(Click on page to enlarge)
21-32
The Gospel Trumpet
Volume 21, Issue 32, August 15, 1901
(Articles of interest only)
___________________
Life Eternal.
By Georgia C. Elliott.
It is mine, this life eternal,
Endless days of peace and joy ...
Joy too deep for tongue to utter,
Peace the world can not destroy.
CHORUS.
Life eternal, Halleluiah,
Sing and shout the glad refrain,
Life eternal, Halleluiah,
I am saved in Jesus’ name.
It is mine, this life eternal,
Mine because he died for me;
Mine because I have accepted
Of salvation full and free.
It is mine, this life eternal,
And each day it greater grows;
Till I say as did the Psalmist,
“While I muse the fire glows.”
It is mine, this life eternal,
And when I as earthly die,
‘Tis that I may go on living
Endless life beyond the sky.
_____________________
No Millennium Reign Just Prior to Christ’s Second
Advent.
By D. S. Warner.
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so
shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. . . . Even thus shall it be in
the day when the Son of man is revealed.” ... Luke 17:26, 30.
When the Son of man shall be “revealed
from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance upon the ungodly,” this world
shall be found in a Sodom state, and not in a millennial glory.
“This know also, that in the last days
perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud,” etc. “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” ... 2nd Timothy 3:1, 2, 13. A
general reign of deception, evil men, and seducers waxing worse and worse, are
the general characteristics of the human family at the approach of the end of
the world. This corresponds with the words of Christ in Matthew 24:11-13: “And
many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity
shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved.”
It will be a time when men shall be
subjected to great endurance. This would not be the case if righteousness
generally prevailed. This time of endurance shall extend even “unto the end.”
Now this is a part of the Savior’s
answer to the question, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end
of the world;” hence describe the state of the things just prior to his second
coming. And these things, we may truly add, are just now present, so we know
that the coming of the Lord is nigh, by the signs he hath given us. This state
of general deception, iniquity abounding, and the love of many waxing cold is
declared to be the result of “many false prophets,” who “shall deceive many.”
Have they made their appearance? And who are they? Answer:
“But there were false prophets also
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily
shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and
bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious
ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose
judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
... 2nd Peter 2:1-3.
“These are wells without water, clouds
that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved
forever.” ... 2nd Peter 2:17.
And all this deceived generation of
formal scoffers was to be in these last days. ... 2nd Peter 3:3. At
the very time when men should be looking for Christ’s coming, these scoffers
are saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?” ... Verse 4. Does this look
like a general reign of righteousness just before Christ’s coming? Nay, “The
spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies
in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” ... 1st
Timothy 4:1, 2. “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.” ... Jude 18, 19.
We have but to look at the sensual and
devilish festivities, and shameful entertainments of to-day to see this
fulfilled. “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the
Spirit.” Is not the religion prevalent to-day all separated into schisms and
parties?
And where is there a possible chance
for a general reign of righteousness before the coming of Christ, when it is
expressly stated that this great mass of deceived souls “will wax worse and
worse,” until the “wickedness of the earth” shall be so great, the sickle of
divine wrath shall be thrust in, for the harvest of sin will even be ripe for
judgment? Joel 3:13. This line of prophecy might be very much drawn out, but
enough proof is here given that there will be no general reign of righteousness
on earth this side of Christ’s coming.
However we should say the Scriptures
do clearly teach that a pure, and perfectly holy remnant shall be gathered out
of the mass of corruption, who shall be arrayed in white raiment, the bride of
the Lord, and ready for his coming. And that is now being accomplished.
_____________________
Dowie-ism vs. The Bible.
By John C. Blaney.
These are indeed perilous times. Heresies
are multiplying as fast as men and devils can invent ant propagate them.
Sometimes the most absurd and wicked notions concerning Christ and the gospel
are most eagerly sought after by the blinded votaries of the beast religion of
modern times. Then again, we find that some contain very near the whole truth,
but still are only counterfeits. The most dangerous and deceptive counterfeit
is the one nearest like the genuine. When this glorious evening light
reformation began about twenty-one years ago, the devil was at his wit’s end to
know how to counteract its power and influence. He well knew that he could not
hold the people much longer under the false teaching that the apostate factions
of Protestantism are the church of God. He filled many men with spirits of
devils and sent them forth to work miracles, in order to better deceive the
people, and bring God’s truth into disrepute, if possible.
Among the many whom he is successfully
using in this work of deception, is a man in Chicago who styles himself “John
Alex Dowie, General Overseer of the Christian Catholic Church, Prophet, and
Messenger of the Covenant, or Elijah The Restorer.” This haughty mortal has
become a fit temple for the indwelling of many devils through whose agency
souls are being deceived by the thousand. By the help of Almighty God and in
the name of Jesus Christ the Son of the Father, we will expose his pernicious
spirit, and with the Word of eternal truth will demolish the foundations upon
which his structure, which he blasphemously calls “Zion,” is built, and prove
from the Word of God that it has no divine authority or sanction whatever.
THE CHRISTIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Mister Dowie is the founder of this
institution, which claims to be the only church of God upon earth. He is the
earthly head, leader, and general overseer; so we find, in the first place, the
whole concern is of the world. Jesus Christ is the only head of his church, “which
is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” ... Ephesians 1:23.
He alone has the preeminence in all things. “And he is the head of the body,
the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all
things he might have the preeminence.” ... Colossians 1:18. Mister Dowie, and
others of his kind, teach that some man must be head, or general overseer, of
the church upon earth. In reply to such teaching, we would say: As the church
is the body of Christ, no mortal man was ever recognized as head over God’s
church since Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He is head over the church in
the same sense that a husband is head over his wife. These people say that
because Christ is in heaven and the church upon earth, Christ must have an
earthly head for her. We might as well say that because a man was in Asia and
his wife in America he would have to provide a temporary husband to take his
place while the separation lasted. It is the blinding influence of the spirit
of anti-Christ that benumbs the sense of perception in men and leads them in
these last days to accept and adhere to such abominable, false teaching. It is
scarcely possible for a man like Mister Dowie ... who has read the Word of God
and commented upon it so extensively ... to be unwillingly ignorant of this
fact.
God’s church is the bride of Jesus
Christ, and has no use for such men as Mister Dowie to act as temporary
husband, or head. She has one divine Head, Jesus Christ, who governs her by his
Spirit, which is a vastly different kind of spirit from that which animates
Mister Dowie and his so-called church. A person can be a member of God’s church
and never join Mister Dowie’s or any other man-made machine, called a church;
but nobody can be a Christian, or member of God’s divinely organized body,
without being a member of Christ. “For we are members of his body, of his
flesh, and of his bones.” ... Ephesians 5:30.
Mister Dowie’s Affixes.
Mister Dowie prefixes “Rev.” to his
name. This is a title which belongs exclusively to God. “Holy and reverend is
his name.” ... Psalms 111:9. In this blasphemous application of that title he
follows the practice of the first and second beasts (Romanism and
Protestantism), of which his institution appears to be the image. See
Revelation 13. None of the apostles or prophets were so destitute of humility
as to presume to assume such a title, of which no mortal is worthy. The meaning
of the term is, “To be feared.” No man is worthy of having such a prefix to his
name, or of the honor which such a title infers. “Be ye not called Rabbi: for
one is your master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.” Of course, when men
are so full of conceit and pride as to assume the headship of an institution
and call it the church, we are not surprised that they assume other
prerogatives which belong to God alone, thus satisfying their lust for the
honor which comes from men. Mister Dowie also styles himself “Prophet, and
Messenger of The Covenant, or Elijah The Restorer,” and by his vain walk and
false humility, leads his deceived followers to believe such an absurd lie. Of
course, just like his father the devil, he uses some scripture, artfully
handling it to better deceive the people. He is puffed up by his vain
imagination that he is the messenger of the covenant, and Elijah, whom the
prophet Malachi spoke of. We will quote the prophecy ... “Behold I will send my
messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek,
shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye
delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” ... Malachi 3:1.
John the Baptist was the person
referred to in the first part of the verse, and Jesus Christ was the one who is
called the messenger of the covenant. This we will prove by the words of Jesus
himself. ... “But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you,
and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send
my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.” ...
Matthew 11:9, 10. This was spoken in reference to John the Baptist. Jesus
Christ is the messenger of the covenant, because John the Baptist prepared the
people by calling them to repent. The covenant spoken of was the gospel, which
is spoken of as the New Covenant. John did not deliver or preach the New
Covenant. It was not fully given until Christ was crucified and ascended to
heaven, when the Holy Spirit came and wrote the New Covenant on the hearts of
God’s people. See Hebrews 10:16, 17. As nearly as can be ascertained, John the
Baptist was beheaded about six months after Jesus entered upon his ministry; so
he could not have been the messenger of the covenant.
Furthermore, the messenger of the
covenant “shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify
the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto
the Lord an offering in righteousness.” ... Malachi 3:3. Levi represented God’s
priesthood, of which all Christians are anti-types, who are a “royal
priesthood,” offering up “spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ.” See 1st Peter 2:1-9. The purging is effected by the
application of the blood of the covenant, which purges “our conscience from
dead works to serve the living God.” ... Hebrews 9:14. His sudden coming into
his temple was when he came in the person of the Holy Spirit, suddenly and like
a rushing mighty wind, on the day of Pentecost and filled his church, which is
his temple, with the Holy Ghost. ... Acts 2:1-4.
Mister Dowie says: “The messenger of
the covenant is not the Lord himself, as Jesus told us” ... Leaves of Healing,
Volume 9, No. 7, Page 210. In that one statement, for which there is not the
slightest foundation in the Word, he utters two falsehoods. Jesus never said
that the messenger of the covenant was not the Lord himself, neither did the
prophet Malachi; but thousands of people will take Mister Dowie’s word for it
without looking for proof. What blindness! “If the blind lead the blind, both
shall fall into the ditch.” Mister Dowie, after recognizing John the Baptist as
the person whom Malachi calls Elijah, utters another falsehood, in order to
make room for a seat of honor among men for himself, at the awful expense of
his poor soul and those who are his willing devotees, by saying that Elijah was
to appear a third time upon earth. He charges Jesus Christ with this falsehood.
Hear him in the same number of his pernicious sheets, page 212: “Now John the
Baptist, Jesus said, was not only Elijah, but that Elijah was to come again for
the third time.” Jesus never hinted, much less said, any such thing. This is
what he did say: “And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes
that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly
shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is
come already, and they knew him not, but they have done unto him whatsoever
they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the
disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” ... Matthew
17:10-13. “And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must
first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and
restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must
suffer many things, and be set at naught. But I say unto you, That Elias is
indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is
written of him.” ... Mark 9:1-13. This is what Jesus said concerning Elijah, or
Elias. He plainly tells us that John the Baptist is the person referred to in
the prophecy from which the scribes taught the coming of Elijah, viz: “Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful
day of the Lord: and he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,
and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the
earth with a curse.” ... Malachi 4:5, 6.
This was all fulfilled in John the
Baptist. “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is
heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his
name John. . . And many of the children of Israel shall be turned to the Lord
their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of
the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” ... Luke 1:13-17. “And
if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” ... Matthew
11:14. In all this scripture we have not the slightest hint of the coming of
Elijah after John the Baptist fulfilled his mission. Mister Dowie thinks
because Jesus used a form of speech, which he twists to establish his
deception, that he has a good foundation for his fabricated nonsense. He lays
great stress upon the words, “Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all
things,” and then publishes the falsehood that Jesus said Elijah was to come a
third time. Then he assumes to be that person himself. It can easily be seen
from the context that Jesus was not teaching that Elijah was still coming in
the future, but that he was referring to what the scribes taught, namely, that
Elijah was to come before the Lord should appear. But Jesus gave them to
understand that he was the Lord and John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to
come. None but those stupefied by the spirit of antichrist could be led to
accept such a false conclusion from those scriptures. May Almighty God awaken
people from their stupidity and blindness before it is eternally too late.
Amen.
Mister Dowie and his so-called church
teach that John did not restore all things, as was prophesied of Elijah, and
conclude there must be a third appearance of that prophet in order to fulfill
the prophecy. In the name of Jesus Christ we pronounce this to be another
falsehood from the father of lies. The restoration he was to engage in was
fully accomplished by John the Baptist, which consisted in turning many of the
children of Israel to the Lord, and the hearts of the fathers to the children,
as was written of him. This is clearly taught in the prophecies relating to
him, and in the history of his life-work in that capacity. When God gave him
his commission he did not tell him to invent a great ecclesiastical machine and
call it “The Christian Catholic Church in Zion,” as Mister Dowie has done, and
place himself at the head as general overseer. When a man announces that he is
some great one, and we find him engaged in that kind of work, we know that the
devil sent him, and not God, notwithstanding the fact that he does a great many
miracles and signs and wonders before the people. God permits such men to live
and do these things because he wants to prove his true people. “If there arise
among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a
wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee,
saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve
them; thou shalt not harken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of
dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” ... Deuteronomy 13:1-3.
To accept Mister Dowie’s doctrine is to go after other gods than the one God,
Jesus Christ, who is all and in all. The poor, deluded masses who follow the
pope of Rome are not worse deceived that are the blind, ignorant devotees of
the so-called “Christian Catholic Church.” To acknowledge his as a messenger of
the covenant and that prophet of whom Moses spake, is to deny Jesus Christ; for
he, and he alone, is the person of whom Moses and Malachi spoke. To acknowledge
him as Elijah is to deny the testimony of the Scriptures and ignore the Holy
Spirit who inspired them. The Lord, sooner or later, will reprove such
presumption in a mortal.
MISTER DOWIE’S COMING CITY.
Mister Dowie’s fertile brain, aided by
the archfiend, is now palming off on the world one of the greatest deceptions
ever introduced among men, namely, that of building a city and blasphemously
calling it “Zion,” or “City of God.” He has purchased 6,500 acres of land and,
as far as we can learn, is leasing it in lots to his followers, the leases
extending for the period of 1,100 years. As he seems to be expecting Jesus
Christ to set up an earthly kingdom in this world and reign as king for a
thousand years, making his city the headquarters of his government, he has
leases given to cover that period of time. Of course the Scriptures teach of a
city called Zion; but Mister Dowie’s city and the true city of God ... the Zion
of the Holy One of Israel ... are two vastly different structures, in a number
of respects. In the first place, Zion is not a city built of such material as
wood, brick, and stone. It is a spiritual structure composed of believers, who
are lively stones. See 1st Peter 2:5. Zion is the church of the
First-born, whose names are enrolled in heaven. We will now prove the church
and Zion to be one and the same. “And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I
have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and
lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.” ...
Isaiah 51:16. “The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending
unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the
soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The City of the Lord, The Zion of
the Holy One of Israel.” ... Isaiah 60:14. In these texts, the Lord’s people,
The City of the Lord, and Zion, are identical. God does not recognize any
earthly city as the Zion of the New Testament. He did not have to wait for
Mister Dowie to purchase 6,500 acres of land near Chicago before his city could
be built. Paul and the Christians who lived in his day had already come to the
City of God. “But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living
God, the heavenly Jerusalem.” ... Hebrews 12:22. It is very evident from the
Scriptures that Mister Dowie is over eighteen hundred years behind time in
bringing into existence a city for God to dwell in and call Zion.
Another difference between Mister
Dowie's coming city and The City of God, is: Mister Dowie founded the city
which he is building, and God is the founder of his City. Prophecy has recorded
how we would have to meet this question of what Zion is; so we are instructed
how to answer ... "What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation?
That the Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in
it." ... Isaiah 14:32. Another difference between Zion and Mister Dowie's
city is: Zion is inhabited by all God's people, and none other, which can never
be true of Mister Dowie's city. One reason for this is that, salvation is the
wall dividing the inhabitants of this city from all others. The redeemed of the
Lord may joyfully sing: "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint
for walls and bulwarks." ... Isaiah 26:1. "But thou shalt call thy
walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise." ... Isaiah 60:18. Since salvation
constitutes the walls which surround Zion, it follows that whenever a person
gets salvation he enters into this city through the gates, which are Praise.
Thousands have lived and died in the
true Zion without having ever heard of Mister Dowie or his city. We do not
object to him building a city or founding institutions and industries in the
world; but when we come across men who take upon themselves the prerogative of
God and blasphemously use the names and titles which belong to him and his
institutions, thus deceiving men, we feel it our duty as faithful watchmen to
expose them before the world and give all a timely warning not to tamper with
such. May God help the faithful to beware of such frauds. Amen.
MISTER DOWIE'S DOCTRINES.
Mister Dowie mixes his teaching with a
lot of scripture, as do all who lie in wait to deceive; but it is the scripture
which he teaches plainly that leads people to drink in the error which he so
profusely mixes with it. His erroneous teachings, which we have already exposed
and refuted, are enough without further exposure to condemn him as unfit to
lead our souls; but to show the true nature of his spirit, we believe it is our
duty to refute some more of his false teachings. He denounces and classes the
eating of pork as sinful, and his followers invariably destroy or get rid of
their hogs when they receive his teaching. He has no foundation for such
teaching in the gospel. He is compelled to go to the law of Moses for his
foundation, and by that act proves himself under the curse; "for it is
written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are
written in the book of the law to do them." ... Galatians 3:10. Neither he
nor his people teach or practice circumcision, which is enjoined upon people as
much as abstinence from pork. There are many things in the precepts of Moses
which, if he were compelled to teach and practice, would convince him that the
Mosaic economy was a yoke "which neither our fathers nor we were able to
bear." ... Acts 15:10. He prates a great deal about Jesus permitting the
devils to enter the swine in the country of the Gadarenes; but in this very
argument he condemns himself, for Jesus never commanded anybody to destroy
their hogs, neither has he such a spirit: but when Mister Dowie directly and
indirectly destroys all the hogs which come within the jurisdiction of the
spirit of his teaching, he proves himself to be animated by the same spirit
that took possession of that herd of swine in Gadara, whose first act was to
destroy them.
Jesus sanctified all kinds of meat by
his eternal Word when he let Peter see a sheet descend from heaven containing
all kinds of four-footed beasts, wild beasts, birds and creeping things, and
after giving him to understand that all these things were henceforth to be
considered clean, received them up again to heaven. See Acts 10:8-16. "For
every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with
thanksgiving: for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer." ... 1st
Timothy 4:4, 5. Amen. "Let God be true but every man a liar;" every
contrary teaching is of the devil.
MISTER DOWIE'S BAPTISM.
Mister Dowie teaches triune baptism.
He dips the applicant once into the water in the name of the Father, once in
the name of the Son, and once in the name of the Holy Ghost. He boldly declares
this to be the only true Christian baptism. This teaching is also false. When
Jesus commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, he
did not intend there should be a separate dip in the name of each person in the
Godhead.
The apostle did not perform it in that
way, which we will prove from inspired history. "Repent, and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ." ... Acts 2:38. "They
were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." ... Acts 8:16. "And he
commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." ... Acts 10:48.
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus." ... Acts 19:5. In these accounts the name of the Lord Jesus was
the name in which believers were immersed. As he was the head of the church, so
all were baptized in his name.
It was not necessary to go through the
formula, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, as in Him dwelt all the fullness of the
Godhead bodily, and whatsoever was done in his name was sanctioned by the
Father and Holy Spirit. Baptism represents a burial. "Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life." ... Romans 6:4. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye
are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised
him from the dead." ... Colossians 2:12. Who ever heard of people being
put into the ground and taken up, and put down again and taken up, and put down
again, to represent a burial? In these texts we find that baptism represents
resurrection. Who ever knew of people having to be brought out of the ground
three times before being properly resurrected?
So we see that Mister Dowie's baptism
is like his church, his city, and his anti-Christ, no-pork gospel ... there is
no foundation for it in the Word of God, or place in the Christian economy. May
God help all to see the truth, and not be deceived by such false teaching.
Amen.
____________________
PEACE.
By W. W. Titley.
"Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no end." ... Isaiah 9:7. We can be
assured of success and increase in this glorious cause of God, and an increase
that shall not end while time remains, if we are enjoying his peace in our
souls. Peace is kept by the execution of God's judgments, and these judgments
are written; the executing of the same is the business of the saints. Psalms
149:9. This seems severe at times, but when we obey we are rewarded with the
blessed assurance that the will of God has been accomplished through us. Some
dear friends may take offence at the Word when it cuts them off in their false
hope, and may cry: "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." They
confess they belong to that class. We read of these in Romans 3:12; and the
seventeenth verse explains why they are in such bad company ... "The way
of peace have they not known." When this glorious gospel comes to such, it
comes as a rod; and yet in love. "As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten." ... Revelation 3:19. Such people need to repent of their sins,
as the remainder of the verse shows.
When the truth comes to them they are
loath to accept it as truth, especially when their hearts are full of deceptive
doctrines and blindness that is natural to an evil heart of unbelief. They can
not discover where the peace is in such teaching that makes them so
uncomfortable and miserable; but if they will submit to God and his truth,
humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God, he will give them a new heart
and plant his peace there, which will abide forever ... if they will give
diligence to make their calling and election sure. 2nd Peter 1:10.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God."
Wondrous peace which has no end! What a treasure, the gift of God! Yet some
will trifle it away for a mere feather, in a careless moment. Oh, that souls
would estimate the peace of God! The price that bought it for us was the blood
of the lowly Lamb of God ... the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the
world. Yes, our sins are all taken away in this glorious experience of peace
with God ... a better experience than Moses or Israel under the law had; for
the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins. Hebrews 10:4.
In order to retain the peace of God we
must let the peace of God rule in our hearts, and be thankful. Colossians 3:15.
When the peace of God rules our hearts, our lives will reveal the glorious
golden fruits of righteousness; and by keeping our minds on things above and
not on things of earth, he keeps us in perfect peace; “for to be carnally minded
is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” ... Romans 8:6. “The
kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in
the Holy Ghost.” ... Romans 14:17. There is no confusion in God’s kingdom; “for
God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints.” ... 1st Corinthians 14:33. When the glad tidings of peace
are published in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation or congregation,
the author of confusion gets stirred, insomuch that he will rail out at times
and mock the sons of God, but the confusion is not in the church: God keeps his
church in perfect peace. “Be careful [overanxious] for nothing; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made
known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ... Philippians 4:6, 7.
Wherefore, brethren, “be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without
spot and blameless.” ... 2nd Peter 3:14. “Finally, brethren,
farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and
the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
___________________________
The Walk of the Saints.
By J. D. Hatch.
“As ye have therefore received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.” ... Colossians 2:6. How did we receive him,
when he saved us? ... “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart;
and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” ... Psalms 34:18. When we humbly repented
of our sins, restored the pledge, giving again that which we had robbed
(Ezekiel 33:15), forgave from the heart those who trespassed against us,
(Matthew 18:35), first being reconciled to those we remembered had aught
against us (Matthew 5:24), forsaking all our ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:7),
confessing our sins (Proverbs 28:13) ... then, believing the gospel which
became the power of God unto salvation to our souls (Romans 1:16), we were
saved. We are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8. How, I say, did we
receive the Lord Jesus? ... Like the jailer at Philippi, saying, “What must I
do to be saved?” ... Acts 16:30. Nothing was then too great for us to do, and
anything the Lord requires is not too much, after the work of salvation has
begun, in order to keep saved. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For
behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what
carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what
indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea,
what revenge!” ... 2nd Corinthians 7:10, 11. If it required such
carefulness to enter the kingdom of God, how careful we should be to walk before
him, serving him with all humility of mind and with many tears, etc. Acts
20:19. “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you
be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the
proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care
upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom
resist steadfastly in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in our brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace,
who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be
glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” ... 1st peter 5:5-11. “I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with
long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as
ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of them all, who is above all, and through all, and in you
all.” ... Ephesians 4:1-6. “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and
of his bones.” ... Ephesians 5:30. A very close relationship. “Therefore if any
man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.” ... 2nd Corinthians 5:17. “Whosoever abideth
in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”
... 1st John 3:6. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself
also so to walk, even as he walked.” ... 1st John 2:6. How? ... “For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that we should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth; who, when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that
we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were
healed.” ... 1st peter 2:21-24. “See then that ye walk
circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days
are evil.” ... Ephesians 5:15, 16. “Wherein in times past ye walked according
to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air,
the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we
all had our conversation in times past in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the
desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath,
even as others.” ... Ephesians 2:2, 3. “Dearly beloved, . . . Abstain from
fleshly lust, which war against the soul.” ... 1st Peter 2:11. “Be
ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ
also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice
to God for a sweet-smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints: neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but
rather giving of thanks.” ... Ephesians 5:1-4. “Husbands, love your wives, even
as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. So ought men to love
their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no
man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the
Lord the church.” ... Ephesians 5:25, 28, 29. “Likewise, ye wives, be in
subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the Word, they also may
without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold
your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that
outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on
of apparel, 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. For after this manner in the old time the holy women
also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their
own husbands.” ... 1st Peter 3:1-5. “Children, obey your parents in
the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and thy mother, which is the
first commandment with promise; that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest
live long upon the earth.” ... Ephesians 6:1-3. “Follow peace with all men, and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any
man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble
you, and thereby many be defiled.” ... Hebrews 12:14, 15. “And the servant of
the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in
meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will
give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.” ... 2nd
Timothy 2:24, 25. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in
all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be holy; for I am holy.” ...
1st Peter 1:15, 16. Our conduct, living a holy life goes further
than anything else to convince the people of the genuineness of our religion.
Walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4.
____________________
Good Books.
We can hardly overestimate the value
of a good book. Such a volume may fill the place of a true friend. It is not
possible for many of us to personally associate with wise men and women; but it
is our privilege, in these days of profuse printed matter, to commune with
great minds, and read their best thoughts at our leisure. It is said that one
time after the poet Shiller paid a short visit to the greater poet Goethe, when
he returned home, his friends were surprised at the great improvement there was
in his talk and manners. A chance meeting with a noble man sometimes changes
the whole course of a young person’s life. It is not necessary always to meet
good men personally in order to gain inspiration and help from them. By reading
their thoughts we may receive the like benefit.
Many parents who would not tolerate
their children associating with low, vulgar characters, seem to overlook the
danger there is lurking in a bad book. Such a volume in the home may prove of
vastly more harm than deadly poison. In the one case temporal death may follow
and the children may go to a better world; but in the other, the minds of
children may be polluted, resulting in eternal death and banishment from the
presence of God.
On every side we may see young and old
men and women who are suffering awful punishment as a result of violating the
laws of God and nature. Many times they have sinned in ignorance; in almost
every case their fall may be traced to evil companionship. It stirs our
indignation against the powers of evil when we see the noblest creature of God
being dragged below the brute creation. God grant that each of us may do our
share in stemming the tide.
Since so much importance attaches to
the spread of literature, we should deem it a privilege to make our influence
count for God and right on this line. Many of the readers doubtless know that
God has blessed us with two books, one for boys and one for girls, that contain
just such information as needs to be placed in the hands of the rising
generation. These books are written by a Christian mother whose experience and
close observation, combined with her sympathy and love for the young, fit her
well for advising them. The books are written in an attractive style, and will
win the confidence of the reader. We have the utmost confidence in the good
results which will follow from a wide circulation of these books.
Dear ones, are you doing as much in
regard to this as you will wish you had when you enter eternity’s portals and
see the numberless wrecks of humanity who are now needing your assistance to
lead them in the way of life?
God desires that the pure truth be
spread over the world as rapidly as possible. The truth alone can do people
permanent good. Satan is flooding the land with error of every description,
which is damning countless souls. We know that God has given us the truth; but
are we as zealous in spreading it as we should be? To walk as God designed that
we should requires earnestness and trueness; but there are thousands of honest
souls who are longing to know the whole will of God and who will walk in the
light. Let us not be sparing in sending forth pure books and tracts and papers.
If the thoughts of good men have such an influence for the right, who can
estimate the value of God’s thoughts to the world? The practice of one verse of
scripture will often be more valuable to us than the following out of intricate
theories and philosophies of men. I am sure if each of the readers pray over
this matter, the Lord will show them many opportunities for increasing their
usefulness in the work of the Lord on this line.
______________________
Them That Seduce.
“These things have I written unto you
concerning them that seduce you.” ... 1st John 2:26. It is a good
thing to be established in the truth of God, so as not to be led away by
deceptive spirits, whose only aim is to destroy.
In the chapter referred to, the
apostle says, after speaking of antichrists, “They went out from us, but they
were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued
with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not
all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. .
. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If
that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall
continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath
promised us, even eternal life.” ... Verses 19-25. Oh, how truly are these
scriptures fulfilled, in that deceivers and antichrists are many and trying to
deceive if possible the very elect. How necessary it is to have the unction
(anointing) from the Holy One, and thus to know the truth and stick to “that
which we have heard from the beginning.” Thank God, amidst all the confusion
occasioned not only by the sects with their conflicting creeds, but also by
those rising from among us who have become filled with spiritual pride and
fanaticism, and with their deceptions are drawing away disciples after them ...
amidst this all, we can know the truth; we may “know that we know him.” “know
that we are in him,” “know that we have passed from death unto life, because we
love the brethren,” “know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding,” etc. If we are made free by the truth of God, we have a witness
that testifies we are of God. Halleluiah! So that if we keep humble before God
and let his truth abide in us, and continue to walk in Christ just as we
received him, there is no danger of our being seduced. But there are many
unsuspecting ones who perhaps have not kept the witness in their souls as they
should, who are in danger of being led away into confusion and error by some
whose past career has been as ministers among us, preaching the doctrines of
this reformation. It is for these unsuspecting ones that we are burdened, and
we pray God to help them discern the false spirits before they bring upon
themselves entire destruction of their spirituality.
A circular letter has been sent out by
one of these false lights to capture sympathy and co-operation in his future
attempts to misrepresent Christ to the people of “dark India” by having the
form without the power, the appearance without the nature of Christ, the
profession without the possession, and we dare say, a gospel without the real
doctrine of Christ. We will proceed to show the inconsistencies there are in
the letter above mentioned. “The saddest thing that fills our hearts as we
prepare to leave America’s shores is the thought of the trouble that has arisen
between myself and the Gospel Trumpet people;” yet in another paragraph he
says, “I find myself out into a greater liberty and freedom than ever, and
believe that God has wrought the change, and I give him all the glory.” Surely
all can see that these two statements do not correspond. He believes God has wrought
the change and yet it is the saddest thing that fills his heart. “I continue to
shun self-vindication;” yet the letter as a whole is in justification of
himself. He says he was renounced “without a church trial, nor was I allowed
ten minutes to publicly state my position.” Now what does he mean by a church
trial? There are principles laid down in the New Testament for dealing with
offenders or those who are out of the way, and these principles were followed.
What right have the people of God to take any different course than that which
is scriptural? Where is the license in the scriptures, so much coveted by those
who have rejected admonition, giving them the right to publicly state their
position before the congregation? The devil would wish for nothing better, and
therefore it is not God’s way. God’s church is exclusive and will not recognize
wrong as having any right to state its position before the congregation.
This is a sure and effective method of
dealing with antichrist spirits and it generally makes the devil howl with
complaint. Thank God for a method of keeping his church pure! The church’s
position is exclusive, out and away from all confusion and false doctrine. She
is the body of Christ, and represents him to this lost world. Should she then,
as though on a plane with error, permit a false spirit to plead its case before
those who are dependent on her for protection? Would a true shepherd permit
anything false to have access to the flock in order that the sheep may decide
as to the wolfish nature of the creature underneath the sheepskin? It is the
shepherd’s duty to guard against anything suspicious and not suffer it to come
near the fold. God’s ministers can well afford to take the scriptural way, even
though they are accused of being popish, narrow, etc.
Some who hear of certain ones being
rejected by the saints of God, desire to know the why and wherefore and suppose
that none should be so dealt with unless some outward deeds had been committed.
Such an idea is a grave mistake. The dangers that are the greatest are those
that are tinged with heresy but covered with enough truth to make them look
safe. May God help the dear ones everywhere to see this. Cases of adultery,
theft, or outward sins are not the kind that endanger the welfare of souls,
except those who perpetrate them, and the devil is aware of this and does not
give much trouble in that direction; but, dear unsuspecting souls, these are
the days which you must look out for the preachers who come as angels of light,
often claiming to have an experience in advance of those who are right. It is
those who deceive and would seduce you from the simplicity there is in Christ.
Beware of such; and if God’s ministers, who must be responsible for the safety
of the flock, see fit to expose the false spirit and warn people against the
one possessing it, do not let Satan make you believe that such a one is not
dealt with properly unless some outward wrong can be stated or unless the
individual has a public “hearing” ... you deceive yourselves if you do. May God
help every one to get rooted and settled in the Word of truth, that they may be
able to try the spirits. The apostle speaks of “many unruly and vain talkers
and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision; whose mouths must be
stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for
filthy lucre’s sake.” These are they who would seduce, and the apostle says
they are to be rebuked sharply. The truth is so well counterfeited by the devil
that it is possible for a desire for prominence, or even for filthy lucre, to
be fed and to thrive under a false purpose of making everything without charge,
borrowing no money, working on the faith line, etc. Sympathy is easily awakened
when a preacher claims to be working on a line of faith, asking a penny from no
one, and is able to tell of wonderful answers to prayer. These are times when
souls are in peril, and the only safe place is to be humbly hid under the
shadow of the Almighty, trusting him to give such understanding of his Word
that will enable us to discern the true and the false.
A. L. B.
______________________
History and Adventism.
By D. S. Warner.
There are few classes of people that
dwell more upon history in all their writings and lectures, than the above
mention. History is their principal key to unlock the meaning of prophecy.
Wherever its testimony can be construed in their favor, it is readily received,
and there are no scruples as to whether it is genuine. But just offer to shed
the light of early history on the subject of the Sabbath, and immediately
everything reliable has dropped out of history; everything is spurious, and by
them utterly abhorred.
After the publication of our answers
to “Questions for Sunday Keepers,” and the questions to Saturday keepers which
they have never attempted to answer, we received a letter from Mister Colcord,
one of their prominent men, containing propositions for discussion. They were
so worded as to exclude historic evidence; and his offer was to discuss them in
the Gospel Trumpet. When, in reply, we wished to give the people the benefit of
history along with scripture, he construed our proposed amendment as indicating
a unwillingness to meet him, and spake very lightly of history. When he
peremptorily refused to admit the light of history, we put our name to the
propositions and agreed to meet him on the Bible alone, either in public, or in
the Gospel Trumpet and their paper at Battle Creek, when the man refused to
meet us on his own propositions.
Reader, is it any wonder they shun
that testimony? He that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the
light lest his deeds ... and his abominable creed ... should be reproved. They
get along much better to keep history closed, and assert what they please. They
twist the scriptures and impeach the entire record of early history, and then
ask us to believe their assertions without the support of either one. For
instance, we quote from Mrs. White, “Great Controversy” ... published 1887 ...
page 55. “Satan tampered with the fourth commandment also, and assayed to set
aside the ancient Sabbath, . . And in its stead to exalt the festival observed
by the heathen as ‘the venerable day of the sun.’” “In the first centuries the
true Sabbath ... meaning the seventh day ... had been kept by all Christians.” “Constantine,
while still a heathen, issued a decree enjoining the general observance of
Sunday as a public festival throughout the Roman empire.” Another step must be
taken; the false Sabbath must be exalted to an equality with the true.
A few years after the issue of
Constantine’s decree, the bishop of Rome conferred on the Sunday the title of
Lord’s day; . . . Still the original Sabbath was kept.” She goes on to say that
by Romish councils the seventh-day Sabbath was put down, and the first day
exalted, and finally says, “The observance of Sunday as a Christian institution
has its origin in the mystery of lawlessness,” and calls the Lord’s day “a
child of papacy.”
But you see, dear reader, for all this
she does not attempt to cite one passage of history. Now that false prophetess
either chose to remain ignorant of the whole range of ancient ecclesiastical
history, and teach her positive falsehoods in ignorance, or if having read, she
did so knowingly. How does the woman know all these things? They occurred after
the close of inspired history, so she could only have recourse to the
uninspired. Why then did she not give her authorities? Evidently because she
could find nothing to her purpose. So she “speaks a vision out of her own
heart.” So while Adventists pronounce as spurious all the ancient records which
teach the abrogation of the law and its Sabbaths, and also abundantly show the
Christian Sabbath from the resurrection of Christ, records which have been
recognized by critics and scholars generally, as true ... while we say they
reject these, they spin their own history to suit themselves and require you to
ask no questions as to where they get it.
Look at the impudence of this
prophetess! The apostle John called the Christian Sabbath, “the Lord’s day” in
A. D. 96. She says that title was conferred upon it by the bishop of Rome in
the fourth century. She speaks of the “false,” and the “true Sabbath,” calling
the first day of the week the false and the seventh day the true. But eighteen
hundred years before she was born, Justin Martyr wrote under the same head ... “The
false and the true Sabbath,” and denounced the Jewish Sabbath as the false, and
declared the first day the true. He wrote in the virgin purity of Christianity;
she writes under the thick fogs of Babel confusion. He wrote as the apostle did
who pronounced the curse of God upon the false teachers who troubled the
Galatian church, “subverting the gospel of Christ” by enjoining the law and its
“days.” She writes largely the doctrine of the Ebionites, one of the first and
most abominable heresies.
She says in the first centuries the
seventh day had been kept by Christians. And her own say-so is the only proof
she offers. But we have seen that both the Word of God and the early church
fathers teach us that only persons who were weak and ignorant of the liberties
of the sons of God thought it necessary to observe the law respecting meats and
Sabbaths.
And Justin told Trypho that the
Sabbath of the law only belonged to the Jews, and that it was not proper for
Christians to observe the same: and by others we are positively told that
Saturday was a common work-day in the primitive church of God. The subtle lie
of Satan in the mouth of this false prophetess leaves the impression that Constantine,
as a heathen, enjoined the observance of Sunday, as a public festival, and
after his professed conversion he still adhered to it, making him the author of
that day of worship. So all Adventism teaches. But all readers of the New
Testament and of early history know it is a positive falsehood. For two hundred
years before Constantine’s day, in fact from the resurrection of Christ, the
first day was kept by the church of God as the regular Sabbath and weekly day
of worship.
Constantine had nothing to do with the
establishment of the Lord’s day in the church. God’s institutions need no
kingly decrees. But what that emperor did simply related to the day in his
empire. Should the head of the Chinese empire become especially favorable to
the Christian religion, nothing would be more natural than that he would adopt
the first day of the week as their national holiday. This is substantially what
Constantine did. Yet there is no more reason of truth in ascribing to him the
origin of the Christian Sabbath, than there would be in making the emperor of
China the father of it, were he to do the same thing in this century.
That Constantine called the first day “the
venerable day of the sun,” had no reference to any idolatrous use of that day.
Over a hundred years before, the days of the week had all been named after
planets as follows: the first day, after the sun ... Sunday; the next, after
the moon ... Monday; the last, after Saturn ... Saturday, etc. And these names
had passed into common use. Constantine, having been convicted of the truth of
the Christian religion, would naturally speak of the preeminence of their day
of worship, or which preeminence he had a beautiful illustration, in the fact
that the sun is the greatest planet of the solar system, and source of all
light. So this constant cry of Adventism that “Constantine changed the Sabbath,”
etc., is as false as Satan himself. And no person can inform himself of the
historic facts and make the assertion without knowing he is telling a
falsehood. Says Mister Andrews in his history of the Sabbath, pages 173 and
206: “The churches of Judea kept the seventh day. No father ever called the
first day Christian Sabbath, or Sabbath of any kind.” The many passages we have
quoted from those early fathers places Mister Andrews, and all who make such
assertions, before the public as either ignorant or willful teachers of
falsehood. Such is the unblushing heterodoxy of that dark sect. They dispute
the plain scriptures, renounce all early history that exposes their creed, and
virtually makes their own history to suit their purpose.
They are now sending out two
pamphlets; the first of which is entitled, “Rome’s Challenge, Why do
Protestants keep Sunday?” The second, “Our Answer.” In the first of which Roman
authorities are quoted affirming that they changed the Sabbath from the seventh
to the first day, and that there is no evidence in scripture or earthly history
in favor of the first-day Sabbath. That it only rests upon Rome’s authority to
change the laws of God.
To this false statement Adventism
gives consent; and then claim to be persecuted because they do not keep the day
Rome made. Thus the mother of harlots unblushingly lies, and her Hagaristic
daughter sanctions the falsehood. But God’s Word and the writings of the church
fathers rebuke both.
_____________________
“A Counterblaste.”
King James of England, under whose
reign and by whose authority our common Bible was translated, was some-what of
an author. Among his writings is found one called “A Counter-blaste to Tobacco,”
written nearly four hundred years ago. This filthy weed had been introduced a
short time before and was coming into general use. The King expresses himself
in vigorous language as follows:
“Have you not reason, then, to be
ashamed, forebeare this filthie noveltie, so basely grounded, so foolishly
received, and so grossly mistaken in the right use thereof? In your abuse
thereof sinning against God, harming yourselves, both in person and in goods,
and raking also thereby the marks and notes of vanity upon you; by the custom
thereof making yourselves to be wondered at by all forraine and civil Nations,
and by all strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned. A custom
loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the braine, dangerous to
the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the
horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomless.”
... Bible Advocate.
____________________
News from the Field.
_____________________
I am praising the Lord for salvation
that gives me victory over all the powers of the enemy. I left my home in
March, to work in the vineyard of the Lord. I have held several meetings near
Bluefield, with victory for Jesus. Sectarians are doing all they can to save
their cages. Praise the Lord for the truth, which is burning men’s works.
Babylon is falling; God’s little ones are seeing her corrupt and fallen
condition and are coming home to Zion. Pray that I may declare the whole truth
and keep humble before the Lord. Praise the Lord!
G. W. Dayle.
Bluefield, West Virginia, August 6.
___________________
I praise God to-day for salvation, it
seems, more than I ever did before. I do realize deep down in my soul that I am
saved from all sin. I am justified freely by a first work of grace, and
sanctified wholly by a second. I know that I have the blessed Holy Spirit, even
the Holy Ghost, reigning supremely in and over my soul. Praise our God! I also
praise God for his healing power that has been made manifest in my body. Lately
I wrote to the Trumpet family to pray for me, and I do praise God that since
that time I have been like a new person. Praise the sweet name of Jesus.
Grace Bamford.
273 Ash Street, Portland, Oregon.
__________________
With rejoicing we magnify the Lord for
perfect victory in our souls over the flesh, the world, and the devil. We are
receiving many blessings from heaven day by day. It is glorious. Halleluiah!
We just closed a meeting at
Elliottville, Kentucky. We had a large attendance, and the work in
justification and sanctification seemed very thorough. There must have been
eleven or twelve consecrations. Four were baptized, the Lord witnessing to the
same. We are at present holding a tabernacle meeting seven miles northwest of
Morehead. After this meeting we shall start south, the Lord willing. The Lord
needs more consecrated workers in the South; who will say: “Lord, here am I,
send me.” We have more calls than we can fill. Pray that God use us to his
glory. Amen.
W. P. and P. Long, and W. A. Sutherland.
Hilda, Kentucky, August 7.
_______________________
We can say of a truth that Jesus saves
us from all our sins and gives us victory through his name over all the powers
of darkness. To God be all the glory. Amen.
Our camp-meeting closed to-day with
victory on the Lord’s side. The devil began to work against this meeting before
it commenced, and his workings continued until the meeting was about half over;
but the saints then began to get down to business with God, and he overthrew
the powers of darkness. A few souls were saved, and some were sanctified. Seven
were baptized. Fifty-six enjoyed the sweet peace of God while obeying the
commandment given in John 13:14; 1st Corinthians 11:24-28.
Sister M. E. Davis and Brother George
Cole and others were present in this meeting, the Lord used them in sending
forth his truth to the people. We believe there was much good seed sown which
the devil will be unable to uproot.
From here we go to Hutson, Mississippi
to hold meetings a few days. We will then go to Simpson, Louisiana and
Plattsburg, Mississippi, the Lord willing. Sister Davis will be with us in
these meetings. Brother Cole returns to Chicago. May God bless each of us with
much wisdom as we go forth in the Lord’s work.
F. M. Williamson.
Hammond, Louisiana, July 28.
___________________
We are glad to report victory in the
name of Jesus our blessed King. Halleluiah! Our camp-meeting closed here last
evening. This was a precious meeting to all. Praise the Lord! Ministers present
were: Brothers E. E. Byrum, A. Beebe, I. S. Crouch, W. F. Ward, and W. F.
Holton. God used Brothers Byrum and Beebe in sending forth the Word. The work
of God was greatly strengthened. Workers went away better qualified for God’s
holy work in the rescue of the lost. Brethren, pray for us and the work in the
South.
R. H. Owens.
Sherwood, Louisiana, August 5.
___________________
In my last report through the Trumpet
I stated that I was going to work with my hands. Since that time I have
received letters from various parts of the country, asking if I have left the
ministry entirely. In answer I would say: No; I have only left the evangelistic
work. I am now working with my hands and preaching on Sunday. If God leads and
the way opens so I can, I will enter the field in the spring. Please pray that
I may be kept saved. Should any one feel like writing to me, my address is A.
J. Poulson, 521 Central Avenue, West Duluth, Minnesota.
West Duluth, Minnesota, August 1.
_____________________
Camp-Meetings of Eastern Washington.
The four camp-meetings of eastern
Washington have come and gone; their glorious results will never be fully known
until eternity reveals all. The Lord permitted all the ministers of eastern
Washington to be together in most of these meetings, which was a great blessing
to all, in helping us get into a more perfect unity of faith and spirit. Truly
the power of God was manifested in the camp of the redeemed as we never
witnessed it before. Praise God! We were made to realize that our God is full
of power, by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might. Many
sinners were brought to the all-cleansing fountain, and made to shout the
praises of God, who redeemed them by his own precious blood. Some were
delivered from devils and found their way to God. Many were sanctified by the
Holy Ghost who wrought a cleansing in both inner and outer man. Also many were
brought to the Great Physician and were healed of their aches and pains and
long standing diseases, which cause great joy in the city of the Lord.
We were all made to realize that we
are rapidly reaching the plane of apostolic time, by the perfect unity of the
spirit, faith, and power, manifested and increased from one camp-meeting to
another, until our hearts were filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory at
witnessing the Holy Ghost fall upon the people as in the days of old. Acts
10:44.
The subject of sanctification having
been agitated here on the coast by those who would pervert the Word of God and
try to confuse some by teaching that carnality exists only in the flesh, there
was a deeper research of the Word of God, and a more radical position taken in
defense of the truth. The judgments of God’s Word on this line produced more
definite and glorious experience of the Holy Ghost and fire (Matthew 3:11),
which cleanses (Acts 15:8-9; John 15:2) and makes perfect (Hebrews 10:14-15),
by the blood (Hebrews 13:12), the spirit, soul, and body. 1st
Thessalonians 5:23.
The church of God in Washington has
awakened, according to Isaiah’s prophecy (52:1, 2), and has put on her strength
and beautiful garments. She has shaken herself from the Babylonish dust, and
set herself down in the realms of purity (Ephesians 2:6) to fight the good
fight of faith. Amen. Yours in the one body,
James B. Peterman.
___________________
We have not been idle, although we
have not reported through the Trumpet for some time. We attended the Maryland
camp-meeting (the first held by the saints there) and can report a precious
meeting. At first the devil tried to hang a cloud over the camp, but by the
united prayers and resistance of the saints it was swept away and nothing but
glorious victory remained in the entire camp.
The saints were greatly encouraged to
take hold of God and press the battle to the end. About fifty happy saints were
present. The ministers were: Brothers Orr, Blewitt, and Deloe. Some were saved,
sanctified, and healed; to God be all the praise. From the camp-meeting I came
to this place, where I joined Brother Orr in a short meeting. We find here a
few honest souls who are willing to walk in all the light they have and are
desirous of receiving more. We expect to go in company with Brother and Sister
Orr next week to Virginia, then to Massachusetts, the Lord willing. Pray for
us.
B. F. Weikel and wife.
Williamsville, Delaware, August 7.
____________________
Muscatine Camp-Meeting.
The Muscatine, Iowa, camp-meeting this
year was a grand success for God, although when the sons of God came to
worship, the devil came also; but a few earnest prayers soon caused him to
flee, and sweet victory and harmony prevailed. The meeting was held in the
park. The street-cars made special trips to the park on account of the meeting.
The street-car company also furnished
electric lights free of charge. In the evening meetings there were a number in
attendance from the city, and we believe that a good influence was left on the
people in general, and that the future outlook for the work there is very encouraging.
Several were saved and sanctified, and
the power of God was manifest in healing the sick. A few followed the Lord in
baptism, and forty-seven saints participated in the washing of feet and
breaking of bread.
I also had the privilege of visiting
the printing office of the “Evangeliskc Basun” (Scandinavian Gospel Trumpet).
God is blessing this work abundantly, and ere long we hope to see “Den
Evangeliske Basun” go to hundreds of homes.
It is a great responsibility on
Brother Nelson, and he needs our earnest prayers. Yours in Jesus,
D. Otis Teasley.
___________________
Testimonies
_________________
I am still on the Lord’s side and have
no compromises with sectism. I still discern the body of Christ, the church.
When the Lord called me out of sectism, I came out to stay. By reading God’s
Word I saw the evil of division long before I left the M. E. sect, but did not
know what to do until I heard the Word preached in its purity. Then I saw what
the Lord wanted me to do. I was crippled with rheumatism nearly all last
winter. I wrote to the saints at Georgeville to agree with me in prayer for my
healing. Next day I was able to work, and kept getting better for a couple of
weeks, then it came back worse than ever. But I just stood firm on God’s promises
and claimed that I was healed, and praise his name, I was. I am saved,
sanctified, and healed, and kept by his mighty power. Pray that I may ever keep
humble and in God’s order.
Annie McAfoos.
Marion, Pennsylvania.
_________________________
I do praise God that I am enjoying
full salvation, and for leading me out of sectism. Sometimes it seemed as
though I were bound with chains; but I praise God that he has delivered me from
it all, and through Jesus I am enabled to live a life free from sin. We do not
praise God enough for his goodness to us. Pray that I may ever be kept humble
and ready at all times to do the will of my blessed Savior, who has done so
much for me.
Sarah Gentery.
West Plains, Missouri.
____________________
I am praising God for salvation and
victory over the enemy. I praise God for ever drawing me to repent. I had been
taught all my life that it was a burden to serve God, until a brother came and
preached the gospel in all its purity. I heard and accepted the Word and was
saved from sin. I have learned by experience that to serve God is a happy,
joyful, and peaceful life to live. I praise God for his healing power. I know
that he has healed me. I desire the prayers of God’s people.
Laura Fisher.
Cora, Missouri.
_________________
I wish to testify to what the Lord has
done for me. He has saved me from all sin and sanctified me, and is my all. I
trust him for soul and body. He has healed me many times of different things. I
was afflicted ten years. I promised God if he would heal me I would let the
world know of it. He healed me, for which I give him all the praise. I ask the
prayers of God’s children that I be healed of rheumatism.
Phebe Bullington.
Freewater, Oregon.
_________________
The Lord is my physician. He has
healed our children a number of times, and as for myself, he has helped me in
the hour of motherhood. Blessed be his name! I want to live for the Lord and
help others all I can. Pray that I may be sanctified.
Hattie E. Salvage.
Addy, Washington.
__________________
I wish to testify through the Gospel
Trumpet of my salvation, sanctification, and healing. I praise God that to-day
I can say, that he is my all and in all, in a deeper sense than I have ever
known him before, for the reason that, new experiences cause me to draw deeper
from the fountain of his love, and to lean more upon his everlasting arm; he
gives me sweet victory in my soul. It is so precious to trust him all the way.
All I once had, is his, and he is mine. Praise the Lord, all ye his saints!
Nina C. Smith.
Detroit, Michigan.
____________________
I praise God for salvation that is
perfect and complete, for Jesus saved and sanctified me, and then to complete
his work, he has healed my body of a number of diseases. If he could heal one
disease, I could not see why he could not heal them all; so I came to him with
all my diseases and he healed them all. Praise his name!
I was troubled in my experience for a
long time by erroneous teaching, which was, that when I consecrated for sanctification
I should claim it “by faith,” because the Word says, “the altar sanctifies the
gift.” Not receiving the cleansing and supposing I was sanctified, it got me
very confused, and had I not once been blessed with a definite experience of
the two works I would have been convinced that there was but one work. But I
praise God for his long-suffering to us-ward and the understanding he gives
them who wait upon him. He showed me where I was and that we do receive a
definite witness of the Holy Ghost when we are sanctified; that he does not do
the work and we not know when it is done and just have to try to believe it.
Truly the devil would deceive the very elect if possible. It behooves each of
us to watch and pray.
Alice Hatch.
Gordon, Nebraska.
________________
I wish to tell of God’s kindness
towards me. The Lord pardoned me of my sins about one year ago, and three of
four months later gave me the deep experience of sanctification, where we know
we have died to the things of this world and are alive unto Christ. Truly the
Lord has done, and is doing, much for me. He has kept me free from all sin and
gives me victory over the power of the enemy; yea, he has done “exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think.” ... Ephesians 3:20. Dear ones, let
us be true to God, and willing to do anything and everything he wants us to do;
for his Word says that he is all and in all. So let us glorify him in all
things. Pray that I keep true to God. Also pray for my husband, that he may
obtain the blessed experience of sanctification. We have taken the Lord for our
physician ever since we have been saved. It is the desire of my heart to be
kept humble at Jesus’ feet, doing his will in all things.
Mrs. H. H. May.
New Springfield, Ohio.
___________________
God saves and sanctifies me to-day.
Halleluiah! After many long, weary years of sin, I turned my feet into the way
of righteousness and by the help of the Holy Spirit was caused to rejoice that
my sins were put away, and I was cleansed from all unrighteousness. Then I
presented my body a living sacrifice and he sanctified my nature. Glory to
Jesus! He has established my heart, and keeps my thoughts pure. Bless God for
this glorious salvation! He has also healed me and my children. Pray for us.
W. D. Rice.
Bigrock, Michigan.
____________________
I am still praising God for a full and
free salvation, a sanctified nature, and for his keeping and healing power. I
am walking in his fullness of love. Praise his holy name! Some time ago I was
taken very sick with cramps in the stomach. The Lord healed me without taking
one drop of medicine. Praise his holy name! I praise the Lord for the sweet
peace that I have in my soul. I feel and know that I am a child of the great
King, and that I am standing on the solid rock Christ Jesus. Halleluiah to the
Lamb of God! Truly it is sweet to trust in Jesus. Pray that I live faithful to
the end, doing my Master’s will at all times.
Mrs. Minervia Ritzenthaler.
Antioch, California.
____________________
I am praising the Lord for the many
blessings bestowed upon me. It makes my heart rejoice when I read the
testimonies of the dear saints. My husband and I are saved, sanctified, and
freed from all bonds of sectism. I was sanctified about nine years ago, being a
member of the Baptist sect at that time; but the Lord called husband and me
out. Yet we did not see the true church until we became readers of the Trumpet,
about a year ago. We were somewhat discouraged in working with the
anti-ordinance people; for we could not help believing the ordinances should be
kept. While thinking over the discouragements one day, I thought of a paper a
lady had left at our house. I found words of encouragement in it, and we have
been readers of the Trumpet ever since, and are glad it is a weekly. We never
had the privilege of attending any of the saint’s meetings.
The Lord has been our physician for
about four years. We use no remedies in our family at all, but find the Lord
faithful to his promises.
Mrs. A. V. High.
__________________
I feel the Lord would have me add my
testimony among the saved, sanctified, and kept. I am happy in the Lord and
victorious over all the power of the enemy, and am praising God for his blessed
promises.
About six weeks ago, I was tempted of
Satan a whole week; but I did not yield, for I was kept by God’s divine power.
Blessed be his name! It all worked together for my good and to God’s glory. At
the end of the week the Lord showed me how he had been present with me all the
while; that he had come to abide with me, and would never leave me alone.
Praise his holy name!
Satan has often afflicted me with
various diseases of the stomach, which the Lord has always healed since I have
learned to trust him. Several times he has healed me instantly, for which I
truly praise him. I have also been afflicted with asthma for twenty years, but
for six months since I have taken the Lord as my healer, I have not been
troubled with it. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for
his wonderful works to the children of men.” ... Psalms 107:8. Pray that the
Lord keep me from being afflicted with it.
Let us be prompt in doing what God
desires of us, lest we lose the blessing he has in store for us. I desire your
prayers for the humble work the Lord has called me to do here (visiting the
sick at the hospital, etc.), and that I may be kept humble and low at the feet
of Jesus, which is truly a blessed place to be. I find great joy in serving the
Lord in this blessed way. Truly he leads me in green pastures, and beside the
still waters, day by day. Amen.
H. C. Hawkinson.
227 East Sixth Street, St. Paul, Minnesota.
________________
Obituary.
________________
GONDERMON. ... Sister Sarah
Gondermon died July 20, 1901; aged 46 years, 9 months, 16 days. She accepted
the pure gospel seven years ago and took Christ as her physician. She was a
devoted Christian. During her last illness, of three months, she gave evidence
of a perfect trust in God, and of an abundant entrance into his heavenly kingdom.
J. E. Courtney.
Petoskey, Michigan.
_________________
Divine Healing.
________________
Healed of Consumption.
Eleven years ago I was taken with a
severe cold which settled on my lungs and kept growing worse until it was fast
developing into quick consumption. I expectorated blood every time I had a
coughing spell that strained me, which was frequently. I became alarmed
concerning my condition. I had been praying the Lord to heal me from the
beginning of the cold, yet it had grown worse all the time. I did not
understand why my prayers were not answered. I realized that there was no help
for me in doctors, at least I had not enough confidence in any I knew to put my
case in their hands and follow their treatment. I had trusted the Lord the best
I knew, but seemingly had received no benefit as yet. My case became desperate,
and it seemed to me something had to be done or I would soon die. I began
praying more earnestly than before and inquired of the Lord why my prayers were
not answered. Soon he began to question me in this manner: What are you going
to do about doctors, remedies, and medicines? I was surprised, but the Lord
soon convinced me that I had a reserve in my heart, and if my prayers were not
answered I would try some doctor and his medicine as a last resort. The Lord
knew my heart better than I did. When I learned what was there, I saw my
condition. The Lord wanted me to trust him fully. I then consecrated my body to
him, and told him my case was in his hands, live or die, and that if he healed
me I would tell it while I lived, but if he took me, I was ready to go. Praise
God, as soon as I made the consecration the Spirit of the Lord witnessed that
it was accepted. My soul was blessed and I was at rest over the matter.
Then the words of James 5:14, 15 came
to me ... “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and
the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and
if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” I had not yet received
the light on the one body of Christ, the church of the living God, the pillar
and ground of the truth. But in Los Angeles, California, where I was living
there was a preacher of the United Presbyterian sect who had received light on
sanctification as a definite work of grace, subsequent to regeneration. He
obtained the experience, also light on divine healing, and began to preach it
to his congregation; but they rejected both the doctrines of healing and
sanctification, and turned out the preacher; so he was preaching wherever he
could get a place. When the Lord brought the scripture in James to my mind I
thought of this preacher as the only one I knew who had faith and would obey
the scripture. I called for him to anoint me, and he and another brother, after
anointing me with oil, laid their hands on me and prayed the Lord to heal me.
While they were praying the healing power went all through my lungs. I have not
expectorated blood since, and have had strong lungs all these years. All praise
and glory be to Him who took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses. Pray that
I ever follow my Savior faithfully.
J. D. Hatch.
Springfield, Ohio.
______________________
Healed of Pneumonia.
I am praising the Lord for a full and
free salvation that saves and keeps me day by day. I find him a present help in
every time of need.
Last June I was taken with a severe
attack of Pneumonia. I was in bed eight days and grew worse and worse, until
some thought I was dying. No one had hopes of my recovery. I had no hope
myself. The seventh day I could not talk above a whisper. I could not eat, and
so became very weak. I began to call upon the Lord and put all my trust in him.
On the ninth day I sent for the saints to come and obey Mark 16:18. They agreed
with me in prayer and laid on hands according to the Word. The Lord came to my
relief and healed me instantly. I felt like a new man. I arose from my bed
without help and walked up and down the floor shouting and praising God for
healing my body. “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless
his holy name.” I was yet very weak for about two weeks; but the Lord continued
to give me strength.
The Pneumonia left me with a bad
cough, but he moved it away in a few days. In the third week I could work, and
now I am as stout as ever and healthier than before I was sick. Praise the Lord
for his mighty healing power! I can truly say the Lord has lengthened my days.
I give him all the glory. I can never praise the Lord enough, neither in this
world nor the world to come, for what he has done for me. Pray that the days
the Lord added to my life be used to his honor and glory. Please pray for my
family also.
Dugan Price.
Oxford, Alabama.
___________________
A Wonderful Case of Healing.
I praise God for his saving grace and
healing power. He keeps me day by day and heals all my diseases. Praise his
holy name! I was very sick a year ago last October. I continued in earnest
prayer, but grew worse instead of better. I sent for the elder, as there was
only one here. He and my husband prayed and laid hands on me, but I was not
healed. The Word says, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
So if the prayer of faith had been prayed I would have been healed, because God’s
Word says so, and he can not lie. His Word is yea and amen to all that believe.
I continued to grow worse until I was so low I could not bear to have people
talk in the room where I lay. My husband got a doctor. I had not tasted
medicine for eleven years. He doctored me awhile, but I did not get well. In
January a brother came to see me. He prayed the prayer of faith, and I was
every whit made whole. Praise God forever and ever for what he can do for us if
we will but trust him! He will do more than we can ask or think.
My little boy was taken very sick with
Pneumonia. I rebuked it and asked God to heal him, yet he continued to grow
worse. But after my faith had been tried for five days the boy was healed. God
did heal me, and I knew he would heal him. Praise his dear name! He has been
our family physician for eleven years, and has healed us many times. Pray that
we may be true to the Word. May the Lord bless his dear saints everywhere.
Emily A. Pence.
Columbia City, Indiana.
__________________
Daughter Healed of Fever.
We are praising God for a real Bible
experience of salvation. We truly realize that the Lord is our helper.
Nevertheless, he has allowed us to pass through a very severe trial of our
faith, but, thank the dear Lord, he has given us glorious victory. I was west
in the tabernacle work, when one day a messenger came to the place where we had
our home, with a telegram stating that our daughter was sick. I left the
company and the dear saints at Dashwood on July 1, in tears, arriving home
about five on the 2nd I found Lillian, our daughter, very weak and
with a high fever. On my arrival she seemed to get much better, but still
remained weak having no appetite and losing in weight. She had cold sweats.
When I came home in the evening the poor girl was suffering much pain about the
heart.
We sent for an anointed handkerchief,
which we applied in the name of the Lord. She had said she would trust the
Lord, so our faith took hold on him, and she was healed. Glory to God! I have
been away nearly two weeks, but received a letter stating that she was well and
getting strong. How we do praise God for such a wonderful Savior!
We have been trusting the Lord for
about seventeen years, but this has been the hardest trial of our faith we ever
had. It has been good for us, for I know that our faith has been increased.
We feel like recommending Jesus Christ,
who took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses, that we might go free.
Praise God for deliverance from sin and sickness through Jesus Christ!
We are now holding forth this Christ
at New Dundee. We go to Bright this week to hold another meeting before the
camp-meeting at Jordan Harbor. Pray for us and the work in Canada.
Any of God’s messengers feeling led by
the Holy Spirit to come to the Jordan camp-meeting, beginning August, 22, will
be heartily welcomed.
David H. and Mary W. Moyer.
Vineland, Ontario.
_____________________
Saints of God When and Where?
By J. L. Green.
The word “saint” is a very common term
in the scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, and signifies “a holy
person; one eminent for piety.” It occurs oftener than any other one term in
the Bible which designates God’s people. The word “Christian” is found but
three times, while the word “saint” is found more than one hundred times, and
with few exceptions has reference to God’s people on earth, and not to the
righteous after death or to angels in heaven.
When speaking of God’s people as a
whole, the New Testament calls them the “church of God;” but individually they
are called “saints.” The church in different localities is spoken of as the
churches of the saints. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace,
as in all churches of the saints.” ... 1st Corinthians 14:33. This
is the name that God has given. The word “disciple” means a follower. This is
also a Bible term. All saints are disciples and must follow in the steps of
Jesus. “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, can not be my
disciple.” ... Luke 14:27, 33. “For even hereunto were ye called: because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his
steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” ... 1st
Peter 2:21, 22. Yea, the “beloved apostle” has said, “He that saith he abideth
in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” ... 1st
John 2:6.
The disciples were called Christians
first at Antioch. Acts 11:26. This name, no doubt, was first given by the
opposers; nevertheless, every saint is a Christian, or is Christ-like. We find
Peter afterwards using the term ... “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let
him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” ... 1st
Peter 4:16.
In the year 1830, A. D., a doctrine of
devils sprang up at Manchester, New York of which Joseph Smith was one of the
first propagators. Like many other heresies, it has many followers. This people
have taken to themselves the name “Latter Day Saints,” though casting a great
reproach upon the Bible, and causing the word “saint” to be looked upon with
scorn and contempt. They are, however, more properly known as “Mormons.” We
warn you, dear reader, to beware of their soul-destroying drag-net.
There were many Old Testament saints,
concerning whom we will quote a few texts of scripture: “They envied Moses also
in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.” ... Psalms 106:16. “But to the
saints that are in earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.” ...
Psalms 16:3. Here the Word speaks of saints on earth, in whom God delights.
Saints die, but angels do not. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death
of his saints.” ... Psalms 116:15.
In speaking of the kingdom which Jesus
should establish while on earth, Daniel used this language: “And judgment was
given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints
possessed the kingdom. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the
kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to people of the saints of the
most High.” ... Daniel 7:22, 27. Here the promise was to the saints under
heaven, and not in heaven.
There are but two classes of people
... saints and sinners. We will now confine ourselves to the New Testament,
which tells us of a great host of saints. In fact, we have no scripture except
that given to saints. It was St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John that
wrote the four gospels. It was St. Luke that wrote the Acts of the Apostles;
St. John who wrote first, second, and third John and the Revelation; St. Paul,
St. Peter, St. James, and St. Jude who wrote the remainder of the New
Testament. St. Jude entreats us to “earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints.”
It would be impossible for any person
to obey the teaching of these inspired writers without becoming a saint. It is
incredible to think that any person could live to, and be governed by, a
sainted gospel and yet remain in sin.
The churches at these places were all
composed of saints: Rome (Romans 1:7), Corinth (1st Corinthians 1:2;
2nd Corinthians 1:1), Ephesus (Ephesians 1:1), Philippi (Philippians
1:1), Colosee (Colossians 1:2): not only at these places, but wherever
Christians are to be found, they are saints. We are commanded to contribute to
the poor saints (Romans 12:18). This can not mean that we should give to
angels, but to the people of God who are in need.
Paul, in warning us against the sin of
filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting, said, “Let it not be once name among
you as becometh saints.” ... Ephesians 5:3.
Oh, dear reader, you must be a saint
or forfeit all claims to the mystery of the gospel and the indwelling of the
Son of God. “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make
known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which
is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” ... Colossians 1:26, 27.
Among the many clear texts of
scripture placing the experience of being a saint of God in the present perfect
tense, is that of Colossians 1:12, 13, which reads thus: “Giving thanks unto
the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”
What could be more clear and
conclusive? Hath given us an inheritance with the saints in light! Reader, can
you reject it? No; you can not and accept the teaching of the Bible. “Now
therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the
saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in
whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the
Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit.” ... Ephesians 2:19-22.
Praise God for a home in the church
where all saints fellowship together, and only saints can dwell!
A saint of God! Oh! Can it be,
That such a grace is given me?
Yes; clothed in garments pure and white,
We fellowship with saints in light.
‘Tis not by works that I have done,
But by the gift of God’s dear Son;
A saint, the name that thou hast given
To thine on earth and those in heaven.
__________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment