures that they are hated by the\nworld. Jesus was hated by the world because of the light of Christian\nvirtue and righteousness that shone through him. Those that glorify God by\nreflecting the righteousness of Christ to the world will be regarded with\nthe same feeling. \u201cIf the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before\nit hated you.\u201d John 15:18. In every age of the world, from the days of\nCain and Abel to the present, true Christians have been hated and\npersecuted by the wicked, and especially by false worshipers.\n\nWe will farther quote the language of the Savior: \u201cIf ye were of the\nworld, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world,\nbut I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.\nRemember the word I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his\nLord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they\nhave kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will\nthey do unto you for my name\u2019s sake, because they know not him that sent\nme.\u201d John 15:19-21. When pretended worshipers of God are free from\npersecutions for Christ\u2019s sake it is because they are worshipers in form\nonly, but in spirit they are worldly. In truth these people are usually\nforemost in persecuting the true children of God. Jesus was persecuted and\nhated by the very pretentious Pharisees and Sadducees. \u201cHe came unto his\nown, and his own received him not.\u201d John 1:11. Those who professed to be\nchildren of Abraham sought to take the Savior\u2019s life. John 8:39, 40.\nBecause Jesus by a pure, holy life rebuked sin, because he in burning\nwords of Heaven\u2019s glorious truth exposed the hypocrisy of the proud Jews,\nbecause he told them of their sins, they gnashed upon him with their\nteeth; they told him he had a devil; they spit upon him; they smote him;\nthey mocked him; they placed a crown of thorns upon his brow, and were the\ninstigators of his death.\n\nJesus says to his own beloved followers: \u201cIf they have persecuted me, they\nwill also persecute you.\u201d John 15:20. \u201cIf they have called the master of\nthe house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?\u201d\nMat. 10:25. \u201cAnd ye shall be hated of all men for my name\u2019s sake.\u201d Luke\n21:17. Those who live like Jesus, those who will boldly declare the truth\nof the gospel, and rebuke sin and hypocrisy, they shall receive\npersecutions from wicked men, and cold, proud-hearted professors, as did\nthe Savior. \u201cYea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall\nsuffer persecution.\u201d 2 Tim. 3:12.\n\nChristians must suffer the taunts of a sinful world, but they \u201crejoice,\ninasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ\u2019s sufferings; that, when his glory\nshall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be\nreproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory\nand of God resteth upon you.\u201d 1 Pet. 4:13, 14. \u201cBlessed are ye when men\nshall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and\nshall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man\u2019s\nsake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward\nis great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the\nprophets.\u201d Luke 6:22, 23.\n\nOne evening, shortly after God by his saving grace had separated us from\nthe world and bestowed his righteousness upon us, we for Christ\u2019s sake\nreceived insults and abuse from the wicked. We turned away from our\npersecutors and entered the privacy of our home, when a rich glory rested\nin such a heavenly sweetness upon our souls that we cried out, \u201cO God, why\nam I so wonderfully blessed?\u201d The answer came: \u201cIf ye be reproached for\nthe name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God\nresteth upon you.\u201d \u201cRejoice ye in that day and leap for joy.\u201d The grace\nand glory that was poured out upon our soul on this occasion would have\nmade the coals and flames of martyrdom a bed of sweet repose.\n\nStephen as he faced death at the hands of cruel persecutors, saw the glory\nof God and the heavens opened and saw the Son of man for whose sake he was\nnow stoned. Paul and Silas with their feet made fast in the stocks at\nmidnight prayed and sang praises to God. Is it not an occasion of wonder\nand astonishment how the bigoted zeal of deceived and blinded, high-minded\nprofessors leads them to become the most vile persecutors of the\nrighteous? Paul persecuted the church of God and wasted it. He thought he\nwas doing God\u2019s service. The children of God in every age have received\ntheir persecutions from religious bigots, and so will it ever be. We\nrejoice to be counted worthy to suffer for Jesus\u2019 sake. We glory in the\nmidst of tribulations. The Spirit of God and of glory rests upon the\ndevoted Christian in affliction\u2019s furnace, and a bright, blessed hope of\ngreat eternal reward ever cheers and nerves his faltering soul. He, who,\nin this dark world will suffer with the Savior shall share a blissful\neternity with him.\n\n\n\nAmusements.\n\n\nThe affections of a Christian\u2019s heart are set on things above, and not on\nthings on the earth. Col. 3:2. The entertainments, such as suppers,\nfestivals, parties, concerts, regardless of what may be the ultimate\nobject, are engaged in and enjoyed only by the worldly minded and\ngraceless hearted. \u201cShe that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.\u201d\n1 Tim. 5:6. Those who find enjoyment in the amusements afforded by the\nworld are without spiritual life. \u201cGo to now, ye rich men, weep and howl\nfor your miseries that shall come upon you.... Ye have lived in pleasure\non the earth, and been wanton.\u201d Jas. 5:1, 5. A life of pleasure here on\nthe earth in wantonness is directly opposed to a life with Christ. \u201cNo man\ncan serve two masters.\u201d People who participate in and enjoy the socials,\nthe suppers, the fairs, and picnics, the Christmas festivities and church\nentertainments of the present time have but little or no comprehension of\ntrue Christianity. They are ignorant of God\u2019s true character and the power\nand beauty of his holiness. Children of God are to live \u201csoberly,\nrighteously, and godly in this present world.\u201d Titus 2:12.\n\nRevelry is one of the fruits of the flesh, which if borne in our life, or,\nin other words, if we engage in, Paul tells us we shall never inherit the\nkingdom of God. Gal. 5:21. Peter tells us that the time of his life when\nhe walked in sin, when he indulged in the lusts of the flesh was\nsufficient to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, to walk in lusts and\nengage in revelings and banquetings. Salvation saved him from such a life,\nand his former worldly associates think it strange that he will not engage\nwith them in the worldly riotousness and pleasures any longer, and because\nhe is saved from such a course they speak evil of him. This is the\nsubstance of 1 Pet. 4:1-4. The gay scenes of a worldly life with their\npleasures and mirth have no delight for the heart filled with Christian\nlove. He who loves God has no love for worldly sports. The pleasurable\nsociety of Jesus destroys all taste for the society of the world. The\nChristian\u2019s walk is alone with God.\n\n\n\nConversation.\n\n\nAn individual saved by grace will experience a marked change in his\nlanguage. The apostle says that in the time of his life when he walked\naccording to the world he had his conversation in the lusts of the flesh.\nEph. 2:2, 3. It is true the word \u201cconversation\u201d in this text, and many\nothers, is by many translators rendered \u201cconduct,\u201d which is a more correct\ntranslation. But this is made to include the words of speech. \u201cOut of the\nabundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.\u201d Mat. 12:34. Where worldliness\nand foolishness is lodged in the heart it will be manifest in the\nconversation. Gay, frivolous, foolish talk, mirthful stories, and language\nin jest, indicate a graceless heart. Listen at the world in conversation.\nNote the idle bywords, the slang phrases, the jestings, the gay, giddy,\nfoolish expressions, the low and impure speech, which is all foreign to\nthe kingdom of grace. Man is not to be known by his profession, but by his\nfruits: \u201cWherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.\u201d Mat. 7:20. Thus we\nknow regardless of profession, when man\u2019s conversation is as the above,\nthat he is destitute of God\u2019s pure love and grace.\n\n\u201cBe ye holy in all manner of conversation,\u201d is the command of God\u2019s holy\nWord as recorded in 1 Pet. 1:15. From a pure heart can only flow a pure\nand holy speech. \u201cLet no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,\nbut that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace\nunto the hearers.\u201d Eph. 4:29. Our words are to be in such gravity and\nsincerity, in such depth of wisdom, and so flavored with the seasoning\nqualities of grace as to be elevating or inspiring to a higher degree of\npiety the listener. \u201cLet your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with\nsalt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.\u201d Col. 4:6. God\u2019s\nsaving grace effects a change in the heart, and as a natural result a\nchange in the conversation. Paul no longer walked according to the course\nof this world in conversation when saved by the grace of God.\n\nWhere there are amusing stories told, idle expressions, unmeaning remarks,\njestings and jokings, regardless of the assumed sanctity in the hour of\npublic worship, it is a life after the manner of the world, and betrays a\nheart devoid of God\u2019s sober, solemn, holy presence, and the sanctimonious\nappearance on sacred occasions is but an effort of the human will, and not\nthe deep piety and spontaneous reverence of the heart. Jesus said that for\nevery idle word that men shall speak they shall give an account thereof in\nthe day of judgment: \u201cFor by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy\nwords thou shalt be condemned.\u201d Mat. 12:36, 37. \u201cYoung men likewise exhort\nto be sober-minded. In all things, showing thyself a pattern of good\nworks: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound\nspeech, that can not be condemned.\u201d Titus 2:6-8. \u201cBut fornication, and all\nuncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as\nbecometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting,\nwhich are not convenient.\u201d Eph. 5:3, 4. Slang phrases, gay, frivolous,\nfoolish talking, and unholy conversation is degrading to society,\ndisgraceful to Christianity, and a shame and a reproach to any people.\n\n\n\nDress.\n\n\nWhen the new birth is experienced a marked change is made in the life. The\nindividual is made a new creature, old things are passed away and all\nthings become new. The heart that loved this world is gone, and a heart\nfilled with the love of God and heaven takes its place. The radical change\neffected within the heart will affect the exterior man. \u201cMake clean the\ninside of the cup and platter and the outside will be clean also.\u201d \u201cOut of\nthe heart are the issues of life.\u201d \u201cOut of the abundance of the heart the\nmouth speaketh.\u201d It is impossible for a proud heart to receive the grace\nof God. \u201cGod resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.\u201d 1 Pet.\n5:5. The wonderful salvation of God which changes the heart will also\nchange the manner of dress, if the dress formerly was worldly, which is\nvery natural. The dear Lord has been so very careful to distinguish his\nloved children from the world and make them a shining light that he has\ngiven them plain directions how to dress. What a privilege the Christian\nhas in obeying God in what is considered the \u201clittle things\u201d of his Word,\nwhich however small are of such importance as to cause the eternal loss of\nthe soul if wilfully disobeyed.\n\nRespecting the manner of Christian dress we will quote from 1 Tim. 2:9,\n10: \u201cIn like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel,\nwith shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or\npearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness)\nwith good works.\u201d This is a much abused and wrested scripture. The\nproud-hearted, who have endeavored to persuade themselves to believe they\nare Christians, have surmised and planned to enforce upon themselves the\nconclusion that God did not here mean what he has said. In earlier days\nwhen the human systems of religion were more consistent with the Word of\nGod such texts were incorporated in their creeds, but so deep has been\ntheir plunge into the whirlpool of worldliness that they are rejected from\nboth Bible and creed. Many tell us that this was for the women in the\nprimitive days of Christianity when it was the custom to plait the hair\nwith gold and silver strands. This is only a ready sophistry to allure the\nsoul. We will admit it was for women in the early days of Christianity,\nbut we deny it is any less for women and men also in any other day. With\nrespect to Christianity some people are shamefully dishonest. All the\nduties and sacrifices not congenial to a proud heart they are glad to\nimpose upon the Christians of some past or future time, but all the\nblessings God has promised the saint they would gladly receive in this\npresent time.\n\nThe Christian is commanded to dress in \u201cmodest apparel\u201d \u201cwith\nshamefacedness.\u201d It frequently happens that people become so boldly proud\nthat they can dress in the height of fashion and profess to be Christians\nwithout a shame upon their face. One who is really and truly saved will\ndress in modest apparel, while humility, meekness, and modesty are\ndepicted in loveliness upon their countenance. Those who adorn themselves\nin pearls and gold and costly array usually bear a proud, disdainful look.\nWhen redeemed by grace the fashionable dress and proud look give place to\na sweet Christian modesty. A humble heart and a fashionable dress are\nincompatible. Shamefacedness is derived from _aidos_ in the Greek, and has\n\u201cmodesty\u201d and \u201cbashfulness\u201d for its primary meaning.\n\nHow beautifully the teachings of the apostles harmonize. Peter tells us\nthat the Christian\u2019s adorning should be the hidden man of the heart\nadorned by a meek and quiet spirit. This man in the heart, hidden as he\nis, does however reveal himself. \u201cOut of the heart are the issues of\nlife.\u201d When the heart is meek and humble, lowliness, gentleness, and\nmodesty will be seen in the countenance. A meek, modest, Christ-like\ncountenance under a fashionably decorated hat is the greatest incongruity.\nWith shamefacedness the Christian is to be adorned with sobriety.\n\nFashionable dress is directly the opposite of sobriety. This word is\ntranslated from the Greek word _sophrou_, which is properly defined,\nsoundness of mind. The weary toil and labor that many undergo to earn\nmoney and then make the unnecessary expenditure in buying costly,\nfashionable dress does certainly betray a lack of wisdom, which might in\nreality be termed an unsoundness of mind. Gold and pearls and costly array\nis intemperance in dress. Instead of dressing in sobriety many are crazed\nor drunken on the spirit of worldliness in dress. There is a beautiful\nconsistency in Christianity, but how inconsistent with divine things is\nthe expenditure of money for the adornment of the physical being. No one\ncan spend money for gold rings and chains and charms, for pearls and\nbeads, for plumed hats, and such like, with the number around that are\ndestitute, penniless, and starving, without incurring the displeasure of a\nmerciful God. Man shall have to give an account in the day of awful\njudgment how he has expended the money the Lord has entrusted to his care.\nIn the purchasing of any unnecessary article of dress there will be a\nreproving of the Spirit unless the heart is so intoxicated with the love\nof self that it is unconscious of the things and voice of God.\n\nAh, how shamefully inconsistent with the tender-heartedness and\nsympathizing spirit of Christianity in this lavishing of charms and\nadornments upon self! Our dress should be only such as is necessary for\nprotection and health. Going about in the world doing good in all humility\nof heart, modest and unassuming in our manners and dress, making ourselves\nas little conspicuous as possible, but lifting up Jesus everywhere, is the\ntrue Christian life.\n\n\n\nSecret Orders.\n\n\nThe present-day institutions known as \u201cSecret Orders,\u201d are of an earthly,\nworldly origin. They are one of the things of this world which man can not\nlove and continue in the love of God. Within those secret organizations\nare bundled together by strong oaths the professed Christian, the infidel,\nthe lawyer, the doctor, the saloon-keeper, the gambler, and almost every\ncharacter upon the earth. By the bonds of this secret union the preacher\nis made a brother with an infidel. The apostle Paul tells us, \u201cBe ye not\nunequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath\nrighteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with\ndarkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he\nthat believeth with an infidel?\u201d 2 Cor. 6:14, 15.\n\nThe preacher who professes to believe in God is here having a part with an\ninfidel contrary to the Word of God. You who are professing to be a light\nin the world, how can you in the fear of God take the oaths necessary to\nmake you a member of a secret order? How can you join in the worldly\nhurrah and laughter, and foolish, ungodly pranks as played upon the\ncandidate within the secret walls? What do you think of a preacher, or\nlayman, becoming the laughing-stock of infidels, lawyers, saloon-keepers,\ndrunkards, and gamblers, as he trembles beneath the blindfold? What kind\nof light are they letting shine? I appeal to your reason and common sense.\nIs it Christlike? Do you think Jesus would engage in such dark works? Some\nhave charged the Savior with being a freemason. Such is a libelous\nstatement. In Isa. 45:19, the Lord says, \u201cI have not spoken in secret, in\na dark place of the earth: ... I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare\nthings that are right.\u201d Christ only speaks the things that are right and\nnever the dark, ungodly oaths and sayings of the secret lodge. Again, the\nSavior said, \u201cI spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue,\nand in the temple, whither the Jews always resort: and in secret have I\nsaid nothing.\u201d John 18:20. Jesus spake nothing in secret, and to charge\nhim with having connection with the dark, secret mysteries of masonry is\nas slanderous as the charge made by the people who said, \u201cThou hast a\ndevil.\u201d John 7:20. The Savior not only knew that men would, in order to\ndefend their unrighteous systems, charge him with having a devil, but he\nalso knew that for the same purpose men would charge him with having\nconnections with such systems; therefore he said, to uncloak the falsity\nof such charges, \u201cWherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in\nthe desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it\nnot.\u201d Mat. 24:26. Jesus gives commandment to preach upon the housetop what\nye hear in the ear. Mat. 10:27. \u201cFor God shall bring every work into\njudgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be\nevil.\u201d Eccl. 12:14.\n\nIt is not the mission of this work to reveal the awful oaths and secret\nworks of these various orders. Other men by many volumes have done this.\nWe only hope to help you to see that secrecy is contrary to the Bible and\nthe Spirit of Christ and Christianity. It is a thing of the world and\nconducted on a worldly basis. Connected with many of these orders are life\ninsurances\u2014a thing of the world. The Christian is separated from the world\nand Christ becomes his all in all. To make prominent the good qualities of\ntheir secret systems men tell us of their obligations to help their\nbrother and his family. How these orders provide help for a man in time of\nneed, and how true each member is to his obligation, etc. Such might do if\nthere were no God nor Christianity. Secrecy provides only for its own\nmembers. Salvation provides for all. A member of a secret order is under\nno obligation from his order to visit a poor sick man by the way who is\nnot a member of his order, but is under obligation to visit and care for a\nsick fellow member, though he be rich. We see no Christianity in this. We\nsee no humanity. It is having respect of persons, forbidden by Scripture.\nHumanity, and much more Christianity, will not only send man to do good to\nthe rich, but to the poor also, be they of any class or nation. A man that\nis a Christian will visit the sick and afflicted, no matter what may be\ntheir station in life.\n\nIf a man thinks he is a light in the world because he is true to the\nobligations of his secret order in visiting and administering to the needs\nof his sick brother, he is very much deceived. Such is a false light. When\na man has to place himself under such solemn oaths to do good, it proves\nthat he has but little or no humanity. \u201cDo good to all men,\u201d is the spirit\nof Christianity. A man need not take the obligations of a secret order to\nbe furnished with the qualifications for doing good. The Word of God is\nall that is needed for reproof, correction, and instruction, that a man\nmay be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. A man\nneed not seek membership in some secret organization in order to be\nprovided for in his old days, or his family in case of his death. The\nPsalmist says, \u201cI have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the\nrighteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.\u201d Paul says, \u201cBut my God\nshall supply all your need.\u201d Phil. 4:19. \u201cWherefore come out from among\nthem, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing;\nand I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my\nsons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.\u201d 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. \u201cThey are\nnot of the world, even as I am not of the world.\u201d John 17:16.\n\n\n\n\nChapter XIII. The Domestic Relation.\n\n\nWhen we speak of home life with its relations and duties we are not\ndigressing from the subject of gospel light. Nowhere does the light of\nChristianity shine so peaceful and beautiful as in the home. Nowhere is\nthe power of its influence so felt as in the home circle. The public\nworship of Christians is an inspiring scene, but nothing apparently is so\nheavenly as the sacred family altar. A father and mother whose hearts are\nfilled with holy love together with happy, obedient children bowing\ntogether at the shrine of devotion is the most imposing scene the eye and\nheart can witness.\n\n\n\nMarriage.\n\n\nThe union of man and woman in marriage is the work of the Creator. God saw\nafter he had created man that it was not good for him to be alone. Such\nwas his constitution. So he made a helpmeet for him. God from the rib of\nman made woman and brought her unto him, who said, \u201cThis is now bone of my\nbones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was\ntaken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother,\nand shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.\u201d Gen.\n2:22-24.\n\nIn conjunction with the divine institution of marriage there is also a\nlegal institution. While the civil contract is acceptable unto God by way\nof preventing promiscuous sexual intercourse, it is powerless to make both\none flesh and bone. It is only the power of God that can make two hearts\nto beat as one. By the power of his grace he makes Christians of \u201cone\nheart and one soul,\u201d and of man and woman he makes \u201cone flesh and bone.\u201d\nThe apostle to illustrate the blessed union of Christ and the church makes\nuse of the union of man and wife. \u201cThey two shall be one flesh.\u201d Eph.\n5:31. \u201cMan shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his\nwife.\u201d The union between husband and wife is stronger than between parent\nand child. The all-wise God has a design in all his works. He reveals to\nman in his Word his purpose in the union of man and wife. One object in\nthe marriage union, as we have before said, is to prevent promiscuous\nsexual commerce. \u201cNevertheless to avoid fornication, let every man have\nhis own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.\u201d 1 Cor. 7:2. The\nunion of man and woman is a holy and sacred institution, however the union\nof Christ and the church is still a higher and more important work of God.\nTherefore Paul advises all who can live a pure life in an unmarried state\nthey can be more useful to God, for he careth for the things that belong\nto the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But he that is married careth for\nthe things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.\n\nAnother object in the divine mind for uniting male and female is for the\npurpose of procreation. \u201cAnd God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be\nfruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth.\u201d Gen. 1:28. Alas! how few\nproperly reverence and esteem the divine purpose. Marriages are too often\ncontracted for the comforts of a home, or for affluence, or for elevation\nin society, or, worst of all, for the gratification of lustful desires. Of\nsuch too many murderously resort to the devices of art to thwart the\ndesigns of the Creator. Procreation was the highest purpose in the divine\nmind for the union of man and wife. For this purpose he implanted in their\nnatures a sexual desire. They who avoid to act this part in life come\nshort of the purpose of their creation.\n\n\n\nDivorce.\n\n\nBecause the contracting parties at the marriage shrine do not feel and\nhave not properly considered the obligations and responsibilities of a\nmarried life, but enter in from selfish desires, then finding it attended\nwith cares and responsibilities they do not care to bear, they seek\nopportunities for release. The legal union is often severed by the same\nauthority as was given. But as the civil power can not create two hearts\ninto one, nor make of twain \u201cone flesh and bone,\u201d neither can such\nauthorities create two of what has been made one. The law of Heaven is,\nWhat God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mat. 19:6.\n\nThe Word of God fixes death as the limit to the bond of union. \u201cFor the\nwoman which hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as\nhe liveth: but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her\nhusband. So then if while her husband liveth, she be married to another\nman, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is\nfree from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to\nanother man.\u201d Rom. 7:2, 3. \u201cThe wife is bound by the law as long as her\nhusband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be\nmarried to whom she will; only in the Lord.\u201d 1 Cor. 7:39. \u201cAnd he [Jesus]\nsaith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another,\ncommitteth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her\nhusband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.\u201d Mark 10:11,\n12. In Mat. 19:9, we read, \u201cAnd I say unto you, whosoever shall put away\nhis wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another,\ncommitteth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit\nadultery.\u201d\n\nSome have thought there was a lack of harmony in the teaching of Jesus as\nrecorded by Mark and Matthew. Mark makes the plain statement that\nwhosoever puts away his wife and marries another commits adultery. He\nmakes no exceptions. Matthew says, \u201cExcept it be for fornication.\u201d There\nis no disagreement here. It is the prominent thought each has that makes\nthe difference in the statements. The truth that Mark wishes to teach is\nthat there is no just cause for a man marrying who has a divorced wife.\nThe plain statement is if a man puts away his wife and marries another he\ncommits adultery. There is no exception. There is no just cause for his\nmarrying, and if he does it is adultery, no matter what may be the cause\nof divorcement. The truth that Matthew teaches is that there is one just\ncause for putting away the wife. This is a just cause for putting her\naway, but not for marrying again. Every one that divorces his wife, even\nthough it be for fornication, and marries another violates Mark 10:11 and\nLuke 16:18. A man may put away his wife for fornication, and not\ntransgress a single text in the Bible. Fornication is the only just cause\nfor man to put away his wife, or the wife the husband.\n\nSome have fallen into the dangerous error of putting away the wife because\nthe Scriptures say, \u201cBe ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.\u201d\n2 Cor. 6:14. This is a wrong application of this text. No doubt but it\ndoes forbid the unmarried Christian yoking up with an unbeliever, as in 1\nCor. 7:39 the woman whose husband is dead is at liberty to marry whom she\nwill; only in the Lord. However, it does not teach the breaking of the\nmarriage yoke. Matthew gives the only cause. Paul says, \u201cIf any brother\nhath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let\nhim not put her away. And the woman which hath a husband that believeth\nnot, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.\u201d 1\nCor. 7:12, 13.\n\nA man once told us that God showed him to leave his wife. (She was a true\nwife.) He was decidedly mistaken and should have tried the spirit. \u201cWhat\ntherefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.\u201d The word\njoined is from the Greek _suzeugnuo_. and means \u201cyoked together.\u201d This\nyoke man can not break. When God by his saving grace unites a soul with\nChrist, no man can break the bond of union. Sin, and sin only, will sever\nthe tie that binds them together. When God unites husband and wife into\none flesh and bone, no civil court can break the bond. When woman has\nbecome so untrue to her husband and false to her marriage vow as to have\nsexual connection with another man, God allows such an unchaste sin, and\nsuch a sin only, to dissolve the union. Why is fornication the only just\ncause for disuniting husband and wife? Why is sin the only cause of\nseparation between Christ and the Christian? It is because the design of\nGod in sending his Son to the world was to destroy and prevent sin. Then\nof necessity when his purpose fails there can be no union. The design of\nthe Almighty in instituting marriage was to secure a legitimate population\nof the world, or to prevent the lewd, indiscriminate sexual intercourse.\nWhen this purpose fails the object of marriage fails, and there can be no\nunion.\n\n\n Brooklets joining form the river,\n Rivers joining form the sea;\n Love uniting hearts together\n Beat as one eternally.\n\n God by law of his creation\n Creates in one the happy twain;\n Hand and heart they are united\n As they pass adown life\u2019s stream.\n\n See the flowers greet each other,\n And the sunlight kiss the sea;\n See the waves clasp one another,\n Why not hearts united be?\n\n Birds in springtime mate each other,\n \u2019Tis a law decreed above;\n For the sake of procreation\n God creates connubial love.\n\n\n\nDuties Of The Husband To The Wife.\n\n\nGreat are the responsibilities resting upon the husband. The wife is\ntermed the \u201cweaker vessel,\u201d unto whom the husband is to give honor and to\ndwell with according to knowledge. 1 Pet. 3:7. The Word of God gives\ninstruction how the husband should dwell with the wife. It is his duty to\nglean knowledge from the same and dwell with her accordingly. He is her\nexample. She looks unto him as her instructor, both in precept and\nexample. She is to be honored by receiving the benefits, by way of\ncounsel, support and protection, of his superior strength. He in his\nstrong, courageous construction, and she in her feminine frailty, are both\nheirs together of the grace of life. When each understand their true\nposition and dwell together according to knowledge their prayers rise\nunhindered to the throne of grace.\n\nThe Scriptures grant man authority over the wife: \u201cBut I would have you\nknow, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is\nthe man; and the head of Christ is God.\u201d 1 Cor. 11:3. \u201cFor the husband is\nthe head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.\u201d Eph.\n5:23. You understand the protection and care Christ has for his bride\u2014the\nchurch: in like manner man is responsible for the protection and care of\nthe wife. He takes the position of head of the wife as Christ takes the\nposition of head of the church\u2014in love. \u201cHusbands, love your wives, even\nas Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.\u201d Eph. 5:25.\n\u201cHusbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.\u201d Col. 3:19.\nThe love of the husband must be as deep and true for the wife as the love\nof Christ for the church. He gave himself for it. Man considers not his\nlife for the care and protection of his wife when he loves her. Where\nthere is bitterness there is wanting true love. Bitterness drives love and\nheaven away from the home. \u201cLet all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and\nclamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be\nye kind one to another, tender-hearted.\u201d Eph. 4:31, 32.\n\nMan should take the wife into his confidence and entrust her with the\nsecrets of his private life. He should respect and regard her counsel.\nJacob has given us an example. Gen. 31. Elkanah has set us an example of\ncomforting the wife. 1 Sam. 1:8. It is a comparatively easy thing, unless\nyou are abounding in the love of God, to become neglectful of the comfort,\nwelfare and happiness of the wife. She in her tender, sympathetic nature\nseeks for attention and delights in being loved. Do not therefore be\nsparing in your attention toward her. The fond, affectionate wife will\nmeet the duties, trials, afflictions and responsibilities of life without\na murmur does she but know that she is loved. Enter into her joys and\nsorrows with a regard. \u201cLet thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the\nwife of thy youth.... Be thou ravished always with her love.\u201d Prov. 5:18,\n19. Malachi exhorts the husband to faithfulness. \u201cYet ye say, Wherefore?\nBecause the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth,\nagainst whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and\nthe wife of thy covenant.\u201d Chap. 2:14. Such are some of the duties of a\nhusband, and he who has cast aside regard for such duties, is a stranger\nto the covenant of grace.\n\n\n\nDuties Of The Wife To The Husband.\n\n\nIt is a just cause of lament that so comparatively few wives have a\nperfect knowledge of their rightful position in the domestic circle. We\nwill briefly give a few texts from the Holy Book showing the wife her true\nplace in the family and her duty toward her husband, trusting God to give\nher a desire to be all that a wife should be. The fundamental principle is\nlove. Without sincere, conjugal love she can scarcely fill the mission of\nwife. When woman becomes a wife she takes a position fraught with the\ngreatest responsibilities. Oh, how many idle dreamers take such positions\nwith little feeling, thought or comprehension of its responsibilities, and\npass through life away below the true mission of a wife. The instruction\nof the inspired apostle is that the young women be sober, love their\nhusbands, love their children, be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good,\nobedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.\nTitus 2:4, 5.\n\nSuch are the demands of the young wife made by the Word of God. The demand\nmade of the aged wives is that they set a proper example in all these\nthings. When they do not fill these demands the Word of God is blasphemed.\nWhen wives professing to be Christians and a light in the world are\nneglectful of home, of husband and children, they bring Christianity into\ndisrepute. Wives are commanded to be sober. Instead of sobriety how often\nwe see them gay, silly, foolish and worldly-minded. Their thoughts are\ntrashy, and their conversation the same; talking about one another,\nbusybodies, no depth of thought or feeling of their mission in life, but\nare concerned more about the fashions and society than the duties of home.\nSuch characters disgrace the cause of Christ. True love will manifest\nitself, and where the wife loves the husband, home is her dearest place.\nHer great life work is to make home happy and attractive. She has a deep\nregard for the comforts of her lord, and love lightens all her labor for\nhim. The true wife loves her children, which will also find its\nmanifestation.\n\nAmong the coarse and vulgar we have heard mothers in provocation speak\nthus to their children: \u201cHaven\u2019t you any sense?\u201d \u201cYou are the foolishest\nthing I ever saw.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll box your head off.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll beat you to death.\u201d \u201cI\nwish you were dead,\u201d and other like expressions. Such is awful language,\nbut it has escaped the lips of many a mother. Before the public they like\nto appear gentle, mild and sweet tempered, while in the privacy of their\nhomes they are snarly, snappish and cross. When it pleases God to remove\none of their little ones to a more peaceful home above they mourn most\nbitterly; more because of remorse of conscience than from a fountain of\npure love. There is, however, many a mother who longs to be tender and\nkind to her loved ones, but because of her bondage to the tyrannical power\nof an ill, impatient temper, she utters, under provocation, unfeeling,\ninhuman speech toward her little ones. In her calmer hours she weeps\nbecause of bondage. To all such we would say, There is help for you in\nGod. Jesus can set you free. Yield yourself to him. He will pardon your\nsins and sweeten your life by his grace. To be discreet, wise, prudent,\nselecting the best means to accomplish a noble purpose is the wife\u2019s\nmission in her home.\n\nThe wife is a type of the church. \u201cLet us be glad and rejoice, and give\nhonor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made\nherself ready.\u201d Rev. 19:7. \u201cCome hither, and I will show thee the bride,\nthe Lamb\u2019s wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high\nmountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending\nout of heaven from God.\u201d Rev. 21:9, 10. The husband is to love the wife as\nChrist loved the church; and as the church reverences and obeys, is\nfaithful and subject to Christ, the wife is to reverence, obey and be\nfaithful and subject to her husband. \u201cNevertheless let every one of you in\nparticular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife see that she\nreverence her husband.\u201d \u201cWives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,\nas unto the Lord. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let\nthe wives be to their own husbands in every thing.\u201d Eph. 5:22, 24. \u201cWives,\nsubmit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.\u201d Col.\n3:18. \u201cLikewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if\nany obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the\nconversation [conduct] of the wives.\u201d 1 Pet. 3:1.\n\nSuch is the true position of the wife, giving the husband reverence. This\nmeans to fear. Not the slavish fear, but a fear in love, like as one would\nfear God whom he loved with all his heart. Fear to purposely displease\nhim. Fear to wilfully neglect him. Fear to obstinately disobey him. To be\nin subjection with reverence. Such words are full of solid thought, and we\nwould ask every wife to wisely consider them, especially if she places any\nvalue upon Christianity. The husband is to command in love. She is to obey\nin fear. He is to govern without giving vexation, and she is to be in\nsubjection without feeling herself a slave. He is to watch over her\nconduct and guard her from every act that would be damaging to her\ncharacter or her soul. She is to trust in him, and obey.\n\n\n Let the wife be in subjection,\n Let the husband give protection;\n He to honor, love, defend,\n She to trust him to the end.\n\n\nThe humble apostle, after exhorting the wives to be in subjection to their\nhusbands, commands them to not adorn themselves by plaiting the hair or\nwearing gold or apparel. 1 Pet. 3:3. \u201cBut let it be the hidden man of the\nheart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and\nquiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.\u201d Ver. 4. Can\nthe wife in the fear of God, profess to sincerely love her husband, and to\nbe a true wife, when she is spending his hard earnings for gold and\npearls, and costly apparel for adornment? he to struggle against poverty,\nand she to embarrass him to satisfy a proud, selfish heart? Such is not\ntrue love to husband nor to God. The wife who adorns herself with modesty\nand sobriety (1 Tim. 2:9), with a meek and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:4, 5),\nwith good works (1 Tim. 2:10) is a blessing to her husband. \u201cA virtuous\nwoman is a crown to her husband.\u201d Prov. 12:4. \u201cWho can find a virtuous\nwoman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth\nsafely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do\nhim good and not evil all the days of her life.\u201d Prov. 31:10-12. \u201cA\nprudent wife is from the Lord.\u201d Prov. 19:14.\n\n\n\nDuty Of Parents To Children.\n\n\nGreat are the responsibilities of the husband. Great are the\nresponsibilities of the wife, but greater are the responsibilities of\nparents. Father and mother, God lays a responsibility upon you as you\nreceive your new-born child. A precious little immortal soul, whose\neternal destiny depends largely upon you. The proper training of children\nis attended with many difficulties, and every parent certainly needs\ninstruction from God. Your child is given you from God, and you in return\nshould give him trustingly to God, like a mother of olden time: \u201cFor this\nchild I prayed: and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of\nhim: therefore also I have lent [see margin] him to the Lord: as long as\nhe liveth he shall be lent to the Lord.\u201d 1 Sam. 1:27, 28. This is the\nconsecration of children to God, which is the first duty of parents.\n\nThe successful training of a child, especially in the first years of its\nlife, is due more to example than to commandment. The influence of example\nupon youthful minds is rarely comprehended. We are commanded to be an\nexample in faith, purity, conversation, charity, spirit, and to be a\npattern of good works. It is the parents\u2019 duty to love their children.\nTitus 2:4. Perhaps every parent thinks and is ready to say, \u201cI love my\nchild.\u201d True love as required by the Bible comprehends more than you may\nhave been aware. They who indulge their children in a worldly life do not\nlove them as the Bible commands. Because the priest Eli did not restrain\nhis children from the ways of sin, God sent an awful judgment upon him. 1\nSam. 3. If parents love their children as they should they will do the\nvery best thing for them. Now the instructions given in the Bible are the\nsafest and best to follow.\n\nAs you looked into the face of this thine own child did you remember the\nlittle treasure was a heritage from the Lord? \u201cLo, children are a heritage\nof the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.\u201d Psa. 127:3. It may\nbe that you were unmindful of this \u201cfruit of the womb\u201d being a gracious\nheritage from God: but such it was. In the creation of man and woman they\nwere formed to bear offspring. When Esau and Jacob met after their long\nseparation and enmity, Esau inquired, \u201cWho are those with thee?\u201d Jacob\nreplied, \u201cThe children which God hath graciously given thy servant.\u201d Gen.\n33:5. Blessed and happy is the man that can look into the face of the\nnewly-born and feel in his heart that this is a child graciously given me\nof God.\n\nBecause children are a heritage from the Lord is the real secret of the\njoy experienced in the parents\u2019 hearts when a child is born. An angel from\nGod\u2019s presence anoints the spirit of man with the \u201coil of joy\u201d when he\nobeys Heaven\u2019s ordained laws of procreation. Alas! how many husbands and\nwives, who fear to meet the responsibilities involved thus upon them seek\nto avert God\u2019s laws. And when a child is conceived they, instead of\nrejoicing as did Rachel, the mother of Joseph, and Mary, the mother of\nJesus, sorrow in heart, thus allowing the enemy of human happiness to\ndeprive them of the blessing God designed for them.\n\nGod, in his own mysterious way, from the mother\u2019s life and blood is\ncreating a new life. But did you know that at the same time he was\ncreating an immortal soul? That new-born life contains an immortal part,\nand very much depends upon you as to where shall be its eternal existence.\nWe want you to feel this deep in your hearts. God has given into your\ncharge a life and a soul. When you come to appear before him in the day of\njudgment then you will have to render an account of how you have dealt\nwith your child. Oh, what awful responsibilities! What a charge! God help\nus! With such a sacred trust, what shall we do? Like she of olden time,\nwho petitioned the God of heaven for a child, carry him back to the Lord\nand there implore grace and wisdom and guidance from above to train these\nlittle feet in the way that leads to endless joys.\n\nParents, as you look into the face of your slumbering child, and then\nalong down through his life, what do you want him to become? Do you want\nhim to grow up to manhood a poor, delicate, frail body with but little\nenergy or vitality with which to meet the sterner duties of life? Do you\nwant him to be indolent, shiftless, unmanly and addicted to such as will\nbring him to shame, ruin and death? What! would you picture such a life\nfor my innocent boy? Such a thought is instantly banished from you. With\nall your heart you desire him to become a true and noble man. You want him\nto be strong, full of energy and vitality, of great mental and physical\nworth, of manly ways, of pure habits, and in every way a worthy son. Yes,\nthat is the life you fondly picture for your son. Well, here he lies an\ninfant in thine arms. He is at thy mercy. You can make of him about what\nyou will. You can lead him in the paths of virtue and to a generous\nChristian manhood, or you can neglect him and allow him to go to shame and\nruin. Let me say again that the life and destiny of your child depends\nlargely upon you. You can make it what you will. God help and bless you.\n\n\n\nPhysical Care.\n\n\nWhen your child is born then comes the care of the little body. It must\nhave food. It must have air. It must have clothing. The supplying of\ntemporal needs is a duty that falls to the father. May he do his duty with\na will and see that his child\u2019s health is not impaired by an insufficient\namount of clothing or of food. \u201cBut if any provide not for his own, and\nespecially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is\nworse than an infidel.\u201d 1 Tim. 5:8. The parent that will not industriously\nmake use of every legitimate means to secure temporal comforts, does not\nlove his child. It has been known that the awful curse of tobacco, opium\nand rum, have robbed the father and mother of parental love. Some may have\nbecome so in love or so in bondage to tobacco that they would rather see\ntheir child go hungry or naked than to deprive themselves of the accursed\nthing.\n\nParents should acquaint themselves with hygienic laws and teach them to\ntheir children. Show them the danger of overeating, and of too frequent\neating. Parents are destroying the health of their children by irregular\nfeeding, and by nuts and candies. Teach the little ones to avoid sitting\nin a cool place when heated and of retaining wet clothing. Above all,\navoid giving your child tea, coffee and \u201csoothing syrup.\u201d Paregorics and\nlaudanums pave the way to the formation of other bad habits. They have an\neffect which may answer your purpose at the time, but you gain your\npurpose at the cost of your child\u2019s vitality. If your attention has ever\nbeen called to the evil effects of such, you can not dope your children\nwith them without bringing condemnation to your soul.\n\nGood health is a great blessing, and our heavenly Father wills us to\nobserve natural health laws. Parents by carelessness can in a very short\ntime ruin the health of their child forever. Oh, the misery and distress\noriginating from ill health entailed upon the human family through the\nignorance and carelessness of parents is appalling. Had the writer\u2019s\nparents compelled their child to observe health laws in his youth he would\nenjoy better health to-day. By proper care and help from God he has\nlargely overcome difficulties, but does not possess the strong\nconstitution he otherwise would.\n\nWe kindly make an earnest appeal to all parents to look well to the health\nof your children. If you value their happiness, and a pleasant, happy\nhome, acquaint yourself with the laws of health, and follow them as\nstrictly as circumstances will allow. Many parents care more for their\nchildren\u2019s appearance in public than they do for their health. Mothers\nfollowing the pride of their heart instead of the laws of health expose\nthe bodies of their children to disease. In public gatherings, in order to\nmake a show of their rich clothing, they will not wrap them sufficiently\nto protect them from cold: they will deform the feet of their little ones\nand bring them pain in after life, because of the pride of their heart. By\nlacing they will mold and shape the bodies of their daughters after the\nfashion of the world, entailing upon them disorder and disease, weakness\nand woe. In all love, but without hesitancy, we declare that such shameful\ntreatment of children is a sin and is sufficient of itself to destroy the\nsoul.\n\n\n\nGovernment.\n\n\nGreat wisdom is required in the government of children. For parents to\nproperly govern their children they need that wisdom and direction which\ncomes from above. There are so many different natures which must be\ncontrolled in as many different ways, making it impossible to fix certain\nrules for all. However all these different dispositions among our children\nmust be met. \u201cIf any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God.\u201d\n\nMany parents ask. \u201cAt what age shall we begin to train and govern our\nchild?\u201d Wisdom makes answer, \u201cFrom the beginning.\u201d You can train your babe\nto nurse regularly, say every two hours, or to stifle his cries, you can\nnurse him irregularly, and make him a cross, fretful babe by over and\nirregular feeding. Your babe will sleep sweetly and soundly upon its\nlittle bed, but you can very early accustom it to be rocked to sleep so it\nwill not go to sleep unless it is rocked. Nature never designed that we be\ntossed to and fro in order to go to sleep. What is man\u2019s experience on\nboard a ship in a rough sea? He becomes dizzy, nervous and sick, and when\nhe steps upon the land he walks like a drunken man. The infant\u2019s first\nrock in the cradle has a similar effect. Its little muscles are strained\nto prevent falling. Its brain is dashed about until it becomes dizzy, but\nwhich it soon learns to enjoy because of the peculiar sensation.\n\nYour little babe sees some bright object and reaches out its little hands\nto take it. You know it ought not to have it. It may injure itself with\nit, so you say, \u201cNo, baby can not have this.\u201d Then baby begins to cry. You\ntry to quiet him. You try to turn his mind and attention somewhere else,\nbut, no, he keeps his eye on the forbidden object and cries the harder. At\nlast to quiet him you give it to him, even if you have to hold to one end\nto keep him from hurting himself. Baby has now learned a very valuable\nlesson, which he is not going to forget. He has learned that if he cries\nlong enough and hard enough he can obtain what he desires.\n\nAs he grows older he becomes more determined to have his way. When company\ncomes you want your boy to give the rocker to the lady, but no, the little\nman prefers the rocker for himself. You endeavor to remove him by force,\nbut he kicks and bites and holds tight and cries very loud, and you call\nhim a naughty boy, and give up the struggle. Then you begin to tell the\nladies about your boy, how he will have his way and you can not do\nanything with him; that you sometimes whip him, but it does not do him any\ngood. You are educating your child out of your control.\n\nIf you desire your child to obey you, be kind, loving and firm. Scolding\nis never in order, but does great harm. Unhappy and unholy is the home\nwhere children obey only through fear. So deal with your little ones that\nobedience is gained through love. So rarely is such obedience obtained\nthat many have concluded it can not be accomplished. It is natural for\nchildren to love their parents, and if parents deal with their little ones\nin love and kindness they can make home the most desirable place on earth\nto them.\n\nTo rule by physical force is not government. It is a most pitiful sight to\nsee a child fear and tremble before a parent\u2019s stern looks and cross\nwords. There is a way, though but few have found it, of mingling\ntenderness with firmness that demands obedience in respect and love. It\nbrings a joy to the parents\u2019 hearts to behold their child obeying\nwillingly. By the help of God such obedience can be obtained. Some one may\nask, \u201cWould you never punish a child?\u201d Yes; it is sometimes necessary, but\nnot so often as many have supposed. Training, and not arbitrary government\nis what is the more successful.\n\n\n\nGive Attention To Your Child.\n\n\nIt takes but little to wound the tender feelings of a child. It is not the\nangry look and cross word only that sends the little one away in tears;\nbut oftentimes it is neglect. What may seem to us as a very little thing,\nor small achievement, may be a very great thing to the child, and a notice\nand an encouraging word has a good and lasting effect. Your little boy has\ndone a piece of work, and done it poorly enough to be sure, but to him it\nis done in the most artistic style. Do not depress his spirit by showing\nyour disapproval, but encourage him by telling him that it does very well\nfor a child; then kindly help him to see how he can make it still better.\n\nYou should not become so absorbed in your occupation that you can not stop\nto notice the newly drawn picture. If the child\u2019s interruptions are too\nfrequent, in kindness teach him that papa is not to be interrupted now. By\nall means show a deep interest in your children. Help them to see that you\ndelight to make things pleasant for them. Do not make them feel that they\nare servants. Have pleasant conversations with them. Read some good story\nto them, or better still, tell them one; not a \u201cfairy-tale,\u201d but something\nreal. We have seen parents who scarcely ever spoke to their children only\nwhen reproving. Take them with you to the meeting. Take them with you if\nat all convenient when you go on your charitable errand. Take them for a\ndrive. Take them to the woods and the fields, and there tell them of God.\n\nMany opportunities will be afforded for you to show an interest and an\nappreciation in your child. Give him your attention and you will win his\nlove and obedience and make him feel that there is freedom at home.\nNeglect him, treat him with indifference, and you will make his little\nheart cold and make him feel he is your slave.\n\n\n\nBe Patient With Your Child.\n\n\nFor the sake of your child, your own happiness, and the happiness of your\nhome, be patient. In dealing with your little \u201colive plants,\u201d \u201clet\npatience have her perfect work,\u201d and of a truth you shall \u201cbe perfect and\nentire wanting nothing.\u201d Much of redeeming grace is needed to enable the\nparent to be calm and kind under the many trying circumstances connected\nwith the pruning and training of the \u201cfruit of the womb.\u201d It is a source\nof great joy, however, to know that God\u2019s grace is sufficient for me.\n\nDear parents, the only remedy we have to offer you for this qualification\nis the sweet controlling influence of saving grace. When you have gained\ncontrol of your own spirit you are far on the way to conquer the\nrebellious spirit of your child. How sad it is that a mother who loves her\nchild will find sometimes a feeling of hatred in her heart against it. We\nhave heard mothers in a time of provocation use such words as these, \u201cYou\nfoolish thing;\u201d \u201cYou naughty little imp;\u201d \u201cYou mean thing, I have a mind\nto put you out where the dogs will get you;\u201d \u201cYou do that again and I\u2019ll\ngive you to the bad man;\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll slap your head off;\u201d \u201cI wish you were\ndead,\u201d etc. How awful! Mothers, who, if their little one was sick, would\ngladly sit night after night and watch by its bedside\u2014no slumber for those\neyelids now, for baby is very sick\u2014when the dear one is restored to health\nand provokes the mother, she uses some of the above expressions, or\nsimilar ones.\n\nAs you stand some night by the casket that contains that lifeless little\nbody, oh, what anguish at heart as you remember the hasty words you have\nspoken to that dear one. How those ugly expressions ring in your ears.\nThey will follow you for days in thought and dream. How sad that the human\nheart is of such disposition, but what joy to know that the precious blood\nof Jesus will remove all such dispositions and fill the heart with love\nand sweetness that will enable you to deal with your child in loving\npatience, even in the hour of deepest trial, and should you be called to\nits death bedside you can look into the pale face and then up to God\nwithout a sting of conscience. Parents, be firm, but be patient with your\nchild. Let love shine out of every reproval and you will find it is not so\ndifficult to train him and govern him as you supposed.\n\n\n\nNever Scold Or Threaten.\n\n\nHow heart-rending to see almost a constant contention between parents and\nchildren, parents scolding their children for almost every little thing,\nand threatening to \u201cgive them to the Gypsies,\u201d or to \u201ccut off their ears,\u201d\nor \u201cput a split stick on their tongues,\u201d and many other foolish and\nhurtful threatenings, father and mother make when they are provoked. Be\nalways calm in your own feelings and never be hasty to speak or act. When\nthe child really needs reproval, take him quietly and show him the evil of\nsuch things, how it will lead to other bad things, and these to others,\nand should he continue in that way he would grow up to be a bad man. Tell\nhim how you love him, and how you want to see him become a good and noble\nman, a blessing to his parents, to the community, and to the world. Tell\nhim you hope he will not do those bad things any more, and should he do\nthem you would be under obligations to punish him.\n\nIf the child is reasoned with rightly the corporal punishment will not be\nof frequent necessity. It is a shame and a sin to act so hastily and\npunish your little ones in some way without patiently and coolly\nexplaining matters.\n\n\n\nGive Your Child Some Privilege.\n\n\nDo not answer, \u201cNo,\u201d to every request of your child. Allow them some\nprivilege, let them engage in certain plays. Do not be so fastidious in\nyour home that the little ones can not have a little play indoors.\nCertainly they should be taught to be clean, to remove dirt from their\nshoes before coming into the house, and not to tumble things all up in the\nroom, yet they should not be expected to sit perfectly still.\n\nWhen the child makes a request of you that your wisdom decides best not to\ngrant do not answer by a decided \u201cno,\u201d but tell the little one that you\nthink it not best to do so, and be firm. When you tell him you do not\nthink it best do not be persuaded out of it, and he will soon learn that\nyour mild \u201cI do not think it best to give you that,\u201d means just as much as\na sharp \u201cno,\u201d but his feelings will not be disturbed like they are by that\nhasty \u201cno.\u201d\n\n\n\nAlways Be Calm When You Punish.\n\n\nWhen it becomes necessary to use the rod upon your child be sure you\npossess a calmness in your soul. It requires much grace for true parents\nto whip their children. Before you punish them you should show them what\ngreat wrong they have done and how God is displeased, and that you do not\npunish them for your own pleasure, but because you love them.\n\nTo the dear parents who read this we wish to exhort you to give great\ndiligence in cultivating the affectionate side of your nature. Do not be\ncareless and unmindful of the dear little ones\u2019 happiness. Do not be cold\nand indifferent toward them. Enter into their joys and sorrows with a warm\nheart. Parents oftentimes remark when their child gets hurt in some way,\n\u201cWell it is good enough for you; may be it will teach you something.\u201d Oh,\nmay that heart be softened to tender sympathy, so you will make the dear\nchild feel how sorry you are because he has been hurt, then teach him how\nhe must not engage in such things, and then he will avoid being injured.\nYour kind words of sympathy will relieve the pain by their influence upon\nthe heart. Your cold indifferent words make deeper wounds in the heart\nthan were made in the flesh.\n\nSeek God in much earnest prayer to tender your affections, to refine your\nnature, to make you very sensitive to the feelings of your child, and to\nhelp you to love the tender \u201colive plants\u201d round about thy fireside. Some\nday there may be a vacant chair, and there can be no sweeter joy on earth\nto your sorrowing heart than to know you did what you could to make the\nlittle one happy and train its feet for the glory world.\n\n\n Kind words are flowers of beauty rare;\n Keep them blooming throughout the year.\n\n\n\nMental Training.\n\n\nThe mental, moral and spiritual training of children go hand in hand. We\nshall speak of them under separate chapters, but the one has a great\ninfluence upon the other. It is true, the intellectual faculties may be\ncultivated to a high degree while the moral powers are unimproved, but the\nindividual is out of harmony with true manhood. The spiritual and moral\nbeing may be in a fair state of health and the mental powers very much\ndwarfed, but still he is not in perfect harmony with manhood as designed\nby the creative mind. Without a blending of the intellectual, moral and\nspiritual forces there can be no perfect character in the fullest sense.\nWe do not mean by this that man must be a philosopher or a scientist to be\na moral or spiritual man; but we mean for man to be a perfect character in\nevery respect and to glorify God in the whole realm of his being, he must\ncultivate every talent God has given him. The created mental powers must\nbe improved by right study. In order to know and understand God we must\nhave a sound mind. A sound mind is helpful to the enjoyment of grace, and\ngrace is helpful to the enjoyment of a sound mind; so to enjoy existence\nnecessitates a soundness in every part.\n\nIt is through the mental powers that we acquaint our children with God:\n\u201cFaith cometh by hearing.\u201d Parents can not be too careful about the\nimpressions made in the mentality of their children; it may affect their\nmorality and spirituality in the whole of after life. Select such books\nfor them as will develop the mental faculties, something that contains\nfood for the brain. There are certain articles of diet that do not contain\nsufficient nutrition for the development of the physical body. Children\nfed upon such diet would become weakly. There is also a certain kind of\nliterature that contains no brain nutriment. Reading such degenerates the\nmental powers. Stimulants or excitants are hurtful to the physical system.\nAll fictitious, exciting tales are hurtful to the mental system. We are\npersuaded it were better if the unreal, fairy stories were excluded from\nour common school readers and supplanted by something real. Select such\nliterature as is pure. Reading that produces pure thought in the child\u2019s\nmind not only improves his moral state, but furnishes the best mental\nfood.\n\nEducate your children as well as you possibly can. It is a duty you owe to\nthem and to God. Keep before them the ultimate object\u2014a developed mind for\nthe glory of God. Encourage your children to an education. Do not think\nthe buying of a good book an unnecessary expenditure. Better make a\nphysical sacrifice than a mental one. Keep your children away from the\nphysical, mental, moral and spiritual destructive party and dance by\ninteresting them in sound and pure literature and providing it for them.\nIf your children show a disposition to love and desire to spend the\nevening at the \u201cparties\u201d or the \u201cballs,\u201d get up a \u201creading circle\u201d or\n\u201ccomposition exercise\u201d at home. God will bless you and reward you in all\nyour efforts in this direction. Much more of importance could be said upon\nthis subject, but with these few suggestions we will leave the interested\nand inventive mind to enlarge.\n\n\n\nMoral Training.\n\n\nMan is an intellectual and a moral being. By his intellectual powers he\ngains a knowledge of facts. By his moral faculties he experiences a sense\nof responsibility and a feeling of certain relations existing between him\nand some higher power. Your child possesses an intuitive knowledge and\nupon this is where your moral training begins. The little brother knows it\nis wrong to injure his little sister. He does not have to acquire that\nknowledge, he knows it intuitively. This is the foundation for your moral\ntraining, and\u2014of course\u2014spiritual training naturally hinges upon this; but\nwe shall speak of that in a separate chapter.\n\nThe wisest man that ever lived said, \u201cTrain up a child in the way he\nshould go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.\u201d Prov. 22:6. So\nmany having failed, some have been almost persuaded to doubt this man\u2019s\nwisdom. The saying is true: the failures arise from the lack of\nunderstanding of how to train properly. All the moral principles sustain a\nclose relation to each other; thus one moral principle influences another,\ntherefore the violation of one principle makes it easier to violate a\nsecond, and the child is carried on until he can do wrong without any\nreproval of conscience.\n\nTraining should begin very early in the life of a child. Never allow this\nintuitive knowledge or the voice of conscience to be hushed by repeated\nwrong doing. The child who does wrong should be told why it is he feels a\nsense of guilt\u2014God is displeased. Show him how one evil leads to another,\nand what will be the awful end. Call to his mind the differences in his\nfeelings arising from wrong doing and right doing. With the one God is\ndispleased, with the other he is pleased. The way then to be happy in life\nis to always do right.\n\nYou must be indefatigable in your efforts at training. Constant daily\ntraining is needed. As one wrong act makes it easier to do a second wrong\nact, so one right act makes it easier to do a second right act. It is\ncomparatively easy for the child to fall into bad habits. Training,\nconstant daily training is needed to keep the little one from evil ways.\nLead him into right action. By repeating a right action it becomes easy to\nperform it. You must never think of becoming discouraged, although it\nappears so natural for your child to do wrong and so difficult to get him\nto do right. You must go on training, trusting in the promise, teaching,\nreproving, correcting, punishing, ever looking upward for grace and\nwisdom.\n\nBe careful of your example. It exerts a powerful influence. At one time in\nhis life, the writer was quick in his actions and his words. He never\nreceived such a reproving as when one day his little boy under a\nprovocation acted and spoke in the exact manner and tone of his papa. It\ncut to the heart.\n\nIt may seem at times that the voice of conscience is almost stifled, but\nyou must hope on and labor zealously as in the command: \u201cAnd thou shalt\nteach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when them\nsittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou\nliest down, and when thou risest up.\u201d Deut. 6:7.\n\nMany parents seeing their young child doing or saying something wrong\noften think it of not much consequence, because the child is young and the\nwrong is very slight. You do not know the power of habit, and how one\nwrong, howsoever slight, leads to a greater one. Habit has been likened to\na spider\u2019s web, which at first can be easily broken, but after continued\nindulgence binds its victim as with a strong cable, making reformation\nalmost impossible. The same is true of good and right conduct. At first it\nmay require an effort to perform a certain right act, but after repetition\nit is accomplished naturally and without thought. Therefore be vigilant in\ntraining your child to right action, and carefully avoid everything that\nwould lead to evil acts or feelings. To tease a child is to develop an\nangry disposition. Some fathers think it quite laughable to hear the\nlittle two-year-old say to its mamma, \u201cI won\u2019t do it,\u201d but he shall\nafterward pay dearly for his sport.\n\nParents think it \u201ccute\u201d to see their little one shake its little fist at\npapa and mamma. Through such education the day will probably come when he\nwill shake his fist at you so that it will strike like a hammer on your\nheart. We have heard many parents laughing at their little children saying\n\u201csmart things,\u201d little conscious of what these things are leading to.\n\n\u201cTrain up a child in the way he should go,\u201d comprehends much more than\nmany have understood. Just recently we heard a little child being taught\nto say, \u201cPeter, Peter, pumpkin eater,\u201d etc. Such teaching is horrifying to\nChristian hearts. It is better to train your child to make reply in the\npolite, \u201cYes, sir\u201d and \u201cNo, sir,\u201d or, \u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d and \u201cNo, ma\u2019am,\u201d\ninstead of that coarse, impolite \u201cumgh,\u201d \u201chumgh,\u201d which is no language.\nRemember the first step to child training is to set the example before\nthem in your own life. Frequently we find parents endeavoring to teach\ntheir children to say, \u201cPlease\u201d and \u201cYes, sir,\u201d when they in their own\nspeech neglect such politeness. Your efforts will prove fruitless.\n\nParents have been known to tease their little daughter and the daughter of\nother parents about some little boy companion, and their little son about\nsome girl companion. Such is very shameful and harmful. It fills the minds\nof their children with impure thought. Keep your own language very modest\nand pure and the language of your children the same. Keep their thought\npure. Impure language and impure thought leads to impure and injurious\nhabits.\n\nBe familiar with your child and talk to him about his secret life. Teach\nhim of the awful evils in the secret lives of many children and how impure\nwords and thoughts lead to such injurious vice. Parents. see to it that\nthere is a loving confidence between you and your child. Be familiar in\ntelling them how wonderfully they are made and what was the design of God\nin thus creating them. Teach them what a noble and sacred thing it is to\nuse every member and organ of our body to the glory of the Creator. Teach\nthem of the awful crime to misuse any part. Mothers, acquaint your young\ndaughters of the event that must soon come into their life, and thus\nprevent their doing an injury to their health.\n\nBy precept upon precept and by example, train your child to grow up into a\nbeautiful moral life. In love restrain every immoral tendency in your\nchild. Also be very zealous in teaching your children good manners.\nCivility and refinement are beautiful in the life of any one, and is very\nclosely associated with the morals. Teach your little ones to respect each\nother, to have a regard for each other\u2019s happiness, to practise\nself-denial for the benefit of others. By precept and example instill\ngentleness and kindness into their actions. Dear parents, never grow weary\nin training the little feet of thy tender \u201colive plants\u201d in the paths of\nvirtue.\n\n\n\nSpiritual Training.\n\n\nThe moral life is beautiful, but there is a higher and more beautiful\nlife. In the true, deep spiritual life is found the highest degree of\nmorality. However we may train our children into a high standard of moral\nlife, and yet not attain to the spiritual. It is reported that the homes\nof certain infidels are most exemplary in moral conduct. Ancient heathen\nphilosophers through restraint, self-sacrifice, and force of will attained\nto beautiful moral lives. But the spiritual life, which includes the\nmoral, is the perfection of beauty. The life out of which the Christ-life\nand character shines is the grandest and noblest upon the earth.\n\nParents, bring your children to Jesus, for of such is the kingdom of\nheaven. Bring up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord,\nis commanded in the Holy Scriptures. Your child possesses an immortal\nsoul. This soul will exist either in happiness or wretchedness eternally.\nIt is so ordained in the plan of redemption that the soul can be brought\ninto possession of spiritual life, which, if retained, insures its eternal\nbliss. He who has attained to a high degree of morality through the force\nof human will holds communion only with the better qualities of manhood,\nall of which must perish. He who has attained to spirituality holds\ncommunion with God and heavenly things. He does not trust to human powers,\nbut in the power of the divine life.\n\nMoral life will not admit us into the paradise above. We must possess\nspiritual life\u2014the life of Christ. It is well to train our children in the\nway of good morals with a view to leading them into the spiritual life.\nThen it is necessary to lead them into the spiritual life to aid in the\nmoral training. Comparatively few parents have accomplished any great\nresults in the moral training of their children without divine assistance.\nIn the moral derangement of our children the inward tendency to immorality\nmakes it impossible to educate them to a true and perfect standard of\nmorality without God\u2019s aid. Have we and our children no other source of\nstrength to do battle with the evil passions but the force of the human\nwill? Who has succeeded in subduing or controlling an angry disposition in\nthemselves or their children to the extent that there is no impatient\nspeech or abrupt action, by their own will power? We admit that some\nmen\u2014as the ancient heathen philosophers\u2014have succeeded in educating\nthemselves to a high standard of morality by using all the power of the\nhuman will as a vigilant police force and carefully avoiding occasions of\ntemptation. It is said of one of these philosophers that in order to\nabsent himself from the races and games and bull-fights and other worldly\ngatherings he would only shave one-half of his face, thereby making\nhimself too ridiculous in appearance to assemble among men. Such is the\nstruggle to attain any moral excellence without divine assistance.\n\nChildren should be taught what sin is, and of God\u2019s judgments against it,\nand as early in life as possible be led by instruction and seeking the aid\nof the Holy Spirit into a Christian experience. Some seem to think that\nchildren have no correct ideas of God, and never feel the influence of his\nSpirit. In this they may be mistaken. The tender heart of a child very\noften receives a deep and sacred impression by the Holy Spirit. Were we\nwatchful and took advantage of these seasons to tell them of God and\nheaven we would be workers together with him, and he would reward us by\nfaithful children. The communication of the Spirit with the hearts of\nchildren is more wonderful and frequent than we may sometimes understand.\nA lady recently told us that her parents never taught her to pray, but\nvery early in life she was inclined by the Holy Spirit to kneel at her\nbedside and pray when unobserved.\n\nWho is the reader that can not remember instances in his early life when\nhe felt the influence of some good spirit and had thoughts of God? Had he\nin those tender childhood days been rightly instructed he could have been\nled into the beautiful walks of a Christian life. We remember a child of\nless than ten years of age, who, hearing his father using bad language,\nfell upon his knees and clasping his arms around his father told him of\nhis sin and besought him to pray for forgiveness.\n\nA lady writer in one of her excellent works (\u201cMothers\u2019 Counsel to Their\nSons\u201d), records the instance of a little girl of four and a half years who\nfelt the guilt of sin, and by her Christian mother was led to Jesus, and\nthere she was blessed by him, even to the witnessing of his Spirit that\nher sins were gone and she was his child. The child was at one time moved\nto plead with an unsaved relative to come to Jesus. She lived triumphant\nin the sweetness of redeeming grace until the age of fifteen, when her\nmission on earth was ended and she went to her home in heaven. Oh, how\nglorious! What if that mother, when this child came expressing her sense\nof guilt, had not instructed her in the ways of salvation? In all\nprobability it would have resulted in a lost soul.\n\nWhen our children are brought into a Christian experience the victory is\nonly partly won; life lies before them with its temptations. Many are the\nallurements to turn those young feet into worldly paths. We have witnessed\nthe bright, happy conversion of many children. We have seen their\ncountenances beaming with the light and joy of Christian love and heard\ntheir voices ring with spiritual praise, only to soon yield to the\ninfluence of the world and lose that sincere devotion to God. This is not\nthe inevitable course, thank God, but it is the course of many. To teach\nour children the fear of God and enable them to retain in their hearts a\ndeep reverence and devotion to him has been a subject of much prayer with\nus. We find the Christian life is a warfare. There are temptations to be\nresisted, there are watchings and prayings, there must be a constant\nlooking upward to God for his aid and direction.\n\nOne trouble with many parents has been that as soon as their children were\nconverted they seemed to think the battle was over and the victory was\nwon, when really the battle was only begun. The first thing necessary in\nkeeping our budding \u201colive plants\u201d in deep spirituality is to keep very\nspiritual ourselves. Now whatever means are necessary to promote a growth\nof spirituality in our hearts, the same means are necessary to develop and\ndeepen the spiritual life of our children. A habitual effort to cultivate\na deeper sense of the divine presence is necessary and one of the most\nbeautiful employments of the sanctified heart. Those reverential feelings\ntoward God must daily become stronger. Those inmost affections of the soul\nmust reach out with greater yearnings and deeper longings toward the Holy\nOne. A benevolent regard in our hearts for our fellow men must become\nstronger and more true. O beloved, if you would have your child to grow up\ninto a beautiful Christian character you must teach him to suppress every\nselfish feeling, to banish every idle, careless thought, and to resist all\ntemptations to envy or impatience. The purest of meditations must be\nentertained. We and they must be strictly disciplined by the sacred\nScriptures, \u201cWatch and pray.\u201d Spiritual prayer unfolds the life into the\nbeautiful life of God as the bud unfolds into the blooming rose.\n\n\n\nA Christian Home.\n\n\nNowhere is Christianity more effectual and more beautiful than in the home\nlife. Nowhere is the power of divine love so truly manifested as in a\nsincere Christian home. We will set a picture before you. A father and\nmother with their children are grouped together for the evening worship.\nThe father out of the deep affections of his soul, in spiritual tones,\nspeaks of God and his holy commandment. A tear of gratitude and joy is\nglistening in the mother\u2019s affectionate eye. The children\u2019s faces are\nbeaming with admiration as they hear extolled the character of Christ.\nThey kneel in prayer; a holy awe and sacredness rests upon the scene;\ntheir prayers arise as sweet incense into the nostrils of God and delight\nhis great heart.\n\nSuch a scene as we have pictured only fitly represents a true Christian\nhome. The father is all tenderness and love to his wife and children. He\nis kind and sympathetic. He regards his wife as the weaker vessel and is\nmindful of her happiness. The wife deeply reverences her husband.\nAffection and appreciation sparkle in her eye. To attend to the husband\u2019s\nwishes is her delight. They love their children and in gentleness are\nbringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The children\nlove each other and are kind and self-denying. They obey their parents\nthrough love. Alas! such a family is rarely found upon this sin-cursed\nearth. But such is taught and commanded in the Bible, and it is possible.\n\nIf a father and mother and children lived toward each other just as the\nBible says they should live, we would have a scene that would fitly\nrepresent heaven. It is our privilege to have just such a home. \u201cAsk, and\nit shall be given you.\u201d A happy home life is the most blessed life on\nearth. \u201cThy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:\nthy children like olive plants round about thy table.\u201d Psa. 128:3.\n\n\n\nDuty Of Children To Parents.\n\n\nIt was the original design of God that children should be a blessing to\ntheir parents. \u201cMy son, be wise, and make my heart glad.\u201d Prov. 27:11.\n\u201cThe father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth\na wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be\nglad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.\u201d Prov. 23:24, 25. \u201cA wise son\nmaketh a glad father.\u201d Prov. 15:20.\n\nYou will observe, children, in each of the above texts that it is wisdom\nin a child that makes parents rejoice. Then you should \u201cseek wisdom, seek\nunderstanding.\u201d \u201cWisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.\u201d\nProv. 4:7. What is wisdom? \u201cThe fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.\u201d\nThe highest honor a child can pay to a true parent is to honor and obey\nGod: \u201cAnd shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice\naccording to all I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all\nthine heart and with all thy soul.\u201d Deut. 30:2. \u201cRemember now thy Creator\nin the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not.\u201d Eccl. 12:1.\n\nThe duty of children is to fear their parents: \u201cYe shall fear every man\nhis mother, and his father.\u201d Lev. 19:3. To honor them: \u201cHonor thy father\nand thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy\nGod giveth thee.\u201d Ex. 20:12. This, it is true, is an old-time commandment,\nbut the spirit or principle of it is carried into the dispensation of the\ngospel. \u201cHonor thy father and mother.\u201d Eph. 6:2.\n\nChildren should attend to the faithful instruction of their parents: \u201cMy\nson, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy\nmother; for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy heart, and chains\nabout thy neck.\u201d Prov. 1:8, 9. \u201cHear, ye children, the instruction of a\nfather.\u201d Prov. 4:1. \u201cMy son, keep thy father\u2019s commandment, and forsake\nnot the law of thy mother.\u201d Prov. 6:20. \u201cChildren, obey your parents in\nthe Lord; for this is right.\u201d If it is right to obey, it is wrong to\ndisobey. Many children do not have a due regard for the instruction of the\nfather and mother. They oftentimes think they know more than their parents\nand so follow their own ways without natural affection.\n\nChildren should imitate the example of righteous parents, but are\ncommanded not to walk in the footsteps of the unholy: \u201cBut I said unto\ntheir children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your\nfathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their\nidols.\u201d Ezek. 20:18.\n\nOne important duty of children is to care for the parents. If the parents\nbecome old and feeble, or the mother a widow, the Word of God places\nchildren under the obligation of caring for them. \u201cBut if any widow have\nchildren or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to\nrequite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.\u201d\n\n\n\nDuties Of Masters To Servants.\n\n\nMasters are commanded to forbear threatening their servants: \u201cAnd, ye\nmasters, do the same things unto them, [servants], forbearing threatening:\nknowing that your Master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of\npersons with him.\u201d Eph. 6:9.\n\nIn our land the days of slavery are no more, but men and women have their\nhired man and maid servant. Their duty toward such servants is to treat\nthem with kindness, not to threaten them, or treat them in an overbearing,\nauthoritative manner because they are servants. Be as kind and mild and\nrespectful to them as to the children of the rich, for God is no respecter\nof persons.\n\nMasters should give unto their servants that which is just and right for\ntheir labor done. If a man\u2019s labor is well worth two dollars per day, but\nbecause he is needy (or for any cause) and must work at any price, you\ntake advantage of him and give him but one dollar, you are a dim light in\nthe world. In truth your light has gone out, and your deeds have become\ndarkness. \u201cMasters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal:\nknowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.\u201d These words. \u201cKnowing that\nye also have a Master in heaven,\u201d are contained also in Eph. 6:9, where\nmasters are commanded to forbear threatening. They are intended to impress\nthe master with his obligation of dealing with his servants in the fear of\nGod, before whom he must some day appear and give an account for the deeds\ndone in the body, or in this life.\n\nThe rich man\u2019s fraudulent deeds toward his servants is taken account of in\nheaven: \u201cBehold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your\nfields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them\nwhich have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.\u201d Jas.\n5:4.\n\n\n\nDuty Of Servants To Their Masters.\n\n\nServants should honor and respect their masters: \u201cLet as many servants as\nare under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the\nname of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.\u201d 1 Tim. 6:1. Especially\nare they to reverence them if they are believers: \u201cAnd they that have\nbelieving masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren;\nbut rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved,\npartakers of the benefit.\u201d 1 Tim. 6:2.\n\nServants are under obligation to obey their masters: \u201cServants, be\nobedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear\nand trembling, in singleness of your heart as unto Christ.\u201d Eph. 6:5. The\nservant\u2019s service to his master should not be wholly for the hire. He\nshould not fear to do him ill service because of not receiving his wages,\nbut his service should be in singleness of heart\u2014an honest, upright\npurpose\u2014as unto Christ.\n\nThey should seek to please their masters: \u201cExhort servants to be obedient\nunto their own masters, and to please them well in all things.\u201d Titus 2:9.\nThey are to be subject to them: \u201cServants, be subject to your masters with\nall fear: not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.\u201d 1\nPet. 2:18. Servants are to do good service and not defraud their masters,\nand thus adorn the doctrine of God. \u201cNot purloining, but showing all good\nfidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all\nthings.\u201d Titus 2:10. The word \u201cpurloin\u201d is from the Greek word\n\u201c_nosphizomai_,\u201d and means \u201cto hide or to secrete, to steal.\u201d In this text\nit would include the idling away of time that belonged to the master.\n\nWe believe we have done justice to the subject of \u201cDomestic Relationship.\u201d\nIn conclusion we would be pleased to set before you a picture, not to be\nexcelled in sublimity, sacredness, elevation of character, or soul\ninspiration by anything on earth. \u201cFor thou shalt eat the labor of thine\nhands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall\nbe as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive\nplants round about thy table.\u201d Psa. 128:2, 3. This picture is set in a\nbeautiful frame, found in the preceding verse and the one following,\n\u201cBlessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.\u201d\nVer. 1. \u201cBehold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the\nLord.\u201d Ver. 4. The picture of a happy Christian man, a loving wife,\ndevoted children, embossed with the blessings and glory of God, is one of\ngreatest admiration.\n\n\n\n\nChapter XIV. Evil Habits And Injurious Indulgences.\n\n\nThe Word of the Lord may not denominate in plain terms every particular\nsin and evil practise man may engage in; however there are general terms\nand principles of righteousness that prohibit and condemn every possible\nsinful act man may perform. The words card-parties, picnics, fairs, shows\nand theaters are not found in the writings of the apostles; however\nindulgence in these is \u201crevelry,\u201d \u201cliving in pleasure,\u201d \u201crioting\u201d and\nworldliness, of which the Scriptures say the participants do not love God\nand can never enter heaven. Also the terms \u201cwhisky,\u201d \u201calcohol,\u201d \u201copium,\u201d\n\u201cmorphine,\u201d \u201ctobacco,\u201d \u201ctea,\u201d and \u201ccoffee,\u201d \u201csecret vice,\u201d etc., are not\nmade use of by the New Testament writers. They are included, however, in\nthe general term \u201clust of the flesh.\u201d To make mention of all the things\nthat may be done as a lust of the flesh would make a lengthy catalogue\nindeed. Anything, no matter what it may be, if done to satisfy the lust of\nthe flesh is very damaging to spiritual life.\n\n\u201cDearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from\nfleshly lusts, which war against the soul.\u201d 1 Pet. 2:11. \u201cThis I say then,\nwalk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the\nflesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and\nthese are contrary the one to the other: so that ye can not do the things\nthat ye would.\u201d Gal. 5:16, 17. \u201cFor if ye live after the flesh ye shall\ndie: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye\nshall live.\u201d Rom. 8:13.\n\nBy these tests we plainly understand the \u201cflesh\u201d to be antagonistical to\nthe Spirit. God has created us with a fleshly nature, or made us a fleshly\nbeing. He has also created things for the sustenance of this fleshly life.\nHe has created food and drink for man\u2019s use. A proper use of these is not\na lust of the flesh. An improper use may be considered lust. Our eating\nand drinking should be to the glory of God. The primary object in our\neating should be to sustain life and promote health and strength, that we\nmay be able to labor for and glorify God.\n\nIf we have a pure and undefiled conscience and are conscientious before\nGod, and fully comprehend that we are not our own, but that we are God\u2019s\nproperty and that we should glorify him in our body and our spirit, we\nthen most certainly would eat and drink such things to the extent of our\nknowledge as are most conducive to development of physical energy, and\nmental activity. It is not a lust of the flesh if we eat and drink to the\nglory of God. Temperance in natural God-given food and drink is the law of\nHeaven. It is of surfeiting that the Son of God warns us to beware. Luke\n21:34. There are a great many things in creation which God never designed\nfor the use of man as food and drink. Temperance does not mean a moderate\nuse of these things. Their use is wholly forbidden.\n\nAgain man may by certain processes change the natural into an unnatural\nand make it in opposition to God\u2019s law. Because man has not always had the\nglory of God as his object in eating, drinking, and clothing, but became\nintemperate in the things which he allows, many have through the lust of\nthe flesh been led to indulge in things from which the Word of God and the\nlaws of health demand total abstinence. The injurious indulgences are so\nmany and various as to furnish subject enough for volumes. We can only\nmention briefly the ones that are most generally indulged in, and which\nare destroying soul and body.\n\n\n\nAlcohols.\n\n\nAll whiskies, rums, brandies, and fermented wines contain a certain amount\nof alcohol. It consists of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen, and is a powerful\nantiseptic. It is the intoxicating ingredient found in distilled liquors.\nAn appetite for spirituous liquors is unnatural. It is true this appetite\nmay be inherited, but because the child apparently takes naturally to\nthese strong drinks is no proof they are a natural drink.\n\nThe word alcohol is not used by any of the writers of the New Testament.\nPaul speaks of wine and says that the bishop must be a man \u201cnot given to\nwine\u201d (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7), and of the deacon, \u201cnot given to much\nwine.\u201d Ver. 8. To the church at Ephesus he says, \u201cBe not drunk with wine,\nwherein is excess: but be filled with the Spirit.\u201d Eph. 5:18.\n\nHe recommends wine to Timothy: \u201cDrink no longer water, but use a little\nwine for thy stomach\u2019s sake and thine often infirmities.\u201d 1 Tim. 5:23.\nThere is nothing in this text for the consolation of the wine-bibber. The\nprofessed follower of Christ who loves to sip the wine-cup, and by this\ntext persuades himself to believe he is not violating God\u2019s law, wrests it\nto his own hurt. That Timothy had some stomach trouble is very evident\nfrom this text. We are not ready to admit that it was fermented wine Paul\nadvised him to use. It often happens that water, especially if it is not\npure, will distress a diseased stomach. This wine was recommended as a\nhygienic law. When an individual is troubled with constipation he will\nfind bread made from unbolted wheat flour to be much more healthful for\nhim than bread made from fine white flour. We would not advise the use of\nthis merely as a luxury, nor as a medicine, but as a common-sense law of\nhealth. The juice of the grape contains a considerable portion of water,\nso much that one can get all the water the system requires and not drink\nthe sweet juice to an excess. From the text it is natural to conclude that\nwater was hurtful to Timothy, since he is advised to drink no longer\nwater.\n\nIn cities and certain countries travelers often find the water\ndisagreeable and unhealthful to them. It would be wisdom to use\nunfermented wine, or boil the water and add the juice of a lemon or some\nfruit to make it palatable. It would be very unwise for us on such an\noccasion to justify ourselves in the use of narcotic and fermented drinks.\nThey are as injurious to the stomach as impure water, and were we\ncompelled to drink either, we would feel more in God\u2019s order to trust him\nto counteract the poison in the water rather than the poison of fermented\nwines and narcotic teas and coffees.\n\nThe drinking in moderation or \u201cnot to excess\u201d of unfermented wine is\nhealthful, and in harmony with divine laws: but total abstinence from\nspirituous liquors is the command of God. While alcohol, whisky, and\nbrandy are words not used in the New Testament their use is none the less\nobjectionable and sinful. These ardent spirits produce an effect called\ndrunkenness, and the Scriptures class drunkenness with the works of the\nflesh, and declare that they which do such things shall not inherit the\nkingdom of God. Gal. 5:19-21. The reader will only have to refer to any\nauthentic medical or hygienic work to learn of the injurious effects of\nalcohol upon the human system.\n\n\u201cWine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived\nthereby is not wise.\u201d Prov. 20:1. \u201cWho hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath\ncontentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath\nredness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine: they that go to seek\nmixed wine. Look not thou on the wine when it is red, when it giveth his\ncolor in the cup, when it moveth itself aright [is fermented]. At the last\nit biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.\u201d Prov. 23:29-32.\n\nWe would say again that in all things God has given us to sustain life and\nmake us healthful, comfortable and happy he would have us to be temperate\nand \u201ckeep our body in subjection.\u201d But there are some things which he\nwould have us \u201ctouch not, taste not; handle not.\u201d Col. 2:21.\n\n\n\nTobacco.\n\n\nVery few people especially among the religious class, are not willing to\nadmit that drunken debauchery and carousal is altogether outside the\nrealms of Christianity, and can only be engaged in by those wholly devoid\nof the love and grace of God. It is however a source of astonishment to\nthe pure-hearted child of God to find so many professing Christ, yet\nunwilling to admit that tobacco using is a lust of the flesh. Oftentimes\nwhen speaking to a man concerning the tobacco habit, he will say, The word\ntobacco is not mentioned in the Bible. This is true. As we have before\nsaid, the word alcohol is not found in the Scriptures, but its effects\nupon the human system are mentioned, and no one can thus affect his body\nwithout placing his soul in great danger.\n\nTobacco is not mentioned in the Scripture, but its effects are, and we are\npositively commanded to remedy such effects. Paul says, \u201cHaving therefore\nthese promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all\nfilthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of\nGod.\u201d 2 Cor. 7:1. One effect of tobacco using is \u201cfilthiness,\u201d from which\nwe are commanded to cleanse ourselves. But few people are not ready to\nadmit that using tobacco is a filthy habit. Then since the Word of God\ncondemns filthiness, the tobacco habit stands condemned. It is indeed a\nsin-seared and tobacco-stunned conscience that denies the use of tobacco\nbeing a lust of the flesh. It can be nothing else but a fleshly lust. How\nfrequently the lust of the flesh is condemned in the Holy Scriptures. It\nwars against the soul. It is enmity against God. It lusteth against the\nSpirit.\n\nDear reader, will you listen to reason and truth? We are aware how\ndifficult it is for man to see and acknowledge the truth when some\ncherished idol stands between him and the truth. It is not a difficult\nthing to help him to comprehend the sinfulness of some evil thing which\nhis heart is not set upon, but he is blinded to any sin in the cherished\nobject of his affections.\n\nRecently there were in a meeting two middle aged ladies. One of them was\nfashionably dressed, while the other was uncommonly plain in her apparel.\nThe lady in the plain dress was addicted to the habit of using snuff. The\nlady in the fashionable dress abhorred such a filthy practise. When the\nWord of God was read on the comeliness and plainness of female attire, the\nlady in the plain dress smiled and nodded assent. The lady whose heart was\nset on costly apparel, expressed a rejection of God\u2019s Word in her\ncountenance and manner. In the discourse the subject was changed from the\nwearing of gay clothing to the practise of tobacco using. When the habit\nof using snuff was mentioned the plain lady\u2019s smile was turned to a sneer,\nand the fashionable lady\u2019s sneer was turned to a smile. Afterwards in\nconversation the fashionable lady said she believed it was a sin to use\nsnuff, but she could not see any evil in wearing gay and fine clothing.\nThe plain lady said she thought it was a sin to wear such plumed hats and\nbeaded dresses, but she could see no harm in using snuff. This proved to\nus what we have before mentioned, that it is difficult for man to see any\nsin in his idol.\n\nIf you are not very careful you will be seeking to justify yourself in\nyour indulgences, though they be wrong. So if you, dear reader, will lay\ndown all prejudice, with a heart open to reason and truth, we will\nconsider with you the use of tobacco. We claim, first, that tobacco is\ninjurious to health. The Bible tells us that we are not our own, but are\nbought with a price; therefore we should glorify God in our body and\nspirit which are his. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. Also that whether we eat or drink,\nor whatsoever we do, we should do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31.\nWe can not indulge in anything injurious to the health of the body without\nincurring the displeasure of God. Now we frequently meet strong looking,\nand apparently healthy men, who have used tobacco for several years. Such\nare often ready to say, \u201cTobacco does not hurt me.\u201d They are honest in\nthis. Being strongly constituted the poison of tobacco has not as yet\nsucceeded in affecting them to a noticeable extent. Sooner or later,\nhowever, it will make its awful sting to be felt. Some men may expose\nthemselves to the most inclement weather for years and experience no\nvisible injurious effects; however, slowly, but surely, such negligence is\nundermining the general health, and the pains of his old days will repay\nhim for the fool-hardiness of his youth.\n\nWe have read may works on hygiene, and never a one but what has without\nhesitancy pronounced tobacco and alcohol very injurious poisons. We have a\nfew by us and will give you some short quotations.\n\n\u201cIt tends to debilitate the organs, it weakens the memory. By the use of\ntobacco we entail upon ourselves a whole train of nervous maladies. It\nwill bow down to the earth an intellect of giant strength and make it\ngrind in bondage like Samson shorn of his strength.\u201d\u2014_Hitchcock._\n\n\u201cIt impairs the functions of the brain, clouds the understanding, and\nenfeebles the memory.\u201d\u2014_Dr. Stevens._\n\n\u201cIn whatever way it is used, tobacco is a narcotic and a poison. Its\ninjurious effects are due to its active principle called \u2018nicotine,\u2019 which\nis of itself a narcotic poison. The extent to which the body may be\ninjured by tobacco depends upon its moderate or excessive use. Even in\nmoderate use it is hurtful to young persons, and by no means free from\nharm to adults. It produces an artificial exhaustion, as it were, of the\nnerve-centers. It certainly does no good, even when used in moderation.\nTobacco produces functional derangement of the nervous system, palpitation\nof the heart, certain forms of dyspepsia, and more or less irritation of\nthe throat and lungs. Sometimes after long smoking, a sudden sensation of\ndizziness, with a momentary loss of consciousness is experienced. At other\ntimes, if walking, there is a sudden sensation of falling forward, or as\nif the feet were touching cotton-wool. While the stomach is empty,\nprotracted smoking will often produce a feeling of nausea, accompanied\nwith a headache. The external application of tobacco to chafed surfaces,\nand even to the healthy skin, will occasion severe, and sometimes fatal\nresults. A tea made of tobacco and applied to the skin has caused death in\nthree hours. A tobacco enema has resulted fatally within a few minutes.\nThe excessive smoking of tobacco has been known to produce violent and\nfatal effects. Nicotine is one of the most rapidly fatal poisons known. It\nrivals prussic acid in this respect. It takes about one minute for a\nsingle drop of nicotine to kill a fullgrown cat. A single drop has killed\na rabbit in three minutes. The old tobacco-user is often cross, irritable\nand liable to outbursts of passion. The memory is also quite often\nimpaired for the same reason. The narcotic principle, the deadly nicotine,\nhas become soaked into the delicate nerve-pulp, retarding its nutrition.\nThe nerve-centers are no longer able to hoard up their usual amount of\nvital energy.\u201d\u2014_Young Folk\u2019s Physiology._\n\nThus we could go on and quote volumes, if need be, but we will close our\nquotations with the words of Dr. Fowler, as quoted by W. J. Henry in\n\u201c_Tobacco and Its Effects_.\u201d \u201cThe actual loss of intellectual power which\ntobacco has hitherto occasioned, and is still causing in this Christian\nnation, is immense. How much so, it is impossible to calculate. Many a man\nwho might have been respectable and useful has sunk into obscurity and\nburied his talent in the earth. This commands a consideration of deepest\ninterest to every philanthropist, patriot and Christian in the land, and\nespecially to all our youth. We live in a time and under circumstances\nwhich call for the exertion of all our intellectual strength, cultivated,\nimproved and sanctified to the highest measure of possibility. Error,\nignorance and sin must be met and vanquished by light and love. The eyes\nof the angels are upon us. The eye of God is upon us. Shall we fetter and\nparalyze our intellectual capabilities for the sake of enjoying the paltry\npleasure of tasting the most loathsome and destructive weed in the whole\nvegetable kingdom?\u201d Oh, for shame!\n\nTobacco is not a natural food. No one ever thinks of giving it to their\nchildren as a food. It is a habit, something to be acquired. Whatever God\nhas given us as food for the sustenance of the body is natural with us and\nwe do not have to become habituated to its use. Where is the individual\nthat will deny that it is a habit? It must be, since it has to be acquired\nor learned. Who will say it is a good habit? Who will deny that it is a\nbad habit? Do you not think it much better that we as moral citizens, and\nmuch more as professed Christians, leave off our bad habits?\n\nWho dare hope of going to heaven who will not forsake his bad habits?\nReader, I appeal to your reason. You must answer me. Is it not a habit? Is\nit good or bad? What shall your answer be in the judgment-day? God will\nhold us responsible for the use we are making of the money he has\npermitted us to acquire in this world. He says, \u201cWherefore do ye spend\nmoney for that which is not bread?\u201d Isa. 55:2. Does it not savor more of\nthe principle and spirit of Christianity to use our money in feeding and\nclothing the poor, than in consuming it in this unhealthful, unsightly,\nunclean, and ungodly lust? Do you not believe that when you shall have\ncome to that bright land beyond the grave, that you would have more\ntreasures there if all the money you have spent for tobacco had been used\nto help the poor along the weary way of life? O fellow mortal, how can you\nchew and smoke and snuff and spit your money away, while thousands are\nstarving for bread, and millions are going to an eternal wretchedness for\nthe want of gospel light? Do not think that God will not punish you for\nyour selfishness.\n\nGod will hold us responsible for the example we set before the youth of\nthe land and the children of our home. Jesus says to the Christian, \u201cLet\nyour light so shine before men that they may see your good works and\nglorify your Father which is in heaven.\u201d Mat. 5:16. What kind of a light\nis the tobacco-user letting shine to this world? Can he say to all,\n\u201cFollow me in this habit\u201d? Would he advise the pure, innocent prattler\nupon his knee to chew or smoke the filthy thing? No man can indulge in one\nthing that he can not with clear conscience say to the whole world,\n\u201cFollow me in,\u201d and stand clear and uncondemned before God in judgment.\nThe Bible tells us, \u201cIn everything give thanks.\u201d Who feels like thanking\nGod they have acquired the tobacco habit? The Bible tells us that\n\u201cwhatsoever you do in word or deed, do all to the glory of God.\u201d But very\nfew have become so depraved as to say they can glorify God in tobacco\nusing. Here we behold the sublime wonders of redeeming grace. This world\nlost in sin, mankind was bound by passions, appetites, desires and\ndispositions with which they could not glorify God, Jesus, full of grace\nand truth, came from heaven to cleanse man, to save him from everything\nwith which he could not show forth his Maker\u2019s praise. Halleluiah!\n\nWe feel like giving you a bit of our experience before closing this\nsubject. For several years we were bound hand and foot by the hideous\nmonster\u2014Tobacco. We repeatedly tried to extricate ourselves from his iron\ngrasp, but tried in vain. Resolution upon resolution was made. The plug\nwas frequently thrown away only to be shortly afterward searched for or\nreplaced by another one. How the devil\u2019s power ground me beneath his hoof\nof steel. Awful slavery, terrible bondage! We often express our\nthankfulness for a free country, but who is free? Of all the many sins\nthat lay upon my soul, none seemed so heavy as the tobacco sin. In a time\nof danger or fright our first thought would be of tobacco, and we feared\nand trembled before God. In a time of storm when the lightning would flash\nand the thunder roll we would vow to the Lord that if he would keep us\nthrough the storm we would use tobacco no more. But when the clouds had\nrolled away and the sun shone out so peacefully, our tyrannical master\nwould scourge us beneath his heavy yoke, and we would yield to his\ndemands. For several months we thus fought against this monster only to be\nconquered, until early one October morning when all alone we earnestly\nbesought the God of heaven to come to our rescue. We confessed our sins to\nhim and plead for mercy. He heard our prayer and blotted out all our\ntransgressions. He filled our soul with such a wondrous glory that full\ntwo weeks had passed before we thought of tobacco, and when we did we\nloathed it more than we had ever loved it. Eight years have passed and\nstill we are free. Since the day we were saved we have no more desired it\nthan if we never had used it. \u201cIf the Son therefore shall make you free,\nye shall be free indeed.\u201d John 8:36.\n\n\n\nOpium.\n\n\nThe habit of eating opium is fast increasing. We are told that thousands\nof tons are used annually in smoking and chewing in different parts of the\nworld. Over half a million pounds are consumed by the opium eaters of our\nown country. It is a lust of the flesh and classed among the things which\nif we do we can never enter heaven. It is because it is a sin that will\nbar you forever from the land of eternal rest, that prompts us to add a\nfew words of warning.\n\nLike alcohol and tobacco, the word opium does not appear in the\nScriptures, but that it is a sinful lust but very few will deny. Opium is\nthe dried juice of the white poppy. Morphine is a powder made from opium.\nLaudanum is made by soaking opium in alcohol. The custom of drugging\ninfants and children with \u201cSoothing Cordials\u201d is shameful and sinful. The\n\u201csoothing\u201d effect is produced by the opium the drug contains. It is\nexceedingly dangerous. One writer has said that it is very certain that\nmany infants annually perish from this single cause. Any work on hygiene\nor common school physiology will describe the effect of opium upon the\nhuman system.\n\nBut the injurious effects of these stimulants and poisons upon the\nphysical health is not the primary cause for speaking against their use in\nthis little work. It is because such is not a gospel light. No one can\nindulge in such practises and be a light in the world in this shining\ngospel day. Such sinful deeds of the flesh are but the works of darkness\nand denounced by the writers of the New Testament.\n\n\n\nTea And Coffee.\n\n\nLike the other stimulants that bring the user into bondage, tea and coffee\nare not mentioned in the Word of God. That they are classed among the\nnarcotic poisons is acknowledged by all medical authorities. \u201cTea and\ncoffee,\u201d says an authentic writer, \u201cweakens the action of the heart. They\nproduce headache, heartburn, indigestion, constipation, and wakefulness at\nnight. The peculiar beating of the heart or palpitation after much\nexertion is often due to tea and coffee, and produces what is known as the\n\u2018tea-drinker\u2019s heart.\u2019 \u201d(1)\n\nThe greatest desire of the true, devoted Christian is to glorify God in\nall that he does. No one who is careless and unobservant about his manner\nof life can prosper in the things of God. He who is desirous of being a\nshining light for Jesus in this world is careful that all about him is to\nthe glory of God. He will so govern or rule his life, by God\u2019s grace, he\nwill so subject his appetites and passions, that his whole conduct in\nevery respect will be an adornment of the doctrine of God his Savior. His\nor her dress will be in perfect accord with the Bible, no worldly air will\nlinger in his behavior; even his eating and drinking will be such as is\nglorifying to God. You show me an individual that is careless about his\ndiet, led by an unrestrained appetite in eating food highly seasoned and\nflavored with spices, cinnamons, peppers, and mustards, or freely eating\nof rich cakes, pastries and puddings, or in drinking of teas and coffees,\nand I will show you one in whom the ebb of spiritual life is very weak and\nlow. It is true, to leave off eating condiments and drinking stimulants\nalone will not make you spiritual, but it is a certain fact that if you\nattain to any great degree of spiritual life you will abandon the use of\nthese things. It is well known among the true children of God that the\nmost spiritual, and those of the greatest faith do not use tea nor coffee.\n\nThose who walk in close communion with God are careful to preserve their\nphysical health. When one continues using a certain article of food and\ndrink because it is pleasing to the taste, and yet hurtful to the body, he\nwill soon by such selfishness destroy his spiritual life. \u201cWhether\ntherefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of\nGod.\u201d 1 Cor. 10:31. \u201cBut I keep under my body, and bring it into\nsubjection.\u201d 1 Cor. 9:27. \u201cFor if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:\nbut if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall\nlive.\u201d Rom. 8:13. \u201cDearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and\npilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.\u201d 1 Pet.\n2:11. \u201cThis I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the\nlusts of the flesh,\u201d Gal. 5:16. \u201cBut put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and\nmake not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.\u201d Rom.\n13:14. The lust of the flesh as used in these and many other texts\nincludes the use of alcohol, opium, tobacco, tea and coffee. So we have\nnot departed from the Word of God, which is a lamp unto our feet and a\nlight unto our path, when writing on these subjects. Those who most\nperfectly manifest the life of Christ, those who are the most brilliant\nspiritual reflectors, do not indulge in such narcotics. If you value your\nspiritual prosperity make these sayings subjects of earnest prayer before\nrejecting them.\n\n\n\nSecret Vice.\n\n\nWhen we speak of secret sins many are ready to charge us with immodesty.\nIt is those who indulge in those secret evils that blush the deepest when\nthey are publicly mentioned. There are many habits and indulgences of man\nthat the pure-hearted Christian feels it is a shame to speak of publicly,\nyet his love for fettered, perishing souls moves him to look up to God for\na modesty and delicacy of speech that will not in any sense corrupt the\nmind of the pure, who may read, and yet in terms sufficiently plain to\nreveal these sins and bring deliverance to many. As we have before said,\ntemperance is a law of heaven. For the propagation of the race, God has\nimplanted in his creatures, male and female, a passion for sexual\nconnection. This desire in the nature of mankind is really the highest and\nmost sacred. By it this world is being populated with souls bound on\ntoward an eternity. This passion legitimately indulged to the glory of God\nis one of the most sacred, holy and pure. Since it is the highest and\nnoblest of all the faculties of our being, its abuse must be the very\nlowest and unclean in the depravity of man.\n\nThat this sacred passion has been most degradingly abused is witnessed to\nupon almost every hand. If man could behold in one scene the awful\nconsequences of this abuse it would be the most beastly and hellish that\ncould possibly be pictured. The misery, wretchedness and woe entailed upon\nmortals by these secret indulgences is untold. It is a lust of the flesh\nthat brings disease upon the body, destroys the vitality of human life and\nsows the seeds of death in the soul, which shall be harvested in the\neternal fires of torment. These sins of the dark have gone far to obscure\nthe pure light of a Christian life. \u201cYe are the light of the world,\u201d can\nnever be spoken of those who yield to the temptations of this monster\nvice. The Moon in her clear reflection of the Sun is unspotted by such\nevils. Young reader, have you any admiration for a pure life? Does there\nnot slumber in the better faculties of your nature a love and esteem for\nthe virtuous walks of life? What is nobler or more heavenly here upon the\nearth than a pure, untarnished soul? Oh, the sublimity of a Christian\nlife! A youth or maiden with pure affections and holy desires, seeking\nafter the character of God, is the admiration of angels. As God at one\ntime said in the delight of his heart to Satan, \u201cHast thou considered my\nservant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an\nupright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil?\u201d so the lovely queen\nVirtue can say to the hideous monster Vice, \u201cHast thou beheld my admiring\nyouth and maiden? There is none like them in all the earth, ones that love\nchastity and escheweth evil indulgences.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nChapter XV. The Trinity.\n\n\nThe wonderful grace of God removes sin and its nature from the heart. It\nrestores to man\u2019s heart holy and pure affections. It will turn away the\nlove for sin and fill your soul with peace and purity and your mind with a\ntrain of holy thoughts.\n\nThat the New Testament teaches a trinity in the Godhead is made obvious in\nEph. 4:4-6. \u201cThere is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in\none hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and\nFather of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.\u201d Also in\nMat. 28:19: \u201cGo ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the\nname of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.\u201d And in 1 Pet.\n1:2: \u201cElect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through\nsanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood\nof Jesus Christ.\u201d Jude 20, 21: \u201cBut ye, beloved, building up yourselves on\nyour most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the\nlove of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal\nlife.\u201d But the most indubitable text upon this subject is 1 John 5:7: \u201cFor\nthere are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the\nHoly Ghost: and these three are one.\u201d Christ is the Word. John 1:1.\n\n\n\nGod The Father.\n\n\nFather is a title conferred upon the first person in the trinity. He is\nthe Creator of all things. Much has been written in scholastic theology of\nGod, but such is incongruous to this work. Since most men believe in the\nexistence of God, the Creator and Father, our Scriptural quotations\nrelating to him will be but few.\n\nHe is love. 1 John 4:8. It was God the Father that so loved this world as\nto give his only begotten Son to die for us that we might live. John 3:16.\n\nHe is eternal. \u201cThe eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the\neverlasting arms.\u201d Deut. 33:27.\n\nHe is omnipotent. \u201cAnd when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord\nappeared to Abram, and said unto him. I am the Almighty God; walk before\nme, and be thou perfect.\u201d\n\nHe is omniscient. \u201cO Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou\nknowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought\nafar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted\nwith all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord,\nthou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid\nthine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I\ncan not attain unto it.\u201d Psa. 139:1-6. \u201cKnown unto God are all his works\nfrom the beginning of the world.\u201d Acts 15:18.\n\nHe is omnipresent. \u201cWhither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I\nflee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I\nmake my bed in hell [Hades], behold, thou art there. If I take the wings\nof the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea: even there\nshall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.\u201d Psa. 139:7-10.\n\u201cAm I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide\nhimself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not\nI fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.\u201d Jer. 23:23, 24.\n\nHe is immutable. \u201cFor I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of\nJacob are not consumed.\u201d Mal. 3:6.\n\nHe is the source of all goodness. \u201cAnd he said unto him. Why callest thou\nme good? there is none good but one, that is, God.\u201d He dwells within the\nhearts of his saints: \u201cAnd what agreement hath the temple of God with\nidols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will\ndwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall\nbe my people.\u201d 2 Cor. 6:16.\n\nHe is capable of being grieved. \u201cAnd grieve not the Holy Spirit of God\nwhereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.\u201d Eph. 4:30. An influence\ncan not be grieved. It is only a person that has feeling and affections.\n\nGod in olden time spoke audibly to his people. Such an order of things\nended when Jesus came. His mission in that respect was accomplished. He\ncame in the flesh as the Son, and conquering sin and the grave through\ndeath and resurrection, he ascended to the Father. His mission as a\nsacrifice was completed. He now comes in the Spirit. Christ in speaking of\nthe Holy Spirit\u2019s coming, says, \u201cI will come to you.\u201d John 14:18. Thus the\nSpirit is Christ or God in another personage. It is the Holy Spirit that\nnow talks to men. He teaches, interprets, guides, comforts and reproves.\nThe children of God once knew God by his audible voice. They know him now\nby the voice of the Holy Spirit. You show me a man that denies the Holy\nSpirit, and I will show you a man that does not know God. The terms Holy\nGhost and God are used interchangeably. See Acts 5:3, 4. The attributes of\nDeity are ascribed unto him as well as unto the Father and the Son.\n\nHe is eternal. \u201cHow much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the\neternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience\nfrom dead works to serve the living God?\u201d Heb. 9:14. He is omnipresent.\n\u201cWhither shall I go from thy Spirit?\u201d Psa. 139:7. He is omniscient. \u201cBut\nGod hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all\nthings, yea, the deep things of God.\u201d 1 Cor. 2:10. He is omnipotent.\n\u201cThrough mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.\u201d\nRom. 15:19.\n\n\u201cAnd the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon\nthee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.\u201d Luke 1:35. \u201cFor\nthat which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.\u201d Mat. 1:20. By this\nwe understand the Holy Spirit to have the power of creation.\n\nSome have erroneously taught that the Holy Spirit is the Word. How can\nthey do so when the second person in the trinity declares he is the Word?\nJohn 1:1. \u201cFor there are three that bare record in heaven, the Father, the\nWord, and the Holy Ghost.\u201d 1 John 5:7. Is not this plain enough to stop\nthe mouths of all such false teachers?\n\nThe office of the Holy Spirit. He is everywhere termed the Holy Spirit. It\nis true. Christ is holy, and God is holy, but this term is especially\napplied to the Spirit, because his particular mission is to restore\nmankind to holiness. Holiness and sanctification, so far as they apply to\na state, are synonymous terms. The Holy Spirit is the sanctifier. Rom.\n15:16. This is the especial mission and prime work of the Holy Spirit.\nMuch is involved in the work of sanctification. In this is the destruction\nof carnality and division, and consequently the unifying of the children\nof God. The Holy Spirit is the agency in answering the prayer of the\nSavior: \u201cNeither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall\nbelieve on me through their word: that they all may be one.\u201d John 17:20,\n21. Sanctification is the work which effects this oneness. \u201cFor both he\nthat sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which\ncause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.\u201d Heb. 2:11. Holiness and\nunity accomplished by the Holy Spirit are the two most sublime themes in\nthe New Testament. Nothing accomplished in the mission of the Holy Spirit\nis more glorifying to God.\n\n\n\nGod The Son.\n\n\nJesus Christ, the second person in the trinity, is also called God. \u201cAnd\nThomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.\u201d John 20:28. \u201cIn\nthe beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the word was\nGod.\u201d John 1:1. He is God revealed in the flesh on a mission of love and\nmercy to this world. He came as a Redeemer or Savior. An angel of the Lord\nappeared to Joseph in a dream before the nativity of the holy child and\ngave him the name Jesus or Savior (see margin of Mat. 1:21), because he\nshould save his people from their sins. He was both God and man. Born of a\nwoman, he was human. Conceived by the Holy Spirit, he was divine. As God,\nhe was not subject to temptation, \u201cfor God can not be tempted;\u201d but as a\nman he endured all the temptations common to mankind. In the beginning of\nhis ministry he was forty days tempted of the devil.\n\nHe is one with God the Father. \u201cI and my Father are one.\u201d John 10:30.\nBecause of his divinity he is eternal. \u201cI am Alpha and Omega, the\nbeginning and the ending.\u201d Rev. 1:8. He is omnipotent. \u201cI am Alpha and\nOmega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which\nwas, and which is to come, the Almighty.\u201d He is able to subdue all things\nunto himself. Phil. 3:21. \u201cAll power is given unto me in heaven and in\nearth.\u201d Mat. 28:18. He is omnipresent. \u201cFor where two or three are\ngathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.\u201d Mat.\n18:20. \u201cLo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.\u201d Mat.\n28:20. He is omniscient. \u201cHe saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of\nJonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the\nthird time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord thou knowest all\nthings; thou knowest that I love thee.\u201d John 21:17. \u201cNow we are sure that\nthou knowest all things.\u201d John 16:30. He is immutable. \u201cJesus Christ the\nsame yesterday, and to-day, and forever.\u201d Heb. 13:8.\n\nHis mission to this world was to be offered as a sacrifice for the sins of\nthis world. \u201cSo Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.\u201d Heb.\n9:28. God prepared a body for his Son which he could bring as a sacrifice\nfor the sins of many. \u201cBut a body hast thou prepared me.\u201d Heb. 10:5.\nTruly, \u201cwithout controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was\nmanifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached\nunto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.\u201d 1\nTim. 3:16. The writers of the Gospels record the event of his crucifixion.\nOn the cross he cried, \u201cIt is finished.\u201d His mission was completed, the\nsacrifice was made, the blood was shed. The blood has a great atoning\npower, the devastation caused by sin is covered by the blood. It destroys\nthe works of the devil.\n\nProvision was made by the atoning blood for sickness as well as for sin.\n\u201cWhen the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed\nwith devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all\nthat were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the\nprophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.\u201d\nMat. 8:16, 17. God manifested in the flesh is a perfect Redeemer, the\nconqueror of sin, sickness and death, the destroyer of Satan\u2019s works, and\nthe light of the world.\n\n\n\nGod The Holy Ghost.\n\n\nThat the Holy Spirit is a personage many question. But the doubts and\ndenials of a nation, or of a world, do not change the Word of God. He is\nthe third person in the trinity without controversy. The Holy Spirit is\nnot a mere emanation or influence, but a person or being, capable of\nworks, or the performance of a mission. As a person he guides: \u201cHowbeit\nwhen he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.\u201d\nJohn 16:13. He as a person teaches: \u201cBut the Comforter, which is the Holy\nGhost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all\nthings, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said\nunto you.\u201d John 14:26.\n\nThis teacher and guide is not a mere influence, such as love. The\nScriptures in speaking of the Holy Spirit use the personal pronoun. The\nHoly Spirit as the third person in the trinity is the special gift of God\nunto his children: \u201cAnd, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon\nyou.\u201d Luke 24:49. God gave this promise by the mouth of his prophet Joel,\n\u201cAnd it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon\nall flesh.\u201d Joel 2:28. This promise was the gift of the Holy Spirit. See\nActs 2:17, 18, 38.\n\nUpon whom this gift is bestowed is a subject of more controversy perhaps\nthan any other Bible theme. There need be no confusion upon this point if\nall would take the plain statements and examples in the New Testament.\nJesus declares the world can not receive the Spirit, John 14:17. The\ndisciples enjoyed the experience of regeneration all through the Lord\u2019s\nministry. Some will take issue with us here, but we have the whole of the\nWord on our side, or rather we are on the side of the Word of God. They\npreached, they east out devils, they healed the sick, they rejoiced, they\nprayed, the Lord administered unto them the newly instituted ordinance of\nthe Lord\u2019s Supper, and originated the precious ordinance of feet-washing.\nHe told them their names were written in heaven. He said he had chosen\nthem out of the world, and that they were not of the world, even as he was\nnot of the world. He prayed God to keep them from the evils of the world,\nand said that the glory the Father gave him he had given them, and that he\nhad kept them in his Father\u2019s name, and none of them was lost. What more\nproof do you require to convince you that they were not sinners? Some who\nendeavor to overthrow the doctrine of receiving the Holy Spirit as the\nsanctifier subsequent to regeneration, say that \u201cthe justification of the\ndisciples was an Old Testament justification, and not a justification\nunder the gospel, and Pentecost was the receiving of the New Testament\njustification.\u201d Did you ever hear of a justification under the law spoken\nof as the experience of the disciples was spoken of by the Savior? They\nwere not like the other Jews that kept the law. They were separated from\nthem and persecuted by them. Jesus said, \u201cYe have followed me in the\nregeneration.\u201d Mat. 19:28. It was not a justification under the law, but a\nregeneration in Christ.\n\nIn John, seventeenth chapter, after telling the Father that he had chosen\nthem out of the world and kept them in his name, that none of them should\nbe lost, he then prays for their sanctification. After saying in the\nsixteenth verse, \u201cThey are not of the world, even as I am not of the\nworld,\u201d in the next verse he prays the Father to sanctify them. In Mat.\n9:2, Jesus says to the man sick of the palsy, \u201cSon, be of good cheer, thy\nsins be forgiven thee.\u201d Was not this a gospel justification or pardon?\nThere was no offering of the blood of animals to secure a justification by\nthe law. This is to prove that Christ did give his followers the\nexperience of the \u201cnew birth\u201d before his crucifixion. I do not doubt that\nthis man was present and received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.\n\nAnother clear example set before us of the Christians in the morning of\nthis gospel day receiving the Holy Spirit as the third person in the\ntrinity after regeneration, is that of the brethren at Samaria, recorded\nin Acts, eighth chapter. Philip went down thither and preached Christ unto\nthem, and they gave heed to the things he spake, ver. 5, 6. Do you not\nthink this was a New Testament justification? The seventh verse says that\nunclean spirits were cast out and the palsied and lame were healed. Do you\nsuppose that all this was done unto sinners? The fourteenth verse says\nthey \u201creceived the word.\u201d James says, \u201cReceive with meekness the engrafted\nword, which is able to save your souls.\u201d Jas. 1:21. The sixteenth verse of\nthe eighth chapter of Acts says they were baptized in the name of Jesus.\nThe seventeenth verse speaks of their reception of the Holy Spirit. Some\nare at this point ready to say that Simon believed Philip\u2019s preaching and\nwas baptized, and yet not saved. This is very true. He was a hypocrite.\nThe remainder were not, you know full well. Because they were sincere they\nreceived an experience, and were made fit subjects to receive the Holy\nSpirit. Because he was not saved he could not receive him.\n\nA similar instance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the\npreviously regenerated is that of Cornelius, recorded in the tenth chapter\nof Acts. We are often told that Cornelius was a devout man under the law\nlike Moses, Isaiah, and other Old Testament prophets. This is only a\nsupposition, and one without foundation. Cornelius was not a keeper of the\nlaw. He was a Gentile, a Roman centurion. He had heard of Jesus, ver. 36,\n37. He had learned enough to believe on him for the salvation from sin,\nbut wanted to be taught the way of God more perfectly. Under Peter\u2019s\npreaching they received the Holy Spirit. In the nineteenth chapter of Acts\nis preserved the experience of twelve men at Ephesus. They were disciples.\nThe Jews under the law were never called disciples. A disciple is a\nfollower or learner of Christ. Paul preached to them and laid hands upon\nthem, and they received the Holy Ghost.\n\nThis is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit. As holy men were once led and\nspoken to by God directly, holy men are now led and spoken to by the Holy\nSpirit. The man who rejects the power, work and light of the Holy Spirit\nis like a blind man who does not believe the existence of a sun because he\nnever saw the light. The Holy Spirit calls to the ministry. Acts 13:1-4.\nHe leads them and directs them where to preach or labor. Acts 8:26, 29;\n16:6, 7. He created the overseers. Acts 20:28. Men spake as moved by the\nHoly Spirit. They spake as the Spirit gave them utterance. God sets all\nthe members in the body as pleases him. 1 Cor. 12:18. He does this through\nthe agency of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13. Apostles and prophets and\nteachers and gifts of healing and miracles and tongues are all the gifts\nof the Holy Spirit. The whole work of God is now carried on by the Holy\nSpirit, the third person in the trinity.\n\n\n\n\nChapter XVI. Miscellaneous Subjects.\n\n\n\nWoman\u2019s Freedom.\n\n\nThe Scriptural right for women to labor in the gospel as exhorters,\nteachers, preachers, etc., is questioned by many. To deny women such a\nprivilege is contrary to the Christian spirit of equality, and a serious\nobstruction to pure gospel light. We (male and female) are all one in\nChrist Jesus. Gal. 3:28. In the kingdom of grace man and woman are on an\nequal footing so far as concerns the work of God. To explain some texts\nthat seem to prohibit women from laboring in the gospel and to prove\npositively to you that women did so labor in the morning light of the\nchurch, we will transcribe an article written by Bro. Geo. Cole, and which\nappeared in the Gospel Trumpet.\n\n\u201cI commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church\nwhich is at Cenchrea.\u201d The church at Cenchrea was a local congregation or\nassembly. Phebe our sister\u2014that this personage was a woman, no one\ndisputes, and she was a servant of the church. Servant-_diakonos_,\ntranslated servant in the following texts: Mat. 23:11; Mark 9:35; John\n12:26; Rom. 16:1. Translated deacon in Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8, 12.\nTranslated minister: Mat. 20:26, 28; Mark 10:43, 45; Rom. 15:8; 1 Cor.\n3:5; 2 Cor. 3:6; 6:4; 11:15, 23; Eph. 3:7; 6:21; Col. 1:7, 23, 25; 4:7; 1\nThes. 3:2; 1 Tim. 4:6; Rom. 12:7; 2 Cor. 8:4; Mat. 25:44; 2 Cor. 3:3; Heb.\n6:10; 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:12; 4:10, 11.\n\nThe extensive use of this word _diakonos_ in the New Testament readily\ndetermines its meaning. That Paul conferred upon Phebe the church title\n\u201c_diakonos_\u201d is unquestionable, and as such it means minister or deacon.\nLiddell and Scott\u2019s lexicon comments on _diakonos_ as used in the New\nTestament as follows: A servant, waiting man or woman, minister, a\nmessenger, a minister of the church. Any one can see the above definition\ncovers all the ground of elder. I will offer a few proof texts. \u201cHe that\nis greatest among you, shall be your servant [_diakonos_].\u201d Mat. 23:11.\n\u201cWhosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister\n[_diakonos_].\u201d Mat. 20:26. \u201cMinisters [_diakonos]_ by whom ye believed.\u201d 1\nCor. 3:5. \u201cWho also hath made us able ministers [_diakonos_] of the New\nTestament.\u201d 2 Cor. 3:6. \u201cThou shalt be a good minister [_diakonos_] of\nJesus Christ.\u201d 1 Tim. 4:6. \u201cIn all things approving ourselves as the\nministers [_diakonos_] of God.\u201d 2 Cor. 6:4. \u201cWhereof I was made a minister\n[_diakonos_].\u201d Eph. 3:7.\n\nThus we might swell the testimony that _diakonos_ was the common term used\nin the New Testament signifying the ministerial office of minister, elder,\npreacher, etc. Therefore the evidences are in Phebe\u2019s favor that she was a\nminister or elder rather than a deaconess. If we consider Paul\u2019s\ncommendation of her standing and the sending of his Roman epistle by her,\nas having some weight, this certainly favors the above conclusion.\n\n\nProphecy.\n\n\n_Propheteuo_\u2014to prophesy publicly, to expound, to preach, etc. There were\ncertain prophets and teachers in the church at Antioch, as Barnabas,\nSimeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul or Paul. Acts 13:1. They were public\nexpounders of the Scriptures. Prophesy\u2014to speak, to edify, exhort, and\ncomfort. 1 Cor. 14:3. A few examples: Zacharias filled with the Holy Ghost\nprophesied. Luke 1:67-79. Compare this prophecy with Mary\u2019s words in Luke\n1:46-55. \u201cThey spake with tongues and prophesied.\u201d Acts 19:6. \u201cAnd Judas\nand Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many\nwords, and confirmed them.\u201d Acts 15:32. \u201cMystery of Christ which in other\nages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto\nhis holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.\u201d Eph. 3:4, 5. Prophets were\nset in the church. \u201cHe gave some, apostles; and some, prophets.\u201d Eph.\n4:11. \u201cAnd God set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily\nprophets.\u201d 1 Cor. 12:28. And there were certain prophets and teachers in\nthe church which was at Antioch. Acts 13:1.\n\nThus we see the prophets were identical with or a constituent part of the\nNew Testament ministry; and it only remains for us to prove there were\nwomen prophets in the church and we have women identified with the\nministry. Example: Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven. \u201cAnd\nthe same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.\u201d Acts 21:8,\n9. \u201cBut every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered\ndishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.\u201d 1\nCor. 11: 5. If there were no women prophets it were foolish to give\ndirections for them while praying or prophesying.\n\nJoel prophesied, \u201cAnd it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I\nwill pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your\ndaughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your\nold men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I\nwill pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.\u201d Acts\n2:17, 18. We observe first, men and women were placed on equality as\nprophets: second, this was to be a characteristic feature or mark of the\nlast days, or last dispensation; third, this was being fulfilled at that\ntime, at Pentecost, as women were present. Acts 1:14. All were filled with\nthe Holy Ghost, and spoke with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.\nActs 2:1-4.\n\nPaul speaks of the whole church coming together into one place. 1 Cor.\n14:23. This includes both men and women. He says, \u201cBut if all [men and\nwomen] prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one\nunlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all,\u201d ver. 24. In verse\n31 he says, \u201cFor ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and\nall may be comforted.\u201d This was an extended privilege to all, though not\nexpected of all, as we see in 1 Cor. 12:29: \u201cAre all prophets?\u201d Paul\nexpressly mentions those women which labored with him in the gospel. Phil.\n4:3. See Rom. 16:1, 3, 7, 12. \u201cLabored in the gospel.\u201d \u201cElders ... labor\nin the word and doctrine.\u201d 1 Tim. 5:17. This was exactly the kind of work\nthat Paul was doing, and those women labored with him in the gospel. \u201cIn\nthe gospel\u201d signifies here, evangelizing, spreading or preaching the\ngospel, etc. Let us not confound ordinary testimony with prophesying. A\nperson must have the gift of prophecy in order to prophesy: and it is this\ngift that constitutes a person a prophet. Proof texts, Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor.\n12:10, 28; 14:1, 3, 6, 12, 29, 39; Eph. 4:8-11. And we have before proved\nthat women did possess this gift, hence were prophetesses or public\nexpounders of the gospel, and hence they have a constituent part in the\nministry, and as such are just as much elders in the church of God as men.\n\n\nSilence In The Church.\n\n\n\u201cLet your women keep silence in the churches.\u201d 1 Cor. 14:39. \u201cLet him keep\nsilence in the church.\u201d Ver. 28. If these scriptures had no contexts to\nexplain them we would all be silenced in the church. The context to the\nlast quotation reads thus. \u201cBut if there be no interpreter, let him keep\nsilence.\u201d This makes it clear. Context to the first reads, \u201cFor it is not\npermitted unto them to speak: but they are commanded to be under\nobedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let\nthem ask their husbands at home.\u201d What kind of speech is forbidden?\nAns.\u2014Asking questions in the church to learn, interrogative speech in the\npublic congregation. The law did not prohibit women being prophets or\nprophesying. See Deborah, in Judges 4:4-14. Miriam, Ex. 15:20. Anna, Luke\n2:36. If the law did not prohibit women prophesying, Paul did not call in\nquestion the obedience of the law to prove that point. Thus the context\nexplains itself without further comment. Does not the character of Jezebel\n\u201cwhich calleth herself a prophetess\u201d disapprove of women prophets? Rev.\n2:20. No! no more than Satan\u2019s ministers transforming themselves into the\nministers of Christ would disapprove of the entire Christian ministry. The\ncounterfeit proves there is a genuine. This is conclusive proof in itself\nthat there were true prophetesses in the church in those days.\n\n\u201cTeach nor to usurp authority over the man\u201d (1 Tim. 2:12), is offered in\nargument against women prophets. Such argument betrays ignorance in the\nnature and spirit of prophecy. A woman filled with the Holy Spirit,\nprophesying, speaking unto men to edification, exhorting, and comforting,\nis not usurping authority over any one.\n\n\n\nThe Resurrection Of The Body.\n\n\n_This chapter appears in Gospel Trumpet, written by H. F. Jackson._\n\n1. Abraham. \u201cAccounting that God was able to raise Him up, even from the\ndead; from whence also he received him in a figure.\u201d Heb. 11:19.\n\n2. Moses. \u201cNow that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush,\nwhen he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the\nGod of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all\nlive unto him.\u201d Luke 20:37.\n\n3. Job. \u201cFor I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at\nthe latter day upon the earth: and though after my skin worms destroy this\nbody, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and\nmine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed\nwithin me.\u201d Job 19:25-27.\n\n4. Isaiah. \u201cThy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they\narise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of\nherbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.\u201d Isa. 26:19.\n\n5. Daniel. \u201cAnd many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall\nawake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting\ncontempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the\nfirmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever\nand ever. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and\nstand in thy lot at the end of the days.\u201d Dan. 12:2, 3, 13.\n\n6. Hosea. \u201cI will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem\nthem from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy\ndestruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.\u201d Hos. 13:14.\n\n\nThe Doctrine Derided Among The Greeks.\n\n\n\u201cThen certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics,\nencountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He\nseemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto\nthem Jesus, and the resurrection. And when they heard of the resurrection\nof the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this\nmatter.\u201d Acts 17:18, 32.\n\n\nPaul\u2019s Defense Of The Doctrine.\n\n\n\u201cNow if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among\nyou that there is no resurrection of the dead?\u201d 1 Cor. 15:12. \u201cBut if\nthere be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if\nChrist be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also\nvain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have\ntestified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be\nthat the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ\nraised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in\nyour sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.\nElse what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise\nnot at all?... and why stand ye in jeopardy every hour?\u201d 1 Cor. 15:13-18,\n29, 30.\n\n\nDeath To Reign Until The Resurrection.\n\n\n\u201cThe last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.\u201d 1 Cor. 15:26.\n\n\nThe Resurrection Of Christ Ensures That Of His Followers.\n\n\n\u201cIf in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most\nmiserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the\nfirst-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came\nalso the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in\nChrist shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the\nfirst-fruits: afterward they that are Christ\u2019s at his coming.\u201d 1 Cor.\n15:19-23.\n\n\nChrist\u2019s Promise To Raise His Followers.\n\n\n\u201cAnd this is the Father\u2019s will which hath sent me, that of all which he\nhath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the\nlast day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which\nseeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will\nraise him up at the last day.\u201d John 6:39, 40.\n\n\nThe Order Of The Resurrection.\n\n\n1. The dead will first be raised. \u201cBut I would not have you to be\nignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not,\neven as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and\nrose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with\nhim. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are\nalive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which\nare asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,\nand with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the\ndead in Christ shall rise first.\u201d 1 Thes. 4:13-16.\n\n2. Living saints will be caught up. \u201cThen we which are alive and remain\nshall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in\nthe air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one\nanother with these words.\u201d 1 Thes. 4:17, 18.\n\n\nThe Glory Of The Consummation.\n\n\n\u201cBehold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we all shall be\nchanged, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for\nthe trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and\nwe shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and\nthis mortal must put on immortality.... Then shall be brought to pass the\nsaying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where\nis thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin;\nand the strength of sin is the law.\u201d 1 Cor. 15:51-56.\n\n\n\nThe Mosaic Law.\n\n\nThere is recorded in the Old Testament the account of God giving a law to\ngovern his people Israel. This is called a covenant, and was to serve as a\nschoolmaster to lead its subjects to Christ. This law was a shadow of good\nthings to come; that is, it contained types and shadows of something real\nin the blessed day of gospel grace. The blood of the animals that was shed\ncould not take away sins, but is typical of the blood of Jesus, who in the\nend of the world appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.\nThere is no power in the blood of animals to redeem man from sin, but we\nare redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without\nblemish and without spot. The unblemished lamb offered in sacrifice under\nthe Jewish economy was typical or a shadow of the spotless Christ, slain\nfor the sins of the world. The types and shadows of the law all center in\nChrist. When he the substance is come the shadow of necessity vanishes\naway. When the shadow meets the substance the shadow has an end. The\nredemption which we have in Jesus not only redeems us from sin, but also\nfrom the bondage of the Sinaitic law. \u201cBut when the fulness of the time\nwas come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to\nredeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of\nsons.\u201d Gal. 4:4, 5. \u201cChrist hath redeemed us from the curse of the law,\nbeing made a curse for us.\u201d Gal. 3:13.\n\nThere is no salvation to be obtained by the observance of any part or the\nwhole of the law of Moses including the ten commandments. Salvation or\nredemption is only found in Christ and the gospel. \u201cNeither by the blood\nof goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy\nplace, having obtained eternal redemption for us.\u201d Heb. 9:12. \u201cFor what\nthe law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending\nhis own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in\nthe flesh.\u201d Rom. 8:3. It is not through the law we obtain salvation, but\nthrough the gospel. \u201cFor I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it\nis the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew\nfirst, and also to the Greek.\u201d Rom. 1:16. \u201cWherefore lay apart all\nfilthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the\nengrafted word, which is able to save your souls.\u201d Jas. 1:21. \u201cBeing born\nagain, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,\nwhich liveth and abideth forever.\u201d 1 Pet. 1:23. In Rom. 1:16, Gal. 3:26,\nRev. 5:9, and many other texts, we learn that all are accepted by God unto\nsalvation through Christ. This necessitates an end of the law, since the\nlaw is given to the Jew only. There is no shift or revision made of the\nlaw in Christ to include both Jew and Gentile; it is simply done, and the\ngospel succeeds.\n\nThe apostles very clearly and decidedly teach an abolition of the ancient\nfaulty Sinaitic law. Paul says, \u201cHaving abolished [destroyed\u2014Webster] in\nhis flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in\nordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace.\u201d\nEph. 2:15. The enmity here spoken of is the enmity or separation made\nbetween the Jew and Gentile by the Mosaic law. This law of the Jews stood\nas a partition wall between the Israelite and the Gentile world. In Jesus\nthis wall was torn down, and the Gentile as well as the Jew was offered\nsalvation. In verse fourteen Paul says, \u201cFor he is our peace, who hath\nmade both one [Jew and Gentile], and hath broken down the middle wall of\npartition between us.\u201d The Jewish ordinances and laws that stood as a\nmighty wall between the Gentile and the Jew were broken down and all the\nworld of every kindred, nation and tongue was given equal rights under an\nentirely new order of things.\n\nThe coming of Christ was the fulfilling of the law. The law was only given\nto serve until Jesus came. When he came its object or purpose was\nfulfilled and had an end. \u201cBut before faith came, we were kept under the\nlaw, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore\nthe law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be\njustified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a\nschoolmaster.\u201d Gal. 3:23-25. This is plain, positive language. After faith\nor Christ has come we are no longer under a schoolmaster, which is the\nlaw. This accords with Rom. 6:14: \u201cFor sin shall not have dominion over\nyou: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.\u201d\n\nAs we have before mentioned, the law did not deliver us from the power of\nsin; but after grace came by Jesus Christ we are not under the law, but\nunder grace, and where sin once abounded, that is, had power or dominion,\ngrace now much more abounds; therefore sin has no dominion over us. In\nRom. 7:4 the apostle tells us we have become dead to the law by the body\nof Christ.\n\nIn the seventh verse, still speaking of this law, to which we become dead\nby the body of Christ, he quotes one of the ten commandments, thereby\nteaching us that by the body of Christ we are no longer under the\nten-commandment law. The ten-commandment law simply as the ten-commandment\nlaw is no more in force and effect than if it were never given. Some of\nthe principles embodied in the ten commandments are embodied in the New\nTestament. These are in effect, not because they are principles of the ten\ncommandments, but because they are principles of the New Testament. Must I\nas a Christian refrain from committing adultery because it is forbidden by\none of the ten commandments? We answer, No. But as a Christian in this\ndispensation of the gospel I must refrain from such acts because it is\nforbidden in the New Testament. We must live in the spirit of the gospel.\nWe could live without violation of this seventh commandment, and yet\ncommit adultery according to the New Testament and be wholly destitute of\nthe grace of God. Jesus says that \u201cwhosoever looketh on a woman to lust\nafter her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.\u201d Mat.\n5:28. The salvation of the gospel removes such unholy desires from the\nheart.\n\n\u201cTell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For\nit is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other\nby a freewoman. But he who was of the bondmaid was born after the flesh;\nbut he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for\nthese are the two covenants; the one from mount Sinai, which gendereth to\nbondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and\nanswereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.\nBut Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.\u201d Gal.\n4:21-26. Here the apostle uses the two sons of Abraham allegorically. They\nrepresent the two covenants or testaments. See margin. The one by the\nbondmaid he uses to represent the testament or covenant given from Sinai.\nThe one by the free woman, the covenant given by Christ, or the New\nTestament.\n\nThe apostle goes further and tells us what disposition to make of the two\nsons or testaments. \u201cNevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the\nbondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with\nthe son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the\nbondwoman, but of the free.\u201d Gal. 4:30, 31. The mission of the Sinaitic\nlaw is completed. It has finished its course. We are in the glorious\nfreedom of the New Testament. Paul adds in the next chapter, \u201cStand fast\ntherefore, in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not\nentangled again with the yoke of bondage.\u201d Ver. 1.\n\nHe speaks further of the two covenants in the eighth chapter of Hebrews,\nand says, \u201cFor if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no\nplace have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he\nsaith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new\ncovenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not\naccording to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I\ntook them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they\ncontinued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.\u201d\nWhat was the covenant that God made with Israel when he led them out of\nthe land of Egypt? It was the entire law given at Sinai, including the ten\ncommandments. Whoever would here make a division in the covenant, and say\nonly the ceremonial law is included in the covenant mentioned in these\ntexts simply makes the assertion to sustain some adopted views of his\ncreed. There is no foundation here for any division. This first, covenant\nis the whole covenant, and it was faulty. In verse thirteen he says it\nwaxeth old and is ready to vanish away.\n\nContinuing in the ninth chapter the apostle speaks of the ordinances of\nthe first covenant, which stood in meals and drinks and divers washings.\nVer. 10. These ordinances of the first covenant were imposed upon them\nuntil the time of reformation. We are to understand by this that at the\nbringing in of the reformation they \u201cvanished away.\u201d In the Colossian\nletter he mentions those ordinances together with some others as being\nblotted out at Calvary. We will quote his words: \u201cBlotting out the\nhandwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us,\nand took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.\u201d Col. 2:14. In the\nsixteenth verse he tells us what ordinances were blotted out: \u201cLet no man\ntherefore [since they are nailed to the cross] judge you in meat or in\ndrink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath\ndays.\u201d The Jew was denied by the law the privilege of eating certain kinds\nof meat. Such restrictions were nailed to the cross, and since Calvary\nnothing is \u201ccommon or unclean.\u201d Their holy days and solemn assemblies at\ncertain stages of the moon find no place in the New Testament. The keeping\nof the Sabbath as commanded on the tables of stone was also nailed to the\ncross, therefore let no man judge us or bind these things upon us.\n\nThe Sabbath of the ten commandments had its mission. It was a shadow of\ngood things to come. It was typical of the rest which is found in Jesus.\nOf all the types and shadows of the Sinaitic covenant, none is more\nbeautiful than the keeping of the Sabbath. It foreshadows the rest or\npeacefulness of Christ\u2019s kingdom. Jesus says, \u201cCome unto me, all ye that\nlabor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon\nyou, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find\nrest unto your souls.\u201d Mat. 11:28, 29. The Old Testament prophets beheld\nthe rest that was to be obtained in Jesus: \u201cAnd in that day there shall be\na root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it\nshall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.\u201d Isa. 11:10.\n\nThat the seventh-day Sabbath kept by the Jews is the Christian day of\nworship is a heretical doctrine, being taught at the present day. To make\nclear to your understanding that the Sabbath of the ten-commandment law is\nnot the Christian day of worship is our object in showing you it was only\na type. If it was a type then certainly when we have reached the antitype\nthe type has an end. Since the Word of God is so plain we feel confident\nwe can make it clear and comprehensive to you. We will first quote from\nHeb. 4:4-11: \u201cFor he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this\nwise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.\u201d (See Gen.\n2:1-3.) \u201cAnd in this place again. If they shall enter into my rest.\u201d See\nthird verse. \u201cSeeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein,\nand they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:\nagain, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To-day, after so long a\ntime, as it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your\nhearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have\nspoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of\nGod. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his\nown works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that\nrest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.\u201d\n\nWe now wish to briefly review this quotation. In the fourth verse it is\nsaid that God rested on the seventh day from all his works. This is\nrecorded in Gen. 2:1-3. This is the \u201cplace\u201d that the seventh-day rest is\nspoken of. But this day of rest is only a shadow of another day of rest.\nHe speaks of another day. See seventh and eighth verses of quotation; also\nPsa. 95:7, 8. \u201cTo-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.\u201d\n\u201cFor if Jesus had given them rest,\u201d Rotherham says, \u201cFor if unto them\nJoshua had given rest.\u201d See also margin of common version. Joshua led the\nchildren of Israel across the Jordan into the land of Canaan. This land is\nalso typical of a restful state in the kingdom of grace. Had Joshua given\nthem rest he would not have spoken of another day of rest. But they did\nnot enter into his rest, therefore there remaineth another day of rest to\nthe people of God. What day is it? It is the gospel day. The marginal\nrendering of the word \u201crest\u201d is the \u201ckeeping of a Sabbath.\u201d \u201cHence there\nis being left over a sabbath keeping for the people of God.\u201d\u2014Rotherham.\nLike as God did cease from his own works and rest on the Sabbath, and as\nthe Jews kept it strictly as a day of rest, so we in Jesus find rest and\nhave ceased from our own works. It was all works under the law, but we\nhave ceased from such works in Jesus. Therefore the Jewish Sabbath day of\nrest only typifies the blessed rest of the day of salvation by grace, and\nnot by works.\n\nUnder the New Testament we keep as one of the early church fathers has\nsaid, \u201cThe day on which our Lord arose.\u201d The writings of church history\nfrequently make mention of Sunday (the first day of the week) as being the\nChristian\u2019s day of worship in commemoration of the resurrection of our\nLord, in whom we are a new creation. The weekly meeting together of the\nChristians as recorded in the New Testament was always on the first day of\nthe week. See Luke 24:33; John 20:19, 26; 1 Cor. 16:2; Acts 20:6, 7. There\nis not one text in the New Testament recording a Christian meeting on the\nseventh day. Here are four texts recording meetings held on the first day.\nThe Sabbath, as well as the whole of the ten-commandment and ceremonial\nlaw finds an end when we have come to \u201canother day\u201d\u2014the day of salvation,\nwherein we are a new creation. 2 Cor. 5:17.\n\nWe will close this subject by quoting 2 Cor. 3, beginning at verse five:\n\u201cNot that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of\nourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able\nministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for\nthe letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of\ndeath, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children\nof Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of\nhis countenance; which glory is to be done away: how shall not the\nministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of\ncondemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness\nexceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in\nthis respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is\ndone away is glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. Seeing\nthen that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: and not as\nMoses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could\nnot steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their\nminds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken\naway in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away in\nChrist. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their\nheart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be\ntaken away.\u201d\n\nIt is with reluctance that we refrain from comment on the above, however\nwe believe the abolition of the whole Mosaic system to be so plain to\nevery unprejudiced heart as to render comment unnecessary.\n\n\n\nGood Works.\n\n\nChristians possess a light; they are \u201cchildren of light,\u201d and are\ncommanded to \u201clet their light shine.\u201d How can Christians shine the light\nof the gospel and of God? By their good works. Jesus says, \u201cLet your light\nso shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your\nFather which is in heaven.\u201d Mat. 5:16. God has ordained that in Christ we\nshould perform good works. \u201cFor we are his workmanship, created in Christ\nJesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk\nin them.\u201d Eph. 2:10. By the apostle Christians are exhorted to be careful\nto maintain good works. \u201cThis is a faithful saying, and these things I\nwill that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God\nmight be careful to maintain good works.\u201d Titus 3:8. Then adds, \u201cThese\nthings are good and profitable unto men.\u201d\n\nWe have proven by the Word elsewhere that salvation from sin is not\nattained by good works alone, but after we are saved by grace we retain\nthe grace by a strict and faithful performance of all Christian duties.\nThe first neglect to perform a known duty is the first step the Christian\ntakes on his return to the \u201cbeggarly elements of the world.\u201d We are\ncommanded to \u201csearch the scriptures.\u201d By looking into this perfect \u201claw of\nliberty,\u201d and conforming our lives to the glorious truth taught there, we\nwill be led into the beautiful walk of Christian virtue and duty. \u201cAll\nscripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,\nfor reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man\nof God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.\u201d When a\nhouse is \u201cthoroughly furnished\u201d we understand it is furnished in every\nroom up-stairs and down. The Scriptures are given us that by searching\nthem and receiving of their corrections, reprovings, and instructions we\nmay be furnished in every department of our capabilities with good works.\nIf man obeys the voice of the inspired Word of God he will be \u201ca vessel\nunto honor, sanctified and meet for the Master\u2019s use, and prepared unto\nevery good work.\u201d Christians should be rich in good works. \u201cThat they do\ngood, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to\ncommunicate.\u201d 1 Tim. 6:18.\n\nSaints should be fruitful in good works. \u201cThat ye might walk worthy of the\nLord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing\nin the knowledge of God.\u201d Saved people in some texts of Scripture are\nlikened unto good trees. They are a tree that is abounding with the fruit\nof every good work. Christians are admonished to be ready to every good\nwork. \u201cPut them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to\nobey magistrates, to be ready to every good work.\u201d Titus 3:1. They should\nbe established in them. \u201cNow our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even\nour Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation\nand good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and stablish you in every\ngood word and work.\u201d 2 Thes. 2:16, 17. They should abound to all good\nworks. \u201cAnd God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye,\nalways having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good\nwork.\u201d 2 Cor. 9:8.\n\nThe apostle prayed that they should be made perfect in every good work.\n\u201cNow the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,\nthat great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting\ncovenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in\nyou that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ: to\nwhom be glory forever and ever. Amen.\u201d Heb. 13:20, 21. This is a most\nprecious text. \u201cWorking in you\u201d in the margin is rendered \u201cdoing.\u201d All the\ngood things a Christian does is not him doing it, but it is God doing it\nin him, so he is not found going about telling what he has done.\n\nSaints should provoke each other to good works. \u201cAnd let us consider one\nanother to provoke unto love and to good works.\u201d Heb. 10:24. We know of no\nbetter way to provoke others to good works than by setting a good example\nbefore them. All their good works should be done in wisdom and meekness or\nhumility. \u201cWho is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him\nshew out of a good conversation [or conduct] his works with meekness of\nwisdom.\u201d Jas. 3:13.\n\nThe people of God do not adorn themselves with gold and pearls and costly\narray to appear beautiful, \u201cbut with good works.\u201d 1 Tim. 2:9, 10. What can\nbe more lovely than a character beautified by the ornaments of every good\nwork in the meekness of wisdom? Glory to the name of Jesus! My soul feels\nlike crying. \u201cLord, work more of thy good works in the hearts of thy\npeople.\u201d Man\u2019s works shall be brought into judgment. \u201cFor we must all\nappear before the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the\nthings done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be\ngood or bad.\u201d 2 Cor. 5:10. \u201cFor God shall bring every work into judgment,\nwith every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.\u201d Eccl.\n12:14.\n\nThat will be an awful hour when we are called before the tribunal of God\nand there have to unfold to the incomprehensible One our true character.\nOh, what will it be worth in that day to hear him say, \u201cCome, ye blessed\nof my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of\nthe world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and\nye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye\nclothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came\nunto me.\u201d Mat. 25:34-36.\n\n\n\nChristian Giving.\n\n\nThe cheerful giving of our worldly goods to help the needy or for the\nfurtherance of the cause of Christ is a work very commendable in the sight\nof the Lord. \u201cBut this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also\nsparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.\nEvery man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give, not\ngrudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is\nable to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, having all sufficiency\nin all things, may abound to every good work: as it is written, He hath\ndispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth\nforever.\u201d 2 Cor. 9:6-9.\n\nTo quote from the writings of a Christian friend will be sufficient on\nthis subject, we think, to enable the reader to see the beauty and\nblessings in giving unto the needy and the cause of Christ as unto the\nLord.\n\n\u201cWe find both in prophecy and in the New Testament much about giving. In\nAmos, chapter four, we read, \u2018Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are\nin the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy,\nwhich say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. The Lord God hath\nsworn by his holiness.... I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all\nyour cities, and want of bread in all your places: ... also I have\nwithholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the\nharvest.... I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens\nand your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees increased, the\npalmer worm devoured them.... I have sent among you the pestilence, ...\nyet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.\u2019\n\n\u201cDear ones, has such been your experience? Have your crops failed in this\nmanner, and suffered for want of rain? Let us read further: \u2018Return unto\nme, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said,\nWherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye\nsay, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed\nwith a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all\nthe tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and\nprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the\nwindows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be\nroom enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,\nand he shall not destroy [corrupt, margin] the fruit of your ground;\nneither shall your vine cast her fruits before the time in the field,\nsaith the Lord of hosts.\u2019 Mal. 3:7-11.\n\n\u201cBring in the tithes and offerings, that God may be pleased with you, and\nbless your labors that they be profitable. Before we proceed further, let\nus notice what offerings are accepted with God. \u2018But to do good and to\ncommunicate [share] forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well\npleased.\u2019 Heb. 13:16. To whom shall we communicate, or with whom shall we\nshare? \u2018Let him that is taught in the Word communicate unto him that\nteacheth in all good things.... And let us not be weary in well-doing: for\nin due season we shall reap, if we faint not.\u2019 Gal. 6:6-9. Here is one\nclass. Share with those who teach you in the Word. \u2018Distributing to the\nnecessity of saints: given to hospitality.\u2019 Rom. 12:13. Distribute to\nneedy saints, and God will never let you come to want for so doing. There\nis yet another class. \u2018As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good\nunto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.\u2019\nGal. 6:10.\n\n\u201cWe will now look into the New Testament Scriptures to see what God has\npromised there. These are Jesus\u2019 own words: \u2018Give, and it shall be given\nunto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running\nover, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure ye mete\nwithal it shall be measured to you again.\u2019 Luke 6:38. Surely if any one is\nneedy, he had better begin giving and receive the hundredfold. No danger\nof coming to want with such a promise from the great God hanging over you.\nMove out and no longer fear; for \u2018my God shall supply all your need\naccording to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.\u2019 Phil. 4:19. \u2018Yes,\u2019 says\nsome one, \u2018you ministers and gospel workers can depend upon God for what\nyou need, but we must work for what we get.\u2019 Will you please turn to Phil.\n4:9 and read on down very carefully. You will see that Paul was writing to\nthem concerning giving; telling them how once and again he had received\ntheir gifts, and how he is still encouraging them to give more. He says,\n\u2018Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your\naccount.\u2019 Ver. 17. And that he had received \u2018the things which were sent\nfrom you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing\nto God.\u2019 [Giving to the poor and needy, or sending the gospel to those who\nsit in darkness, is an odorous sacrifice to God. How beautiful! The\nremembrance of our deeds of charity and hospitality being a sweet odor\nunto God must make such offerings a delight\u2014_Auth._] Then he gives them\nthis great promise that God would supply all their needs. He was not\ntalking to preachers at all, although we can rest upon this promise, but\nto the church at Philippi. And the same Lord is rich unto all who call\nupon him. Praise his name!\n\n\u201cNow, you who are at home laboring in temporal things, and can not go\nyourselves to minister the Word of God to others, just let go of\neverything and get down before God and ask him how much you can give to\nhelp this work along. Here is an opportunity to do good to all men. And\n\u2018as ye have therefore opportunity, do good unto all men,\u2019 then you can\ntake these promises for your own and depend upon God to supply all your\nneeds. You can and need to be just as much given up to God, and just as\ndependent upon him as the ministry is. Who will help now, by means and\nprayers, to send the gospel to every creature and every land?\u201d\n\nGood works do not cease with giving. There are many opportunities for all\nto do good that God might be glorified. Even the poor will find many\nopportunities for doing something that will benefit some fellow creature,\nexalt the name of Jesus and bring a blessing to their own soul. There are\nthe sick and the discouraged to be visited and prayed with. There are kind\nand sympathetic words that need to be spoken to lighten the burden of some\nweary heart. All around us are opportunities for loving deeds and good\nworks that can be done as unto Jesus, which are precious treasures being\nlaid up for us in the glory world.\n\n\n\nEating Of Meats.\n\n\nMany are the arguments on this subject from the pulpit and the press, from\nthe wise and not wise; and many have been deceived and led to believe that\nto eat or refuse to eat certain kinds of meat is a duty they either owe to\nthemselves or to God. Many professed gospel preachers spend much time in\ndiscussing this subject of meats, and would have their followers believe\nthat the eating of certain kinds of meat is an offense against God, and\nthrough their selfishness and ignorance endeavor to prove their arguments\nfrom the law of Moses, which was absolutely done away with when Christ\ndied on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. I have no more\nto do with the law of Moses than I have with any law that has been\nrepealed by the last act of Congress. It is disannulled and taken away by\nthe one that succeeds it. Paul says, \u201cChrist the end of the law for\nrighteousness to every one that believeth.\u201d Rom. 10:4.\n\nThe law was merely a temporary form of government until Christ should\ncome, to whom the promise was made. It served as a schoolmaster to bring\nus to Christ, but when Christ came we were no longer under a schoolmaster.\nGal. 3:19, 24.\n\n\u201cChrist is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by\nthe law; ye are fallen from grace.\u201d Gal. 5:4. \u201cThat no man is justified by\nthe law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by\nfaith.\u201d Gal. 3:11. \u201cChrist hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.\u201d\nGal. 3:13. These scriptures show plainly that the law of Moses can not be\ntaken as proof of the righteousness which Jesus Christ established; for,\nsays the apostle, \u201cThe law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by\nJesus Christ.\u201d John 1:17. So then the law was neither grace nor truth as\nregards matters pertaining to you and me.\n\nThe New Testament Scriptures settle most questions beyond all doubts, and\nleave no room for discussion. Paul speaks very lightly of this matter of\neating meats, and his language shows it to be of no importance whatever.\nHe says, \u201cMeats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall\ndestroy both it and them.\u201d 1 Cor 6:13. \u201cFor the kingdom of God is not meat\nand drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.\u201d Rom.\n14:17. The apostle means to set forth the idea that the kingdom of God has\nnothing to do with meat and drink, and such trifling things as dieting\nourselves is not taken into consideration. But the kingdom of God is\nrighteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost; it is a spiritual, not a\nphysical existence. I may eat all kinds of meat and be in the kingdom of\nGod or I may eat no meat and be in the kingdom of God.\n\nChrist said, \u201cThere is nothing from without a man, that entering into him\ncan defile him; but the things which come out of him.... Are ye so without\nunderstanding also? do ye not perceive that whatsoever thing from without\nentereth into the man it can not defile him; ... because it entereth not\ninto his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught,\npurging all meats.\u201d Mark 7:15, 19. \u201cThat which cometh out of the man, that\ndefileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil\nthoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness,\nwickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride,\nfoolishness: all these evil things come from within and defile the man.\u201d\nMark 7:20-23.\n\nPaul says, \u201cLet not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let\nnot him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received\nhim.\u201d Rom. 14:3. \u201cI know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is\nnothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be\nunclean, to him it is unclean.\u201d Rom. 14:14. And again, \u201cLet no man\ntherefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or\nof the new moon, or of the sabbath days.\u201d Col. 2:16. Paul says, \u201cThe\nSpirit speaketh expressly [notice he says the Spirit speaketh\n_expressly_], that in the latter time some shall depart from the faith,\ngiving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils: speaking lies in\nhypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to\nmarry, and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be\nreceived with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For\nevery creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be\nreceived with thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the Word of God and\nprayer.\u201d 1 Tim. 4:1-5.\n\nNow note carefully the apostles language. Those who forbid to marry and\ncommand to abstain from meats are classed with those who hold forth the\ndoctrine of devils, and speak lies in hypocrisy. It is the doctrine of\ndevils to say that any meat is unclean; for said he, God created them and\nthey are his creatures. Then he goes on to say to Timothy, \u201cIf thou put\nthe brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister\nof Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,\nwhereunto thou hast attained.\u201d 1 Tim. 4:6. If any kind of meat is\noffensive to me, there is no law either natural or divine that says I must\neat. I have a right to abstain from it if I choose. It is no sin for me to\ndo that, but I have no right to say to others, It is a sin for you to eat\npork or any other kind of meat.\n\n\n\nThe Sin Against The Holy Ghost.\n\n\n\u201cWherefore I say unto you. All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be\nforgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be\nforgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man,\nit shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost,\nit shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world\nto come.\u201d Mat. 12:31, 32.\n\n\u201cVerily I say unto you. All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men,\nand blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: but he that shall\nblaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger\nof eternal damnation: because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.\u201d Mark\n3:28-30.\n\n\u201cAnd whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be\nforgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it\nshall not be forgiven.\u201d Luke 12:10.\n\nFrom these texts of Scripture we learn that all manner of sin is\npardonable, save one, the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. There is no\ncrime too great, or sin too deeply dyed to be forgiven, except the one\ndesignated in these scriptures. Well might it be asked, What is that sin?\nIt is evident that the Holy Spirit (which is the same as the Holy Ghost)\nis no more supreme or important than others of the trinity; so therefore\nwhy should all blasphemy against the Father or Son be pardonable, and the\nblasphemy of the Holy Spirit be unpardonable. The answer will be found to\nlie in the nature and office work of the Holy Spirit, as being different\nfrom that of the Father or Son. Of course the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit\nare all one; yet they might well be considered as three, when we speak of\ntheir respective offices. The Father, the grand author of all good, the\nCreator of the world, the one who holdeth all things in his control, the\ndesigner of the glorious plan of redemption of fallen man. The Son, the\none on whom that redemption depended, who only was found worthy to open\nthe book and loose the seals of the divine plan, and thus make salvation\npossible. The Holy Spirit, the one who, after the Father and Son had\nperfected their work, was sent to reprove the world of sin, of\nrighteousness, and of judgment. He it is that strives with men by way of a\nkind of inherent knowledge, testifying to them of salvation\u2019s waters\nflowing free, and that they should forsake sin and plunge therein. By the\nHoly Spirit is God\u2019s way of manifesting himself to men, convicting them of\nsin, righteousness, and judgment. True, as Paul says, God \u201chath in these\nlast days spoken unto us by his Son;\u201d but notice, it is \u201c_hath spoken_.\u201d\nThe Son has done his part, we have his words on record, and he is at the\nright hand of the Father; and he has himself said that he would go away,\nthat the Comforter (Holy Spirit) might come. And now we are living in the\nspecial dispensation of the Holy Spirit.\n\nThe sin against the Holy Ghost, as it is commonly called, is also known as\nthe \u201cunpardonable sin,\u201d and the \u201csin unto death.\u201d See 1 John 5:16. As we\nbefore said, the answer to the question, Why is it unpardonable, lies in\nthe very nature of the Holy Spirit\u2019s relationship to man. Are we to\nsuppose that it is some sin too heinous to be forgiven? or that God has\ndecided that this sin is one that bears too heavily against his\nwillingness to forgive? or, in other words, that his great love is not\nsufficient, were it weighed in the balance with this sin? Nay; that is not\nthe light in which it is to be regarded. This is a sin that is different\nin its effects from other sins. It is one by which man unprivileges\nhimself to be saved. He disconnects himself, so to speak, from all\npossible operations or strivings of the Spirit of God with him. He might\nblaspheme God, or the Son, and it would be the same as any other sin. But\nhe blasphemes the Spirit whenever he takes action against (and casts out,\nso to speak) that inherent principle in him which tends to draw him to\nGod. By so doing he places himself outside the realm of possibilities, as\nregards his own salvation: for he severs all possible communication from\nGod to him, unless it be what is manifest by the presentation of awful\nfear of approaching damnation.\n\nIt will be seen that in committing this sin a man by choice wilfully\nplaces himself in such a position, in reference to the inner dictations of\nthe Spirit, that the latter is killed or destroyed. He can blaspheme God,\nand the convictions of the Spirit in him be unaffected, save that\ncontinual so doing might lessen them; but when he blasphemes the Spirit\u2014it\nbeing so interwoven as to be, in a sense, a part of himself\u2014he involves\nhis own soul, by taking a stand against himself, as it were, thereby\nunfitting and unqualifying himself to be further affected by the Spirit.\nHe drowns, dissolves, annihilates the inner strivings of the Spirit.\n\nIf we examine carefully the quotation from Mark, we see by verse thirty\nthat the reason Christ said what he did about blasphemy against the Holy\nGhost was because certain scribes said he had an unclean spirit, and cast\nout devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils. Now whether they thereby\ncommitted the blasphemy of the Spirit, we do not know; but from Christ\u2019s\nwords that followed, a strong inference could be drawn that they did. It\nwas at least a close step to it, and depended on the degree of inherent\nknowledge they had that Jesus was the Christ. If they did it ignorantly,\nit was not blasphemy.\n\nIn the sixth chapter of the Hebrews, verses four to eight, the apostle\nspeaks of such as have been partakers of the Holy Ghost, and were\nenlightened, etc., who, if they shall \u201cfall away,\u201d directly disinherit\nthemselves of the privilege of being renewed unto repentance, and \u201ccrucify\n_to themselves_ the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.\u201d By\nso doing they virtually do violence to the Spirit\u2019s convictions to such an\nextent that they blaspheme the Spirit. We are persuaded that Paul here had\nno reference to a person being overcome of the devil in some great\ntemptation so as to commit sin, while at the same time the soul protests\nagainst sin. That would not be _falling away_ (as here meant) from the\nlove, neither the faith of God. Indeed, it is the very love of God, as\nwell as the Spirit\u2019s convictions, that causes such a one to have immediate\nsorrow for the sin committed, and causes the soul to quickly flee to God\nagain. But what the apostle meant by \u201cfalling away\u201d was to forsake the\nLord, give up the faith, walk no more in the truth or with God\u2019s children,\nand be content to live in sin. But take notice of the standard which he\ngives, from which \u201cfalling away\u201d may be considered. He says, \u201cthose who\nwere once enlightened,\u201d had \u201ctasted of the heavenly gift,\u201d were \u201cpartakers\nof the Holy Ghost,\u201d had \u201ctasted the good word of God, and the powers of\nthe world to come;\u201d if such fall away\u2014forsake the Lord and choose to live\nin sin\u2014they soon become incapable of being affected by any manifestation\nof the Spirit or any inducement held out to them\u2014a deplorable, lost\ncondition! bearing only thorns and briers! whose end is to be burned! Now\nwe ask, Who ever saw any one come back to God who was content to remain\naway from God, after having had the experience described in Heb. 6:4, 5?\nWe have seen some who exactly correspond to the description Paul gives\nhere, but we have never known any such to come back to the truth. May we\nuse this, as the apostle intended it, as a warning against unfaithfulness\nto God.\n\nIn Heb. 10:26-29 the apostle makes mention of the same conditions, only in\na different way. Here he speaks of _sinning wilfully_ \u201cafter that we have\nreceived the knowledge of the truth.\u201d Of course, all sin, to be sin, is\ndone more or less wilfully; but the apostle can not have reference to a\nsin committed on account of a spiritual lack, while the soul meaningly\npresses on in the race for God. We know that such a sin does not unfit one\nto become pardoned again, the Holy Spirit is not blasphemed, and therefore\nthe sacrifice (Christ) still remains, to which the soul may flee. To \u201csin\nwilfully\u201d here means more, as is unmistakably implied in verses\ntwenty-eight and twenty-nine. He illustrates by one who despised Moses\u2019\nlaw, as though he now means one who is despising the law of Christ; and he\nexplains himself in verse twenty-nine, where we see he has reference to\none \u201cwho hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the\nblood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and\nhath done despite unto the Spirit of grace.\u201d Here \u201csin wilfully\u201d\ncomprehends the blasphemy of the Spirit, and he evidently means, by the\nterm, a wilful turning again to a life of sin, a deliberate giving up of\nthe faith, and choosing sin instead. This is also used as a stimulus to\nthe saints to exhort one another, and neglect not the assembling of\nthemselves together, or the provoking unto love and good works, etc.\n\nFrom these two places in the Hebrews it might be supposed that to be in an\nunpardonable condition a person must have once been saved. But the apostle\nin both places is necessarily addressing saved people, and holds up such a\ncondition as a warning against unfaithfulness. He deals in what is\napplicable to them. But this does not prove that a man who has never known\nthe way of truth may not also place himself where he is unpardonable.\n\nIt is safe and Scriptural to take the stand that a person is pardonable so\nlong as he is capable of being sorry for his sin, for God\u2019s sake, or of\nhaving a real desire to love and serve God. The promise and privilege is\nto \u201cwhosoever will.\u201d This is as broad as broad can be, and whoever wills\ncan know assuredly that salvation is for him, not withstanding the\ndisputations of the devil to the contrary. In Heb. 12:16, 17 one would\ninfer from the apostle\u2019s illustration of Esau that a person can be in a\ncondition where repentance may be earnestly desired, even with tears, yet\nimpossible to be found. But genuine repentance is not implied here. The\nmargin has it, \u201cHe [Esau] found no place to change his mind,\u201d instead of\n\u201cno place for repentance.\u201d A person may commit the unpardonable sin and\nstill desire to change his condition or lot; he may through fear of\neternal damnation desire rather the position of a Christian: but he never\nrepents, he can not repent, it is not \u201cin him\u201d to repent, he will not meet\nthe conditions for salvation, and no one can get him to do so. He may\nbewail his condition and stand in dread of the judgment, from a feeling of\nselfish protection; he may be sorry for his sins as a criminal may be\nsorry for his crime when he is sentenced to be punished: but he has no\ninclination to godly sorrow; in fact, the spirit of the man and the Spirit\nof God are incompatible; he has placed himself where the Spirit of God can\nin no way bring itself to bear upon him. Oh, how awful is such a state!\nBut he is not conscious of any awfulness from having offended God; his\nawfulness proceeds from a sense of his being eternally lost. The only\nimpulses that might draw such a one to seek the Christian state are those\nof the selfish kind, just as a man may desire salvation from a belief that\nit would be conducive to his selfish interest. A person will never get an\nexperience of salvation through such motives; and in the case of the one\nwho has committed the blasphemy of the Spirit, he may have such motives,\nbut he can never have the genuine kind, or in other words, be drawn of the\nSpirit. Such a sin need not be prayed for. 1 John 5:16. It is certainly a\nsin unto death.\n\nIn conclusion we would say that the unpardonable sin is not to be regarded\nas some particular sin, singled out from all others, as though it were\nsome form of murder, lying, or stealing, more heinous than the rest. But\nit lies in the nature of the sin committed, as affecting the relationship\nwith the Holy Spirit. A person may have committed a whole list of the\nblackest crimes, and yet not have committed the unpardonable sin; or vice\nversa, a person may have a good standing in point of morality, and yet\nhave blasphemed the Spirit, and severed himself from all possibility of\nrepentance. We would say to every despairing soul seeking salvation, that\nif you are capable of having the least godly sorrow on account of your\nsin, or a real, inward desire to serve God, you can rest assured that you\nhave not committed the unpardonable sin. If you feel the Spirit of God\ntelling you that you ought to be saved, then salvation is for you. The\nunpardonable sin deprives a person of the desire to will to love and serve\nGod and obey the truth. So in the language of Scripture we continue to\nhold out the blessed invitation\u2014\u201cWhosoever _will_, let him take the water\nof life freely.\u201d Amen.\n\n\n\nThe Conscience.\n\n\nWhen we behold the mechanism of man, we are made to exclaim with the\nPsalmist, \u201cI am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works;\nand that my soul knoweth right well.\u201d Man is so constituted as to\nexperience a feeling of joy when a desired object is obtained, or a\nfeeling of disappointment if it is not obtained. When danger approaches he\nintuitively seeks to avert it, and experiences a feeling of gladness if he\nsucceeds. Among the elements of man\u2019s moral nature the highest and most\nimportant, perhaps, is the conscience. Conscience is a principle which God\nhas placed in man\u2019s moral being to teach him what is right and what is\nwrong. Some have said that conscience is the \u201cvoice of God in the soul.\u201d\nIt is a voice that is inaudible to the ear, but we feel it speaking in us,\nsaying, \u201cThis action is right,\u201d or, \u201cThat action is wrong.\u201d We believe\nthat Solomon was referring to the conscience when he said, \u201cThe spirit of\nman is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the\nbelly.\u201d Prov. 20:27.\n\nWhere there is no known law, conscience becomes our guide and the standard\nby which we are judged. For proof of this we will quote Rom. 2:14, 15:\n\u201cFor when the Gentiles, which have not a law, do by nature [a kind of\nintuitive knowledge of right] the things contained in the law, these,\nhaving not the law, are a law unto themselves; which shew the work of the\nlaw written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and\ntheir thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.\u201d In\nmany circumstances of life we have no written law of God to guide our\nactions, consequently must be directed by reason and conscience, which are\nhighly analogous. To be perfectly and properly directed by the conscience\nnecessitates a close walk with God. \u201cKeeping in touch with God\u201d is God in\nour conscious being, impressing us with proper actions, and leading us in\nthe right way, and showing us the relationship existing between the pure\nsoul and the Deity. Where there is no written law of God to direct the\nactions in a certain circumstance, those who experience a close connection\nwith God will always act the most wisely; because the \u201ccandle of the Lord\u201d\n(the conscience) is a light in them, impressing them with feelings of\nright in the matter.\n\nThe conscious principle in the moral nature suffered greatly in the fall\nof man, and is seriously impaired by violation of the known laws of God,\nor laws of conscience. There is a beautiful harmony between truth and a\ncorrect conscience. Obedience to the truth is always approved by an\nunimpaired conscience. When a known truth is violated, a searing influence\nis introduced upon the conscience, which grows with every violation, until\nthe conscience becomes seared as with a hot iron. Dangers of delusion lie\nin the fact that after a succession of violations, the conscience becomes\nso morbid that it fails to be a correct judge of action. After a time a\nman can violate a plain truth without experiencing any sting of\nconscience; therefore he concludes his actions are right, because he\nexperiences no condemnation, though they are in opposition to the truth.\nThere is great beauty in the thought, and gratification in the knowledge,\nthat by obedience to the truth we can obtain a sound moral condition,\nwhose conscientious principles are so acute that there is a timely warning\nat every approach of error.\n\nTo possess a purged, pure, and undefiled conscience is our privilege in\nthe economy of grace. See Heb. 9:14; 1 Tim. 3:9; Titus 1:15. To possess an\nunimpaired conscience and then so meet all our obligations to God and man\nis to have a conscience void of offense. What implicit confidence we can\nhave in God when in a normal moral condition, and have an uncondemned\nheart. Enoch walked with God and had the witness (consciousness) that he\npleased the Lord. What can bring greater happiness to the heart of man?\nThe man who, having an undefiled moral being has a conscience void of\noffense toward God and man, experiences a satisfaction and a happiness\nunsurpassed by any mortal being.\n\n\n\nThe Two Families.\n\n\nThe Scriptures talk of two classes of people on the earth. The inhabitants\nof this globe are by the Word of God divided into two great families. One\nfamily is termed the righteous, and the other the unrighteous. One is the\ngodly, the other the ungodly. One is the holy, the other the unholy. The\nrighteous family is likened unto or called sheep, the unrighteous family,\ngoats. Mat. 25:32, 33. They are interspersed throughout the earth. When\nthe Son of man is come they shall be separated. One family shall be\nadmitted into an eternity of bliss, the other into an eternity of\npunishment. One family is represented by a good tree, the other by an evil\ntree. In the parable of the sower the Savior likens one family unto wheat,\nand the other unto tares.\n\nSince there are two families there are, of course, two fathers. God is the\nFather of one of these families (2 Cor. 6:18), and Satan is the father of\nthe other, John 8:44. These fathers are sometimes called masters. \u201cOne is\nyour Master, even God.\u201d Now every individual on the globe is either in\nservitude to one or the other of these masters\u2014never to both. \u201cNo man can\nserve two masters.\u201d \u201cHis servants ye are to whom ye obey, whether of sin\nunto death or of obedience unto righteousness.\u201d\n\nThe Scriptures so plainly locate the dividing line between these two\nfamilies that all can very well know to which family they belong. Those\nwho are born into God\u2019s family do not commit sin. 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18.\nThose belong to the devil\u2019s family who do commit sin. 1 John 3:8. This is\nvery plain. None need be mistaken. Those who do not commit sin are the\nwheat or good seed, and are children of the kingdom. Those who do commit\nsin are the tares or children of the wicked one. Mat. 13. Those who do not\ncommit sin have their names written in heaven. But those who sin do not\nhave their names written there (Ex. 32:33), therefore are not members in\nthe family of God.\n\nIt is said that some people are mistaken as to which family they belong,\nbut it is \u201cnot every one that saith, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the\nkingdom of heaven.\u201d God\u2019s family are righteous, they are holy, they are\npure, they are saints. Satan\u2019s family are unrighteous, they are unholy,\nthey do not believe in purity, they commit sin. The Savior has gone to\nprepare a place for his own so that where he is there they may forever\nbe\u2014glory! glory! Those who live and die in sin can not go to that pure and\nhappy place. John 8:21. Dear friend, get ready. Live a pure, holy life and\nspend an eternity in the blissful presence of our dear Redeemer. God bless\nyou, is my sincere prayer.\n\n\n\nThe Two Ways.\n\n\nThis earth is only man\u2019s transitory home. He lives here a few years, then\ngoes to an eternity. There are two abodes or dwelling-places for man in\nthat eternity. One is called heaven, the other is called hell. One is a\nplace of peace and joy, the other a place of torment and woe. One place is\ncalled eternal life, the other is called eternal death.\n\nAs man enters upon his journey of life two ways are set before him. Deut.\n30:15, 19. One way leads to heaven, and is called the way of life and\ngood. The other way leads to hell, and is called the way of death and\nevil. The way to heaven is denominated the holy way, where walk the\nredeemed. The ransomed ones go singing on this way with crowns of joy upon\ntheir heads. This way shines more and more, brighter and brighter, as it\nnears the end.\n\nThe way to hell is denominated the way of the transgressor. It is a hard\nway. There is no peace there, no rest. The darkness becomes more dense,\nand fears increase as it nears the end. The way to everlasting life in\nheaven is called a narrow way. Mat. 7:14. There are few that walk this\nway. The way that leads to destruction is a broad way. Mat. 7:13. There\nare many who are walking in that way. Dear reader, will you not choose the\nway of life and make heaven your eternal and happy home?\n\n\n\nConclusion Of Part First.\n\n\nWe have now reached the conclusion of the first division of the Gospel\nDay, namely, The Morning. We have not given the reader our opinion, or our\ninterpretation of the Scriptures, but we have given the pure, simple Bible\ntruths as taught by Christ and the apostles. It is not our doctrine, but\nthe doctrine of him that sent us. What we have taught is in perfect accord\nwith the Bible, and who can gainsay it?\n\nTo believe, experience, and live the truths of God\u2019s Word is to be a light\nin the world. To disbelieve any part, to come short of any part in\npractical life, is to be to the same extent in darkness. Christ was a\nlight because he was the Word. The early church and apostles were a light\nbecause they believed, experienced and practised in life the whole Word.\nThe Bible was written in their hearts as well as in the book. The Bible\nnever changes. God never changes, the nature of faith and grace never\nchanges, and true gospel light never changes. What created light in the\nfirst century of this Christian era will create light in any other\ncentury, and nothing but what was light in the primitive days of\nChristianity will be light at any other time. Whatever may be claimed to\nbe light, if it is not the light of Christ, is a false light.\n\nMay God help people to see the true light. Oh, glorious light of the\nmorning! Christ and his church in all humility, gentleness, spotlessness\nand love. In their lowly, inoffensive walk with God, holy, harmless,\nundefiled, unblamable, separated from and unspotted by the world,\npersecuted, rejected, and despised by men. Enduring all without a murmur,\ncontented in any and every circumstance of life; counting everything joy,\nglorying in tribulation, patient in imprisonments, in stripes, in tumults,\nin hunger, in fastings, in necessities, in afflictions, in distresses,\nalways rejoicing. When reviled, they reviled not again; when they suffered\nthey threatened not, but showing all meekness and gentleness unto all men,\nloving and praying for their enemies, feeding them when they hungered and\ngiving them drink when they thirsted, preaching the gospel without money\nand without price, led exclusively by the Holy Spirit, having power with\nGod over devils to cast them out, to heal the sick and lame, to restore\nsight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, to give speech to the dumb,\nand to raise the dead. Wonderful light of the gospel morning! Dear reader,\nwe invite you to look upon the picture. See it in its beautiful\ntransparent effulgent light. Pure as heaven, holy as a band of angels,\npeaceful as the silent, flowing river, harmless as the gentle dove, in a\noneness equal with the holy trinity, and conquerors of sickness, sin and\nSatan. Such was the pure virgin bride of Christ\u2014the church\u2014when she was\nthe light of the world.\n\n\n O Moon\u2014so fair in the rosy morn,\n Reflecting the light of Christ\u2014the Sun,\n So spotless and pure in robes of white,\n Beautiful, wonderful city of light.\n\n\n\n\n\nPART II. THE NOONDAY.\n\n\n Or,\n The Doctrines Of An Apostate Religion Obscuring The Gospel Light.\n\n\nThe prophet Isaiah said. \u201cThe morning cometh, and also the night.\u201d Isa.\n21:11, 12. A dark night succeeded the morning of this gospel day. Jesus\nsaid to his disciples, \u201cBut in those days, after that tribulation, the sun\nshall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.\u201d Mark 13:24. The\ntribulation here spoken of was the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, the\ncity of the Jews, by the son of Vespasian, A.D. 70, in which eleven\nhundred thousand persons perished. Josephus says of this time, \u201cThe\nsufferings indeed of the devoted inhabitants are such as humanity shudders\nto contemplate, and over which pity is glad to throw a veil.\u201d This is the\ntribulation of which our Lord spoke. The darkening of the sun and moon was\nthe fading away of the gospel light.\n\nAbout the year 96 A.D. the writings of the New Testament were closed. From\nthat time we have only history to tell us of Christianity and its light in\nthe life of men. That the noontime of this gospel day was dark, is\nunquestionable. To ascertain as near as possible the date of the close of\nthe morning light and the beginning of the dark noonday we must resort to\nhistory. No one can rightly object to this. We assure you we will extract\nnothing that will conflict with the inspired and infallible Word of God.\nWhere the Word of truth is silent and we can gain information from\nauthentic history it must certainly be proper and right. Historical facts\nonly verify and explain the truthfulness of the Scriptures.\n\n\n\n\nChapter I. The Date Of The Beginning Of Noonday.\n\n\n\nSabine\u2019s Ecclesiastical History.\n\n\nIn speaking of Constantine\u2019s expedition to Rome in the year 311, when\nthere appeared supernaturally a cross above the sun, he says: \u201cDuring the\nvicissitudes in the state, the church exhibits nothing peculiarly great.\nAmong the common people there were doubtless many truly devoted in the\nspirit of their mind, and among them many that loved the divine Savior\nabove life itself; but among the bishops and pastors nothing like what we\nsaw in the past century. Indeed the principal events in the internal\ndepartment of the church are rather more to its disgrace than its honor.\u201d\n\nSpeaking further of this time in another chapter he says: \u201cThe pagan\ntemples were pulled down or converted into Christian churches: the\nexercise of the old priesthood was proscribed and the idols destroyed;\nelegant structures for Christian worship were raised, and those already\nerected, enlarged and beautified; the episcopacy was increased and honored\nwith great favors and enriched with vast endowments; the ritual received\nmany additions; the habiliments of the clergy were pompous, and the whole\nof the Christian service at once exhibited a scene of worldly grandeur and\nexternal parade. What a mighty change! But a short time since, and\nChristianity was held in sovereign contempt: now she is a favorite at\ncourt, and the companion of princes. Alas! such is the change, that it\nscarcely affords ground for triumph. The kingdom of our God and his Christ\nis become a kingdom of this world, and the church of Jesus reduced to a\nmere worldly sanctuary. The glory is departed, the gold is become dim, and\nthe fine gold is changed.\n\n\u201cIndeed prelatical pride had been rising very high for a century before\nthis. The pastors had forgotten their Master\u2019s instruction. \u2018Be ye not\ncalled Rabbi: for ye are brethren.\u2019 Lord bishops and archbishops and all\nthe spirit of such distinction had been long enough upon the advance to\ncongratulate such an emperor as Constantine. The materials for a hierarchy\nhaving been prepared it was no difficult thing for a set of worldly-minded\nbishops, countenanced by a prince, to put them together. Under all these\ncircumstances, real religion was not likely to be bettered by such a\nreverse in external affairs, and so the event proved. The ancient contest,\nwhich was for the faith once delivered unto the saints, declined apace,\nand a strife for worldly honor, fleshly gratification, and spiritual\ndominion substituted in its stead.\u201d\n\nSuch was the true condition of things in the year 311. Surely there had\nbeen a change, the kingdom of God had become the kingdom of the world, the\nglory was gone, strivings for worldly honor, fleshly gratification, and\nspiritual dominion had taken the place of \u201cstriving for the faith once\ndelivered to the saints.\u201d What a change from the humble, self-denying,\nflesh crucifying days of Christ and the apostles. Truly we can say\nsometime before this the morning light had dimmed and died, and darkness\nintervened. The historian does not fix this date (311) as the beginning of\nthe dark noonday. (The reader already begins to see, no doubt, why it was\ndark at the noontime.) He says in a preceding chapter, \u201cAbout A.D. 264, a\nconsiderable stir was made by Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch. \u2018Great\nwas the falling off in this church since the renowned Ignatius. The\nprinciples of Paul were exceedingly loose, and his practise was\ncorrespondent.\u2019 He rejected the divinity of the Son and substituted his\nown reason for the light of the Spirit. The way in which he lived fully\nproved that he was a man of the world.\u201d\n\nThe historian proceeds to tell more of this bishop\u2019s wicked life. The\nScriptural qualifications of a bishop are, blamelessness, the husband of\none wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to\nteach; \u201cnot given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but\npatient, not a brawler, not covetous; one that ruleth well his own house,\nhaving his children in subjection with all gravity.\u201d 1 Tim. 3:3, 4. The\nseventh verse adds: \u201cMoreover he must have a good report of them which are\nwithout.\u201d Such a bishop must be, in the very strictest sense, to be a\nlight in the world. Here was a bishop, of perhaps the strongest Christian\ncongregation in the world, almost everything to the contrary. How true the\nSavior\u2019s prophecy: \u201cThe moon shall not give her light, and the stars of\nheaven shall fall.\u201d Paul, of Samosata, became so wicked he was deposed\nfrom his office and became a \u201cfallen star.\u201d\n\nSabine speaking of divisions and their causes says: \u201cIn this century the\ngeneral church was rent in twain. This century also produced a train of\nother officers (beside bishops and deacons), such as subdeacons, who were\nall to the deacon what the presbyter was to the bishop; acolytes, persons\nto attend at service time on the ministers; ostiaries, doorkeepers;\nreaders, men who were appointed to read the Scriptures in public;\nexorcists, officers of weak and superstitious appointment, whose business\nwas to pretend to expel the devil from the candidate for baptism. All\nthese encroachments and changes mark, strongly mark, a great decline in\nthe spirit and power of primitive Christianity.\u201d\n\nAll of these things, and many more similar ones, were occurring in the\nlatter part of the third century.\n\nIn the year of our Lord 248 Cyprian was ordained a presbyter in the church\nat Carthage. Ten years later he laid down his life for Jesus. It is said\nof him that he \u201cdisplayed a benevolent and pious mind and evinced much of\nthe character of the Christian pastor in the affectionate solicitude with\nwhich he watched over his flock.\u201d In epistle eleven he says: \u201cIt must be\nowned and confessed that the outrageous and heavy calamity which hath\nalmost devoured our flock, and continues to devour it to this day, hath\nhappened to us because of our sins, since we keep not the way of the Lord,\nnor observe his heavenly commands, which were designed to lead us to\nsalvation. Christ our Lord fulfilled the will of the Father, but we\nneglect the will of Christ. Our principal study is to get money and\nestates; we follow after pride, we are at leisure for nothing but\nemulation and quarreling, and have neglected the simplicity of faith. We\nhave renounced this world in words only, and not in deed. Every one\nstudies to please himself and to displease others.\u201d\n\nThis account of professed Christianity at this time by Cyprian is\nconfirmed by the testimony of Eusebius, who was nearly contemporary with\nhim. \u201cThrough too much liberty they grew negligent and slothful, envying\nand reproaching one another, waging, as it were, civil wars among\nthemselves, bishops quarreling with bishops, and the people divided into\nparties. Hypocrisy and deceit were grown to the highest pitch of\nwickedness. They were become so insensible as not so much as to think of\nappeasing the divine anger; but like atheists they thought the world\ndestitute of any providential government and care, and thus added one\ncrime to another. The bishops themselves had thrown off all concern about\nreligion, were perpetually contending with one another, and did nothing\nbut quarrel with and threaten and envy and hate one another: they were\nfull of ambition and tyrannically used their power.\u201d\u2014_Eusebius\u2019 History_,\nBook VIII, Chap. I, as quoted in _Jones\u2019 Church History_.\n\n\n\nRuter\u2019s Church History. (Third Century.)\n\n\n\u201cWith the opinions, the Christian teachers had adopted the habits and\nmanners of the philosophic school. They assumed the dress of the pompous\nsophist, and delivered the plain doctrines of the gospel with strained and\nstudied eloquence.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis season of external prosperity was improved by the ministers of the\nchurch for the exertion of new claims and the assumption of powers with\nwhich they had not previously been invested.\u201d\u2014p. 52.\n\n\u201cSeveral alterations in the form of church government appear to have been\nintroduced during the third century. Some degree of pomp was thought\nnecessary to render so singular an institution respectable to the minds of\na gross multitude who are only capable of judging from external\nappearances. As their numbers increased their labors became proportionally\ngreater, and it was necessary to provide assistance and more agreeable to\ngood order to assign to each his proper function. Inferior ministers were\ntherefore instituted, who derived their appellations from the office they\nfilled.\n\n\u201cThese ministers probably derived their emoluments, not merely from the\nprecarious bounty of the society, but from a certain proportion of the\nfixed revenues of the church. The principal of them had obtained before\nthe close of this century the possession of several considerable estates,\nwhich had been bequeathed or presented to the church. The external dignity\nof the ministers of religion was accompanied by a still greater change in\nits discipline. The simple rules prescribed by the apostles for the\npreservation of good order in the church branched out into so many\nluxuriant shoots that it was difficult to recognize the parent stem.\u201d\u2014p.\n53.\n\n\u201cA regular form of discipline began to take place during the third century\nin every matter which fell within the cognizance of the church.\u201d p. 51.\n\nFollowing this, Ruter gives an account of the penitents seeking salvation\nwho had to proceed step by step. The first degree was to prostrate\nthemselves in the avenues of the church building. Here they were called\n_flentes_. In the second degree they were allowed to enter the building\nand hear the sermon. Here they were called _audientes_. In the third\ndegree they were allowed to unite in prayers offered in their own behalf.\nHere they were called _genuflectentes_. In the fourth degree they were\nallowed to approach the altar and were called _consistentes_. In the\ntaking of these degrees the penitents were compelled to appear in\nsackcloth and ashes, and in some places the men were obliged to shave\ntheir heads and the women to wear veils. The duration of their penitence\nwas regulated by the bishop. He could make the time of taking these\ndegrees short, or extend it to any length. This was called an indulgence.\n\nThis is shocking in the extreme. Where in the humble acts of Jesus and his\napostles do you hear of such an order of things? Truly at this time the\nsun was darkened, and the moon did not give her light, and the stars had\nfallen. How true now appears the prophecy of Isaiah: \u201cThe people of thy\nholiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have\ntrodden down thy sanctuary.\u201d Isa. 63:18. Jesus says, \u201cLay not up for\nyourselves treasures upon the earth,\u201d and Paul says to the bishop to be\n\u201cnot greedy of filthy lucre\u201d; and Peter says, \u201cTaking the oversight not\nfor filthy lucre\u2019s sake\u201d\u2014and here before the close of the third century we\nfind the bishops coming into possession of large estates through the\nrevenues of the church, and as Cyprian has said of the bishops of this\ntime, \u201cOur principal study is to get money and estates.\u201d\n\nWe have before us Mosheim\u2019s Church History. In speaking of the internal\nhistory of the church in the third century he says that \u201cthe bishops of\nRome, Antioch and Alexandria had a kind of preeminence over all others,\nand particularly the bishop at Rome.\u201d There was a change in the form of\ngovernment and this change was followed by a train of vices. \u201cMany of\nthose who had the administration of the church affairs were sunk,\u201d he\nsays, \u201cin luxury and voluptuousness, puffed up with vanity, arrogance and\nambition; possessed with a spirit of contention and discord. They\nappropriated to their evangelical function the splendid ensigns of\ntemporal majesty: a throne, surrounded with ministers, exalted above his\nequals, the servant of the meek and humble Jesus.... The titles of\nsubdeacons, acolythi, ostairii, readers, exorcists, copiat\u00e6, would never\nhave been heard of in the church if its rulers had been assiduously and\nzealously employed in promoting the interest of truth and piety by their\nlabors and their example.\u201d He gives an account of the trouble in the\nchurch of Rome between Cornelius and Novatian, in the year 250, who were\naspirants for the Roman See.\n\nEusebius tells of the increasing vices, schisms, quarrelings of the\nbishops, of their greed for money and preeminence in the last half of the\nthird century. In speaking of the bishops and pastors who had the\nadministration of church government in the year 260, he says: \u201cBut some\nthat appeared to be our pastors, deserting the law of piety, were inflamed\nagainst each other with mutual strifes, only accumulating quarrels and\nthreats, rivalship, hostility and hatred to each other, only anxious to\nassert the government as a kind of sovereignty for themselves.\u201d Then he\nadds, \u201cAs Jeremiah says, \u2018The Lord in his anger darkened the daughter of\nSion [the church or moon], and hurled from heaven to earth the glory of\nIsrael.\u2019 \u201d\n\nBy this we learn that Eusebius would place the darkening of the church, or\nthe beginning of the dark noonday, near the year 260 A.D. Quotations could\nbe transcribed from Coleman, Marsh, Waddington and others, in which they\nall place the close of the morning light and the rise of the apostasy or\ndark noonday between the years 260 and 280 A.D. To our knowledge, Joseph\nMilner is the only non-contemporary historian that fixes the date to any\ndefinite time. He says, \u201cI know it is common for authors to represent the\ngreat declension of Christianity to have taken place only after its\nexternal establishment under Constantine. But the evidence of history has\ncompelled me to dissent from this view of things. In fact we have seen\nthat for a whole generation previous to the persecution, few marks of\nsuperior piety appeared. Scarce a luminary of godliness existed, and it is\nnot common in any age for a great work of the Spirit of God to be\nexhibited but under the conduct of some remarkable saint, pastor and\nreformers. This whole period as well as the whole scene of the persecution\nis very barren of such characters. Not but that many precious children of\nGod suffered in much patience and charity. But those who suffered with\nvery much of a different spirit, found no pastor to discountenance their\nself-will and false zeal: a sure sign that the true spirit of martyrdom\nwas less pure than it had formerly been. Moreover the prevalence of\nsuperstition on the one hand, and the decay of evangelical knowledge on\nthe other, are equally apparent. Christ crucified, justification purely by\nfaith, and the effectual influences of the Holy Ghost, ... were ideas at\nleast very faintly impressed at that day on Christian minds. It is vain to\nexpect Christian faith to abound without Christian doctrine. Moral and\nphilosophical and monastical instructions will not effect for men what is\nexpected from evangelical doctrine. And if the faith of Christ was so much\ndeclined (and its decayed state ought to be dated from about the year 270)\nwe need not wonder that such scenes as Eusebius hints at without any\ncircumstantial detail took place in the Christian world.\u201d\u2014_Century IV_, p.\n31.\n\nAfter searching history we find no objection in making use of the year 270\nA.D. as the date of the _beginning of the dark noontime_. Milner says at\nthis time, \u201cScarcely a luminary of godliness existed. The great\nluminaries, or lights, were eclipsed and darkness reigned. Some of our\ncontemporary writers have fixed upon this year as the date of the rise of\nthe beast power, which created this darkness.\u201d \u201cThe real papacy was set\nup, not at the Nicene Council, A.D. 325, as some affirm; but we find vivid\ntraces of the very same beast authority as early as A.D. 270.\u201d\u2014_Biblical\nTrace of the Church._ In the city of Nice in Bithynia, A.D. 325, was held\nwhat is called \u201cThe First General Council.\u201d There was present at this\ncouncil the Emperor Constantine, as the historian says, \u201cLike an angel of\nGod exceeding all his attendants in size, gracefulness and strength, and\ndazzling all eyes by the splendor of his dress, showing the greatest\nhumility, seated in a chair covered with gold.\u201d There were present at this\nmeeting three hundred and eighteen bishops, and a number of deacons and\nsubdeacons, amounting in all to two thousand and forty-eight persons. Here\nwas drawn up a creed, declaring to be the only true and orthodox faith. It\nbears the title of Nicene. This creed was at once confirmed at Rome by two\nhundred and seventy-five bishops, and was the setting up of the Roman\nhierarchy. This council can not however with propriety be said to be the\ntrue setting up of the beast power. Nearly all the forms and doctrines of\nthis creed had been observed and taught by the bishops and pastors for\nseveral decades. The most sensible date, and most consistent with\nrevelation, _for the bringing in of the dark noontime of the gospel day is\nA.D. 270_. We feel confident that no one can rightfully object to us\nmaking use of this date for this work. Those who do so must do it through\nprejudice or ignorance.\n\n\n\n\nChapter II. Scriptural Predictions Of An Apostasy.\n\n\nWho has not wondered, as they read of the Savior\u2019s and the apostles\u2019\nwarnings of \u201cfalse teachers,\u201d grievous wolves, delusive powers, and\ndeceptive lights, what it all could mean? These things certainly are not\nwithout meaning. Jesus says, \u201cAnd many false prophets shall rise, and\nshall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound the love of many\nshall wax cold. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,\nand shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were\npossible, they shall deceive the very elect.\u201d Mat. 24:11, 12, 24. The Son\nof God foretells the arising of false prophets and teachers. He tells us\nhow they may be known. \u201cBeware of false prophets, which come to you in\nsheep\u2019s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know\nthem by their fruits.\u201d Mat. 7:15, 16.\n\nBy the pen of the apostle John we learn something of the fruit of these\nfalse, deceiving prophets. \u201cFor many deceivers are entered into the world,\nwho confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver\nand an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which\nwe have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever\ntransgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He\nthat abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the\nSon. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him\nnot into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him\nGodspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.\u201d 2 John 7-11. The fruit of a false\nprophet is a false doctrine. A doctrine in opposition to the plain, simple\ndoctrine of Christ is the principal characterizing feature of a deceiver.\nThe doctrine of Christ is light. All who abide in the doctrine of Christ\nare a light in the world. Any doctrine contrary to the doctrine of Christ\nis darkness, and its propagator, a deceiver and an antichrist. This same\napostle in his first letter, cautions us to \u201ctry the spirits [and\ndoctrines], whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone\nout into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that\nconfesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every\nspirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not\nof God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that\nit should come; and even now already it is in the world.\u201d 1 John 4:1-3.\n\nWe feel like it would be justice to the reader to here explain how we can\nconfess that Christ is come in the flesh, and how we can deny that he has\nso come. That this does not refer to his personal coming in the flesh, as\na sacrifice for sin, is evident. But few but what confess that Christ was\nhere in the flesh as recorded in the Gospels, yet many of them are not of\nGod. Jesus says, \u201cWe will come unto him and make our abode with him.\u201d\n\u201cKnow ye not that ye are the temple of God?\u201d \u201cFor ye are the temple of\nGod; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will\nbe their God, and they shall be my people.\u201d \u201cAt that day ye shall know\nthat I am in the Father, and ye in me, and I in you.\u201d John 14:20. That day\nspoken of is when the Holy Spirit would come and teach them all things.\nThat was at Pentecost. Then they knew that Christ was in them. This then\nis Christ come in the flesh.\n\nNow it is not every one either that confesses by the word of mouth that\nChrist dwells in them that are of God. A Scriptural confession is not by\nword only, but by the deed, or life. Every one who confesses by their life\nthat Christ is come in the flesh or dwells in them must and will abide in\nthe whole doctrine of Christ, and live just as he lived. Such a one is of\nGod, and is a light even as Christ was a light. Whoever rejects any of the\nSavior\u2019s doctrine, and does not, and will not, experience and practise it\nin his life, the same is an antichrist, however much he may profess to be\nof God. Try all doctrines and spirits by the doctrine of Christ, is the\ninfallible rule.\n\n\n\nThe Prophecy Of Paul.\n\n\n\u201cFor I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in\namong you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise,\nspeaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Therefore\nwatch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn\nevery one night and day with tears.\u201d Acts 20:29-31. Paul saw the awful\napostasy from the simple faith of Christ arising. The shadows of the dark\nnoonday were slowly and surely creeping on. He beholds it with tears. This\nwas not really some heathenish foreign power, but he says it should be men\nof their own selves arising, speaking perverse things. He saw that the\nleaders and overseers of the flock (see ver. 28) would become greedy of\nworldly gain, contentious, followers after pride, filled with envy, loving\npreeminence, speaking things contrary to the doctrine of Christ. It had\nbegun to work already in his day. \u201cThe mystery of iniquity doth already\nwork.\u201d 2 Thes. 2:7.\n\nJohn says these false prophets \u201ceven now already are in the world.\u201d Even\nbefore the apostles had closed their labors they saw this dark power\nworking. Year after year, decade after decade, it developed and grew. Star\nafter star had fallen until by the middle of the third century there was\n\u201cscarcely left a luminary of godliness in existence.\u201d\n\nPaul seeing the great crisis coming, is in fear. \u201cBut I fear, lest by any\nmeans, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds\nshould be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Jesus. For if he that\ncometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye\nreceive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel,\nwhich ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with me.... For such are\nfalse apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the\napostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into\nan angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be\ntransformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be\naccording to their works.\u201d 2 Cor. 11:3, 4, 13-15. Thus Paul gives warning\nto the Corinthians of false apostles and deceitful workers. All of this\ncertainly is not without meaning. He foresees great danger. He earnestly\nexhorts the Thessalonian brethren to be not soon shaken, saying: \u201cLet no\nman deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there\ncome a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of\nperdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God,\nor that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God,\nshowing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with\nyou, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he\nmight be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already\nwork: only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.\nAnd then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with\nthe spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his\ncoming: even him, whose coming is after the workings of Satan with all\npower and signs and lying wonders.\u201d 2 Thes. 2:3-9.\n\nThis is indeed a wonderful and an awful prophecy. Surely a dark image or\npower called a \u201cman of sin\u201d and \u201cson of perdition\u201d shall arise and eclipse\nthe sun (Christ) and the moon (the church) and cause the stars (the holy\nministry) to fall. \u201cThere shall come a falling away first.\u201d This has\ndirect reference to the corruption of God\u2019s professed people led by an\nexalted, selfish, greedy and blinded ministry. \u201cThe falling away\u201d is\ntranslated from the Greek _apostasia_, and means a departure.\nLexicographers define the word as meaning \u201can abandonment of what one has\nprofessed.\u201d In this text it means an abandonment of the true principles\nand doctrines of Christianity.\n\nThat \u201cman of sin,\u201d \u201cson of perdition,\u201d or, as in Rotherham\u2019s translation,\n\u201cman of lawlessness,\u201d and \u201cson of destruction,\u201d is what arose and obscured\nthe sunlight. This epithet is given to Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of\nChrist, in John 17:12, this \u201cman of sin\u201d is a betrayer of Christ and his\npure doctrine. This \u201cman of lawlessness,\u201d no doubt, has reference directly\nto the pope of Rome as the prime factor in the apostasy; but in its\nbroadest sense it includes the whole of the beast religion, both Romanism\nand Protestantism. This \u201cman of sin\u201d is a manism, or a power under the\ngovernment of man, and is identical with the beast power of Rev. 13. This\n\u201cson of destruction\u201d \u201copposeth and exalteth himself above all that is\ncalled God.\u201d He opposes or denies, and perverts the doctrines of God that\nare not congenial to his desires. He denies in a measure the divine\nauthority, and forms creeds and laws for the government of God\u2019s people,\nthus arrogating to himself what properly belongs to God. They take upon\nthemselves such titles as \u201cFather,\u201d \u201cHoly Father,\u201d \u201cVicegerent of the Son\nof God,\u201d \u201cDoctor of Divinity,\u201d \u201cReverend,\u201d etc. These are titles or\ndistinctions belonging to God only. \u201cCall no man your Father,\u201d is the\ncommand of Jesus; and, \u201cBe ye not called Rabbi.\u201d\n\nVicegerent is one acting in the place of another. The pope\u2019s claim was\nthat God had ceased to reign and had delegated all power unto himself\u2014the\npower to forgive sins and to grant indulgences. An indulgence is an act of\nthe Roman pontiff, wherein men by making certain vows and paying certain\nsums of money receive pardon of their sins. By the payment of certain\namounts they can commit most any crime and their purchased indulgence\nabsolves them from guilt.\n\n\n\nThe Price Of Pardon.\n\n\nBelow we will give an extract from page 263 of \u201cThe Master Key to Popery,\u201d\nby Anthony Gavin, formerly one of the Roman Catholic priests at Saragossa,\nSpain. He says: According to a book called the \u201cTax of the Roman\nChancery,\u201d in which are contained the exact sums levied for pardon of each\nparticular sin, we find some of the fees to be thus:\n\nRobbing a church $ 2.25.\nSimony 2.25.\nPerjury 2.00.\nForgery and lying 2.00.\nRobbery 3.00.\nBurning a house 2.75.\nEating meat in Lent 2.75.\nKilling a layman 1.75.\nStriking a priest 2.75.\nProcuring abortion 1.50.\nPriest to keep a concubine 2.25.\nRavishing a virgin 2.00.\nMurder of father, mother, brother, 2.50.\nsister or wife\nNun for fornication in or out of 5.00.\nthe nunnery\nMarrying on a day forbidden 10.00.\nAdultery committed by a priest with 10.00.\nnuns and others\nAbsolution of all crimes together 12.00.\n\nFollowing this we will give a few of the secret instructions of the\nJesuits as revealed by Z. T. Griffin:\n\n\u201cA Christian (Romanist) may deliberately discard his Christian character\nand act like other men in those things which are not properly Christian.\nBy the command of God it is lawful to murder the innocent, to rob and\ncommit all lewdness because he is Lord of all things, and thus to fulfil\nhis mandate is our duty.\n\n\u201cIt is lawful to kill an accuser whose testimony may jeopardize our life\nand honor.\n\n\u201cIf an adulterous priest, aware of his danger, having visited an\nadulteress is assailed by her husband, kills the man in his own defense,\nhe is not a criminal.\n\n\u201cPapist children may accuse their parents of heresy, although they know\ntheir parents will be burned.\n\n\u201cA priest may kill those who hinder him from taking possession of any\necclesiastical office.\n\n\u201cServants may secretly steal from their masters as much as they judge\ntheir labor is worth more than the wages which they receive.\n\n\u201cA woman may take her husband\u2019s property to supply her spiritual wants and\nto act like other women.\n\n\u201cA witness is not bound to declare the truth before a lawful judge, if his\ndeposition will injure himself or his posterity, or if he be a priest; for\na priest can not be forced to testify before a secular judge.\n\n\u201cPriests may kill the laity to preserve their goods, etc.\u201d\n\nSuch appears extremely shocking to a man of integrity and principle. Such\nlaws and tolerations and the direct sale of indulgences brings a blush of\nshame to a moral man, and much more to the Christian. The sale of\nindulgences is not true of Romanism only. Throughout the realms of\nProtestantism there is a shameful sale of these indulgences in an indirect\nway. Wicked and designing men are tolerated and fellowshiped by the sect\nministry because of their liberality to the church. It is true it matters\nnot if a man does occasionally get drunk, or if he does defraud his\nneighbor, or commit adultery, abuse his wife, attend theaters, and such\nlike sins, if he is a liberal contributor to their treasury, he is smiled\nat, welcomed and encouraged to be faithful.\n\nWhile in the papacy we find such titles as \u201cHoly Father,\u201d etc., in\nProtestantism we find the \u201cD. D.\u201d and \u201cLL. D.\u201d and \u201cReverend.\u201d They who\nassume such honorary titles set themselves up to be equal with God. The\nword \u201creverend\u201d is from the Hebrew \u201c_yare_,\u201d and means \u201cto be feared.\u201d So\nman is thus setting himself up as one to be feared, when the Word of the\nLord tells us to \u201cfear not man, but fear God.\u201d \u201cHoly and reverend is his\nname.\u201d God alone is to be revered, and for man to prefix such a title to\nhis name is to sit as God the temple of God.\n\nPopes and bishops are found in the councils and conferences framing laws\nand passing resolutions for the government of their membership and for the\nqualifications of a minister, like as if God had ceased to reign and there\nwas no Bible and they alone were invested with power to govern and control\nthe kingdom of heaven. The qualifications of a minister in some of the\npopular denominations of to-day are a certain number of years in school\nand a certain number of histories and commentaries mastered. The\nqualifications as given by Paul are almost wholly ignored. The profession\nof the ministry in the sect world has been dragged down to a level with\nthe professions of the world. A young man decides to be a physician. He\ngoes to school and learns his profession. He receives his diploma, comes\nout and practises what he was taught at school, and makes his living\nthereby. Another young man decides to be a lawyer. He studies for that\nprofession, is admitted to the bar, practises, and makes his living\nthereby. Another young man decides to be a preacher. He goes to school and\nlearns his profession. He is licensed, comes out and preaches, and makes\nhis living thereby.\n\n\u201cFor the mystery of iniquity doth already work.\u201d This is the spirit of\nantichrist, of which John says, \u201ceven now already is it in the world.\u201d\nThis antichrist, apostate spirit is a mystery. It contains a hidden\nmysterious power that has blinded and deceived millions of souls. Even in\nPaul\u2019s time it began its hidden mysterious working. The Roman Catholic\nsect arose and met this description of the \u201cman of sin\u201d as given by Paul.\nThe Waldenses in the thirteenth century looked upon the church at Rome as\nthe \u201cwhore of Babylon,\u201d and the \u201cman of sin.\u201d Those blinded by the\nmysterious, delusive spirit of iniquity considered such language against\nthe \u201choly church\u201d as blaspheming against God. Protestantism to-day with\nits great bishops and reverends and D. D.\u2019s and creeds and systems, forms\nand ceremonies, almost as perfectly meets the description of the \u201cman of\nsin\u201d as does the Roman hierarchy. The same hidden mysterious delusive\nspirit has so intoxicated its subjects that they consider such speech as\nblasphemy.\n\nThis \u201cman of sin\u201d is described as coming with signs and lying wonders. The\nlying wonders of this dark reign of the \u201cson of perdition\u201d are almost\ninnumerable. It is said that a milkwhite dove descended from heaven with a\nphial of oil at the baptism of Cloris.\n\nA Sicilian hermit had a revelation from heaven in which was revealed that\nthe prayers of the monks of Clugny would be effectual for the deliverance\nof the departed spirits from the expiatory flames of a middle\nstate.\u2014_Mosheim\u2019s Church History_.\n\nA woman named Julian pretended she had a revelation from God in which it\nwas disclosed to her to be the will of God that a peculiar festival should\nbe held annually in honor of the real presence of Christ in the holy\nsacrament. She said that as often as she addressed herself to God or to\nthe saints in prayer she saw a full moon with a small defect, and the\nspirit informed her that this defect was the want of this annual festival.\nThis festival was established by Clement V in 1311 A.D.\n\nThe fables of the removal of the chapel of Loretto, the wandering Jew, the\nvisions of Stockius and Sims, and St. Anthony\u2019s obliging an ass to adore\nthe sacrament as related by Mosheim, are astonishing lying wonders and\nridiculous inventions. The Protestant daughters of mystic Babylon are not\nfree from lying wonders to this present day. The book of Mormon contains\nfabulous stories; the spiritualists\u2019 work is freighted with many satanic\nwonders, and frequently we hear of visions and revelations that when tried\nby the immutable Word of God are proven to be lying wonders. Our God is\nable to perform wonders, and of a truth, wonderful are his doings at this\npresent time, but all that he does is in decency and in order, and\ncontains nothing of the fabulous.\n\nPaul says, \u201cNow the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times\nsome shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and\ndoctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience\nseared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain\nfrom meats.\u201d 1 Tim. 4:1-3. You will only have to read the history of the\nRoman Catholic sect, of its fabulous inventions, of its awful tyranny, its\nsuperstitions, its rites, and ceremonies, to find the fulfilment of this\nprophecy. It is extremely astonishing that men of intelligence would be\nthe supporters of such a dark institution. It only shows the seductive\npower of demon spirits. The doctrines of devils that have been originated\nboth in Romanism and Protestantism are almost without number, some of\nwhich we will speak of in our next chapter. The hypocritical lies that\nhave been invented and the persecutions and contentions and quarrelings\nand fightings against one another can only be carried on by men whose\nconscience is seared by a hot iron. The Catholics abstain from eating meat\non certain days and at certain times. A certain law sect, called the\nSeventh Day Adventist, teaches abstinence from pork. The papists forbid\nthe marriage of the clergy. Neither is this unscriptural prohibition\nconfined to the papacy alone, but some of her harlot daughters have\npatterned after her, and even gone beyond her in this respect.\n\nIn the time of this apostasy it is said by the apostle that \u201cthey will not\nendure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to\nthemselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their\nears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.\u201d 2 Tim. 4:3, 4.\nWhere shall we look for a fulfilment of this prophecy? Who does not know\nthat we have now come to that time? The sound doctrine which if obeyed\nwill make men a light in the world is not endorsed in the circle of the\npapacy, neither in the Protestant denominations. To-day the generality of\nmankind, even in professed Christianity, do not care to hear the practical\ntruths of the gospel as we have recorded in part first of this work.\n\nTheories and speculative opinions have taken the place of sound doctrine\nin the Protestant pulpit of this present day. The congregations in general\nhave become so proud and vain in their imaginations, and so spoiled\nthrough philosophy, that they heap to themselves teachers having the\nwildest speculative opinions. Their itching ears have an insatiable desire\nfor fine essays, amusing stories, and historic tales. The proud, arrogant\npulpit orator of this present day makes it a study how best to calm the\nfears, gild the sins, and strew with flowers the iniquitous path of his\npassionate congregation.\n\nProtestantism presents a most deplorable picture to those who have escaped\nher ruinous walls. Many a bishop and lord is bewailing his sad spiritless,\npowerless state, and crying, \u201cWhither are we drifting?\u201d Where will you\nhave to go to-day but to Protestantism to find a fulfilment of Paul\u2019s\nprophecy in 2 Tim. 3:1-5? \u201cThis know also, that in the last days perilous\ntimes shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,\nboasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,\nwithout natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent,\nfierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded,\nlovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness,\nbut denying the power thereof: from such turn away.\u201d\n\nPaul here speaks of a religious people. They have \u201ca form of godliness.\u201d\nWhile the \u201clast days\u201d and \u201clast time\u201d often include the whole of this\ngospel day, yet this prophecy particularly relates to the nearing of the\nend of time. Jesus says, \u201cAs the days of Noe were, so shall also the\ncoming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood\nthey were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the\nday that Noe entered into the ark.\u201d Mat. 24:37, 38. Let us considerately\nreview this prophecy.\n\n\u201cLovers of their own selves.\u201d Such a disposition of heart will manifest\nitself. Such people have more concern for their own welfare than for their\nneighbor\u2019s. They will look out for their own best interest. In the\nministry it would be manifested in seeking places of ease, luxury, honor,\nand wealth.\n\n\u201cCovetous.\u201d A desire for worldly gain, loving money. By their conversation\nand general manner they manifest a strong desire for wealth, resorting to\nfestivals and fairs to gain money.\n\n\u201cBoasters.\u201d Placing a high estimate on their own personal worth and\naccomplishments. As a man recently remarked of a stained window in a\nmeeting-house: \u201cSee that window! Is not that fine? That cost one hundred\ndollars. That is my window, I put that in. These others only cost\nseventy-five dollars. See, here are my initials.\u201d\n\n\u201cProud.\u201d Studying to make a fine appearance, striving to excel in pulpit\noratory, advertising the work they have done\u2014so many have been converted\nthrough my labors, etc. All these works are indications of a proud heart.\n\n\u201cBlasphemers.\u201d To speak lightly of sacred things, to ridicule any portion\nof God\u2019s Word. Many professors of Christianity of to-day when asked if\nthey believe in the ordinance of feet-washing will make some such answer\nas, \u201cIf your feet are dirty, you ought to wash them.\u201d The doctrines of\nholiness and divine healing are often impiously spoken of. Jesus Christ is\nsometimes charged with being a freemason, and recently a man said that the\nSavior went to school and studied for the ministry.\n\n\u201cDisobedient to parents.\u201d Is there not many a young lady and young man in\napostate Protestantism, trampling under their feet the commands and wishes\nof their parents? The \u201cold man,\u201d or the \u201cold woman\u201d (as they often speak\nof their parents), they say, \u201cis not going to rule me.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnthankful.\u201d Murmuring when reverses come; complaining if their financial\nundertakings are unsuccessful; dissatisfied and discontented. These are\nevidences of an unthankful and ungrateful heart.\n\n\u201cUnholy.\u201d Those who dispute the doctrine of holiness, of purity or sinless\nperfection. They confess that they commit sin, and their life bears\nevidence that their confession is true. Or should they profess holiness\nand yet not live a true holy life they are classed with the great dark\napostasy.\n\n\u201cWithout natural affection.\u201d Many times the love of self, the love of\npleasure, the love of the world, and sin in general destroys the natural\naffection. Mothers in their heart regret their children were born, because\nit prevents their entering society as they would like. They bewail the\nstate of pregnancy for the same reason, and resort to murderous means for\nthe privilege of enjoying more of the pleasures of sin and the world.\nChildren also often betray a great lack of natural affection by their\ntreatment of parents and one another.\n\n\u201cTruce-breakers.\u201d Having but little regard for a promise or obligation;\nviolating obligations and promises to God and to man.\n\n\u201cFalse accusers.\u201d Slandering those who do live and obey the whole Word of\nGod.\n\n\u201cIncontinent.\u201d Those who are living in the lust of the flesh; controlled\nby a depraved appetite.\n\n\u201cFierce.\u201d Getting angry and becoming quarrelsome; all that is the opposite\nof gentleness and kindness.\n\n\u201cDespisers of those that are good.\u201d Because a man lives a good, pure,\nconsistent Christian life it puts a rebuke upon the hypocrite, and for\nthis reason he despises the good man.\n\n\u201cTraitors.\u201d Actually denying and renouncing portions of the Holy Bible,\nwhich they profess to believe. They are traitors to God and to\nChristianity.\n\n\u201cHeady.\u201d They are unteachable. No matter what the Bible says, they know\nthey are all right if they do indulge in things that are wrong.\n\n\u201cHigh-minded.\u201d So lifted up in themselves that the humble doctrines of the\nSavior are beneath their observance. These humble truths of the Bible are\nconsidered as nonessentials by the heady and high-minded.\n\n\u201cLovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.\u201d Take more real comfort and\ndelight in the party or festival than they do in worship. A sermon of\nthirty minutes is about as long as they can endure. Reading the Bible is\nan unpleasant task, therefore the good old book lies unused; but they can\nspend hours in the place of revelry.\n\nWhere do we have to look for such doings and characters as we have\ndescribed? They abound in great numbers in the various denominations of\nto-day. Adam Clarke in his commentary in speaking of this prophecy, says:\n\u201cThis description the papists apply to the Protestants. The Protestants in\ntheir turn apply it to the papists. There have been both teachers and\npeople in every age of the church and world to whom these words may be\nmost legitimately applied. Both Catholics and Protestants have been lovers\nof their own selves,\u201d etc., \u201chaving a form of godliness, but denying the\npower thereof.\u201d How often the sectish lords lament the deadness of their\ncongregations, and also grow weary of their own spiritless, formal prayers\nand sermons.\n\nBishop Weaver of the United Brethren denomination uses the following\nlanguage, as quoted by a holiness periodical:\n\n\u201c_Power Versus Form._\n\n\u201cThe pulpit ought to be a center of power. But is it? God said to Jonah,\n\u2018Preach the preaching I bid thee.\u2019 Jesus said, \u2018Preach the gospel.\u2019 Paul\nsaid, \u2018Preach the Word.\u2019 Again he said, \u2018We preach Christ.\u2019 Philip\n\u2018preached Jesus.\u2019 All this means the selfsame thing. Christ is the soul of\nthe gospel as well as the substance of all doctrine. Much of the\npreaching, reading or talking\u2014whatever you please to call it\u2014is Christless\nand powerless. Of course, this is a refined age, and the people are away\nup, but the devil can appear as refined as a saint. Nothing suits him\nbetter than to get the preacher away from the gospel on to some fine topic\nand then get some one to tell him (the preacher) that he made a fine\neffort. The pulpit should proclaim the great, fundamental doctrines of the\nBible. But does it? The people are often treated to a well-written essay\nor dissertation on some abstract question that does not contain an ounce\nof pure gospel. There is neither lightning nor thunder in it. One reason\nwhy Paul was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ was because it was the\npower of God unto salvation. But it was no more the power of God unto\nsalvation then than it is now. It is the same eternal truth, yesterday,\nto-day, and forever.\n\n\u201cIn Hosea we read, \u2018Like people, like priest.\u2019 In Isaiah we read, \u2018As with\nthe people, so with the priest.\u2019 There is a great deal of harmony between\nthe pulpit and the pew. Everything goes along in an orderly manner. All\nservices must be short or the people can not stand them\u2014short prayers,\nshort sermons, short everything. Oftentimes the service is gone through\nwith, and nothing in it but an out-and-out performance; no life, no\nspirit, no power. Protestants often speak disparagingly of the ritualistic\nservices gone through with by the Roman Catholic church, but if you come\nright down to it you will find about as much spirit and power in the one\nas the other. The result is that scores and hundreds of men, and women,\nand children are being gathered into the Protestant church who have not an\nounce of Christian experience. If reformation was necessary in the times\nof Luther and Wesley in Europe, and Otterbein and Asbury in America, it is\nscarcely less necessary now. But some one may say this is putting it too\nstrong. What are the facts? Is it not a fact that the church is drifting\naway from the more spiritual to the social and intellectual? If the\nreligion of Jesus Christ is what the Bible represents it to be, then the\nchurch in general is far below the standard. Where is the spiritual power\nthat was breathed into the apostolic church? Peter\u2019s sermon on the day of\nPentecost was not what the people of to-day would call brilliant, but the\npeople were pricked, not in the head, but in the heart.\n\n\u201cWhat did it? Two things. First, he preached the gospel straight. Second,\nthe Holy Spirit quickened the Word spoken and made it powerful. What would\nthe people do if there should be such an uproar in some of our\ncongregations to-day? It would scare some of them half to death, and many\nwould run for dear life. But we have the same gospel Peter had, and the\nsame Holy Spirit to accompany the Word. What is the matter? The people do\nnot want it that way, neither does the devil. Thousands of church people\ninstead of praying for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, are asking such\nquestions as these: Is it wrong for a Christian to dance? to go to the\ntheater? to visit places of amusement? to play progressive euchre? etc.\nWhy don\u2019t they ask such questions as these: Is it wrong to pray? to go to\nchurch? to take the sacrament? etc. The fact is, a man or woman filled\nwith the Spirit of Christ knows without asking any questions whether a\nthing is right or wrong.\n\n\u201cBut some may say that the writer is getting old and feeble, and has\nfallen far behind in the race, all of which is readily granted; but the\nfact remains that we have the same gospel, which is as changeless as the\nthrone of God. If in the days of the Son of man and his inspired apostles\nit was necessary that a man should be \u2018born again,\u2019 \u2018born of the Spirit,\u2019\n\u2018made a new creature,\u2019 and be \u2018cleansed from all sin,\u2019 it is necessary\nnow. If there ever was a time when men were born into the kingdom of grace\nby the power of the Holy Ghost, it remains the same to-day. What under the\nheavens is the use for preachers and people to go whining around, and\nwinking at this and that when they know it is out of harmony with the\nplain teaching of God\u2019s Word? It is all well enough to be nice and orderly\nin the house of God, but there is no substitute for the power of the Holy\nSpirit. Jesus Christ is the advocate between God and man, and the Holy\nSpirit is the executive officer in the holy trinity. If the church with\nits splendid machinery were endued with power as it might and ought to be,\nthere is no telling what might be done in the next ten years. But what\ngood is all this machinery, with no power to run it? What good is an\nengine without steam? I saw Engine 999. It was beautiful to look at.\nEverything was as near perfect as it could well be. But it was standing\nstock-still. Why? There was no steam; no power to move a wheel. That\nrepresents a good many congregations. The machinery is there, but no power\nto run it. In Ezekiel\u2019s vision he saw a marvelous vehicle, which moved\nwith great rapidity. But it did not move itself. The spirit of the living\ncreature was in the wheels; but for that it would not have moved at all.\nSo it is with the church. If the Spirit of the living God is not in it, it\nwill not and can not move forward. Oh, this spiritless, powerless\nperformance called worship. How it detracts from the usefulness of the\nchurch!\u201d\n\nSuch a description as given by Paul in the above prophecy, and by this\nbishop, is true of sect Babylon of to-day. Such graceless, spiritless,\nChristless institutions are dark enough to obscure the beautiful light of\nthe gospel.\n\nThe _Christian Advocate_, the organ of Methodism, a few years ago said:\n\u201cWe are approaching a crisis in church life. Gradually, but surely,\ndisregard for the Bible, for the Sabbath, for the church, and for God, is\ntaking possession of Christians. Teachers whose reputation for scholarship\ngives them wide influence, give it as their opinion that the Bible is not\ninspired at all, except as other great books are inspired. This poison has\npenetrated all our churches. The virus of skepticism has entered the\npulpits in our own denomination.\u201d\n\nWho can take issue with this editor? We very heartily agree with him. If\nany one is disposed to doubt that the virus of skepticism has entered the\nMethodist pulpits, he will only have to read the account of the meeting of\nfour hundred of the leading ministers of New York and vicinity, including\nBishop Edward G. Andrews. Below we give an account of the meeting as\npublished in the _Atlanta Journal_.\n\n_Methodist Ministers Question The Bible._\n\nAt a meeting of Methodist ministers last Monday morning in New York City,\nthe validity of many of the stories of the Bible was questioned. Rev. S. P\nCadman urged at that meeting that the Bible could not be accepted as the\nsole rule of faith any longer. He pointed out alleged discrepancies in it,\nand said people could find truth only at its fountain head, Christ. The\nother ministers applauded him.\n\n\u201cThat the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible are no longer possible\nof belief among reasonable men.\u201d\n\nThis proposition, the acceptance of which will tear away the fundamental\npillar of Methodist theology, was urged in all force, sincerity, and\nenthusiasm by the Rev. Cadman, pastor of the Metropolitan Temple, before\nthe regular weekly meeting of the Methodist ministers of New York.\n\nFour hundred of the leading ministers of New York and its vicinity,\nincluding Bishop Edward G. Andrews, were present when Mr. Cadman\u2019s paper\nwas read. He was applauded when he arose to read it, and applauded again\nwhen he got through.\n\nMr. Cadman\u2019s paper was one of a series on Bible criticism. A paper taking\npractically the same ground was read before the ministers on the Monday\nevening before last, another paper on the subject will be read next\nMonday.\n\nThis bold portentous utterance, involving the most radical departure from\naccepted tenets of the Methodist church since its very foundation, was\nmade before the most representative body of Methodist clergy in America.\nIt included the vast majority of the preachers of Greater New York. It is\nthe first announcement of an impending controversy, which may shake the\nMethodist church to its very foundation stones.\n\nThe acceptance of Dr. Cadman\u2019s proposition, heard with respect and\napplause by the New York ministers, is comparable to the adoption of a new\nconstitution for the United States. It places the Bible on the basis of\nhistorical works on other than divine subjects; it rejects the\nauthenticity of all parts of Holy Scripture which are repugnant to human\nreason.\n\nSome of the details of the Bible that these ministers find fault with are:\n\nThat the earth was created in six days.\n\nThat Methuselah died at the age of 969 years.\n\nThat a whale swallowed Jonah, in whose belly he lay three days.\n\nThat the Red Sea was divided in order to permit the passage of the\nchildren of Israel out of Egypt.\n\nThat a snake tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden.\n\nThat Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and that it obeyed him.\n\nThe tower of Babel narrative.\n\nThe turning of Lot\u2019s wife into a pillar of salt.\n\nThe story of Noah, the flood, and the ark.\n\nThat God spoke to Moses out of a burning bush.\n\nThat Aaron turned his rod into a serpent.\n\nThat Moses tapped a rock, and that water gushed forth.\n\nThat Moses drew forth his hand and that it was \u201cleprous, white as snow.\u201d\n\nThat Elijah was translated to heaven in a chariot of fire.\n\nThat Elisha threw the mantle of Elijah across the Jordan, causing it to\ndry up and allow him passage.\n\nThat the earth opened and swallowed Achan and his companions.\n\nThat Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego walked in a fiery furnace unharmed.\n\nThat Daniel stayed unhurt in the lions\u2019 den.\n\nWm. S. Breakey, of New York, in a letter to the editor of the _Revivalist_\nspoke concerning the above meeting and Methodism as follows: \u201cI enclose a\nclipping from the _New York Herald_ of recent date. It needs no comment,\nand explains the lack of spiritual power in the M. E. church of to-day.\nThe attitude of the listening ministers and bishop, and their approval (of\na majority at least) of the sentiments expressed by the speaker and\nindicated by the applause shows the extent to which this so-called liberal\nelement has permeated the M. E. church. This man is the leader of the\nso-called forward movement of the M. E. church in New York City, a\nmovement consisting of short popular sermons, pleasant hours, Sunday\nevening concerts, lectures, united choir, and the innumerable fandangoes\nto entertain the people and keep the church crowded.\n\nThis is the Methodism of to-day in a leading metropolis of the country. It\nmakes my soul\u2014and, I believe, the soul of every one jealous for the glory\nof God and the honor of the Holy Spirit and the eternal welfare of human\nsouls being led into the ditch of eternal night by these blind,\nreason-exalting leaders\u2014cry out, \u2018How long, O Lord, how long,\u2019 must the\nfollowers of the life of Jesus Christ endure these things and by their\nsilence be charged (by implication) with endorsing the present condition\nof things and methods of church work?\u201d\n\nWe are often told by those who know no better, that this world is becoming\nmore Christianized. The Bible says, \u201cBut evil men and seducers shall wax\nworse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.\u201d 2 Tim. 3:13. People are\nmore advanced in invention and education than in former years, we frankly\nadmit. There are not the inhuman wars and barbarous massacres and bloody\npersecutions that once were, and by hasty external view of political\ngovernments and educational interest one may conclude that the world is\ngrowing better. But where matters are growing worse and things becoming\nmore deceivable is to be found in \u201cmystery Babylon the great\u201d and her\nharlot daughters; namely, Catholicism and the Protestant sects. They are\nbecoming more worldly and covetous, more proud and popularity-loving. They\nare denying much of the Bible, turning their meeting-houses into concert\nhalls and opera-houses. In a village where we resided until recently the\nMethodist meeting-house was called by the community in general the\nMethodist theater.\n\nThe paper by Mr. Cadman as quoted above is a specimen of how they deny the\nBible. They almost unanimously deny the unity of the Bible, divine\nhealing, holiness and some of the ordinances. But in the decade to come\nyou will see much more astonishing things. The sectarian world is now just\nsetting sail upon such a sea of revelry, banqueting, money getting,\nlewdness, and idolatry, as we have not seen before. Her awful sins will\nreach unto heaven, yea, for some years past have been crying out against\nher, but each year growing worse. Where is the aged man or woman but who\nremembers the day when Methodists had a plain, unassuming, consecrated\nministry? The laity went plainly and modestly dressed. They had real Holy\nGhost revivals, but those days are gone. To-day she is intoxicated with\nthe spirit of worldliness. Every effort is being put forth, every nerve\nstrained, the power and energy of intellect used to dazzle the world by\noratory, and pompous show. O God, as we behold the awful sins of\nsectarianism we feel in our soul like Jeremiah when he wrote his\nLamentation.\n\n\u201cMine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, ... because the\nchildren and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.\u201d \u201cHow is the\ngold become dim! how is the fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary\nare poured out in the top of every street.\u201d \u201cThe kings of the earth, and\nall the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the\nadversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.\nFor the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have\nshed the blood of the just in the midst of her, they have wandered as\nblind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so\nthat men could not touch their garments.\u201d \u201cGod will visit thine iniquity,\nhe will discover thy sins.\u201d\n\nThe sins of Protestantism are sufficient cause to wring tears and prayers\nand fastings from every Christian heart. Who will not consecrate his time,\ntalent, and means for the deliverance of God\u2019s beloved from their\ncaptivity?\n\n\n\nThe Prophecies Of Peter.\n\n\n\u201cBut there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall\nbe false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,\neven denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift\ndestruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of\nwhom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness\nshall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now\nof a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.\u201d 2 Pet.\n2:1-3.\n\nHere the inspired apostle foretells the coming of false teachers, who\nshall bring in damnable heresies. Heresy is translated from the Greek word\n_hairesis_. The word \u201csect\u201d is translated from the same Greek word. The\nword \u201cdamnable\u201d is from the Greek _apoleia_, and means destruction. So the\nrendering of Rotherham, \u201cparties of destruction,\u201d and of the German,\n\u201cdestructive sects,\u201d corresponds with the original. Protestant teachers\nwill readily tell you that these \u201cfalse teachers\u201d and \u201cdestructive sects\u201d\nrefer to the heresies that sprang up in the first few centuries of this\nChristian era. We admit that sects and parties arose in those primitive\ndays. We see something of this spirit in 1 Cor. 3:1-5.\n\nBut are sects damnable in one age of the world and commendable in another?\nWe conclude that if partyism, sectarianism, schisms, divisions, and\nheresies were destructive and brought destruction upon their adherents in\nthe first centuries, it will do likewise in the last centuries. Paul says,\n\u201cI beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you\nall speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions [schisms, margin]\namong you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and\nin the same judgment.\u201d 1 Cor. 1:10.\n\nMany shall follow in the pernicious ways of these heresies. Is not this\ntrue at this present time? By them the way of truth shall be evil spoken\nof. There is scarcely a sectarian in the universe but will speak evil of\nsome portion of the truth. These false teachers shall with feigned words\nmake merchandise of their followers, because of their covetousness. This\nis really more true of present day sectarian preachers than it was of the\nfalse teachers in the first centuries. Does not the ministry of the\npresent day resort to the telling of amusing stories, and touching\nincidents, and fabulous tales to amuse and allure the people, and are they\nnot making merchandise of them? Are they not receiving large salaries? And\nno matter how poor you may be you must pay your preacher or else you have\nno hearty welcome to membership. The preacher can sit in his easy chair\nwith folded arms while you labor and strive for his support. He can spend\nhis evenings in luxury and pleasure while you are tossing upon your bed\nthinking and planning how to clothe and feed your little ones and get\nmoney to pay your church dues; for you know full well if you do not pay\nyou will be snubbed and rejected and finally cut off and made believe, if\npossible, that you are on your way to hell.\n\nThe remainder of this chapter, beginning with the twelfth verse is a vivid\ndescription of the hireling ministry of these days. For the benefit of the\nreader we will quote and number each verse and give brief comment. 12.\n\u201cBut these as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed, speak\nevil of the things they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their\nown corruption.\u201d\n\nThey are not governed by the Bible, but as \u201cbrute beasts\u201d follow their\ncovetous ways, speaking evil of the holy commandments of God, which they\ndo not understand. They are the \u201cblind leaders of the blind.\u201d\n\n13. \u201cAnd shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count\nit pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting\nthemselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you.\u201d\n\nThe excursions of sightseeing and pleasure, the picnics and parties they\ncount great pleasure. Characters that engage in such revelry and\nworldliness are spots and blemishes to Christianity. We are commanded to\nkeep ourselves unspotted from the world. \u201cSporting themselves with their\nown deceivings while they feast with you.\u201d They will teach their young\nmembers that it is no harm to go to the party, to attend the shows and\nfairs, the suppers and entertainments, to play cards for amusement, and\nmany like things; and with their own deceivings they will feast with them\nin such sports.\n\n14. \u201cHaving eyes full of adultery, and that can not cease from sin;\nbeguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous\npractises; cursed children.\u201d\n\nTheir hearts are inclined to evil ways and filled with fleshly desires;\nloving the things of the world and often confessing, \u201cWe can not live in\nthis world without committing sin.\u201d By their evil example and false\nteachings they are beguiling many unstable souls. Their covetous heart is\nscarcely ever satisfied.\n\nThe prophet Isaiah speaks of these prophets saying, \u201cThey are all\nignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they can not bark; sleeping, lying down,\nloving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough.\u201d\nIsa. 56:10, 11. This is a lazy, ease-loving greedy ministry. If they are\ngetting $500.00 a year they will want $600.00. If they are receiving\n$1,000.00 they will want $1,200.00, and go wherever they can get the most.\n\u201cCursed children.\u201d\n\n15. \u201cWhich have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the\nway of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness.\u201d\n\nThese false teachers have known a better way. The Lord showed Balaam the\nright way, but he was seduced by the reward offered by Balak. So with\nthese teachers; they once knew a more righteous way, but have turned aside\nfor the wages of unrighteousness.\n\n16. \u201cBut was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man\u2019s\nvoice forbad the madness of the prophet.\u201d As Balaam was rebuked by the\ndumb ass, so these false teachers in their madness for worldly honor, gain\nand wisdom are rebuked by the humble ignorant Christians, whom they\nconsider as dumb ignorant creatures.\n\n17. \u201cThese are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a\ntempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.\u201d\n\nSalvation is often spoken of as the \u201cwater of life.\u201d These false teachers\nare wells without water. Their preaching does not feed and water their\nflock. Their empty forms and stale essays contain no spiritual food. For\nthis reason there is a famine throughout Babylon. \u201cBehold, the days come,\nsaith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of\nbread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.\u201d Amos\n8:11. From the pulpit we hear lectures, stories, and history, and not the\npure gospel; this is the cause of this famine. \u201cClouds they are carried\nwith a tempest.\u201d When there is some appearance of rain or water from these\nteachers, and you have hopes of hearing some of the Word of God, behold\nsome false wind of doctrine for personal advantage carries away every sign\nof rain.\n\n18. \u201cFor when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure\nthrough the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were\nclean escaped from them who live in error.\u201d\n\nThey preach in sublime style, and speak great words of vanity, almost\nincomprehensible to common people, and by touching incidents and\nsympathetic stories they allure, and those who were really converted are\noften led into error and formalism by these vain teachers.\n\n19. \u201cWhile they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of\ncorruption.\u201d\n\nFrom the pulpit they speak in elegant, flowery language of Jesus and\nheaven, and give great promises of blessings to their hearers, while they\nthemselves are walking in sin and under bondage to the flesh.\n\nIt is not difficult for all who are not entombed in the mystic fogs of\nBabylon delusion to locate the fulfilment of this prophecy. Were Peter\nliving today and should look over the Catholic and Protestant ministry he\ncould not pen a better description of them than he has here done.\n\n\n\nThe Prophecy Of Jude.\n\n\n\u201cLikewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion,\nand speak evil of dignities.\u201d Ver. 8.\n\n\u201cBut these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they\nknow naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.\nWoe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily\nafter the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of\nCore. These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you,\nfeeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried\nabout of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead,\nplucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own\nshame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness\nforever.\u201d Ver. 10-13.\n\n\u201cThese are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lust; and their\nmouth speaketh great swelling words, having men\u2019s persons in admiration\nbecause of advantage.\u201d Ver. 16.\n\nWe believe that comment here is unnecessary since commenting on Peter\u2019s\nprophecy. In verses seventeen and eighteen Jude tells us these are the\nmockers of Christianity that should come in the last time, who should walk\nafter their own ungodly lust. Jude foresees the great dark beastly manism\nthat was to darken the earth in the clear day, the same as was seen by the\nSavior, Paul, and Peter.\n\nWhen quoting the twelfth verse the Spirit of the Lord referred us to the\nwonderful prophecy of Ezekiel: \u201cSon of man, prophesy against the shepherds\nof Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the\nshepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!\nshould not the shepherds feed the flock? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you\nwith the wool, ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The\ndiseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was\nsick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye\nbrought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that\nwhich was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.\u201d Ezek.\n34:2-4.\n\nThese shepherds feed and clothe themselves. They are more concerned for\ntheir own personal gain than for the souls of the people. If they do not\nreceive an ample salary they will leave the souls to perish. They are\nunlike Paul, who labored with his own hands for his support while he fed\nstarving souls upon the words of life. He was a light in the world, and\nthe covetous, greedy shepherds are creators of darkness. These prophecies\nare all true of the present day sectarian ministry. They are the hireling\nshepherds that flee when they see the wolf coming. When poverty comes,\nthey flee to a place where they are better supported. The prophecies\nconcerning the apostasy are more particularly against the ministry than\nthe laity, because the ministers are the leaders, leading their followers\non in darkness.\n\n\n\nThe Revelation Of John.\n\n\nThe prophecies of the book of Revelation have long been a mystery to the\npeople. Occasionally some honest soul, laboring under the confusing mists\nof sectish night, has attempted to reveal the secret things of this book.\nHis interpretations were so obscure and erroneous that he has only added\nconfusion to confusion and mystery to mystery. However in the past few\nyears as we are nearing the \u201ctime of the end,\u201d God by his Spirit has made\nclear these prophecies unto his humble, devoted people. Trusting in God to\ngive the proper interpretation by his Spirit we will ask the reader to\nconsider with us some of the prophecies of this book.\n\n_Chapter 13._\n\nVer. 1. \u201cAnd I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out\nof the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten\ncrowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.\u201d\n\n\u201cBeast\u201d means a fleshly, human, or mannish power. \u201cSea\u201d is often used to\nrepresent trouble, upheaval, and commotions. History abounds with accounts\nof the upheavals in the ecclesiastical heavens between bishops in the\nthird century. Out of these contentions and strivings and confusions arose\nin the year 325 A.D., a beastly or mannish form of ecclesiastical\ngovernment; namely, the Roman Catholic church.\n\nThe \u201cseven heads\u201d have by some writers been interpreted to be the seven\nmountains on which the city of Rome is situated. For proof of this\ninterpretation they quote Rev. 17:9. How that inanimate, literal mountains\ncan represent heads, since the head contains the power of intellect and\nauthority, lies beyond our comprehension.\n\nThat the ten horns are the ten kingdoms spoken of by Daniel (chap. 7, ver.\n24) is, we consider, unquestionable. Now it may be a little obscure why\nthe Revelator will make use of ten stately kingdoms to represent the ten\nhorns of an ecclesiastical government. It is because this ecclesiastical\ngovernment is human the same as a state government; and because the\nbeastly Romish church was supported, and became what they were pleased to\ncall both church and state.\n\nThe seven heads are seven supreme forms of government. These seven heads\nare seven mountains (not literal) and the seven mountains are seven kings.\nRev. 17:9, 10. History tells us there were seven distinct forms of\ngovernment in the Roman empire. The first, a royal or kingly government,\ncontinued about 428 years. The second was republic in form under the\nadministration of dictators. This form of government continued eighty and\neight years. The third form of government was under the absolute control\nof ten magistrates called decemvirs, and are also called pr\u00e6tors. The\nduration of this form of government exceeded three hundred years. In the\nyear 336 B.C., the third form of government came to an end by the Latins\nbeing conquered by the Romans, and the consulate government succeeded,\nwhich continued until about the year 50 B.C. The fifth form of government\nwas under the control of three men, and therefore called a triumvirate.\nThe triumvirate form of government came to an end before John\u2019s vision of\nthese heads. These are the five \u201cfallen ones.\u201d Rev. 17:10. The power that\nthen was, which was the sixth head of the beast, was the imperial power of\nthe C\u00e6sars, which continued more than four hundred years. The seventh\npower was the patriciate, which continued about fifty years.\n\nThese are the seven heads and ten horns\u2014the seven forms of government, and\nthe ten kingdoms out of which grew the eleventh horn which Daniel saw, or\nthe beast which John saw. Thus we have the beast with its seven heads and\nten horns.\n\nVer. 2. \u201cAnd the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet\nwere as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the\ndragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.\u201d\n\nSins and worldliness are termed spots by the Bible. The leopard is a\nspotted beast, so no other animal could better represent the Romish sect\nwith its dark spots of sin and crime. The bear makes use of the foot to\ndeal the deadly blow upon an enemy. The papacy with its tyrannical feet\nhas trodden down all that would dare rise against it. Great thunderings\nand loud roarings proceed out of the mouth of the lion in his strength and\nglory. So this beast fitly represents the Catholic church in her boasted\nstrength, power, and authority.\n\nThe dragon that gave this ecclesiastical beast its authority and seat was\nthe Roman state. In connection with this we will consider the first three\nverses of the twelfth chapter of Revelation. \u201cAnd there appeared a great\nwonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her\nfeet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.\u201d Ver. 1. The woman is the\nchurch. By believing or standing upon the Word a soul is brought into the\nchurch by the Spirit. Thus the church stands upon the moon (the Word of\nGod), clothed by the sun (the Spirit). This is no disagreement with a\nformer use we have made of the sun and moon as symbols. An object may be\nused to symbolize different things in different prophecies.\n\n\u201cAnd there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red\ndragon, having seven heads and ten horns.\u201d Ver. 3. This dragon is the same\nas the dragon that gave power to the beast of Rev. 13:2; namely, the Roman\nstate. The Roman empire, pagan as it was, endeavored to devour the church\nas is said of the dragon in Rev. 12:4.\n\nWe will now return to Rev. 13:3: \u201cAnd I saw one of his heads as it were\nwounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world\nwondered after the beast.\u201d\n\nAs we have before observed, the seven original heads were the seven\nprincipalities, or forms of government, which gave rise to the Roman\nempire. A head or an ecclesiastical form of government in Romanism\nreceived a wound. The world wondered after the beast. This beast\nreligion\u2014manism\u2014the Catholic sect, was now looked upon as the church. It\nwas considered the only way to heaven. There was no salvation outside her\nwalls. The true church was hidden. The sun, moon and stars were eclipsed.\nChrist had given his authority over to the pope, so it was believed, and\nthe Romish sect stepped into the place of the true church. Christ and his\nchurch\u2014the lights of the world\u2014were no longer seen. The pope and his\nchurch stood up in their sins and abominations, and the world looked upon\nthem as the church. This is certainly sufficient cause for darkness at the\nnoonday.\n\nVer. 4. \u201cAnd they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast:\nand they worshiped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? Who is\nable to make war with him?\u201d\n\nThe people worshiped not only the church of Rome, but both church and\nstate; for they were now consolidated. So the people worshiped the dragon\nand the beast, and boasted of their greatness.\n\nVer. 5. \u201cAnd there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and\nblasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two\nmonths.\u201d\n\nFrom this text there opens a wide field before us, which we will enter for\na while, and then return again to the further consideration of this\nchapter.\n\nThe pope\u2019s claims of power to forgive sins, to be infallible, to be the\nvicegerent of the Son of God, to have power to deliver from purgatory, and\na number of other shameful pretensions, are certainly shocking\nblasphemies. Power was given him forty and two months.\n\nIn Rev. 12:6, the woman (the church) is described as fleeing into the\nwilderness prepared for her of God, there to be fed a thousand two hundred\nand three score days. Here we learn that the woman fled from before the\ndragon and was protected of God (or fed) from the dragon\u2019s power for a\nthousand two hundred and three score days. This is virtually the same\npower; namely, the Romish state and church, that continued forty and two\nmonths as spoken of above.\n\nIn Rev. 11:3 we have another allusion made to the church of God at this\nperiod. \u201cAnd I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall\nprophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in\nsackcloth.\u201d A day in Scripture is used in different texts to represent\ndifferent lengths of time. In some texts quoted in the introduction of\nthis work a day is used to represent the whole of the Christian\ndispensation. Again it is said that \u201cone day is with the Lord as a\nthousand years, and a thousand years as one day.\u201d In Rev. 11:11, a day is\nused to represent one hundred years; and in Ezek. 4:6, we learn that a day\nis often used to represent one year. A day in Rev. 11:3 and 12:6 signifies\none year. Forty and two months (as mentioned in Rev. 13:5) are equal to\n1260 days, allowing 30 days to the month. Here also a day signifies a\nyear. Thus the beast supported by the dragon had power 1260 years. While\nthis beast was in authority the woman was in obscurity, which was 1260\nyears. While the beast was in power and the woman in silence the two\nwitnesses could only testify in sackcloth, which was 1260 years. These two\nwitnesses in the church of God are the Word of God, and the Spirit of God.\nA sackcloth dress is one donned in a time of grief or lamentation. The\nWord and Spirit of God, because of the sad state of the church, were\ndraped in mourning or sackcloth.\n\nWe have before learned that the date of the rise of the apostasy was 270\nA.D. By these prophecies made plain by the Holy Spirit we clearly\nunderstand the first beast as seen in the apostasy was to continue 1260\nyears, which added to 270 years will bring us down to 1530 A.D. At this\ndate we have the Lutheran reformation, when the power of Catholicism as a\nuniversal state church was broken. The world as a whole no longer looked\nupon that dark, ungodly institution as the only way to heaven. They saw\nthere was salvation outside the pales of Romanism.\n\nNow we will return to Rev. 13th chapter. Ver. 6. \u201cAnd he opened his mouth\nin blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and\nthem that dwell in heaven.\u201d\n\nWe have already spoken of how the papacy uttered blasphemy against God and\nhis name, his church and his true people.\n\nVer. 7. \u201cAnd it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to\novercome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and\nnations.\u201d\n\nCatholicism numbers her slain by the thousands. If your human heart can\nendure the reading of a book on martyrdom and the tortures of the\ninquisition, you would there learn that it was the Romish sect that made\nwar with and overcame the saints. To her was granted power over kings and\nnations. While the state gave her her power, she in turn rose to power and\nrule over the state.\n\nVer. 8. \u201cAnd all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names\nwere not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation\nof the world.\u201d\n\nVer. 9. \u201cIf any man have an ear to hear, let him hear.\u201d\n\nVer. 10. \u201cHe that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that\nkilleth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience\nand the faith of the saints.\u201d\n\nAll worshiped the papacy except those who were really spiritual, and those\nwere slain. The tenth verse is a prophecy against her; as she killed with\nthe sword, so she shall be killed with the sword (the Word of God).\n\nVer. 11. \u201cAnd I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth: and he\nhad two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.\u201d\n\nHere appears upon the scene another beast. A human ecclesiasticism, a\nmanism. Protestant authors who brand the first beast as the Roman\nhierarchy are confounded at the appearance of this second beast. By these\ntwo beasts we understand the apostasy to be under two forms. We have no\nhesitancy in branding this second beast as Protestantism. In the church of\nGod all is controlled exclusively by the Holy Spirit. There is no manism\nin the church of God, therefore it is not animal or beastly. All sectism\nis controlled largely by man, therefore is a beast power. At first\nProtestantism had a mild, gentle, lamb-like appearance compared with\nCatholicism.\n\nThe two horns are two state powers that gave support to the beast. Germany\nand England supported Protestantism, therefore are the two horns. The\ndragon spoken of in this eleventh verse is, like in the second verse and\nalso in chapter 12:3, a state power.\n\nThis second beast \u201cexercised all the power of the first beast before him.\u201d\nSee ver. 12. Was this not true in England, where the king was head of both\nchurch and state? Consequently we see that the second beast or man\nreligion spoken of was authorized by a dragon or state power. In verse\nthirteen it is said he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come\ndown from heaven on the earth. Throughout the reign of Protestantism there\nhas been frequent spiritual revivals and reformations. God really sent the\nHoly Spirit fire upon the honest efforts of men, and wonders were\naccomplished betimes in the name of Jesus.\n\nIn the fourteenth verse it is said that he deceived them that dwell on the\nearth by the means of those miracles which he did. Each reformation in the\npast three centuries was begun by holy men, upon whom God sent the holy\nfire; but others rising up subsequently, who were devoid of spirituality,\nbuilt upon their foundation, and now deceive the people in making them\nbelieve that they and their sect institutions are of God because God\nmanifested himself to their predecessors. In this verse we also learn that\nan image was made unto the first beast. Upon the work of each reformer a\nsect institution was organized, which was fashioned after the Roman\nCatholic sect the mother of all sects.\n\nAccording to the words of the fifteenth verse these images will in some\nfuture day, which the Lord knows, find a consummation in one great image,\nunto which all bow and pay homage or else suffer martyrdom. To receive the\nmark of the beast as spoken of in verse sixteen is to receive the\nceremonies and customs and doctrines peculiar to each respective sect. Any\none acquainted with the customs and doctrines of the different\ndenominations can to-day determine to what denomination a stranger belongs\nby his dress or manner of speech. The number six hundred sixty-six refers\nto the number of leading religious denominations.\n\nWe will now, briefly as possible, consider the first eight verses of the\nseventeenth chapter of Revelation. In verse one John speaks of seeing a\ngreat whore sitting upon many waters. In verse two he speaks of the kings\nof the earth becoming drunk on the wine of her fornication. This has all\nbeen true in the papacy. There is in this hierarchy an enchanting,\ndelusive spirit that has intoxicated her subjects. This is the real secret\nof her power.\n\nIn Rev. 17:5 the apostasy is termed \u201cMystery, Babylon the Great, The\nMother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.\u201d Here we see again the\napostasy in two forms or generations. The mother is the first, and is\nidentical with the first beast of Rev. 13:1. The harlot daughters are the\nsecond, and are identical with the second beast of Rev. 13:11. We consider\nit needful to enquire what is meant by the term\n\n\n\nBabylon.\n\n\nThere is the natural world and the spiritual world. Babylon has existed\nunder both. There are many references made to it in both the Old and New\nTestaments. In the Old Testament we find the origin and final doom of\nliteral Babylon. In the Apocalypse we find the origin and final doom of\nspiritual Babylon, the antitype. In the days of Noah the world became very\nwicked and God destroyed all save Noah and his family. For a time after\nthe flood the people were righteous and the whole earth was one language\nand one speech. Gen. 11:1. God\u2019s people in those days all spoke the same\nlanguage and understood each other, because they understood truth as it\nwas.\n\n\u201cAnd it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a\nplain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to\nanother, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had\nbrick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let\nus build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let\nus make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole\nearth.\u201d Gen. 11:2-4.\n\nGod\u2019s people started on a pilgrimage in the order of God, but they\ntarried, they ceased to \u201cgo forward.\u201d Had God\u2019s people continued on\nBabylon would never have been built. This has its spiritual import. When\nGod\u2019s spiritual people cease to advance, when they get out of God\u2019s order,\nthey will soon seek some other way to heaven.\n\nThis ancient city of Babylon grew until it became a mighty, resistless,\nuniversal empire. For a time in its history it held the people of God in\ncaptivity. The day came, however, when this mighty city passed away\nforever. The only dwellers among its lonely ruins are wild beasts and\nhissing serpents. The Babylon mentioned in Revelation is the spiritual\nantitype. The great tower of ancient Babel finds its antitype in mystery\nBabylon, the mother, and the diversified city at its feet finishes its\nantitype in the multiplicity of sects and creeds, where they speak a\ndifferent spiritual language, as they cluster around their mother\u2019s knee.\nIn this great apostate Babylon the true children of God have long been\ntaken captive, but the day comes when God\u2019s own make their escape and\nreturn to spiritual Jerusalem, their native home. The Revelator beholds\nspiritual Babylon in a fallen condition inhabited only by foul, devilish\nspirits, and unclean and hateful birds. Rev. 18:2.\n\nThere are many prophecies in Daniel and other chapters of Revelation\nrelating to the dark apostasy of the noonday, which we reluctantly forbear\nto consider in this work, but are compelled to do so lest our volume swell\nto too great proportions.\n\nIn the conclusion of this chapter we desire to make a few quotations from\nother authors concerning mystery Babylon and her harlot daughters.\n\n\u201cThis woman (popery) is called the mother of harlots and abominations. Who\nare the daughters? The Lutheran, the Presbyterian, and the Episcopalian\nare all branches of the Roman Catholic. Are not these demonstrated harlots\nand abominations in the above passage? I so decide. I could not, with the\nstake before me decide, otherwise. Presbyterians and Episcopalians compose\na part of Babylon. They hold the distinctive principles of papacy in\ncommon with papists.\u201d\u2014_Tennessee Baptist._\n\n\u201cI think Christ has a true church on earth, but its members are scattered\namong the various denominations, and are more or less under the influence\nof mystery Babylon and her daughters.\u201d\u2014_Bible Doctrine_ p. 249.\n\n\u201cIs antichrist confined to the church of Rome? The answer is readily\nreturned in the affirmative by Protestants in general, and happy had it\nbeen for the world were that the case. But although we are fully warranted\nto consider that church as the mother of harlots, the truth is that by\nwhatsoever arguments we succeed in fixing that odious charge upon her, we\nshall by parity of reasoning be obliged to allow other national churches\nto be her unchaste daughters, and for this plain reason, among others,\nbecause in their very constitution and tendency they are hostile to the\nnature of the kingdom of Christ.\u201d\u2014_Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge._\n\n\u201cThe writer of the book of Revelation tells us he heard a voice from\nheaven saying, \u2018Come out of her, my people.\u2019 If such persons are to be\nfound in the mother of harlots, with much less hesitancy it may be\ninferred that they are connected with her unchaste daughters, these\nnational churches, which are founded upon what are called Protestant\nprinciples.\u201d\u2014_Encyclopedia of Religion._\n\n\u201cIf she be the mother, who are the daughters? It must be the corrupt\nnational established churches that came out of her.\u201d\u2014_Lorenzo Dow._\n\n\n\n\nChapter III. False Teachings Of The Apostasy.\n\n\nThis is subject enough for volumes. There is scarcely a text in the Bible\nbut what has been perverted by some one confused by the fogs of Babylon.\nPerhaps you can not find two individuals in the whole of sectism that see\n\u201ceye to eye\u201d upon the whole truth. To mention all the erroneous teachings\nof apostates would be almost impossible. However we believe it to be\ncompatible with this work and to the glory of God to mention and refute a\nfew of the false doctrines that have been most effectual in obscuring the\nlight of the sun and moon.\n\nWe will quote from an unknown author the following unscriptural dogmas of\nthe Romish sect, and the date of their origin:\n\nPrayers for the dead A.D. 200.\nWorship of saints, angels and martyrs 350.\nWorship of Virgin Mary developed 431.\nWorship in unknown tongue 600.\nPapal supremacy 606.\nWorship of images and relics imposed 788.\nBaptism of bells 965.\nObligatory celibacy of priests 1000.\nInfallibility of church 1076.\nSale of indulgences 1190.\nTransubstantiation officially decreed 1215.\nAuricular confession officially imposed 1215.\nCup kept from laity officially sanctioned 1415.\nPurgatory officially recognized 1430.\nRomish tradition put on level with Scripture 1540.\nImmaculate conception proclaimed 1864.\nPapal infallibility proclaimed 1870.\n\nThese dogmas are without Scriptural authority. They are only the\ntraditions of men, and is it any wonder that the pure light of the gospel\nof the Son of God was dimmed when such blasphemous doctrines were\nsubstituted? Besides these, in the papacy originated many other erroneous\nsuperstitious doctrines that have been handed down and perpetuated through\nProtestantism. One of the most general is that of\n\n\n\nInfant Baptism.\n\n\nThis ceremony is wholly without Scriptural foundation. We have previously\nshown the true object and mode of baptism, and who are proper candidates.\nWe asked a mother recently, whose babe had just been \u201cchristened,\u201d as she\ntermed it, by a Methodist preacher, \u201cWhat benefit has your child derived\nfrom this ceremony?\u201d Her answer was like this: \u201cNone at all, but I had it\ndone because others do it.\u201d And so it is with many other traditions and\ncustoms of men. Many a parent has their babe \u201cchristened\u201d merely because\nit is a custom, or the preacher has said so, never searching the Word of\nGod to know the reason why. Had she searched the Word of the Lord to know\nsomething of this doctrine she never would have found the object of her\nsearch. As we look upon the \u201cchristening\u201d of an infant we are reminded\nmore of heathendom than of the kingdom of grace.\n\nThe word \u201cchristen\u201d we have not been able to find in the Bible. Nowhere\nsince the ordinance of baptism was instituted have we a commandment to\nbaptize infants, and nowhere in all the evangelistic work of the apostles\nis there an instance of infant baptism recorded. If it is as important as\nsome teach, even the child\u2019s eternal destiny depending upon it, do you not\nthink there would have been some plain commandment in the teaching of\nJesus and his apostles to that end? One command would be sufficient, but\nwe have none. Infant baptism originated in the confusions of the apostasy.\nJohn refused to baptize some because they bore no fruit of repentance.\nRepentance, therefore, must precede baptism. This was plainly taught by\nPeter. \u201cThen Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of\nyou in the name of Jesus.\u201d Acts 2:38. A little child can not repent, and\nneeds no repentance.\n\nDoes baptizing an infant prepare it for heaven? If so, give one text as\nproof. If an unbaptized infant dies, will it be damned? If so, give one\ntext as proof. Does baptism make the child any more religiously inclined,\nand will it not go into sin the same as unbaptized children? Give one text\nshowing what is effected by infant baptism. Thousands are having their\nchildren baptized, and they do not know the reason why any more than that\nit is a custom. Thus we behold the meaninglessness, looseness, and\ncarelessness of professed Christians. Just doing things because others do\nthem. They have no conviction from God nor the Bible. God wants us to be\nable to give a Scriptural reason for all we do in our form of worship.\n\nSome have taught that circumcision of the Old Testament typifies infant\nbaptism. This is a gross error. The circumcision of the Mosaic law is\ntypical of a broken, penitent heart. \u201cFor he is not a Jew, that is one\noutwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh;\nbut he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the\nheart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men,\nbut of God.\u201d Rom. 2:28, 29. A man was made a Jew under the old law by\ncircumcision. He is made a spiritual Jew by the circumcision of the heart\nunder the New Testament. It was only the male children that were\ncircumcised according to the law of Moses. If circumcision be typical of\ninfant baptism, it is only the boy infant that would be Scripturally\nbaptized. You may ask, \u201cWhat harm can result from such ceremony, even if\nit accomplishes no good?\u201d It leads the child into error, and blinds his\nunderstanding to the true mode and object of baptism. To be a light in the\nworld is to be and do just as Jesus did. To be in error concerning any\ndoctrine of the Bible is to be to that extent in darkness.\n\nThe baptism of infants is wholly without Scriptural foundation, and is one\nof the erroneous teachings of the apostasy, a doctrine that aided in\ndarkening the pure light of the gospel.\n\n\n\nSprinkling And Pouring.\n\n\nThese forms of baptism originated among the heretics of the second\ncentury. \u201c_Ego men baptizo humas en hudati._\u201d Mat. 3:11. To give this a\ntrue literal translation, we have: \u201cI indeed immerse you in water.\u201d\nImmersion is a mode of baptism, and the only Scriptural one. We have no\naccount of sprinkling and pouring until the third century. The Novatians\npractised it in the third century. When we understand the true object of\nbaptism, and what it represents, we find that sprinkling and pouring would\nbe altogether inappropriate.\n\n\n\nTrine Immersion.\n\n\nThis is another doctrine of the apostasy. We have before stated that\nbaptism represents a burial. Rom. 6:4. We can at once see the\ninappropriateness of three immersions. So far as we know all trine\nimmersionists immerse forward. This does not fitly represent a burial. The\nbaptismal formula of Mat. 28:19 is the trine immersionists strongest\nproof-text. \u201cIn the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy\nGhost.\u201d These three, we are told, are one. 1 John 5:7. There are three\npersonages in the Godhead, but these three are one. It does not require\nthree acts of faith for pardon, yet we are told to believe in God, and to\nbelieve on the Lord Jesus Christ, etc. To be baptized in the name of the\nLord Jesus Christ is to be baptized in the name of the full triune God,\nbecause in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead. Col 2:9.\n\nThe disciples well understood the Savior in his commission in Mat. 28:19.\nThey baptized under his direction before the commission. One act in the\nname of the Lord Jesus is all we can find them practising. \u201cAnd he\ncommanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.\u201d Acts 10:48. \u201cWhen\nthey heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.\u201d Acts\n19:5. \u201cThey were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.\u201d Acts 8:16.\n\nTertullian in the third century in writing on the subject of baptism says,\n\u201cWe solemnly profess that we disown the devil and his pomp and his angels.\nHereupon we are thrice immersed, making a somewhat ampler pledge than the\nLord has appointed in the gospel.\u201d\u2014_The Crown._\n\nTrine immersionists make use of such historical records to establish the\ndoctrine of trine immersion. Instead of being in its favor, it is against\nthem. They were at this time under the delusions of a heresy. Apostate\nteachers had elected exorcists in what they called the church, whose\nbusiness it was to expel the devil from the candidate for baptism. This is\nan awful heresy. Those of whom Tertullian writes disown the devil under\nthe hand of these exorcists and are then thrice baptized. Tertullian\nunderstands, however, that this heresy is performing more than the Lord\nJesus had appointed. Sprinkling, pouring, and trine immersion originated\nunder the apostasy. Single immersion is the only Scriptural mode of\nbaptism.\n\n\n\nChurch Organization.\n\n\nTo-day the teachers in Babylon and their subjects are in darkness\nconcerning church organization. The election of officers and their framing\nof laws, and the location of the ministers by the annual conference are\nall human authority, and belong to the apostasy. The Holy Spirit is the\nsole organizer in the church of the Bible. There are a few texts in which\nthe Holy Spirit is spoken of as working in conjunction with man, or using\nman as an agency. This is very limited. Conferences claim to work in\nconjunction with the Holy Spirit, but we have no such instances in the\nScripture. One minister told me he trusted the Holy Spirit to direct\nconference to give him the proper appointment. This is popish\u2014man not able\nto be directed by the Holy Spirit himself, but has a mediator.\n\nOur space will prevent our telling of the adding of tradition to the\nScripture, and of the rejection of much of the Word of God. Catholicism\nand Protestantism largely deny the doctrine of holiness. Some of the\nProtestant teachers teach holiness to a degree, but very few, or none of\nthem, teach true Bible holiness. By far the large majority of sectarians\nreject the doctrine of Christian perfection, heart purity, or freedom from\nsin. Is it any wonder they are a great object of darkness when they are\nliving in and can not be free from the very element of darkness? There is\nno light in them. The vast majority of the beast worshipers reject the\ndoctrine of divine healing. As plainly as it is recorded in the Bible,\nthey in the darkness comprehend it not. The whole of the sectarian world\ndenies the unity of God\u2019s people as taught by the Savior, and as\nexperienced by the church in the morning light. Nearly the whole of\nmystery Babylon and her harlot daughters reject the sacred ordinance of\nfeet-washing. Some of them deny all the ordinances, and the others have\nmisused and misapplied them so as to make them without meaning. But few\nsects that practise the lifting up of holy hands, and the greeting with a\nholy kiss.\n\nThe humble ordinances of feet-washing and greeting with a holy kiss are\nvery repugnant to the generality of proud-hearted sectarians. They look\nupon these ordinances as being degrading to morality. They call it an \u201cact\nwhich public decency abhors.\u201d Here they are mistaken: it is not public\ndecency that abhors it; it is a proud heart. A holy kiss is not indecent,\nwhether it be public or private.\n\nProud, sensual hearts have very depraved ideas of what is true decency. We\nwill here give an authentic newspaper account of a scene which all the\npure in heart consider a public indecency, moral degrading, Christian\ndisgracing and soul damning.\n\n\u201cBuffalo, Feb. 4\u2014A lively row is in progress at Burns, a little town about\ntwenty miles from Buffalo, growing out of a new money-making scheme,\nintroduced at a church social held there in the Lutheran church parlors.\nThe church is heavily in debt, and the ladies advertised a social in the\nchurch to raise money to pay the preacher and buy some coal. The men of\nthe congregation had all been seen and informed that the women had a big\nsurprise for them.\n\n\u201cAcross one end of the room was a curtain. For an hour the guests chatted\nafter the old-fashioned church social style. Then the curtain was suddenly\nwithdrawn. There in a row stood six of the prettiest women in the\ncongregation, blushing and smiling, each bearing upon her bosom a placard,\non which were the words, \u2018You may kiss me for 25cts.\u2019\n\n\u201cIt was fifteen minutes before the device began to work; but when it did,\nthe silver quarters fairly showered into the young ladies\u2019 circle. Old and\nyoung rushed eagerly to the front to exchange coins for kisses. The show\nlasted only a short time, when the curtain was drawn. Then the storm\nburst. The women were jealous of their husbands, and a dozen or more\nfamily fights were started at once.\u201d\n\nSimilar scenes, and still more degrading ones, are occurring daily in the\naristocratic religious denominations. The sect parties and socials, the\nfashionable balls, the obscene theatrical performances, are enjoyed, and\nadmired, and applauded, by thousands so low in morality that they feel no\nshame. Their hearts are so naturalized and inclined to lewd ways that sin\ncan scarcely bring a feeling of shame. It is only holy and pure things\nthat are repugnant to their dispositions and inclinations.\n\nA large majority of the sectarian world reject the scriptures that teach\nplainness of dress, that condemn revelry and fleshly lusts. There is not a\nsect upon the earth but what rejects some portion of God\u2019s Word, and\ntaking them all together, probably there is not a text in the Bible but\nwhat is rejected or perverted by them. Sectism to-day presents a\ndeplorable picture.\n\nI would ask the reader to look at the plain, simple truths of the Bible as\ntaught by the Savior and the disciples. Picture to your mind, by what\nknowledge you have of Scripture, the life of Christ and the apostles and\nthe church in their day. Notice their humility, their equality, their care\nfor souls, their privations, their persecutions, their holiness, their\nfaith for healing the sick, their oneness, their unselfishness, their love\nfor each other, their separation from the world, and their belief of the\nwhole truth. Alongside of this place a picture of the religious\ndenominations of to-day with their proud, highly educated and\nhigh-salaried ministry, rejecting much of the Bible; denying holiness and\nthe humble ordinances, no healing faith, assuming proud titles, building\nfine temples, living in ease and luxury, joined to the world free from\npersecution\u2014their greed for money, their revelry, the pomp and show\u2014and,\noh, what do you see of the church of God? Truly, this great dark beastly\nsect religion has darkened the pure church of God.\n\nWe can scarcely forbear mentioning and exposing many other false teachings\nof the denominational world, but will console ourself with the hope that\nthe reader will thoroughly acquaint himself with the Word of God and try\nevery spirit and doctrine by the same. There remains yet one almost\nuniversal false and dangerous doctrine, which we deem but justice to the\nreader to refute. I refer to the doctrine of the\n\n\n\nMillennium.\n\n\nThis is not a Bible word, nor a Bible doctrine. It is a word and teaching\nof the apostasy. The word is used to denote a thousand years. The most\ngeneral teaching of the millennialist is that there will be a personal\nreign of Christ upon this earth of a thousand years after his second\ncoming. There are very many theories respecting the millennium. This of\nitself is enough to make the doctrine very questionable. If there is such\na doctrine in the Bible it should be so sufficiently clear as to not admit\nof so much disagreement. The millennial doctrine as taught by sectarian\nteachers we emphatically declare to be wholly without Scriptural\nfoundation. It is a purpose of Satan to cause man to place what should be\na present realization to some time in the past or future.\n\nIn the days previous to the coming of Christ the Jews were in great\nexpectation concerning the kingdom of God. They looked forward with great\njoy and anticipation to the coming of Christ, their King, who should set\nup a kingdom which should never be destroyed. They expected him to reign\nin a pomp and splendor that excelled the C\u00e6sars. The kingdom of God came,\nbut their proud hearts and high mind overlooked it altogether. The same is\ntrue to-day. The cold formal professors in Babylon see in the Bible a\nglowing description of the kingdom of God, and they, failing to come to\nits present and blessed realizations, have come to the conclusion that it\nmust be in an age to come.\n\nWith perfect confidence we say there is not one text in the Bible speaking\nof the glory of Christ\u2019s kingdom but what is fulfilled here in salvation\nor in the eternal glory world above. There is no intervening state of\npeace and righteousness. We will briefly notice some of the principal\ntexts used by millennial teachers, and we will find almost every one, if\nnot every one, refers to the wonders of salvation here in this life. Mr.\nTalmage, in a sermon in October 1898, said in referring to Isa. 35:6: \u201cIn\nthe millennial the lame man shall leap as an hart.\u201d Where can we behold a\ngreater exposition of Bible ignorance? There is not a sentence in the\nwhole of this chapter but points to the blessings of grace in this gospel\nday. Did not the lame man leap as an hart in the days of Christ and the\napostles? Why will man be so unfair or so blind as to place the fulfilment\nof such prophecies in a millennial, when every word has been fulfilled,\nand is being fulfilled to-day, in those who are possessing the fulness of\nChrist\u2019s kingdom?\n\nA text quoted by millennial teachers everywhere is found in Isa. 11:6-8:\n\u201cThe wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down\nwith the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;\nand a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed;\ntheir young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw\nlike the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and\nthe weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice\u2019 den.\u201d In the next\nverse you will learn where this peacefulness shall reign.\n\n\u201cThey shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.\u201d It is in God\u2019s\nholy mountain where they shall not hurt nor destroy. What is God\u2019s holy\nmountain? It is Zion, the church. \u201cAnd it shall come to pass in the last\ndays [the gospel days] that the mountain of the Lord\u2019s house shall be\nestablished in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the\nhills; and all nations [both Jew and Gentile] shall flow unto it. And many\npeople shall go and say, Come ye; and let us go up to the mountain of the\nLord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways,\nand we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and\nthe word of the Lord from Jerusalem.\u201d Isa. 2:2, 3.\n\nThis is surely too plain to need comment, Zion is the Lord\u2019s mountain. The\nwolf dwelling with the Lamb is figurative language, and never will be\nliterally fulfilled, but has been spiritually and figuratively fulfilled\nthroughout the whole of this Christian dispensation. It shows the wonders\nof God\u2019s grace. Jesus called Herod a \u201cfox.\u201d Luke 13:32. He certainly did\nnot mean that he was truly a fox, but that he had a thieving, dishonest,\nfoxlike disposition. Paul says, \u201cBeware of dogs.\u201d Phil. 3:2. He is not\ngiving us a warning against this literal animal, but against men that have\na fierce and doglike nature. Jesus again says, \u201cBeware of false prophets,\nwhich come to you in sheep\u2019s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening\nwolves.\u201d Mat. 7:15. Here we learn that men are inwardly ravening wolves;\nthat is, they have a devouring, wolflike disposition. Thus we could\ncontinue.\n\nIn Isa. 35:9 it says that no lion shall be in the highway of holiness. In\na Christian\u2019s holy life there is no lionlike nature. God\u2019s salvation saves\nmen from such dispositions. And the whole of Isa. 11:6-8 is a prophecy\nrelating to this present time, when the salvation of Jesus saves men from\nall wolf, bear, lion, and leopardlike natures, and fills all with a\npeaceable nature, that an innocent child shall lead them.\n\nPlease read the first verse of this chapter. Do we not find its fulfilment\nin Christ? Also read the tenth verse. Does it not point to the Savior? It\nall relates to the time when Christ shall come and the Gentile can be\nsaved as well as the Jew. The ninth verse is often misquoted. Many say\nthat in the millennium \u201crighteousness shall cover the earth as the waters\ncover the sea.\u201d Such is not Scripture. But in this ninth verse it is said,\n\u201cThe earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover\nthe sea.\u201d This relates to the coming of Christ, when not only the Jews\nshall have the Word of God and a knowledge of him, but every nation is\ngranted the Bible and salvation.\n\nOne strong text for millennial teachers, as they suppose, is Acts 3:21:\n\u201cWhom [Christ] the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of\nall things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets\nsince the world began.\u201d A text they use to teach there shall be a thousand\nyears in which restitution is to be made, makes no such intimation. In\nfact, it teaches to the contrary. Let us carefully examine it. Christ was\ntaken up to heaven. He will some day come again. Acts 1:11. The positive\nteaching of this text is that the heavens will retain the Lord Jesus until\neverything is restored to the Father. Christ came to restore all things.\nMat. 17:11. Full restitution for sin was made by the Savior. The Holy\nSpirit all through this dispensation is leading men to the blood and\nrestoring them to the Father. The day will soon come when the Holy Spirit\nhas gleaned out the last one and all has been restored to the Father that\nwill be restored. This then is the full restitution of all things. Then\nthe heavens will retain the Son of God no longer. He will come to claim\nhis own. Instead of this text teaching that restitution is to be made\nafter Christ\u2019s second coming, it teaches that the restitution is to be\nmade before he comes the second time.\n\nWe will now ask the reader to read the only text that speaks of a thousand\nyears. This is found in Rev. 20:1-10. If you will open your Bible and\nread, we can by the help of the Lord show you that this can not possibly\nmean a thousand years of Christ\u2019s reign upon the earth after his second\ncoming. This language is figurative. Satan is an evil spirit and can not\nbe bound with a literal chain. After the thousand years have expired,\nSatan is to be loosed, and shall deceive the nations. After Christ reigns\nhere a thousand years in righteousness shall Satan be loosed and deceive\nthe nations? Who can look forward to such an end with joy? How do you know\nbut you will be one that will be deceived? If you are building hopes upon\na millennium you are already deceived, and this deception is among the\ndeceptions which are to come after the thousand years. This thousand years\nis in the past. This may be a startling statement to one who has been\neducated to believe in a reign of Christ in person here upon the earth in\nsome future age of a thousand years\u2019 duration. Reader, will you please\nnotice that the devil and Satan, that was to be bound a thousand years, is\nalso called the dragon? Now the Scriptures do not always mean Beelzebub\nwhen speaking of Satan. Jesus upon one occasion, because Peter was\nremonstrating with him concerning his death, said, \u201cGet thee behind me,\nSatan.\u201d Christ did not mean to say that Peter was the devil, but he\naddressed him as Satan, because the devil was using him as an instrument\nto persuade the Savior to escape the death he came here to endure for all.\nSo Satan and the devil spoken of in Rev. 20:2 does not refer to the\npersonal devil, the prince of evil spirits, but to some great power\nantagonistical to gospel light and truth as revealed in the church of God.\n\nNow we feel ourself under obligation to the reader to give him the correct\ninterpretation of this binding of Satan a thousand years, and of his being\nloosed at the end of that period. The term \u201cdragon\u201d is used to represent a\nstate power, which gives power to some religion antagonistical to the\nreligion of the Bible. However the original and real fundamental dragon\npower was Rome, when she supported a heathen religion, and when the world\non the whole was so under the seducing charms of idolatrous worship that\nit knew not the one true God and his relationship to man. The Syriac New\nTestament, in speaking of this dragon in verse two, says, \u201cWho seduced the\nwhole habitable world.\u201d The binding of Satan refers to some time when the\ndelusive charms of heathenish worship were largely cleared away and there\nbecame a greater universal knowledge of the true God. At the end of that\nthousand years, or long period of time, which time we have reached, the\ntrue God and the pure religion will be lost or unknown to the generality\nof mankind, and heathenish rites and customs and ceremonies will be the\nuniversal religion. Do we not read that at the end of the thousand years\nSatan shall again deceive the nations? We understand by this that the\nworld on the whole shall be reveling in the delusive seductions of a lewd,\nlustful, idolatrous religion, making the times like it was in the days of\nNoah. Let me again say we are now entering these times, and this world is\nswiftly passing under awful and blinding delusions. So great are the\ndelusions that if possible the very elect should be deceived.\n\nThe religious teachers of to-day on the whole are in ignorance concerning\nthe binding of Satan. We will give you a sample of the ignorance of these\nteachers. In the _Gospel Messenger_ of March 25, 1899, the Querist\nDepartment in answer to a question asked concerning the binding of Satan,\nsaid: \u201cSatan will then be bound, cast into the bottomless pit, and there\nwill be a chance to convert the unrighteous and lead them to accept Christ\nas the Savior.\u201d\n\nA subscriber in search of knowledge asked the Querist Department to give a\nscripture to prove the last clause. He received this answer: \u201cIt seems to\nus that it is one of those self-evident views that needs no proof. If the\nBible teaches otherwise let us have the chapter and verse. The Querist\nDepartment does not pretend to know everything.\u201d\n\nThere are many other chapters and verses that teach otherwise. \u201cNow is the\nday of salvation.\u201d \u201cHow shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?\u201d\nThe wicked shall be resurrected to damnation. John 5:29.\n\n\n\nConclusion Of Part Second.\n\n\nWe have now passed the noonday. The reader, no doubt, fully comprehends\nwhy it was dark. The morning was light because the whole Word of truth was\ntaught and experienced by the church. All were under the immediate control\nof the infallible Holy Spirit.\n\nThe noonday was dark because the leadings and teachings of fallible man\nwere substituted for the Holy Spirit and Word. A thousand errors were\nbrought in, the Word of God rejected. The faith once delivered to the\nsaints was lost, sin and iniquity abounded and their love waxed cold. The\npreachers divined for money, and sought places of affluence, and thus the\nday was dark over them. Sectism to-day is a mass of worldliness.\nInfidelity abounds and every abominable work. If you desire a perfect\ndescription of sectism as it appears upon the scene to-day, read that\ngiven by the angel in Rev. 18:2.\n\n\n\n\n\nPART III. THE EVENING.\n\n\n Or,\n Christianity In The Closing Days Of This Gospel Era.\n\n\nWe have now come to consider the evening time of this gospel day. The\nmorning was light because of the truth being experienced and taught. The\nnoonday was dark because traditions and theories and vain philosophies of\nman became substitutes for the Word of God. This evening time was seen by\nprophetic eye. \u201cBut it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord,\nnot day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it\nshall be light.\u201d We are nearing the close of this gospel day. The sun of\ntime hangs low in the western horizon. The gospel light is now shining in\npeaceful splendor like the clear setting of the sun after a dark and\ncloudy noonday.\n\n\n \u201cMisty fogs so long concealing\n All the hills of mingled night\n Vanish, all their sin revealing,\n For the \u201cevening shall be light\u201d\n\n \u201cLo, the ransomed are returning,\n Robed in shining crystal white,\n Leaping, shouting, home to Zion,\n Happy in the ev\u2019ning light.\u201d\u2014_Sel._\n\n\n\n\nChapter I. The Apostasy In Two Days.\n\n\nIn our introduction we gave a number of texts which spoke of the whole of\nthe gospel dispensation as one day; but any period of time distinguished\nby some extraordinary historic event may be and is also termed a day. The\napostasy or dark noonday being under two forms is marked in Bible history\nas two days. The first form of the apostasy, namely, Catholicism, is\ncalled by the Scriptures a \u201cdark day.\u201d\n\n\n\nA Cloudy Day.\n\n\nThe second form of the apostasy was not such utter darkness as the first,\nand is therefore called a cloudy day. \u201cFor thus saith the Lord God;\nBehold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a\nshepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that\nare scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of\nall places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.\u201d\nEzek. 34:11, 12. The cloudy day was a day of the scattering of God\u2019s\npeople. This has been true of Protestantism. God\u2019s own people have been\ndivided and scattered among the various organizations of man. The time of\nthe seeking out refers to the evening, when God is going to gather his\nchildren together that \u201cwere scattered abroad,\u201d and they shall be \u201cone\nheart and one soul\u201d as in the morning.\n\nOne more text refers to the cloudy day. \u201cAnd it shall come to pass in that\nday that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day\nwhich shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to\npass, that at evening time it shall be light.\u201d Zech. 14:6, 7. This day of\nProtestantism was neither \u201cclear nor dark\u201d; was neither \u201cday, nor night.\u201d\nIt was a mixture of light and darkness, truth and error, and therefore is\nfitly termed a cloudy day.\n\n\n\nA Revival.\n\n\nAfter those two days there shall be a great revival caused by the\noutpouring of the Holy Spirit. \u201cCome, and let us return unto the Lord: for\nhe hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us\nup. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us\nup, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to\nknow the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall\ncome unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.\u201d\nHos. 6:1-3.\n\nThe two days of beastly power come to an end. The time comes when they\nshall no longer govern God\u2019s true people. It was true of literal Babylon,\nthat had taken captive the children of God, that the time came when they\nreturned from their captivity. The same is true of spiritual Babylon. The\nchildren of God have long been taken captive in her. In the evening time,\nafter two days, they shall say, \u201cCome, let us return unto the Lord: for he\nhath torn, and he will heal us; he will revive us in the third day, he\nwill raise us up,\u201d etc. Praise God! Then shall we know the Lord. \u201cHis\ngoing forth is prepared as the morning.\u201d Just as God was known in the\nmorning in his holiness and power, just so he will be known in the\nevening. Throughout the \u201ctwo days\u201d (apostasy) the Lord in his power to\nsave to the uttermost, to heal, and to exclusively control his church was\nunknown. Therefore he says: \u201cThen shall the seers be ashamed, and the\ndiviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no\nanswer of God.\u201d Micah 3:7.\n\nSuch is the ignorance of the seers of Babylon. They are educated in the\nwisdom of the world, but know little of God. Their sermons are the\ntheories of man, and not the pure Word of God. For this reason there is a\ngreat spiritual famine in Babylon.\n\nThe evening time is called the third day, when God shall send copious\nshowers of rain. The first day is a \u201cdark day,\u201d and relates to the reign\nof the Catholic power. The second or dark and cloudy day relates to the\nreign of Protestantism. The third day is the \u201ctime of the end,\u201d when there\nshall be a consumption of the beast powers. Dan. 7:26. Daniel was told\nthat the fourth beast he saw in his vision was a fourth kingdom. This was\nthe Roman kingdom. Three had preceded\u2014the Babylonian, Medo-Persian and\nGrecian. This beast had ten horns. Ver. 7. These ten horns were ten kings,\nor kingdoms, which were created out of the Roman empire by the barbarians\nof the North. History records the overrunning of the Roman empire from\nA.D. 376 to A.D. 476 by the different \u201cpowerful and warlike nations of the\nNorth; namely, the Huns, Goths, Vandals,\u201d etc. Thus in one century of time\nthe kingdom of the C\u00e6sars gave rise to ten different minor kingdoms.\n\nIn verse twenty-four of Daniel seven the prophet was told that another\nhorn should arise after these ten. From the description of this horn we at\nonce learn it to represent the Roman hierarchy, or to be the same as the\nfirst beast of Rev. 13. In verse twenty-six the prophet says, \u201cJudgment\nshall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to\ndestroy it unto the end.\u201d The apostasy is being consumed by the powerful\nand sharp judgments of God\u2019s Word being executed by the faithful and true\nwho are proclaiming, \u201cFear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his\njudgment is come.\u201d This is in the time of the end, this glorious evening\nhour.\n\nThe apostle Paul gives a description of the apostasy in 2 Thes. 2. In\nverse eight he speaks of its consumption, which is being effected in this\nevening of time. Babylon is being consumed. Hear her cries of pain. The\nprophet Isaiah foretells the consumption of the apostasy in these words:\n\u201cAnd the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be\ntogether, and they that forsake the Lord shall be consumed.\u201d This is being\naccomplished in this present day. The gospel truth is being held up as a\n\u201clamp that burneth,\u201d and Babylon is consumed. The Lord is washing \u201caway\nthe filth of the daughter of Zion, ... by the spirit of judgment, and by\nthe spirit of burning.\u201d Isa. 4:4.\n\n\u201cFlee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul.\u201d\n\n\n\nMorning And Evening Light Compared.\n\n\nHow light shall be the evening? Will God \u201crevive us and raise us up\u201d in\nthe third day to the apostolic plane? The answer is, \u201cHis going forth is\nprepared as the morning.\u201d \u201cThen shall thy light break forth as the\nmorning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy\nrighteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy\nrearward.\u201d Isa. 58:8.\n\nBy these two texts we are given to understand that in the evening the\nlight shall shine as bright as in the morning. The church of God will be\nraised to the same plane from which it was dragged down by ecclesiastical\nlords. God\u2019s people shall enjoy the same degree of holiness in the evening\nas they did in the morning. They shall enjoy the same blessed unity\u2014\u201cone\nheart and one soul,\u201d \u201cand all speak the same thing.\u201d They shall possess\napostolic faith. They shall have power with God to heal the sick, to open\nblinded eyes, to cause the lame to walk and the deaf to hear, to cast out\ndevils, and to raise the dead the same as did the saints in the morning.\nWhy shall they be given such power? Because they believe, experience and\npractise the whole truth. They are free from all manism. God has absolute\ncontrol in each and every heart. Every hindrance to faith is removed,\nevery barrier between them and God is taken away, and the Lord works with\nthem, \u201cconfirming the word with signs following.\u201d Glory to his name!\n\n\n\n\nChapter II. The Time Of The Evening.\n\n\nThe morning was of 270 years\u2019 duration. The first form of the apostasy\nlasted, as we have shown, 1260 years, bringing us to the Lutheran\nreformation in 1530. Now when we ascertain the duration of the second\nbeast power we will know the time the sun, moon and stars reappear in the\nevening. One especial text that gives us information on this subject is\nfound in Revelation. In speaking of the two witnesses the Revelator says:\n\u201cAnd they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make\nmerry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets\ntormented them that dwelt on the earth. And after three days and a half\nthe Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their\nfeet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.\u201d Rev. 11:10, 11.\n\nIn this we learn the duration of the power of Protestantism and the\nbreaking forth of the evening light. We have before proven that a day in\nScripture is used to represent different lengths of time, sometimes the\nwhole of the Christian era, sometimes a thousand years, sometimes a\nhundred years, and sometimes a year. In this text a day represents a\ncentury. Three days are three centuries, and a half day is a half century.\nAfter three days and a half, which are three centuries and a half, or 350\nyears, of the reign of Protestantism, the Spirit of life from God entered\ninto them. This is the dawning of the evening, when the whole and entire\nWord of God is believed and experienced and the Holy Spirit has the same\npower in governing the church of God as he did in the days of the\napostles. The downfall of the first beast, or Romanism, and the arising of\nthe second beast, or Protestantism, was in the year 1530. The duration of\nProtestant power is 350 years, which added to 1530 brings us to the year\n1880 A.D., at which time the dark noonday closes and we emerging hail with\njoy the peaceful glowing evening light.\n\nPrior to the year 1880 it was, with rare exceptions, universally conceded\nthat to gain heaven we needs must unite with some religious denomination.\nAbout this time God by his Holy Spirit gave to men everywhere (whose\nhearts were prepared) an intuitive knowledge that we could be saved and\nlive a Christian life outside the walls of sectism. Just to lean upon God\nalone and be guided solely by his Word and Spirit, they discovered to be\ntheir blessed privilege. We are not alone in thus interpreting Rev. 11:11.\nWe will quote from other authors. \u201cCloudy day (Protestantism). Length of\nperiod 350 years.\u201d Rev. 11:9.\u2014_S. L. Speck in Bible Readings_, p. 104.\n\n\u201cThe two witnesses [Word and Spirit] lie dead three days and a half [three\nand one-half centuries]. Rev. 11:7-9. The church dwells in a wilderness,\nwhich is neither dark nor light. Period 350 years. Time from 1530 to\n1880.\u201d\u2014_W. G. S. in Bible Readings_, p. 69.\n\n\u201cTime of reign of second beast, from the year 1530 to 1880, making 350\nyears.\u201d\u2014_H. C. Wickersham in Holiness Bible Subjects_, p. 178.\n\nThis same author on page 244 in quoting Rev. 11:11 encloses in brackets\nthe words: \u201cAt the end of three hundred and fifty years of Protestant\nsectism the true children of God come out of Babylon and are sanctified.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe three days and a half they were to lie dead is interpreted by the\nHoly Spirit to mean three centuries and a half. This gives us the length\nof the Protestant age.\u201d\u2014_Biblical Trace of the Church_, p. 143.\n\nIn the few years prior to 1880 A.D., there was a great declension in the\nspirituality of Protestantism. Who can deny this fact? Quite a number of\nthe leading denominations held revivals, where was witnessed the power of\nthe Holy Spirit. People were genuinely converted. They loved and worshiped\nGod in quite a degree of simplicity and equality. The ministry was of a\nhumbler class and more devoted to its charges. In the decade preceding\n1880 there was a great change. This change perhaps can be no better\ndescribed than is done in the following words of Mr. Foster, bishop of the\nMethodist denomination:\n\n\u201cWorldly socials, fairs, festivals, concerts, and such like, have taken\nthe place of the religious gatherings, revival meetings, class and\nprayer-meetings of earlier days.... Under such worldly performance\nspirituality is frozen to death.... The early Methodist ministers went\nforth to sacrifice and suffer for Christ. They sought not places of ease\nand affluence, but of privation and suffering. They gloried not in their\nbig salaries, fine parsonages, and refined congregations, but in the souls\nthat had been won for Jesus. Oh, how changed! A hireling ministry will be\na feeble, a timid truckling, a time-serving ministry, without faith,\nendurance, and holy power. Methodism formerly dealt in the great central\ntruth. Now the pulpits deal largely in generalities and in popular\nlectures. The glorious doctrine of entire sanctification is rarely heard\nand seldom witnessed in the pulpits.\u201d\n\nThere is not a Methodist minister but knows the truthfulness of these\nstatements, however much they may deny it. In the quoted texts of\nScripture from Revelation 11, the ninth and tenth verses say: \u201cAnd they of\nthe people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead\nbodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be\nput in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them,\nand make merry, and shall send gifts one to another.\u201d\n\nBy the \u201cdead bodies\u201d is meant the two witnesses, the Word and Spirit.\nThese throughout Protestantism were dead. While they professed to be led\nby the Spirit and to believe and practise the Word, they did neither. Thus\nthey would not entirely and openly in words deny the power of the Holy\nSpirit and verity of God\u2019s Word, yet in works they did deny them. \u201cThey\nprofess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable,\nand disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.\u201d Titus 1:16. These\ntwo witnesses were dead, yet they would not allow their dead bodies to be\nburied: they professed to receive them.\n\nThe tenth verse tells of the worldliness of sectism at the time the Spirit\nof life from God entered into the Word and Holy Spirit, after the 350\nyears or the ushering in of the evening light. They were making merry and\nsending gifts. Sectism is straining every nerve, and adopting most every\nscheme for money-getting. The fundamental object in the socials, fairs,\nconcerts, etc., is to get money. They adopt these worldly, sensual\namusements to rob men of their money. We have in possession a clipping\nfrom the _New York Sun_ which is a fair sample of the present-day\nperformances and merry making for money, and well explains the rejoicing,\nmerry making and sending of gifts as mentioned in Rev. 11:10. It is as\nfollows:\n\n\u201c_Saved The Church._\n\n\u201cMembers Performed Many Services in Turning an Odd Penny.\n\n\u201cFrom New York Sun.\n\n\u201cPittsburg, March 5.\u2014The church edifice of the Coraopolis Methodist church\nwas advertised to be sold by the sheriff this week, and the members of the\ncongregation made a heroic attempt all last week to save it. Coraopolis is\na few miles below here. One vivacious young woman won a wager by riding a\nspirited horse without a saddle; other good sisters and brethren cleaned\nshoes and peddled, while some pushed wheelbarrows in which were conveyed\nsome very staid-looking business men. The whole church community was\nanimated by the common desire to keep the sheriff from the church-door.\nLuxuries were denied, and many ludicrous situations were invented until\nenough money was raised to secure a postponement of the sale.\n\n\u201cNobody seemed in the least disconcerted over these unusual exhibitions.\nIf any one asked Samuel Marshall, the well-known station agent, what he\nwas doing when he was shining the boots of the ex-Burgess, he would have\nreplied: \u2018Raising money for our church. Don\u2019t you want a shine?\u2019 Among the\nmost active in the work was Mr. Marshall, and his industry in turning in\nthe most money won for him the prize of a gold watch. The following items\nfrom his statement show some of the methods adopted:\n\n\u201cFebruary 20.\u2014Delivered message to F. D. Stickney, 10 cents. H. S.\nMisseldine wanted me to stand on my head, but found I could not do this,\nso added up fifty columns of figures, for which I received 50 cents.\n\n\u201cFebruary 21.\u2014Carried can of milk to restaurant of J. G. Walters, 10\ncents.\n\n\u201cFebruary 22.\u2014Delivered head of cabbage, which afterward on a \u2018banter\u2019 was\nthrown at Mr. Walters, 10 cents.\n\n\u201cFebruary 23.\u2014Young lady paid me 5 cents to call on her; polished shoes\nfor George Arras, 5 cents.\n\n\u201cFebruary 24.\u2014Swept pool-room of J. E. McKee, 10 cents; delivered hardware\nto Mr. Boyers, $2.00.\n\n\u201cFebruary 26.\u2014Wheeled M. W. Watson from store of J. C. Walters to shop, 25\ncents.\n\n\u201cFebruary 27.\u2014Shaved Henry DeGrange, the barber, for which I charged him\n10 cents.\n\n\u201cMrs. Hamilton, a well-known society woman, sold bread and laundered the\ngentlemen\u2019s ties. She also presented a report in rhyme at the \u2018pledge\nmeeting\u2019 on last Tuesday night. One item of the report was:\n\n\u201cFirst I peddled chestnuts and met with success,\nAnd to-day I raked in nickels is the truth, you better guess.\nSay, I must tell a secret, those chestnuts were alive,\nBut what of that, when I realized one dollar thirty-five.\n\n\u201cMrs Hamilton returned about forty dollars as the result of her labors.\nMiss Fannie Siebold, a vivacious young woman with auburn hair and with\neyes that sparkle, was visiting friends in the place. She never lost an\nopportunity to show her interest in the little church. Her host, curious\nto see if she could not be made to retract from her offers, told her he\nwould give her fifty cents if she would ride one of his spirited horses\nwithout, a saddle.\n\n\u201cShe was told that she might ride any fashion. Miss Siebold made all the\nmale portion of the family promise to remain indoors, where they could not\nobserve her during the performance. They agreed to this, but people\npassing along the road were surprised at the sight of a handsome young\nlady galloping over the fields on the flying charger in a manner that\nwould do credit to any man.\n\n\u201cAs a result of all the industry, $208.54 was raised, the sheriff\u2019s\nplacard was taken down from the church-door, and a thirty days\u2019 extension\nsecured on the $2,500 remaining to be paid.\u201d\n\nThe following article, recently published in a God-fearing, religious\npaper, contains weighty and powerful truths, and should awaken the reader\nto the present condition of things in this dark, seducing, and\nsoul-deluding, sinful world.\n\n\u201cThere has been for many years a rapid decline among the Protestant\nchurches of the spirit of revivals and of the manifestations of the power\nof the Holy Spirit. Not only is there great ignorance on the doctrines of\nthe Bible, but almost universally a positive antagonism to anything like\nthe supernatural in religious experience.\n\n\u201cJust as Jesus was rejected and crucified by the professed church at the\nclose of the Jewish age, so the Holy Spirit is being despised and\ncrucified by the professed church at the close of the Gentile age. Just as\nJesus was rejected from the nice homes of Bethlehem, and had to go into a\nstable to find a place to be born, and where he could utter his infant\ncries, so the Holy Spirit to-day is utterly rejected from thousands of\nProtestant churches, and he has to go into rented halls, slum missions,\ncanvas tents, and woods meetings to find a place to utter his voice\nthrough the lips of those who know and feel him. Just as there were a few\nwho had supernatural discernment to recognize and worship the infant God,\nso there are now a few who discern the personality and operation of the\nHoly Spirit, and pour out to him their gold and frankincense and myrrh.\nJust as the people of Bethlehem, who had turned the unborn Savior from\ntheir door were soon made to wail by the king\u2019s order of assassination, so\nthe thousands of nominal churches which now reject the work of the Holy\nSpirit from their doors will soon wail under the awful tribulation that is\nrapidly coming on all the earth. Oh, if the Protestant churches could only\nsee the day of their visitation, and that the history of the way the Jews\ntreated Jesus is being exactly repeated over and over again in the way the\nmodern churches treat the Holy Spirit, and that the same doom that\novertook the Jewish church for rejecting Christ, will speedily overtake\nthe modern churches for rejecting the Holy Spirit!\n\n\u201cAnother feature of the present crisis is, God is working mainly through\nindividuals, and not so much through machinery. Thousands of individuals\nin Europe and America have been called of the Spirit to launch out into\nsoul-saving work along lines of personal enterprise more than ever in past\nages.\n\n\u201cThere never was a time in the world\u2019s history when Christian men and\nwomen felt so led of God not to wait for committees nor the red tape of\necclesiastical authority, but to hurry forth under a personal call from\nGod and do what they could with their individual means and talents for the\nsaving of souls, the sanctifying of believers, and preparing the chosen\nfew to meet Jesus. There never seemed a time when anything like church\nmachinery would run to seed so quick as now. Even if an enterprise that is\nstarted definitely as a holiness work gets a few officers and committees\nin it, in a few days or months it gets just as churchly and high-headed\nand dictatorial as an old popish institution. For this reason God is\nutilizing individuality in his kingdom as never before.\n\n\u201cAnother feature of the present crisis is, that God will test the faith of\nhis waiting ones, and all those persons who are making almanacs for the\nLord, and fixing dates for the fulfilling of certain prophecies, are going\nto be disappointed. We are living a life of faith in every particular,\nclear down to the last moment of his appearing in the sky. The Scriptures\nare very clear in setting forth two facts concerning Christ\u2019s coming. On\nthe one hand we are told of the signs that would precede his coming, and\nwe are told to watch those things, and they will indicate his coming as\nnear; on the other hand we are expressly told that the day and hour of his\nappearing will never be made known beforehand, and our wisdom lies in not\nforgetting the signs on the one hand, nor in fixing dates on the other.\nHence Jesus commands us to keep in the attitude of a watcher, always\nready, always expecting, yet not knowing. In the parable of the ten\nvirgins, our Savior clearly intimates that the bridegroom will tarry\nbeyond the time that his people expected him. The picture is that of a\ncrowd of passengers sitting in a station and waiting for a night train\nwhich is behind time, and while they are yet waiting they get drowsy and\nnod. The sentence, \u2018They all slumbered and slept,\u2019 should more properly\nbe, they became \u2018drowsy and nodded.\u2019 This applies to the very elect, who\nwill be taken into the wedding, and indicates a crisis of the trial of the\nfaith of the sanctified ones.\n\n\u201cBut the most significant of all things in the present crisis is the\ntesting of true faith in all points of doctrine. There never was a time\nsince the fall of Adam when the human race was so drenched with the muddy\nwaters of heresy. Everything moves with lightning rapidity. The principles\nthat lie hidden in every system of government, education, social life, and\nmanifold forms of religion, are swiftly pushing themselves to prestige and\nopen manifestation. Sin is not only working out every species of\nwickedness that can be invented, but the intellect of the so-called\nChristianized world is showing signs of decay in its ability to grasp\nsturdy Bible truth, and is largely turning from the Bible to old worn-out\nheathen ideas. Every doctrine of the Bible is being twisted into fanciful\ntheories. The scriptures teaching of sin and the need of broken-hearted\nrepentance is practically ignored by thousands of ministers and\nchurch-members. The absolute divinity of Jesus is growing weaker in the\nfaith of many who claim to teach his gospel, and some who profess to be\nvery orthodox say they do not pray to Jesus. The literal resurrection of\nthe body taught by the Scriptures is caricatured and treated lightly by\nprofessed theologians, ministers, and professed Christians. The\nimmortality of the soul and its conscious existence, either in heaven or\nhell, during the sleep of the body in death, is being rejected for the old\nheathen notion. The experience of justifying and sanctifying grace,\nattested by the personal Holy Spirit, is rejected by millions of\nchurch-members. Everlasting reward and punishment is laughed at as an old\ntradition instead of a serious doctrine of the Bible.\n\n\u201cIt is well nigh impossible to enter a single professed Christian family\nin Europe or America in which some member has not a new patent on\nScripture truth and holds some fanciful notion concerning the serious\nteachings of the Bible. I find a great many passages in which the last\nform of testifying for God\u2019s saints will be that of their faith in the\nsimple plain old doctrines of God\u2019s Word. Jesus warns us that just before\nhis coming every possible heresy and every variety of false Christ will\nappear to deceive the people, and that if it were possible they should\ndeceive the very elect. And John in Revelation tells us of an era of the\ngoing forth of frogs, which are evil spirits, to seduce the people from\nthe true faith. We are living in the frog era. In nearly every city in the\nland there are from one to three persons who claim to be God, or an\nincarnation of Christ, or the Holy Spirit. Thousands of religious people\nthink it is too tame and uninteresting to accept all of the plain old\ndoctrines of the Scripture, so they want something original and\nstartling.\u201d\n\nIn the past two years the popular religious bodies, including an\naristocratic ministry, have turned to worldliness at a rapid and\nunprecedented rate, and what will be seen of proud formalism, socialism,\nand rejection of divine truth in the circles of denominationalism within\nthe next ten years would now appear incredulous.\n\nThe following poem selected from a recent religious periodical is vividly\ndescriptive of the present-day religious denominations, commonly known as\nchurches. However the true church of God is an entirely different\ninstitution, and just as far separated from the world, and just as\nbitterly hated by her as when she imprisoned, stoned and martyred her\ndevoted followers.\n\n\n The Church Walking With The World.\n\n \"The Church and the World walked far apart,\n On the changing shores of time;\n The World was singing a giddy song,\n And the Church a hymn sublime.\n \u2019Come, give me your hand,\u2019 cried the merry World,\n \u2019And walk with me this way;\u2019\n But the good Church hid her snowy hand,\n And solemnly answered, \u2019Nay,\n I will not give you my hand at all,\n And I will not walk with you;\n Your way is the way of endless death;\n Your words are all untrue.\u2019\n\n \"\u2019Nay, walk with me but a little space,\u2019\n Said the World with a kindly air;\n \u2019The road I walk is a pleasant road,\n And the sun shines always there.\n Your path is thorny and rough and crude,\n And mine is broad and plain;\n My road is paved with flowers and gems,\n And yours with tears and pain.\n The sky above me is always blue:\n No want, no toil, I know;\n The sky above you is always dark;\n Your lot is a lot of woe.\n My path, you see, is a broad, fair path,\n And my gate is high and wide\u2014\n There is room enough for you and for me\n To travel side by side.\u2019\n\n \"Half shyly the Church approached the World,\n And gave him her hand of snow:\n The old World grasped it and walked along,\n Saying, in accents low,\n \u2019Your dress is too simple to please my taste;\n I will give you pearls to wear,\n Rich velvet and silks for your graceful form,\n And diamonds to deck your hair.\u2019\n The Church looked down at her plain white robes,\n And then at the dazzling World,\n And blushed as she saw his handsome lip\n With a smile contemptuous curled.\n \u2019I will change my dress for a costlier one,\u2019\n Said the Church with a smile of grace;\n Then her pure garments drifted away,\n And the World gave in their place,\n Beautiful satins, and shining silks,\n And roses and gems and pearls;\n And over her forehead her bright hair fell\n Crisped in a thousand curls.\n\n \"\u2019Your house is too plain,\u2019 said the proud old World,\n \u2019I\u2019ll build you one like mine:\n Carpets of Brussels, and curtains of lace,\n And furniture ever so fine.\u2019\n So he built her a costly and beautiful house\u2014\n Splendid it was to behold;\n Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there,\n Gleaming in purple and gold;\n And fairs and shows in the halls were held,\n And the World and his children were there;\n And laughter and music and feasts were heard\n In the place that was meant for prayer.\n She had cushioned pews for the rich and the great,\n To sit in their pomp and their pride,\n While the poor folks, clad in their shabby suits,\n Sat meekly down outside.\n\n \"The angel of mercy flew over the Church,\n And whispered, \u2019I know thy sin.\u2019\n The Church looked back with a sigh, and longed\n To gather her children in;\n But some were off in the midnight ball,\n And some were off at the play,\n And some were drinking in gay saloons;\n So she quietly went her way.\n The sly World gallantly said to her,\n \u2019Your children mean no harm\u2014\n Merely indulging in innocent sports.\u2019\n So she leaned on his proffered arm,\n And smiled, and chatted, and gathered flowers,\n As she walked along with the World;\n While millions and millions of deathless souls\n To the horrible pit were hurled.\n\n \"\u2019Your preachers are all too old and plain,\u2019\n Said the gay old World with a sneer;\n \u2019They frighten my children with dreadful tales,\n Which I like not for them to hear:\n They talk of brimstone and fire and pain,\n And the horrors of endless night;\n They talk of a place that should not be\n Mentioned to ears polite.\n I will send you some of the better stamp,\n Brilliant and gay and fast,\n Who will tell them that people may live as they list,\n And go to heaven at last.\n The Father is merciful and great and good,\n Tender and true and kind;\n Do you think he would take one child to heaven\n And leave the rest behind?\u2019\n So he filled her house with gay divines,\n Gifted and great and learned;\n And the plain old men that preached the cross\n Were out of the pulpit turned.\n\n \"\u2019You give too much to the poor,\u2019 said the World;\n \u2019Far more than you ought to do.\n If the poor need shelter and food and clothes,\n Why need it trouble you?\n Go, take your money and buy rich robes,\n And horses and carriages fine,\n And pearls and jewels and dainty food,\n And the rarest and costliest wine.\n My children they dote on all such things,\n And if you their love would win,\n You must do as they do, and walk in the ways\n That they are walking in.\u2019\n The Church held tightly the strings of her purse,\n And gracefully lowered her hand,\n And simpered, \u2019I\u2019ve given too much away;\n I\u2019ll do, sir, as you have said.\u2019\n\n \"So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,\n And she heard not the orphans\u2019 cry;\n And she drew her beautiful robes aside,\n As the widows went weeping by.\n The sons of the World and the sons of the Church\n Walked closely hand and heart,\n And only the Master who knoweth all,\n Could tell the two apart.\n Then the Church sat down at her ease and said,\n \u2019I am rich, and in goods increased;\n I have need of nothing, and naught to do\n But to laugh and dance and feast.\u2019\n The sly World heard her, and laughed in his sleeve,\n And mockingly said aside,\n \u2019The Church is fallen\u2014the beautiful Church\u2014\n And her shame is her boast and pride!\u2019\n\n \"The angel drew near to the mercy-seat,\n And whispered, in sighs, her name;\n And the saints their anthems of rapture hushed,\n And covered their heads with shame.\n And voice came down, through the hush of heaven,\n From Him who sat on the throne,\n \u2019I know thy work, and how thou hast said,\n I am rich; and hast not known\n That thou art naked and poor and blind\n And wretched before my face;\n Therefore, from my presence I cast thee out,\n And blot thy name from its place!\u2019\"\u2014_Sel._\n\n\nTo-day the proud, fashionable sectarian churches are lovingly folded in\nthe arms of the giddy world, and in her mad, drunken, lustful craze she is\ncrying, \u201cOn with the dance, let joy be unconfined.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nMysterious Prophecies Revealed.\n\n\nThe bringing in of the evening light by the Holy Spirit has been the\nclearing away of much mystery from prophetic texts. The voice of the angel\nsaid, in speaking to Daniel, \u201cBut thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and\nseal the book, even to the time of the end.\u201d Dan. 12:4. We have reached\nthe time of the end\u2014the evening, and the book is unsealed and revealed and\nthe \u201cwise understand\u201d; but \u201cnone of the wicked understand.\u201d Many texts of\nRevelation were fulfilled and understood when the evening light flashed\nacross its pages. We will quote a few.\n\n_Revelation 14:6-8._\n\n\u201cAnd I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the\neverlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to\nevery nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud\nvoice, Fear God, and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment is\ncome: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the\nfountains of waters. And there followed another angel saying, Babylon is\nfallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of\nthe wine of the wrath of her fornication.\u201d\n\nAngel is from the Greek _anggelos_, and means agent or messenger. \u201cHeaven\u201d\ndoes not refer to the glory world above, but to the work of God and heaven\nhere upon earth. This angel is a messenger or servant in the work of the\nLord. He has the everlasting gospel to preach to the people. The burden of\nhis ministry is, \u201cFear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his\njudgment is come.\u201d The evening or time of the end is reached, the hour of\nGod\u2019s judgment, the time of the bride\u2019s especial preparation for the\ncoming of the bridegroom. This ministry is closely followed by another\nmessenger declaring, \u201cBabylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,\nbecause she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her\nfornication.\u201d\n\n\u201cBabylon is fallen.\u201d This is a prediction against mystery Babylon the\ngreat and her harlot daughters\u2014Catholicism and Protestantism. This God\u2019s\npure ministry has been preaching for the last two decades. Sectism is in a\nfallen condition. It is fallen into the depths of worldliness. She has\nopened her bosom and invited the world in to revel with her. She has\nprepared a potion of charming delusive spirits, by which she has\nintoxicated and inflamed the blood of nations. In the last few years the\nconcerts, fairs and socials are frequented by both the professed\nChristians and non-professors, and in their dress, conversation, and\ngeneral manner, they are undistinguishable. Sectism to-day in not enticing\npeople to enter her fold by preaching the everlasting gospel, but she\nallures them by her seducing love decoction of lewdness, worldliness and\nlicentiousness. Babylon is fallen.\n\nSome of the Old Testament texts contain a spiritual import. \u201cFlee out of\nthe midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in\nher iniquity; for this is the time of the Lord\u2019s vengeance; he will render\nunto her a recompense.\u201d Jer. 51:6. This language is especially forcible at\nthis present day. We have reached the time of the Lord\u2019s vengeance.\n\n\u201cBabylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord\u2019s hand, that made all the\nearth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations\nare mad.\u201d Jer. 51:7. The woman (mystery Babylon and her daughters) sitting\nupon the scarlet-colored beast had a golden cup in her hand. Rev. 17:4.\nThe day was, as we have before spoken, when God did save some souls in\nsectism and gave them the Holy Spirit\u2019s power. But Satan has succeeded in\nemptying the golden cup of that which was divine and filled it with\nintoxicating potions that have allured nations to commit fornication with\nher.\n\n\u201cBabylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her\npain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is\nnot healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for\nher judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.\u201d\nJer. 51:8, 9. Babylon can never be healed. She will not be healed. She is\nirredeemable. Destruction is her doom. \u201cForsake her and let us go every\none into his own country.\u201d\n\nHear the lamentation of the children of God in their captivity in Babylon:\n\u201cBy the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we\nremembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows, in the midst\nthereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a\nsong; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of\nthe songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord\u2019s song in a strange land?\u201d\nPsa. 137:1-4.\n\nPerishing souls in sectism would love to serve God better, but in their\ncaptivity they can not sing the songs of praise and glory.\n\n\n Babylon.\n\n By thy dark deceptive waters,\n Sighing, moaning, troubled sea,\n Captives sing their songs of sorrow,\n Hoping, longing to be free.\n\n Who shall sing the songs of Zion\n On thy banks, O raging sea?\n The voice of bridegroom and the bride\n Is heard no more at all in thee.\n\n Golden days are gone forever,\n Days now dark and dreary be;\n Harps untuned and silent ever,\n Silent by the moaning sea.\n\n Sadly weeping stands the willow\n On thy shore, O surging sea;\n \u2019Neath its shade my steps shall never,\n Never, never more shall be.\n\n\n\u201cZion\u201d is a metaphor, signifying \u201cJerusalem, which is from above,\u201d or the\nchurch of God. It is the home of the saints, where they are cared for by\nthe Lord. As the ancient literal city of Babylon typifies the great\nspiritual Babylon, so the literal city of Jerusalem typifies the spiritual\nJerusalem or Zion or church of God. God does not want his people joined\nunto a sect and under the laws and creeds and authority of man. He wants\nthe full care of them. However, many of God\u2019s children, through ignorance,\nhave been induced to seek a home in Babylon. Here they have been taken\ncaptive. In this evening time God is leading them back to Zion. \u201cThe\nransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and\neverlasting joy upon their heads.\u201d Isa. 35:10. The songs of Zion are not\nto be sung in the barren land of Babylon. Babylon has gone into Zion and\ncaptured God\u2019s devoted children, but God will be avenged. \u201cAnd I will\nrender unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil\nthat they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord.\u201d Jer. 51:24.\n\nHere is a prophecy relating to this evening time. \u201cIn those days, and that\ntime, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the\nchildren of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the\nLord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces\nthitherward, saying, Come and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a\nperpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.\u201d Jer. 50:4, 5. See them\ncoming home to Zion with the glory of God risen upon them. Halleluiah!\n\n\n Zion.\n\n In thy clear, transparent water,\n Peaceful, cleansing, crystal sea,\n In thy sparkling beauty flowing,\n Let me ever sail on thee.\n\n There is music in the ripple\n Of thy wave, O purest sea;\n Here we sing the songs of Zion,\n In a soft sweet melody.\n\n Peaceful are thy streams forever,\n Gentle, calmest, tranquil sea;\n Harps are tuned to heavenly music;\n Hear the pleasant melody.\n\n Tree of life is blooming ever\n On thy shore, O crystal sea;\n \u2019Neath its shade my walk shall ever,\n Ever and forever be.\n\n\n_Revelation 18:1-5, 16, 17, 23._\n\n\u201cAnd after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having\ngreat power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried\nmightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is\nfallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul\nspirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have\ndrunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the\nearth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth\nare waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard\nanother voice from heaven, saying, _Come out of her, my people_, that ye\nbe not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues, for\nher sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her\niniquities.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple,\nand scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in\none hour so great riches is come to nought.\u201d \u201cAnd the light of a candle\nshall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of\nthe bride shall be heard no more at all in thee.\u201d\n\nThis holy messenger announces the fall of Babylon, and gives a description\nof it. All that is pure, holy and divine has been driven out of sect\nBabylon and leaves its subjects to be ravished by unclean, worldly\nspirits, devouring their souls, and leaving the whole an unclean cage. God\nhas gone out of sectism. He works with them no more; his voice is heard no\nmore in her, and his call to his people is to \u201ccome out of her.\u201d \u201cFlee out\nof Babylon, and deliver every man his soul.\u201d God dwells in Zion, and there\nshines the beautiful light of the gospel. \u201cOut of Zion the perfection of\nbeauty God hath shined.\u201d \u201cArise, shine: for thy light is come, and the\nglory of the Lord is risen upon thee.\u201d Isa. 60:1.\n\nReturn and come to Zion, O captive daughter; unloose the bands of sectism\nfrom off thy neck; cast aside the creeds and tyranny of man; cease the\ncold forms and frozen conventionalities, and seek the green pasture fields\nof Zion, where there are songs and everlasting joy, and sighs and sorrow\ncome no more.\n\n_Matthew 13th chapter._\n\nThe parable of the Savior in which he likens the kingdom of heaven unto a\nman which sowed good seed in his field is also illustrative of the gospel\nday. The field is the world. The Son of man sowing the good seed is the\nglorious gospel work of the morning. The enemy that sowed the tares is the\napostasy, which destroyed much of the good seed and sowed discord,\ncontention, strife and superstition. The harvest-time is the evening time.\nThe angels are God\u2019s holy messengers.\n\nIn the evening of time the Son of man shall send forth his angels or\nmessengers, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that\noffend, and them which do iniquity. God is calling his people out of all\nconfusion and darkness, separating them from sin and the works of man.\nSuch is the work to be done in the end of the world.\n\n_Jeremiah 23d chapter._\n\nIn the fifth and sixth verses of this chapter is a beautiful prophecy of\nChrist. \u201cBehold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto\nDavid a righteous Branch, and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall\nexecute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be\nsaved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he\nshall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.\u201d\n\nIn the ninth verse the prophet tells of his broken heart because he\nforesees the dark apostasy. From verse nine to verse eighteen he speaks of\nthe wicked doings of apostates.\n\nIn verse nineteen he describes the present holiness reformation that is\nsweeping over the land. \u201cBehold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in\nfury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of\nthe wicked.\u201d\n\n_Matthew 24th chapter._\n\nIn the third verse of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew we read of the\ndisciples questioning the Savior concerning the end of the world. They\nsay, \u201cTell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of\nthy coming, and of the end of the world?\u201d In answering, the Savior in the\nsixth and the following few verses speaks of political upheavals. In the\neleventh and twelfth verses he predicts the apostasy of the noonday. \u201cMany\nfalse prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. And because iniquity\nshall abound the love of many shall wax cold.\u201d That is why a child of God\nfinds it so difficult to retain an experience of salvation in sectism.\nIniquity abounds, and being yoked up with such evil companions he can not\nstem the tide of influence.\n\nIn the fourteenth verse the Savior says: \u201cAnd this gospel of the kingdom\nshall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and\nthen shall the end come.\u201d This preaching of the gospel of the kingdom is\nto be after the apostasy, and just prior to the end of the world.\nThroughout sectism theology and tradition have been substituted for the\ngospel, but in the evening time John beholds an angel flying in the midst\nof heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on\nthe earth. This is the same as the preaching of the gospel in the end of\nthe world to which the Savior refers. He has now taken the disciples once\ndown through the whole of the Christian dispensation to the end of the\nworld.\n\nIn the fifteenth verse he begins with them again at the desolation spoken\nof by Daniel, which is the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D.\nFrom the sixteenth to the twenty-second verse inclusive, he instructs them\nconcerning this abomination. From the twenty-third to the twenty-sixth\ninclusive he again speaks of the apostasy. False Christs and false\nprophets shall arise. In the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth verses he\nspeaks of the end of the world. He has now taken them through the\nChristian era again down to the time of the end. In the twenty-ninth verse\nhe leads them back again to the destruction of Jerusalem. \u201cImmediately\nafter the tribulation of those days [by this he refers to the destruction\nof Jerusalem] shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her\nlight, and the stars shall fall from heaven.\u201d This is the obscuring of\nChrist and the church by the beast power in the noontime.\n\nIn the thirty-first verse he says, \u201cAnd he shall send his angels with a\ngreat sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from\nthe four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.\u201d These are the angels\nthat are shouting, \u201cCome out of her, my people.\u201d They are gathering out of\nGod\u2019s kingdom all things that do offend and them that do iniquity. This is\nthe work of God in the time of the end. \u201cDeliver thyself, O Zion, that\ndwellest with the daughter of Babylon.\u201d Zech. 2:7. \u201cBehold, I will send\nfor many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will\nI send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and\nfrom every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.\u201d Jer. 16:16.\n\n\u201cWoe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!\nsaith the Lord. Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the\npastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them\naway, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evils\nof your doings, saith the Lord. And I will gather the remnant of my flock\nout of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again\nto their fold; and they shall be fruitful and increase.\u201d Jer. 23:1-3.\n\nIn the evening of time God will gather the scattered remnant of his\npeople, but woe be to the pastors that scattered them. Let the proud lords\nof sectism repent of their evil doings ere God visits his woe upon them.\n\n\u201cFor thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my\nsheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day\nthat he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my\nsheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been\nscattered in the cloudy and dark day [sectism]. And I will bring them out\nfrom the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them\nto their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the\nrivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them\nin a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold\nbe: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they\nfeed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause\nthem to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost, and\nbring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was\nbroken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the\nfat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.\u201d Ezek. 34:11-16.\n\nGod is gathering out his own into the beautiful light of Zion. We have now\nreached the time when the above promise is being fulfilled by the\ndelivering hand of God. Amid the ruins of Babel confusion the Lord has a\nremnant which he is gathering home to their goodly fold, in the top of the\nmountains of Israel.\n\n\u201cExcept the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should\nhave been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.\u201d Isa. 1:9.\n\u201cYet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that _shall be brought\nforth_.\u201d Ezek. 14:22.\n\n\n \"Have you heard the voice from heaven,\n Calling in a solemn tone,\n \u2019Come, my people, from confusion,\n This is not your native home?\u2019\n\n \"Do you know, O ransomed brother,\n That we stand upon the verge,\n Where old time fills up his ages,\n And the lost will mourn his dirge?\n\n \"Yes, I heard, and to my vision\n Zion\u2019s glory brightly shone;\n Then I rose and fled the ruin,\n Taking not a Babel stone.\n\n \"Yes, my soul has come to Zion,\n On the high and holy way,\n And I\u2019ve seen all darkness flying,\n Driven by the light of day.\n\n [Now the evening light is flashing,\n God is gathering to their home\n All the pure and holy remnant\n Waiting for the Lord to come.]\n\n \"Oh, what myriad souls are sleeping,\n Soon to wake in judgment-fires;\n Help, O God, thy remnant gleaning,\n Until time indeed expires.\"\n\n -------------------------------------\n\n I have cast each sectish idol\n To the mole and to the bat; (Isa. 2:20.)\n I am feeding on the mountain,\n And my soul is growing fat. (Ezek. 34:14.)\n\n\n\n\nThe Second Coming Of Christ.\n\n\nWhen Jesus was taken up into heaven and a cloud had received him out of\nsight, two heavenly visitants appeared unto the men of Galilee and said,\n\u201cThis same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in\nlike manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.\u201d Acts 1:11. Jesus went up\nin a cloud and he is to come again in like manner as he went up. \u201cAnd then\nshall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and\nglory.\u201d Mark 13:26.\n\nNo one knows the exact time of his coming. \u201cBut of that day and hour\nknoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.\u201d Mat.\n24:36. We can know, however, when his coming is near. \u201cSo likewise ye,\nwhen ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the\ndoor.\u201d Mat. 24:33. The things spoken of here by which we may know that the\ncoming of the Lord is near, is the gathering together of God\u2019s elect from\nout the ruins of Babylon and the world. The work of gathering is now in\nrapid progress. The messengers are flying with the everlasting gospel.\nSoon it will reach all nations. They are calling, \u201cCome out of her, my\npeople, for the hour of her judgment is come.\u201d Thus we now see the\nSavior\u2019s coming is near, even at the door. Even so, come, O Lord Jesus!\n\nHe sounds a warning to all to be ready. \u201cTherefore be ye also ready: for\nin such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.\u201d Mat. 24:44. What\nwill be the condition of this world when Jesus comes? \u201cBut as the days of\nNoe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the\ndays that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying\nand giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and\nknew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the\ncoming of the Son of man be.\u201d Mat. 24:37-39. Who is not able to fully\nunderstand this? In the end of the world wickedness and revelry shall be\nas it was in the days of Noah. \u201cIn the last days perilous times shall\ncome.\u201d \u201cBut evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and\nbeing deceived.\u201d 2 Tim. 3:13. The very deepest deceptions shall be upon\nthe people in the time of the end. They shall be saying, \u201cPeace and\nsafety,\u201d then sudden destruction cometh upon them.\n\nJust before the second coming of the Savior, and while God is gathering\ntogether the scattered fold of Israel, Satan \u201cshall go out to deceive the\nnations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog [both\nforms of the apostasy], to gather them together to battle: the number of\nwhom is as the sand of the sea. And they went upon the breadth of the\nearth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city\n[Zion].\u201d Rev. 20:8, 9.\n\nWe are now living in the time when the sixth angel is pouring his vial\nupon the great river Euphrates, and the waters are being dried up. The\ntime when the unclean spirits (the state power, ecclesiastical power, and\nthe Babylon ministry) are going out unto the whole earth to gather them to\nthe battle of that great day of God Almighty. Rev. 16:12-14. Even at this\nday the state power is favorably inclined toward the beast power. The\ncandidate for office is upheld and defends the corrupt city for advantage.\nThe kings of the earth are committing fornication with her. The state\nofficials are so infatuated with her delicacies and intoxicated upon her\nwines that a true child of God can scarcely get a hearing of justice\nto-day in the courts. The prophet (ministry), church (so-called), and\nstate, are the powers engaged in battle against God.\n\nWe are living in the time when the sixth angel is sounding. Rev. 9:13.\nSoon the seventh angel will stand upon the land and sea and with hand\nuplifted to heaven swear by him that liveth forever and ever, that time\nshall be no longer. Rev. 10:5-7. That day shall not come unawares upon the\nchildren of light. They will be watching for their Lord to come, when they\nshall be caught up to meet him in the air and forever be with him. Amen. 1\nThes. 4:17.\n\nWhat shall be the doom of the wicked when that great and notable day of\nthe Lord shall come? \u201cAnd to you who are troubled rest with us, when the\nLord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in\nflaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not\nthe gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with\neverlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory\nof his power.\u201d 2 Thes. 1:7-9.\n\nThis flaming fire in which the Lord shall be revealed from heaven is the\nfire that shall come down from God out of heaven and devour Gog and Magog\nas they are compassing the camp of the saints and the beloved city. Rev.\n20:9.\n\nDear saint, our God is able to deliver thee. \u201cWherefore, beloved, seeing\nthat ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in\npeace, without spot and blameless.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:14. The Holy Spirit is in the\nworld searching out and bringing to the light every one that can be\npersuaded to accept salvation. Soon he will have gone over the world and\ngleaned out every one that is disposed to serve God. The world at large\nwill reject him. His mission will be ended. He will ascend to the Father.\nThen as Christ went into heaven he will come again, taking vengeance on\nthem that know not God, and receiving his own unto himself. Then the\nSavior\u2019s mission will be ended. He will turn all over to the Father, and\nthe three shall be but one.\n\n\u201cBe ye therefore also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son\nof man cometh.\u201d \u201cPrepare to meet thy God.\u201d\n\n\n\n\nThe Last Day.\n\n\nThis gospel day is the last day. There never will be another age of time.\nAn age-to-come teacher is branded by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit,\nas a false teacher. We need no other age in which to prepare for eternity.\nThis is the day of salvation. \u201cNow is the accepted time.\u201d Now is the day\nand this is the time for us to accept Christ, and to be accepted of him.\nThe Word of God holds no promise to you of another day of salvation. How\ncan man, unless he be wholly subverted, teach another age to come when so\nmany immutable and infallible texts declare this is the last day and last\ntime? We will quote a few texts on this subject, and that alone will\nconvince every one that is candid.\n\n\u201cThat in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together\nin one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on\nearth; even in him.\u201d Eph. 1:10. Are we not to understand that with this\ndispensation time is full? Then it will be the end, and as the seventh\nangel declares, \u201cTime shall be no more.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.\u201d 2 Tim.\n3:1. These are declared to be the last days, hence there is no other day\nto come. Only eternity lies before us when this present time is ended.\n\n\u201cGod, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto\nthe fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his\nSon.\u201d Heb. 1:1, 2. Here again it is declared that the day of Christ, this\nChristian dispensation, is the last day, and that \u201cthere should be mockers\nin the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.\u201d Jude 18.\nHow can you expect another time when this is declared to be the last time?\n\u201cWho verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was\nmanifest in these last times for you.\u201d 1 Pet. 1:20. \u201cKnowing this first,\nthat there shall come in the last days scoffers.\u201d 2 Pet. 3:3. \u201cLittle\nchildren, it is the last time.\u201d 1 John 2:18.\n\nHow does John know it is the last time? Because the antichrists that Paul\nsays should come in the last days have come, therefore John says in the\nsame verse, \u201cWe know that it is the last time.\u201d\n\nMany more texts from both Testaments could be quoted, but surely the\nreader will not ask for any more to help him believe it is the last time.\n\n\n \"While false prophets are confiding\n In a foolish, erring dream,\n Of millennial enjoyments,\n They neglect the cleansing stream.\n\n \"O poor sinner, don\u2019t believe them,\n There will be no age to come;\n If in life you find not Jesus,\n Death will seal your awful doom.\"\n\n\n\n\nConclusion Of Part Third.\n\n\nWe have placed before the reader in the best manner we could, considering\nour limited time, the beautiful light and wonderful accomplishments of\nredeeming grace in the morning of this gospel day. In the apostolic\nperiod, we again repeat, the church was the light of the world. The\nChristians believed the whole Word of God. They taught the whole truth and\nno more. They lived a pure, holy life just as Jesus lived and just as the\nBible declares that Christians must live. They were fully consecrated to\nGod. They counted not their lives dear unto themselves. They forsook all\nto follow Jesus and lived wholly unto him. They had faith in God and power\nwith him. They were of one heart and of one soul. They all spake the same\nthing. They were humble and equal. They healed the sick, cast out devils,\nand raised the dead in Jesus\u2019 name. Thus they were the light of the world.\n\nNow the evening shall be as light as the morning. Man, as a Christian,\nshall live as pure and holy and as deeply consecrated in this evening of\ntime as did the Christian in the morning time. At this present time God is\nraising up a people who believe, experience and teach the whole Word of\ntruth. They have fled the ruins of Babylon and are proclaiming the\neverlasting gospel in the fear of God and the clear light of heaven. God\nis working with his pure and consecrated ministry, confirming the Word\nwith signs and deeds and wonders, the same as he did with the early\nministry.\n\nThere are thousands to-day who gladly bear testimony to the wonderful\nhealing power of God. The blind have been made to see, the lame to walk;\nbroken bones have been united, cancers removed, consumption cured. The\ndeaf have been made to hear, the dumb to speak, and devils have been cast\nout. All these wonders, and many more, have been wrought in the name of\nthe holy child Jesus in God\u2019s pure church within the last few years. God\nis increasing his church in faith, purity, power, and glory, and in the\nimmediate coming years much greater things than these shall ye hear and\nsee. Amen.\n\n\n\n\nA Personal Experience.\n\n\nIt is recorded in the Bible that God will not hear sinners. While this is\ntrue it has its modifications. Those who are in wilful and stubborn\nrebellion against God he will not hear, even though in a day of trouble\nand fear they should call upon him. But when in the more sober moments of\nlife man\u2019s heart feels the influence of the Holy Spirit inclining his\ndesires toward a better life, arousing the nobler aspirations of his soul,\nenkindling to a brighter flame the spark of humanity; when, though he be\nnot in possession of God\u2019s saving grace, under such an influence he, in\nsincerity of heart, calls upon God, he will hear and answer his call as\nfar as consistent with the divine mind, and thus encourage his soul on to\nthe Christian goal.\n\nOur boyhood days and the early days of our manhood were spent amid the gay\nscenes and pleasures of life. When in the whirl of society-life we had no\nserious thoughts. There would, however, in our more secluded hours, when\nnaught stood between us and the whisperings of our soul, arise thoughts of\nfuturity. The Holy Spirit would speak to our heart of God, of heaven, of\nChrist and the blood; he would hold before us in a beautiful picture the\nlife of a Christian journeying onward to a glory world. He would also\ndisclose to our view the hideousness and awfulness of sin, and the\nuneasiness, discontentments, trouble and fear attending the wicked as they\njourney onward to the eternal region of woe.\n\nIn these more sober hours we would seek God for his protection with\nsincere, heartfelt pledges that some day we would serve him. God heard\nthese prayers and gave his protection. We now in reviewing the scenes of\nthose early days see the many snares and dangers Satan had arranged for\nour destruction, but out of them all the Lord delivered us. Bless his\nname! There was one instance of God hearing our prayer, though in what may\nbe considered a trivial matter, yet made a deep impression upon us and\nwent far to enforce upon us the reality of God and his Word.\n\nOne night we had a journey of several miles to make on horseback. It was\nnine o\u2019clock when we started. After traveling about two miles our horse\nbecame very lame. In our pity for him we dismounted and throwing the reins\nover the saddle started the horse on before us. After some two or three\nmiles of traveling thus, our horse seemed much improved. For the purpose\nof faster travel, we concluded to again ride. Our attempts to catch the\nhorse seemed in vain. Repeatedly we tried to come up with him, but when we\nhad come near he would trot on before. After many unsuccessful trials it\noccurred to our mind that we should ask God to aid us. Accordingly the\nFather was implored to cause the horse to stand that we might come up with\nhim. Although not a Christian we believed there was help in God, and\ntrusting in him we approached the animal, speaking to him as we had\nbefore, when he stopped and we mounting continued our lonely journey in\ndeep and solemn thought of the verity of God.\n\nIn the winter of 1886-87 we became very much concerned about our soul. A\nrevival meeting was in progress in the little village in which we lived.\nThey did not teach salvation by grace through faith as was taught by the\napostles, but we, knowing no better, and wanting to escape the damnation\nof hell, and hoping for an avenue of escape, concluded to take this.\nAccordingly we gave the minister our hand one night, and answered in the\naffirmative his few questions concerning our belief in God. On our way\nhome we were baptized, for we were taught that the water washed away sins.\nDuring the days following we kept a close watch upon our heart and life to\nlearn if there was any change. We were disappointed. We found that sin\nheld the same power over us. There remained the same uncertainty of our\neternal state. The thoughts of death had lost none of their fear, and the\ngrave none of its terror. We were troubled. Here we had entered, as we\nhoped, a path that led to heaven, but yet all was dark and uncertain. O\nGod, is this all of thy kingdom upon the earth?\n\nI would question the older members of our congregation about their\nexperience. Should you be called for to-night to depart this life are you\nfully assured that your home will be in heaven? Have you no fear to meet\nGod? They would answer me thus: \u201cWe can never know in this life just what\nthe decision of the Great Judge will be until we come before his awful\ntribunal. In this world we can only go on the best we can, and hope for\nthe most in the judgment.\u201d\n\nThis was sad news to my soul. Is this all there is in a Christian life?\nWhere is the great peace, the joy, the bright hope and positiveness\npromised in the Bible? But thinking these old heads knew all about the\nChristian life, I endeavored to console myself and calm my fears. I very\npoorly succeeded, for which I now praise God.\n\nOne instance occurred at this time that troubled me very greatly. One\nnight after retiring we heard a shout of \u201cFire! fire!\u201d upon the street. On\nrushing to the door and looking up the whole heavens above us seemed to be\none burning flame. All was on fire. The first thought that came to our\nmind was, It is the last night of this world. The earth, and all its\nworks, is burning up. A great fear came upon me. Whither shall I go, and\nwhither shall I flee from His presence? The cause of alarm proved to be a\nburning building over a hill, casting the reflection on the dark clouds\nover us. We read in the Bible of a class unfit and unprepared for heaven,\nthat would in that day call for the mountains and the hills to fall upon\nthem to hide them from God\u2019s presence. Here we, trying and claiming to be\na Christian, experienced just what was said should be the experience of\nthe wicked, and my soul was alarmed. Earnest became our efforts to live a\nbetter life. Fierce was our struggle against sin, deep and firm would be\nthe resolutions, but sin was a hard, strong master, who ground us beneath\nhis iron heel. We sought every known means for relief, walking for miles\nto hear a sermon to learn of a more successful life.\n\nOften in these days of struggle would I become unpleasant in my home.\nShould my children be a little trying, I would speak to them in a cross,\nsnappish way. I would see them stand back in fear before my harsh voice,\nand this would sting my conscience. A child in fear of its father! how\nunchristianlike! When my wife, whom I had vowed to love always, would not\ndo according to my judgment I would hastily reprove in strong language. We\nwould see the tears start from her eyes, and again our conscience would be\nheavily smitten. Resolve after resolve was made to be more tender and kind\nto our dear ones, only to be broken by the power of impatience.\n\nIn our efforts to become more gentle and tender we often would read an\narticle in an old school-reader entitled \u201cSorrow for the Dead.\u201d In this\nthe writer said words like these, to the best of our remembrance: \u201cAs we\nlook upon the cold, lifeless form of some dear, departed friend, there\nwill come rushing to our memory, the unkind acts and deeds and thoughts we\nhave had toward them. This remorse of conscience,\u201d he said, \u201cshould cause\nus to be more true to the living.\u201d We often would read this, and did\nreceive some benefit from it for the time, but we found it powerless to\nconquer an irritable disposition. We can not forbear telling the reader\nhere, although it is a little in the advance, that the day came when we\nfound the Savior in the wonders of his redeeming love and he broke the\npower of sin, and by his grace did strengthen and help us to be \u201ctrue to\nthe living.\u201d Glory, glory to his name!\n\nIt was in the summer of 1890 that the struggle became very desperate. The\nconvicting hand of God lay heavily upon me. The burden of sin lay heavily\nupon my soul, especially the sin of tobacco using. We had no man to teach\nus. None seemed to care, nor pity. God, however, was humbling us down to a\nfinal decision. One late October morning on our way to the schoolroom, as\nwe were teaching at that time, all alone upon the road, God spoke peace to\nour soul. Where is the pen to describe the experience of that hour! Mine,\nit seems, is utterly helpless. We were conscious of a life, power and\nglory, not terrestrial, filling our entire being. The earth was lit up\nwith a splendor never seen before. In our days of deepest conviction we\nwould picture to our mind the happiness of angels, but here we had come to\nthe realization of something that far surpassed all we had imagined of the\nheavenly host. We felt like we wanted to sing and praise God forever. Wife\nhad received a similar experience in her home a few days before. Our home\nat once became a heaven. We remembered in pity those who had endeavored to\ncomfort us in our fears and tell us there was no better way.\n\nTwo weeks passed of uninterrupted glory. However, one morning after about\ntwo weeks, when doing some work which went wrong, we were strongly tempted\nto speak as we had formerly done on such occasions, but we overcame. The\nsecond time the work went wrong as previously, when the temptation came\nstronger than before. We felt something unpleasant within us; however, God\nhelped us to overcome, and we set to doing the work over, when it went\nwrong the third time. This time we were overcome and gave utterance to a\nword that brought a sense of guilt. No sooner had we spoken than we fell\nupon our knees and did not arise until we knew we were forgiven. By this\nexperience we became conscious of a foe within us that was going to give\nus trouble in the Christian life.\n\nAbout this time we providentially received a copy of a holiness paper,\n_The Gospel Trumpet_, which taught a higher life, namely, entire\nsanctification. This came as a light from heaven. We began to earnestly\nseek this experience. Before we reached this experience there were a few\nother occurrences in our Christian life of which we wish to speak. At this\ntime we were very ignorant of the Bible. It was our custom to have prayer\nat the schoolroom after the children were all gone to their homes. We\nwould then go to our home with a heavenly glory resting upon us. One\nevening on our way home, we met a company of our former worldly\nassociates. They accosted us in their customary worldly way. We replied\nsomewhat under the influence of their worldly spirit. I felt the glory\ndepart, and an emptiness instead. I went on my way hastily, asking God to\nsmile upon me again. He taught me by this that he had chosen me out of the\nworld and its witticisms, and that slang phrases were foreign to his\nsalvation.\n\nSoon after this, one morning in November when laboring in my garden a\ntransparent glory shone all around me, and my soul was filled with peace.\nIt was on election day. After working a few hours amid rapturous bliss, we\nwent to the place of voting and cast our ballot along with political men.\nA shade came over my spirit, and for the remainder of the day it appeared\nthat God had forsaken me and would never smile on me again. He taught me\nonce more that he had chosen me out of the world and that politics in\ncivil government was foreign to the kingdom of heaven.\n\nThe Christmas-time drew near, and great preparations were being made by\nthe people for their festivities. In these we found nothing congenial to\nour spirit. We had decided to remain at home on the night of these\nfestivities and have a protracted Bible reading and prayers. We looked\nforward to the evening with pleasure, expecting great blessings from God.\nJust before we were ready to begin our Bible reading wife was taken with a\nsevere aching in the head, that threatened to mar the enjoyment of the\nevening. We wondered why it was that God permitted us to be thus\ninterrupted, when the Holy Spirit whispered, \u201cIf you will ask God, he will\nheal her.\u201d Accordingly we fell upon our knees and petitioned God for his\nhealing virtue, and instantly she was healed. This was our first\nexperience in divine healing.\n\nIn the following February a Holy Ghost minister came to our place and held\na short series of meetings. He taught us the way of God more perfectly. We\nentered the glorious experience of entire sanctification during this\nmeeting. We also beheld the body of Christ, the one true church, and saw\nin a clear light the monstrous beast religion in all her evils. God soon\nafter called us into his work. We sold our little home, all we had of this\nworld, and used the means in the work of the Lord. Our work for God has\nbeen independent of the creeds of men, teaching a full salvation and\ntrusting God for everything. We have held meetings in over twelve of the\ndifferent states, and have never asked for money. Not on one single\noccasion have we taken up a collection. It would require volumes to tell\nof the many times the Lord has blessedly answered our prayers. God has\nnever called us to any conspicuous position in this world. The great faith\nfor the building of orphanages and homes, and establishing missions has\nbeen entrusted to other men. Our faith has been only for our daily bread\nand needs. Oh, what an assurance our heavenly Father gives us that he will\nnever forsake us. We do not want the riches of this world. We would rather\nnot have them. There is a blessedness in taking our every want to Jesus.\nTo look unto him daily for your temporal as well as spiritual support has\na strong tendency to draw one very near to him.\n\nWe would take pleasure in telling you of many of the instances in which\nGod has heard and answered our prayers, but fearing you will take less\npleasure in reading we will forbear, only saying that God has been\npetitioned for corn for our horse, and the prayer answered in a marvelous\nway before the day was over. We have asked God for a spool of thread, and\nour prayer has been answered at once. One time wife was on her knees\nasking God for soap, when there was a rap at the door, and upon opening it\na lady presented her with a bar of soap. Almost daily the Lord is\npetitioned for flour, meat, sugar, or clothes, and he always gives us what\nwe need. It is wonderful and just as glorious as it is wonderful. In fact,\nsuch a life is made up of glory.\n\nSome one may wonder if we ever have any tests of our faith. Oh, yes; there\nis where the greatest glory is. Not long since we were much in need of a\ndollar. In searching through my vest pocket for a match I found a dollar\nbill all neatly rolled up. Where it came from, and how, I never knew, only\nthat the Lord sent it. Just last night, our twelve-year-old daughter said,\n\u201cThis is the last Sunday I can wear these shoes. Unless I get a new pair I\nshall have to stay at home.\u201d We asked her if she had been asking the Lord\nfor a pair. She answered, \u201cYes, sir.\u201d This morning in our family devotions\nwe made especial mention, amid some other things, of the shoes. In less\nthan two hours a Christian man came to the door and presented her with a\npair. Yes, we would rather have a faith and trust in God than the wealth\nof a world. We feel more secure.\n\nThe times God has healed different ones of our family we are unable to\nnumber. For the past eight years he, and he only, has been our physician.\nWe have not in that time spent one cent for medicine. We have three\nchildren, aged four, six, and eight years, who have never tasted medicine.\nThey never were given a dose of any kind of soothing syrups or \u201cteas.\u201d God\nhas always healed from the toothache to a broken limb. It does not take\nmuch of the Lord\u2019s means to provide for us. We wear no superfluous\nclothing. Our daily fare is plain and common. We use no stimulants,\nnarcotics, nor medicines, and consequently just a few pennies a day is all\nwe need. God in his great goodness supplies all these, while we go telling\nthe world of the wonderful blessings of salvation.\n\nWe are at present engaged in ministerial work without salary. In all our\nmeetings we take up no collection, we ask for no money in any way of man,\nand we have no other source of support but in God alone. Just as the\napostles lived in the morning light, so we live in the evening light. Just\nwhat they enjoyed, we enjoy. In their preaching they gave God\u2019s people\nwarning of the apostasy. In our ministry we preach, \u201cCome out of her, my\npeople.\u201d\n\nWe enjoy more of the love of God than ever before. His very life and power\nand glory fills our soul to the full. We are led exclusively by his Spirit\nand are fed and clothed by his bountiful hand. Our life is one of blessed\ncontentment. Our home is a heaven and our happiness is complete. Even as\nwe write, the waves of glory roll over our soul until we are made to shout\npraises to our God. We have never a care nor a sorrow, but a faith and\ntrust in God that keeps us above every wave of trouble. We are dead to the\nworld and living alone for his glory. His great heart\u2019s love sweetens and\ntenders every fiber of our soul, and bids us wait in brighter hope the\nhappy day when he shall call us to our home.\n\n\n O home of my soul,\n In that far away goal;\n Each day brings me nearer to thee,\n The great throne so white,\n And my crown shining bright,\n Mine eyes ever longing to see.\n\n There\u2019s a musical strain\n From that far away plain;\n Its melody sweeps o\u2019er my soul,\n While a wave of sweet peace\n In my heart shall increase,\n While the years of eternity roll.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFOOTNOTES\n\n\n 1 There is a little book entitled \u201cTea and Coffee as an Evil,\u201d\n published by the Gospel Trumpet Co., which gives the opinions,\n respecting these stimulants, of the best known men of medical\n science.","title":"The Gospel Day; Or, the Light of Christianity","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":126809}