Gospel Trumpet – 1 July 1885

1 July 1885, Volume 7, Number 8.

My Beloved.

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Words by S. G. Odell Music by H. R. Jeffrey.

My beloved is so fair,
How His breath perfumes the air;
O the heaven of His smiles, my soul doth see,
O the wonders of His grace,
To unveil the holy place,
To invite me to the banquet of the free.

Refrain.

Oh! this blessed holy rest,
On my Jesus loving breast,
Oh! the sweetness, and completeness,
Of perfected holiness.

How my soul was stained with sin,
Yet my Jesus took me in;
And a robe of purest whiteness gave to me;
First He pardoned all my guilt,
And His wondrous love I felt,
And I shouted, for the Son had made me free.

Then He brought me to the fount,
Flowing free from Calvary’s mount,
And in love He taught the will of God to me,
And I there began to die,
For my soul to sanctify,
Did my Jesus shed His blood upon the tree.

And He taught me that I must,
Then be prostrate in the dust,
That with Him if I would reign eternally,
Self within must all be shun,
And I, live with Him again,
Just the holy life my Lord now giveth me.

So if now my soul doth boast,
It is of the Holy Ghost,
And my Jesus who so fully saveth me.
O that all on Him would wait,
For His life with-out the gate,
As a ransom did He give for you and me.

No one has a. right to reprint this song, without permission of the publisher.

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ONE BAPTISM.

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AMONG the things that come up for comprehension in the advance christian experience, is the doctrine of baptism. “Leaving the (first) principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.” — Heb. 6:1, 2.

The opposers of Christ’s ordinances try to construe this language so as to make the “doctrine of baptisms” one of the principles we must leave. But this is an unscriptural wresting of the Scriptures. To leave the doctrine of baptisms it were necessary to leave, or cast away, “faith toward God, laying on of hands, resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgement,” for the doctrines all stand in the same position the doctrine of baptisms does. So we see the Word of God is so linked together that he that would throw away part must deny the whole. The doctrine of faith toward God, is something the soul can advance in, to the end of life. The laying on of hands, pertains to the duly of the most advanced christians. The doctrine of the resurrection, and eternal judgement also are for advanced christian minds. So you see the “doctrine of baptisms” is classed with things that pertain to the life of christian perfection: hence are not confined to the wilderness, nor legal plains, religion, as false teachers make out. Not long ago we wrote an article showing the glorious holiness truth in the “doctrine of baptism.” Now desire to take up and consider the language of the Apostle Paul in Eph. 4: 4, 5. “There is one body, (the Church) One Spirit, (the Comforter) even as ye are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, (Jesus Christ) One faith, (the faith of the Son of God.) One baptism.” (the literal ordinance.)

Two things are desired to be understood in reference to this language.

First, what is this one baptism? Second, how is the one baptism harmonized with the “doctrine of baptisms,” a plurality of baptisms?

A scriptural interpretation of the first question will dispell all difficulty. What then is the “One baptism?” Quakers, and those holding their error say that Paul here alludes to the baptism of the Spirit. But let us appeal to the Word of God. Paul is here urging harmony and uniformity, among the believers at Ephesus. He tender entreats them to “keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds “of peace.”

That is, he …d have no conflicting doctrines and practices among them, lest any strife over such differences should break the unity of the Spirit, and thus drive Him from them. He shows how that God has left no opposite principles in the body upon which men might divide up. “There is one body.” No plurality of bodies to which believers in Christ could attach themselves to and emulate over.

There is “one Spirit.” All that receive Christ must “drink into one Spirit.” Men cannot form rival bodies, and still all have the true Spirit of God. For that Spirit is one. Hence to depart from oneness is to depart from that Spirit. There is one Spirit, the real efficient power that operates all things in the members of Christ.” He convicts the sinner, speaks pardon to the penitent, and assures adoption. This one Spirit also sanctifies wholly, baptizing the soul with His refining fire. He also leads and comforts the soul, and He imparts all the gifts. Yea, “All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” — 1 Cor. 12

There are also no rival lordships in God’s Church, but “One Lord.” There is “one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.”

We see that there are no grounds of contention in God’s Church. No different faiths to fight against each other. No plurality of God’s to erect rival altars. No conflicting Spirits, but one Spirit. And no different “modes of baptism,” to divide over. Neither are some baptized in the name of one Apostle, and others in another name, that one should say, “I am of Paul, I of Apollos, and I of Cephas.” But there is “One baptism.” You were all immersed in the same way, and in the same divine name. So there is nothing in all the elements of the Church of Christ to divide up on, and strive over. Hence all such strife must come from carnality, as Paul reasons in 1 Cor.

The “One Baptism,” is literal New Testament ordinance of Baptism, or immersion as the word is translated in English. This is clearly seen from the following facts. 1st. The “One Spirit” is spoken of in verse 4, “One body, one Spirit.” Here is the One Spirit spoken of that operates all things in the Church including the Spirit’s Baptism. Therefore to apply the One Baptism to that of the Spirit, were a repetition of the same element. 2nd, We have a clear Bible interpretation of this baptismal point of uniformity in the Body of Christ, in 1 Cor. 1: 12—16. — “Now this I say, that every one saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say I baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas, besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.”

You observe that the Apostle is treating on the very same subject here that he is in Eph. 4. Namely the unity of the Church. Here he reproves because the unity of the Spirit had not been kept in the one body, there he exhorts to keep the unity of the Spirit, in the one Body. That he alludes to litteral water baptism in 1 Cor. 1 no one denies, or doubts. For the Apostle records the fact that the ordinance had been administered by his own hands, in the case of a few families, which were out of his ordinary practice, he usualy prefering to have some less conspicuous brother perform that service, to cut off any occasion of satan, tempting persons baptized by him to glory in man. But were the few he individually baptized all that received baptism at Corinth? Nay. But every one that believed. “And Crispus the chief ruler of the Synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corithians hearing, believed and were baptized.” — Acts 18:18. When Paul asks the question, Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul? he reproves their inconsistent clanning off in parties, as though one person had been crucified for some of them, another for others, and each party had obtained salvation through a different sacrifice. Or as though some had been baptized in one name, and others in another name. Such a circumstance would necessarily lay the foundation for division, each party under the head that was crucified for that party, and in whose name they were baptized. Such a state of things would furnish a reason for parties. But the opposite cuts off all occation or ground of didivision. Therefore the Apostle uses the same argument, to condemn the bud of sectism, at Corinth, he does to guard the Ephesians against the introduction of divisions at Ephesus. As he was grieved over the divisions at Gorinth, he is soliciting that the unity of the Spirit should not be broken at Ephesus. As he speaks of literal water baptism, being uniformly administered, as a rebuke to the Corinthians, he also speaks of the same at Ephesus as a point of uniformity, with which agrees the “unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace.” What baptism then is it to which Paul alludes, the uniformity of which he uses as an argument for unity in the Church? Answer, literal water baptism. As believers were not baptized in the name of Paul, nor Peter, nor Apollos, they have no excuse for dividing into such party names and breaking the unity of the Spirit, at Corinth, Ephesis, or any where else.

Third, To apply the “One Baptism” to that of the Spirit, would make the New Testament contradict itself. For it cannot be denied that the New Testament teaches literal water baptism, and the baptism of suffering, as well as that of the Spirit. Therefore Paul speaks of the “doctrine of baptisms.” Now there is out one way to produce harmony in the Scriptures, and that is the fact that there is but one uniform literal baptism taught in the New Testament. If we apply Eph. 4:5 to the baptism of the Spirit, that is only a figurative, or metaphorical use of the ^–word, and all know that there are other figurative uses of the word baptize. So it is not that there is only one figurative baptism in the Bible. Though the refining operation of the Holy Spirit is the real crowning, and perhaps the most important work in the process of our redemption yet, that operation is set forth some times in the figurative use of the word baptism, is a mere incidental use of the language. The essential thing is to be cleansed by, and filled with the Spirit. But whether His manifestations in the soul is such as naturally finds expression in the word baptism, anointing or sealing or simply the titling of the Spirit, is wholly immaterial. These are all Scriptural. And as “there are diversities of operations, yet but one Spirit,” so the same glorious crowning work of Holy Spirit assumes different manifestations, in the consciousnes of different individuals, though the effect and the fruits are the same in all. If I were to use a figure that would most strikingly convey the manner in which the Holy Spirit came upon me after I “rendered my body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,” it would be that of a saturating, all resolvant dew, that quietly and sweetly pervaded every fiber of my entire being; clearly whispering “holy, holy, holy, the temple of God is holy. Ye are the temple of God.” Now I know very well that Jesus purified my soul body and spirit, into His own image, and filled me with His presence. Yet the experience did not naturally find expression in the language of Spirit Baptism. However I have on frequent occasions since received such overwhelming inundations of the power and Spirit of God, that I could truly say that my soul was baptized with the mighty power of God.

There is therefore a literal water baptism. But that literal submerging may be used as a figure to represent a hundred other things; that does not prove there is a hundred different baptisms at all. Though the immersion of a man under water, and raising him up again, may be used as a metaphor of the resurrection of Christ, and also of our resurrection, and though it may be used to describe how the Spirit of God comes to some soul; and though it may fitly illustrate how the soul is plunged into suffering for Christ’s sake; yea though that literal act may shadow forth many

other literal and spiritual operations, yet that literal act is one and the same in all scripturally baptized believers. There is one baptism. All believers received the same act of baptism, (different modes are entirely out of the question) and performed in the same Divine name.

The ordinance of baptism then is one in point and uniformity: while the operations of the Spirit are various.

The ordinanc is also one, in the sense that it is one action, not to be repeated. As translated in several versions of the Scriptures, the word baptism is simply immersion. Hence the translation into English reads, “There is one immersion.” Therefore this language of the Apostle positively refutes the trine immersion theory. As Christ only went down into the tomb once, and came forth once; so proper baptism is a single immersion, and emersion. The act is not to be repeated at the same time, nor to be subsequently practiced like the other ordinances of Christ. So we see that literal water baptism is in every sense, “one baptism,” one single act performed once for all.

But this is not true of the operation of the Spirit that is figuratively called baptism. Every holy man of God knows that it is often repeated. What is not true in fact is not true at all. And it not being a fact that the Spirit baptism is one, it follows that Paul did not refer to that operation, when he said there is one baptism.

The world over, the verb plow, is literally understood as the act of turning up the earth. Therefore to plow literally means one thing. Yet that one literal act is used as a figure to illustrate a hundred other operations, both spiritual and literal. Hence God says “break up the fallow ground.” — plow up your heart. The vessel plows the sea, the tornado plows through the air. Now all these last three uses of the word refer to a greater, and more sublime thing than that of turning up the earth. Yet no one would therefore conclude that plow means to run a vessel, nor yet the action of a tornado. No. Plow simply means to turn over the earth, though other operations are sometimes figuratively expressed by that word.

In the same manner, “One Baptism” means the one literal baptism, notwithstanding, that word is sometimes metaphorically used to describe a greater operation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, is a real and mighty work of God: but that work need not essentially be expressed by the word baptism. That word is not necessarry to the operation. So one literal baptism does not conflict with figurative application of the word to many other things in the Bible. But to make the “One baptism,” out of its figurative uses, would set the Bible against, itself. As there is a literal, as well as other figurative baptisms in the Bible. The “doctrine of Baptisms,” therefore includes the doctrine of literal baptism, (immersion) and of other operations that are figuratively called baptism.

“One Baptism,” denotes the one literal institution of Christ, without any reference to other operations, that are sometimes clothed in language borrowed from this ordinance. Therefore the two Scriptures do not conflict at all. But the Quakers doctrine would make them clash against each other.

Daniel.

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Latest News from the Field.

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LEAVING Wood Co. O., we made a short visit to my Father-in-law’s, L. W. Keller, and Bro. Sensney, at Upper Sandusky O. Also visited and labored with a poor lawyer, upon whom God has laid His awful hand of affliction. For three year he has lain with his legs drawed up to his body, with the awful pain of rhumatism. The wicked man is beginning to acknowledge the hand of God, and was much effected by the Word of God we taught him. Oh that God may save his soul.

Wednesday morning, May 20, with my little travling companion, returned to Toledo, and thence to Arachbold, where we were met by Bro. John Brodbeck, who took us to his place in the country; The dear Bro. has been much afflicted, wrote us some months ago to come and pray with him for healing. We have been asking God for his healing and complete salvation. By reading the TRUMPET he learned the way of holiness and entered in. We anointed him with oil in the name of the Lord for his complete healings tried to claim this blessing, but found it difficult because of the prevailing unbelief. While there, teaching our Bro. the war of faith, God sent in a poor unsaved, and afflicted woman and her husband. They had read a few TRUMPET, and hearing that we had come, came to seek the Lord for healing of soul and body. They both belonged to a branch of babylon, but confessed that they had never been converted. We talked to them about the pardon of sins, when the poor woman wept tears of penitence, and yielded to the Lord and soon wept tears of joy, confessing that the Lord had pardoned all her sins. Her husband also tried to give his heart to Jesus, but did not reach the point, but promised to seek the Lord untill saved. The woman was anointed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and hands laid on with the prayer of faith that saved the sick. O, what mighty power filled the house, and my soul and body. The woman’s complexion was instantly changed from a sickly to a fresh healthy appearance. I pray God that that sister, and Bro. B. will prevail in their faith, above all the power of the adversary and their sicknesses. But oh how sensibly we could feel the weakness of faith, from the fact that the healing power of the Gospel has not been manifest in that place. Returning to Archbold the Lord found something to do there. A young sister who had doubtless been converted last winter, but was really dying through the popular sect influence, desired to be healed of throat affliction: the poor girl promised to walk in the light of God, and we laid on hands, and believed for her healing. God bless and enlighten this sincere child of His. Two of her associates, also converts, came in and we endeavored to teach them the glorious sanctifyer; though sincere, and would make good saints, the poor girls are indanger of loosing their souls through the blinding influence of the sect snake. The next day we came on our way to Beaver Dam Ind., to be at the Pentecost Meeting, stopping over night with a kind family in South Whitley. Saturday night found a good congregation at Beaver Dam. Praise God! how joyful the privlege of meeting the dear saints again. Glory to Jesus! O what pure and heavenly love binds the hearts of the ransomed of the Lord. Praise God! the order was perfect so far as we could see. On Sabbath we had a precious meeting. Monday we rested and wrote: Tuesday evening began a meeting at Han’s School-house, three miles west. The work of God has been going on here gloriously ever since we were here last winter. Most that were saved then were from this neighborhood, and the work has kept right on; over an average of two souls per week have been saved ever since we left here; as it is written, “Behind them a flame burneth, * * * * yea and nothing shall escape them.” One day we went with a brother visiting, a few families. One sister was powerfully and gloriously converted at her home, and testified boldly to it, in the meeting. Praise God! We met at six o’clock, gave a little lesson to the saints’ had consecration and prayer services. Praise God for the out-pouring of the Spirit. Later we preached and testified to the people. We were blessed with good order, the Spirit of God having the power over the people, and all hearts were made to feel the awful Word of God. Many are being deeply convicted. Praise the Lord!

Daniel.

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Mt Zion Ill.

Dear Brethren: — I praise God for salvation that saves from all sin and sect creeds, and makes us all one in Christ. Amen! I am saved and sanctified wholly by the blood of Christ. “How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Glory to God for His keeping power. Pray for me. Your Bro.

John Stoneking.

Page 2

THE GOSPEL TRUMPET.

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A SEMI-MONTHLY HOLINESS JOURNAL

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DEFINITE, RADICAL, ANTI-SECTARIAN.
Sent Forth in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
For the Purity and Unity of His Church,
the Defence of ALL His Truth,
And the Destruction of Sect Babylon.

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D. S. WARNER, and J. C. FISHER, —– Editors.
J. C. FISHER. —- Publisher.
Wm. N. SMITE, – Business Agt

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All m utter for publication must be sent to D. S. Warner.

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TERMS, $1.00 Per Year In Advance.

All business communications, moneys etc., must be addressed to the Gospel Trumpet, in order to insure credit; otherwise we will not be responsible.

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Address, Williamston

Mich.

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Entered at the Post Office at Williamston. Ingham Co.
Mich., as second class matter.

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THE NEW TRACT,

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‘CHRIST IS THE BODY THE CHURCH.’

A tract containing scriptural proofs that Christ Himself is the Church, and the Church is Christ.

It is doing a glorious work. Many write favorably of the light it is shedding. Orders are increasing; send on your orders.

Price ………. 10 cents.
One dozen copies ………. $1.00
Fifty copies ………. $3.50

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CAMP, AND OTHER MEETINGS.

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WE Publish the following list of Camp and Grove Meetings, and Assemblies, which is as well as we can lay out the work at present. If other meetings are desired, we will do the best we can to fill in between. Some of the following may, in the Lord’s providence require variations.

Bangor Mich., Camp Meeting June 19-28.

Let all bring tents.

Gratiot Co. Mich. Camp, or Grove Meeting July 24, to Aug. 2.

Payne O., Grove meeting, Aug. 7—16.

Sandy Lake Pa., Camp Meeting, Aug. 21—31.

Jerry City O., Assembly Sept. 16—20.

Williamston Mich., Assembly, Friday, Sept. 24—28.

Beaver Dam Ind., Assembly Oct. 1—5.

Hunnewell Mo. Camp Meeting Oct. 9-19.

Mt Pleasant Iowa, or vicinity. Assembly, beginning Oct, 23.

Joseph & Daniel.

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ANOTHER NEW TRACT.

THE SABBATH,
—:OR:—
WHICH DAY TO KEEP.

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BIBLE Proofs that the change from the seventh, to the first day of the week, was made by the Lord Himself.

This tract contains 64 pages: the price is 25 cts.

God has enabled us to set forth the subject in the clear light of abundance of Scripture. So every reader of the Trumpet can glorify God in sending your orders for this Tract. This will also be a good financial help to spread other matter for the Lord.

NOTICE.

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We are now prepared to furnish beautiful Scriptural tract envelopes and cards 50 cts per hundred for each, on receipt of orders.

NOTICE.

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We would call your attention once more to the fact, that all business, and communications not private, should be addressed to Gospel Trumpet, and not to D. S. Warner, he having nothing to do with the receiving of such matters, being in the field most of the time.

CAMP OR GROVE MEETING

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We are requested to announce a camp, or grove meeting at Deshler Ohio, from September 4—13th 1885.

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SANDY LAKE CAMP MEETING.

AUGUST – 21 – 31.

AS many as possibly can are requested to bring tents and provision, as there are only a few sisters in this vicinity, that are able to do any thing to relieve the wants of the people. If there are any who desire board tents built on the ground if they will send the means to Bro. Edwin Farrah at Sandy Lake Pa. they will build them for you, and those that cannot bring provisions can obtain or purchase them at the village or vicinity.

Let there be a general turn-out. We expect this will be one of the most glorious meetings ever held on the ground, attended by the power of God, in healing the sick, and the salvation of sin sick souls.

God is moving. Mighty signs and wonders are wrought by His true people, in the name of the holy Child Jesus.

Joseph.

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Songs of Victory.

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Words and music by H. R. Jeffrey.

Songs of victory bringing,
Unto the Lord most High,
Victory victory singing
Let all the saints draw nigh,
For there can be no failure,
While Jesus leads the van,
And victory! victory!! victory!!!
Is heard on every hand.

Chorus.

Vict’ry shall be the chorus,
Vict’ry our watchword and song;
Jesus is marching before us,
Leading His army along.

Songs of victory ever,
Shall be our hearts delight.
Sing of defeat no, never!
Sing vict’ry with all our might,
We’ll raise our voices higher,
Upon the battle field;
Our victory draweth nigher,
When Christ shall be revealed.

Songs of victory sounding,
Go forth to all the world,
From shore to shore resounding
With Gospel truths unfurled;
Go, singing of the Savior,
Send forth an earnest call;
O sinner seek His favor,
Tis offered unto all.

Songs of victory blending,
With all the heavenly throng,
A chorus that has no ending,
It is the victor’s song;
Well sing and shout for ever,
Glad songs of victory;
We’ll sing of Christ our Savior,
Through all Eternity.

No one has a right to Publish this song without permission of the Publisher.

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A BABYLON LETTER AND ANSWER.

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Evinston Ill.

DEAR BRETHREN: — I am rejoicing in Christ to-day, for His power keeps me from sin and condemnation. I am laying up my treasures in heaven: I have read the GOSPEL TRUMPET some, and enjoy it very much, I admire the way you deal with popular and secret sins.

But I do not agree with some who do not believe in sects. It does not matter what religion we have, whether false or true, we will belong to some sect.

Come-outism is a sect just as much as the Methodist or Baptist. Experience has taught us, that in order to carry on the work of Christ effectually, we must be organized, in some way. I think the best way to do when the churches become formal and lifeless, “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof,” is for the saints to come out from them, and form a new Church.

O it means a great deal to take the narrow way, we ought to come out from sinners whether they be church members or not. But still we ought to be brave enough to tell them the whole truth in a meek Spirit and love for souls.

Coming out of babylon I understand to be, forsaking all our sins, and not to mean that we should not have any church organizations. When we get souls saved we ought to arrange it so as to have regular meetings and preaching. Of Course it is as well to let them die in the wilderness, as to take them into a dead church.

But let us have a live church in which to feed the lambs.

O the Churches have backslidden. May God have mercy upon them. The ministers whom God called to feed His lambs, have left them to starve, and gone down to feeding swine.

May the Lord keep us blameless, and loving His appearing. Yours in Christ

G. W. Chapman.

NOTE

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We met this brother, while traveling through Ill., last winter, and enjoyed a good talk with him, on the blessed way of salvation. We feit a deep concern for his soul, and his future usefulness. But it is a sad thing to see a good promising young man settle back into such dark age ruts as the above letter indicates.

The assertion that come-outism is a sect, we have constantly taught, in the TRUMPET, and warned the people of the snare of that, with all other sects. Come-outism is simply rallying upon the Bible truth, that God is calling His people out of all sects, instead of upon Christ who is the whole “truth, the life and the way.”

And in whom all isms, schisms, and sects are destroyed by the Spirit.

The assertion that we all will and must belong to some sect, is false. Sects are not a necessity of religion, but a fruit of sin, and carnality. “I hear, says PauI 1 Cor. 11:19., that there are divisions among you, and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you.” You see the Apostle uses the words “divisions” “heresies,” as interchangable terms, denoting the same thing. In the marginal reading, the translators define divisions, by schisms, and translate heresies, “sects.”

Then we see that schisms, heresies, and sects, all mean the same thing, namely divisions. Bro. Chapman says he believes in sects, (heresies) and thinks we must all be sectists or heretics. What saith the Lord? “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, Fornication, * * * idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, emulation, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like. Of the which I tell you that they which do such things shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. — Gal. 5:19—21. We have seen that heresies mean sects, and here we find them classed with murders, drunkenness, etc, the works of the flesh, and if any practice such things they shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. To say we must all belong to a sect of some kind is equivalent to saying that we must all “walk after the flesh.” Paul also told the corrinthians that they were carnal, which he proved by their inclination to divide into sects. So sects, and carnality go together.

But as holiness destroys carnality, it necessarily also destroys sects. Therefore “He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified are all of one.” — Heb. 2:11.

Bro C. thinks that, “in order to carry on the work of Christ effectually, we must be organized in some way.” Well did they have an organization in the days of the Apostle, that enabled them to carry on the work of Christ effectually? I think all can see the affirmative to this question.

But what kind of an organisation did they have then? Was it the Methodist organisation? No. Was it the Baptist, Free Methodist, Salvation Army, Holiness association, organization? Was it any of the protestant corporatious, or any thing like them? Every Bibly render, must say no. Then let us respect the Bible enough to see what organization it presents, and which was so effectual, in the early history of the Church. Is it not the very work of the devil to lead people to treat the Bible with contempt, utterly ignore its plain teaching, and assert our blind think so’s,” instead. Does not common sense teach us, that if they could have religion in the Apostles day, without being heretics, we can now. If they could carry on the work of God effectually then, without organizing sects, we can now.

Does Bro. Chapman imagine that he has the mind of Christ, when he says, “I think the best way to do” etc, is to form new Churches as fast as the older ones grow formal and lifeless. O how shocking and amazing, the ignorance and darkness of babylonized souls. Great God, is it possible the devil could ever put such a preposterous “I think,” in the mind of a bright and noble young man, who has evidently had a good experience of salvation.

If such a sentence had been written to us by some very ignorant man, who had never been able to read, nor think beyond the precinct, of some back-woods home, we could atribute such “I thinks,” to mental ignorance. But the circumstances compel us to atribute it to the ungodly leaven of Free Methodism. How dishonoring to the name of Jesus such an idea of the Church made of material like a sod, or straw house that it rots and spoils every few years, and another must be built? Did Christ say, “Upon this, rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, but whenever it becomes dead and formal, the saints will have to come out of it and build a new Church?” O shame on ye blind babylonians. Will ye pull the glory and workmanship of Christ down into the mud, and debase the holy body of Christ down to the degenerating work of the creature. Know ye not that when you talk of men “forming a new Church,” you are guilty of uttering blasphemy before God? What is blasphemy but the creature assuming the prerogatives of the Creator? Who built the Church. Answer. “He that buildeth all things (in the Church) is God.” “Upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” So when men presume to form a new Church,” they make themselves equal with Christ. So it is seen, that even down to the young Free methodist daughter of the “mother of harlots,” these daughters imitate their mother, “sitting in the temple of God, showing themselves that they are God.” “Jesus Christ gave Himself — died — for the Church” that He founded. Who died for those now churches? How pertinent the question of the Apostle, when they talked of “forming a new church.” on his name, he asked the question, “was Paul crucified for you?” Christ could only purchase His Church by His death, and now if you are going to have a Paul church, you must also have a Paul sacrifice. When B. T. Roberts, and other sect founders, shall have demonstrated their equality with Christ, by exhibiting His wisdom, by crucifiction, resurrection and ascention to heaven, then you might talk about them founding a Church.

We have seen that God in Christ, purchased and built the Church. Now we ask who organized the Church? But first we should see what is meant by organizing.

The word is defined by “To furnish with organs.” “To properly arrange the parts,” “To place the parts or members into the body in their proper order.” “Now hath God set the members every one of them into the body, as it hath pleased Him.” — 1 Cor. 12:18.

So God builds and arranges His Church Himself. Yea; “God hath tempered the body together, * * * that there should be no schism in the body: but that the members should have the same care one for an other.” — Verses 24, 25. God arranges the Church by setting the members into the body, arranging the parts as it pleases Him. Who furnishes the Church with organs? Ans. “Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular. And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongue. — Verses 27, 28.

But does not God use men to organize His Church. Nay, “But all these worketh that one, and selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” “For by one Spirit, are we all baptized into one body, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” – Verses 11, 13. It were just as sensible to talk about men creating a world, its to talk of men organizing the Church, the body of Christ.

The Church of God never can become dead and formal. Men and women that have been members in it, may become so, but the same sins or departure from God that makes them dead, takes them out of the Church. A community may be destitute of the Church altogether, whether there are sects many or none in it: but the Church, never exists in a cold and lifeless condition: for cold and lifeless men are all out of Christ.

Did any one ever read in God’s Word where it says “come out from among them and form a new Church.” It does say come out from among unbelievers, but what more. “Abide in Me, and I in you.” And “ye are complete in Him.” But must we not join some Church? “Believers were the more joined to the Lord.” Shall we then stay out, of the Church? Nay, but being “joined to the Lord,” we are joined to the only Church that God owns. “For as the body is one, and bath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many are one body, so also is Christ.” – 1 Cor. 12:12. The body then is Christ Himself. “For God, “hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the

Church, which is His body.” “For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” – Eph. 1:22, 23, 5:30.

Would it, not be honest, and God-honoring, for Bro. Chapman, and all creed blinded, sect deceived men, to acknowledge that the Church is one perpetual temple of Christ, His own body, and not “new formed” constructions of men.

Bro. C. also talks as though God’s children could not meet together to worship God, if they were not organized into sects, and that no man could preach, without being joined to some heresy. Astonishing, that any one would allow crafty sect przeachers to stuff them with such absurdities. Did not the saints, the whole body of Christ in each locality meet to worship God. before even the mother of sects was organized by satan? Did Paul have to join the Methodist, Free Methodist, or any other heresy, in order to preach the Gospel?

The sect priests have made Bro. Chapman think that “coming out of babylon is forsaking all our sins.” This is only true in effect. That is, the result of coming out of babylon through the cleansing blood, is a holy life unto God. For separating from sect confusion and all the isms of night, God receives, cleanses, and dwells in us. But that babylon means, “our sins” is absurd and rediculous. “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, come out of her my people.” — Rev. 18:4.

Has God got people that are living in sins? No. “He that sineth is of the devil,”‘ and “he that sineth hath not known Him, neither seen Him.” But what does God say is babylon? Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, BABYLON THE GREAT, The Mother Of Harlots, and abominations of The Whole Earth.”

“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the Kings of the earth.” — Rev. 17:5, 18.

Babylon is a city then, and not a man’s sins. It is an ecclesiastical city, or the false and counterfeit Church. Because, compared to a woman, it is both the mother of harlots, and her protestant daughters, for the city was divided.” – Rev. 16: 19.

Present truth announces that babylon is fallen, and become a habitation of devils, and a hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”

Now to prove that moral corruption relates to the sects, I have but to quote Bro. Chapman’s letter, — “O the churches, (sects of babylon) have backslidden, may I God have mercy upon, them. The mimisters whom God called to feed His lambs, have gone down to feeding swine.”

Surely babylon is fallen. And this acknowledgement comes from every quarter. Even her own bishops admit she is but a “pompous empty fraud.” “Come out of her.”

Daniel.

LOOKING IN.

—:o:—

IT is singular and yet it is true that we expect a higher degree of perfection in others than we require in ourselves. We often condemn the weakness and failings of our neighbors, and wink at our own sins. We see the errors of our brethren and sisters, and are blind to our own faults. We fad to fulfill the homely adage of sweeping before our own doors, but are sure to call attention to the fact that our neighbor’s door yard needs sweeping very badly.

Why is it that we allow in ourselves, what we are so ready to condemn in others? The reason may be found in this fact, we are too much in the habit of looking out, and seldom if ever look in. We use our eyes in carefully inspecting the actions of others, and noting what is going on outside of our own lives, and forget to turn our vision inward and scrutinize our own deeds, and the motives which prompt them. Another reason is that unless we are exceedingly careful, the beam in our eye may so darken our spiritual vision, that we cannot see a fault in ourselves, though it may be as a huge beam, whilst our natural vision is so sharpened by looking at the faults of others, that we can see a mote, a mere parcle of dust, floating in the sunlight of the pure life of our brother. We may find a remdy for this evil by learning to look into our hearts. More looking in and less looking out, should be our motto.

Samuel Odell.

Willamston Mich.

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Page 3

Correspondence.

-:o:-

Urbana. Kansas.

Dearly beloved Brethren in Christ: — With greeting. Now may. the only wise God, the Father of us all, and His Son, Jesus Christ, whom to love is to serve; (If ye love me, ye will keep my commandnents,”) make all grace abound unto you freely, that you may be established, in all the blessed work of saving souls. May the ever blessed Spirit lead you into all truth, and take the deep things of God, and show them unto you, and bring all things unto your remembrance, that you may know the will of God in all things. And that you may have the go through, in your soul, by the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven, received by consecration, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Well glory to Jesus I am saved from all sin, sects, tobacco, tea and coffee, and all other kindred sins. Glory to God! for a complete deliverance. Sanctification takes it all out. The blood “cleanseth from all sin” (those who will be cleansed, and meet the demand, through consecration and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.) I believe that the TRUMPET is the straightest uncompromising, the most radical, independent holiness paper in the field. Although there is some blessed papers in the field.

Yet it is not saying to much, to say the TRUMPET is the best. This is not to puff you up, neither do I think it will, neither is it hypocrisy. God knows I am speaking the truth, the convictions of my heart.

If I had a deceitful heart, my tongue would utter deceitful things, for out of the abundance of the heart the month speaketh. May God help us one and all, to be true to Him. If the heart is right, then our conversation will he right, and all our thoughts be pure. I have just finished reading the last TRUMPET, which always finds its place among the first of my reading. Praise God! for such men as Bro. Warner, and Fisher. Glory to Jesus forever! All praise be to the triune God.

I went to Fort Scott, Kan, the 26th of last month, to a holiness convention, found the saints the most of them, straight for God. Some of them, I am sorry to say are scrambling for old babylon; (or new babel) that is, they think the work of God can not stand, without they hold it together with human organizations. So they went to work and organized a new SECT, called the Free Union Holiness Church.

But bless God, I was ennabled by the Spirit to give the Word straight. Glory to Jesus! The most of the dear ones are standing free, every band is broken; Jesus makes them “free indeed,” just as free as Heaven. I opened fire on them in that wicked city the 3d of this month. God was with us, and souls were saved from the beginning. The first night there were five at the altar, and the next night there were nine all of them new seekers, making 14 in two mights. Tuesday night the war was raging, the dear saints were praying for God to let power upon us, and as you well know, God heard us, and the power came, and who was able to stand? If one but those that were looking and expecting the fire to come, and those who were not looking for it to come, could not stand; they ran out of the house; some got as far as the door, and turned around and started for the altar, and fell, under the mighty power of God,

There was one came to the altar, and then went back in the house to an infidel, who was sitting back making sport of the work of God. We all knelt down before God, and asked Him about it, and He answered our prayers, by bringing both to the altar, and they were saved.

The meeting continued one week; some 25 Or 30 saved. I trust God that this will do you good, and all who may read it.

My testimony is, that the blood of Jesus cleanses me, and keeps me from all sin.

He healeth my sicknesses, glory to His name! I am saved and sanctified through and through, for Jesus only. Bless God, I am sent to give the hail mingled with fire and blood. Glory to Jesus! Pray for me. Will the readers pray for a brother-inlaw of mine who is very wicked, yet he belongs to the Baptist sect, and is on his road to hell. Pray for him. Amen!

John P. Haner.

—:o:—

Sycamore, Ohio.

Dear Brethren: — I humbly ask all of God’s beloved ones to pray for me, that I may be healed, and pray for my unconverted husband, that God may convict, and save him. O the love that is burning in my soul from the throne of God. I am saved through the precious blood of Christ just now. Your sister, trusting in Jesus.

Sarah E. Stover.

Battle Greek, Mich.

Dear Brethren: — The grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you; and abide with you forever! Jesus is so good as to save me. Glory be to His name for showing me His ways, and leading me on in them! I with the rest of the saints, rejoiced greatly over the salvation of my brother, when we heard of it. Another name written in heaven! Another victory for Jesus! May the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit be yours continually, is the sincere prayer of your sister, saved by the blood.

Anna K. Thomas.

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Dear Brethren: — The Lord has given me the gift of faith, and the gift of wisdom.

He saves me, — soul and body, — and sanctifies me wholly by His own precious blood. Glory be to Jesus! Yours in the love of Christ.

Clara M. Thomas.

-:o:-

St Johns Mich.

Dear Brethren, — I thank God, for what I enjoy this morning. I am saved.

His peace and love fills my soul. Glory! Hallelujah to the Lamb! Praise God, for His goodness. Your sister in the Lord.

Eliza Haynes.

-:o:-

Table Rock, Neb.

Dear Brethren: — I praise God for what He is doing for me. I am trusting in Him as never before. The Lord is my strength and my salvation. It encouraged my heart when I read in your letter of the “streams breaking out in the desert,” truly this is a desert place. Glory to God! I know He saves me, and keeps me, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Your brother and sister, in the love and fellowship of Christ.

Hiram and Elizabeth Carmichael.

-:o:-

Pittsburgh Pa.

Dear Brethren in Christ. — May the love of God abide with you always. Amen!

I am saved and sanctified just now.

Wm. E. Clayton.

-:o:-

Florida Ohio.

Dear Brethren — I was converted about twelve years ago, by the Holy Ghost, and I praise God that He has led me by His Spirit, to see that all the sects are wrong.

I have been a member of three different sects, and through their teaching, I was led to believe that it was necessary to be united with some branch, of the so called Church. But through the GOSPEL TRUMPET, and the instruction of my dear uncle, also your tract on the Church; I have been led to see the right Church. I have read your Bible Proofs of a second work of grace, which is all aglow with truth and light.

I am at present in the U. B. sect. I can truthfully say that I never got the real sect Spirit; my eyes being fixed on Christ.

Pray for me, that I may have grace and strength to withdraw from the sect, that I be not partaker with them.

Your sister in the Faith.

M. E. Hurd.

—:o:—

Sandy Lake, Pa.

Dear Brethren — I do praise the Lord for what He has done for me. He has done great things for me, whereof I am glad. I have great reasons to praise Him.

I am still on the Rock, blessed Rock, my Christ, and standing straight, and by His grace I will while life shall last.

Your brother and sister, saved, and sanctified.

J. W. and M. M. Owen.

-:o:-

Kalamazoo Mich.

Dear Brethren in Christ: — Glory to God, we are saved, and wholly sanctified and washed in the blood of Jesus. Glory to Jesus for full and free salvation, from all sin. Our love to all the dear saints.

Your brother washed in the blood of Jesus. To God be all the glory. Amen! and Amen!!

Benjamin Bell.

—:o:—

Yankton, Dakota.

Beloved in the Lord: — Glory! glory!! glory be to God! for “God, is love.”

Wave after wave of heavenly grace and love flows into our souls this beautiful June morning, and has for years past. Blessed be the name of the Lord our God, forever and ever, for the joy of the Holy Ghost.

My heart is constantly shouting His praises both day and night, and I feel like washing the dear saints feet with my tears, for they do come so thick and fast while I write. You see beloved, I can hold this

JUSTIFIED, sanctified, vessel of the Lord’s, full of grace and glory until it gets up past my mouth to my eyes, and then I can’t contain any more, for it will run over in tears of joy and gladness, for this wonderful salvation. May the Lord bless you all, and fill you running over full of the blessed charity, which “thinketh no evil,” for “knowledge puffeth up, but love edifiefh.”

The Lord Jesus has given my brethren great light on the blessed “Word of God, for which I daily rejoice, and am blessed, and instructed in all these little holiness papers. O let us all keep low down at the feet of the blessed Master, Who had not where to lay His head, and “Who when He was reviled, reviled not again,” And Jesus said “It is enough for the servant that he be as his Lord.” Your brother in the anointed One.

James E. Fitch.

—:o:—

Kalamazoo, Mich.

Dear Brethren: — We praise the Lord for His salvation, power, love and mercy bestowed on us. He hath saved us, and healed us. He has healed my body twice, when I was nigh unto death. We praise the Lord for health to-day. I am saved, by His wonderful power. Amen! Your sister in the Lord.

Rachel Bell.

—:o:—

South Haven, Mich.

Dear Brethren: — May God bless you forever, Amen! We are still saved, and sanctified, and increasing in wisdom and knowledge of godly things. Pray for us, that we may abound yet more and more.

Your brother in Christ, saved through the blood.

W. B. Grover.

-:o:-

Onarga Ill.

Dear Brethren: — The Lord has blessedly saved me from all my idols, and has given me victory over all false gods. I see no man but Jesus only: I believe the time is at hand which the prophet Jeremiah in the 5th chapter speaks of, and I tremble and am amazed, seeing what wonderful and horrible things are committed in the land. Hear the Word of God by Jeremiah. “How shall I pardon thee for this, thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlot’s houses.” The time will soon come to all who refuse salvation, while the offering is so free and complete; when they will hear the plaintive words, “if thou hadst known, even thou, in this thy day, the things which belong to thy peace, but now they are hid from thine eyes:” Oh heart-rending thought! Our Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name.

Your sister saved through the everlasting Covenant.

A. Reed.

—:o:—

St Louis Mich.

Dear Brethren: — May the blessings of God be upon you, and keep you pure and holy. Praise God for victory, and keeping power! The Lord is working in Gratiot, in the hearts of His children, last week we went down to the river and baptized one Bro. Last Sabbath we met with the Church, and a goodly number of the saints of God were present, and two were baptized, in the evening we had the Lord’s supper, and feet-washing. All glory to Him that saved us! Happy are ye if ye know these things, and do them. Bless God! the Lord showed us before it came to pass, that we were in a meeting and measuring out fine flour; and truly it was a glorious meeting. Some were seeking for sactification, while others were taking deeper hold on God. Hallelujah! Bless God forever! The people are quite anxious for the Camp Meeting, and we pray that it will be a Pentecost Meeting that souls may be added to the Church. Pray for us that we may do the will of God in all things. We are saved and sanctified, doing the will of God.

A. J. & M. E. Shelly.

-:o:-

Steevensville Mich.

Dear Brethren: — The grace of’ our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. I give my testimony for the Lord Jesus; bless His holy name! I have salvation, full and free, through His precious blood; without money, and without price. Glory to the Lamb of God! “He saves us by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost.” By grace I am saved through faith, redeemed without spot or blemish. Your Bro. in the Lord.

Chester G. Pierce.

—:o:—

Deshler Ohio.

Dear Brethren: — I feel impressed to write to the GOSPEL TRUMPET. I do praise God for His salvation, which He has in mercy and love given to us. We had an ordinance meeting, and quite a number were baptized. The Lord is wonderfully blessing His children, praise His holy name! I feel that I am growing in this good and glorious way. I do thank God for sending Bro. Dick and Bro. Wilson here to show us the holy way. O praise God for what he has done for this poor soul of mine. Your sister saved and sanctified.

Luella O. Larcum.

-:o:-

Mancelona Mich.

Dearly Beloved in the Lord: — I feel led to write. My testimony is, I am saved and sanctified and kept by the power of God, and living up to all the light that I have. Your Sister all the Lord’s.

Hannah Corwin.

—:o:—

Hendersonville Pa.

Dear Brethren: — I write to you concerning the Lord’s paper, for such I am satisfied is the GOSPEL TRUMPET.

If time will permit, you must preach a few times in H. when you come to Pa., this summer, that God may show the forsaken little Sodom where they are drifting to.

Sister Knapp is gone home. She fell asleep with her armour on. She is gone to sweet reward.

I feel to praise God for that joy that wells up in my heart.

We are living in a grand and awful time,

And age on age is telling,
To be living is sublime.
May peace Divine around you shine,
May wisdom guide your feet.

Your sister, saved.

Lottie W. Carmichael.

—:o:—

Jerry City, Ohio.

Dear Brethren: — May God bless you, and all the dear saints. Glory to God and the Lamb forever! I have chosen that good part like Mary, which shall never be taken away from me if I am faithful. I do praise the Lord for a salvation, that saves in a storm, as well as in a calm. I am the Lord’s, soul and body. Saved just now.

Your Sister saved and sanctified.

Sarah Smith.

—:o:—

Dash, Michigan.

Dear Brethren: — And saints. I can praise the Lord for full and free salvation.

I do praise His holy name, for the glorrious light. I can see the sects of to-day, are worshiping their idols, instead of God.

Salvation makes us free from all those abominations. Praise God, I know I am saved and sanctified. Your brother.

Charles Cunningham.

-:o:-

Mt Pleasant, Iowa.

Dear Brethren: — I praise God that even I can be saved. Truly it is a wonder, that Jesus loves me, I praise the Lord, for an experimental knowledge of sins pardoned and a heart cleansed from sin.

While my soul is satisfied in regard to purity, I long for mare of the power of the Holy Syirit. I want my life in be one of usefulness to God, that others seeing, may believe in Jesus. I praise God to-night, for the possession of the Comforter in my soul. Hallelujah to God! Pray for us, that we may be kept blameless before God. You sister in Jesus. Redeemed, washed in the all cleansing blood of the Lamb.

Laura E. Smith.

-:o:-

New Washington, Ohio.

Dear Brethren: — In the vineyard of the Master. My soul praises God, this evening for salvation that keeps me all the time. I am glad the Lord has provided a way, whereby we can hear each-others testimonies. I am so glad there is nothing “able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus.” We are in the world, but not of the world, Praise God!

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost.” The Lord bless you in the work. Your sister, saved through the precious blood of our dear Redeemer.

Emma C. Whitney.

-:o:-

Hutchinson. Kansas.

Dear Brethren: — The Lord is very precious to my soul. He is keeping me saved. My greatest desire is to honor and glorify His holy name, O that I could come to the death of self, so that there would be no life only the life of Jesus, in my soul. I desire to know His will in every word and action of my life. But Oh it is so hard to keep perfectly in God’s order, while not fully saved, I have learned from experience, that it is greater to control our self, than to take a city. I did not know there was so much of me; until I began to die to self. To be completely dead, is what I am trusting for, so that the Lord can use me to His glory. Pray for me. Your sister in Christ.

Lou Robison.

-:o:-

Latty Ohio.

Dear Brethren: — I feel led to write to you this morning, to tell of God’s dealings to my soul. O glory to His name! He still saves me to the uttermost. To all the holy brethren. I say, “stand fast in the liberty where with Christ has made you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Be ye followers of God, as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also loved us. But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once mentioned among you, as becometh saints: — Neither FILTHINESS nor FOOLISH: TALKING, nor JESTING, which are not consistent, but rather giving of thanks; speaking truth in love, may grow up into the Him, in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body ytly joined together, and compacted.” Hallelujah!

Yours, saved in Jesus.

J. N. Howard.

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Latest News from the Field.

Hans Schoolhouse Ind.

Praise the Lord, O my soul! Last night we took our leave of the saints of the Living God in these parts. Our stay here has been greatly blest of God. We held our meetings mostly at the school house, from six to about half past nine o-clock, Pm. A few flays this week we have only had afternoon meetings. The house was well filled at the evening meetings, so many got the awful Word of God, and were awakened. The day meetings were wonderfully attended by the saving power of God. Four souls were gloriously converted to God, one of whom was a few days later clearly sanctified. Another soul has fully made up her mind to be the Lord’s from this time forth. There were several powerfully sanctified, and baptized with the Holy Spirit, Several others, who had been some what wavering, were gloriously established in holiness, and anointed by the Spirit. Some of the saints by faith, and the assurance of the Spirit, received gifts. Bless God there is a glorious and mighty host here. “The seed whom the Lord hath blessed.” They are wonderfully armed with the Word of God, and equiped for His work. They are indeed a “people who do know their God, and they de exploits,” in the name of Jesus. Souls have been saved two and three per week, about ever since we were here in the winter. And still the work goes on. We expect a band of these glorious singers of salvation, to accompany us to the Bangor camp meeting, on our return from Southern Ind. Also Bro. and sister Kiplinger who were with us, laboring earnestly for the Master, expect to come with us. The saints at Hans, are blessed with the holy gift of song, and their blessed voices will help to swell the glorious praises at the camp meeting.

Last night a meeting was held at a sister’s a few miles north. Only the young walkers were expected to be there, as we had expected to depart that day. But the providence of God and His Spirit, detained us to attend. When we got there we learned by one of the converts that some sectarian pharisees were coming and it was thought they would stand up for their gods. They came, but God gave His little ones glorious victory. Hallelujah! The Word was read in demonstration of the power of the Spirit. The testimony and singing was in the joy and triumph of the heavenly Sanctifyer.

Glory to God! After the saints had testified to the power of God unto salvation, these babylon sinners, headed by a totally blind and carnal preacher, began to testify in favor of sin, and to pervert the Word of God to excuse the carnality and lust of their hearts, and like the old pharisees, to “catch something out of our mouths,” that they could pick and quibble over. One man showed an humble spirit, confesred his need of a more perfect salvation. I pray that he may find the glorious fullness. Our address will be for a few days, Oden, Davies Co. Ind.

Daniel.

Page 4

COPY OF THE LETTER WRITTEN BY KING AGBARUS,
TO JESUS, AND SENT TO HIM,
AT JERUSALEM, BY ANANIAS,
THE COURIER.

AGBARUS, prince of Edassa, sends greeting to Jesus the excellent Saviour, who has appeared in the borders of Jerusalem. I have heared the reports respecting thee and thy cures, as performed by thee without medicines and without the use of herbs. For as it is said, thou causest the blind to see again, the lame to walk, and thou cleansest the lepers, and thou castest out impure spirits and demons, and thou healest those that are tormented by long diseases, and thou raisest the dead. And hearing all these things of thee, I conclude in my mind one of two things: either that thou art God, and having descended from heaven, doest these things, or else doing them, thou art the Son of God. Therefore, now I have written and besought thee to visit me, and to heal the disease with which I am afflicted. I have also, heared that the Jews murmur against thee, and are plotting to injure thee; I have, however, a very small but noble state, which is sufficient for us both. This epistle, he thus wrote, whilst somewhat enlightened by the rays of divine truth. It is also worth the time, to learn the epistle sent to him from Jesus, by the same bearer, which, though very brief, is yet very nervous, written in the, following style.

THE ANSWER OF JESUS, TO KING AGBARUS BY THE COURIER, ANANIAS.

BLESSED art thou, O Agbarus, who without seeing, hast believed in me. For it is written concerning me, that they who have seen me will not believe, that they who have not seen, may believe and live. But in regard to what thou hast written, that I should come to thee, it is necessary that I should fulfill all things here, for which I have been sent.

And after this fulfillment, thus to be received again by Him that sent me. And after I have been received up, I will send to thee a certain one of my disciples, that he may heal thy affliction, and give life to thee and to those who are with thee. To these letters there was also, subjoined in the Syriac language: “After the ascention of Jesus, Judas, who is also called Thomas, sent him Thaddeus, the apostle, one of the seventy; who, when he came, remained at the house of Tobias, the son of Tobias. When the report was cirulated concerning his arrival, and he became publicly known by the miracles which he performed, it was communicated to Agbarus, that an apostle of Jesus had came thither, as he had written. Thaddeus, therefore, began in the power of God to heal every kind of disease and infirmity; so that all were amazed. But when Agbarus heard the great deeds and miracles which he performed, and how he healed men in the name and power of Jesus Christ, he began to suspect that this was the very person concerning whom Jesus had written, saying, after I have been received up again, I will send to thee one of my disciples, who shall heal thy affliction. Having, therefore, sent for Tobias, with whom he staid, I have heard, said he, that a certain powerful man, who hath come from Jerusalem, is slaying at thy house, and is per forming many cures in the name of Jesus. He answered, Yea, my lord, a certain stranger has come, who hath lodged with me, and is performing many wonders. And he replied, bring him to me. Tobias, then, returning to Thaddeus, said to him, Agbarus the king having sent for me, has told me to conduct thee to him, that thou mayest heal his diseases. And Thaddeus, replied, I will go, since I have been sent with power, to him. Tobias, therefore, rose early the next day, and taking Thaddeus with him, came to Agbarus. When he came, his nobles were present, and stood around. Immediately on his entrance, something extraordinary appeared to Agbarus, in the countenance of the Apostle Thaddeus; which Agbarus observing, paid him reverence. But all around were amazed; for they did not preceive the vision which appeared to Agbarus alone: he then asked Agbarus whether he were truly a disciple of Jesus the Son of God, who had said to him, I will send one of my disciples to thee, who will heal thy sickness, and will give life to thee and all thy connections? And Thaddeus answered, since thou hast had great confidence in the Lord Jesus, who hath sent me, therefore, I am sent to thee.

And moreover, if thou believest in Him, with increasing faith, the petition of thy heart shall be granted thee as thou believest. And Agbarus replied, ‘So much did I believe in Him, that I had formed the resolution to take forces, in order to destroy those Jews who had crucified Him, had I not been deterred from my purpose by a regard for the Roman empire. Thaddeus replied, Our Lord and God, Jesus the Christ, hath fulfilled the will of His Father, and having fulfilled it, was taken up again to His Father. Agbarus saith to him, I have believed both in Him, and in His Father. Then said Thaddeus, therefore, I place my hand upon thee, in the name of the same Lord Jesus. And this being done, he was immediately healed of the sickness, and sufiering with which he was afflicted. And Agbarus was amazed, that just as he had heard respecting Jesus, so in very deed he received it through His disciple and apostle Thaddeus, who had healed him, without any medicine or herbs, and not only him, but Abdas also, the Son of Abdas, who was afflicted with the podagra. He also, approaching, fell down at his feet, and received his benediction, with the imposition of his hand, and was healed. Many of the same city were also healed by the same apostle, who performed wonderful and great deeds, and proclaimed the Word of God. After this, said Agbarus, Thaddeus, thou doest these things by the power of God, and we are filled with wonder. But, beside these things, I request thee also, to inform me respecting the coming of Jesus, how He was born, and as to His power, with what power He performed these things which we have heard. And Thaddeus answered, now indeed, I will not tell thee, since I have been sent to proclaim the Word abroad; but to-morrow assemble all thy citizens, and before them I will proclaim the Word of God, and will sow among them the Word of life, both respecting the coming of Jesus, as He was, and respecting His mission, and for what purpose He was sent by the Father; also, concerning the power of His works, and the mysteries which He declared in the world; by what power, also, He did these things, concerning His new mode of preaching, His lowly and abject condition, His humiliation in His external appearance, how He humbled Himself, and died, and lowered His Divinity; what things also, He suffered from the Jews; how He was crucified, and descended into the grave, and burst the bars which had never yet been broken, and rose again, and also, raised with Himself the dead which had slept for ages. And how He descended alone, but ascended with a great multitude to His Father. And how He sitteth at the right hand of God and the Father, with glory in the heavens; and how He is about to come again with glory and power, to judge the living and dead. — Agbarus, therefore, commanded his subjects to be called early in the morning, and to hear the anunciation of Thaddeus; and after this, he commanded gold and silver to be given him; but he would not receive it, saying, if we have left our own, how shall we take what belongs to others. These things were done in the three hundred and fortieth year. Which also, we have literally translated from the Syriac language, opportunely as we hope, and not without profit.

— Eusebius.

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APOSTOLIC FAITH.

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TO all the dearly beloved saints; elect according to the foreknowledge of God, the Father, Through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and Sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy, hath begotten us again, unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an inheritance incorruptable, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time, wherein ye greatly rejoice; though now for a season, if need be ye are in heaviness, through manifold temptations. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, ye love, in whom though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. — 1st Peter 1:5-8. What awonderful description is contained in these few verses of the glorious salvation which God has graciously prepared for all with out money and without price; of which salvation I am a happy possessor. Hallelujah!

We feel satisfied that the Lord desires that His children should have some of the spiritual gifts, spoken of in 1 Cor. 12, but rather that ye may prophesy; speaking unto edification, exhortation, and comfort unto the Church. 1 Cor. 14:1-3. If this is not your experience, you have not reached your privilege in Jesus, for He is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all we are able to ask or think. Eph. 3:18-20 Oh dear saints, as you behold the rich inheritance our blessed Jesus has perchased for us through His blood. Oh then let us daily earnestly seek to know more of the deep things of God. My prayer to God is, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom, and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance, in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us ward, who believe according to the working of His mighty power; Eph. 1:17 — 19. May grow up into Him in all things, which is the head even Christ; Eph. 4:15 for in Him dwelleth all the God head bodily. Col. 2:9. As it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of man, save the spirit of man which is in him, even so the things of God, knoweth no man but by the Spirit of God. “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 1 Cor. 2:9-12. On the 13th of March, after much earnest prayer for heart humility and some fasting I reached the Apostolic faith, or the faith once delivered to the saints. Jude 3; 2 Peter 1:1. Praise the Lord! The Lord has since, bestowed upon me the gifts; the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, gifts of healing, decerning of spirits, and the gift of prophesy. 1 Cor. 12:8-11. Hallelujah to His name! I know I have not yet reached the standard of Apostolic power, but I am pressing into it, by the help of the Lord. Oh let us pray earnestly that God may move His Church into the Apostolic glory, unto its fullest standard. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with you all. Dear saints, pray for me, that I may be preserved faithful, unto the end. Your Bro. saved and sanctified.

F. Jacobson.

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WHAT, AND WHERE IS THE CHURCH OP GOD?

It is not any of the existing sects, neither is it all of them together. God’s Church is not separated in spirit. She is one in Christ, where ever you find Her. Men by the help of the devil, have sought by many inventions to divide Her, and they have succeeded in their work of deceiving themselves, and many others. The devil has been trying to make the people believe that the worldly, proud, jealous, fomal, lukewarm and abominable divisions, called churches, compose the Church of God.

God’s Church is composed of all who are His in deed. Now we find many of God’s dear children inside these human inclosures; but thank God, they are not of them, though they be in them. God’s Church is not a sect, nor a party, but She is composed of all those who are His indeed, either inside or outside of these walls or divisions. Glory to God! But God has promised to gather His people from all places where they have been scattered, in the “dark and cloudy day.” read the 34th chapter of Eze.

“Come out of Her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.” Bead the 18 chapter of Rev. You can see that many of God’s children are in bondage somewhere, but God is going to deliver them, unite them, purify them and try them, before the coming of the Lord. See Daniel 12 Chap. Glory to God, He has already, a people who are free from sectism, and God is delivering His little ones every day, all over the land. Yes Zion is rising and putting on her strength. The great day of Her deliverance is at hand.

That you, my dear Christian brethren may see the light, and walk in it, is the sincere prayer of your true friend, and brother in Christ Amen!

H. R. Jeffrey.

PARABLE OF THE TARES.

Matt., 13:24-30, And 39-43.

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A. M. KIERGAN.

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THIS beautiful parable has been made the foundation of many discourses upon the spiritual nature and organic function of the Church. The stress, however, is usually put upon the following prohibitory words: “Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But He said nay: lest when ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let them grow together until the harvest — Verses 28—30.

Early in the apostasy of the Church, though Donatists, as they were called separated from what had been the true Christian church and from what is now the Roman Catholic church. Between these and Augustine arose a controversy upon the words quoted above, and some others.

The Donatists contended for the purity of the Church over against the encroachments of the unsaved and profligate, that in it, in fact, there were none but real Christians. Augustine affirmed that those who have outward marks of belonging to it, are in it, but not of it. He assumed (hat there were, certains outward conditions to be met in order to belong to the Church and yet not every one who met these conditions were of it although they were in it. An argument singular enough and yet the doctrine of which has been perpetuated from then till now. In Catholicism we see it gone to seed, and in Protestantism we see it about as nearly so.

Hence upon this parable it is assumed that in the Church there are both real Christians and the deceived, hypocritical and profligate, that these must remain together in the Church through all time, and that any attempt to separate the evil would destroy the good.

This view might be true if the Church was man’s invention, for then man, standing at the door as its keeper, would admit all sorts, but since the Church is not man’s invention in any sense, and he cannot keep the door, it cannot be affirmed truthfully that there is a single unregenerate person in it. This may be affirmed of every denomination in the world, but not of the Church which Christ built. It is true some attempt to turn the point upon a visible and invisible Church. But there is no such distinction made in the Word of God, the notion is invented to accomodate the denominational idea of a mingling of the Spiritual and profligate in the Church of God, or, in other words, to make it appear that the institutions which they have set up are the Church of God. Let the “thus saith the Lord,” be set down for the visible and invisible churches and the whole question will be yielded with grace and gratitude.

Let us take now, the Savior’s own explanation of this parable. He says. “He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man: the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world, and the reapers are the angels. As therefore, the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world” — Verses 36—40.

To understand this explanation, a few words therein must be attended to. The first word of these is the word kingdom.

It is from the word basileia — that which is directed by a king, in this case, that which God rules. It consists of a king to direct principles upon which direction is to proceed and an intelligent being to be directed. — God the King, the elements of righteousness and true holiness the principles, and a human being or an angel the subject. The kingdom of God is just as complete if there is but one subject, as if there were a million. “The kingdom of God is within you,” and the whole of it at that. In whom? In each individual subject. And here may be properly marked, one clearly defined distinction between the “Kingdom of God” and the “Church of God.” The kingdom is first, the Church is second, the latter depends upon the former, and grows out of it, and not the former out of the latter. Here the word church is from ecclesia — an. assembly. The kingdom may encompass but one, the Church implies more than one.

From this comes an inevitable conclusion. If the Church is second, depends upon and grows, out, of the kingdom, then it is composed of those and those only in whom the kingdom is set up. This is equivalent to saying, there is not an unregenerate person in the Church. So we can determine the spiritual statues of the Church by the subjects of the kingdom. This, we are not left to guess at, for Jesus said in this parable, “the good seed are the children (subjects) of the kingdom.” “The tares (bad seed) are the children of the wicked one,” neither subjects of the kingdom nor members of the Church.

Now we are prepared to understand the meaning of that important phrase in the Savior’s explanation, “the field is the world.” The sense is involved in the word world, and upon it turns the central idea of the whole parable. But viewing the kingdom and Church as human inventions has involved the word in much confusion. Hence many have interpreted the parable upon the assumption that the word world means the church. But let us see: The word here is kosmos, — Arrangement, beautiful system, world. It is the stage upon which the sense is enacted, it is not the church but a field. In this field, the world, the earth, there are two forces in action, in conflict, the good and the bad, the children of the wicked one, and the children of the kingdom, the tares and the wheat. Here these two elements grow (exist) together not in ecolesia — Church — but in cosmos — world. If the phrase should read, “the field is the church,” then the Holy Ghost made a mistake in the use of His words, for no sort nor any number of arguments can ever make kosmos, — world mean ecclesia — Church

Now, the question does not arise whether or not we shall root out of the Church the children of the wicked one, for there are none such in it, but whether or not we shall root them out of the world. This rooting out does not involve consequently, the commonplace, unscriptural absurdity of turning persons out of the church, but the final and absolute destruction or annihilation, of their children from the face of the earth. The disciples had some crude notions in those days; some of them asked if they should call fire down from heaven to consume their enemies, but Jesus forbade and reproved them: so He says in this parable, nay. But that the gathering up in this place means destruction and not expulsion from the church is evident from the Savior’s own words: “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world” (age). Again: “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire.” Verses 40-42. Hence the Savior said and still says, nay, for many obvious reasons. We are not to use violence of any sort, nor to execute. God will repay and His angels, not we, shall execute his judgements. But it may be asked then, how the angels “shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity,” if the good and the bad are not mixed together in the Church? The answer is at hand and comprehensive: The “enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat.” — Verse 25. Not in the Church among the wheat, but among the wheat in the world, for “the field is the world.” Out of, here, does not mean from within, but from side by side. Hence, two women shall be grinding at the mill, one shall be taken and the other left.” The wheat and tares grow together in the field side by side and the tares are taken from among the wheat. So it is said in verse 49, in the parable of the net, “the angels shall come forth and shall sever the wicked from among the righteous.” In both cases the same word — ek — from is used. The unworhy may be as parasites endeavoring to adhere the kingdom but never able to enter it, hence, never taken from within it, but from among those who are in it.

Now, in this scriptural exposition of the parable there is a literal and total annihilation of many notions concerning the organic functions of the Church of God. By it what becomes of the varous contending factions organized by men which they call the Church? Of corruption existing in or being purged out of the Church? Of taking in and puting out members? Of the common prevailing ecclesiastical laws and sect appliances? As these vanish the one only visible, organized Church remains, with sufficient power to free itself of all would be intruders, and as a granite rock of eternal truth. Upon “this rock” Jesus built it and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

— Good Way

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