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The Gospel Trumpet
Volume 21, Issue 14, April 4, 1901
(Articles of interest only)
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Comforting Grace.
By Charles Currie.
There is rest for the soul that is weary and sad,
For the sin-sick and suffering one;
There is pardon in Jesus for all who believe,
There is peace found in God's only Son.
There are rivers of pleasure for all who will seek
With a heart of contrition and love;
There is glory and joy in the Zion of God:
It comes from the Father above.
A river there is, and its streams maketh glad
The glorious city of God;
They who drink of its waters are thirsty no more;
They are washed in the pure, cleansing blood.
For all who forsake the dark pathway of death
And listen to God's loving voice,
There is peace evermore in his bosom of love;
For he maketh his people his choice.
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Charity.
By Nellie Ball.
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." - Matthew 22:37-39. "And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." - Mark 12:33. "Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." - Romans 13:8-10.
Some people think charity only means to give to the poor, or do little deeds of kindness for them. They say it is utterly impossible to love their neighbor as themselves; yet they profess to be children of God, or church members. They say they have given to certain ones that were in need, and did all they could to comfort them; but they can not love them as they do themselves. Well, the Word of God says we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We will turn to 1st Corinthians 13, which reads as follows: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries; and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up; doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth: beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophecy in part. . . And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
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Church Organization
By D. Otis Teasley.
It is supposed by a great many who have heard the present truth, which opposes the sectarian idea of a human organization being necessary to the existence of the New Testament church, that the church of God is without organization; even some who have been liberated from all sectarian ties, and enjoy full salvation, on account of not being instructed, have been heard to remark: "The church of God has no organization."
This is a sad mistake; for God is a God of order, and his church is fully organized, and possesses all that pertains to a perfectly organized church, without the least human intervention.
To the existence of an organized church the following things are necessary. (1) An organizer; (2) Members must be qualified for membership; (3) Members must be set in order; (4) Proper officers must be appointed; (5) A class-book; (6) A Discipline; (7) The whole must act as one body; (8) A name.
We will now proceed to search the Scriptures on each of the above-named points, and should we succeed in proving by the Bible that these prerogatives exist in the New Testament church independent of human aid, we will have proved said church to be wholly of divine organization, and every man-made organization to be unscriptural.
The Organizer.
The word organize and build have the same meaning, and in this article will be used interchangeably. In A. D. 32 we hear Jesus say: "And I say also unto thee, That thou are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:18. In A. D. 64 Paul says: "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the house-hold of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone." - Ephesians 2:19, 20. It is evident from the above scriptures that Jesus in the year A. D. 32 promised to organize his church, and in the year 64 Paul declares it was built. So we are forced to the conclusion that every organization which has its origin since that time is false, and any church which has any other person than Jesus Christ for its organizer, can not be the New Testament church as also the following scriptures, together with many others, will clearly prove. "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it." - Psalms 127:1. "A minister of the sanctuary, and of the tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." - Hebrews 8:2.
Qualification of Members.
The first question that would naturally arise would be: What are the conditions of membership? For an answer to this question we will refer to a few, plain, Bible truths. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever." - 1st Peter 1:22, 23. The preceding scriptures clearly prove that salvation, or spiritual birth, is the only Bible qualification for church membership. This being the case no man save Jesus Christ is able to qualify members for entrance into the church of the Bible; for no man is able to give spiritual birth; "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. "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." - Psalms 49:7. In the light of divine truth we ask how dare any man, with all his weakness, undertake the qualification of a human soul for the courts of God's church, by means of a routine of questions, or to make any thing other than salvation a prerequisite to church membership?
Setting In Order.
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." - John 10:9. "For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit." - 1st Corinthians 12:13. "Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:47. "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him." - 1st Corinthians 12:18. As the apostle John declares Jesus to be "The door," the question may arise: who is the doorkeeper? "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth." -Revelation 3:7. These plain scriptures unquestionably settle the fact that God alone has the right to set members in the church; neither does he do it by proxy, or a majority of the church; but the Lord adds to the church daily such as are being saved. Not one text in the Bible gives any man the authority to take another man into the church; either by vote of two-thirds majority of the church, or by letter; for God has reserved this right unto himself alone.
It would be quite as reasonable for a child to apply for admittance into the family; as for a man after being regenerated - which makes him a member of God's family by right of spiritual birth - to apply to a minister of the gospel for admittance into God's family, or church. As absurd as it would seem for the members of the family to congregate and take an expression of all for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not they would receive some certain one of the family into full membership; it is no more absurd than for Christian people to take a vote to see whether they shall accept or reject one of God's children.
Appointment of Officers.
The appointment of officers in the church does not rest in the least degree in the hands of man. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." - 1st Corinthians 12:28. "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." - Acts 20:28. From the above scriptures we learn that God through the Holy Ghost (not through the bishop or the conference) makes men overseers of his church. It is evident from the following texts that the New Testament teaches ordination: "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." - Titus 1:5. Yet we learn they were to first prove that they were called of God; after which, hands were laid upon them in acknowledgment of their calling. "Lay hands suddenly on no man." - 1st Timothy 5:22. "And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless." - 1st Timothy 3:10.
The Class Book.
"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. "And I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, 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. In but one place does the Bible speak of names being written elsewhere than in heaven, and in this text the prophet says: They that depart from me shall be written in the earth." - Jeremiah 17:13.
Discipline.
"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.
One Body.
"But now are they many members, yet but one body." - 1st Corinthians 12:20. "For as the [human] body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one [human] body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ." - 1st Corinthians 12:12. In this scripture the apostle takes the organism of the human body to represent the mystical body of Christ, "Which is the church." - Colossians 1:24. The human body is composed of many members; yet every member is subject to the head, or will power: the mind wills, and every member of the body moves in perfect subjection. So, Christ, the head of the church, wills, and every member of his mystical body bows in humble submission to his will. The human body is so constructed that all the members are perfectly joined together, and by means of the nervous system are brought into perfect sympathy, so that when one member suffers all the members suffer with it. Just so the children of God who compose his church, are bound together by the love of God, which element is centered in Christ their head, and flows through each member, giving them the same care one for another. This strong cable (divine love) binds the children of God together in one glorious and holy organization, which far surpasses the creeds invented by man which destroy and scatter the sheep of God's pasture. We now have proved that everything necessary to a perfect and complete church organization can be found in the Bible; and furthermore that such organization exists independent of human intervention. Then be it understood that he who pretends to admit members into God's church, appoint proper officers, or in any way put his hand on the organization, or government of said church, presumes to do something which the Bible authorizes no man to do.
Name.
A great many contend that there is nothing in a name: this is indeed true with reference to the many sectarian names afloat in the world to-day; but in one name there is virtue. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him [Jesus], and given him a name, which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." - Philippians 2:9, 10. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." - Proverbs 18:10. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." - Matthew 18:20. In the last-given text the Lord has promised his presence to those who gather in his name; but nowhere has he made such a promise to those who gather in any other name. We will now refer to a few plain Bible statements which will clearly set forth the name of the church as given by inspiration. "Feed the church of God." - Acts 20:28. "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth." - 1st Corinthians 1:2; 2nd Corinthians 1:1. "I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it." - Galatians 1:13. "For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?" - 1st Timothy 3:5. "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God." - 1st Timothy 3:15.
"Church of God, thou spotless virgin,
Church of Christ for whom he died,
Thou hast known no human founder,
Jesus bought thee for his bride.
Sanctified by God, the Father,
Built by Jesus Christ, the Son,
Tempered by the Holy Spirit,
Like the Holy Three in One.
God himself has set the members
In the body all complete,
Organized by Jesus only,
Oh, the union pure and sweet!
Church of God, the angels marvel
At the music of thy song;
Earth and hell in terror tremble,
As thy army moves along."
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Tobacco King.
By Emil Kreutz.
We call him "king" because he is king over many. Thousands of people bow to his scepter, and yield willing obedience to his wishes and desires - even children become his servants. The Lord positively tells us we can not serve two masters. If we would serve the Lord Jesus, we can not serve King Tobacco; for they are contrary, the one to the other, "and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." - Galatians 5:24. There is no affinity whatever between Christ and the tobacco habit. Christ Jesus in holy, pure, harmless, and separate from sinners. King Tobacco is neither one; but is just to the contrary. Jesus gives us freedom and liberty. Tobacco brings his subjects into bondage, and makes slaves of them. Jesus dethrones every other king and lord over his people. King Tobacco is therefore a conquered foe. We must recognize Jesus as Lord and King alone, if we would be his people. Tobacco can not stand against the blood of Christ that was shed on Calvary's cross. If all the tobacco slaves will lay claim to the virtue of his blood, it will make them free from bondage. Bless the Lord! He promises to cleanse and deliver from all filthiness and idols. Ezekiel 36:25-29. The Lord can so cleanse and deliver from the tobacco habit that its service has no charms whatever; but it becomes very disgusting and offensive. See Isaiah 26:12-14. As God's children we must recognize Jesus as Lord, and God as God, and yield service only to him. 1st Corinthians 8:5, 6.
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Meekness.
"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." What is it to be meek? Webster says it is to be "gentle, quiet, mild, soft, pliable, not proud, not easily provoked, humble, modest, submissive, unresenting, forbearing." Oh, it means so much. We can not afford to be without this fruit of the Spirit. Jesus says, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart." When we hear the word meek we think of Jesus; it gives its own definition. It is an ornament not to be tied on or pinned on; but it is the hidden man of the heart, manifested in the life; for "as a man thinketh in his heart so is he." "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." We need meekness in order that we may walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. We need it in dealing with the backslidden brethren. "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." And we need it when instructing sinners. "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth."
We ought to see that we have a meek spirit when we testify. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." Paul had need of meekness, for he said there was given him a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him, lest he should be exalted above measure. When the Lord so wonderfully reveals himself to us there is danger of our humanity rising above the spiritual, and I think we ought sometimes to feel as Paul did when he said, "But now I forbear, lest any man think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me." "The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way." Another promise: "But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
Is Not Corruptible.
This kind of an ornament will not wear out or rust. The moths will not eat it. It never gets out of date; the longer we wear it the brighter it gets. Halleluiah! Yes, it is beautiful, for the Lord "taketh pleasure in his people; he will beautify the meek with salvation," "Which is in the sight of God of great price." I do not know how great, but what God calls great must be very great indeed.
"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 whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." We see by studying the Word that the season for bearing the fruit of meekness is all the year round. "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away." James 3:12 asks this question: "Can the fig-tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine figs?" We are told to examine ourselves and see whether we are in the faith. The fruit of the Spirit will grow naturally, if not hindered. We can let brotherly love continue, and let the peace of God rule our hearts and minds; or we may hinder these things. We can cultivate the soil of our hearts and yield a bountiful supply of fruit by letting the water of life flow through us constantly. If the fruit is small and knotty we may expect God will chasten us. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." We know from experience that when we pray for more patience our patience will be tested. I think meekness was developed in Moses by testings in different ways. Moses was meek above all men on earth. He may have been naturally so, but it would be manifested in a greater degree by the Spirit of God. He must have learned to be submissive early in life. (Submission is one definition of meekness). He had to give up home and submit to customs different in every way from those which his own would have been. Let us submit ourselves one to another in the fear of God; be subject one to another and be clothed with humility. God called Moses to deliver his people; but he made a mistake in the time and way it was to be done and fled from the face of Pharaoh into the land of Midian and became a sheep herder in a desert land. When forty years had expired there appeared to him in the wilderness of Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. All that had been given up in submission - the loss of home and the humiliation he had passed through, was repaid. The God of Abraham had spoken to him. The very ground on which he stood was holy. God giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
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Compromise.
By George L. Cole.
The Spirit of Christ is clear, definite, radical, and exclusive, and contends for the whole truth against every wrong. Thank God, the Holy Spirit knows the truth; for Jesus said, "He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you," and "He will guide you into all truth." Again, "As the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, . . . ye shall abide in him." Christ has no compromise with the devil, or the devil's works. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." He "loved righteousness, and hated iniquity." He hates it yet; therefore if we get under a spirit of compromise we get it from the devil. God is not trying to blend his righteousness with wickedness: "For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with thee." God never sowed wheat among the tares; it was the devil that sowed tares among the wheat.
The church in apostolic days was pure and uncompromising, both in doctrine and life: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship." - Acts 2:42. "And all that believed were together." - Verse 44. "And they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them." - Acts 5:12, 13. It was an exclusive church and the members were joined only to God and one another. The devil could only wage war against their bodies in vile and bloody persecutions; but this bound them more closely in mutual co-operation and brotherly love; but later he changed his tactics and brought in a spirit of compromise. As a result
The Apostasy Appeared.
Compromise (the spirit of leaven that gave birth to the apostasy) has ever remained the energizing power of mystery Babylon. Every reformation that has developed into sect institutions simply carried enough of the spirit of compromise when emerging from former sects to serve as a starter or bad leaven which in turn destroyed the vital principles of true reformation, and necessitated the angel's powerful alarm: "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication [compromise] . . . And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." - Revelation 18:2-4. If the spirit of compromise is admitted and endorsed by the ministers and adherents of this reformation, from that moment we will be admitted into the harlot family and reckoned among the nations. Babylon pulpits will be open to us, and our pulpits open to them; doctrine will be laid aside, and union meetings with the beast will be next in order. Many of us well remember the radical and uncompromising spirit permeating this reformation. Sect Babylon was utterly ignored; her assumed power, authority, and satanic dignity were smitten by the Word of eternal truth; the ministers were not afraid to offend the lords of Babylon, as they boldly repeated the angel's message and reechoed the words of the other voice from heaven announcing the fall of Babylon and the call of God's people to come out of her. Revelation 18:1-5. In the power of God's Spirit this was glorious, and the shouts of the redeemed went up from the camp of the saints in fulfillment of Revelation 19:1-10 because God had "judged the great whore" which did corrupt the earth with her compromise.
This abominable cockatrice spirit of compromise that almost ruined Christendom is slyly popping up its head among us. Brethren, awake "Quit yourselves like men," "Gird on thy sword, O, most mighty." This is a day of recompense for the controversy of Zion. "And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare [no compromise], neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house." - Ezekiel 9:1-6. I for one am not going to be still about this thing. God said, "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night." This compromise spirit has been, and is now, publicly sitting in judgment over the church of God - criticizing The Gospel Trumpet, the ministers who dare expose crooked and perverse spirits, and insinuating "Popery" against the Holy Ghost which stirs up the spirit of judgment in the ministry and purges out the rebels. See Ezekiel 20:38. This spirit declares "we are wrong in our manner of dealing with heretics." If the church of God has any apology to make it is that she has held off judgment too long, and admonished heretics in some cases six or seven times when twice is the limit prescribed by the New Testament. See Titus 3:10, 11. This compromise spirit exclaims, we "are harsh, rigid, bigoted, and full of imperialism, tyranny, without love," etc. This is only a repetition of what old Babylon has been saying all the time. Brethren, we did not partake of the cup from the hand of old Babylon; for we knew it was the filthiness of her fornication (compromise); neither will we drink from the hand of those who wrongly assume to be right. This cup was intoxicating in past ages, and all who drink of it will get drunk now; "shameful spewing shall be on thy glory." If I wished to drink of this Babylon wine, and wished to cover myself up, I would do exactly what some of these compromise spirits are doing. I would preach, "You must not judge," and "We need more love."
I pray God to thunder forth his judgments as in apostolic days, so that fearfulness may surprise the hypocrites, and fear come upon all the churches, so that no man durst join himself to us. If we needed brass hoofs and iron horns to send forth judgment against the beast that roamed within the walls of sect Babylon, what do we need for the demolishing of the same infernal spirit among us assuming to be dressed in evening light garb. When this blighting leaven of compromise was working in the advocates of the one-cleansing heresy, a conference was wanted by them to adjust between them and the pure saints. If this abominable thing is not weeded out there will be some more conferences wanted. Some people are looking for Antichrist to come, but the Antichrist has ever been cloaked by compromise. You rend off his garment and Antichrist will flee. The church of God will never have a conference to adjust between Antichrist and the Holy Ghost, or to determine who is in the right - the church of God or compromise. This may sound strange to those who are affected by this compromise spirit upon which God has begun to administer his rebukes; but his cause is going through to victory. He shall send forth judgment unto victory. "Judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it." Amen.
This Is No False Alarm.
The Trumpet will blow its blast, and by giving a certain sound the warriors will prepare themselves to the battle. This is no sham battle; we are not beating the air; for we know what is confronting us. Thank God, we also know who it is that girdeth us to the battle. When the walls of God's truth are let down and saints advise to attend sect meetings to give sectarians light, on some things, and are to expect sectarians to give them light on other things, and on such recommendations the unsuspecting run to the Alliance, Booth's army, etc., and some of them even join these institutions, while those more settled in the faith are confused and fairly dazed over these things, and other preachers say they heartily endorse, or are waiting for developments; I declare, in Jesus' name, we need no further developments. "The thing," as some call it, is compromise, and is purely satanic. Some may wonder who is doing this kind of work, who are these men? what are their names? etc. Answer - It is not flesh and blood we are to contend against; but wicked spirits. Let the vehemence of the Eternal God rise up in your soul with flaming rebukes against all compromise, and wield the sword against this compromise that is herein described, And God will clean up or clean out all who are affected by this spirit, and make a short work of it; even if it has been accumulating for years. If this thing were clamoring for the old dead sects and recommending us to join them, every eye would be open to discern: but it comes in a more subtle way like this: "God is not confining his eternal energies to this little thing we call the reformation; God is working elsewhere, and winning souls in all the holiness movements; and they are the church of God just as much as we are the church of God." I protest against this falsehood. Holiness movements and associations are in fellowship with old Babylon, and compromise runs to the very core. God has called his people out from all alliances, unions, confederation, brigades, association, and affinities, because they are the suburbs of old Babylon, and the residence of many who do business down on Market street.
This deceptive compromise calls the anti-cleansing heresy propagators "dear good brethren," and hold many of them as Holy Ghost men who did not lose their salvation by taking up the anti-cleansing teaching; they count it simply as an error of the head, and not of the heart. Truly this is an abomination that should stir every lover of truth to holy vehemence against such apostasy. Ye can not fellowship devils; ye can not drink the Lord's cup, and the cup of devils. Those who are under this compromise are enemies to the cross of Christ; hence this warning to the faithful.
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Add Nothing To His Commandments.
By G. F. Heselton.
"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man." - Ecclesiastes 12:13. This is God's Word, and is therefore true. If we keep all of his commandments would it be advisable under any circumstances to add anything to them? Let us see what the Word of God says about it: "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." - Deuteronomy 4:2. "What things soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." - Deuteronomy 12:32. "Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." - Proverbs 30:6. "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him." - Ecclesiastes 3:14. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." - Revelation 22:18, 19. Now, after these positive commands, where is there any room for a creed, or discipline, to govern God's people? and where is there a command to hold a conference, write up the minutes, and appoint committees, or telling Christians to join a church?
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Treasuring Up Wrath.
By J. Grant Anderson.
"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath." - Romans 2:5. The judgment is a great and solemn event to which this world is swiftly hastening. Soon the thoughtless millions of earth will be called to halt in their mad rush for gold; then they will discover that this deceptive bubble, at last, has escaped from their grasp. Standing in the awful light of a blazing world; beholding the heavens wrapped in sheets of flame; poor sinners will then discover they have made a terrible mistake, and that all is forever lost. "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after." - 1st Timothy 5:24. Every sin that a man commits in this life, he will give an account of in the day of judgment. - Matthew 12:36. Therefore God declares that men with hard and impenitent hearts are treasuring up, or piling up, as it were, great mountains of wrath which will come tumbling down upon them at the judgment day. When a child I was taught that a recording angel in heaven kept account of the sins which I committed upon the earth; but in the text I find that men are treasuring them up within themselves. It is a psychological fact that every thought or act, once fully understood by the mind or soul, is never lost. Memory retains all past ideas and perceptions of the soul. Although we seemingly forget things which we once knew; yet suddenly they return to us as distinct and vivid as ever. People rescued from drowning have often left the testimony that all of their past life came vividly before them in a few short minutes. This sustains the assertion that the memory never dies. Every impure thought and unkind word that men each day are guilty of, is photographed upon the walls of memory with a certainty that time can not efface.
If the words of the text are true, we are unconsciously writing the diary of our life's work, and day by day the sins which we are committing are piling up, mountain upon mountain, and with certain and awful footsteps are following us to the judgment. Suppose that at the judgment seat God should ask you to stand and read the diary of your life's work. What would be more just, or what would be more exact? You would stand self-condemned, and could but say that the decision was just. Oh, the agony and remorse that would creep over your soul at that hour. Now is the only time of mercy. God will have no mercy to offer man at the judgment. To the men who walked carelessly through life, taking no thought of the future, how awful these words would sound: "Bind these unprofitable servants with chains that will never break, and cast him into outer darkness." Sentences can not be formed that will in any way describe the justness with which judgment will be meted out to this sin-cursed world. One law of physics is that, any body put in motion will forever continue in one direction at a uniform rate of speed, unless affected by some other body. The laws of nature are the laws of God. Upon that day of wrath those who neglected salvation in this life will be separated from all that is pure and beautiful. With an awful curse placed upon them they will be sent away from the throne of the Lamb. With no chance of ever coming in contact with that which is elevating, they will ever continue to drift farther and farther away from their God. Whatever has been their burning passion in life will now be fired to the very extreme, and with nothing to gratify this burning lust they will live and dwell throughout all eternity.
Dear reader outside the church of God, think of eternity in an endless hell. Sectarian preachers - you who are teaching the people that schisms exist in the body of Christ - think of eternity in an endless hell. None but the pure in heart will ever enjoy the blessings that are in store for the people of God. Some day not far distant an awful stillness will settle over this sin-cursed world, and degenerate man will seek for death, but will not find it. He shall desire to die, but death shall flee away from him. The heavens will depart as a scroll when it is rolled together, and the unsaved of earth will call for rocks and mountains to fall and hide them from the face of him who sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Son of God. See Revelation 6:15, 16. "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." - Ecclesiastes 12:14.
"Man is what he eats and digests," is a proverb that is as true spiritually as it is physically. No act we perform ends with itself. Our very thoughts are written in our muscles; so the expression of our face grow into harmony with the life we live. Man can change the form of matter; but he can not destroy it: he can utilize the energy with which he is surrounded; but he can not destroy or even retain it but a limited time. Every action, and every word spoken, sets in motion energy which records itself upon the book of nature. Every curse uttered from the lips of sinful man, and every halleluiah that ever went ringing from the lips of the saints of God, has recorded itself upon the book of nature, and to-day is reverberating somewhere in the universe of God. We are living in a wonderful but awful world. "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil." - Romans 2:7-9.
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The Solid Rock.
By R. Rothman.
In building a structure that is meant to stand a long time, a very important thing is to have a good foundation under it. No matter how beautiful and well finished the upper parts may be, the value of the building will be comparatively small if the groundwork is defective. Such buildings are often-times taken down after great sums of money have been expended upon them. On the other hand, with a good foundation, the upper works may be improved and enlarged with satisfactory results. We can all realize the value and necessity of a good foundation. Our Savior used this fact to illustrate a great spiritual truth - the necessity of building our Christian character according to the written Word of God.
In the nominal Christian world to-day one thing is more plainly to be seen than perhaps anything else - the lack of good foundations. The spirit of compromise has leavened the masses of Christendom until they are building upon the philosophy of men and antichrist doctrines. The pure Word of God is largely set aside and its commandments taught to be "non-essentials" and in place of using the words of Christ men make cunning fables or stories and tickle the ears of their hearers therewith. This is a truth which needs only common observation to confirm. The Bible teaches divine healing very definitely, also holiness and the oneness of God's people. The man who goes among sectarians and preaches these vital doctrines is rejected by the masses and often bitterly persecuted. Babylon has a form of godliness but when it comes to the power she denies it. She denies the Holy Spirit and his saving, sanctifying, and healing power.
But, thank God, there is a way to lay a solid foundation, and that is to obey the words of Christ without compromising with the devil's works. Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." - Luke 6:46-49.
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Questions Answered
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How did the church "Saints" or "Evening Lights" originate?
D. E. Princeton, Ontario.
By reading the gospels and the Acts of the Apostles we will get the correct record of how the church (individually called saints) originated. The name "Evening Lights" originated in the last few years with those who improperly call the saints "Evening Lights." The term "saints" is in the New Testament applied to believers. See Acts 8:13; Romans 1:7; 1st Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 2:19; 4:12; 1st Timothy 5:10. Believers are saints or saved people. Every saved person, whoever or wherever he is, is a saint, and belongs to the church. When saints are disconnected with any sect and are free in the one true church, then some people are pleased to call them "Evening Lights." But the name is not acceptable, as it is not a scriptural name for God's people. The New Testament dispensation is considered as a day having a morning and an evening. The morning was a time of spiritual light when Christ was manifested and afterwards preached by the apostles with signs and wonders by the Holy Spirit's power. "His going forth is prepared as the morning," says Hosea, who prophesied of Christ's kingdom. Every student of the world's history knows that after the time of the early church the dark ages came on. That was the time of the apostasy. As Amos shows, the sun went down at noon, and a long period of darkness followed.
"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: and I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." - Amos 8:9-12.
Who does not know that this has been fulfilled during the dark days of Catholicism, and also partially in Protestantism? As, in the progress of events, the world (more specifically the church) emerged from the darkness of mediaeval Catholicism, light began to come again, so that for several hundred years the condition of the church was one of mixture of light and darkness. This was a period of wonderfully rapid sect making. There was some light. Luther revived the teaching of justification by faith, and, later, Wesley that of sanctification by faith. But there was also considerable darkness and groping in confusion. People did not seem to discern the fact that when an individual gets salvation he then becomes a member of the true and only one church, and that all creeds and human organizations are superfluous. Sects divide God's people and held them apart. Also, human church organization sets aside, to a very great extent, the organization of the Spirit; so that frequently men are placed and kept in the pulpit who do not minister light and truth. Thus error is mixed with truth; or in other words, darkness is mixed with light.
But God's church was not always to continue in this confused state. As time passes on and the last dispensation draws near its close the church beholds the light of the evening. After the cloudy period comes light again, as in the morning. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark; but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night; but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light." - Zechariah 14:6, 7. God's saints are delivered from their confused, separated condition. "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day." - Ezekiel 34:12.
Thank God for the light of this evening time! It is the privilege of the saints now to be in the pure light. Thus it can be seen that the light did not originate within the last few years, but is the light that came with the ushering in of the gospel dispensation, and will disappear with its close, when the saints will be house in their heavenly mansions of light, and sinners will receive their portion with the hypocrites. Accept and walk in the light while it is yet day.
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Romans Seven.
Please explain the seventh chapter of Romans.
L. D.
This chapter as a whole taken with the first few verses of the eighth chapter, shows the contrast between the law experience and the gospel experience; or the contrast between the state of being in the flesh, and the state of being in grace. Let the reader take up a Testament and turn to this chapter and read carefully the verses as we refer to them. The first verse teaches that the law has dominion over a man as long as he lives; that is, so long as he lives in the sphere of existence in which the law applies. The apostle illustrates this as true by the law pertaining to marriage, in verses 2 and 3. If the husband or wife be dead, the one living is also dead to the law that bound them together, and is free to marry another. So (verses 4-6) those who are Christ's, who are in grace, are also dead to the law by the body of Christ, and are freely married to another (to Christ), that their fruit might be unto God: that is, fruit of righteousness. When they were in the flesh (under the law) the fruit was unto death; that is, the fruit was sin continually, as is afterward explained. But being dead to the law they are in a sphere of grace and can freely serve in newness of spirit, and not in oldness of letter.
Thus we see even without going any farther in this chapter that the apostle recognizes a state of freedom from sin; else how could he represent the law, or flesh, experience as bearing fruit unto death and the grace, or spirit experience, as bearing fruit unto God? What is fruit unto death but sin? and what is fruit unto God but righteousness (opposite of sin)? Yet teachers from the pulpit frequently are so confused in their understanding of the Scriptures that in the face of these verses we have just passed over they will represent this seventh chapter of Romans as teaching that Paul could not live free from sin; that his highest attainment was one of constant subjection to the law of sin. God be praised for a better knowledge of the truth than that!
Verse 7 shows that it was by the law that the apostle (in the past) had knowledge of sin. If there had been no law, there would have been no sin; for there would have been nothing to call it sin. The law is the mirror that shows sin to be what it is. The principle of sin could not have worked sin in the apostle had it not been for the law against it. Sin, taking advantage of the law, worked unrighteousness in him, as in verse 8. Verse 11 says it slew him. Verses 9 and 10 show that when the apostle was without the law (evidently when he was too young to know the law) he was alive; but as quick as he could realize there was a commandment, then sin also came up before him, and he died; that is, he became dead in guilt and sin. The law, which was ordained to life, he found, only showed him that he was dead. Verses 12 and 13. While the law showed that he was dead in sin, yet the law itself was holy, just, and good.
Bear in mind that the apostle all through these verses is representing his condition in time past, or while he was under the law. It was not his present experience; he gives that later: but he is here referring to the past. With verse 14 he begins to use language of the present; but still refers to the past. He uses present tense to describe things that are past. This is still a very common method of description, as we all know. Verse 14. The law was good, and all right of itself; but the trouble is, Paul (Saul) is carnal - sold under sin. He was in the element of sin, and had no grace to overcome. He had nothing but his own strength for his help, and that was inadequate. Verses 15 and 16. He does the very thing that he does not allow with the law of his mind, and does not do the things he would do; yet he consents that the law itself is good. What excuse this would give for sin were it the highest attainment the apostle ever reached! Happily (or un-happily for those who hold it so) it is not his highest Christian attainment. It was not a Christian attainment at all; but it was his experience under the law, before he knew Christ.
Verses 17-20. He concludes that it is not he that does what he would not and does not do what he should do, but sin that dwells in him.
21-23. He finds then a law that when he would do right, evil is present. He delights in God's law, but discovers something that wars against the law of his mind and makes him captive to the law of sin. 24 and 25. "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" The margin says, "This body of death." Fastening a dead body to a living person was a method of punishment in former times, and the apostle applies it metaphorically to his bondage to sin. But does his question remain unanswered? The question is, How shall I be delivered? The answer is, "I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Through Jesus Christ then there is deliverance. He gives one parting reference to his law experience in these words: "So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." He is now done with this description and in the eighth chapter shows he is free from the law of sin and death; that sin in the flesh is condemned, inasmuch as Christ, who was in the likeness of sinful flesh, succeeded in overcoming sin, and condemned it; so that now the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. This eighth chapter shows conclusively that the apostle found deliverance from the bondage in which he did the things he allowed not, and failed in the good he wanted to do.
A. L. B.
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News from the Field.
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Monon, Indiana, March 22.
Praise God, I am still battling for the Master. Since my last report I have been very busy in the gospel field, and there have been more calls than I could fill. I am glad to say I have seen many born into the kingdom, a good many sanctified, and many different diseases healed, since last fall. The work where I have been is spreading. To God be all the glory, for without him we can do nothing. I keep no account of those that get saved and healed, for I know that their names are written in heaven, and that is enough for me. The Lord has wonderfully blessed me in the work, and I am rejoicing in a full salvation, and have a strong desire to go on in the work. At one place they are getting ready to build a house of worship. Pray that God may prosper them in the work; for the enemy is at work. As soon as the weather will permit we expect to have a tabernacle-meeting at Winona, Stark County, Indiana, and are expecting a great work to be done at that place.
M. F. Maple.
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Muscatine, Iowa, March 25.
Having received a call by telegram to come to Muscatine, I arrived Wednesday at midnight, and found Brother Thomas Nelson in a critical condition. Several days before he had met with an accident with a runaway horse, which resulted in both internal and external injuries, which continued to grow worse until it seemed that life was in the balance, and the pains were intense. The church fasted and prayed, and he was relieved of the severe suffering. Amidst the outward bruises, pains, and internal injuries he trusted in the Lord and did not resort to doctors and medicines. Before retiring Wednesday night prayer was offered in his behalf and early next morning he arose and dressed himself and remained up during the day. The next day he was able to go about and do some work in the publication of the Scandinavian paper, and on Sunday went three or four miles to meeting.
We were pleased to see the favorable outlook for the Scandinavian paper which Brother Nelson has recently begun to publish. He needs our help and prayers in pushing the work on this line.
Brothers Kilpatrick and Jacobson have been holding meetings here for some time, and we were pleased to have the privilege of attending the same for a few days. Souls are being saved from their sins, believers sanctified, and the sick healed. On Thursday night Brother S. M. Clark came to the meeting, carrying his arm in a sling, and suffering much pain from rheumatism. His arm and shoulder were helpless. Immediately after he was anointed and prayer offered in his behalf he was healed and able to put on his coat and overcoat, and went his way rejoicing. On Sunday he testified that the Lord had also healed him of a chronic disease of many years' standing. A number of others have been healed by the power of God in answer to prayer. To him be all the praise and glory.
[Editor]
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Lyons, Iowa, March 25.
We have not reported through The Gospel Trumpet since we left Scotland. We can say, while we have seemingly been silent, we have not been idle. Praise God for his dealings with us! We can say his ways are equal, although we may not fully understand all his ways of dealing with us. We know it is blessed to do his will.
We expected to have been back to our former home in Washington long before this; but the Lord has ordered otherwise, and we can say from the heart, "Thy will be done." We spent some time in Chicago with the saints, and were much benefited by the lessons we learned in the city missionary work. God is blessing and moving forward the work, although the spirit of opposition has been very strong; yet the Lord is getting the work in better condition than it has been for some time. The Lord provided us with a precious home with dear Brother and Sister Cole, and co-workers in the Faith Missionary Home at 7300 Stewart Avenue, which is indeed a faith home. The Lord takes care of his own. Their time is taken up in the work of the Lord, caring for those who come to the home for help, both for soul and body, and attending the many cottage prayer-meetings, and answering the calls from those who live in the city and suburban towns and are in need of help. The church in different places has manifested an interest and co-operation in the work by sending in means. Dear saints, we can assure you the greatest economy and care is used to make every dollar go as far as it will; and the great lesson taught by the Lord in John 6:12 is not overlooked, and much care is taken in all the interest and necessities of the home, both literally and spiritually, to keep it clean. In the latter case it requires much watching and praying and trueness to God, in those whom he has entrusted with the responsibility. The workers at the home and all its interests need the hearty co-operation of all the saints; both by earnest prayer and consecrated means, that the work may go forward in that wicked city.
He felt it was the will of the Lord for us to return to Lyons and Clinton, Iowa, where we have spent a large part of our time since the first of October, in the work of the Lord. Here the church has been suffering, and the cause much hindered for a number of years by a compromising, sectarian spirit, which has been predominant; but the Lord has uncovered and searched out its hiding-places, and the influence of it, has been overcome by every one, and they have taken a firm stand against it. We are trusting the cause here will take a forward move. During the meeting which was in progress about five weeks when Brother A. J. Kilpatrick was with us, some precious souls sought and found peace in the pardoning of their sins, and some were sanctified, others were healed. To God be all the praise. We are holding cottage-meetings in different parts of the city during the week, and also regular services on Lord's day, when the saints from the country and the two towns can all meet together. The work here needs the earnest prayers of the saints that the powers of the enemy may be overcome, and the saints established in the present truth. These are perilous times, and those that will stand must be in earnest, and clad with the whole armor of God.
We can not say how long the Lord will have us stay and look after the work here. The work in Scotland is still on our hearts, and we greatly feel the need of returning there as soon as the Lord wills. We would like to visit our loved ones in the West if the Lord so wills. We ask you all to pray that we may follow him in all things. We are praising God for full salvation. The Lord heals all our diseases. Praise his holy name!
George and A. E. Martin.
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Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, February 7.
We are glad to report victory in the name of Christ. It is sweet to trust in Jesus; truly the promises are yea and amen to them who believe. We have been proving that the Lord is good to such as put their trust in him. Truly he does give us all things. We sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and the Lord adds unto us the "all things" just as we have need. He sent us out into what seemed a hard, dry field of labor. All we had for our support was the promise, "Lo I am with you always." For four years and a half we have been proving his promises, and find that he does do for us more than we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us. It has been laid upon our hearts to ask; we have asked in faith and then have patiently waited, and the Lord has given us the desire of our hearts. We are encouraged to ask for greater things that our joy may be full. We wrote a letter not long since to the Trumpet recounting some of the things the Lord had done for the work here, but suppose it was lost as it was not published. Probably it was all for the best. All things work together for good to them who obey God. Our prayer was that we might be made partakers of all the benefits of the atonement for the complete salvation of our souls and later for the healing of our bodies, for his honor and glory. For this he has been most graciously answering prayer. We asked for a mission-house, a paper-cutter, paper, necessary clothing and food, a sewing-machine, and type-writer; all of these have been most graciously supplied. To God be all the glory. Amen! One sister sent sixteen dollars from the little church at her place, for the purpose of buying the lot on which the mission stands. She also expressed a desire that the Lord would put it into the hearts of others to do the same, until enough was sent in to purchase it. We have spoken to the owner about it. He does not care to sell; but says for our purpose he will let us have it at $350.00, Mexican, equal to $175.00 American. The lot is small; 18 X 50 feet. It is a corner lot, and a favorable location. In praying over the matter, it seems good to us to "buy the field." We just leave the matter in the hands of the Lord to work it all out to his own honor and glory. The lots here are constantly increasing in value, and are difficult to get. We have a lease of the lot for $2.00 a month for one year, which will expire next December. We trust the Lord will have his perfect way in this matter. Truly, thus far the Lord has wrought all our works in us. He has prepared for us a table in the presence of our enemies; he has anointed our heads with oil, our cup runneth over. Praise God!
You must have patience with us in this work. We would that the work was more marked by the salvation of souls, and to this end we pray and also ask you to pray; but remember this people have not yet really heard the gospel. Yesterday an otherwise intelligent lady came to our house, and in answer to the question, "Do you believe the Bible?" she said, "I have never seen it." We gave her a New Testament, she promising to keep and carefully read it. Directly across the street from us lives a young lady school-teacher. The other day she visited us and in answer to the same question she said she had never read anything in the Bible. She also gladly took a New Testament, promising to carefully read it. These are only two examples of the thousands that are round about us. You see it must necessarily take time; but may the Lord hasten it is our prayer. Amen! You must remember too that those who have professedly come out of Catholicism are still not much farther out than in name. They go to market on Sunday morning and do washing, ironing, and sewing on Sunday. They smoke their cigarettes, take their drams, and are loose in their social relations; and their word is not to be depended upon. But the Lord is helping us to lift up the standard of holiness; and while many are saying, "We will not walk therein," yet others are inquiring into this way. Pray that we may open our mouths to speak boldly as we ought.
Perhaps our friends would also be pleased to learn that another missionary has been added to our list. He bears the name of Benjamin enoch, and is now (March 9) four days old.
Please do not send money in letters, as they claim it is against the law here in Mexico, and even made us open a letter in which they suspected was money. It proved to be a ten-cent piece. They said they had a right to keep it, but would let it go that time. To send bills they said would be worse. But a bank draft, express or international post-office order, or postage stamps, is all right. Any one desiring to send us money, and can not procure any of the above-mentioned orders can send to the Trumpet Office, and it will be forwarded to us. Anyone receiving papers and tracts in Spanish from us, and can not make good use of them, please inform us; or if you can use more, drop us a card. We have on hand 1,000 copies of the "Church of God." Will soon have printed "Salvation," and are translating "Secret of Salvation." Pray for us.
Yours in Jesus,
B. F. and G. C. Elliott.
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Testimonies
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Charleston, South Carolina.
This day finds me saved and praising God for salvation that delivers me from the hand of the wicked one. Pray that I may continue in God's order. He keeps me by his power.
Peter Johnson.
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Louisville, Ohio.
I praise the Lord for his goodness to me. He saves me, and heals me when I am sick. This winter I had lung trouble and a bad cough. I took it to the Lord, and he healed me. I am much better, and am gaining strength every day. Praise his name forever! It is sweet to trust in the Lord. Pray that I may keep humble and in the Master's service.
Sarah Bair.
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Carlisle, Tennessee.
I praise the Lord for full salvation. I am saved and kept by his power. Praise his holy name! I was afflicted and the Lord healed me, for which I give him all the glory. He is a present help in time of need. I want God's little ones to pray that I may be kept humble at the feet of our blessed Lord, where he can use me to his glory.
L. E. Pack.
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Condray, Missouri.
I can testify to the Lord's goodness to me in saving and keeping me from all sin. I am so glad I was willing to accept him when he called after me. Praise his dear name! He gives me peace and glory, and helps me to live with victory in my soul over the powers of the enemy. I am dead to this world and alive in Christ, and always want to be found a humble child of God. Pray that I may be kept continually doing my Master's will.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bowers.
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Somerset, Kentucky.
Praise the dear Lord, he has healed me of the grip and rheumatism! I give him all the glory. I have taken no medicine for five years. I trust the Lord and he heals me. Praise his holy name! I came out into this light three years ago. I have such sweet peace in believing. Pray that I may be sanctified wholly. If some of the Lord's ministers feel led to come here, they will find a place to stay, and a place to preach, by addressing me. I could use old Trumpets to advantage for the salvation of souls.
Mrs. Laura Greene.
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Stockton, Missouri.
I praise God that he spared my life to see the beautiful light. It is so wonderful to be kept by the power of God. Although at times it seems I am surrounded by the powers of darkness; yet he who has said he will never suffer us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear always come to my rescue. He has often healed my body of disease, and I give him all the praise and glory. It has only been a short time since I saw the true way of serving God. I am not yet sanctified. Pray that I may be wholly consecrated to God, and that I may be healed of catarrh.
Fannie H. Barley.
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Potwin, Kansas.
I would like to testify through The Gospel Trumpet of God's wonderful salvation. He saves and sanctifies me, and I have sweet peace and glory through Christ my King. I am now out of sectism and in the church of God, all glory be to his name, and by the grace of God and through his strength I am determined to go through for Jesus at any cost. Oh, he is so good to me; he has healed me of a very bad cough, also of sciatic rheumatism. All glory be to God and the Lamb forever!
Eliza W. Ackerly.
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Spruce, Pennsylvania.
I am glad to testify to what the Lord has done for me. It has been about two years since I was saved. I belonged to the Disciples denomination, but lived in sin. When I heard the saints preach I thought it was not necessary to live so close, but as I wanted to live right I felt concerned about my soul's salvation. I prayed earnestly that the Lord would lead me into all truth, and, praise his name, he convicted me of my sins. When I came to him for forgiveness he gave me sweet peace and healed my body at the same time. Praise God for his goodness and mercy! He has healed me and the rest of the family many times through prayer.
Pray that I may have more knowledge and wisdom, and ever do my Master's will.
M. E. Anderson.
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Corydon, Kentucky.
I wish to write my testimony and tell how wonderfully God has enabled us to trust him for healing, during the past seventeen years. We first heard divine healing taught in California. Since then we have trusted Jesus. I was first healed of consumption. I have been instantly healed several times since of the grip. Three years ago I was very near death's door. My feet were as cold as if I had been dead. We had no thought of sending for a doctor. God wants a tried people. When he saw I was willing to trust him, live or die, he spoke to my companion and said that my life would be spared. I was healed instantly. It is just wonderful how the Lord has been leading us by his Holy Spirit.
Mrs. S. P. Day.
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Fernwood, Mississippi.
The Lord has done great things for me, for which I am glad. Blessed be our Lord Jesus for his wonderful love which he freely bestows upon mankind! I praise God for the mercies he has shown toward me, and I rejoice to say that he has heard my prayers in behalf of my afflicted husband and myself. Oh, 'tis so sweet to trust in Jesus; just to take him at his word! Pray that my family may be saved and healed, and that I may live nearer to Jesus and grow stronger in his cause. I have just come out into the truth and am trying to live up to all the light I can get. I still have a few light afflictions to contend with; but I want the dear saints of God to pray that I may be strengthened enough to overcome them all, and also be sanctified.
Emma C. Grim.
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Bowling Green, Kentucky.
I am a witness for Jesus. He has wonderfully manifested his healing power in my family. We take the Lord for our physician. Pray that I may ever be humble and submissive to his will. I find many good people here who are living up to all the light they have.
P. Casteel.
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Mallard, Louisiana.
We are glad to be spared and blessed with health and strength. We are praising God for his goodness, and for all the things we enjoy from his bountiful hand. I know of no saints of God here; yet our Father says he will never leave or forsake his children (Hebrews 13:5), and as long as we trust him he will not withhold any good thing from us if we walk uprightly. Psalms 84:11. Praise God! we find him all in all to us. Can we look back upon each day's work and say from our heart, "I have done all I could for Christ?" or can our blessed Redeemer say of us as he did of the woman, "She hath done what she could?" Let us not be "deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." - Galatians 6:7-10. For grace to do good to all men when they persecute and try us the most, we must have Christ in us and commit everything into the hand of him who doeth all things well. Brethren, pray that our faith fail not, and that God in his own good time raise up a church here to the glory of his name and the salvation of souls.
D. E. Ridenour and Wife.
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Round Knob, Illinois.
I am saved, sanctified, and healed. About a year ago the Lord sent a couple of his ministers here to preach the Word in its purity. I was convicted and got wonderfully save from all my transgressions. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God." - Romans 5:1. Two months after I was saved the very God of peace sanctified me wholly. 1st Thessalonians 5:23. I was cleansed from all unrighteousness, and prepared unto every good work. 2nd Timothy 2:21. Afterward the Lord showed me plainly that I must preach the gospel. I was astonished and began to make excuses; but the Lord did not excuse me. I promised him that I would preach on Saturday night and on Sunday; but that was not what the Lord wanted. He wanted me to quit farming and preach all the time. Seeing if I became lukewarm and neither cold nor hot that the Lord would spew me out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16), I promised to preach. So I gave up everything and went to Tucker's Chapel. God was wonderfully meeting with us in power, and sinners were getting deeply interested when the doors were closed against me. Satan was trying to discourage me; but I find God's grace is sufficient to carry us through all trials and temptations. I returned home asking God to lead me. Feeling led to go to the Bethlehem school-house, I held meeting there over a week. In that time two were saved and three sanctified. Several were also healed. Praise the Lord for his wonderful power! I am still out for God. By the grace of God I expect to spend the rest of my life in his service. My sister is now with me, and we are both heralding the truth. We ask the prayers of the children of God that we may prove faithful to the end.
Charles Helmantoler.
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McGill, West Virginia.
I praise the Lord for a full Bible salvation that saves and sanctifies me, and keeps me free from all sin. When quite a child I pondered in my mind and asked my mother in a simple childlike way how it was that people could be real Christians and sin. I did not believe they could; still I was taught from the pulpit that we had to sin more or less every day. When thirteen years of age I joined the M. E. Sect. I went to the altar and went through a form of profession, as did all the rest, but I knew I was not saved. I remember when I testified I would say something like this: "My greatest desire is to make heaven my home." I was too honest to say I was saved when down in my heart something would tell me I was not. Others would testify they were children of God. I knew they were not; for Jesus says, "By their fruits ye shall know them." I continued living in sin with a profession. I would awake nights frightened and my sins would loom up before me. I knew if I should die I would be lost. Jesus showed me my true condition, and I saw that I was a most wretched sinner in the eyes of God. I would often think that if I could go away where no one knew me I would go to the altar and get saved. Such an opportunity was presented; but my heart was too proud; I did not yield. I praise the Lord that the time came when I was only too glad to fall at Jesus' feet and plead for him to save me. God sent two of his true ministers to this place to preach the whole Bible. This was the first time I heard the whole truth preached, and when the Word went forth with authority I was glad to know that Jesus would save even me. After hearing a number of real Holy Ghost sermons I went to the altar but did not get saved. I got to doubting, and each day my doubting grew worse. Oh, the bitter tears of anguish I shed. I would fall upon my knees and cry and plead for Jesus to satisfy the longing of my heart. As days passed by my case seemed darker. One day I felt much impressed to go to the home of my sister. After entering the house one of the ministers came into the room and said, "We were just thinking of sending for you, but thought if the Lord wanted you to come that you would come anyway." The minister asked me if I was satisfied with my experience. I told him I was not. He then asked me if I would be willing to go to the altar again. I readily said I was. We knelt down then and he prayed with me. It was quite a task to give up everything at first. It seemed hard for me to get down there and pray, but it appeared to me that then was the time for me to get saved. When I fell upon my knees and sought Jesus with a contrite heart, he wondrously saved me. It seemed to me that everything was praising the Lord, and that my blessed Jesus was smiling upon me. Praise the Lord for ever and ever!
"Long my yearning heart was trying
To enjoy this perfect rest;
But I gave all trying over,
Simply trusting I was blest."
May the Lord encourage every precious soul who has started to live for Jesus but is not satisfied with their experience. Do not become discouraged. Remember if you are not satisfied with your experience then Jesus is not satisfied with you. You need to get where you know Jesus is satisfied with you, and give yourself up fully to him. Then Jesus is ready to save you, and give you an experience that will satisfy you. When Jesus saves us and cleanses us from all inbred depravity it is easy to trust him at all times, and to live a life free from all sin. "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:30. I have found it so.
Florence Philips.
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Divine Healing
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What Is Divine Healing?
By O. A. Pratt.
Divine healing is the work of the Holy Spirit; the touch of Omnipotence; the supernatural power of Divinity infused through our bodies, removing all sickness and disease, and substituting in its place the strength, life, and power of the omnipotent God - the same power that raised Lazarus from the dead or converts a soul from the error of his ways. It is not founded upon human reasoning, or the testimony or experience of those who have been healed; but upon the Word of God and that alone.
Divine healing is a part of the great plan of redemption. He who created us is able to restore us and keep us to the end if we but comply with the conditions, or commands given us. It comes to us through the life and power of the Savior who rose from the dead, sharing with us his physical vitality and strength, and bringing us into a near and dear union with him. It does not come through the merit or good works of man, but as a free gift of God.
Divine healing does not consist in our faith or prayers; for it is Christ who heals through our faith. Prayers are instrumental in bringing to us the promised blessings. We are to step out upon his promises and claim his healing power, nothing doubting, and as sure as the Word of God is true, so sure will the promised blessings come. From the days of the prophets and apostles, through all church history, through varied nationalities and denominations, even to the present day, there have been examples of divine healing. To-day throughout all the world are thousands of living testimonies to the same. (A remarkable case of cancer has been healed the past year in the home of the writer.) Doubts and fears may often arise; yet we can but exclaim, "Let God be true, but every man a liar." His Word is truth, and the truth shall make us free.
Much might be added; but multiplicity of words is vain. As when Christ was upon earth none were turned empty-handed away, and as the simple touch of faith invariably brought the desired blessing; so none of us need fail; but we may come with simple faith to the Great Healer and be made perfectly whole. He has lost none of his power, willingness, or ability to heal his children; for he is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." Scattered throughout this and other lands are many homes where thousands have been fully healed of all manner of incurable (?) diseases - faithful witnesses of the unfailing skill and power of the Great Physician.
"Hear him, ye deaf; his praise, ye dumb,
Your loosened tongues employ:
Ye blind, behold your Savior come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy."
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Healed of Rheumatism.
I wish to testify to God's mercies, and his kindness to his children that put their trust in him. I have been afflicted with rheumatism for some time; but lately it became very painful, and seemed to settle in my back. I felt led to ask the Trumpet Family to agree with me February 25th, and I received a perfect healing. Praise God for his loving-kindness! May these few lines lead others to trust the all-wise God. Pray that my faith fail not.
Amelia Hackett.
Bakersfield, California,
March 7.
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Healed of Erysipelas.
I praise the dear Lord for the many blessings he is bestowing upon us. Our little baby five months old was taken with erysipelas in her face and head. As we take Jesus for our physician, we called in the saints at this place and agreed in prayer and anointed her in the name of the Lord, and she was healed; but our faith was tried. We learned patience and had an increase of faith. The neighbors said she would die if we did not have a doctor. We stood true to God. We find him a help in every time of need. Pray that we keep humble at his feet. We give him all the praise.
Louisa Kincheloe.
Loeffler, Missouri,
February 20.
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Healing and Protecting Power.
I praise God for his saving grace and his healing power. He saves and keeps me day by day, and heals all of my diseases. Praise his name! He has healed us of bad colds this winter and has kept us thus far from taking the small-pox. About two weeks ago father was so bad with this affliction that he sent for me to sing and pray with him. I told the Lord the condition we were in and that he had promised to take care of me. So I went. I never saw father so sick before: but, praise the name of Jesus, he raised him up, and has taken care of us. although by visiting him I was kept from my work four days. I give God all the glory. Pray that we be always found at our Savior's feet, doing his will.
L. S. Barham.
Almena, Kansas,
March 18.
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Healed of a Dangerous Illness.
When our little one was about six weeks old he caught a severe cold, which settled upon his lungs, and developing dangerous symptoms was called lung fever. A number of those who saw him said he could not live until morning; but we did not feel that the Lord wished to take him from us. We continued in earnest prayer; but he seemed to grow worse instead of better, and was very near death's door. In the morning we had him anointed according to James 5:14; yet all day he seemed to grow worse. Just at night, after we had resigned him to God, he suddenly became much brighter, and from that time has been healed. That night we took him to bed with us and he slept well, and has been all right ever since. Glory to God for what he has wrought! To him belongs, and shall be, all the praise.
J. and M. Douglass.
Children's Home,
Grand Junction, Michigan,
March 16.
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Healed of Sprain.
I praise God for full and free salvation. Oh, who would not praise such a God, who saves and keeps us free from sin, and heals us when sick. Last June, because of a recent rain, the hillside just back of our house was made very slippery, and I fell and injured my right side. I did not pay much attention to it until I noticed an enlargement on my abdomen. In January I was unable to walk without suffering great pain. When taken down mother sent for a doctor, and he said that I had sprained my side and taken cold. She then wrote for an anointed handkerchief. When it came I applied it at the appointed time, after having prayer, and the Lord healed me, insomuch that the pain and enlargement disappeared. I am able to walk, and my side is getting well, but sometimes it bothers when I do too much heavy lifting. Pray much for me.
Myrtie Caldwell.
Cor. 2d and Logan Streets,
Leavenworth, Kansas.
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Healed of a Severe Cold.
I praise God for his wonderful mercy and the strength he gives me. Friday March 8th I went to inquire of the school-teacher if he would allow me to preach in the school-house on Saturday night and Sunday. I had been suffering with a severe cold. The enemy tried his best to hinder, and suggested that it was no use to expect any favor from the Lord. But, praise God, I looked unto the hills from whence came my help. To make matters look more serious, about four o'clock in the evening I began to expectorate blood. The enemy made it appear that I was going to have a very serious time. He suggested my inability to sing and pray and deliver the message in that condition. I rebuked him, and gave him to understand I was in the hands of the Lord. I did not fear; for he so wonderfully assured me: "Lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." While my lungs were very sore Satan tried to make it appear useless to try to sing; but praises be to Jesus for deliverance. He came to my rescue, and I sang and praised his name. The schoolhouse was locked against me from preaching the precious message of salvation; but I had great joy to know that Jesus healed me. Beloved, we have a wonderful Savior who answers our requests when we obey his will. To God be all the glory. I am saved and sanctified, and feasting on the rich blessings of my precious Redeemer, who is directing my path.
William Grumball.
Elkins, West Virginia,
March 13.
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The Best Physician.
I promised God if he would heal our baby I would testify to his goodness, and, praise God! he has done so much for me of late I will tell of it, praying it may strengthen some one.
Last Sunday our babe fifteen months old became sick with the mumps. That night, Monday, and Monday night, she was very sick, and had a very high fever. Tuesday morning at half-past three she had a spasm. No one knows but those who have passed through it the anguish of a mother to see her little one so near death. We supposed she never would recover from it, and called her brother to see her; but oh, how I was wrestling with God to spare her to us. I realized then that God wanted me to be willing to say, his will and not mine be done. It seemed I could not get hold of the Lord. I saw my condition before him. I had been letting the cares of this life keep me from secret prayer too much. As the child lay struggling in my arms I saw its sickness was the hand of God manifested to arouse me to duty. I promised him never to do so again, and when I could look up and say, "God, she is yours; thy will be done," she began to revive. Husband had gone to send for a doctor. Then it seemed she would be worse; but I looked to God. She became a little better until Thursday afternoon, when she grew rapidly worse, and her fever was very high again. Husband was away and I plead with God to heal her before he came home, so he would not have a doctor again; but she seemed to only get worse, and would have those spasms again unless God healed her. I had the precious promises given to me, "As thy faith so be lit unto thee" and, "If ye abide in me and I in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done," and at last knelt down and asked God to heal her, so she would not have to take the medicine, as she became worse before when she took it. God heard me, for when husband came back she was perspiring, and raised up and smiled.
The doctor did not come, but sent medicine and said he would be there in the morning; but she did not take a drop of medicine, and husband sent our boy to telephone the doctor not to come.
O dear ones, it pays to trust God. May God bless these lines to some one, and give them grace to trust him.
Mrs. M. Kenyon.
Shultz, Michigan,
February 22.
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"Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end." - Proverbs 19:20.
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Consider Jesus.
By Annie M Wolfe.
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and High Priest of your profession, Christ Jesus." - Hebrews 3:1. This scripture has been very precious to me; and the more I consider Jesus, the more this scripture contains. Let us all consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession; for while we consider Jesus our eyes are upon the treasures we have in heaven; and not upon anything of this world. A sister once told me that a person came to her with something about a brother. She said she could not believe it; but she made up her mind to watch that brother. This she did, and the devil soon made her believe that what she had heard was true. So she continued to watch, and thus nearly lost her salvation. This is just what will happen if we watch or consider any one but Jesus. Let us consider him: how he yielded to his Father's will, and how strong his faith in God was; also how he went from place to place doing good. He faced numbers of angry men whose whole desire was to kill him; but he was humble and did not murmur or complain. Consider Jesus as he sits on the porch of the temple with indignant men around him, trying to show them the way; but they took up stones to kill him. He then meekly asked them for which of his good works they stoned him. He tried to show them the works of the Father with a heart melting with love and pity toward those wicked, fallen men. Oh, consider him, dear ones.
Consider Jesus as he met the lepers who were counted of all people most filthy, full of a loathsome disease, because of which they dare not come near any one, but must fall on their faces and cry, "Unclean." Jesus did not abhor these poor people on account of their dreadful disease, but had compassion on them in their helpless condition, and touching them spoke the word that made them whole. Let us consider Jesus as he stood weeping over Jerusalem - his great heart melting with love. He wept and cried out in pity, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, . . . how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!" Think of him in the garden of Gethsemane as he plead with the Father for strength to pass through the hardest trial of all. His anguish seemed almost too great for tears. Oh, let us remember him as the soldiers came; how calmly he went to meet them! How firm his faith was in his Father! Think of the many false accusations - the mockings and scourging. He bore his cross up mount Calvary; the nails were driven, and, raising the cross, they lowered it into the hole dug for it.
Oh, consider him dear ones! He bore it all for us, to show us the plan of salvation. Are we all willing to accept him as our pattern? do we measure to it? can we bear the trials, persecutions, scoffs, and jeers of the world with the meekness of Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession? Let us consider deep and long. Let him be our meditation. There are many scriptures about Jesus to consider. If we consider him continually, we are not apt to see what our brethren and sisters do. We will never lose the grace of God out of our hearts while considering Jesus.
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