The Gospel Trumpet, June 27, 1901

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The Gospel Trumpet

Volume 21 - Issue 25 - June 27, 1901

(Articles of interest only)

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Salvation Story.

By G. P. Tasker.

May the sweet salvation story

Told to sinners long ago

Once again with ancient glory

Cause the streams of joy to flow.

See them living all around you,

Dead in sins, with not to wake:

Lift thy voice up like a trumpet,

Show to them the way to take.

Christ is coming and the judgment,

Heedless seems the mighty throng;

O my brother, lift up Jesus,

Preach Him both by life and song.

Let the joys of God’s salvation

Fill thy message-burdened heart;

Some will surely, as you’re preaching,

Choose that good and better part.

Let the sweet and holy savor

Of the presence of our God

Ever be upon your garments,

Tho’ your Word smites like a rod.

God, with precious Balm of Gilead,

Those who turn to Him, will heal,

And the truly consecrated

With his Spirit he will seal.

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REPENTANCE.

By Ella V. May.

          There has been much said on this subject; but for the benefit of unsaved souls into whose hands this may fall, I will, by the help of the Lord, pen these lines. We are commanded to “Exhort one another daily, while it is called to-day.” - Hebrews 3:3.

          Dear sinner, it is time to “awake to righteousness,” for what are we profited, if we gain the whole world, and lose our own soul? “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” - Isaiah 55:1. This certainly implies that there will come a time when the Lord will not be found of you if you “neglect so great salvation;” and, indeed, he does say in his precious Word that his Spirit will not always strive with man. He says, “To-day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” - Hebrews 3:15. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” - 1^st Corinthians 1:2. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” - 1^st Peter 5:7. The great loving Jesus is not willing that any should perish, but that all might have life everlasting.

          O sinner, you need not bear that load of sin any longer if you will but come to the dear Lord. He will set you free. Will you count the cost, and come? It will cost you the giving up of all your sinful doings and getting down to Bible salvation and the keeping of his commands, which is far better. “His commandments are not grievous.” - 1^st John 5:3. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - Matthew 11:28. See also verses 29 and 30. Indeed it is a blessed rest that Jesus will give you. Then he says, though your sins be as scarlet he will make them like wool. He will wash your sins all away and make you whiter than snow. He says he forgives them never to be remembered any more, and that they are cast into the depths of the sea, etc.

          Oh, think of the great judgment day that is coming when you will have to stand before the Judge to be judged according to your works. O sinner, do prepare to stand with all boldness, without spot and blameless, in that day, and then gain your reward with him in heaven for ever. See 1^st Corinthians 1:7, 8.

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The New Testament Church.

By Alvin J. Ellison.

Chapter 10. - PURITY.

          “Would to God you could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” - 2^nd Corinthians 11:1, 2.

          The apostle is here speaking of the purity of the New Testament church. He represents her as being a chaste virgin (I. E., one undefiled; clean, pure, free from all uncleanness), that she may be presented spotless unto Christ. This feature of the church is beautifully set forth in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, as follows: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish.” - Ephesians 5:25-27. In this text the apostle gives a most beautiful definition of a chaste virgin (the church), as spoken of in his letter to the Corinthians. He tells us she is to be “without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that she should be holy; and without blemish.” That she may ever retain this beautiful state of purity, she must keep herself from the many defiling spots which the enemy will try to impose upon her through those who seek her ruin. We will now notice a number of these defiling spots from which the church must keep herself.

DECEPTIVE SPOTS.

          “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots, they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceiving, while they feast with you.” - 2^nd Peter 2:12-14. The deceptive spots here spoken of may be properly termed “spots of compromise.” He here speaks of these defiling characters as feasting (spiritually) with the people of God. They are, therefore, the spots of compromise which have crept in among the people of God owing to a lack of administering the fiery judgments of Almighty God, which should be in the mouth of every true minister of the everlasting gospel.

FLESH SPOTS.

          “And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garments spotted by the flesh.” - Jude 22, 23. The flesh spots of which the apostle here speaks are the results of gratifying the unchaste desires of a corrupt, fallen nature. But we are exhorted by the apostle Paul: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” We have here prescribed a never-failing remedy for these unholy spots of the flesh. “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” “For they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.” - Galatians 5:24. Glory to God. Therefore, dearly beloved, having once obtained this glorious deliverance, let us ever give heed to the inspired admonition: “Keep thyself pure” (1^st Timothy 5:22), for only by so doing will we be presented as a chaste virgin unto Christ.

PURITY DEMANDED BY GOD.

          “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him [the Lord] in peace, without spot, and blameless.” - 2^nd Peter 3:14. “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy.” - 1^st Peter 1:15. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” - Hebrews 12:14. By these texts we learn that God really demands his people to live a pure, Christ-like life in this present world. Therefore, to be one of his we must obtain such an experience, and then by his heavenly favor live the life of holiness.

PROVISIONS FOR PURITY.

          That we may obtain this glorious experience of purity, the Lord hath employed two agents to accomplish the work of purifying. These two agents work in perfect harmony, the one with the other.

          First, The Word of God. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth [Word] through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” - 1^st Peter 1:22. “But ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine [the Word of God] which was delivered you: being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” - Romans 6:17, 18. It is now conclusive that the Word of God is the first agent that the Lord uses to bring about this holy life, as taught in the Holy Scriptures.

          Second, The blood of Christ. “But if we walk in the light as he [Christ] is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” - 1^st John 1:7. “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.” - Hebrews 13:12. By these scriptures it is clearly seen that the blood of Christ is the second agent used in bringing us to this blessed state of purity. When we come into obedience to the precious Word of God, then he applies the blood of Christ, and we receive the cleansing through faith in him that promised. Praise God! Since the provisions for this blessed experience have been made, every soul failing to obtain the same will be found without excuse at the judgment-bar of God.

BRIDE’S ADORNMENT.

          “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluiah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him; for the marriage of the Lamb [Christ] is come, and his wife [the church] hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” - Revelation 19:6-8. This wonderful text of scripture clearly shows to us what the condition of the bride (church) will be when the Lamb (Christ) comes to receive her unto himself at his second advent into this world. She will be robed in “fine linen, clean and white,” which is the righteousness of the saints, or church. By this wonderful truth we learn that the divine righteousness which we possess forms our spiritual covering, which is in every case “clean and white.” Praise God! Solomon, in speaking of the New Testament church, as a bride, said: “Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.” - Song of Solomon 4:7.

          Dear reader, have you on this spotless robe of righteousness? Let us see the result of not having on the righteous robe. “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he said unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” - Matthew 22:11-13. These words of our blessed Savior show us the awful results of neglecting to obtain salvation from our sins, which clothes us with the beautiful robe of righteousness, also the result of professing to be a Christian, without having a real experience of being made a “new creature” in Christ. “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matthew 7:21-23. May God grant that these words of warning from our Savior may cause his dear children to “be diligent,” and carefully obey all his precious Word, that they may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless;” and that we may be presented “as a chaste virgin” to Christ. Amen.

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Going Back to Babylon to Worship.

By Mary Keech.

          “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? . . . Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” - 2^nd Corinthians 6:14, 15. “Be ye not therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” - Ephesians 5:7, 8. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” - 2^nd Corinthians 6:17. Also Revelation 18:2-4.

          After some people have been out of sectism a while, because they do not have preaching or very many saints to meet together with, they think, to hear preaching, they should go back to some denomination occasionally. The devil never asks more than this at first. He just wants to draw them little by little and does not ask them to go back and join at first. But they get a little neglectful about attending their own meetings, and soon Satan has them just where he wants them to be. Of course they will not join, as they think that would not be right. They will just worship with them. If it had not been for just such people there would be no denominations to-day.

          Brothers and sisters, let us “stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” - Galatians 5:1. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:25. Jude tells us in the 3^rd verse that we “should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” He does not tell us to contend for the faith delivered unto the Methodists, or some other denomination. “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” - Verse 17-20. May God help each one professing to be a child of God to live the life at any cost. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” - James 4:7, 8.

          Jesus says: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” - Matthew 10:37. If there are any that will not come out straight for God and worship him in this evening light, though their wife, husband, children, or parents oppose the truth, such are not worthy of him. We can win them much quicker to the truth by standing firm than by worshiping with them and thus helping them along in their sect idolatry. May God help us to see the great responsibility resting upon each of us. We do not know how many precious souls we may be the means of saving by standing firm for God and walking according to the Word. “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.” - 2^nd Thessalonians 2:1, 2.

          Some may say their conscience does not condemn them for going back and worshiping with Babylon occasionally. God is calling his people out of all division, and if he has called you out and you do not remain out and obey his Word, Paul says: “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” - Verse 11, 12. May everything we do be done through love and to the glorifying of God’s most holy name - not in fulfillment of the lusts of the flesh. But how are we to know that we are doing the will of the Lord? “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God.” “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” Praise God forever! “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” - 1^st John 4:1. “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” - 2^nd Peter 2:20.

          “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised; . . .not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:23, 24. May God help us all to meet together often in the Bible unity, that we may worship him in one mind, in one accord, and in one Spirit. How glorious it is to worship God according to his Word! What an awful thing it is to see on every hand the people worshiping God (or pretending to) not according to his Word, but according to man’s opinion - something we will not be judged by at all, as we are to be judged by God’s Word. Therefore we must measure up to it while here on earth; for it will be our only chance. Our lives will settle our eternity. “Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” - Ephesians 5:14-16. “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.” - John 8:31, 32. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” - Isaiah 60:1. “Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and deliver thee, saith the Lord. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.” - Jeremiah 15:19-21.

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Seeking the Lost.

          The most imperative and solemn duty of the hour is to win lost men to Christ. In the love and will of God the object of all preaching, of all revelation, of all truth, of the gift, death, and coming again of the Lord Jesus, of the whole plan and work of the gospel, is to save men. Whoever and whatever loses sight of this end and aim is not of God. The great gospel worker Saint Paul, solemnly declares, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” Every minister of the Lord Jesus should be devoted, first and last and always, to the accomplishment of the purpose for which his divine Lord came and bled and died. Every man who fails to do this ceases to be an ambassador of the living God. No talents, acquirements, or influence that are not used to save men are of any importance whatever to our Lord. No religious movement, however vast and powerful, that fails to hold itself closely to the ultimate aim of saving sinners, will be recognized by the Holy Spirit. “But if the watchman see the sword come and blow not the trumpet, . . . If the sword come and take away any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” We do see the sword coming, and our responsibility is commensurate with the light we have.

- Selected.

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Sayings of Solomon.

          Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

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          Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst with new wine.

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Persecution.

By Lillie B. Thurmond.

          “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” - 2^nd Timothy 3:12. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” - Matthew 5:11, 12.

          We see that a blessing is pronounced upon all that are persecuted for Jesus’ sake. Look up and rejoice, thou persecuted one, for great is your reward in heaven. Persecutions follow the people of God. In the beginning of the creation of the world, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and slew him because he was righteous. God had respect unto Abel’s offering, and Cain was wroth with him. Genesis 4:3-9. We see again where Joseph was sold by his brothers and carried into the land of Egypt. God was with him and he dreamed of things that would come to pass. His brothers hated him, and sought to take his life; but he was sold and carried down into Egypt, and afterwards was cast into prison, where he remained two years. But God was with him and delivered him, and he was highly promoted, thus being enabled to deliver his father and brothers from famine and cause them to dwell in the land of Egypt. After the children of Israel went down into Egypt there arose a king which knew not Joseph, and they became bondmen. Because the Lord was with them and multiplied and increased them, Pharaoh afflicted them, and their burdens became so great that their groanings came up into the ears of God. He sent them a deliverer, yet when Moses came before Pharaoh he would not let them go, but made their burdens greater. God did many signs and wonders in the sight of Pharaoh, and at last he let them go. He afterward pursued them, though, and was drowned in the Red Sea. Again, we read how David’s own son pursued him to take his life, and how Saul tried to kill David, who had to hide himself in caves in the wilderness. Jeremiah was cast into the dungeon for prophesying unto Zedekiah that he should be taken captive to Babylon. “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure.” - James 5:10, 11. Then we come to the time when God sent his only begotten Son into the world. He was persecuted, smitten, and afflicted -  man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” - Isaiah 53:7. Before Pontius Pilate he answered nothing. He wore the crown of thorns, was spit upon, mocked and buffeted, and at last suffered the shameful death of the cross.

          Dear ones, Look up! If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us. It may be easy to sing, “I’ll go with him through the garden,” but do we realize it - are we consecrated to suffer with Christ? Christ has gone before; he has made the way for us; but it is straight and narrow, and we must follow in his steps who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Again, he speaks unto his followers, saying, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” We find that the most religious people when Christ made his advent into the world were his severest persecutors. They claimed they know God, had Abraham for their father, and were under Moses etc.; but Christ said to them: “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” This is like the religious class of people to-day in sectism. They claim to know God and to be following Christ; but touch upon the church of God, sinless perfection, divine healing, etc., and you will see they are not following Christ, and are not willing to keep his commandments. They can not be distinguished from the world by their dress or conversation. They persecute the straight and narrow way and hate the followers of Christ. They love the world and the honor of men, but say they love the dear old Bible, and that it has been their stand-by for years; but they will not keep God’s blessed commandments. Christ says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” When they persecuted the followers of Christ, they persecuted Jesus. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” - Matthew 25:40. “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” - Hebrews 12:3.

          When persecutions arise we turn our eyes and look to Jesus who endured so much for us, and are made to rejoice that we are accounted worthy to suffer for his sake. Praise his name! “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” - Isaiah 43:8.

          Dear saints, if God be for us, who can be against thee! Let us stand true and loyal to our King. We see the consequence of standing true and firm for God. When Daniel was cast into the lions’ den, God sent his angel and shut the lion’s mouths. Paul and Silas were cast into prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awakening out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The keeper of the prison and his house believed and were baptized, rejoicing in God. - Acts 16:25-34. By their submissiveness to go to prison for Jesus’ sake, the keeper of the prison was converted and all his house, and the Lord delivered them from prison. Again, when Peter was put into prison, while sleeping between two soldiers, bound with chains, and the day set for taking his life, the church was praying for his deliverance. The Lord sent an angel and brought him out of prison and set him without the city. Thus he escaped the hand of Herod. It pays to trust in God. He is the mighty deliverer, and ever cares for his own.

          Paul says: “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep, in journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. . . If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.” - 2^nd Corinthians 11:24-28.

          Dear ones, let us gird on the whole armor and fight the good fight of faith, laying hold on eternal life. As the battle wages hotter and hotter, fight with Jesus in the van, not shunning to declare the whole counsel of God; for we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Amen.

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Points of Attack.

By D. Otis Teasley.

          Sanctification and unity have ever been cardinal principles of the king of Christ. Without these principles the kingdom can not exist. The devil, being aware of this, has waged relentless war against these two points ever since the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth. In the early morning of the Christian era Christ invested his church with the divine elements of unity and purity, and she went forth like a mighty army, conquering sin on every hand and making general havoc of the kingdom of darkness. The devil, seeing his cause at stake, set his armies to work against the people of God, and thousands upon thousands of the saints were put to death. But, seeing that cruel martyrdom only increased the flames of Christian love and that the triumphant death of one effected the conversion of many more, the devil concluded that he had pursued the wrong course; so he changed his tactics and commenced to work in a more cunning way. This time he sought as his instruments such men as were void of purity and filled with self-esteem. These he inspired to exalt themselves against the knowledge of God, and to adopt, instead of divine truth, the doctrines and commandments of men.

          Out of this scheme of Beelzebub grew the Roman Catholic sect - the most abominable and impure institution ever founded. John, the beloved apostle, speaking of this dark invention, says: “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” - Revelation 18:24. Again, he calls her “the Mother of Harlots,” and says she holds in her hand a cup filled with the filthiness of her fornication. By this slimy scheme Satan succeeded in leading almost all men from the plane of heaven’s purity to a corrupt and fallen state, and for over twelve hundred years darkness reigned on the earth. Yet, during this time the principle of unity was little attacked, though the nature of the unity was changed from a unity of love to an imperial power of the devil.

          Jesus having promised that the gates of hell should not prevail against his church, this state of affairs could not continue; so in the fifteenth century the imperial power of Rome was broken through the preaching of the Word of God by the reformers. The devil, now realizing his position in danger, seeks some way by which he may restrain the progress of the reformation. This time by making an attack on the principle of unity, he succeeded in getting the reformers divided among themselves. This divided state of affairs continued for about three hundred and fifty years, until the angel (a pure ministry) was heard to proclaim from the midst of heaven: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” - Revelation 14:8. Since that time (about A. D. 1880) the saints have been “returning to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads,” leaving the fallen state of impurity and division for the blessed place of sanctification and oneness in Christ.

          The devil, seeing again that the truth had triumphed, a few years ago thought to overthrow the blessed doctrine of sanctification by raising up men from among us, speaking perverse things, and denying the cleansing of the heart by two works of grace. In this imposition the truth gloriously triumphed, vindicating to man and devils the fact that the plan of redemption by a two-fold cleansing is heaven’s truth, and has come to stay. The devil, seeing the utter defeat of his plans to destroy the doctrine of sanctification, is at this present time exerting his utmost to overthrow the glorious doctrine of unity. But thanks be to God, who causeth us to triumph through Christ! It is almost invariably the case that, when a man begins to decline in spirituality he begins to think some of his former positions are too extreme and so begins to lower the standard of truth to fit his own graceless condition.

          The devil having found such characters of late, he has sent them here and there as swiftly as possible, lowering the standard of unity and teaching that in the past we have been “fanatic,” “clannish,” “sectism, etc., etc.; and that we should not be so hard on Babylon, but use more love. Brethren, I have no more love for Babylon than the apostle had when he said: “Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double.” - Revelation 18:6. Those who are nearer to her than they were ten years ago may be assured that they have retrograded.

          To any who may think the unmixed truth of the Bible too strong for sectism to-day, let me propound the following questions: When did God manifest himself the more in healing the sick - when you preached the whole truth, or since you have compromised? When did you cry out the more against pride and fashion - when you were contending for the faith once delivered to the saints, or since you have concluded Babylon is not as bad as she formerly was? When were you more in league with holiness unions and sectism in general - when you preached the whole truth, or since you have concluded that a part of God’s Word is fanaticism?

          The devil has tried to defile every reformation in the Christian era with the horrid stench of compromise. Look at the Methodists to-day: once they dressed plain, taught the truth, and were filled with divine power; to-day they are decked with gold, filled with pride, and are as powerless as a mummy - all because they would not retain the whole truth. God calls to-day for men and women who will preach and practice the whole truth, and he will have no other class of people. “Who is on the Lord’s side?” When the glorious standard of truth is held up on the line of plain dress, divine healing, Bible unity, entire sanctification, and kindred subjects, it sounds glorious to all the upright in heart; and should any have an inclination to think it is too strong, it would be advisable for such to heed the admonition, “Examine yourselves.”

          Holy brethren, let us never cease to proclaim this heavenly truth till every child of God is freed from Babel’s fold, and her mystic ruins are enveloped in the flames of judgment fires. We need not compromise to get more love, for God is love. We do not need an element - though it be named love - which will prevent us from telling all the truth, for the truth alone can save.

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Worship.

By W. D. Rice.

          “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” - Psalms 95:6, 7. We can see by this passage that divine worship, or worship of God, is commanded. We are to worship him alone. “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” - Matthew 4:10. See also Revelation 22:9, which forbids the worship of angels, practiced by Roman Catholics. They would do well to read also Colossians 2:13.

          What is the object of worship? “The Lord is my shepherd.” - Psalms 23:1. “We are the sheep of his hand.” - Psalms 5:7. Palestine was a grazing country. Sheep required the constant attendance of the shepherd to “make them lie down in green pastures,” and to protect them from wild beasts.” From this we gather that the main object of worship is the spiritual nourishment of the worshipers. When we commune with noble and wise men, we feel, to a certain extent, lifted above the plane on which we have been living. Likewise, if we commune with God, we are “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” - 2^nd Corinthians 3:18. Then, since we are commanded to “grow in grace,” we must keep the command to worship God, or sooner or later we must suffer great loss. But there are two kinds of worship - pure and impure, or spiritual and formal, or genuine and hypocritical. By studying the Word of God we find these two kinds of worship spoken of in many places. Let us see what the Bible has to say on this important subject.

SPIRITUAL WORSHIP.

          “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” - John 4:24. We must worship in spirit and in truth, if we are to worship God; else we are not worshiping him at all. “For the Father seeketh such [spiritual worshipers] to worship him.” - Verse 23. How can we worship “in spirit and in truth?” By having God’s Spirit with us, or in our hearts. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” - Romans 8:14. To be a son of God, we must be led by his Spirit; and if thus led, we will not commit sin (1^st John 3:9), because God does not lead us into sin. James 1:13. Therefore, those who are sinless and perfectly obedient before God are qualified to worship God acceptably. The worship of all other persons is mockery, though hidden beneath a beautiful exterior.

HYPOCRITICAL WORSHIP.

          Many people of this present age assemble themselves once or twice a week and go through a form of worship, but have not the grace of God in their hearts to keep them from committing sin and enable them to bring forth the fruits of holy living. They vainly imagine in their darkened minds that they are worshiping God; but, as we have just seen, they are not. Whom, then, are they worshiping? It must be they are worshiping the devil. See Revelation 19:20 where their terrible doom is foretold. The great mass of sectarians comes under the above description. Most of them deny the power of God to save from all sin (Jude 24), or else have been led into some other delusion of the devil. 2^nd Timothy 2:25, 26. One can rarely find even an honest soul among them, and rarer still, one who is saved from all sin, into the one fold of God. With very little study of the history of denominations, and of the true church of God, and honest soul could easily see the sects are abominable to God, and that their worship is cold, dead, and formal. But, as we have said, the majority of them are not honest, but are “drunk with the wine of her fornication.” - Revelation 17:2. They are forgetful hearers (James 1:25), unbelievers (2^nd Timothy 3:5), and pleasure seekers. 2^nd Timothy 3:4. These shall all receive the woe pronounced in 2^nd Thessalonians 2:11, 12, except they repent. Before this reformation there was no other way of worshiping God known, except to worship with sects. Now, his ecclesia, or “called-out” ones (Revelation 18:4), assemble themselves according to Hebrews 10:25, if only a few are in a locality. The clear light of the visible church (Matthew 5:14) begins to shine as in the morning of the Christian era. Sectarians frequently ask us, who have left Babylon, why we can not worship with them. I will let the Bible answer: “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion hath light with darkness? . . . Wherefore come ye out from among them,” etc. - 2^nd Corinthians 6:14-18. David said he would not sit with the wicked. Psalms 26:4-6. It is acceptable with God that we worship him in our own house rather than assemble with such blind deceivers. Dear fellow saints, if you can not worship with other saints, worship him in your own house. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16. “A city that is set on a hill can not be hid.” - Verse 14. “Salute . . . Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.” - Colossians 4:15. See also Romans 16:5 and 1^st Corinthians 16:19. Do not think God will overlook it because you are the only saint in your locality, if you attend sectarian meetings. “Be ye separate,” saith the Lord. Let these blind guides understand distinctly that you can not fellowship them unless they first repent.

          By reading Isaiah 1:10-15 and Matthew 15:9 we see that the Lord is very much displeased with hypocritical worship. Yea, there is no greater curse on this earth to-day than Babylon and her worship. They condemn themselves by their own words. Recently a sect preacher was reading to his people Galatians 5:20, and when he came to the word “heresies,” he stopped and said: “Heresies means sects,” and then went on reading. The same preacher told me he sinned every day; yet that very day he told the members of his flock that he wanted all those living in sin to withdraw from the church (sect). Then, according to his own words, he should be the first to withdraw. Read what the Lord Jesus says in Matthew 12:37.

          Truly, we are living in perilous and corrupt times. The corrupt priests of Babylon have so corrupted the minds of the people that comparatively few will ever escape from her clutches. How I do praise God that he gave me long ago a spirit of honesty! I have always believed (though for a long time I did not put my belief into practice) it was my duty to “search the scriptures” and see if “these things were so,” instead of passively receiving everything that was preached. Thank God! I have decided for Jesus and his worship, and I utterly refuse to enter into any Babylon doings, or to assist them in any way. Mark you this one thing: When you see any one refusing even to read anti-sectarian literature, and clamoring for sect worship, you may know that such are ignorant, or prejudiced, or else they handle the Word of God deceitfully. 2^nd Corinthians 4:2. I have been accused of offending people by not attending sectarian worship. Paul, they said, would not offend anybody, if he could avoid it. They quote Romans 14:21 and 1^st Corinthians 8:13. This is either ignorant or deceitful handling of the Word. “Brother” in these passages refers to a saved person; I. E., saved from committing sins. See Mark 3:35. If sectarians were really saved they would not be offended because we left Babylon; for “He that is of God heareth God’s Words.” - John 8:47. They would leave Babylon themselves, obeying Revelation 18:4.

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A Roaring Lion.

          We read in the Word of God that the devil goes about as a roaring lion. When he pursues such a course he appears to be very bold and daring in order to frighten the child of God and keep him from standing true to his post; and then will come slyly around in another way. He is also called an accuser, and if he can get a child of God to listen to his accusations, he has been successful to the extent that he has gained a hearing. It is our place to examine ourselves, not according to the accusation, but according to the Word of God. When the devil brings a feeling of accusation he will not always tell you what you have done; but if he can get you confused, he will tell you that either there is something you have done or something you have not done, the cause of your confusion. Then if he can get you to drop your faith and to acknowledge that, because of some unknown thing, you have lost your victory in sanctification, he has gained a point. He will then try to get you to drop your experience entirely and begin at the bottom and repent.

          People who thus reason with the devil, instead of trying the spirits by the Word, and instead of squaring their lives by the Word, get into great confusion. Those who try to repent and can think of nothing over which to repent need not expect anything better than a terrible siege of confusion, which they could make short work of by dismissing the devil in short order and taking their stand upon the Word. Those who will thus reason with the devil will soon feel led to dig up all their past sins that have been swept away to be remembered no more against them, and will even go so far as to forget that they have ever been purged from their old sins. The trouble is, they have failed to keep abounding in the grace as set forth in the first chapter of second Peter. The apostle makes mention of a number of things, and says, “If ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

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LOVE

By Nellie A. Bail.

          “Hatred stirreth up strife: but love covereth all sins.” “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” - Proverbs 10:12; 15:17. “Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is not perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.” - Ecclesiastes 7:6. “The Lord hath appeared unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” - Jeremiah 31:3. “I draw them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.: - Hosea 11:4. “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” - Matthew 24:12.

          Truly it behooves every child of God to watch and pray, as sin and iniquity are abounding on every hand. If the devil could only get us into a form of worship, backslidden, or in a lukewarm state, he would be satisfied, and would laugh to think he had so entangled us. Surely this would be a sad condition to be in. We should be very zealous in seeking after God. When we once find him, let us strive to draw nearer instead of wandering away and letting our love for him and his children wax cold. We would feel very sad should we hear Jesus say: “But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.” - John 5:42. May the Lord help us to be rooted and grounded in his truth - to stand firm for him at any cost. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:35-39. Do we believe this? Have we faith enough in God to believe that we can trust him amidst all this? Praise God for the fullness of love and joy! “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:19. “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of truth and love; and for an helmet the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” - 1^st Thessalonians 5:8-13. We find that we should love each other as one family of God. Where there is no love there can be no thorough work done, and the Master can not be glorified. We are to be submissive to each other, esteeming each other better than ourselves. If we have disobeyed God and mistreated our fellow man, and then repent, ask forgiveness, and meet all the requirements of God’s Word, love covers all, and it is wrong for us to rake up some old trouble and try to make trouble out of it again, when no doubt that person has been often grieved over it. We would not believe God to be just should he tell us of sins that we had committed and repented of years ago, but which he had never forgotten nor forgiven. No; Jesus does not do thus when he forgives. The sins are remembered against us no more. Bless God!

          “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good.” “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister.” - Hebrews 6:10. “Let brotherly love continue.” - Hebrews 13:1. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knowest God. He that loveth not knowest not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

          No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believe the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” - 1^st John 4:7-21. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.” - 1^st John 5:2.

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Great Salvation.

By A. A. Kinzie.

          “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” - Hebrews 2:3. Why is it styled “so great salvation?” First, because it has a divine Author - it came from the great God. Titus 2:13, 14. Second, it is great because it saves unto the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25) from all sin. 1^st John 1:7. This is entire sanctification. Now, says one, sanctification is not a cleansing from sin, but an endowment of power, or preparation for the work of God. Let us give you a definition of the word sanctification, or sanctify, as it has been given by profound scholars.

          Luther Lee says the Hebrew word rendered sanctify is kadash, and signifies to cleanse, purity, to make holy. The Greek word rendered sanctify is hagiazo. It is derived from hagios, which signifies holy. Hence hagiazo means to consecrate, separate, set apart, purity, cleanse from pollution, to make holy. The noun rendered sanctification in Greek is hagiasmos. This is derived from the same hagios, holy. The explanation, though not essential to the argument, clearly shows that to be sanctified is to be made holy, or be cleansed from all sin. Mr. Lee says:

          “Sanctification is that renewal of our fallen nature by the Holy Ghost received through faith in Jesus Christ whose blood of the atonement has power to cleanse from all sin; whereby we are not only delivered from the guilt of sin, which is justification, but are washed entirely from its pollution; freed from its power and are enabled through grace to love God with all our heart and to walk in his holy commandment blameless.”

          Mr. John Wesley says: “By sanctification we are saved from the power and root of sin and restored to the image of God. The heart is cleansed from all sin and filled with pure love to God and man - sanctified throughout, cleansed from all pollution both of flesh and spirit.” - Sermon, Volume 2, pages 236 and 247.

          “The term sanctification, when applied to men, denotes the effect of God’s Spirit upon the soul. It comprehends all the graces of knowledge, faith, love repentance, humility, etc. It is a process by which the soul is cleansed from pollution and delivered from the power of sin.” - P. Schaft.

          Webster - “Sanctification, sanctifying or being sanctified: The act of God’s grace by which a man’s affections are purified and exalted. Sanctify - To make free from sin, to purify.”

          We believe the foregoing sufficient to convince any unprejudiced mind of the truth that at the time we are entirely sanctified, we are likewise cleansed, purified from all sin, saved unto the uttermost - hence enjoy the great salvation mentioned in the text. Again, the question is asked, “Does not the regenerated man possess and enjoy this great salvation in its fullness?” We say, upon the authority of God’s Word, that he is not, for this reason: he is not entirely sanctified, hence not wholly cleansed. Dear reader, does not the apostle tell the Thessalonian brethren what to do (1^st Thessalonians 5:14-23) in order that the God of peace sanctify them wholly?

          What was their spiritual condition at this time? Were they regenerated? Let us look at the letter and see. We learn that they were in “God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ.” - Chapter 1:1. To be in Christ is to be free from condemnation.

          “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” - Romans 8:1. A new creation, or creature. - “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away.” - 2^nd Corinthians 5:17. You can see from these texts what their spiritual condition was. We naturally conclude from these scriptures that they were regenerated, hence children of God. The objector says: “They were backslidden.” Not so; for we read in 1^st Thessalonians 3:6: “Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity.” “The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another.” - Verse 12. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day.” - Chapter 5:4. This is sufficient to prove they were not backsliders. They had retained their faith and love. Paul prays: “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men.” - 1^st Thessalonians 3:12. Yea, they were still in, and of, the light, not in darkness: hence truly regenerated up to the time he writes them and says: “Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - 1^st Thessalonians 5:23, 24. This text shows beyond a doubt that they were not wholly cleansed from all sin at the time they were regenerated; hence an evil propensity yet remained, and this was to be cleansed out when the God of peace sanctified (cleansed) them wholly from all sin.

          Again, the Word says: “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here we have a cleansing, or sanctifying, promised on conditions. Let us see to whom this promise is related. To those that walk “in the light.” Is it not true, dear reader, that we must first be in the light before we walk in it? How do we get into the light (experimental light)? We read in Acts 26:18: “To open their eyes [intellectual knowledge], and to turn them from darkness [sin] to light [experimental knowledge], and from the power of Satan unto God.” “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” - Colossians 1:13.

          We learn from these scriptures that through the power of God we are first turned from darkness (sin, ignorance, vice) to light (experimental); translated (changed) from one condition to another - from sin to righteousness, from darkness to light, from Satan to God and his pardoning love. So, to be born of the Spirit is to be brought into light; hence children of the light, and must walk “in the light,” “as children of light.” - Ephesians 5:8. Having received the light, or the “knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins” (Luke 1:77), we must walk in the light, and then the promise will be fulfilled which is: “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” This is sanctification - yes, a great salvation.

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DILIGENCE.

By A. B. Stanberry.

          Diligence in the service and worship of the Lord is an absolute necessity. “Besides this, giving all diligence.” 2^nd Peter 1:5. All diligence means more than is sometimes comprehended by the saints.

COMING TOGETHER.

          “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, . . . But exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” - Hebrews 10:24, 25. When we consider the welfare of our brethren and the duty we owe to God in worship and service, no small excuse will keep us away from the place of public worship. One of the surest evidences of a lack of spirituality in any local church is to see the weekly prayer-meetings poorly attended. Diligence in the service of God will bring all the saints to all the weekly meetings, unless something unavoidable occurs. Sunday visiting, or feeling a little weak or tired, are never given as excuses for absence from the house of God by those who are truly diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. We will bring our neighbors with us, or go in the name of the Lord if we are only a little sick; and if we see we shall be too tired to go to evening prayer-meetings, we will quit an hour or two earlier than usual and rest and read, so when the time comes we may be ready to go. If the team works hard, rest it two or three hours on prayer-meeting evening. You may say that your work is crowding you. It is not as much as is your spiritual interest if you lack the diligence that will cause you to look forward and make provisions for doing your duty to God, your fellow man, and your own soul, by worshiping God, encouraging your brother, and keeping yourself in the love of God.

          “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.” - Malachi 3:16. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another.” - Colossians 3:16. These texts of scripture teach us that we owe a duty to our brethren. Every time we excuse ourselves from the place of worship through lack of diligence, we not only show a lack of appreciation for what God has done for us, and neglect a heaven-ordained means of grace to keep us in touch with God and each other; but we sin against our brother by not giving him the exhortation and admonition, as we are commanded in the Word of God. If we fear the Lord in a true Bible sense, we will speak often one to another, as the Lord would have us do; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.

          Observation in the past teaches us that among the saints in the present age, as well as in the church of Asia, luke-warmness, indifference, lack of diligence, etc., were the means by which Satan entered to destroy the peace and prosperity of Zion. 2^nd Peter 3:14.

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The Name.

By John H. Moore.

          “And thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” - Isaiah 62:2. What is this name? “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. 1^st Corinthians 10:32; 1^st Timothy 3:5. God gave the name to the church. Yes, but there are gods many. 1^st Corinthians 8:5. But this is the church of the living God. Paul says: “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 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, the pillar and ground of the truth.” - 1^st Timothy 3:15. “To us [the people of God] there is but one God.” - 1^st Corinthians 8:6. This church which God named with his own mouth is composed of living people. - 1^st Corinthians 14:23.

          R. S. Foster, bishop of the M. E. so-called church, said:

          “The church of God is to-day courting the world. Its members are trying to bring it down to the level of the ungodly. The ball, the theatre, and lewd art, social luxuries, with all their loose moralities, are making inroads into the secret inclosure of the church; and, as a satisfaction for all this worldliness, Christians are making a great deal of Lent and Easter and Good Friday and church ornamentations.

          “It is the old trick of Satan. The Jewish church struck on that rock; the Romish Church was wrecked on the same, and the Protestant Church is fast reaching the same doom.”

          The venerable old bishop whose heart was stirred within him at the sad condition of his sect seemingly could not detect the difference between the man-made concern and the true church which Jesus built on the rock. Sects built by man can be wrecked - not only can be, but are; but the gates of hell can not prevail against the church of God, because “the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knowest them that are his.” God’s people are taught to behave themselves in the house of God, and are thoroughly furnished unto every good word and work. It is quite impossible to make inroads into the church of God by the theatre, ball-rooms, social luxuries, etc., as even the gates of hell can not prevail against the church of God. Man may deceive himself and make others believe he is a member of the church, but he can not deceive God. Jesus said: “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” “He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbed up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” He knowest them that are his. John 15:14.

          “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” In order to become a member of the church we must repent, believe, and be “born again,” or born from above; come out of darkness into light. We then become members of the true church, the church of God. “And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest himself shall establish her.” - Psalms 87:5.

          In order to remain in God’s church we must be obedient to all his commandments. One of them is: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.” God has denied Babylon and the devil entrance of their side-tracks into the sacred inclosure of his church. It is a strong city fortified against the powers of hell. “Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.” - Isaiah 26:1. “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. God’s church is not paled, but walled. Hosea 8:14 speaks of the sects referred to by the bishop: “For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities [places for sects]: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the places thereof.” “They shall build but I will throw down.” Every founder is confounded. “They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” - Jeremiah 2:13. “All that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.” - Jeremiah 17:13.

          It is a mistaken idea that the church of God is courting the world. The people of God do not love the world, and are not conforming to it; but they who have forsaken the Lord and whose names are written in the earth have long since ended the courtship, and they and the world have already married.

          “They have taken each other by the right hand and stood up before the devil, who worked up the match and officiated on the nuptial occasion, and have taken upon them the marriage vows, and bound themselves together with a great curse that they will ever hail each other in the bonds of union. . . . That they will ever protect, defend, screen, and help each other in the work of the world, flesh, and the devil.”

          God’s church is not courting the world, and never has; but it is a clean church, a pure people, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. It is a city set on a hill that can not be hid. Her light is the glory of God, who is in the midst of her with everlasting redemption and salvation, power and dominion. Amen.

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Another One Who Is Hearing God’s Call.

          This reformation is something comparatively new to me. I have never had the pleasure of hearing any of the saints preach, or to talk to any of them personally; but I have been reading some of the literature and am highly pleased, and do affirm that I have never read any equal to it. I am now a member of the M. E. church, but am just waiting for more light, when I expect to abandon the sectarian element and take my stand as its opponent. I was convinced long ago that our sectarians failed to preach a full gospel, and also became alarmed at the vast corruption existing in our churches. Is it too much for me to say that they have members whose hearts are as black as midnight, and the poison of an asp is under their tongues? Many of them are robbers in the sight of God, and yet the poor, blinded, deluded, compromising sectarian preachers seldom denounce their sins. Why is it? Is it possible they have so compromised with the world and Satan and that their spiritual vision has become so darkened that they can not tell sin from righteousness? Or is it cowardice? I have seen many people claiming to be followers of Christ, and still, the ability God had given them to use to his glory, they would use to crush and rob their fellow-man of what was justly his and appropriate it for their own selfish satisfaction, and then seem to think they were living in perfect harmony with divine laws. It is horrible to think of the sins and injustice perpetrated by professed Christians.

          It seems to me that when these things are considered they are enough to cause many true lovers of Christianity to fall upon their knees in agonizing prayer for the world’s salvation, and that these compromising sectarians may see where they are drifting and reform lest the Great Judge say, “Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity: I never knew you.” I have been longing to find a people willing to preach a full gospel, willing to live up to the teaching of the Bible, and pay the price and live a holy life. Now I say, Halleluiah to God, I believe I have found them! When I think of the fact that there are men of such wisdom and competence that they could make their thousands annually and live in splendor and luxury if they were disposed to do so, but whose loyalty to Christ deprives them of these things, I rejoice almost to the full measure of gladness.

          Dear saints, I am in a low state of health. Please pray one, if no more, special prayer that my life may be spared, and that I may be restored to good health and assist in scattering the leaves that are for the healing of the nations; not that I expect to try to preach, but that I may assist in some way, if it is no more than to circulate literature. I am anxious for some of the saints to come here and hold a meeting. Can not some one respond to the call?

R. T. Adams,

Cane City, Kentucky.

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News from the Field.

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          Since my last report I have held meetings in Genoa and Chicago, Illinois, Cedar and Garret, Indiana. The Genoa meeting was very precious. Quite a number sought the Lord for pardon and sanctification. The Lord got hold of the hearts of several young people. I held an ordinance-meeting with them before coming away. Quite a number of happy saints took part. As we washed each others’ feet and partook of the emblems of his broken body and shed blood, the Lord verified his promise: “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” From there I went to Cedar, Indiana and held an ordinance service with the little church. Because of rain not many attended. Two hands were raised for prayers. Leaving there I held three services with the little church at Garrett. They were encouraged to go on with their prayer-meetings, and some who have lost the victory manifested a desire to get back to the Lord.

S. P. Strang.

Nappanee, Indiana, June 13.

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          I feel indeed thankful to God that I enjoy his salvation, which brings perfect peace to my soul. I have been in several meetings since I last reported, some of the time alone and some of the time with Brother J. N. Howard. God has confirmed his Word by saving, sanctifying, and healing those willing to come the Bible way. After spending some days at home arranging matters so that I could go out into the field again, I started last Saturday for Nevada Mills. I held a few services at the Best school-house, and am now at Hatmaker, Michigan, where I will remain over Sunday. Pray for me.

Edward Ellis.

Brushy Prairie, Indiana, June 15.

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          We left home May 7 and started north to work in the Lord’s vineyard, arriving at Slate on the 11^th. There we met with the saints on Sunday in two services. Three that had been saved in a former meeting were baptized. We then went to Spring Grove, Nebraska, where we put up the tabernacle and commenced meeting in company with Brother J. N. Underhill. The meeting resulted in the salvation and sanctification of souls. Others saw new light and praised God for the real truth. About nineteen followed the example of the Lord in an ordinance service. Seven were baptized. The meeting closed with victory for God. Our next meeting was at Oronoque, Kansas. The Lord gave victory over the power of darkness. Four were saved and baptized. From there I came to this place and began meeting in the name of the Lord. We are expecting victory for God. Brethren, pray earnestly that God will use us to his glory and the salvation of souls.

Charles and N. J. Bright,

J. N. Underhill.

Calvert, Kansas, June 13.

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          Dear Brethren: God saves me from all sin and sanctifies my nature. Praise his holy name for the sweet peace and joy I have in my soul! It is sweet to trust in the Lord, for he giveth “grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” I am walking to please the Lord, and he blesses my soul wonderfully. Praise his dear name! He heals all our diseases, delivers us from our troubles, and gives us sweet rest in our souls. I have been at home a while, getting ready to go into the Lord’s vineyard again. I feel better when working for the salvation of poor lost souls. I am now ready to go into the vineyard again. The Lord’s will be done. I have a few calls for meetings, and desire to help all I can to get souls saved and encourage those that are saved. We would like to see many brethren at the Burket camp-meeting that have never attended before. Brethren, I know it will be a grand feast for us if we go praying and expecting something of the Lord and believe we shall receive it. He will not turn us away empty but will fill us with all goodness and faith. Praise God for his goodness to the children of men! His love is in my heart. Amen.

Elihu Bragg.

Sweetser, Indiana.

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          I am praising God with all my heart for his sweet and perfect love which I am so richly enjoying through the salvation of my soul, by faith in the perfect Christ of the Bible.

          Since my last report I have been busily engaged in the work which God has given me to do. Early in the spring I felt impressed to visit the church at this place, which I did, and was convinced that it was God’s will for me to move to this field of labor. This I did in April, and have been laboring for souls here and in Virginia most of the time since, in company with Brother C. E. Orr. God has a few faithful saints at Reedville, Burgess Store, and other points in Virginia, where we spent a few days with the sweet approval of God on our souls, during which time a few souls sought and obtained glorious deliverance from sin, and others were sanctified. God also manifested his power in healing. The work seems to be progressing in this eastern field, and we are asking God for great things this summer. Immediately after the camp-meeting here we expect to go to the above-named places in Virginia, to labor a few weeks, and hope to visit some points in North Carolina as soon after as possible. I hope the dear saints in eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina will be much concerned about the camp-meeting, and that as many as possible will be present. We are now engaged in a series of meetings at Hurlock, where God is blessing his truth to the dear people, with increasing interest and attendance, for which we truly praise his dear name.

E. G. Deloe.

Federalsburg, Maryland, June 12.

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          We are praising the Lord for the victory we have over all the powers of the enemy. Truly God is good, kind, and generous to those who trust him.

          After reaching Arkansas City, Kansas, from Whitehead, Oklahoma, we visited the saints at different places. Some of them we found alive for the Lord, while others seemed to be on the decline or stand-still. We then went to Perkins, Oklahoma where we met some dear friends with whom we were acquainted, but had not seen for a number of years. These people once enjoyed the love of God in their souls, and were alive and subject to the will of God as it was made known to them. As we conversed with each one and inquired after the welfare of their souls and God’s dealings with them in the past intervening years, with a sorrowful look in their faces they would confess that they did not now enjoy God’s love in their hearts as they once did. Searching for the cause, we  found their spiritual downfall began with the rejection of the ordinances, and when they rejected that part of God’s Word it opened the door to the acceptance of other errors also. It is a fearful thing in these days to reject any part of God’s Word.       From there we went to Pond Creek, in answer to a call to help Brother E. H. Shipman and wife in a tabernacle-meeting, which continued about 17 days. The saints from different localities came and received a benefit from the Lord. It was a meeting that will be long remembered by many of those attending. Several were saved and made to rejoice in a Savior’s love. Seven were buried with Christ in baptism. The meeting closed with an ordinance-service that was owned and blessed of God. It was truly blessed to hear the shouts of the redeemed ones going up to the heavenly King, as the brethren dwelt together in unity. Brother and Sister Glascoe were present and were use of the Lord in delivering the Word. We are now at Enfield with Brother Shipman and a tabernacle, holding up the blood-stained banner of our Savior.         We expect to go from here to Oklahoma City, and then perhaps to Cashion. Our address will be Oklahoma City. Pray that as we declare the whole counsel of God we may keep humble before him.

G. W. Carey and Company.

Enfield, Oklahoma.

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Testimonies.

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          I have been very ill of late, near death’s door; but God, who doeth all things well, hath raised me up again. All praise to him. During my illness I was made to realize more fully than ever before that all things work together for good to God’s children, for many blessings and much good came to me because of my illness, which I would not otherwise have received. I also learned many precious lessons. Among others was, how good it is to be ready for death and the judgment.

          You who have been careless and indifferent about your souls, let me beg you to prepare to meet God. “For in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Have you ever stopped, even for a moment, to consider what will be the doom of those who have neglected their soul’s salvation? “Behold, now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” - 2^nd Corinthians 6:2.

Eva Windham.

Lamar, South Carolina.

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          I feel that it would be to the glory of God to let you know I am still on the Lord’s side and in the straight and narrow way. I have no compromise to make with sin and the devil, but am glad I still discern the body of Christ, the church. I find there is a spirit that is the life and operator of Babylon, and there is a Spirit (Holy Spirit) that is the life and operator of Zion. To have fellowship with one of these spirits breaks the fellowship with the other. When we begin to drink of Babylon’s wine and to receive of its spirit, we begin to doubt that sectism is Babylon, and begin to think it is not as bad as we heard or thought it was.

          Dear brethren, if any have begun to think this way, look out! You are getting into the wilderness, for that is where Babylon is located. John says, when the angel went to show him Babylon: “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colors, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth.” Revelation 17:3-5. Zion is located on the mountain of holiness. Psalms 48:1, 2. In order to see it we must be carried away by the Spirit into this mountain. Revelation 21:16. So in leaving Zion we leave the mountain of holiness; and in going to Babylon we go into the wilderness of confusion and uncertainties. But when we get on the mountain of holiness we behold the new Jerusalem, the church of God, the bride, the Lamb’s wife. Thank God for the heavenly vision! In Babylon there is a union of spirits, but in Zion there is unity of Spirit; therefore, dear saints, let us stand together for the unity of the Spirit.

          I am laboring some with my hands this spring, but I expect to be out in the gospel work by the first of August.

          Those needing ministerial help in camp-meetings or any other protracted meeting, and feeling led, may write to me at Brice, Missouri and I will make arrangements to attend some meetings where help is most needed and the Lord leads.

Otis B. Wilson.

Brice, Missouri.

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          One year ago the 13^th of last February was when I received the first clear light from God’s Word by the light of the Holy Spirit. I had been a member of the M. E. sect for a great many years, and was living up to all the light I had. But there came a time when God revealed to me a better way, and by his help I stepped into the pool. At that time I was a physical wreck. As I read in the Gospel Trumpet the testimonies of those who believed the Word, the question came to me: If we have the same Christ now as they had in the apostolic times, could I too take him for my healer? I had nervous prostration which was caused by being overheated. But God gave me power of mind by his Holy Spirit to take him as my healer and I became whole in body, for which I give him all the glory.

          It was five months before I heard the Word preached on the true Bible line. Through hearing the erroneous teachings of some that were not just clear, I fell into error also. Though God has permitted me to pass through the crucible in order to burn the error of the past out of me, yet I praise his dear name that the sky is clearing and I see in the rift in the clouds the blessed face of the Savior telling me to press on to the mark of the high calling which is in Christ Jesus. Glory to his name!

          Last winter I suffered with my kidneys. I obeyed the Word in James 5:14, 15 and the Lord healed me, for which I give him the glory. I feel that he wants me to work for the salvation of souls. The Lord opens up many an avenue for work for him, which I step into. Pray that I may be kept spotless and blameless before the world and please only my Savior.

C. J. Cole.

1207 Glendale Avenue,

Peoria, Illinois.

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Obituary.

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          KASER. - Sister Nancy Ellen Kaser died June 8, 1901; aged 40 years, 7 months, and 6 days. She leaves a father, mother, five sisters, and three brothers to mourn their loss, but their loss is her gain. Sister Ellen had given her heart to God several years ago, but through discouragements had lost the real joy of salvation; but last summer she renewed her covenant with God and was sweetly saved. She called the family around her bed, bade them all farewell, and asked them to meet her in heaven; said the gate was open wide for her. The funeral was held in the Dunkard meeting-house near her home. A large congregation of people gathered to pay their last debt of respect to her whom they knew and loved. They listened attentively to the Word. “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!” - Numbers 23:10.

Samuel P. Strang.

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Divine Healing.

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Answered Prayers For Divine Healing.

By R. Rothman.

          Some one has said that all genuine reformations in the religious conditions of professed Christian people are the results of men dropping the accumulated traditions and errors of generations and returning to the simplicity of the pure gospel of Christ - going back to the fountain-head. All men are fallible, and limited in wisdom, and unless walking in strict obedience to the Spirit of Christ, we more or less pervert the pure words of God to suit their prejudices or weaknesses. Some of the most destructive things in sectarian religions to-day are the creeds which they have adopted, and the “traditions of the elders,” which hinder God’s people caged up in Babylon from possessing their possessions in Christ. Missionaries tell us, when they go into foreign countries where the gospel of Christ has not been preached, that when divine healing is taught the natives accept it with all readiness, as easily as the salvation of their souls, and God manifests his power in healing. Children who have been taught the doctrine of divine healing from their infancy, have a very simple faith in Christ, and seem to have no more doubts about God’s willingness to heal than they have of his willingness to save. Now, we may get a lesson from this. The Lord wants us to be so simple that we will pass by all the false ideas of men and believe but one side of the question - the words of Jesus Christ. Let us in the future live as though we never heard the teaching of those who “limit the Holy One of Israel.” Jesus Christ is God, and he is all-powerful, all-wise, unchangeable, and above all, cares for us as a father cares for his children. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, to find grace to help in time of need.

          In regards to divine healing, we may look at the failures of those who seemed to trust God and it will weaken our faith. But the Lord does not want us to do this; he wants us to keep our eyes on his Word - the standard. We have selected a few of many instances of answered prayer for healing recorded in the Bible, which I trust may be profitable to the reader. Let us ever bear in mind that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, and that he is no respecter of persons.

          In Genesis 20:17 we have the first instance of answered prayer for healing. - “So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants.”

          David is considered the writer of most of the Psalms. Psalms 6:2 is a prayer - “Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” God wonderfully answered this prayer, as the following words indicate: “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” - Psalms 103:1-3.

          Once there was a king sick, who, we believe, might have had the best medical aid known in his day; but he chose to trust in God rather than men. The result was very good. “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up into the house of the Lord. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the King of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.” - 2^nd Kings 20:1-7.

          You will notice that this was an incurable disease; for the Lord had said, “Thou shalt die, and not live.” The lump of figs did not do the work; for all the medicine and doctors in the world could not have cured Hezekiah. The using of figs was an act of obedience, on the same line with obeying James 5:14, in anointing with oil.

          Now we come to where Christ answered prayer. This is of peculiar interest to us; for Christ through the Holy Spirit is the One with whom we have to deal now for healing. We know of no instance where Christ failed to heal those who came to him in faith believing.

          “A woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” - Matthew 15:22, 28.

          “And, behold, two blind men sitting by the wayside, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.” “So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.” - Matthew 20:30, 34.

          “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” - Mark 1:40-42.

          We need but turn over the pages of the New Testament to find case after case of divine healing in answer to prayer, first directly through Christ, and then by the hands of his believing people. The privilege to heal people by the power of the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe, and it is in the church to-day, and will be to the end of time. “And these signs shall follow them that believe: . . .They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” - Mark 16:17. “Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven.” - Psalms 119:89.

          Beloved, since God will never change his Word, since it is something both sure and steadfast, let us have more confidence in it. Heaven and earth will pass away before God’s Word will pass away. Let us settle it once for all to be true to the written Word, and God will gloriously back it up with power. Amen.

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Healed of St. Vitus’ Dance.

          My daughter was very sick, nearly helpless, with what is termed St. Vitus’ dance. She grew from bad to worse, till she was an object of pity. I told the Lord if he would heal her I would testify of it, that all who heard it might know the blood of Christ can set them free. Praise his name! I asked the saints to pray for her; and she began to amend. Then I sent for an anointed handkerchief, which I applied. Praise the Lord! The work was done. She is now gaining strength fast. I give God all the glory. Some of the people tried to get her to have a doctor. She refused to have one and said the Lord would do for her all she needed. I have been saved six years, during which time I have had no medicine for myself or children. We have sickness, but the Lord is ever ready to deliver. I teach my children to trust in him. I am glad I learned to trust Jesus. It pays to trust him always. Pray that I may ever be found in the order of the Lord.

C. D. Priest.

Rosindale, North Carolina.

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Fever and Serious Injuries Healed.

          I am praising God for a Bible salvation. The Lord first saved my soul from sin and then sanctified my nature. Glory to his name! When I get sick he heals me. I was taken sick with something like the fever on May 15. Glory be to God! When I obeyed James 5:14-16 and sent for some brothers, as there were no preachers or elders handy, the Lord healed me. I went about two miles to prayer-meeting that night, and I have been well ever since.

          A year and a half ago I was riding in a wagon when the team ran away, turning the wagon over. When the wagon was removed I was found to be almost dead. As soon as I regained consciousness I wanted some one to pray for me. But there were no elders near and but one man who believed in divine healing, and he could not come! Blessed be the name of the Lord! He healed me. My stomach and breast were injured, and I expectorated blood. But the Lord healed it all. All glory to his name. Pray that I may ever stand true to the Lord.

J. F. Wilson.

Landstreet, Tennessee.

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