1 November 1885, Volume 7, Number 16.

The Handwriting on the Wall.

D. S. Warner.

—:o:—

Now the great King of Babel, in these latter days of time,
Makes a feast that’s universal, all the nations drink her wine.
As they eat, drink, and revel, in her lofty steeple hall,
God proclaims her desolation, by His hand upon the wall.

Chorus.

‘Tis the hand of God on the wall, ’tis the hand of God on the wall,
Babylon the great is fallen, and we’re fully saved in Jesus,
While that hand is writing on the wall.

All deceived and deceiving, see the city and her Lords,
Riot in their carnal pleasures, heeding not Jehovah’s words:
For He speaks, now revealing, mystic babel’s utter fall,
And the holy read the writing of their God upon the wall.

How the nations are drunken, and are sporting in their shame;
Even scofling at our Savior, and profane his holy name:
Far more blind than Belshazzar, who so trembled with appal,
They still riot on to judgement with their doom upon the wall.

O the sin and confusion, O the vanity and pride
Of the multitude of Sodom, who in babylon abide:
But all honor to Jesus! we have heard His angel’s call,
And escaped the sure destruction that is written on the wall.

Hear the loud voice from heaven, “come my people” gather home,
For to you the signs are given, that the Lord is near to come:
Now He shakes every nation, heed the warning great and small,
For the wicked soon shall perish, says the hand upon the wall.

See the saints come to Zion, and possess the holy land;
Hallelujah! thont the freedom, in the living God we stand;
Since we follow the Savior, love to serve Him Lord of all,
Babel’s kingdom now is finished, says the band upon the wall.

No one has a right to publish this song, without permission of the author.

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BEAVER DAM IND, ASSEMBLY.

—:o:—

BRO., Wm. J. Evans, Sisters Mary Frederick, and Nannie Kigar from Payne Ohio, and Sister Frank Miller from Battle Creek, Mich., all of whom were in attendance at the Williamston assembly, accompanied us to Beaver Dam. We had a glorious time serving the Lord by the way, singing His praise on the trains, and in the depots. At Vicksburg we not only sang, but read a chapter and kuel down in morning worship, in the wailing room. God blessed our souls. About all the people present seemed to be awed by the Spirit of God. They were eager to have us sing the songs of full salvation. Praise the Lord. O my soul!

At Ft Wayne, taking the Nickleplate train, we found Sister Sarah Smith, from Jerry City O. aboard. Not long after two other brethren and a sister got aboard. We had never met them before, but, soon knew and hailed them by the Spirit.

Reaching Bro. F. Krause we found Sister K. quite sick. She had been sick for some time. After the joyful greetings and many snouts of praise to God, we knelt down and offered thanks to God for all His manifold blessings. Prayer was also made for sister K. and the Lord instantly healed her, and she went to meeting that night, and each time following. Praise the Lord! “We went to the meeting house, and the Lord gave us Psa. 149. Shortly after we began to talk, in came “three unclean spirits like frogs, for they are the spirits of devils.” Their prince, T. H. Low, and the others J. J. Weinger and wife, all from Lagrange Co. We soon understood why the Lord had led us to read that Psalm. O how the mighty Spirit of the Living God came on our soul. We began to talk of the ”two edged Sword, in our hand” — verse 6. “To execute vengence,” “to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with letters of iron. To execute upon them the judgements written.” Praise God! we warned all unclean spirits that they must be cast out from among the saints of God. That we were out of babylon, and would by no means allow the devil to bring in his hellish grating spirits of confusion. We showed that, upon the detective principle of fellowship which blends with God’s Spirit wherever met, and shrinks from all spirits of devils, “this honor have all His saints.” Namely that of detecting and rebuking all evil spirits. We had testimony and songs of victory, those pernicious spirits looked as though the shouts and songs were a “noisome grievous sore” unto them.

Finally Low arose and began to croak, saying that charges had been preferred against him, and that he had come to defend himself’. Every child of God could feel the terrible spirit. After meeting the mighty power of the Spirit of God came more and more upon us. He led us to tell all there of the unclean spirits, that they were not of God, and deluded of satan. Glory be to the Living God! He so baptized our soul on the way from meeting that the wagon could scarcely hold us. What wonderful power! we saw clearly our duty, and promised God to take the Sword and rush to the battle the next morning. As we were three miles away, and some late in reaching the meeting house, the picking devil began to work in Low before we arrived. The Lord had shown us clearly that we must “give no place to the devil,” to bring in babylon confusion and pernicious jangling in His meetings — That “all who watch for iniquity,” “that make a man on offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught,” “are cut off,” — Isa. 29:20, 21, and must not be tolerated by us, no not for a moment. By the grace of God we rebuked the foul spirits sharply in the name of Jesus, and described what grade of devils they were; and forbid them to have any part in the meeting unless it be at the altar seeking mercy.

But the Church being too lenient toward devils, permitted him to make a long ungodly picking, evil surmising harangue. This was contrary to God’s will: for God so abhors babylon confusion that He demands that every such malicious prating spirits be expelled out of the land at once: “put away from among you that wicked person.” But his satanic speech was a good thing to confirm some of the less illuminated that we had not missed the mark in describing the devil that possessed him. After his long tirade of abuse upon the saints, in which God exceedingly blessed all our souls, inspiring many shouts of praise, glory to His name! we undertook to go on with the praise and testimony meeting. But the Low beast was determined to keep up a babel of confusion.

After nearly every testimony he was on his feet snapping snarling and trying to bite someone. Finally he appeared determined to keep right on with his ungodly frothing: condescending to about the lowest, littlest and meanest, faultfinding and bickering we ever heard, from any animal in the shape of a man. We saw clearly that God would be dishonored, and offended if we allowed such ungodliness to continue. We stepped to him, and requested him in the name of Jesus Christ to be still and sit down, and let the worship of God go on. But the devil only raged the more. The mighty power of God came on us, and to our own astonishment, we seized the man and started for the door, soon we both fell to the floor, but the Lord had me quickly on foot, and him sliding down the aisle toward the door, and there was no stop until he was out of the house, off of the board walk, full length on the ground. This act was a surprise to many, and to no one more than ourself. The Almighty God just picked us out of our own previous notions, and by His own power, without the apparent exertion of so much as a little finger on our part, He used this comparatively small and frail body to cast out a large strong man. It was a wonderful experience, the sweetness of heaven filled my soul, and the great river of Divine peace flowed with majestic glory in my heart. If ever God wrought a miracle in these times this was one. Though he is a tail muscular body, quick, nervous, disciplined by labor on a farm, and we weak and soft muscled, he was drawn out just as easy as if he were a pair of pants stuffed with hay. Though he siezed hold of the ends of the seats as we passed along, his fingers seemed to be as powerless as if mere flabby flesh. All glory to God, who is my strength, and my fortress, my Rock and my deliverer. Praise God! we were so blessed in the deed that we could scarcely stop when the man had reached the ground without. As we walked back it flashed in our mind that one reason God had thus used this body, was because a few moments before the beast spirit was making some ungodly speeches against the work of healing, throwing up the imperfections of our own body as an argument against it. Thus God showed His strength in casting out the false prophet, by the very temple he had just prated against. Glory be to the name of Jesus! “The Lord is the strength of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? when the wicked, mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.” “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.” “They cried, but there was none to save them; even unto the Lord, but He answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets” — Psa. 18:41, 42.

Braise God! the testimony, and songs, and shouts of praise, in the mighty Spirit of the Living God, kept the beasts chained, and the meeting was glorious to the end. In the afternoon they departed out of the neighborhood Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Do you judge us too harsh in using the beast to describe such characters: behold God thus designates such evil workers all through His Book. But what specially leads us to employ such language is the vision the Lord gave us the first night of the meeting. We appeared to be going to a place where there was a bear. The thought came to us that we would be apt to meet the animal, which was by no means a pleasant anticipation. When we arrived at the place we were confronted by the awful beast; but instead of looking like a bear, the nasty thing was without hair, and looked like a great swine with naked skin. The savage animal came at us several times, but trusting in the power of God, he was each time repulsed, and finally retreated and left us This was an exact description of our conflict in the place.

Sure enough we came to a place where there was a bear. One B. F. Bear, an apostate preacher, living a few miles from Beaver Dam, was at the meeting. He is given over to hardness of heart, and a pernicious growling spirit. This bear we expected to meet, but lo! a monstrous swine; that is, Low: and the bear, is Bear, and these two are one beastly spirit. O that the infinite mercy of God may yet save these poor fallen souls out of the snare of satan.

The meeting went on with glorious power. One soul consecrated for entire sanctification that night.

Saturday eve, we were surprised by the coming of Bro. and sister Fisher. That night we had a solemn and glorious ordinance meeting. Sabbath the Lord blest the saints much. Monday night had a powerful, meeting at. Bro W. W. Ballinger’s, three miles west, in whose kind family God has provided a blessed home for our dear child Sidney. He has been there since last June, Several consecrated for full salvation in this meeting, and some received the glorious anointing.

The meetings are being continued. The Lord is at work. Souls are coming to God and the saints have been wonderfully advanced and established in the Spirit of God. God is forming a little company for the winters campaign. Some brethren here, and dear saints from Ohio, and sister Frankie Miller from Battle Greek Mich., are all equiped by the mighty-power ready to rush to the battle, wherever the Lord leads.

All honor to Jesus whose eyes are a flame,
Who wond’rously helps us each battle to gain.

At the Beaver Dam meeting we were happy to greet Bro. S. Michels from Mich. Dear Bro. E. B. Bell who now lives near Warsaw lnd. Bro. Isaac Key, from Randolf, and Bro. Bragg from Grant Co., and other dear saints whose names are in the Book of life. Praise the Lord!

Daniel.

THE WORLD IN A BAD CONDITION.

—:o:—

A Spiritually blind man writing in defence of sectism in the Good Way, of Aug. 8, says, “It is claimed that the sects are of the devil, but I don’t see it. If this is so the world is in a very bad condition.”

The writer seems to see this fact, that the good or bad condition of this world as it is to-day, depends upon whether the sects are of God, or of the devil. That is true. If the sects were of God then this world were of God, and in a happy condition, because the whole world is very sectish. If God owns the sects as His, then there is indeed a very wide door open to this world into heaven. Yea and the great mass of the world are entering through that broad gate right into heaven. But while that were a very happy thing for this world if true, there is one thing in it that reflects very much on the character of God. It represents Him as being the Father of a very proud, contentions, disintegrated, disorderly, confused, worldly and sinful family. Therefore we must either question the holiness, and good character of God, or question the sects being included in His family. What shall we do? Shall we include the sects into God’s family at the expence of His good character, or shall we maintain God’s holiness at the expense of the sinful sects.? One thing is certain, whichever way we may decide this matter, God still holds the prerogative to say for Himself who He includes in His family, and who He excludes. He has unalterably fixed the conditions of membership in His family, and moreover He does not keep those conditions a secret. He does not conceal the solemn line that forms the boundary between His kingdom and that of the devil. While He does not keep His Church record on exhibition anywhere in this world, He does describe all His children by such infallible marks of character that they ”may be known and read of all men.” Measured by the Word of God, who dare deny that the mass of the sects fall infinitely short of being God’s children.

As a rule they confess with their month, and show by their works that they are sinners. And “he that committeth sin is of the devil.” “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.” — 1 John 3:8-10. This is plain talk. All that sin are of the devil, all that do not sin are born of God, hence are of God. The great bulk of the sect membership practice sinning, therefore the bulk of the sects are of the devil. But what of the sect institution itself? Is it of God or of the devil? Is the truth of God committed on this question? Certainly it is. Then we may appeal to its decision. Sectarians themselves admit that “there is not one word between the lids of the Bible favorable to sects or denominations. What does it say against them? “There shall be no schisms (sects) in the Body.” — Gal. 5, “Heresies” are classified among the works of the flesh, and the Apostle positively affirms that “they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Now that the word heresy, means sect you will see by consulting any reliable authority. Yea it is proved by the common version itself. In 1 Cor. 11:18, 19, we see divisions, and heresies used interchangably, as meaning the same thing, and in the margin heresies is translated sects. In 2 Pet. 2:1, heresies (sects) are ascribed to false teachers, and are declared by the voice of inspiration, as “damnable.” Therefore by the standard of God’s truth we prove that sects, both as organized divisions, and in the bulk of their membership are of the devil. They are clearly said to be of the flesh, and the flesh is the “works of the devil,” hence they are also his works.

But does the result follow that the above writer speaks of? The sects being of the devil, does it follow that “the world is in a very bad condition?” Yes it is indeed true. “All nations are drunk upon the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

The whole world’s blinded and deceived by the false hope which the flesh indulging, sinnership religion of the great sectarian apostasy. The whole in ass are “deceiving and being deceived.” God says “they sleep a perpetual sleep.” They are “poor and wretched, and miserable, and blind, and naked, and know it not.” “I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.” — Jer. 23:14. In the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.” — verse 20. So we see that the world is prophetically described to be in a Sodom condition in the latter days. This is corroborated by Christ, who says, that “as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of man.”

Now this general blindness and death is atributed to the horrible things committed by the priests of captive sectish Jerusalem. The world is indeed in a very bad condition. And God says, “Their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein; for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation.” — Jer. 23:12.

The visitation here spoken of is that pronounced against babylon. Rev. 18:4. I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, come out of her my people, lest ye partake of her sins, and receive of her plagues.” “for she shall be utterly burned with fire.”

The world is truly in a very bad condition and will never get out of it. For the harvest is just ripe for the sickle of God’s wrath, for the wickedness thereof is great.

This wretched and naked condition of the world is charged upon sectism, as her fruits is a mountain of iniquity that she has “destroyed the whole world.” — Jer. 51.

Jesus prayed that all His disciples should be kept in oneness “that the world might believe.” — John 17. But satan has ensnared the disciples of Christ in several hundred parties, and the world does not believe, and are rushing on to judgement, with carnal festivity, and all manner of corrupt buffoonery, with the corrupt sects in the lead. O my Lord! who can help but cry aloud and spare not, and lift up our voice as a Trumpet, and warn the professed people of God of their sin and iniquity. Yet the blind guides from whom we quote, finds fault with the solemn alarm that is sounding on God’s holy mountain. He would have us say nothing against the destroying sects, but says, “Preach the Gospel, get men sated.” But does not the Gospel cut off all the works of the devil? and does not salvation imply a deliverance from all the works of men and devils?

He says, “when holiness was first preached in Mo. it was said that sanctification made us all one. The motto was, stay in your church, if in one, and preach holiness. But how is it now? Come out from among them: the so called churches are of the devil: This may be so. Not all of them do this, but the larger part of them do this. There are two parties. Then sanctification don’t make us one, or someone is not sanctified.” Shame on such blindness. What putting light for darkness, and darkness for light. The man thinks that holiness made them one, when it was of such a baby character as to leave its confessors divided up within the several hundred party walls. And now since it has gathered strength enough to leap over the dividing fences, and blend together in the unity of the Spirit, and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man,” he thinks it is divided. Then it was “said stay in.” Now the cry is, “come out from among them.” Now which is Bible. The babylonian writer deplores the latter, but God commands the latter. Now he says there are two parties. So there should be two parties, instead of 666. The one party are sanctified and obey the voice of God, the other party are carnal, and sectish, and disobey God, and clamor for their sect idol. God help every soul to flee out of the midst of babylon, and out of all sin, into Christ, or the judgement fire will soon convince them that this world is in a very bad condition.

Daniel.

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DEFINITE, RADICAL, ANTI-SECTARIAN.
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Kalamazoo, Mich.

Dear Brethren: — Praise the blessed Lord for salvation. The precious blood of Jesus cleanses me from all sin this evening. Glory! Hallelujah to the Lamb forever and forever! O how I do praise God for His saving and keeping and healing power. O my soul says, praise God!

From your sister saved and washed in the precious blood of Jesus,

Rachel Bell.

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News from the Field.

—:o:—

Vichy Springs, Mo.

Dear Brethren: The work is moving here in different parts. The holy fire still keeps burning. Hallelujah! People are being converted, sanctified, healed, and the Lord is adding to the Church such as are being saved. Amen! Babylon fears her loss. I was expecting to leave the vicinity of Bro. Eikman’s north of St. James Monday, after holding a protracted meeting, but before we got started a runner came for us to go to Bro. Browns and have prayer. We found seekers there deeply engaged, and the Lord gave us a general revival service and hallelujah time. We were all too much engaged to stop for dinner, but put in a faithful day for God. Victory turned on the Lord’s side, and shouts filled the house. We remained another week, with victory all the way through, and closed with a glorious baptizing and ordinance meeting Sunday, and Monday we started for Vichy, near two miles on the way I felt impressed to leave the main road and go to Bro. Martin Copeland’s. We stopped and asked the Lord about it and were confirmed in that conviction. Bro. C. had a horse already saddled when we got to his house for his wife to meet us, and would have been disappointed had we gone the main road. The Lord gave us a blessed little meeting. Bro. C. and wife both consecrated and decided to take the straight track for Jesus, and were both baptized with the others on the 20th of Sept., making 35 in all, that I have baptized to this date since my return to Mo. God has most wonderfully set His seal on burying in baptism, those who are dead indeed unto sin, by manifesting His power in the presence of many witnesses.

Quite a number were so filled with the glory and power of God, that they were unable to help themselves out of the water; but had to be carried and lay helpless on the shore for some time; some told me that they never knew when or how they reached the shore, but came to, praising God. Bystanders examined to see if they were really dead. One came to enough while they were feeling his pulse to tell them he was all right and had the witness in his heart. Praise the Lord! Many shouted the praises of God. How different from the sect baptisms in this country, where sinners are baptized into the sect to save them, and receive no answer to a good conscience; for they have no good conscience, or sprinkled as a form of man’s device. Hallelujah to God and the Lamb! that we can know when we are right, by the Spirit that guides in the way of all truth.

J. Cole.

—:o:—

Ferttgs Venango Co. Pa.

Dear Brethren: — Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God making mention of thee always in my prayers.

Praise God! this morning finds us saved and sanctified, and rejoicing in the Lord. O glory to God for what He has done for us, and the way He is using us to the destruction of the works of the devil. The Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon us. We do not shun to declare all the counsel of God. This people have never had the true light; they seem eager to receive the truth. Sister Alice gives them the straight Word of God, the Holy Ghost accompanying it to the hearts of the people. Nine have been converted; three others made a start, but could not stand the flaming light and so drew back. The honest souls here in babylon are coming to the light. The babylonians do not clamor much, they are killed too dead to squirm. The Lord sent Bro. Clayton to help us one week: three were baptized on last Sabbath. I never saw a people so eager for the truth as these people are.

We purpose going from here to Oil City, if the Lord wills, but we will stay here until the Lord bids us go, and by His grace we will deal faithfully with all souls.

This is a grand field of labor. It Bro. and Sister Fisher comes to Pa. this winter we want them to come to this place. I do praise God for a willing heart to do little chores for my Master, I feel so little and insignificant in His sight, and unworthy of the least of His favors, and yet He bestows them on us so freely. O glory to God forever and ever! I wish I could find words to express to you what the Lord has done for me. Praise the Lord all ye His people, let us exalt His name together.

We send our love to all the dear saints. Pray for us that we may ever be true to God. May the Lord bless you and keep you all in the love of God, is the prayer of two of the redeemed of the Lord.

Nannie Donnel, & Alice Davis.

A BLASPHEMER.

—:o:—

A Bro. sent in a letter he had received from a rank specimen of the devil’s latter days deceiving, by the name of J. McClelland of Franklin Pa. We feel it our duty to expose all such mockers at Christ and His Word. This hydrophobia spirit begins his letter thus, “Mr. ————— I am a Christ-ite, that is, a person who has fellowship alone with Christ.” We will only give a few extracts from this disgusting antichrist. “Your dipping in water is all nonsense, your partaking of bread and wine, and calling it the body and blood of Christ, is a lie. Even if you say it represents His body and blood, you lie when you say it. It don’t do any such a thing. A little bit of bread representing Christ’s body, such balderdash.” “Dipping persons in water and saying it is Christ’s ordinance, you are all liars when you say it.” “You are such a set of fools.”

We have but to give such frothing rasping spirits a chance to speak, and they “foam out their own shame,” so that all who have any light at all in them can see that they are “spirits of devils.” In his rage against the children of God who follow the footsteps of Christ, he is too blind to see that he is prating against Christ Himself. If it be nonsense to be buried with Christ in baptism, then Christ performed nonsense when He was baptized of John in Jordan. Then the New Testament records that Christ practiced nonsense when He “made and baptized more disciples than John.” To say that the communion bread is the body of Christ, and the wine His blood, or represent them, is simply to repeat the words of Christ, and to say that the statement is a lie, is blasphemously charging falsehood upon the Son of God. What shocking impiety. Now listen to this blind guide again. “If you follow this business, holding meeting &c, appeal to the people for support, take up collection, but don’t try to palm yourself off as sent of God, but tell them you are working for the salvation of souls and ask for support.” So this blind soul who knows nothing of God himself advises that men would succeed better by making their requests known to men, rather than obey God, and “make your requests known unto God,” who “supplies all our needs through His riches of glory by Christ Jesus.” He also denies the Divine call to the ministry. This is the natural result of loosing salvation and all the light of God out of the soul. So this blind priest who is “without God, and having no hope in the world,” says, “Don’t think that I am such a fool as to say it was of God for me to write you, I wrote because I happened to see your postal, and had plenty of time to write.” Surely we should think any one a badly deluded man, not to say a fool, who would write such ungodly stuff as this letter contains, and then think it were of God. It would be well for this J. McClelland to adopt Martin Luther’s proverb, i.e., “whatsoever is not of God, is of the devil.” Since he says that his writing is not of God, it is surely of the devil, as its character clearly indicates.

But we understand very well that he meant by the above words to thrust at men who have the Holy Spirit of God and claim to be led thereby. But while we know he was led of the devil, we will not deny God, but do as we are taught of God. “In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will guide thy paths.” This poor cage of unclean quaker spirits of satan, thinks it is smart to deny that God calls and sends out His own preachers, and leads all His people by His Spirit; yet has the imprudence to say, “I enjoy a close walk with Christ.” If this were so, he would not think he were a fool to say, that what he did was of God. Walking with Christ and yet denying His leadings cannot go together. If Mr. McClelland’s writing etc., is not of God, as he says it is not, and as all men can see it is not, then he ought to know that he is walking with the devil, and not with Christ at all. We feel it our duty to lay some of the horrid antichrist sayings of this man before the saints that they may see what blasphemous spirits they possess, who oppose the ordinances of Christ. We know of no man that sets himself against the Son of God in these things, that is not deluded of the devil, and most are really possessed with devils. But notwithstanding their rage against the truth, “the foundation of God standeth sure,” and “the Word of the Lord abideth forever.”

“Depart from me ye evil doers; for I will keep the commandments of my God.”

“Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.”

“Thou hast commanded us to keep Thy precepts diligently.”

“Teach me O Lord, the way of Thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep Thy law; yea I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”

“Forever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heaven.” And “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” Amen! and Amen!!

Daniel.

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PURE GOLD.

—:o:—

BE ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48.

The deciple is not above his Master, but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master. Luke 6:40.

Go on unto perfection. Heb. 6:1.

He hath by one offering perfected forever them that are sanctified; whereof the Holy Ghost is also a witness to us Heb. 10:14, 15.

This is the will of God, even your sanctification. That every one should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God, your whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith, is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thess. 4:3, 4, and 5:23, 24.

For both He that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Heb. 2:11.

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. 1 Tim. 1:5.

And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself, even as He is pure. 1 John 3:3.

Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord. 2 Cor. 7:1.

How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? Heb. 9:14.

Wherefore Jesus also, that we might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Heb. 13:12.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptable things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.

The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7.

Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a pecular people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14.

I beseech yon therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrafice, holy acceptable unto God. Romans 12:1.

Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant,

Make you perfect in every good work to do His will. Heb. 13:20, 21.

I counsel the to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed.

Joseph.

UNREPROVABLE.

—:o:—

ALL the use of stimulants, as coffee, tea, tobacco, opium, intoxicating liquors, and carnal amusements etc., are the result of the fall of man. They are all intoxicants. The pleasure imparted by them is on the principle of soothing and benumbing the moral and spiritual sensibilities, which are in a restless, indiscribable distress, as a result of the fall into sin and the loss of God out of the soul; whose indwelling is the normal state of man. This inward craving is not understood by blinded man; and they think it our natural lot, therefore they think the stimulant a natural blessing. Whereas its demand is caused by a diseased state of the soul and body, and its effect, though soothing, is still more viciating, of soul and body. Of course some have acquired the abnormal appetite for tea and coffee before their souls were saved, and hot having been properly enlightened, still use them: in which case the demand continues only through the force of habit, and the perverted appetite. But as soon as the Spirit of God can raise the conscience of His children above the low and carnal standard of this world’s religion, conviction pronounces condemnation upon these bad habits. And as a positive proof that God looks upon the habitual use of these tea and coffee poisons, as sin and unrighteousness, He takes the appetite for them out of the flesh, just as he does the appetite for the curse of tobacco, opium and liquor. His promise is, that the “blood cleanseth us from all sin,” and “all unrighteousness:” but the blood does cleanse away the appetite for tea and coffee, therefore they are unrighteousness. In other words, the fact that God treats these habits and appetites as He does sin, proves that He includes them in the catalogue of sins. They are all a violation of the law of God, because detrimental to these bodies which are the holy temples of God. The universal law of stimulants is to undermine the physical constitution, and destroy the natural energy of the mind.

Tobacco is both “filthiness of the flesh,” and a destructive poison. Liquor, opium, coffee and tea, are not so much a filthiness, but are all a sin against the body, the temple of God. A man that uses tobacco is not able to reprove a drunkard, without the rebuff, “you use tobacco, and that is just as bad as liquor and far more filthy.” So the reproof that comes from the tobacco stained lips fall to the ground without any weight upon the conscience. So when a coffee and tea drinker would rebuke another for the nasty filthy use of tobacco, the tobacco sot is quite sure to shield himself behind the reprovers hot poison cups. God’s Word says, And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreprovable in His sight. Col. 1:21, 22. No person fulfills this Scripture that practices any of the above habits. Being exposed to reproof you are not able to reprove and rebuke others with all authority, as the Word directs. Cleanse yourselves from all superfluities and habits.

Daniel.

_________________

MARRIED.

—:o:—

AT the residence of the parents of the Bridegroom, in Williamston Mich. On Sunday Oct 11th 1885, Bro. Hiram Butters, and sister Alice Spade were united in holy matrimony.

Bro. Hiram and sister Alice, are both members of the “Church of God. The Body of Christ,” and enjoy the light of full salvation. May they continue in the path of the just which shineth more, and more, unto the perfect day.” May they ever love each other, and be blessed with a happy and prosperous life.

Joseph.

______________

Union Home, Mich.

Dear Brethren: — I am gloriously saved to-night. The dear Lord is in His temple, and is flooding it with His glory just now. He saves me and purifies this vessel, as the fire refines the gold, and He will guard and keep me safely sheltered in His fold; for He says “He that putteth his trust in me shall not be put to shame.” Hallelujah! O I rejoice greatly, because He has delivered me out of all sects and schisms. O glory to His name forever and ever!

Your brother washed in the blood!

Geo. W. Morso.

Page 3

Coming to Zion.

—:o:—

H. R. Jeffrey.

God’s people are coming to Zion,
God’s people are gathering home;
From every place they have been scattered;
With shoutings, with shoutings they come.

Cho. – O Zion! Fair Zion!
Of Thee, a sweet anthem we raise,
Thy walls are composed of salvation,
Thy beautiful gates are of praise.

God’s people are coming to Zion,
Old babylon no longer can hold:
The people of God are escaping,
Returning again to the fold.

God’s people are coming to Zion,
A host that is mighty and strong;
With songs of salvation they’re coming,
They’re rolling the chorus along.

God’s people are coming to Zion,
All clothed in their garments of white;
Salvation, salvation they’re shouting!
On to battle they march in their might.

God’s people are coming to Zion,
And this is the song they do sing,
Victory! vict’ry in Jesus!

For He is our leader and King.

God’s people are coming to Zion,
The theme is now filling my soul;
Of Zion the beautiful Zion!
An anthem of wonder doth roll.

__________________

NIGHT HAS COME TO THE PROPHETS.

—:o:—

THE following, which we received by the mouth of two saints which were eye witnesses, shows the utter blindness and darkness of babylon and her priests.

About seven years ago a Methodist priest by the name of Baker, who was in charge of the M. E. sect at Lowell, Lake Co. Ind., was called to fill a presiding Elder’s appointment in the town of Hebron Porter Co. The D. D. Mr. Baker, was well reported of there as quite an eminent preacher, hence a full house met to hear the sermon. Well the broadcloth gentleman made his appearance at the appointed hour, entered the pulpit, but to the great disappointment of all, he told the congregation that he had unfortunately forgotten his sermon, and was therefore unable to address them; after expressing his deep regret for their disappointment, the congregation was dismissed. The people went away mortified at their unrealized expectations, but doubtless much better off for not having heard the “dum dog’s” mess of chaff. Is there any one so stupid and so blind, as to suppose such blind block-heads are ministers of Christ? Behold “He maketh His ministers a flame of fire.” He so fills them with the Word of God, that it burns like fire in their hearts, yea as the prophet says, “in my bones.” “It shall begin them a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” Yea they need ”take no thought what they shall speak or what they shall say, for it shall be given them in that hour.”

Jesus Christ, the great preacher, Himself lives right in all His preachers, and they “preach not themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord.” “He is a very present help in the time of need.” They having “sanctified the Lord God in their hearts, are ready always to give an answer — or preach a sermon — to every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear.” It Jesus Christ was able any moment to preach to the people, so His holy ministers are, because they have “this mind which was also in Christ Jesus.” Any person that knows anything about the Bible can no more take these babylon priests to be the ministers of Jesus Christ than a man with eyes could mistake a black stump for a blazing electric light. They look no more like God’s preachers than an empty tar barrel with the bead knocked out, looks like the blazing head-light of an engine.

This instance is a pure sample of the utter blindness of fallen babylon. A few years ago we heard one of these dum dogs try to preach a funeral sermon in a school house near Payne Ohio. He began by saying that having only received the notice the previous afternoon, he had not time to prepare a sermon for the occasion, but, says he, “I have brought along a sermon that I think suitable, which I will read to you.” The poor fellow then proceeded to read a dead essay, which we suppose he had in the great emergency borrowed from some neighboring priest, who had been longer in the sermon business.

A Baptist preacher at Carson City Mt. Calm Co. Mich., had the misfortune to have his house and household effects all burn up. To a friend who was condoling his sad loss, he remarked, that he had lost one thing in the five that he prized much more than his house and all his other effects. The friend asked what that could be. “Sir,” said he, “that was the work of a lifetime, namely a whole barrel of sermons.” Of course the poor man, having lost his sermons, and thinking himself most too old to write new ones, was compelled to stop preaching, and at last account he was keeping the post office in that place. O what educated fools the sect colleges are turning out in this world.

“Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall alt cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.” — Micah 3:5-7.

Is not this Scripture fulfilled to-day? Just think of a regular town stationed M. E. priest too deep in the mid-night of Spiritual darkness and death, to open his mouth because he had left his prepared essay at home. Surely the “Sun had gone down over the prophet,” and such “night” was in his soul that he could not so much as read a chapter of God’s Word and exhort the people. How could he exhort them to repent, when he had not repented himself? How could he exhort them to be saved, when he knew no salvation? Neither could he tell his experience, for he had none. And yet whole crowds of humbugged simpletons pay their money to pomper and feed such “dum greedy dogs,” simply because sent to them by the king of their babylon.

If any one doubts the present application of the above Scripture, just read verses 9-12 of the same chapter.

“Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgement, and pervert all equity. They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high place of the forest.”

They build up Zion with blood, i,e, cast, that is they seek to gather into their sect the most honorable, wealthy, and influential. And do not all the priests of Catholic and Protestant babel, “teach for hire.” Therefore shall Jerusalem be plowed. Glory to God! He is plowing her up with the plowshare of His wrath and His truth, and by His grace we will let it in to the beam. Amen!

Daniel.

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ARE YOU READY FOR HIS COMING?

—:o:—

LAST night a young brother who had consecrated, and believed for entire sanctification in the meeting that day, testified that he was wholly sanctified, and that he could now say for the first time that he was ready for, and loved the appearing of the Lord. Truly, nothing but entire purity can prepare us to joyfully meet the coming of Christ.

“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as He is, so are we in this world.” — 1 John 4:17.

Perfect love is absolutely necessary to stand in the day of judgement. Perfect love is perfect purity.

“Wherefore beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be dilligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” — 2 Peter 3:14.

This is a solemn admonition. God help all to believe it. No one will be found in peace at the coming of the Lord but such as are “without spot, and blameless.” That is sanctified wholly, and preserved blameless before God.

==========

Onarga, Ill.

Beloved Saints of God: — May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen! I praise God this beautiful day, for a full and complete salvation. Glory to God and the Lamb forever and ever! O I do praise God that I am saved and sanctified wholly. Glory to God! I am washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Your sister saved,

Sarah N. Wells.

No. 1.                 Songs of Victory.

“Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through, our Lord Jesus Christ.” – l Cor. 15:57:

Words and Music by H. R. Jeffrey.

Песня №1

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No. 16.              I Am free.

(Dedicated to Sister Josephine Webster.)

If the Son, therefore, make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” — John. 8;36.

J.C.F.          J. C. Fisher.

Песня №16

5 Thus He purifies this temple, As the fire refines the gold; And. the presence of His angel Keeps me as in days of old.

6 Upward as through trackless ether, To the realms of glory bright j There I’ll fly to dwell forever, dad in robes of snowy white.

NOTE.

These two songs will appear in our new Book entitled,

“SONGS OF VICTORY.”

By J. C. Fisher, Williamston Mich., which will soon be ready for publication.

__________

Correspondence.

_____

Lodi, O.

To the Saints and Readers of the Gospel Trumpet greeting: — Although you have not heard from me through the Trumpet for sometime, praise the Lord I am still “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation;” and what a glorious keeping it is. And “let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls unto Him, as unto a faithful Creator.” Paul confidently says, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded (by that faith) that He is able (praise the Lord!) to keep that which I have commited unto Him.”

“So if now my soul doth boast, It is of the Holy Ghost, And my Jesus who so fully saveth me.”

I am standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made me free. “Whom the Son maketh free is free indeed.” O I praise the Lord that He hath given me an, understanding to know Him that is true: and I am in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. I praise the Lord that He hath given me to see that I am not to trust in men or sects of men. But in the Lord Jesus: ”built up into Him in all things which is the head, even Christ.”

My testimony is that I am saved and sanctified by the blood of Christ as of a lamb without spot and blemish. Now unto him that is able to keep you from fallings and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majisty, dominion and power both now and evermore. Amen!

Cyrus Mohler.

Williamston, Mich.

I wish to say to the readers of the Gospel Trumpet, that the dear Lord is still my defence. Glory to His name!

I praise Him for the sweet melodies of praise that ring in my soul. Glory to God! I am so glad that I have a place in the Church of the Living God: yes the dear Lord that sets each member in the Body as it pleaseth Him, hath given me a place by the Holy Spirit. I am glad to testify that I have escaped out of babylon, and I have received an “inheritance among them that are sanctified.” I am still at work at Williamston, on the song book, which I hope will soon come to you, bright and new. The good Lord is wonderfully helping us in this work, giving us songs and melodies more than we will be able to use; also giving us great strength to endure the extra labor, that is necessary in order to hasten the work. I want to say to the glory of God, that, although since I have been absent from home, three of my children have been sick, and needed my care; yet, the dear Lord has kept me almost free from anxiety. Glory to Jesus! I just committed them into the hands of the Lord, who is restoring them to health. This affliction has been a sore trial to my companion; but glory to God! she has stood the test, and fought her way through all the discouragements, and temptations; holding on to God as her physician. Glory to God! The salvation of God is a wonderful salvation; O praise His name forever! It keeps us amidst the greatest trials of life; giving us peace in our souls. My testimony is, I am saved “and kept by the power of God,” the same power that rescued me from the jaws of death and hell. Will the dear saints join with me in an anthem of praise, for all His mercies unto us? Yours in the love of Jesus.

H. R. Jeffrey.

—:o:—

South Haven, Mich.

Dear Brethren: My testimony this morning is, I am saved through the precious blood of Jesus, and sanctified. Oh praise the Lord for His mercies! O that all His salvation might know! I intend to live for the Lord while life remains. O Lord, I will overcome by Thy almighty power; the love Divine which made us Thine, can keep us forever. O saints of God, be faithful. Your sister.

Mary Kemp.

-:o:-

Allegheny Pa.

Dear Brethren: — Find enclosed $1.00 for the Trumpet. I love the Trumpet, for it is food for my soul. I praise God for a living experience, and for the blessed hope of glory, I have of the world to come, and the peace in this life. I am a child of the King, praise his name forever! Anen!

Your sister saved through the blood of the Lamb, and sanctified wholly.

Maud Richey.

—:o:—

Lafayette, Mich.

Dear Brethren: — May the Lord bless you all. The Lord keeps us saved just now. We have the glory of the Lord in our soul. We met on Thursday night for prayer meeting, and had a glorious time. There were 37 testimonies for the Lord. Your Bro. and sister in Christ.

Wm, and Adelia Kennett.

-:o:-

Maysville, Mo.

Dearly Beloved Brethren: — God bless you, one and all, with all spiritual blessings in wisdom and understanding. Grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied.

Meeting closed at, or near Ellington, Gentry Co. Mo. Many souls were won to the truth of the Gospel. Many who were the enemies of the truth were soon its warmest friends, ready to defend it.

I came here, near Maysville Mo., Oct. 16. Commenced meeting in the name of the Lord Jesus. Good congregations every night, and deep conviction on the people. Meeting continues, and the battle surges, and goes on in the name of Jesus, between light and darkness. Hallelujah! Bless God! I am saved from all sin, sanctified wholly just now: out on the promise and under the blood. Hallelujah!

Your Bro. washed in the blood.

John P. Haner.

—:o:—

Walker Mo.

Dear Brethren: — God bless you and all the saints everywhere. I received your tract on the Church, and also the one on the Sabbath, which are worthy of perusal by every body. I am all for God and His cause, sanctified wholly. Your brother in love.                  

John H. Wilson.

Page 4

WHO ARE YOUR FOES?

—:o:—

THINK not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

And a man’s foes shall he they of his own household.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth sifter me, is not worthy of me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Matt 10:34-39.

It is well that all God’s children become awake to this warning from the Son of God. The salvation and religion of God is not such a tame thing that it can maintain friendship and companionship with men and women who reject it, even though they be your nearest kinsfolks in the flesh. Think not that Christ has come to send peace on earth between saint and sinners. Nay! “but a sword” shall divide between you and all your unsaved relations. “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, daughter against mother, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” Christ said, “He that is not for me is against me.” So your unsaved friends are against Christ, and you being one with Christ, they must be against you. Again we read, “The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.” Therefore if you have the mind of Christ, you must be against them also. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” He or she that is not willing to be against all your unsaved relatives, and have them against you, is not willing to be a disciple of Christ. He that loveth father, mother, sister, brother, daughter or son more than Christ is not worthy of Him. Even if it be like taking your life to part with those dear friends, you must abandon them all, or abandon Christ. “He that findeth his life shall loose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”

O how slow God’s children have been to receive and believe the words of Christ, that whom you call your friends, are your actual, and most dangerous “foes.” Most dangerest to the life of your soul, because bound to you by those natural ties, which are used by the devil to drag your souls to hell, unless they be cut asunder by the grace of God. The Lord Jesus Christ clearly saw this peril of our souls, and sought to arouse our attention to the same by the most earnest expressions.

If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he. cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26.

How vehemently He warns us against being overthrown by our unsaved kindred. As we love our own souls for Christ’s sake who has died to redeem them, we must hate every relationship that threatens to defeat the love and suffering of Christ, in destroying our souls. While we intensely hate, and cast from us as a deadly serpent those kindred ties that satan would make a snare to our souls, we nevertheless pray for, and affectionately wish their salvation.

But let all saints everywhere remember that the way to seek the salvation of your friends, is not by compromising with them in the least. Not by meeting them half way down the pit; not by conforming to their ways, or trying to please them. If ever saved they must be saved of God; and if you ever expect to be His instrument, it will be because of your uncompromising, straightforward devotion and loyalty to Him. The notion that you must somewhat, smother the praises of God, and the radical leadings of the Holy Spirit, in order to win some fastidious pharisee, or Christ hating non professing relative, is a snare and delusion of the devil. The trick of satan has been, that we must have influence with men, in order to win them, and that we must associate with and please them in order to have influence. The fact is, in the absence of the Holy Spirit, the ministry of babylon have known nothing else to give them success, but popular influence. Hence their course of study and training, has all been to make themselves popular, so as to “take well.” They must be “up to the lines,” etc. And this doctrine of devils they have infused into the minds of the people. But you find nothing of it in God’s Word. Christ and the Apostles did not try to save men by avoiding their prejudices, but by assailing them with the Word of truth. They did not indulge their idols in order to please and win them, but antagonized them by fire and sword, and by the mighty power of God. O if you would save your friends, just walk with God, even if you must tred under foot all their pleasant fancies, and utterly disregard all their friendship.

One of satan’s pit-falls is, the popular family and kindred

Reunions and Birth-day Parties.

Satan is ever on hand to say to the holy people, “You must show your love to your friends by going to their parties.” Of course they will “think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.” But here is just where the cross and mortification comes in. It does not crucify the flesh to act religiously up to the standard that they endorse and allow. But to follow Christ fully, you will surely be spoken evil of, as over much righteous, fanatic or crazy, or penurious. You will be a very good fellow, and much held in respect by every body, if you will be religious up to the world’s standard, but if saved up to the Gospel standard you will be “hated of all men.” On the first line you have the promise that “all men will speak well of you.” But God says even unto you. On the second line you have the promise that “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” but Christ adds, “In me ye shall have peace.” Glory to God find the Lamb! we have chosen the way of truth, the high and holy way.

Therefore let it be remembered, that if you follow the Lamb whethersoever He goeth, you will do many things that worldly wisdom will honestly look upon as narrow, bigoted, and foolish. Among these things is the duty to avoid all birth day parties, and family reunions, etc. A large circle of kindred in Mercer Co. Pa., were in the habit of holding an annual reunion in a grove. One man and woman of the circle became saved, and last year, refused to go and take part. Another woman was saved and her husband received the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. These all refused to have anything to do with the babylon affair. They have a regular organization, and each year put out a programme. The unconverted man told them that he would not go near the meeting because it was so inconsistent. Certain preachers were to open and close by prayer, etc. And the chief speech was to be delivered by a witty depraved lawyer. He told them that if it were either all of the world, or all religion he would go, but that he abhored such an inconsistent mixing of the sacred with the profane. This stirred the devil no little among them. And one of the officers made, as near as we recollect, the following presumptuous speech. “We will have a reunion next year again, if we hold it in hell.” God heard his impious boast, and in a few months or weeks after, let him suddenly drop into eternity, to hold an endless re union with all the wicked that have been turned into hell.

Quite recently we labored a few days with a Church in the Gospel, where a dear sister had been invited to her mother-in-law’s birth-day party. The family where the party was to be, were sectarian religionists. The sister was somewhat disturbed in conscience, and had asked a sister about the matter; the latter was led to say, “God will show you.” One morning the sister was disturbed in her conscience, and she promised the Lord that she would ask us about it. She did so, the Spirit led us to say, “I will let God answer you.” In marked harmony with what the Spirit gave the sister. Taking our Bible we read to her the following Scriptures.

Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. Dent. 33: 28,29.

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, 1 and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. Exod. 33:16.

Eor from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell a-lone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Numbers 23:9.

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath lie that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you,

And will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

2 Cor. 6:14-18.

These Scriptures need no comment. God’s children are separate and alone, unmixed by any intercommingled with sinners and sectarians. While reading these Scriptures, the sister was dying out to her friends. She was then reminded of a vision she had a few nights before. She thought she came to a barn where they were putting in wheat. The sheaves were as pure and bright as gold. She started to go up and assist a woman who was mowing the golden grain away: but was told by her that she could not assist, because the wheat was so pure that none but pure persons could handle it. She cried out, “O Lord am I not pure? do I not claim sanctification?” Just then she looked down to her feet and found them undressed, and behold on the side of one foot there was some black mud. She went right down and began to wash her foot: but found it a very hard matter to get clean. That was a very impressive vision. We record it, to let all the saints know that if you step your foot into any such parties you become defiled, and are not meet for the Master’s use. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord, and all ye that handle His wheat. Having made a promise to go to the party she found herself in a big trouble to get out of the matter. It was quite a severe death to her. We told her if the babylon muck would not wash off, there was one sure way to remove it: and that is, let that “right foot be cut off and cast from you, for it is better to enter into life halt, than having two feet to be cast into hell fire” Well thank God, she died out to all friends and got gloriously saved, and filled with the Spirit of the Lord. In the name of Jesus we warn all the saints to stand far off from all danger: keep dead to all friends. Never promise to go anywhere, or do anything, without adding the condition, “If the Lord will,” then be sure you have the mind of the Spirit before you move.

Daniel.

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THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS TO POLYCARP.

—:o:—

IGNATIUS, who is [also called] Theophorus, to Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, or rather, who has as his own bishop God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ: [wishes] abundance of happiness

Chap. 1.

Because thy mind is acceptable to me, inasmuch as it is established in God, as on a rock which is immovable, I glorify God the more exceedingly that I have been counted worthy of seeing thy face, which I longed after in God. Now I beseech thee, by the garce with which thou art clothed, to add [speed] to thy course, and that thou ever pray for all men that they may be saved, and that thou demand things which are befitting, with all assiduity both of the flesh and spirit. Be studious of unity, than which nothing is more precious. Bear with all men, even as our Lord beareth with thee. Show patience with all men in love, as indeed thou do’st. Be steadfast in prayer. Ask for more understanding than that which thou already hast. Be watchful, as possessing a spirit which sleepeth not. Speak with every man according to the will of God. Bear the infirmities of all men as a perfect athlete; for where the labor is great, the grain is also great.

Chap. ii.

It thou lovest the good disciples only, thou hast no grace; but rather subdue those that are evil by gentleness. All sorts of wounds are not healed by the same medicine. Mitigate the pain of cutting, by tenderness. Be wise as the serpent in every thing, and innocent, with respect to those things which are requisite, even as the dove. For this reason thou art composed of both flesh and spirit, that thou mayest entice those things which are visible before thy face, and mayest ask, as to those which are concealed from thee, that they too may be revealed to thee, in order that thou be deficient in nothing, and mayest abound in all gifts. The time demands, even as a pilot does a ship, and as one who stands exposed to the tempest does a haven, that thou shouldst be worthy of God. Be thou watchful as an athlete of God. “That which is promised to us is life eternal which cannot be corrupted, of which things thou art also persuaded. In everything I will be instead of thy soul, and my bonds which thou hast loved.

Chap. iii.

Let not those who seem to be some what, and teach strange doctrines, strike thee with apprehension; but stand thou in the truth, as an athlete who is smitten, for it is [the part] of a great athlete to be smitten, and [yet] conquer. More especially is it fining that we should bear everything for the sake of God, that He also may bear us. Be still more dilligent than thou yet art. Be discerning of the times. Look for Him that in above the times, Him who hast no times, Him who is invisible, Him who for our sakes became visible, Him who is impalpable, Him who is impassible, Him who for our sakes suffered. Him who endured everything in every form for our sakes.

Chap. iv.

Let not the widows be overlooked; on account of our Lord be thou their guardian, and let nothing be done without thy will; also do thou nothing without the will of God, as indeed thou doest not. Stand rightly. Let there be frequent assemblies: ask every man [to them] by His name. Despise not slaves, either male or female; but neither let them be contemptuous, but let them labor the more as for the glory of God, that they may be counted worthy of a more precious freedom, which is of God. Let them not desire to be set free out of the common fund, lest they be found the slaves of lusts.

Chap. v.

Flee wicked arts; but all the more discourse regarding them. Speak to my sisters, that they love in our Lord, and that their husbands be sufficient for them in the flesh and spirit. Then, again, charge my brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, as our Lord His Church. If any man is able in power to continue in purity, to the honor of the flesh of our Lord, let him continue so without boasting; if he boasts he is undone; if he become known apart from the bishop, he has destroyed himself. It is becoming, therefore, to men and women who marry, that they marry with the counsel of the bishop, that the marriage may be in our Lord, and not in lust. Let everything, therefore, be done for the honor of God.

Chap. vi.

Look ye to the bishops, that God also may look upon you. I will be instead of the souls of those who are subject to the bishop, and the presbyters, and the deacons; with them may I have a portion in the kingdom of God! Labor together with one another, act as athletes together, run together, suffer together, sleep together, rise together. As stewards of God, and of His household, and His servants, please Him and serve Him, that ye may receive from Him the wages [promised].

Let none of you be rebellious. Let your baptism be to you as armor, and faith as a spear, and love as a helmet, and patience as a panoply. Let your treasures be your good works, that ye may receive the gift of God, as is just. Let your spirit be long-suffering towards each other with meekness, even as God is towards you. As for me, I rejoice with you at all limes.

Chap. vii.

The Christian has not power over himself, but is [ever] ready to be subject to God.

Chap. viii.

I salute him who is reckoned worthy to go to Antioch in my stead, as I commanded thee.

Eusebius’ primitive Church history.

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A PAPER UNION.

—:o:—

WHO would for a moment think of doing without the dear Banner? Surely no true member of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ. It is the very tie that binds us, as an organization, together.”

Gospel Banner. If this be true, we would advise the Banner publishers to use extra strong paper. Surely it must take a pretty strong sheet to hold together the many uncircumcised hearts of that organization. And to keep in the traces of the sect harness the many ambitious preachers who are ambitious for office, and wire pulling for position, and who are exposed to all the liabilities of jealousy, envy, and disappointment, that are incident to the running of the machinery of a little sect idol. If, indeed the Banner is the tie that binds the little Mennonite sect together, its organic existence hangs on a very precarious hook. Its uniting bond is very far from being a reliable one. Some of these days God will send a storm of hail, fire and blood that will burn away their paper cord, and let the thing fall to chaos. If not fully consumed in the present “consumption decree,” the whole sect and its paper bond of union shall be “distroyed in the brightness of His coming.” The judgement fire of the Almighty will not have a vestige of any Mennonite, or any o her sect. O what folly and utter nonsense, to work, give, fuss and contrive to build up a fabrication that God is about to burn up forever.

Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows are broken: for the Lord God of recompenses shall surely requite. And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is The Lord of hosts. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The broad walls of babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labor in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary. Jer. 51:56-58.

But God’s Church has a banner over it, that is a firm everlasting bond of union, that shall never be burned up. “And His banner over me was love.” “Now the end of the commandment is charity (love) out of a pure heart.” And “dove is the bond of perfectness.” Love is not the bond of union of any sect on earth; because love does not bind in sect bundles. Love binds into perfect oneness, all the pure children of God, and leaves all sinners out of the body. Sect banners bind apart the children of God, and clan together believers and sinners, under a carnal, selfish, sensual party spirit and shibboleth. Praise God! the true saints are coming home to Zion, and abide in the bonds of the covenant of love divine. “O the glory of this temple,

Far exceeds the former one:
All its stones are bound together
In loves dear eternal Son.
In this building, what a wonder,
There’s a dwelling place for me:
Yes thy beauty, O my Savior,
I shall here forever see.”

Daniel.

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AN APPEAL.

—:o:—

We, in the name of the Lord, make an appeal to all the dear saints of God everywhere, that they neglect not to write their testimonies, and send to the Gospel Trumpet for publication. Many plead their inability to write their testimony in a legible manner, and so neglect their duty in this matter. Now to all the saints we would say, send on your testimony, trust in the Lord, it can be arranged before published. I would say there is no paper in the United States, that records so many firey testimonies. The testimonies are more highly appreciated than any other part of the paper, by its readers. This is the universal verdict of its readers. Let us keep it a sheet of flaming firey testimony. Never write us without adding your testimony. Who will be the first.

Joseph.

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PUNKARD DARKNESS.

—:o:—

A preacher of this dark sect, by the name of Bowman in Ind., who was in the habit of preaching against a sinless life, and contending that all men had to live in the practice of sin in this world, when supposed to be upon his death bed, said to his son, “Zecharias, to tell the truth about it the future is all dark and we don’t know a thing about the future.”

Well that is true of the death of all sinners, except such as become awakened in the dying hour, and see and confess that they are going right to hell. But whether awakened to see their doom or not, their death is a leap in the dark.

But what a striking contrast we see between Dunkardism and Gospel salvation.

“For we know that, if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.” — 2 Cor. 5:1, 8, 9.

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” — 2 Tim. 4:6-8.

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