The Gospel Trumpet, February 28, 1901

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The Gospel Trumpet

Volume 21 - Issue 09 - February 28, 1901

(Articles of interest only)

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Righteousness, Joy, and Peace.

By A. S. Kriebel.

Savior, at thy loving side,

Sheltered let me e’er abide

Where the cares that may betide,

I alone to thee confide.

Oh, how precious, sweet, and dear!

Here thy love my heart doth cheer;

Heaven’s glory, crystal, clear,

Fills my soul while thou art near.

Righteousness, in waves so bright, 

Buoys my soul in darkest night, 

Making pure and snowy white,

When with thee it doth unite.

Joy untold, oh, heaven’s mirth!

Floods my heart while here on earth,

Springing up where all was dearth

In my soul, at they new birth.

Peace along, in placid streams,

Halleluiah! Like a dream

Of thy glory but a beam,

O’er my soul, flows to redeem.

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The Name of the New Testament Church.

By A. J. Ellison

Article 2.

In Ephesians 1:3 we find that the Father’s name is God. Therefore Jesus named the church “the church of God.” Did the apostles understand the fact that there is but one New Testament church, the church of God? And is this in reality the only proper name for the New Testament church? In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he wrote: “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.” In his second letter to them he repeats the same language - “Unto the church of God.” Paul was a persecutor of the New Testament church before his conversion, and he speaks of it in his Galatian letter as follows: “For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.” Therefore the New Testament church, which Paul persecuted, was the church of God. We also read in Acts 20:28 as follows: “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Here the apostle Paul had sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to his instruction, and warned them against spiritual leanness in their own cases, then added that they should feed the church of God, which had been purchased with the blood of our blessed Lord.

The New Testament church, then, is the church of God. It is the only one that Jesus built, the only one that existed in the apostolic ages, and the only one purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ; therefore, any society not being organized solely by Jesus Christ, and not bearing the name “church of God,” neither being purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, is no part of the New Testament church.

THE CLASS-BOOK.

We find when the seventy returned from an evangelistic tour in which they met with great success, they greatly rejoiced because the devils were subject to them in the name of Jesus. But Jesus said unto them, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”  Luke 10:20. From this text we are made to understand that there is a record-book in the church of God. No class-book on earth, but one in heaven, and in it are the names of all the faithful; the members of the church of God. Paul speaking of this church in Hebrews 12:23 calls it “the church of the first-born [i.e., the one Jesus built], which are written in heaven.” The name of the class-book is obtained in the Philippians letter. “And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3. The apostle Paul understood that the class-book of the New Testament church was the “book of life,” which is kept “in heaven.”

MEMBERSHIP OBTAINED.

The manner of obtaining membership in the church of God is vastly different from that of human organizations which compose the confused mass of sectarianism. The church of God is a spiritual institution, i.e., it is composed only of those who are born of the Spirit, while the human organizations of to-day have thousands in membership who never were converted, and many who were converted, but have long since fallen from grace, and are prisoners in the castle of dead formality. Now, in order to learn the manner of entrance into the church that Jesus built, we will appeal to the word of God. “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there.”  Psalms 87:5, 6. Here is a beautiful prophecy showing the manner of entrance into the New Testament church. The Psalmist clearly shows that it is by spiritual birth that we become members of Zion, or the New Testament church. Jesus was teaching Nicodemus this truth when he told him he must be born again; informing him that it was impossible to enter otherwise than by spiritual birth. See John 3:1-5. In John 10:9 we hear Jesus speak in this wise: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” From these texts it is clearly demonstrated that salvation (spiritual birth) is the only mode of induction into the church of God. “And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”  Acts 2:46, 47. “And the Lord daily added those being saved.”  Emphatic Diaglott. So we see that man has naught to do with taking members into the church of God, but God only; and that, by a thorough conversion, which frees them from their sins. Men may open the door of their human creeds and receive members of all classes therein; but the door of the church of God is always open, to receive “those being saved,” and no man can shut it. See Revelation 3:7, 8.

DISCIPLINE.

For a discipline God has given us his Word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God; and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  2nd Timothy 3:16, 17. By this text we are shown that God’s word is the discipline of the New Testament church, and that we need no other, as it contains all the church instruction necessary, both to the obtaining of a Christian life, and the practice of the same. Also the duty of both ministers and members, instruction as to service, etc. Since obeying it makes us “perfect,” and “thoroughly furnished unto all good works,” we can clearly see that we need none of man’s superfluous rules in the government of the church. Again, Paul says, “And ye are complete in him; which is the head of all principality and power.”  Colossians 2:10. (Written A. D. 64.) Peter, explaining the blessings of salvation in this New Testament church, said: “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.”  2nd Peter 1:3. This Peter wrote in the year 66 A. D. The fact is that the New Testament church was complete in the year 33 A. D.; and 33 years later Peter declares it still complete. And say we not well, that the same church is to-day complete? For unto the present moment his plans are the same to us as they were to the apostles; and “my words,” saith he, “shall never pass away.” Amen.

“I love the church of God,

The house that Jesus built,

And purchased by the precious blood

For us he freely spilt.

“Upon the sure foundation

Not laid by human hand, 

The glorious rock Christ Jesus,

The church shall ever stand.”

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The Father’s Will.

By S. L. Speck.

“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be called Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and unto thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee and thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”  Genesis 17:1-8. This will was made exclusively to Abraham and his seed (verse 8)  not “through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.”  Romans 4:13. The land of Canaan God promised to Abraham and his seed for an everlasting inheritance, was a land Abraham was a perfect stranger to; therefore God could not have had reference to the literal land of Canaan. Verse 8. Abraham was not a stranger to it; for he tabernacled in it long before God gave him this promise. “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abraham departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their substance that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.”  Genesis 12:1-5.

Again God could not have had reference to the literal land; for both Abraham and Isaac and Jacob (“the heirs with him of the same promise”) sojourned in the literal land and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Also “these all died in the faith, not having received the promise.”

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”  Hebrews 11:8-10. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  Verse 13.

There is a spiritual Canaan as well as a literal Canaan, as will be proved further on in this subject. You remember the promise was to Abraham and his seed, and to none other. There is both a literal seed of Abraham and there is a spiritual seed also. All who are Jews by natural birth are the literal seed of Abraham, and all who are saved from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ are the spiritual seed.

1. The literal seed. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?”  John 8:31-33. “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.”  Verse 37.

2. The spiritual seed. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Galatians 3:29.

If the promise of Canaan as an everlasting inheritance meant the literal land, then it remains that all the literal seed, namely, the Jews (including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) would have inherited the promise. But the word of God plainly states and also proves, that “these all died in faith, not having received the promise.”  Hebrews 11:13.

Methinks I can see good old Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob looking down the annals of time with a prophetic eye, “seeing” this promise “afar off,” knowing it would not be fulfilled in their dispensation of law, but in this dispensation of grace; then grasping it by faith, and gently falling asleep.

The literal land of Canaan was a literal inheritance which was given to the literal seed of Abraham, namely, to the Jews, temporarily, but the blessed Canaan promised to Abraham and his seed was to be an everlasting inheritance (Genesis 17:8)  “a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.”  Hebrews 11:16. Therefore the promise of Canaan for an everlasting inheritance to Abraham and his seed includes all, both Jews and Gentiles, who are freely justified from all actual sins by the grace of God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Galatians 3:29. “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: because the law worketh wrath; for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.”  Romans 4:13-16.

The reason why Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not receive the promise is because they did not live to see it fulfilled; for it was to be fulfilled in Christ Jesus, and they died long before Christ made his advent into the world, and they comprehending the fact that it would not be carried into effect in their day, embraced it by faith, as they did all the other promises of God which were to be fulfilled in Christ.

1. Embraced the promise by faith. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”  Hebrews 11:13.

2. “These all died in faith, not having received the promise.”  Hebrews 11:13.

3. The promise to Abraham fulfilled in Christ. “And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou has done this thing, and has not withheld thy son, thine only son, that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou has obeyed my voice.”  Genesis 22:15-18. “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.”  Galatians 3:16. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Verses 13, 14.

A testament or will does not take effect until the testator dies; therefore the will made to Abraham and his seed did not come into effect until Jesus Christ died upon the cross. “For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”  Hebrews 9:16, 17. Some one may ask me, Did God die? My answer is, Yes; and the scriptures that follow plainly set forth this fact. You must remember that Jesus Christ was God because he was the Son of God, and as the inheritance came through him, it was necessary for him to die to bring the promise into effect. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.”  Hebrews 1:8. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”  John 1:1. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  Verse 14. “And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.”  Mark 15:39.

Again, a testator who dies and leaves an inheritance to his heirs can not execute his own will, therefore there must be of necessity an executor appointed to carry into effect the will. Therefore God has appointed the Holy Spirit to execute the will God made to Abraham and his seed. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  John 16:7. “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”  Verses 13, 14.

Be it remembered by all, that the heirs of this will are all those who are freely justified from all actual sins, irrespective of nationality or color; for all who are Christ’s are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. “And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Galatians 3:29. “For the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be of grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed: not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham: who is the father of us all.”  Galatians 4:13-16.

The promise of Canaan to Abraham and his seed for an everlasting inheritance was a type which signified a spiritual blessing or legacy we should receive through Christ. See Genesis 22:15-18; Galatians 3:16.

This spiritual legacy or blessing signified:

1. The baptism of the Holy Ghost. See Galatians 3:13, 14; John 7:37-39; John 16:7; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8, 4, 5; Acts 2:39.

2. Holiness and righteousness. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he would grant unto us, that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.”  Luke 1:68-75.

3. Sanctification; for sanctification is spoken of as the Christian’s inheritance. “And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”  Acts 20:32. “To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”  Acts 26:18.

It is through the blood of the everlasting covenant we are made perfect. Hebrews 13:20, 21. The only perfection attainable in this life is Christian perfection, effected through the agency of the Holy Ghost and the blood of Jesus Christ, in the experience of sanctification, which purifies our hearts from all sin. See Hebrews 10:14, 15; Romans 15:16; Hebrews 2:11; 1st John 3:3; 1st John 1:7. Remember, dear reader, you are not Abraham’s seed, and an heir of this promise while you are in your sins; therefore you must be born again, and belong to Christ. “And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  Galatians 3:29. To belong to Christ can mean nothing less than the pardon of all past sins, and adoption into the family of God by spiritual birth, which makes us an heir of God and joint-heirs with Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:17. If we are not heirs until we are born again, which we all admit is true, then to become an heir we must be born again, and as this promise is a spiritual inheritance we must be born of the Spirit or be spiritual to inherit it. The new birth brings us into son-ship with the Father, which makes us an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ, also makes us one of Abraham’s seed and a full heir of the promised inheritance.

My dear brother and sister in Christ, are you in possession of your inheritance? Have you entered Canaan yet? Do you enjoy the full experience of sanctification, the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and a clean heart? If not, why not? It is for you. To obtain this or prove the will, you must comply with Romans 12:1, 2.

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Trust God.

By G. W. Carey.

God does not require anything of his children that is unreasonable, or that they can not do. He wills all for their best interest and greatest good; and, that he may work out that good for us, he only asks us to remain passive in his hands and let him work in us, to will and to do of his good pleasure. In Psalms 37:3-7 is a beautiful plan that will enable us to enjoy the blessedness of an intimate acquaintance with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 

1. “Trust in the Lord, and do good.”  Verse 3. When we lean upon our own strength and understanding, we are sure to get into trouble. Doubt and unbelief are twin sisters who join hands in warring against the soul, and are the opposites of trust. When we cease to trust, we allow doubt and unbelief to take possession of our hearts; and we then soon find ourselves away from God, wandering in darkness. When we trust our heavenly Father, we cease from our own struggling and depend on his hand and power to save. Beloved, trust God in everything; trust him with the least as well as with the greatest. “Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust.”  Psalms 40:4.

2. “Delight thyself also in the Lord.”  Verse 4. When we find our pleasure in the Lord, his law becomes our daily delight; for the righteous delighted in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Glorious results will follow when  we find our highest pleasure in God. “He shall give thee the desire of thine heart.”

3. “Commit thy way unto the Lord.”  Verse 5. There is a difference between giving ourselves unto the Lord to serve him, and committing ourselves to his care implicitly; trusting ourselves and all we have to his divine guidance. In committing ourselves unto the Lord, we give him the supreme control of our time, talent, and property. Our lives are being spent entirely to his glory. We look to him for guidance, not only in spiritual matters but in business affairs also. Whether we buy or sell, the Lord is taken into partnership and constantly consulted regarding his will in all business transactions; and the money acquired in the business is used to his glory. Does such a life as this, dear reader, seem to be too reckless? The promise for the soul who will thus commit itself to him, is: “And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon day.”  Psalms 37:6.

4. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.”  Verse 7. Rest is repose; a cessation of labor. To rest in the Lord is to cease from our labors and let God work in and for us. The margin reads, “Be silent to the Lord.” Beloved, find your rest in the Lord. Lean wholly upon him.

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The Deceitfulness of Sin.

By John A. Vance.

Truly the heart that is stained with sin is in a wretched state. “Sin is a reproach to any people.”  Proverbs 14:34. It is the cause of all family and neighborhood quarrels; all murders, thefts, drunkenness, secret evils, etc., are caused by sin in the heart. It deceives and brings death; yea, it works death and deception in the heart of the once innocent babe. The soul once clean and innocent because of ignorance of good and evil comes to the age of accountability, obtains a knowledge of good and evil and knows the law. Sin revives in the heart, deceives the soul, and brings death. See Romans 7:9-11. The heart becomes hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13. Its iniquities, as it continues on the downward course, separate it further and further from God (Isaiah 59:2), until the heart becomes “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.”  Jeremiah 17:9. Truly it is bound and under bondage (2nd Peter 2:19) and is to be pitied.

Dear sinner, this is the condition of your heart if you are neglecting salvation. Every day you stay away from God and refuse or neglect to believe in Jesus Christ for the salvation of your soul, you are only hardening your heart  the condemnation becomes greater, the separation wider, you are ignoring the plan and purpose of God who created you to be holy and without blame. Ephesians 1:4; Revelation 4:11. In your sinful state you imagine you are no great sinner and the separation between you and your God is not a great one, and that you can easily obtain pardon and acceptance with God at any time when it is more convenient. But take heed. You are deceived through the deceitfulness of sin, and “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Now is the accepted time. “To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” You must call upon him now while he is near and seek him while he may be found; lest ye go on the downward road and die in your sins. So take heed.

How awful for the one who has once been free from the blighting and deceptive power of sin to again be overcome by sin and entangled with the yoke of bondage. God’s word says the latter end of such a one is worse than the first. 2nd Peter 2:20. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”  Psalms 66:18. So the only way to keep victory and be an over-comer, and get your prayers through is to walk in all the light; be determined at all times and under all circumstances to be true to God and his word at any cost; for when you conceive or purpose in your heart to do a thing God’s word forbids, you become a transgressor, are deceived by sin, and in danger of hardening your heart through unbelief. Remember, faith is a gift of God, and none can return to God without faith, and when one, after knowing the ways of God and his salvation, palpably and knowingly transgresses his word it is very dishonoring and offensive to God and brings that soul under the influence of the evil one. Discouragement is one of the fruits of unbelief; so when a soul falls under the power of discouragement it is hard to escape. Yet if one is determined to be true and profit from past failures and lessons, taking a stand against unbelief and resisting the very spirit of discouragement, God will have mercy and grant pardon and deliverance. But there is danger when a soul purposes to disobey God; for if after one has escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ he is again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse than the beginning. 2nd Peter 2:20. While there is no sin unpardonable except the sin against the Holy Ghost, yet when a soul knowingly disobeys God it is in danger of being deluded so as to make escape almost impossible. It says in 2nd Thessalonians 2:11, 12, concerning such ones, “God shall send them a strong delusion, . . . That they might be damned.” When people choose their way in a thing that they know God’s word condemns, God in speaking to them says, “I also will choose their delusions, and bring their fears upon them; because . . . When I spake they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.”  Isaiah 66:4. Therefore you are exhorted to “take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To-day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”  Hebrews 3:12, 13.

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SALVATION.

Scriptures Selected By T. E. Covey.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tiding of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.”  Isaiah 52:7, 8, 10.

“Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.”  Isaiah 60:18.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.”  Isaiah 61:10, 11.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  Romans 1:16.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raise him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:9, 10.

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance unto salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”  2nd Corinthians 7:10.

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”  2nd Corinthians 6:2.

“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Ephesians 6:14-17.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”  Titus 2:11, 12.

“Now therefore arise, O Lord God, into thy resting-place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.”  2nd Chronicles 6:41.

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in time of trouble.”  Psalms 37:39.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?”  Hebrews 2:3.

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

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Whither Goest Thou? Which Way?

By R. W. Swinburn.

Whither goest thou? Which way? This subject was suggested to the writher, for the subject of a tract, while on a railroad train. The train stopped at a station to take on some passengers. When they entered the car, some of them recognized a person in the car, and asked in a familiar manner, “Where are you going?”

Now, fellow traveler to eternity, I ask you the same question: Where are you going? What road are you on? In which way are you traveling? There are two ways, a broad way and a narrow way. The broad way leads down to an awful future. The narrow way leads up to a glorious eternity with all the redeemed and blood-washed at God’s right hand in heaven. Think of ETERNITY! Where will you spend ETERNITY? Think of it - ETERNITY - a word which means without end; never-ending. The Bible tells us about these two ways. In which way are you traveling?

“Vain man, thy fond pursuit forbear.

Reflect - thy end is nigh.

Death at the farthest can’t be far;

Repent before thou die.”

Jesus says there are many in the broad way. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.”  Matthew 7:13. And Peter says: “Many shall follow their [false teachers’] pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”  2nd Peter 2:2. Solomon says: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25. The ungodly, on account of their lightness, are compared to chaff. “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”  Psalms 1:4. “Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths . . . Whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.”  Isaiah 59:7, 8.

Backslider, here is a word for you from God’s book. “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: . . . But the prudent man looketh well to his going.”  Proverbs 14:14, 15. “As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity.”  Psalms 125:5. Sinner, there is misery in the way you are traveling. “Destruction and misery are in their ways.”  Romans 3:16. “A violent man enticeth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.”  Proverbs 16:29. God commands the wicked man to forsake his ways. “Let the wicked forsake his way.”  Isaiah 55:7. Your ways are not God’s ways. “Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”  Isaiah 55:8. Therefore, “seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”  Isaiah 55:6. When may he be found? Answer  “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  2nd Corinthians 6:2. “While it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”  Hebrews 3:15. You need not be afraid to come to God. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:16.

Dear lost soul, there is a great contrast between the way you are traveling, and the way in which the righteous are traveling. You have a very large number in your way; but, ah, the end of that way is death. Not the death of the body, for all must die that death, but the death of the soul. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”  Ezekiel 18:20. “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”  Ezekiel 18:21.

Now let us look at the way in which God’s people are traveling. It is just wide enough for Christ and his saved child to walk in. No room for sin in this way. “Strait [narrow, close] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  Matthew 7:14. “The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands [undefiled by committing sin] shall be stronger and stronger.”  Job 17:9. “Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overcometh the sinner.”  Proverbs 13:6. “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh; for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty.”  Proverbs 23:19-21. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel [advice] of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whosoever he doeth shall prosper.”  Psalms 1:1-3. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him [God] with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his [God’s] ways. Thou [God] hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.”  Psalms 119:1-4. God says to his people: “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”  Proverbs 4:14, 15. “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.”  Proverbs 12:28. But says the young man: “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? [Answer.] By taking heed thereunto according to thy word.”  Psalms 119:9. So it is by taking heed to God’s Word - the Bible -  that we are to make clean ways to walk in.

Now a word to the old veteran of the cross of Christ. “The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.”  Proverbs 16:31. But if it be found in sin, it is no glory, but a shame -after God has done so much for us for so many years, and still to turn our back own him. “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. For their feet run to evil.”  Proverbs 1:10, 16.

Christ has visited us to give light of salvation. “To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God whereby the dayspring [Christ] from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  Luke 1:77-79. Sinner, seek this way now.

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FAITH.

By T. E. Ellis.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1. If we go to the Lord for something, we should not ask him to give us the evidence of the thing we want, unless we mean by that, that we want God to increase our faith so that we can get or take hold of his promises by faith. Some are running on the emotional-feeling line, and they look for some emotion before they will believe. We should not pay any attention to feeling as evidence; if we do, we are not exercising faith at all. We should let the Lord attend to the feeling. If he gives us joyful feelings, we should rejoice; but not take joy as an evidence that we are saved. As faith is the evidence, we should first see that we have met the conditions of the word, and believe.

No doubt one reason why many are deceived and in delusion to-day is because when they come to the Lord, instead of exercising faith they look for some feeling or emotion, and thereby open the way for the devil to come in and give them feelings or emotions. In Missouri several got the jerks and other manifestations of the devil by trying to get sanctified when they needed to get pardoned (justified). They were in the enemy’s kingdom, and as they asked for something they were not ready for; that is, they did not first get pardoned, the enemy stepped in and gave them emotions, and they were deceived, thinking they had received the Holy Ghost. “By grace are ye saved through faith [not feeling].”  Ephesians 2:8. “The just shall live by faith.”  If they had been going by faith, they would not have taken emotions as evidence of the Holy Ghost, and would not have been deceived thereby. If I ask the Lord to heal me, should I look for any other witness than faith? Is not faith the only evidence I need? If I have met the conditions necessary to be healed, surely it will be done. If I am not healed, it is because I have not believed. If I know that I believe, what more evidence do I need? Faith is the evidence. If the Lord wants to make us very happy while we are believing and doing his will, we shall have no objections, but we should not take the blessing as evidence that the work is done.

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A redeemed soul is a precious object in the sight of God. He says, “I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a more than the golden wedge of Ophir.  Isaiah 13:12. It is a high calling to which the Christian is exalted by the grace of God; he is as a priest unto God and reigns through the power of Christ as a king over his passions and appetites and the evils of the world. Let us walk worthy of our calling, in all humbleness and devotion to our heavenly Father. “Be not weary in well doing; for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not.” “Thy labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 

R.

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Questions Answered.

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Baptism For The Dead.

Please explain 1st Corinthians 15:29  “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?”

The apostle Paul in this chapter is arguing the resurrection of the body. The entire chapter from the 12th verse treats of this subject. There are some who believe and teach that the apostle Paul taught and approved of taking a living person and baptizing him for some one that had died, thus fulfilling the command of God in baptism; but I am certain that Paul taught no such doctrine. There could be but two explanations to the text quoted: either that it was a perverted practice of the ordinance of baptism, practiced by some in Paul’s day, or that baptism symbolizes the resurrection of the body; and as Paul says that there were some in the Corinthian church who said that there was no resurrection of the dead (verse 12), he in the 29th verse calls their attention to the fact that the act of baptism acknowledges the resurrection of the body. Baptism symbolizes a resurrected life, being buried with Christ in baptism and then raised to walk in newness of life.       

E. K.

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After a person has been sanctified and then commits sin, does he have to repent and be baptized over again? Or does he simply have to repent?  

A. A. B.

He needs to repent and then believe. When we consider the purpose of baptism we can not see that it would be in place in the instance of a person recovering from a defeat of the enemy. We have no scriptures to give that require baptism in such cases. Revelation 2:5  “Repent, and do the first works,” spoken to the church of Ephesus, has been offered as requiring baptism in the “first works,” but this simply means, “do the former works,” and in verses 2 and 3 of this chapter may be seen what the former works were before this church had left her first love. The seven churches all had their “works.” Some were good and some were bad. In this case the works were good, and after the church had fallen she was told to “repent, and do the first [former] works.” Baptism is not included here.

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Please explain what the word “glorified” means in Romans 8:30.

One definition of glorify is to exalt to honor or happiness; to confer honor or distinction upon. In Christ’s prayer for the sanctification of his disciples he said, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one.”  John 17:22, 23. He says, “I have given them” this glory. But they had not yet realized it. It was to be that which would make them one. It was their sanctification. In Ephesians 2:6 we read that God “hath raise us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” This is indeed a glorification and is what sanctification will do for us. Sanctification is truly a glorification. Whenever God gives us his glory we are glorified. The resurrection to immortality, giving us victory over death, will also be a glorification. But Romans 8:30 probably refers to a glorification in this life, and it is comprehended in our sanctification. 

A. L. B.

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The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

By J. W. Byers.

M. C. D. of Calcutta, India, requests an explanation in the Trumpet of this parable. I write the following thoughts as suggestions which seem, to me, to be in keeping with the scriptures, and practical in application.

“And he said unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? Give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? For my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness: that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?”  Luke 16:1-12.

The steward lost his stewardship because of his unfaithfulness to the trust which had been committed to him. It is not mentioned in what respect he had wasted his lord’s goods, but it is evident that he had been appropriating them in some manner for his own benefit; and when his unfaithfulness in the matter was made manifest unto his lord, and he saw that he must lose his stewardship on account of his unfaithfulness, he at once added to his wrongdoing by becoming unjust in dealing with his lord’s debtors in such a manner as to increase his personal welfare at the expense of his lord. He was unfaithful in a little and was also unfaithful and unjust in much.

A striking characteristic of this steward is his shrewdness in making such provisions in his emergency for himself in the future, when he should no longer be steward. He employed an unjust and dishonest means to provide for himself. He knew that he had lost the approval of his lord, and that it was useless to expect any help from that source. He could not dig and make his living in that manner, as many others do. He was ashamed to beg, for he had been holding a high and honorable position in business, and no doubt was well known by the community at large. For him to beg, would at once become a reproach to himself as well as make it necessary for him to explain to everybody the cause of the loss of his stewardship. Therefore he certainly had good reasons to be ashamed to beg. In this time of sore need he resolved what to do. He would make such use of his remaining opportunities that when put out of his stewardship, his lord’s debtors would receive him into their houses.

According to the description, there must have been many debtors. This steward called every one of them to him and, as the account, and amounts of indebtedness were found, he made an immense reduction of the debts of each one. This was a stupendous loss to the lord; but the steward had not yet been divested of his authority to transact business for his lord, and so had quickly taken advantage of the situation. He had been wasteful and was accused of the same, and had lost the approval of his lord because of his wastefulness and unfaithfulness, and would soon lose his position. So, now, he carried out this very principle to such an extent, and in such a manner as to increase the disapproval of his lord, but gain the approval and good will of all his lord’s debtors, so that when his means of support derived from the stewardship were gone, the lord’s debtors, whom the steward had made his lasting friends, would ever afterward gladly receive him into their homes and care for him as a distinguished friend. This, his future welfare, was all secured in this manner at the expense of his lord. From a worldly standpoint this steward acted wisely, though his actions were based upon an unrighteous and unjust principle. Although he had incurred the sore displeasure of his lord upon himself in this matter, yet the lord commended him because of the wisdom he manifested in so shrewdly taking advantage of the occasion as he did. He made friends unto himself with his lord’s goods, which were not his own.

Jesus says to his disciples, “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness: that, when ye fail, they may receive you into  everlasting habitations.” The term “mammon of unrighteousness” means riches, or wealth of this world. Jesus uses this parable to impress upon our minds the importance of careful use of the goods of this world. He calls riches or worldly goods, “mammon of unrighteousness,” simply because they are of a worldly nature, not that riches or money are in themselves sinful. It is the love of money that is the “root of all evil.” Money or riches, though they are exclusively of a worldly nature, are unrighteous in a sense of sinfulness, only as they are permitted to come between man and God. The word of God clearly teaches us how to make proper use of these earthly goods which do not belong to us. They belong to God, who in the application of the parable, is the lord who owns all the good. We, his people, are each a steward and have entrusted to our care a portion of our heavenly Father’s goods, which, it may be, consists of money, houses, lands, natural abilities, etc., as well as every God-given ability and opportunity which can be used for his glory. These things are distributed to his individual stewards according as the Lord may see proper, and must be strictly accounted for by each.

The points of comparison between the steward and ourselves are: 1. He had in his possession his lord’s goods. 2. His stewardship was to have an end. 3. He needed a home for the future. 4. He acted wisely in the use of his lord’s goods to procure friends who were able to give him a home.

In the application and comparison, therefore, we see: 1. That we have in our possession some of the Lord’s earthly goods, which he calls “mammon of unrighteousness.” This sacred trust is called a stewardship. 2. This stewardship is to continue during our earthly life, and will then end. 3. We need a home when our earthly life or stewardship shall end. 4. We are commanded to act wisely and secure to ourselves friends with these earthly means, so that when our stewardship shall end (when we fail) these friends will receive us into everlasting habitations.

The question arises: Who are these friends who shall be able to receive us into everlasting habitations? It can be seen clearly that no earthly beings can receive us into everlasting habitations, and there is no scripture saying that any of the angels possess such habitations into which they could receive us; neither could we make friends with any of them by use of any of the Lord’s earthly goods. It seems reasonable and scriptural that these friends are the Father and Son, who alone own these everlasting habitations. Jesus says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions,” and he has gone to prepare a place for his faithful stewards. We make friends of God and Jesus by faithfulness in our earthly stewardship. This faithfulness is exercised in many different respects. The goods which have been entrusted to our care are to be used in the same manner that the Lord himself would use them. The sick, the dying, the needy, and suffering of our fellow creatures all around us, can be ministered to by these earthly things which the Lord has placed in our hands. Each of us has in our possession some of these things which, if properly made use of, will prove a blessing to humanity; but if not properly used will, in the reckoning day, bring condemnation to ourselves. Jesus very forcibly reminds us of this great responsibility, and the stupendous results of our faithfulness or unfaithfulness as the case may be. In Matthew 25:31-46 where we have the awful day of reckoning described, we see that the faithful stewards will be received into everlasting habitations. The King shall say to the faithful ones, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” The faithful stewards will be surprised at this wonderful commendation, and shall ask when they had done all this to Jesus. He shall answer, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” This explains to us how we can secure to ourselves our future welfare by means of these earthly goods - the mammon of unrighteousness, and how we shall be received into everlasting habitations.

The expression in verse eight, “For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” has reference to the two classes of humanity; the unsaved and the saved. The unsaved, whose hearts are altogether upon the things of this world, are completely occupied with the things of this world, and are making every effort to secure their present and future earthly welfare. In an earthly sense, they are wise in so doing; and if we, the people of God, were to exercise the same efforts and care to secure our spiritual welfare in this life and our eternal welfare in the life to come, we would all enjoy more spirituality in this life, and secure to ourselves greater eternal joys in the world to come. In this respect the children of this world are wiser in their sphere and capacity than the children of God are in theirs.

In verse eleven of the parable, we are taught that if we are not faithful in the proper use of the mammon of unrighteousness, the true riches can not be committed to us. The blessedness of a deep spiritual life in this world, and the joys of the world to come in the everlasting habitations, are the true riches. In verse twelve Jesus asks the question: “If ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” “That which is another man’s” signifies the earthly riches and goods, which are not our own but the Lord’s. That which is your own” signifies the spiritual and eternal blessings which the Lord gives to us, to enjoy as our very own if faithful in our earthly stewardship.

How true the words of Jesus in verse thirteen - “Ye can not serve God and mammon.” It is so natural for man to serve the world and its riches, and thus to become occupied and completely absorbed with the cares of this life, and thereby neglect God. Instead of serving God with these earthly things, man is disposed to let them get between him and God and actually serve them instead of God.

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News from the Field.

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Chillicothe, Illinois.

We desire to inform the dear readers of the Trumpet concerning the work in Chillicothe. The meetings are increasing in power. Souls are weeping on account of their sins. One dear man who had twice taken a liquor cure was saved, and is now rejoicing for deliverance. The dear ones are being settled down in a real Bible unity. Praise God! Any one passing through will be welcome. We solicit the prayers of the dear ones. 

Harry and Sadie Tyler.

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Weatherford, Oklahoma.

February 9.

We have been very busy in the Lord’s work since we last wrote, and have seen the hand of the Lord confirming his word. The Hurley assembly-meeting was one of power and victory. Several consecrations, and a general sinking down. Brother William A. Gray and others helped send forth the word. We than came to our home, where Brother Gray helped in a week’s meeting to God’s glory. Pray for us and the work in the west. 

 A. B. Stanberry.

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2215 Broadway,

Spokane, Washington, 

February 8.

I am glad to add my testimony to the many as one of the redeemed of the Lord walking in the way within the way that is cast up, which is the way of holiness. I have been laboring with the church at Enterprise school house in Washington, and the dear Lord has been working with us, confirming the word with signs following. To him be all the glory. Several were saved and sanctified and backsliders reclaimed, also a number were healed. One little boy of Sister Taylor’s was healed of inflammatory rheumatism. Praise and honor to our God.   

R. H. Craig.

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Belknap, Michigan, February 13.

Since my last report I have been kept busy for God, preaching and continually putting into practice this present perfect and uttermost salvation. There is victory in the Lord’s work in this part of the country. Some messengers “who have transformed themselves” have in the past worked hard here to draw away disciples after them; but the Lord by his Word and Spirit brought to light the hidden works of darkness, and the dear saints are now standing in all the light and liberty of the gospel, and in sweet unity with the body of Christ. I have just returned from Covert, Michigan, where God has truly done a good work. I expect, Lord willing, to return in a few days. May the Lord keep us all on an uncompromising stand against all evil.  

Della Fry.

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Faulkner, West Virginia.

I am saved and sanctified. Praise God! I have been working in the name of the Lord at Faulkner and Chestnut Grove among people who, when I was in the U. B. denomination, would have given me their means or anything I needed. But, praise God! He is working. They said their snuff and tobacco did not injure their souls, and that they could use these things and go to heaven. Some are beginning to see the truth. God is at work upon their hearts, and they are beginning to see that they must have a real work of salvation. I am now at Alpena. Most of the people here are Presbyterians, and are resisting the Holy Spirit; but God is manifesting his power. Praise his name! We have had severe snow-storms here. I went seven miles through snow above my knees, to Pine Grove, where I found many sick with the grip. I am now holding meetings in the name of the Lord at Alpena. Beloved, pray for me.  

William Grumball.

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Piqua, Kentucky, February 18.

Wife and I have been holding meeting during the past two weeks in Nicholas county, and many friends were won to the truth. Poor sinners were made to see their awful condition, and are forsaking their wicked ways, and say they do not intend to stop until they find peace unto their souls. Also a number of friends in Nicholas county have several hundred dollars made up to build a meeting-house for the church of God. No doubt the house will be completed in a few months and ready for service. The Lord is using James W. Wright of Piqua in getting subscriptions for The Gospel Trumpet and placing the book “The Secret of Salvation” in the homes of the people of Nicholas and Robertson counties. [This brother sent in one letter a list of eighteen new subscriptions for the Trumpet. - Editor.] We will hold our next meeting in Robertson, Bourbon, and Clark counties, after which we expect to take train for the south. Pray for us.  

M. N. and Della Roark.

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Summitville, Indiana, February 18.

I am glad to be able to say unto all, through the grace given me, that I am enjoying the good blessings of health and salvation. The Marion, Indiana assembly-meeting was blessed of the Lord and souls were made free. A number were pardoned and others sanctified. The church there, and those who attended from other places, were made to “take root downward and bear fruit upward.” To God be all the glory for his awakening and saving power in the meeting - for his showers of blessings too. Sister Turner was ordained elder of the church at Marion, and Brother C. F. Elliott was ordained deacon. God bless them. The meeting closed with a sacred ordinance-meeting in which thirty happy saints participated. With the exception of one or two all belong to the Marion congregation. Brother C. W. Naylor, who is in our company, and several other ministers were present a part of the time.

From there we went to Germany, six miles west of Rochester, Indiana, and held a meeting for three or four days, which was blessed of the Lord. We had crowded congregations to hear the words of God. We know much and lasting good was done in the name of Jesus. We are engaged in a series of meeting here. Pray for us and the work, all who read this.  

B. E. Warren.

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232 East Eighth St.,

Canton, Ohio, February 4.

This morning finds us saved and filled with his glory. Amen. We have been some seven miles south of here for a week holding forth the living word of God. Some interest was taken in at least part of the word, but that part which affected their idol was hard for them to see or understand. Seeing they have many precious Bible truths, they think they have enough to justify their idol. Much precious seed was sown, which we hope will be as bread cast upon the waters, which will be seen many days hereafter. Some confessed that they received some light on the precious Word. We may return in a few days. Our address is 232 East Eighth St., Canton, Ohio. The work of the Lord is prospering here in the Mission. One soul came to the Lord yesterday; also for healing, and the Lord witnessed to the work. Praise his holy name! There is Sunday-school every Lord’s day at 9:00 a.m., and preaching at 10:40 a.m., 2:30 and 7:00 p.m.; also every Wednesday evening. All are cordially invited. The saints would be glad to have any of the brethren coming this way stop off with them for a while.  

William N. and S. J. Smith.

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1127 Sharp St.,

Augusta, Georgia,

February 10.

Our last report was from Atlanta, Georgia. From there we came to Macon and stayed two weeks. God wonderfully blessed the labor there. There are honest souls in that place. The body is small, but they are standing alone for Jesus, and we hope to hold an assembly-meeting there in the future. May God continue to bless the work. From there we came to Milledgeville, Georgia and stopped one night and met with one or two honest souls living up to all the light they have. They want a meeting held in that place. From there we came to this place a week before the assembly-meeting, and helped to arrange for the meeting, which was glorious. From here Brother Green joined me at Blacksville, South Carolina and we had one glorious meeting at that place. At Summerville, South Carolina a few meetings were held and at Charleston, South Carolina we found the church in good condition, for which we give God the glory. From Charleston we went to Georgetown, South Carolina, where we held meeting for ten days with good success. We found the work in bad condition, but God wonderfully worked in that place, and ten were baptized. I left the church in good condition, and Brother Green remained there to work. Pray much for the work at that wicked place. Some souls are honest. I am back home with my family for a while, and we are having glorious meetings at this place. My address is as above.  

R. J. Smith.

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Jeffersonville, Kentucky,

February 12.

We had some very precious meetings while in St. Louis Missouri in the Mission at 2120 Franklin Avenue, and other places. Some souls were saved, also sanctified, and few were healed by the power of God. Praise his name. The work seems to be moving along very nicely. The Lord is using dear Brothers Stage, Bennett, and others in opening up the work, and accomplishing much good in Jesus’ name. To him be all the praise. We closed our work there with an ordinance service in which about two dozen happy saints took part (and others would have been present but could not leave their work). Truly it was a heavenly place; the house was filled with people who seemed to be interested. May the Lord bless all the dear saints in St. Louis, and keep them faithful and true. It is requested that any true minister of the gospel passing that way write to Brother John Stage, Rear 2734 Lucas Avenue, and stop a few days, or just go to the Mission, 2120 Franklin Avenue, at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, without writing. Your help is needed there.

We came home a few days before the assembly-meeting at Jeffersonville. The meeting closed with very good results. A few souls were saved, some healed, and the church strengthened and encouraged for which we truly praise the Lord. Brothers H. F. Dunagan and John A. Vance were present, whom the Lord used in the administration of his word. Any of the saints passing through Kentucky please write to us, and stop with us a while, as there is plenty of work in Kentucky. Our railroad station is Mount Sterling. Pray for us and the work in this part. 

Thomas and Lillawah Carter.

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446 South Avenue, Phoenix Arizona

February 3.

This finds me saved, sanctified, and healed. I was indeed very ill, but the dear Lord hath healed me. Praise his name! We are having good meetings. Not very many come to the hall, but the Lord sends copious showers. It is precious to have meetings on the streets. People seem to be in awe, and the Lord is working. Phoenix is like all cities, very wicked, but God has a remnant here. We have prayer-meetings and jail-meetings, and since the Lord has sent Brother Slaughter here we have been spreading the gospel from house to house. God has heard the cry of the few faithful ones here, and Phoenix is hearing the truth. My brother is much better; he has gained about seven pounds and his heart is being melted by the truth. I thank all for their prayers in his behalf. I have also received many encouraging letters, which time will not permit me to answer. All business letters, however, will be answered at once. This is a good field for workers; but none need come who are faint-hearted or impulsive, and expect great things to be done in a week or ten days. I find the climate beneficial for those who have lung trouble, and I wonder why those who are delicate and never get strong, could not come to this field and escape the severe weather, and spend the time all for God. We seldom have rain. It is rainy now, but is not so disagreeable as in colder climates. You need not fear that your faith would shrink. There is plenty to strengthen your faith.   

Lena L. Shoffner.

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La Paz, Indiana.

This finds me still trusting Jesus for both soul and body. We are glad we can report victory over the disease that is raging in our town. My sister has been nursing two cases of smallpox, but is enjoying good health. She is still staying there and has been there since New year’s eve. I went to the window one day to talk to them, and the woman that had the smallpox sat and wept. I told her I had written to the Trumpet Office for prayer, and she thanked me. She and her husband once enjoyed this glorious salvation, but both have lost their experience. Her husband was at the point of death, but just about the time the letter was received at the Trumpet Office he began to amend. I heard from them Saturday and he was able to go to the table for the first time since Christmas. He earnestly desires to get back to God. Continue to pray for them. As soon as my sister can come home, I expect to go into the gospel work. May God’s grace prove sufficient for us. Our family is still afflicted, so I am kept from engaging in the work as I desire. But I can say from my heart, Not my will but thine be done. How precious it is to have the privilege of being in meetings. This winter has been a school to me. I have been, as Brother Warner used to say, in a lockup; can not move either way, but I trust ere long to be like a bird out of a cage; to go where souls are calling for the pure gospel. Please pray for those that are afflicted here. There are eleven new cases of smallpox. I am truly thankful that we can serve a living God; one that is able to answer prayer and give us the desire of our hearts. It seems discouraging sometimes to see those who had the love of Jesus turning back into sin. I, for one, am decided to go through for Jesus, let come what will. I know his grace is sufficient for all those that put their trust in him. Oh, it means so much to stand for Jesus. I know he will stand by those who prove loyal to him. There are so many of God’s dear children getting careless and going on with a mere profession. Oh, may the Lord awaken them and keep us all lively stone in Father’s building. Though our work may be small and unnoticed by man, yet the Lord takes notice of every word and deed. I desire the earnest prayers of all God’s people.  

Lodeina Kaser.

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Payne, Ohio, February 14.

I am very grateful to God for this privilege of reporting victory in the work of the Lord in those localities where we have labored the first part of the winter, and also perfect victory in my soul. Myself and daughter Mildred, accompanied by Brother Edward Ellis of Brushy Prairie, Indiana, have held meetings in the following places since last November. At Emma, Indiana we held two short series of meetings. The first was closed on account of the sickness of my son Jasper, who had a very serious case of appendicitis, but God had mercy, and although we had doctors to open the abscess which had formed in the regions of the appendix, from which about a quart of pus was taken, yet the dear Lord did marvelously spare and raise him up, of which we may write more in the future. Next we went to Burlington, Michigan; then near Tekonsha, and from there to Sherwood, Michigan, where we expected to hold a series of meetings, but on account of the sectarians having two meetings in progress we had only one meeting and felt that it would be wisdom to wait and return and hold a meeting some time in the future.

From there we were conveyed across the country by our much-beloved brother, George C. Wattles, to the home of Brother Hatmaker, near Bronson, where we held a very successful meeting. We also held a few nights and over Lord’s day in Mongo, Indiana. In these meetings many precious souls were saved, backsliders restored, sinners converted, and believers sanctified. A few sick folks were healed. The congregations were strengthened and built up in the most holy faith. To God be all the glory. We have been absent from home since November. My family was with the church at Brushy Prairie, Indiana, and may God bless Brother and Sister Greenawalt, Brother and Sister Yoder, and Brother and Sister Ellis, whose houses were a home to us, and who so kindly administered to us the many comforts of their homes. I had intended to hold meetings this winter while away from home in Battle Creek, Three Rivers, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and also at Brushy Prairie, Indiana, but we were detained home by sickness and for other reasons. I would be glad to hear from the saints in the truth.  

J. N. Howard.

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Colfax, Washington, February 14.

We are glad to report victory through Christ, who has redeemed us from every sin and now preserves us both soul and body. Once more God has permitted me to return to the west, where I first accepted the blessed evening light, after an absence of about five years. Most of this time I have been in North Dakota, where God has blessed and used us to his glory. Many souls were brought to Christ and now rejoice and enjoy full salvation, for which we give God all the praise and glory. We as well as they were made sorry to say good-by after being together for so long a time, but all said, “Thy will be done;” for it was God that said, “Go ye.”

Well, we met the happy saints in the west again with great joy and many thanks given to God who was so good to us all. I was permitted to attend and enjoy the Spokane and Colfax assembly-meetings, where we all enjoyed God’s rich favors. Much good was done, many souls were saved, backsliders returned to God weeping, and the sick were healed, devils were cast out by the mighty power of God, and some who were waiting for the Comforter were sanctified by the blood of the Lamb. After this I had a rich feast at the Portland, Oregon assembly-meeting, where Brothers Bamford and Bailey are hard at work for God, printing tracts, preaching, and every way possible scattering the glad tidings. This place is being blessed of God, and we believe God will make it a stronghold for his work in the near future. Let all the workers be interested, especially those on the western coast, by prayers and means. God is moving his work wonderfully in these parts at present. Bless his dear name! I was glad to meet our dear Brother Green of Woodburn Oregon, also many other ministers who are doing what they can to rescue the lost. The harvest is truly great and the laborers few. But thanks be to God, who is qualifying and sending new ones to help us gather the lost, comfort the weak, and heal the sick.

After the meeting in Oregon I returned to Spokane. Here God has a people who are doing all they can for the lost. God has blessed dear Brother and Sister Benton with a home in this city at 2215 Broadway, which is consecrated for all of God’s workers. This place is ready for a harvest of precious souls, and is a central place where much more good may be done. Indeed we have no time to idle when there is so much to do. You at home pray for the workers in the field. At this place God has saved a number of souls, and then sent us as a company to Daisy county. Brother W. J. Baldwin, whom God has blessed and used much in North Dakota, is with me again and is doing much for God. Brothers Benton and Brooks and myself and wife are in company. We held the first meeting at Stranger Creek school house, where much good seed had been sown, and now the time came to thrust in the sickle. See John 4:35-38. There were about twenty-seven who professed to find God precious to their souls. We have great reasons to believe many will stand for God. At the close of the fourth week we had an ordinance-meeting, in which over fifty happy saints washed each other’s feet as Jesus told us. A number were baptized, and God’s power was seen in healing and sanctifying those who believed. We next went to Cedonia. At this place there was much prejudice to be remove. Many false doctrines had been taught the people, by some preachers who had the name of saints, but were sent by the devil, teaching and doing some awful things. They were such as Paul tells Timothy about in 2nd Timothy 3:6. One man was T. W. McConnell, who is now in Montana. We had a hard fight, but not in vain, for much good seed was sown, the truth swept away the refuge of lies, a few souls were saved, God’s healing power was manifested, and hands raised for prayer. We expect to return to reap a harvest in the near future. Brother Benton, who has labored faithfully with us for the last six weeks, has gone home. The remainder of us are with the church at Daisy for a few meetings, and then go north to fill the many calls awaiting us, where we expect God to save many souls.

We expect to work in these parts until after the Daisy camp-meeting, which will take place June 1-10. We are looking forward to one of the grandest meetings ever held in these parts, when many more precious souls will be saved. Let all the saints in Washington and as many as possible from Oregon prepare to come to the camp-meetings, which will be arranged so as not to have them all at one time. Let the ministers all come filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. We desire the prayers of all God’s dear saints that we may be kept very humble to preach the word in love and the meekness of Christ, and that we be burdened for the lost as Paul says in Romans 9:1-3, also 10:1-3  yes, a greater care for the church for which Christ shed his blood. We are co-laborers together with God.  

J. C. Peterman and Company.

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Testimonies

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Piqua, Kentucky.

I am glad to testify that I am saved, sanctified, and trusting in the Lord for both soul and body. I have been in some very precious meetings here, and I am happy to say the people in this country are receiving the truth. Some are getting the real experience of salvation, and others are being healed by the power of God. To him be all the praise. I desire the prayers of the saints that I may keep humble and do God’s will.

J. E. Wright.

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Mount Olivet, Kentucky.

Last June I came to the Lord and he saved my soul. Praise his name forever! I am living up to all the light I have. I do praise God for the privilege of testifying for him. He is my Savior, sanctifier, keeper, and healer. He is my all in all. I am so glad that I am in the church of God. The devil has no straps and bands on me now. The Word says, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. I am praising God to-day for salvation full and free. Where he leads me I will follow. I will go with him all the way. I ask the dear saints everywhere to pray that I may live true to God at any cost.  

Sallie Williams.

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Winona, Missouri.

I am saved and trusting in Jesus. I find it sweet to trust in Jesus. He is a very present help in time of need. He heals me when I am sick. I have been healed several times in the past year through prayer, for which I give God all the glory. I do praise the Lord this evening for the blessed peace I feel in my soul. I do thank the Lord for his saving and keeping power. I would be so glad if some of God’s ministers filled with the Holy Ghost would come here and hold meeting. I do get so hungry for the preaching of the true gospel. I love to read The Gospel Trumpet. It is food for my soul. I ask all the saints to pray that I may prove faithful in doing God’s will at all times.

Mrs. A. K. Vann.

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Renegar, Tennessee.

To-day finds me saved and sanctified by the precious blood of Jesus. Praise God forever! He is just the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. He heals us when we get sick. It will soon be seven years since I got saved. I was called out of the M. E. sect, where I was bound in confusion. But, praise God, I am free in Christ Jesus. “He that the Son maketh free, is free indeed.” When I heard holiness preached, I soon saw I was in the wrong place. When I stepped out on God’s promises, oh, what a deep peace he put in my soul - a peace that the world can not afford. Some said I would lose my mind, but praise God! I was clothed in my right mind to serve him in the beauty of holiness. Oh, I am so thankful to know I am a child of God. Pray that I may be kept humble at the feet of Jesus.

Allmeda Cummins.

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Flat, Missouri.

I am praising God for salvation full and free. Praise the Lord, O my soul! It is so sweet to trust in Jesus. I was saved about thirteen months ago, and then I went off to school, where the adversary came in on me and I yielded to his pleadings and I was in a deplorable and dissatisfied state. Then in October, if I mistake not, the saints held a protracted meeting near my home, which I attended for the purpose of being benefited. Finally the word sank deep into my heart and the glorious light of the gospel began to coruscate before my eyes, so I had to yield to the mercies of God, and I found him precious to my soul. Praise his dear name! I have been up and down some steep places. But my soul is basking in the sunlight of heaven. I am longing for the faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 3. The Lord has healed me of the grip and many other diseases. Praise his dear name forever! I am the only one in my father’s family saved, and I pray in Jesus’ name that some or all will get saved. So I am waiting on the Lord. Dear ones, pray for me, for I am so little; as Paul says, “I am the least of all saints.” I feel my unworthiness before God and the saints. Let us “be followers of God as dear children.”  Ephesians 5:1, 2. As I can not be with the saints very much, I humbly beg you all to pray that I may live to the honor and glory of God, and that I may be pliable in the hands of the Lord, as a piece of clay in the hands of the potter. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

William M. Brown.

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Divine Healing.

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The Lord Healeth His People.

Know therefore that the Lord thy God is a faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations . . . Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them. . . And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness.  Deuteronomy 1:9-16.

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Have Faith In God.

I can testify to the goodness of the Lord in saving and keeping me. I feel I must tell my experience. I have been sick for a year with inflammatory rheumatism. The people I was with wanted me to take three kinds of medicine. I did use some to please them. It seemed to help for a while, and then I would get worse again. I said I would not use any more medicine, but would trust the Lord. He healed me once; he will again. Praise his dear name. I am getting better, and want the prayers of all the saints.

Mrs. Lizzie Lamson.

St. Paul, Minnesota, 

February 5.

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Healed of a Bad Scald.

Our little baby, 18 months old, was playing on the floor while husband was preparing to tie a broom. He put the straws in a kettle of boiling water, so that they would get soft enough to tie, and had just taken them out, unthinkingly leaving the kettle uncovered on the floor. The baby, not knowing any better, put his foot into the hot water. He gave a scream of pain and we ran and picked him up, finding he had badly scalded his foot. I removed his shoe and stocking as soon as possible, but in taking off the stocking the skin was also removed. We went right then to the dear Lord in prayer, asking him to forgive us for our carelessness, and heal our little baby. Just as we began praying he instantly quit crying, and in a little while went to sleep and slept about four hours. It is now healed up very nicely. We did not do anything for it, but trust the dear Lord, and put some olive oil on the cloths we bound it up with, to prevent them from sticking to the burn. Oh, praise his holy name forever! “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.”  Psalms 150:6.

It has been about six years since the dear Lord brought us out into the glorious evening light, and the way grows brighter all the time. He has manifested his healing power in our family by healing us all at different times, and I want to give him all the glory. He healed our little girl of croup last winter.

We agreed in prayer and laid on hands, and she went to sleep and rested well the remainder of the night. There is scarcely any one around here that trusts the dear Lord for healing, but we have found him a present help in every time of need. When we tell of his wonderful works the people seem to think we are very peculiar. But this is just according to God’s precious Word. See 1st Peter 2:9. My prayer to God is that the dear ones who are in darkness may see the truth as it is in Jesus, and by repenting according to his word, be saved through his blood. I desire an interest in the prayers of God’s dear children that I may ever be true to the Lord in all things. And earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints. He has both saved and sanctified me. To him be all the glory.

Nannie H. Hay.

Edenton, Kentucky,

February 3.

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Praise God for Leading and Healing.

“Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”  Psalms 107:1, 2. We praise God for saving our souls and sanctifying our natures, and for the benefits with which he daily loadeth us, also for the blessings which he gives us richly to enjoy. Amen. How we praise God for leading us out of sectism into the full and free gospel light as it is in Jesus. At the Reedsburg camp-meeting last summer we first recognized Christ as the head of the church. We praise the dear Lord for the manifestation of his presence in those meetings, and for the stir in our souls which we felt when we heard the truth. The sweet fellow-ship we had with the dear saints, and their love to us only proved that we were all members of Christ’s body. The ministers came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, and their speech and preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Praise the Lord for the way they inspired us. We rejoice daily because God is our only physician. Many have been our afflictions, but the Lord has delivered us out of them all. Praise his name forever! May the dear Lord richly and abundantly bless the few dear ones who ministered unto us last summer in our affliction. “Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” How we praise God for his healing power! Last summer when the Lord healed our little girl, Satan still seemed to have a hold upon her. At times she would stand and scream until her strength was exhausted. How it did rend our hearts to see her tormented by the enemy. Praise God, we knew our help was in him. Twice we prayed for her, but God kept us waiting to see his salvation. Then we laid on hands and cried mightily unto the Lord, who graciously heard our prayers. Praise God for the blessed assurance that the mighty work was done. Rejoice with me, dear ones, and let us exalt his name together. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Amen. Just lately the enemy afflicted us with the grip. There were two days of intense suffering and then God heard our prayers and graciously delivered us. The precious lesson God taught us was, that it was possible for us to rejoice amid intense suffering. What victory we had when we waited upon the Lord! We forgot the aches and pains as we sang praises to our God for all that he had done for us, and what he was then doing. Pray that we may be clothed with humility, so that we may be of much service for our blessed Savior. Amen.

Mrs. Maud Hawkinson.

906 Woodbridge St.,

St. Paul, Minnesota,

February 4.

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An Exclusive Christ.

By D. S. Warner.

Jesus is the sovereign, universal King, and “only potentate.” He only is the Christ of God; he is the Savior of men, neither is there salvation in any other. “Ask of me.” saith God in the covenant made with his Son in the untold ages of the past - “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen [Gentile nations] for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”  Psalms 2:8. Not only is he Lord over all the earth, but “when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”  Hebrews 1:6. Jesus is the King eternal over all heaven and earth; yea, throughout the vast universe. His kingdom therefore is an exclusive kingdom; It leaves no place for any other. It is the stone that breaks all other powers to pieces, and fills the whole earth. His church is likewise exclusive; it does not live and let live other institutions called churches. The word of truth acknowledges no other church but the one divine fold founded by the Savior. He who discerns the sacred body of Christ is bound to discard everything else; and he who acknowledges the confused multitudes of men’s creeds, and party organisms, as churches, has never “discerned the body of Christ,” which is the church. Ephesians 1:22, 23; Colossians 1:18, 24.

The Spirit of the God of the Bible is an exclusive Spirit. It repels and rejects every other spirit. God’s children have all been “baptized by one Spirit into one body, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”  1st Corinthians 12:13. This all-searching and eternal Spirit in the hearts of the redeemed of the Lord takes cognizance of what kind of spirits dwell in the hearts and bodies of others who claim to be the worshipers of God. If of opposite character, there is no fellowship. If all are in possession of the pure and gentle Spirit and nature of God, the blessed elements of heaven, their hearts flow joyfully together; and this is fellowship, pure, heavenly, and the source of much happiness. Thus the Spirit of God endorses himself, and excludes all others. The religion of Jesus Christ is exclusive in its nature. It compromises with no other. It justly assumes to be the only true religion, and announces all others as of the devil. This very characteristic has chiefly elicited the persecutions that have befallen Christ and his church in all ages. Had Christ been willing to fuse with Jewry, and endorse along side with his own laws the laws and traditions of the Jews, they would not have crucified him. Had the apostles grafted the new faith upon that Old Testament code that was ready to die and vanish away, then, says Paul, would the “offense of the cross have ceased.”

At one time under the great persecution inflicted upon the saints of God by pagan Rome, the pagans offered to spare the lives of the Christians, and give them their religious liberty if they would but acknowledge their gods, and their religion as being also genuine. But this they could not do even to save their lives. Nay; Christ, and the system of divine worship he founded, only is of God. It alone is the truth, and every other is a lie, and a fraud. As it was then, so it is now: to confess any religion and creed but the New Testament, is to deny Christ. To confess that there is any church but the one Jesus built, is to make God a liar. To be honest in the sight of God, and to stand upon the offensive foundation of the exclusive Christ, and his exclusive church, kingdom, and religion, is what stirs hell to-day, and calls out what little persecution saints have to endure in these last days, which, however, may yet assume degrees of severity that will deserve the name of persecution. Oh, praise God! My soul says, Let it come as the providence of God shall permit, and he will overrule it to his glory, to the more perfect purging of his sanctuary, and to the spiritual improvement of his remnant.

The sects would have no objection to us accepting the Bible name, saints, if we would confess that they, in all their pride, tobacco filth, and abominable worldly conformity, are saints also. They would not care if we do use the title given by the mouth of the Lord, viz., “the church of the living God,” if we would only confess that all the sects are likewise churches of God - sister churches. But this would be confessing a falsehood. The Lord owns no sisterhood of sects, but ascribes to “mystery Babylon” Rome, and a family of harlot daughters. The Bible gives no place for a plurality of brotherhoods in Christ. But one is your Father, and all ye are brethren, one family in heaven and earth. Ephesians 3:15. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”  Romans 12:4, 5. Only “one body in Christ.” As we discern that body, and know that God has inducted us into the same, it were dishonesty in the sight of God, and a base, cowardly compromise to please men, to admit that several hundred other bodies are also in Christ. Yea, it were making God a liar, since his Word says there is one body in Christ, only one.

John Winebrenner was too honest a man to sanction such a lie. Hence he taught an exclusive church of God, and as a result met with persecutions from the sects, who were un-churched by the Word of God. But at the same time he and those with him did not, in their day, possess sufficient light to avoid the formation of another sect. This they did when they organized themselves together, in general and annual eldership incorporations. Though they call themselves the Church of God, they soon found themselves without that Bible holiness, and that identity with the body of Christ that authorized an exclusive use of the sacred title, “The Church of God.” And finding themselves no more that divine body than other bodies organized by men, and, moreover, becoming more and more destitute of godliness, they felt the inconsistency in crying “sect” to their sister sects, when one of the family. So they dropped all opposition, confessed in plain words in the organ, that all the other sects were churches of God also, and so they are now received in peace in the Babel sisterhood.

But in the last few years God has raised up a people who fully discern the body of Christ. They have taken their stand upon the platform of “all truth,” as it is in Christ Jesus. By the process of salvation they have been taken into the one fold of Christ. John 10:9. The Lord himself added them to his own body, the church. Acts 2:47. They teach and accept no other condition of membership in the church, than those conditions found in the Word of God. And by a life of perfect obedience to the divine will, of faith toward, and holiness unto the Lord, they have this witness that they pleased God, and are abiding in the one and only church of God, which is the body of Christ, and which includes all the saved in heaven and earth. They with perfect consistency and loyalty to God, resist every other spirit but that which they have received of God; reject every other so-called church but that which Christ built upon the rock; and say to all honest disciples of Christ who have been falsely taught, and taken by men into men’s churches, “Come out of her,” “Come out from among them.” And though this is the point of offense and persecutions, by the grace of God we will not compromise the truth to save our lives.

All sects are associated together on a plane of sisterly non-exclusiveness. They dare not teach “one God,” “one Lord,” “one body,” “one Spirit,” “one way;” because no one of them dare set up the claim of having and being in that one God, Lord, body, Spirit, and way. None of them hold a divine charter for their existence, hence no one challenges the right and title of another. In other words, all are without foundation in the Word of God; therefore they agree to not question each other’s foundation. All have a glass house, hence must not throw stones at one another. But we repeat again, that in these last days God has raised up a people who believe the Word of God, and act accordingly. Christ has but “one fold,” one church, and knowing we are saved into this one fold, to be consistent before God, and act out his word, we must ignore every other so-called fold or church.

With a view of destroying the work of God, the enemies of Ezra and Nehemiah proposed to join with them in building the temple and the wall. But they answered them, “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.”  Nehemiah 2:20.

They were then an exclusive people unto the Lord, and their reformation at Jerusalem was a grand type of the present reformation, in which God is restoring a pure church, the bride, the Lamb’s wife. “As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith, that will I say.” It were bigotry for one sect to say, “We are the church, and all the rest are frauds.” But for God’s true saints, who follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, and belong only to him, and adhere only in “his body, which is the church,” and which includes all saved men in heaven and earth, in or out of sect folds - for such to talk of other churches, were inconsistent and God-dishonoring; yea, confusion. Therefore, be sure you are right, then go ahead in holiness of heart and life, and let earth and hell rage. “Noah condemned the whole world.” One man mounted on eternal truth can safely defy all the devotees of human creeds and systems on earth. There is “one God.” Amen. Then all others are idols. “One body.” Amen. Then all sect bodies are excluded. “One Spirit.” Then all spirits not in fellowship with the pure in heart, are not of God. “One Christ;” and all others are anti-Christ. Here we stand in defiance of hell and earth. Amen.

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