1 October 1888, Volume 10, Number 15.
The Divine Call.
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To-day, to-morrow, evermore,
Through cheerless nights without a star,
Not asking whither or how far,
Rejoicing, though the way be sore,
Take up the cross,
And follow Me!
Tho’ some there be that scorn thy choice,
And tempting voices hid thee stay,
To-day, while it is called to-day,
If thou wilt hearken to My voice,
Take up thy cross,
And follow Me!
I cannot promise wealth or ease,
Fame, pleasure, length of days, esteem;
These things are vainer than they seem;
If thou canst turn from all of these,
Take up thy cross,
And follow Me!
I promise only perfect peace,
Sweet peace that lives through years of strife,
Immortal hope, immortal life,
And rest when all these wanderings cease;
Take up thy cross,
And follow Me!
My yoke is easy, put it on!
My burden very light to hear;
Who shareth this my crown shall share:
On earth the cross in heaven the crown;
Take up thy cross,
And follow Me!
Selected.
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SATAN’S OLD LIE IN A NEW GARB.
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IN our last issue we proved that the age to come doctrine is a deceptive lie of satan. That the present is positively declared to be the last age or dispensation of time. We will now proceed to show by a few of the many lines of prophetic truth that we are near the end of the present dispensation, and that it will end in the personal second coming of Christ, the day of judgment, and the end of the world.
These questions were asked the Savior by His disciples, “Tell us when shall these things be (i. e. the destruction of the temple) and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world.” — 24:3. Here a clear question was asked, what signs were to announce the second advent of Christ, and the end of the world. These two events are completed together. The Lord proceeds to give us various signs, mixed with predictions that refer to the destruction of Jerusalem. One reason why events relating to the end of the Jewish age, and others relating to the end of the Gentile age, are so grouped together, doubtless is this; there is a parallel between those two events. The striking incidents in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, were typical of the desolation of sect babylon now. So while they were descriptive of literal events transpiring near the beginning of the present age, they are also signs of the coming of Christ, now transpiring in a new antitype form.
We will notice a few of the signs Christ gave of His second coming.
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. — Matt. 24:11-13
An extensive reign of deception was to be brought about by the appearance of “many false prophets.” This is one event that is given as a sign by which we were to know that Christ’s coming and the end of the world is nigh. Have these “many false teachers” appeared, and a general reign of deception ensued? Peter specifies more clearly the character and work of these false teachers.
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that, bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow after their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. — 2 Peter 2:1-3
Here we see that they are the multitude of sect preachers. And surely they have made their appearance. And the result, as described by both Christ and Peter, have followed. “Many have been deceived,” “many have followed their pernicious ways” of sectism. Christ gives this great babel of deceived sectarians as one of the signs that the end is near, and Peter describes them as wells without water, and wretched backsliders, see verses 16, 20, 21, and scoffers to come in the last days; see 3:3. As Peter already stood in the last dispensation, his words, “last days,” must mean the end of the present or last dispensation. Paul gives us the same description of empty, dead formality, “deceiving and being deceived,” in 2 Tim. 3, and says it was to come in the “last days,” ver. 1. Surely all this has come to pass, and now is, hence we see the signs which tell us Christ’s coming is nigh. The words of Christ above, “He that shall endure unto the end the same shall be saved,” implies that it will be a time that shall imperil men’s souls, and shall last until the end. This corresponds with 2 Tim. 3:1. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” Also with Daniel’s description of the “time of the end.” — j Daniel 12:1, 4.
And the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. — Matt. 24:14.
The end of the world shall immediately follow dissemination of the Gospel in all the world. If we were to acknowledge that sectarians were capable of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, it has gone to every nation already. But if the Gospel must first have been preached in all its purity, it is rapidly going forth in the flashing evening light to every nation under Heaven, and so we know the day of the Lord is near at hand.
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. — Matt. 24:21, 22.
We have already referred to those days of tribulation in 2 Tim. 3:1, and Daniel 12:1, and we see they were to be in the “last days,” “the time of the end,” and here they are included by the Savior, among the signs of His second coming. Those days are going to be cut short for the elect’s sake. In Rom. 9:27. 28, we see that this catting short, will take place when the Jews shall return to God. This is now taking place; hundreds of Jews have been converted to Jesus in the last few years. One great man among the Jews has given His heart to Christ, went to Palestine with a colony of about fifteen hundred Jews. Alter looking over all the creeds of Protestantism, and finding none up to the New Testament standard, he formed a new Church of believers in Christ of thousands of members who take the New Testament as their only creed. Thus the mighty work of Jewish conversion to Christ is moving on rapidly, and in its time, God will cut it short in righteousness, yea, “a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” The plan and purpose of God with this earth in its present state shall suddenly be brought to an end. Amen!
And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn a parable of the fig tree; when his branch is yet lender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh; so likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. — Matt. 24:31-33.
Passing over many other signs the Lord has given of His coming, and of the end of the world that are not so easily understood, we come to this plain sign that cannot be mistaken. Praise the name of the Lord! We clearly see this Scripture now being fulfilled. Angels, (angclos the Greek) translated into plain English, signifies messengers. All God’s sent ministers are messengers, bearing the sacred Gospel — glad tidings — of full, and free salvation. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tiding, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigueth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. — Isa. 52:7, 8.
These are the latter day flying messengers of God, publishing salvation. Having come back from babylon captivity to Zion, they see eye to eye. Hence the people receiving God’s message through them, also necessarily see eye to eye. Are gathered from the four winds of sectism, (see Zech. 2:6, 7.) From the multitude of divided daughters of babylon, “into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man.” A perfectly harmonious oneness. These angels that fly in the midst of the ecclesiastical heavens, with the great sound of the Trumpet, the pure Gospel — are the same that Daniel speaks of as running to and fro “in the time of the end,” through whose ministry knowledge is increased and many “purified, made white and tried.” Purity and unity are inseparable facts. People who are divided up into factions are not pure, but carnal, however much they may profess heart purity. So Paul judged the Corinthians carnal because of their envy, strife and division. — 1 Cor. 1:3. The preaching of genuine holiness therefore gathers the elect together. This is being gloriously accomplished at this very time. Hence we know that Christ’s coming, and the end of the world is nigh, is at the very door. Amen! So come Lord Jesus Christ!
We will not enlarge on the signs of Christ’s near coming at this time, but will proceed to notice the manner of His coming. Since the first advent of Christ into the world in the flesh, His further coming was prophesied of only in two forms.
1st In the power of the comforter,
2nd His literal second advent.
If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. — John 14:15-18.
Here we see His coming is clearly identical with the coming of the Holy Spirit, which was to result from His going to the Father.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. — John 17:16.
Here we see that His coming in the Spirit was to be in a little while after His departure in the body. This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, and has been repeated from that to this, in every wholly sanctified and fire baptized disciple of Christ. Besides this coming of Christ in the power of the Comforter, there is no coming promised but His second literal and visible coming at the end of the world to judge and reward all men.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he Went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel. Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. — Acts 1:9-11.
This is a plain statement. “A cloud received Him out of their sight.” “This same Jesus * * * shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” He went bodily and visibly, in like manner He will return. A cloud received Him out of their sight, so He will also come in a cloud. And just so the Word of the Lord repeatedly affirms He will come.
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of henven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. — Daniel 7:10, 11, 13.
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. — Matt. 24:30.
Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven. — Matt. 26:64.
And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. — Mark 13:25, 26.
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ the Son of the blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. — Mark 14:61, 62.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. — Luke 21:25-27.
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen! — Rev. 1:7.
Here are seven declarations that He will come in “a cloud,” or “in clouds.” I And at that time the “judgment will be set,” and the beast, (all false religion) I destroyed. Some of the latter day blind teachers have imagined that the clouds mean troubles, and that He has already come in the present religious commotions and revolution of thought that is going on in these last days. Some of these teachers acknowledge still another, a personal coming, and others think there is no other coming of Christ to be looked for. But this modern “presence of Christ” theory is without foundation in the Word of God. The testimony is that when He comes in the clouds of Heaven every eye shall see Him; which is not true of His Spiritual presence, in which He manifests Himself to the saints and not to the world.
Thus saith the Watch Tower sinner. “Restitution work which had a beginning in our Lord’s ministry was deferred until the Messiah shall come a second time.” “The healing of some of the sick, and the awakening of a few of the dead of Israel, shadowed forth the greater work to be accomplished at His second presence, during the millennium.”
“His redemption work at Calvaay * * * was the basis for all the great works of restitution in which we shall be engaged with Him in the times of Restitution — which will indeed be far greater than any thing done by our Lord at the first advent; for the awakening of the dead and healing of the sick was only partial then, — as nothing compared to the full health and vigor of perfect and everlasting life, and all that was lost in Adam, which will be offered to all during the millennium.” “His appointed time for restitution is the millennial age. Seeing this to be God’s plan, we must restrain ourselves and neither desire nor ask restitution work before restitution times.”
These quotations from the babel Tower of last July are sufficient to set forth the “doctrines of devils” it advocates. It may be summed up as follows.
1st The time of restitution has not yet come.
2nd It is not God’s purpose to restore souls and bodies from sin and disease in this age, as a rule.
3rd At Christ’s second coming a millennial age is going to commence in which health and eternal life will be offered to all men, and in which there will be a universal salvation of all the race of men that were lost in Adam’s fall. And in that next age we will all have a chance to be engaged with Christ in the restoration of lost men.
First in Acts 3:51. Of Christ it is affirmed that “the Heaven must receive Him until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all holy prophets since the world began.” The word restitution is from Apokatastaseos, in the Greek which is defined in Youngs Analytical Concordance as follows. “A putting down again.” It is a fact that Christ came to put down the rebellion that satan inaugurated on this earth. He began it by “leading captivity captive.” Or by re capturing by His sceptre of love, the hearts of men who had been captivated by sin and satan. So the restitution began with the kingdom which “smote the image on its feet,” i. e., was set up during the Roman Empire, and which caused “satan’s kingdom to fall like lightening.” This putting down of evil is thus foretold in Micah 7:19. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thus the restitution is going on through the mighty power of Divine grace. And will be consummated in a second policy, namely the Divine wrath, manifest upon the wicked at the revelation of Jesus Christ, “who shall change our vile (decaying) body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” — Fhili. 3:20, 21. Here we see clearly that the restitution, putting down, or subjugation of all things, will be consummated at the time of the time of the resurrection. Two scriptures will be sufficient here to show all things shall be subdued unto Christ at the time of the resurrection.
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. — Daniel 12:2.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. — John 5:28, 29.
It is not a final restitution of all men unto salvation, but the crowning of all who have been subjected to God, through Christ. Jesus, and the eternal damnation of all who went down to their graves in sin and unrighteousness.
That God does not, as a rule, wish to save and heal man now, is a base satannic falsehood. “Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.” — 2 Cor. 6:2.
3rd That a millennial age of salvation will follow the second advent of Christ, is a lie against the whole Word of God.
To the Word we now appeal to find out how He will come, and what will immediately follow.
1st He will come very suddenly.
For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. — Matt. 24:27.
2nd With holy Angels.
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. — Mark 8:38.
Many other Scriptures teach the same, some of which will appear under other heads.
3rd The second coming of Christ will be the “hour in which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.” — John 5:28-30.
Which the following Scriptures positively prove.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
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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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PUBLISHED AT GRAND JUNCTION, MICH.
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D. S. WARNER, — Editor.
E. E. BYRUM and S. MICHELS, — Publishers.
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SONGS OF VICTORY.
FOURTH EDITION.
We have now completed the Fourth Edition of Songs of Victory, which contains 94 pages with notes, and 14 pages of familiar hymns, 112 pages in all.
Songs of Victory is specially adapted to Camp, Grove, and all other meetings for the worship of God. Also for the Sabbath school.
All orders accompanied by cash, will be promptly filled from single copy upward.
Price, Single copy, Manilla cover, 30 cts. Cloth limp cover, 50 cts. Per dozen, Manilla cover, $3.00. Cloth, $4,80
Parties may order half doz. at the same rates as per dozen. Address all orders to the Gospel Trumpet Office, Grand Junction, Mich.
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THE SABBATH 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 ly the Lord Himself.
This tract contains 64 pages: the price reduced to only 10 cts. Per dozen $1.00.
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.
Our Address.
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Our address until further notice is as follows.
D. S. WARNER,
GRAND JUNCTION, MICH.
SEBASTIAN MICHELS,
SOUTH HAVEN, MICH.
S. L. SPECK.
GRAND JUNCTION, MICH.
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THE EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT.
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This is an excellent translation of the New Testament. And the genuine Greek text with the alphabet and directions to read the Greek, thus giving access to the pure original Word of God. We have secured a stock of these valuable books at a good percent, and offer them at the following reduced rates.
In cloth hind . . . . $3.25.
Library . . . . . $4.00.
We pay postage when ordered by mail. A small commission will be allowed to brethren who will sell the book.
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THE NEW BOOK, ANTHEMS FROM THE THRONE.
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Is just printed, and a few hundred made. It contains 148 songs. 90 with music About all new. The pages are some larger than Songs of Victory. When sang in the Spirit of God, these songs will be found glorious. They hymn the precious present truth, and the Gospel standard of salvation.
An important field of usefulness is open for those saints who can teach the Churches these songs, and the saints and their children to sing by note. It will be a great help to the cause of salvation, and give interest to Sabbath schools. Send in your order for Anthems from the Throne, and start the songs of praise anew. Prices as follows.
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All persons writing their testimony of healing must sign their name and Post Office address plainly if they wish it published.
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LIST OF MONEY LETTERS RECEIVED SINCE LAST ISSUE, NOT OTHERWISE RECEIPTED.
| Rhoda Canedy | Josiah Reed | Willis Logan |
| B F Harris | W E Warren | R P Smith |
| Wm T Burns | J P Haner | J W Zent |
| Tho’s Groves | F N Jacobson | Lewis Fox |
| Henry Devries | Sally Rogers | W G Schell |
| James Shepard | Rachel A Songer | Fred Krause |
| Henry Hatterman | J J Freehafer | S Mickley |
| Amos Finch | C W Koonce | S L Speck |
| E Rensberger | Jas E Wallace | M F Maddox |
| Louis Zimmerman | Rachel Bollinger | A C Barden |
| Jonathan Alexander | Sarah A Anderson | Joel Colby |
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING.
There will be a general assembly meeting in the Tabernacle in Geneva Township Van Buren Co. Mich., commencing Nov. 13th continuing as long as the Lord wills. Those coming via. M. C. R. R. will stop off at Lacota. Those coming via. of Chicago & W. M. R. R., will stop off at Grand Junction. People coming from a distance by rail will write to Bro. J. L. Meade, South Haven, Mich., who will see that they are conveyed to the meeting. “In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us; our God shall fight for us.”
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The Lord willing there will be a meeting of the saints of God in Gratiot Co., in the township of Hamilton, at the saints meeting house, Oct. 20, continuing over the Lord’s day and an ordinance meeting at night. Let all the saints come to the the feast. Come filled with ail the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel.
A. J. Shelly.
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NEWS FROM THE FIELD.
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We had a few meetings at Bro. Chr. Koonce’s, near Barkeyville Pa., and one in the village. We found the influence of sectism had made the sinners about as little civilized as the heathen, and far more wicked. An Academy for the education of young preachers, a kind of a dude factory, by the Church of God of this world, is struggling for an existence in that place, and by the hypocrisy and enormous lies of some of the dumb dogs that have been at the head of it, more real deviltry has been infused into the baser sort than forty saloons could accomplish. One preacher getting both professorship and hireling salery there, through a Pittsburgh reporter, told such outlandish and enormous lies on Bro’s. Clayton and Koonce that the people, knowing them to be unscrupulous falsehoods withheld their patronage from the school, and they were compelled to remove the corrupt priest before they would send to the school. So he lost his fat hire, and had to go out at a big sacrifice as the fruit of his own wickedness And so was this Scripture fulfilled: “The prophet that teacheth lies he is the tail.’’ Thus saith the Lord. “For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them neither do they seek the Lord of hosts Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day The ancient and honorable, he is the head, and the prophet that teacheth lies is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err: and they that are led of them, are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither have mercy on their fatherless and widows, for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. For wickedness burnetii as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.” — Isa. 9:13-19.
This awful picture is fulfilled in that very community. The sect leaders had “caused them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” “The wine of the wrath of her fornication, has made the people lawlessly drunk.” “The Lord shall have no joy in their young men.” Surely if we ever saw young men that were extremely hateful in the sight of God, we saw them there. The condition of the sect religion there is well described in the above words: “For every one is an hypocrite and an evil doer, and every mouth speaketh folly” — in the margin, “villainy.’’ “For wickedness burneth as the fire;” and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.” This recalled the almost increditable sight we saw about four years ago at a camp-meeting held several miles from here by the sect of the god of tobacco. When approaching the camp near sundown on Sabbath, we saw the cloud of tobacco smoke that went up from the camp all of a half a mile away. The services were out and a large crowd stood near the babylon market place, that had license from the babylon priests to sell tobacco in all its forms, and about every other article of her merchandise, even on the Lord’s day, and were freely engaged in the “lifting up of smoke.” This was no annoyance to the priests of the god of this world; for the next morning we saw a few of them march to the market place in vanity fair, and get their cigars, and burn their incense to the god of lust. No wonder these same priests of baal ordered us to depart out of their midst after we testified in the forenoon meeting that God had saved us from all sin, by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well that was the last camp-meeting held on that ground. Their doleful tents are rotting to the ground, and are the habitation of owls and hats.
The few services in this vicinity afforded us a striking opportunity to see that the coming of Christ is very near at hand. For “as it was in the days of Noe so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, * * * even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” — Luke 17:26, 28, 30. No person witnessing the manifestations of Sodom we saw there can doubt, that the world has reached the condition Christ said it would be in at His coming.
We had one meeting in the saints house of worship at Mechanicsville. The house was filled, good order, and a deep interest was manifest. How much we would love to have continued a meeting there. God bless His kind saints in that place.
From there we went to Bro. Latshaw’s grove not far from the Allegheny river and held meeting one night, and the next day came on to St. Petersburg, Clarion Co. Here lives dear Bro. and sister Morgan, who have been saved some two years, and dear Bro. and sister DeRousse, who had attended the Red Valley camp-meeting, where they gave up all the world and babylon, and were wholly sanctified. With these two families the Lord comfortably quartered us, and we opened up the work of the Lord in an opera hall. God blessed His truth and souls were saved daily. We remained there twelve days preaching the everlasting Gospel. The same made no small stir in that place and for some miles in the country. The people quite generally believed the Word, and many even glorified in the truth. A very precious little Church of the living God was raised up, who are happy in the Lord and very earnestly devoted to His service. We also believe the Lord will add to their number such as have already received the Word in honest hearts, but not yet yielded to its requirements. A few were buried with Christ in baptism, and were blessed greatly in obedience.
There were also some gracious works of healing wrought in the name of the Lord. One poor women was very bad with falling fits. She was converted, sanctified wholly and about entirely healed before we left. She used $8.00 worth per month of Laudanum to keep off the spasms. But she quit the poisonous drug, and gave her case into the hands of the Lord. Jesus took away the hankering for it, and the spasms had about disappeared. Whereas before she had very frequent and severe attacks. Her husband was filled with wonder and gratitude to God for what had happened to her. She was able to walk over a mile down and up a large hill, to the Clarion river, and be baptized.
Dear Bro’s. Clayton and Evans were with us the most of the time in this meeting, and wrought effectually in the glorious Gospel. These two brethren are much beloved of the Lord, and of us, and are making good advancement in all the graces of the heavenly Kingdom, and in the ministry of the rich Gospel of salvation. Many doors are open for them in every direction. They have gone at present to Jefferson Co. We hope the dear saints of God will not be forgetful of their duty toward God, to support all such, and hold them in esteem for their work’s sake, as the Word commands. If a minister of Jesus Christ has got humility and self sacrifice enough to travel on foot, labor with his hands to maintain his own family, and even suffer for life’s comforts and necessities, and do it all cheerfully and joyfully, and without a murmur, even though men professing Godliness have plenty of this worlds goods, and see them have need, this is no more than the real grace of God that every true man of God possesses in his soul, and without which a man is not fit to preach the Gospel. But while this is all true, and God will reward all such for their faithfulness in tribulation; it is also true that God makes it the duty of all His children to “feed the hungry,” “honor those that are over yon in the Lord, and admonish you,” and “communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.” — Gal. 6:6. Or as more clearly translated in other versions, “Let him that is receiving instruction in the Word of God, give to his teacher a part of all the good things he possesseth.” If a man see his brother hath need, (and all the more if it be a faithful preacher and his family,) and shutteth his bowels of compassion against him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Yes how? Simply the love of God is not there at all. God help his professed children to be careful lest Christ should say unto them in the day of Judgment. “I was hungry and ye fed me not, naked and ye clothed me not.” It has been our observation that ministers of the Gospel who are most humble, and cheerfully endure hardness, and therefore worthy, are the ones that are least cared for, and supported. There is our dear Bro. Michels who has used up a thousand or two dollars worth of property in preaching the Gospel of Christ, and deprived himself and household of many comforts, seldom gets a dollar. Whereas a colored pompous hypocrite by the name of Brawner, because he had a prominent eye to self, gathered up nearly a hundred dollars among the saints in Mich. It was not because they were unable to discern him, as not being right, but because they did not fully discern him, and thought he would get all right. But when he came to us, and we labored with him, to get him saved, he proved himself an unscrupulous hypocrite. So it often is; men most deserving and needing these temporal benefactions, do not get them, because they are all absorbed in doing others good, while selfish men, who are not worthy, carry off the spoil because they are working to that end.
Bro. Charles Koonce was also at St. Petersburg over Sabbath, and he and companion have gone to labor for the Lord. Bro. Samuel Martz from Red Valley was with us all through the meeting. His heart is always flowing with tears of gratitude to God for his great deliverance from the powers of the wicked one, and with concern for souls that are yet bound in sin by the devil, and on the brink of the pit from which he was rescued by the mercy of God.
After the meeting at St. Petersburg we went a few miles into the country and held services a few days in Pleasant Grove meeting-house, a large building very beautifully situated in a high grove, belonging to Bro. Morgan. The powers of darkness are very thick in that place, and we soon found that the way of the Spirit was hedged up there at present; so we moved to a school-house near father John Heeters, where we are having some precious meetings and some souls are being saved by the grace of God. We expect shortly to return to Henderson, Mercer Co., and after a meeting there we go to Fenwick Canada. All our little company are in good health, and filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, and the joy of the Lord which is our strength. All saints please continue to pray much for us and the great work of the Lord. All God’s children be ready to go forth and set on fire the wood, hay and stubble of babylon every where. Amen!
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St. James, Mo.,
Dear Saints of the Living God: — I want to say to the glory of God that the very God of peace sanctifies me holy. The precious blood of Jesus so freely shed for me is flowing over my soul continually, and keeps me washed whiter than the snow. Glory to Jesus! We have just closed a week’s meeting here with victory on the Lord’s side. The Lord wonderfully anointed us to preach the pure Word of God. We turned the battery of God’s truth on the walls of babylon, and she was compelled to give way. Several were sanctified holy. The Baptist preacher and his wife got sanctified and renounced sectism, secret societies, and all other isms, and came out straight for Jesus. Praise the Lord! On Sunday morning he testified to the sect that he had been preaching for, that he would now serve God in purity of heart, that he had been fighting all these years that he had belonged to gog; “but now,” said he, “gog and magog, just fight on, I’ll follow Jesus.” Praise the Lord for deliverance!
This morning we go south of St. James in the country to hold meeting this week in the name of Jesus. Pray the Lord to be with us and some souls be saved. I am your free Bro. saved to the uttermost, built in the Church of Jesus Christ, filling my place in the body of Christ, in fellowship with all the true saints.
Otto Bolds.
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St. Louis, Mich.,
Dearly Beloved Saints: — God bless you all and keep you filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire. The Lord is gloriously working in the hearts of the people in Gratiot Co., The saints are all rejoicing in the Lord and souls are being saved Hallelujah to God for ever! Ten of us went down to a new place called Ola, a place where the truth had not been preached, and commenced work in the name of the Lord, and the next day the Lord sent five more of the saints from Hamilton filled with the fire of God in their souls. The Lord wonderfully helped us to sing the holy songs of Zion, and to preach the blessed Gospel to the people which was received with gladness by a good many. Oh how wonderfully the saints were all filled with testimony and leaping and shouting. Six asked for prayers and said they had not joined any sect and did not intend to. May God ever keep them and save many precious souls in that place. Next we went to St. Louis, Mich., where Bro’s. Walters and Mitchell and Louden Slager are laboring for the Lord; and truly their labor is not in vain. The Lord has a number of precious souls in that place, who have declared their freedom from all sin and abominations. Meeting commenced on Saturday evening in the Spirit and power of God, and a very precious season to all of us; a number of the saints were present and filled with the power. O bless God for ever for the real fire! On the Lord’s day, we taught the people to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo I will be with you
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unto the end. Several consecrated to the Lord and were sanctified. After dinner we went, down to the Pine River where two were buried in the watery grave. How wonderfully the Lord witnessed to His Word; in the evening we observed the holy ordinance of washing the saint’s feet and Lord’s supper, which was a glorious season. O how wonderfully Clod did witness to His children with wave after wave and shower after shower of blessings. Souls are still being saved, and we ask the prayers of God’s people that many may yet see the light and come to Christ. Your saved brother and family.
A. J. Shelly.
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Payne, O.,
Beloved Saints of God: — The Lord richly bless and keep you all everywhere in in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace, faith and love. Amen! After my labors in Sweetser, Ind., as given in my last report, I look train Sept. 8, and reached Payne, Ohio in the afternoon, and the next morning met with the Church and had a glorious time. In the evening I preached on the sufferings, death and resurrection of Christ to a congregation of about two hundred or more, in a long hall, with good effect. Praise the Lord! I found the Church in a spiritually crippled condition, some not clear nor established in perfect holiness. But by the grace of God and in the spirit of might and of power, judgment went forth in Zion which ran down in righteousness. All hearts were searched to the bottom by the light of the Gospel. Wrongs and differences which had been hidden and passed over for some years, were exposed and brought to light. Thank God for the truth. All accepted the light which shone brightly in their hearts; for they were honest in heart, and humble and obedient in spirit. And such eat the good of the land. Hallelujah!
The Church was wonderfully quickened, established and better settled than ever. During my stay, there were about twelve or fifteen consecrations, either for pardon or sanctification. On Sabbath evening we met and observed the ordinances of God’s house; between twenty and twenty- live saints participated, and were happy in so doing. On Saturday Bro. Ogan and I went to Laity, O., and the next day were joined by a goodly number of the saints from Payne, Ohio. We held two meetings that day in a U. B. house with good effect to the cause. One sister consecrated and obtained the blessing of perfect love. We closed the meeting there with victory on the Lord’s side. The following Tuesday we took train for Melrose, O. We were met at the station by Bro. Win. Smith who look me to his home. In the evening we commenced meeting in the saints house of worship; found the Church in a poor condition, much prejudice in the neighborhood, because of inconsistent conduct and fanaticism in some of the professors. But through the grace of God judgment went forth. A vast amount of prejudice against the true cause, some errors and fanaticism was swept away by the truth of God; after which the salvation of the Lord was manifested in our midst; backsliders were reclaimed, believers holy sanctified, and a few sinners happily converted to God. Praise the Lord! The Church was wonderfully strengthened with holy energy by the light and truth of God. Hallelujah to Jesus, who always giveth us the victory and maketh manifest through us the savor of His love in every place. Tuesday evening we met in the Lord’s meeting-house and observed the precious ordinance of washing one anothers feet the communion of the body of Christ, in which a goodly number of the saints participated. There was a large turn out to the meetings, good order and much respect was shown to the cause. The Lord bless and save the many yet under conviction in that neighborhood. The next day dear Bro. David Smith baptized eight obedient souls in the name of the Lord; there are others yet to be baptized. This baptismal service was a glorious Holy Ghost time for the dear ones who were filled with the glory of God. There were also some precious cases of healing in the name of Jesus. Praise the Lord! Still pray for me. Your humble and free brother.
F. N. Jacobson.
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Melrose, O.,
Dearly Beloved Saints, Greeting: — The meeting at Mongo, Ind., closed with victory on the Lord’s side. Praise the Lord! when we went to that place we found the people awfully swamped in infidelity and spiritualism. But we taught them the
pure Word of God, and ere meeting closed many of them were convinced of the truth. One or two were saved. Though this was a new place, we feel led to say that good seed has been sown which the devil never shall root up; but it will spring up and bring forth fruit, some thirty some sixty and some a hundred fold.
From there we went to a place about four miles west of Antwerp, Ohio. We held meeting with the Church in that place over the Lord’s day, on Sept. 15th, at which time one soul was added to the Lord. Then we went to Payne, O. and met with the Church at that place in one or two meetings, thence to Antwerp, where we opened fire on the devil’s ranks in the name of King Jesus on the evening of Sept. 19, in a large hall which the brethren in that place had procured for that purpose. Here we met with much opposition because of the beast power that influenced the people. Notwithstanding all this we ceased not to declare the whole counsel of God. Glory to Jesus! the powers of hell soon gave away. This meeting continued five nights and resulted in the salvation of four souls; many others were convinced of the truth. After this we held a meeting or two in Payne, after which we went to Melrose, Ohio Sept. 28, where we began meeting the following evening, which meeting is now in progress. O praise the Lord! the glorious work of salvation is still going on. We ask all the brethren to pray for us. Your humble saved brothers in Christ.
W.G. Schell &
J. N. Howard.
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A BLACK PICTURE.
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IT is not drawn by one escaped out of a dark convent prison of the mother of harlots, but from one fled out of her young harlot daughters. I feel very grateful to God that I have escaped out of an awful den of thieves, and habitation of devils, and a horrible filthy cage of unclean birds.
About nineteen years ago the Lord found me a wretched sinner, in almost total despair, and even some of my spiritual counsellors said that they had scarcely any hope for me. So I finally mads up my mind that hell was my doom. But I said, I will seek the Lord all the days of my life, if I go to hell in the end. At that moment, quick as flash, the condemnation rolled from my heart, and a sweet peace filled my soul. So clear was the evidence that I have never doubted it to this day.
Shortly after I was converted, I saw in the Word, sanctification taught clearly as a second work of grace, and I realized the need in my soul. So in about two months afterwards I was led into the experience of this precious fulness. This destroyed all sect spirit out of my heart. For one year I was a member of no sect. Jesus Christ was all in all to me. But through a few saved people in the M. E sect, I was drawn into that sect; it was not the sect itself to which I was drawn, but to the few spiritual members with whom I had fellowship. But my influence was largely given to the independent work outside. My constant insisting on the sect members coming up to the Bible standard of holiness, and denouncing their ungodly sect sprees, and being eternally committed to the truth. I insisted on all the ordinances which made them very uncomfortable. “The sinners in Zion became afraid, and tearfulness surprised the hypocrites.” Therefore they invited me to withdraw, and so I did. After a year or two I was induced to join another sect, which calls itself the “Church of God.” They promised me perfect liberty, saying that they had no discipline but the Word of God. I knew that I was not afraid of the Word of God, but I soon found that “while they promised liberty, they were themselves the servants of corruption. — 2 Pet 2:19. The little cage was, and still is full of adulterers and fornicators, and every thing that loveth and maketh a lie.
The very first Eldership I attended, a special committee was appointed to wait on a very prominent preacher. They went off into a secret chamber. “It is a shame even to speak of those things done of them in secret.” It was a case of fornication. They suspended His license one year, and then they tried him again, and lo another case was on hand, much blacker than before, which cost the members three hundred dollars to save him from the penitentiary. Besides he and his wife swore to a lie, and denied his wife’s child as being hers. The husband of the women who had been the victim of his lusts, followed him to the Eldership to shoot him, and the preachers guarded him from being murdered for his ungodly deeds. After all this his license was renewed after another years silence. Several years, later his character again cropped out in a third case of fornication, but they smothered it up and gave him a transfer to another Eldership where his meanness was not known, and his license was continued. Notwithstanding money raised to build a meeting-house had been used by himself, and not refunded, and other deeds he was guilty of and they knew it, he has been recently spoken of in the sect paper, by one of the travelling preachers, as an Elder in the sect, and an active worker in their Sabbath School, and expecting to return to ministerial labors soon.
Again there seemed to be a Goliah among those preachers. Some called him Dr. This man seemed to have more of the old serpent in him than I ever saw in one man. He was possessed with seducing spirits of devils, who helped him to lead captive silly women, laden with divers lusts.” The first case of his corruption that came under my observation, was that of a young lady about sixteen years old, whom he got under his serpentile and licentious power, by working on her sympathies by telling hard stories about his wife, which were far from being true. He took money that should have been used for the comfort of his family, and bought her an organ and other presents, by which he blinded her eyes, and got her to consent to marry him. But just before taking the fatal step she came and opened her plan to wife and I, and by the help of God we were enabled to break the serpents charm, and got her a place to work about thirty miles from home, where she afterward married and did very well; for which deliverance from the snare of the devil, she has often expressed her intense gratitude to God.
The beastly preacher being thus defeated burning with the base fires of hell, sought out another victim. Another young lady who had very bad health, had been visited by a good humble minister, who had laid on hands and prayed for her healing. She was much improved. So this Elder servant of the devil took it upon him also to visit the young sister, concluding that he too had power to lay on hands for healing His visits were repeated very often. As business called me one day to that town, I called on him at his room in the chapel, when, from the overflowing of his corrupt heart, he was compelled to confess his raging lusts set on fire of hell. I told the miserable, burning sinner that he had no salvation, and admonished him to seek the saving mercy of God, but all in vain. He invited me to go with him to call upon the father of the young lady. I did so, not knowing what was attracting his call. What occurred there before my eyes was too ungodly to speak of. There was no sense of shame, no restraint manifested before the family or myself. Truly these Scriptures were fulfilled in that awful beast.
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. — Eph. 4:18, 19.
But these, as natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day-time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceiving? while they feast with you. Having eyes full of adultery, and that can not cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. — 2 Pet. 2:12-14.
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. — Jude 12, 13.
A similar exhibition ocucrred in a vacant tent at a camp-meetihg. And a secret correspondence was carried on between that preacher and a women. The party who was used as their instrument to deliver the letters was taken out of the world, and as a result the letters fell into other hands, and the plot was revealed. But before this time the Goliah or Dr. preacher had applied for a bill of divorce
from his wife. She living in another state at the time, and having been acquainted with her for about fifteen years, and believing her to be a faithful wife, we informed her of her husbands diabolical undertaking. She sent her son to investigate the matter, and he found two other preachers of the same filthy cage had joined him in his scheme. He had quitclaimed his propery to one of them, and the other held the papers. Their names are N. I. Van, and W. R. Coovert. The wicked scheme was brought to light, and the Dr. Goliah was defeated, and had to withdraw the suit. He was then advised to go to Kansas, that he could get a bill there in six months. He went, but failed. The young lady died, and he rnturned. I saw him a few months ago the picture of despair. I tried to converse with him, but he slunk off growling, and went to their dark habitation of cruelty where they were trying to hold a revival meeting.
The influence of the older preachers, seems to give license, and impart corruption to the younger. Braidy Evans, a very spiritual and promising young man, was captured into this Eldership. A few mouths later he married a preachers daughter, he soon left her, and in a few months married another young lady, and was very presumptions in justifying himself, and continued to preach. Being of the sort spoken of in 2 Tim. 3:6. “But they shall proceed no further” etc. ver. 9. Shortly after his second marriage his first wife yet living, he was struck by lightning and instantly killed. Twice married, and twice killed, in less than one year from the time of joining the priestly class of adulterers, and fornicators. I cannot take time to tell of Christ well, who I learn has also gone into Eternity, and others who are still preaching, dark figures in this blak picture, had I time and space to complete it. Truly “Babylon is fallen is fallen, and is become a habitation of devils, a hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every hateful and unclean bird.” O how my soul longed to be free from this awful body of corruption. There were but a very few of us who dared to take a stand against this strong current of sin, and wickedness. Only a few who could cast a stone at the guilty party; the most of them not being innocent themselves from the great transgression. O how I do praise God for deliverance out of this vile cage of corruption, called the West Pa. Eldership. Glory to Jesus for full salvation, and for the pure Church of the living God, into which no sinners can unite, and no hypocrites and unclean beasts can lodge. Amen
G. T. Clayton.
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We publish the above dark picture not out of a vain desire to glory in the corruption of any people, or “rejoice in iniquity,” but in all love and solicitude for honest souls who are yet yoked up together with such corrupt men. May God help them to hear the solemn blast of warning in Rev. 18:4, 5, and obey. Amen!
Ed.
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Grand Junction, Mich.,
Dear Brethren: — I feel to praise God for full and free salvation. O glory to God! The Lord is dwelling richly in my heart just now. It has been some time since I have written mv testimony, but God has been with me all the time. I had the witness in my soul that I was a child of God. He has been leading me by His Spirit into the ways of truth. Praise God for a heart that is willing to obey every leading of the blessed Spirit of God. The Lord has at last brought me hack to the TRUMPET OFFICE where I am now working for Jesus, with an eye single to the glory of God. My whole heart is in this work; all I desire is to glorify God and see the salvation of perishing souls, and help feed the lambs. O, God has been so good to me all the time. While I was away from all of the saints and was deprived of the privilege of meetings or the company of the saints, He kept me all the time. I could then realize the benefit of the TRUMPET. O it was food to my soul. It seemed to me that I could hardly live without it. Now I am thankful for the privilege of helping to send the Trumpet to cheer the hearts of others, O glory to God! Truly it is good to work for God. He fills my heart continually with praises. O that I had a voice to sound His praises to the uttermost parts of the earth. Dear ones pray for me that I keep low at the feet of Jesus learning of Him. Your Bro. saved by the precious blood of Jesus and sanctified wholly.
Bert Spaulding.
Olivet, Mich.
Dear Brethren: — I feel led to testify for Jesus. About a year and a half ago I took up my cross and followed Jesus, and He saved me from all sin. Praise the Lord! I cannot praise Him enough for what He has done for me. I am kept by His power from day to day. Pray for me.
Your sister in Christ..
Jennie Davidson.
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Earlton, Kan.
Dear Saints: — I am so glad that I can say that I am saved from all sin and sanctified wholly. I am saved from babylon and all its confusion. Praise God for this blessed evening light, my daughter and I are the only ones in this neighborhood that are on the strait Bible line, but the neighborhood is full of beast religon, Oh! the blindness that is reigning hear. Pray for us that we stand firm.
Anna Shepard.
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Earlton, Kan.
Dear Saints: — I am so glad to-day to say that I am free from all sin. I have given up all for Jesus. I want to live for God alone, God for Christ’s sake forgave my sins on the fourth of July. I ask an interest in the prayers of Gods children that I may live more humble and gain more faith as I feel very weak. This world has no charms for me, I just love to be with Gods little ones. Pray for me. Your sister.
Gurthie E. Mark.
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OBITUARIES.
Lagrange, Ind.
Sept. 17, 1888. Bro. Clarence Sparling departed to dwell with Jesus forever more. He died in the triumph of a living faith, leaving his wife and child, also his father, mother and sister to mourn their loss. May God bless and comfort them in their bereavment.
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Died near Melrose, Ohio Sept. 26, Oral, infant son of W. J. and Laura C. Smith, aged six months and eighteen days. Little Oral is much missed in the family circle of Brother Smith, but their loss is his eternal gain. Funeral services which were held in a U. B. house about seven miles south of Melrose, were attended by a large congregation who were addressed by the writer from Heb. 12:14.
Brother and sister for Oral don’t weep,
He is not dead but in Jesus asleep;
For he was not yours but Jesus’ alone,
Who loves it best and has taken it home.
Wm. G. Schell.
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TABERNACLES.
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There is a chance, or has been and probably yet is, to get two tabernacles; one about 50 feet in diameter, the other about 45 x 60 feet. They were offered for only about $30, and $40. They are just as good as new, having only been used a few times. The larger one is of light but very extra canvass, being waterproof, and yet only of about 200 lbs. weight. It cost about $400. The other is heavy canvass, and cost $200. These pavillians, if available, should be procured for the work of the Lord. They are just the thing for city work especially. Several dollars lave been pledged Bro. Clayton to purchase one of them; the saints in Pennsylvania should help him immediately to procure the same. Such rare chances are seldom met with. Any brother feeling moved of the Lord to try and purchase one of those tents for the work of the Lord, address Bro. G. T. Clayton, Henderson, Mercer Co., Pa. O ye saints that are blessed of God with means, why not secure these means of spreading the Everlasting Gospel. If you are indeed sanctified wholly to God, then you have turned all you have over to God, for the earth and all things ther_in are the Lord’s. And if you have indeed given it over to God, why not let him use a little of it? Why hold it all in your own hands, while the work of salvation could so much be promoted by the use of a little of it. Even a part of what you do not need to satisfy your own wants, would prove a blessing to many souls, and a great blessing to your own soul. “He that soweth bountifully shall also reap bountifully. And he that soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly.” And those servants that seize upon the vineyard and call it their own, and refuse to give the owner the fruits thereof, shall be utterly cast out and destroyed, and the vineyard given to servants yielding the fruits thereof to the owner.
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For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. — Phili. 3:20, 21.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. — 1 Thess. 4. 13-17.
In the first passage it is explicitly stated that “the resurrection of the dead,” namely all the dead, will take place “at His coming.” Then cometh (not a thousand years of millennium and salvation work, but then cometh) THE END, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father, when He shall, (not proceed to save the ungodly who rejected Him here,) but have put down all rule, and authority, and power, and put all enemies (who refused His salvation) under His feet, by their resurrection unto damnation. The revelation of the Deity in the triune form seems to have been to carry out the plan of salvation. So when the whole Redemption scheme shall have been consummated; the dead raised, the righteous rewarded, and the remaining enemies turned into hell, Christ, our Mediator, leaves the mediatorial throne, delivers up the kingdom to God, even the Father, “that God may be all in all,” without respect to Divine personality. This whole statement is very clear. The coming of Christ will be the instant of the resurrection of the dead, and of “all things put under Him,” “all enemies put under His feet,” and the final end of His mediatorial reign, hence the end of all mercy for the lost.
The second passage looks to the coming of Christ, and the glorification of our bodies, as co-incident events, and also that of all things being subdued unto Himself. The last enemy being death, is subdued in the resurrection from the dead, in which act Christ finishes His work, and delivers all over to the Father.
The third of the above Scriptures, speaks of “God bringing with Him them that sleep.” Namely the Spirits of the saints, who had become absent from the body and were present with the Lord.’ When the dead shall be resurrected, and the living changed. The departed spirits re-enter their glorified bodies, and the living are also changed into the same state of immortality. Then all the righteous shall be brought, up to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Here again the resurrection is to take place at Christ’s coming, and our entering into the final and everlasting reward with the Lord.
4th The instant of Christ’s second coming, which the signs He has given us show is near at hand, even at the door, will be the time when the final judgment of the quick and dead shall take place; the righteous rewarded, and the wicked consigned to endless hell.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works. — Matt. 16:26-27.
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom. 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. 1, 8.
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints. — Jude 14.
Besides the above texts, reader, take your Testament and read Matt. 24:36-51, and the whole of chapter 25.
Let us now glance briefly at all the above texts. The first in Matt. 16, is a blast of warning to all men, that Christ will come in the glory of His Father, “and then,” at that very time, “He shall reward every man according to his works,” and then there shall be no more escape from sin, but the wicked will have forever lost their soul.
No place is left for a thousand years of millenium in 2 Thess. 1:7-10. The next great event that God’s people are instructed to look for is the revelation of Jesus Christ from Heaven. Not to save the ungodly, as satan’s Tower of lies in Pittsburg, Pa., and other blind sinners presumptiously teach; but “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Whose punishment will not be for a season, short or long, but “with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.” Observe that on about every mention of the Lord’s coming, it is said He will come with “great glory,” the “glory of His Father,” etc. This very awful glory is what is going to drive the wicked from His presence, and from Heaven forever and ever.
In 2 Tim. 4:1, 8, it is positively declared that Christ will judge the “quick,” — just changed to immortality, — and the dead, — just then raised from their graves, — at His appearing, and in that day the Apostles and all who love the Lord’s appearing, will be crowned.
In many places the resurrection, and reward of the righteous only is spoken of in connection with the coming of Christ from which fact some have blindly imagined that only the righteous will then be raised up and rewarded, and the wicked left in their graves until a subsequent time. But the reason the righteous only are mentioned in those instances is simply because the hope and reward of the righteous alone were undder consideration at that time. In other places we see both the lot of the just and unjust spoken of as being eternally fixed at the coming of, and judgment of Christ. And in the above quotation from Jude 14, 15, only the ungodly are spoken of as meeting their awful doom at the coming of Christ; simply because Jude was there speaking of that class. In all such cases the whole Scripture must be taken together, and not on isolated text.
In Matt. 24-51, the coming of Christ is the great and solemn event pending, for which the Church is to look and watch, for which to be ready. That day and hour the Father only knoweth. It will come unexpected to the “evil servants,” the selfish and ungodly, as the flood came upon the antideluvians, and they shall all be cut off, and have their “portion with the hypocrites, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This does not look like a wholesale salvation millennium after Christ comes the second time.
In chapter 25, the Kingdom of “Heaven is likened unto ten virgins.” All slept, referring to the general stupidity and formality that has pervailed. The cry “behold He comes,” is the discovery and announcement of the signs of His near approach. The wise virgins are all those saints who have their vessels — hearts — filled with the Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier. The foolish are all the formalists, and deceived professors, who know they are not saved now, but hope to be saved some time way in the future. At the coming of Christ their lamp, — profession and hope — will be found going out. In the margin it reads, “our lamps are going out.” In the very emergency for which their religion clung to, it now fails them, and their false hope expires. O the millions that will meet the fate of the foolish virgins in that day! It is sickening to the soul to see the masses of fashionable worldly religionists that will find themselves in the devil’s snares in that awful day. Will there then come a thousand years of mercy offered to all of Adam’s race? Nay only “they that were ready went in with Him lo the marriage: and the door was shut.” To late, to late. No more opportunity to get ready. For all the foolish empty hearted professors, Jesus shall say unto them, “I know you not.” And in view of this approaching event, He solemnly charges all His saints, saying, “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh” — ver. 13. Language could not more clearly warn the Church of God in the present stage of the King, that the next event is the coming of Christ, and the fixing of all men’s eternal destiny. Doubtless the Apostle Paul alluded to this lesson and admonition of Christ, in his first letter to the Thessalonians fifth chapter.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destructirn cometh upon them, as travail upon a women with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief in the night. — 1 Thess. 5:2-4.
How awful the fact here announced. The masses will be suddenly surprised by the coming of Christ, the day of the Lord; which will not bring an age of salvation to Adam’s fallen race, as the lying Tower editor says, but “when they shall say, “Peace and safety; (dreaming of a millennium etc.,) then sudden destruction cometh upon, them as a women in travail, and they shall not escape.” But the illuminated saints of God understand the signs of the times, therefore that day will not come as a thief unto them. They are “looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved.” — 2 Peter 3:12. How dare men say another age of increased mercy is coming, when the word of God uniformly charges, the present age that a sudden and final doom will close the present economy of Divine mercy? When the devil himself told Eve that God knew His forewarnings would not come to pass, if she ate the forbidden fruit, he did not more impiously lie in the face of God, than all “age to come messengers of the devil do to-day.
Returning to Matt. 25, read the next parable of our Savior, verses 14-30.
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his own goods.” Christ has delivered unto us His own goods, His Spirit, His power, His glory, His truth, His peace, His joy and grace, etc., all of which we are to use, and develop for His glory, until He comes. The Kingdom in its present condition, is composed of subjects under such responsibilities, and awaiting the return of our King, at which time we shall have to give an account of our stewardship, namely confront the final judgment. “After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.” — verse 19. This must represent the return of Christ our King, and the day of judgment. To the faithful it will be said, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.’ Then comes the reward. But how will it fare with those who have not properly served the King? Will He give them another thousand years to repent, and receive eternal life, as satan’s false prophet teaches? No. But the order will be, “Cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verse 30.
These parables all strikingly teach the fact — that the “Kingdom of Heaven is,” — now is — in a state of expectancy, looking for the return of our Great King, at which time our final reward will be met out, and the eternal destiny of all men fixed. But dropping parables the Divine Teacher proceeds in direct narative form immediately following the above texts as follows.
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall he say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: and these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. — Matt. 25:31, 32, 34, 41, 46.
A final and eternal separation of the righteous and wicked shall take place. The wicked “shall go away into everlasting (eternal in the Greek) fire: but the righteous into life eternal.” Now the question is, when shall this take place? Answer, “When the Son of man shall come in His glory.” Not a thousand years after His second advent; but at the very instant of His coming. Surely no one but the devil himself, who disputed the Word of God through the serpent, is satanic enough to dispute the above unequivocal statement of Divine inspiration. The devil, who once had to speak through the serpent, finds many human tongues to serve his purpose to-day.
Following the record of the Church and of the destruction of beast religion to the end to the present dispensation we have then the following anuonncement.
Behold I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. — Rev. 22:7, 11, 12, 14, 15.
Here the instant of Christ’s second coming, shall eternally fix the doom of all men, whether pure or filthy. Amen! Come Lord Jesus. In all these Scriptures Christ’s second advent is urged upon the Church in the present age as a solemn inducement to watch and pray, to live holy, and be ready, for the same, with the earnest warning that our eternal, destiny, of either reward or punishment, will depend upon the condition we shall be found in that instant. Therefore the coming described is not one that shall be pending in a future age, but that crisis that shall close the present age. Otherwise it would not have been charged upon this age to keep in view. He that is unjust, filthy, or righteous and holy, let him be so still, is directly connected with “Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me to give every man — both saint and sinner — according as his works shall he.” Also, then the righteous “enter in through the gates into the city.” Heaven above, and all “dogs” false prophets, “dumb dogs,” “sorcerers,” “whoremongers,” “murderers,” “idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie,” will be left “without.”
In the Scriptures we have cited it, as seen, that Christ will “descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, with the trump of God, and the dead shall rise first.” That shout etc. will call the attention of all, so that every one shall see Him. Amen!
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Correspondence.
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Berrien Springs, Mich.
Dear Brethren — The Lord of all glory keep you walking in the narrow way that leads from earth to that home Jesus is fitting up for those who prove faithful unto the end. Amen!
I can truly say as the Psalmest of old, that “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy rigid hand shall hold me; if I say surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me.” Glory to God! In this village of over three thosand inhabitants, there are but two of us that stands straight for Jesus, although there are four different sects in this place. Sister Cuthbert and myself, with Jesus have a prayer-meeting every Tuesday evening; some of the members of sects attend occasionally, but they do not take any part in the worship, only to help, or try to sing. We believe the Lord will raise up a people here whose God is the Lord; and if the Lord leads some Elder here to hold meetings this winter, we believe the Lord will provide a building in which to hold meeting. Let all the saints pray mightily to God for us and this people, that He will save souls here, and add many to His Church such as shall be saved. God has got me out of that cold north country, into a land where the sun never sets. Hallelujah! I am partaking of the old corn and wine, and living on the production of that country, which is adapted to all my wants. Glory hallelujah! Your brother under the blood, crucified, sanctified, and satisfied. Hallelujah, Amen!
Josiah Reed.
St. Peterrsurg, Pa. Sept. 26, 1888.
Dear Readers: — I feel led of the Lord to write my testimony for the Lord. Praise God! God bless all the dear ones at the TRUMPET OFFICE with life and salvation, and complete victory over all the powers of hell, and a general blessing on the TRUMPET readers is my prayer. Amen! and Amen!!
I do praise God for His wonderful love, and the way He is leading and keeping me. He keeps my body in perfect health; now this is saying a great deal, but I can say it truthfully, to the glory of God. O hallelujah to God and the Lamb forever and ever! O praise God! The salvation of my soul is more wonderful than tongue can express. I have peace and joy in my soul that is unspeakable and full of glory; which flows like a river by day and by night; and I have complete victory in my soul over all the powers of darkness. O praise God! I have the glorious sunlight of God shining in my soul, which makes me complete, entire wanting nothing. To God I give all the glory, I am out on the Bible line, and I have a Bible salvation, knowing nothing but Christ and Him crucified. In Christ I live and He lives in my heart, and we have perfect fellowship. Praise His name! O how the Scriptures are being fulfilled in the last year, in Rev. 14. God surely has kept us “Flying in the midst of Heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth.” Praise God! About six month ago we were in Denver Col. and now we are in Pa. We have preached the Gospel in ten states inside of a year; and the Lord has saved souls in every place wheresoever we let down, and kindled a fire that Eternity will only tell of the hundreds of souls that God has saved through our labors, for which we give Him all glory and praise forever in Jesus. Amen! O how wonderful, and how misterious God’s ways are. God saw that it was necessary to send little companies of holy men and women to sing the Gospel, as well as preach it to a dying world. Praise God! Some people are ready to say that this is out of order, but now I will prove by the Word of God that we are in New Testament order. Read Phil. 4:3. Rom. 16:1-4.
My robes are spotless, and my lamp is trimmed and burning, and my vessel is filled with oil. O hallelujah! This battle is growing hotter and hotter as the end of time draws near. The devil knows that his time is short. O praise God! I am ready for any battle, or the coming of Christ. O hallelujah! my soul is free; ready to be revealed. Amen!
Sarah Smith.
—:o:—
Archibold, O.,
Dear Saints: — We wish to glorify God in writing a letter to you through the TRUMPET. We bless God for what we have seen and heard of His wonderful work while at the Jerry City camp-meeting. The half has never been told. Jeremiah says, “Thy words were found and I did eat them, and the words were unto me the rejoicing of my heart.” Praise the Lord! this was our experience; we were wonderfully blessed while going down into the symbolic grave. O ye ordinance fighters how can you deny Christ’s commands. In Him is hid all wisdom. The willing and obedient shall eat the fruit of the land. We praise God for those who rightly divide the Word and shun not to declare the whole counsel of God. Amen! The dark cloud of divers spirits which overshadowed the camp at the beginning of the meeting was dispersed by the mighty power of God. We do praise God for charity that suffereth long with all patience and endurance; such was manifested toward those deluded teachers, by the saints of God. O praise God for salvation that is all charity, that doth behave itself aright in season and out of season, in all places and at all times. The Lord will defend Jerusalem, He will deliver it. God has a deep people of a deeper speech than can be presented by these false teachers who have received the law by the disposition of angels and have not kept it. My testimony, is that I am saved and sitting at the feet of Jesus with everlasting salvation, praising God for victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Lord sanctifies me wholly to do His will, and leads me by His Spirit continually. We long to tell the whole world what our dear Jesus has done for us. We praise God that He is doing a work here that the world cannot gainsay. Dear little ones pray for us at this place; we know God will send His messengers in His own good time. We know God will keep His Church pure and bring us all into the Kingdom. Your sister in the unity of the Spirit and bond of love. Praise God forever and ever!