15 September 1884, Volume 6, Number 14.

The True Church.

The time is soon coming by the proph­ets foretold,
When Zion in purity the world shall behold;
When Jesus pure testimony will gain the day,
Denomination selfishness will vanish away.

It will then he discoverd who for Jesus will be,
And who are in babylon the saints then will see;
The time of division will then fully be known
Between the pure kingdom and defiled babylon.

Led on by the comforter what sweets will he found,
What peace and what harmony in love will abound;
Losing ail things, for Jesus will be counted all joy,
And helping each other a delightful employ.

What beauty will the Church then put on in his sight,
Being governed by Jesus who always does right;
No spots on their countenence in that glorious day,
Unnecessary ceremonies all vanished away.

The watchman will then lift up their voices as one,
East west north and south two and fro they will run;
In the Spirits pure testimony preach up the cross,
The mysteries of babylon will suffer the loss.

But O what a storm of persecution, will rage,
For the cause of old babylon will many engage;
For beholding their losses, and begin­ning to sink,
They hope to obstruct the light from shining I think,

But truth cuts its way, and love will melt all the foes,
The pure word of God will conquer all. who oppose;
The Church then in purity in peace and in love,
In sight of her enemies she rises above.

Let all who would wish to see milenium begin,
Come out and be separate from sinners and sin;
As soon the Church is redeemed from all sin,
The day of milenium will surely begin.

Selected – BY MRS. I. Wheeler.

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FAITH

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When a professing Christian thinks he has faith, and is yet disobedient to any known command of God, he is mistaken. He is in the delusion of the devil. He is not saved. He has no faith. If he thinks he is, he is deceived. What he thinks to be faith is only presumption.

When u one who claims to be a minister of the Lord Jesus devotes himself to the seeking a high place, and busies himself in scheming for the largest salaries, and is constantly studying and struggling to worm himself into popularity by catering to the worldly tastes and practices of his Church, and winking at their sins, he is miserably deceived himself, and is deceiv­ing others as well. His preaching cannot save the souls of his hearers, for his own soul is unsaved whatever may be his pro­fession or his trust.

If any one who pretends to be a preach, er of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and stands as a teacher of the people knowing that Cod commands all to be ..ly now, and yet refuses himself to be ..ly, and instructs either that they … holy when they are not holy, or t.. that they need not or cannot be ho.. ..t all in the present life, he is wres.. the Word of God, and is in the con.. ..ation of the devil, having no faith … savel himself, and no power to sa.. ..ers.

— Living Epistle.

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It’s a Question.

A man who is endeavering to maintain holiness unto God, and at the same time be subject to a corporation of carnal preachers and people, remarked to us that, for some time it had been a question in his mind as to whether he should cut loose or not. Why this lingering, perplexing question? If a man is in line with God, will he not know it? Even in the dark dingy ages of the past, before the revelation of Christ, and the dispen­sation of the Holy Spirit, “Enoch had the witness that he pleased God,” and is it not a reflection upon Christ, “the light of the world,” and the “Holy Revealer,” to convey the idea that we now have to live in uncertainty, with regard to any part of God’s will in us? God’s will says plainly, “be not unequally yoked togeth­er with unbelievers,” “Come out of her my people,” “Now if any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine.”

What a beautiful picture of the holy life, in the Spirit, we have in Exod. 23:20-25. An angel is promised, which to us means the Comforter, “to keep thee in the way,” “beware of Him, and obey His voice, and provoke Him not.” And walk­ing with this Angel, it is said that all the ites must be cut off. Now if we are walk­ing with this angel, will we live in un­certainty? Our understanding of the way of holiness is, that we cannot keep on in a doubtful course and be wholly sanctified. On this high way we cannot carry along any unsettled questions. Ev­ery issue must be met squarely on the spot’ and settled by the Word and the Spirit of God. “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth liberally.” This cuts off all unsolved points of duty. “He that doubteth is damned.” And if this be true in as small a matter as the partaking of the bread, and the cup of the communion, now much more so, in reference to the line of work in which God would use us to save precious souls?

We know some thing about the brother’s vexed “question,” we have come along that path. O the haunting distraction of an unsettled question, as to the direction of true loyalty to God. And though we had to learn it all from God, Himself, we could not remain on God s altar and have an unsettled question in our heart, as to what God’s will was concerning us. Ev­ery man that is moving forward on the line of God’s present truth, has a clear sky to work in, and does not fight as uncer­tainly in the mists. Hence it necessari­ly follows that every man that lingers on questionable grounds is straggling behind the present place of God’s glorious line of battle. Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are no more distress­ing questions in our heart as to whether “we are complete in Christ,” and as to whether God is able to “work all things in all,” without a babylon yoke on our neck. Neither are we troubled by any lingering doubts that sect organizations are all of the devil, and that all elder ship, and conference corporations, ..e created and run by the dragon, an.. all object and supplant the Holy Spirit … Glory to Jesus “we know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness.” “We are of God, he that ..noweth God heareth us,” “Hereby knowr we that we dwell in Him, and He … us, because He hath give us of His Spirit.” “And hereby we know that we ..e of the truth, and shall assure our ..arts before Him.”

Oh for the … of all questions, and a ministry se.. ..d in God’ that need not “run as … ..ertainly,” neither “preach as the Pharisees, but as one having authority,” the revelation and power of the Holy Ghost. Amen!

Daniel.

Shawtown Ohio, Sept, 6th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — I am still trusting in my blessed Jesus. I can say the Trumpet is food to my soul. I love to read the let­ters in it so well. We have glorious meet­ings here now. I bless God for His kind­ness, and mercy. God is all love to us O bless His holy name! I went to Custar, to visit my Bro. and two sisters, and had a glorious meeting. They are gloriously saved. All the brethren pray for us.

Cora Dick.

Objections to Sectism.

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A. M. KIERGAN.

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Sectism is that principle which invents human creeds and polity for the Church of God, other than those expressly written in the Scriptures.

A necessary result of sectism, therefore is the sect. From the word hairesis are derived the words heresy, sect, party. The enemies of Jesus applied these terms to His followers, but it could not be justly done. Paul said, “I confess unto thee that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my Fathers.” Acts 24:14. They call heresy: he repudiates the title and repels the attack; but at the same time grasps the God given and estabished views and polity of God’s Church. By the word of God alone is everything to be tested. Paul was no sectarian, he be­longed to no sect. He was a devotee of the only real God organized Church. So the “Church of God’’ is no sect, and no sect is the “Church of God.”

Now, here is one of the most serious ob­jections to sectism: it is contrary to the express declarations of the Scriptures. A sect is a party, its formation creates a schism, a division.

“Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned and avoid them” — Rom. 16:17. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you: but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment,” — 1 Cor. 2:10. These texts are the ten or of the Scrip­tures on this subject. Nothing is plainer. They were to mark and avoid those who were actuated by the sect spirit, the doc­trine which they had learned being the test … … … … … by the name of Christ, “Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,” that there be allowed no divisions among them. The reasons for this are dear enough. In the first place, such divisions destroy the unity of the family, making more than one.

In the next place, they would divde the the headship among men; as wesley is called the father of the Methodist sect.

Now, if these directions lad been strictly obeyed, there would have been no di­visions, consequently no rival families; but they were disobeyed, and sectism has overrun and cursed the earth.

Carrying forward the same idea, the Word of God puts the strongest possible emphasis upon the oneness of God’s peo­ple, and hol..s it upas the most beauti­ful specin..ens of all Gods creation, challenging the higest admiration of men and angels.

“There shall be one fold and one Shepperd.” “That they may be one.” “That they may all be one.” “That they also stay be one in us.” “That they may be one even as we are one.” We being many are one body in Christ.” “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” “For we being many are one bread and one body.” “Have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” ‘‘Now there are many members, yet but one body.” “Whether one member suffer all the members suffer with it.” “Or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.” “I have espoused you to one husband.” “For ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall.” “Fellow citizens with the saints, and the household of God.” “There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your call­ing.” “That ye stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel.” “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are also called in one body.” “They who are sactified are all of one.”

Many other passages of the same im­port could be produced, but these are suf­ficient. But how do these harmonize with the cry of “lo here” or “lo there” — sectism which has rendered the world hideous for hundreds of years?

These are set, world without end, against all divisions in the body — against sectism and all sects. If the spirit of these words had been kept inviolate, there would have existed to day no rival sects as the Catholics Episcopalians, Lutherians, Methodists, Presbyterians, and the rest of the brood; but they would have been the Church of God, one body, forming a most beautiful and blessed unit.

By these tests sectism is in opposition to the very spirit of Chrstianity. That young convert to God, warm in his first love, naturally loves all of God’s children without partiality. But as soon as some sect-builder gets at him, how changed his sentiments I He now joins “our church,” Putting himself under the tutorage of cer­tain principles, thus fencing him off from the rest of the lambs by a human creed and polity. This is an open door to the backslidings of thusands. At first there is an unaccountable and indefinable grief, then a coldness, then selfishness, then a bigot and a consumate sectarian and spirtual wreck.

Sectism fosters and builds up autocracy and aristocracy. That is the trend of the sect, be it small or large, young or old. This spirit takes its birch in the organiz­ation of every sect, and autocrats and aristocrats flourish here and grow up like calves of the stall. In the young sectling this foul spirit may nestle away for a time and not appear, but all the time it is there and gaining strength for the by and by, when it will come forth to do its work of desolation. There is first the mild Di­otrephes who loveth to have the preemi-inence, then the superintendent, then the modern bishop. Then there are hosts of underling aristocrats, who, for personal ends, pamper the pride of these Diotrephes superintendents and bishops. As hu­man organization advances, purporting to be the Church, this venomous spirit, like a deadly serpent, creeps forth from its den. But sectism hinders the real work of God. The blessed Christ prayed that they all might be one and perfect in one. What for? Some sect devotees declare denominationalism necessary in order to the convesion of the world. The special advantage is declared to be found in the fact that by this multiform denominationalism any one can be suited in a church home. This is said to be both an advan­tage and an inducement. This would be certainly true if a sect was the Church of God, and if to belong to it insured salva­tion; but once this falls to be correct, the whole arrangement falls to the ground. Jesus had another opinion of the matter, and one directly opposed to the denomi­national idea. He prayed that they might all be one, “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” This believing is the door way to a certain knowledge of personal salvation by the blood of Christ. If this be true then sectism is the doorway to infidelity, doubt and death. Oh! how often it is said by honest bewildered souls, “We don’t know what to believe nor what to do, there are so many contradictory churches!” But for the very doubt induced by these divisions, these poor souls are berated and beaten by sect mongers; but if they should chance to endorse there creed and polity, then they are all and in all without regard to personal faith in Christ, or consciousness of salvation. All this is verified thousands of times over. But is said this is not the use. but the abuse of the sect. Not so. It is the legit­imate fruit.

I ask in all candor our sectly holiness people to stop a moment and think. What however on earth has stood more in the way of holiness work than has the iron hoof of ecclesiasticisms. Who has been at the front in locking doors and hedg­ing up the way by every means in reach? Has it not been “the beloved Zions” of men?

Then the testimony and work of many honest souls are brought to a sudden halt at some doctrine or point of ecclesiastical polity which hinders them from going farther lest they should be confronted with the charge of disloyalty. Then add­ed this stopping short of genuine obe­dience, which means spiritual death, is the fact that most of the strength and time “is directed towards keeping the old house in repair, and when this is the case, the aggressive power of the truth is neglected.” How much better to be un­hindered by some denominational insti­tution. Then one can employ every means and opportunity against the enemy of souls, with a deadly precision and pur­sue the battle to the gates and beyond. But to have to proceed as if one was afraid of having to jam down the rotten corners of some decaying sect, is an absolute break upon the wheels of salvation. Enough power, time and means have been wasted by holines journals and evan­gelists under the bands of sectism to have shaken America to the core and flooded it with an ocean wave of God’s blessed, eternal glory.

Every genuine revival of salvation has broken out and pushed forward in disre­gard to sect hamperings, and in spite of them. Has not the present holiness move­ment been caricatured as disintegration, simply because it did not and could not work in the grooves of denominationalism? Where is there a single genuine evangelist in good repute with the sects? Where? But what does this import? Volumes, yet unwritten, but this one thing in particular; that sectism and sects are essentially and forever in opposition to any genuine and thorough revival.

For the present it remains to be said, that the views expressed in these papers have not been hastily formed, but are the results of much prayerful and patient study continued through several years. I may be written down as a mad man, a fanatic, but be it so. I am content to stand here till convinced that I am in error.            

Good Way.

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Gospel Meeting in Pittsburg and Alleghany.

After closing the meeting in Medina Co. O. we came on to Pittsburg Pa. The trip was very pleasing to the eye, and inspiring to the soul. The lofty hills and … … … … … ..awe and reverence toward God. As we followed some distance up the Ohio River our minds were deeply impressed with the infinite wisdom and goodness of God, in providing every thing necessary for the industries and needs of mankind. Every few minutes we passed holes in the hilis, where His busy little human ants had searched out, and found His deposits, of material for glass, dish ware, fire brick, and all manner of iron and steel works, and there were the extensive manufactur­ing establishments all along the way close to the supplies. “O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” We were happy to meet our dear broth­er G. T. Clayton and family, who have been laboring, on the line of holines, with considerable success, in Pittsburg and Alleghany. Like ourself, the brother is naturally too pliant, effeminate, and sympathetic, for God’s present use, with out having his horns tipped with iron, and his hoofs shod with brass. “For thus sa.. the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing” floor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little and the time of her harvest shall come. Jer. 51:33. God is now looking out faithful men who will go through the city and “smite.” The white robed holiness messengers have gone through babylon and put the seal of God upon the foreheads of all that “sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” And now His orders are to all that know the secret of the Lord. “Go ye after him, through the city and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young.” — Eze. 9.

Meetings were held in open air, and in halls in Alleghany and Pittsburg. Brother and Sister Fisher laboring in one place, and we in another, part of the time. A few souls were fully saved; and there was quite an awakening among the people. The last night brother and sister F. held meeting in Alleghany, there were three sanctified and one converted. Brother and sister Clayton, and five other broth­ers and sisters from Pittsburg and Alle­gheny accompanied us to the Sandy Lake Camp meeting.

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“Whosoever will, let him take the water of Life freely” – Rev. 22:17

2 page

THE GOSPEL TRUMPET.

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A SEMI-MONTHLY HOLINESS JOURNAL

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

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D. S. WARNER, and J. C. FISHER, — Editors.
THOMAS HORTON, Publisher, with J. C. Fisher financial assistant.

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TERMS, $1.00. Per Year. In advance.

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All matter for publication must be sent to D. S. Warner.

All business communications, moneys etc, must be addressed to the GOSPEL TRUMPET.

Addrss, Williamston

Mich.

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

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Please observe the above directions Business letters that also contain matter suited for publication will he used

Remittances for less than five dollars, should be sent in postal notes, over that amount in post office orders. Where these cannot be obtained, send by registered letter, or small amounts in two cent tamps

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The Michigan Assembly.

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The Anual Assembly of the Church of the Living God in Michigan will take place the Lord willing, at Williamston Ingham Co. Mich, commencing Sebt. 25th to continue as the Lord wills. This is ex­pected by far to be the largest gathering of the saints, and the most powerful meet­ing of the kind ever yet held in Michigan. Many Brethren from abroad are expected to be present. Reduced rates over the Detroit, Lansing and Northern R. R. has been secured, those wishing to avail them­selves of the reduced rates, should ask for tickets to the Assembly of the Church of God at Williamston. Come all ye saints of the most high, and all who desire to see and obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. We have a spacious hall 28 by 85 feet, room enough to accomodate all who come. Let all come prepared to enjoy a glorious time, and season of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.

Joseph.

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A NEW TRACT

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We have just published a tract of six­teen good size pages, neatly bound in ex­tra paper. Written by brother J. C. Fisher, the contents of which is pretty well expressed in the title page as follows

‘CHRIST IS THE BODY THE CHURCH.’

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

this little work has been much needed. Nothing is more clearly taught in the Word of God than the identity of Christ His body and the Church, and yet no truth is more generally overlooked. Through the current sectarian teaching, nearly all think the Church is a human or­ganism. Thus through the tradition of dark age creeds, Christ is supplanted by the work of men’s hands. Therefore this humble presentation of truth, cuts off all party rallying grounds, and draws all di­rectly to Christ. For “unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.” Let every body that loves the truth, and the souls that need it, send in their orders for the little book. And all that God has, blessed with the means, will glorify Him by or­dering a dozen or more to feed poor hun­gry souls with pure, strong, Gospel food. You will also assist the finances of the office by helping to scatter this little work. Order freely, we have printed three thous­and of them.

Price. …………..10 cents.
One dozen copies………….. $1.00
Fifty copies……………… . 3. 50

Orders may be sent in postal note, or small amounts in two cent postage stamps.

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O how sweetly I am resting
in the presence of my God;
I’m enjoying full salvation,
Guided by His holy Word.

O how sweet to walk with Jesus,
O how wonderful His fame!
I will ever praise my Jesus,
Bless His great and holy name.

O then let us stand up for Jesus,
Crowning Him our Lord and King;
Knowing that He always loves us,
We with notes of joy will sing.

Cora Dick.

Steadfastness.

BY L. J. JAMES.

“Be ye steadfast, immovable,” is the language of Inspiration. This truth comes to us to day as strong and with as much force, as it did to those to whom it was written by the great Apostle to the Gen­tiles. But what is “Steadfastness?” In a Bible sense, it is to be fast anchored to the throne of God by a living faith, which like a great cable, holds the soul from moving from its moorings: although the winds of adversity may howl, and the wrathful billows of persecution, and temp­tation beat against it. Such “Steadfast­ness” has every true child of God.

But there is another kind of “Steadfast­ness,” a kind of “frozefastness,” like the great Icebergs in the regions of eternal frost, they are steadfast; being beyond the reach of the warming influence of the sun, its rays never reach them with sufficient heat to melt, and move them out from the icy embrace of coldness, and death. They are “immovable” it is true, they stand in all their glittering cold grandeur.

No living thing receives life or warmth from them, but sure death to all life prin­ciple that is doomed to remain within their influence. The steadfastness of the Ice­berg, is the same in kind, as the “Froze­fastness” of some Professors, they are al­ways there steadfast, unmovable; steadfast­ly worshiping their sect idol, steadfastly ignoring the voice which continually rings in their ears the warning “Come out of her my people.” Steadfast in covering up the sins, and smoothing down the wrongs committed by the members of their idol­ized sect, especially if those doing wrong, can spread a plaster of money (no matter how dishonestly obtained) on the hand of the “minister” or help the “members” to their various places of amusement and “Idol worship.” Steadfastly trying to pull others down, that themselves may have the preeminence, forgetting that Jesus made himself of “No reputation.” Stead­fast in withholding what is due the laborer, that has toiled for them, and taking the money that is honestly due another, to go to the shows, or to the festival, or to con­ference, or to buy lace curtains, because the sect agent is coming, and the best room must be prepared. It matters not if the laborer’s children cry for the bread he has earned, laboring for this “steadfast professor,” if he and his family are clothed in rage, and never … a house or worship. If they are starving for the bread of life, this steadfast superintendent or class leader, must have a new dress, hat, or shoes because they are going to confer­ence, to represent their class, and the in­terest of “our cause” must not be neglect­ed. this same steadfast professor, will pray by the hour, walk up and down the aisle, of the steeple house, talking and warning sinners to flee the wrath to come, and in time of a protracted effort will pray two or three times in one evening. So earnest are they for the salvaton of others. But those efforts are alway in public.

What is their dally walk in private? Their children are among the worst if not the worst in the place; The poor are seldom or never visited by them; The sick (unless those that are able to hire, and so not in real need of their help) never receive as­sistance from them. They never deny themselves that others may be happy. They profess sanctification, but their pro­fession is like “Sounding brass or a tinklting cymbal,” nothing but a hollw sound, no life or Spirit to it. They live on from year to year, frozen fast to the dead body of selfishness, bound to the living death of selfrighteousness. Their influence as dead and cold as the iceberg, and that they call “Steadfastness.” Oh what a burlesque on the Bible meaning of the word. It means something more than mere words to stand before the flaming eye of Jeho­vah, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, to “keep ourselves unspotted from the world,” “hating even the garments spotted by the flesh.”

Now can such individuals say in all can­dor, that they are walking in all the light that has shown upon their pathway? that they are “Patient in tribulation,” “kindly affectioned one to another,” “not conform­ed to this world,” “in honor preferring one an other.” “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world,” “and weep with them that weep,” “mind not high, things but codescend to men of low estate?” If so, they are fulfilling the roy al law. All that are found measuring themselves by any other line, but the word of God, will find in the great day of the Lord, that they have been trying to climb up some other way. Aad when they stand and knock, at the closed floor in the day of judgement, the Lord will profess unto them “I never knew you.” No matter if they do say to Him “Lord have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name havecast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works;” Yet the reply will be the same. “Depart from me ye that work iniquity.” My God help Thy people to become acquainted with Thee, before that day when they stand before Thee in judgement. Meridian Mich.

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Questions Answerd.

A Brother asks the question, for informa­tion; and desires an answer through The Trumpet.

Question. Do you require a course of study outside of the Bible; to ordain ministers of Christ. Also just the study requi­red.

Now Dear Brother we must refer you to the Head of the Church; Jesus Christ. Which has all authority, and power both in heaven and in earth. He authoriz­es, qualifies, and ordains His ministers; through the power of the Holy Ghost. Without which none are qualified, or have any authority to preach the Gospel. We hear a great deal said about being authorized by those who have not been redeemed from their vain conversation, received by tradi­tion of their priest’s and dark age creeds, which makes the word of God of none ef­fect. They talk about their preachers beeing regurlarly ordained, and licensed and authorized by conference. And they are bound to receive him because he comes authorized by conference. No Matter if he is as far from God as the sun is from the earth, which is the case with most of them. I would as soon a man would come author­ized by the Free Mason lodge as from any of the present day sects, as far as their au­thority to preach the Gospel is concerned. He has no authority at all, neither is he qualified, simply because he has taken a course of study in theology or a graduate from college.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

And base things of the world and things which are despised, hath God chosen, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are.

That no flesh should glory in His presence.

1 Cor 1.26, 29

… ..n deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, for it’s written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, the Lord knowetn the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

Therefore let no man glory in men, for all things are yours. 1 Cor 3.18.

“Let them alone they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind both shall fall into the ditch.”

The only real authority, is that which Christ enjoined upon the Apostles. Which is power from on high. “Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you.” “How therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say; Ex 4; 12. “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you; and ye need not that my man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him.” 1 John 2: 27. “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God.” 2 Cor 1; 21. “I have chosen you and ..dained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should re­main; that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He may give it you.” John. 15: 16. “He maketh His angels (or messengers) spirits (or spiritual) and His ministers a flame of fire.” Heb 1: 7. Praise! God he giveth them the keys of the Kingdom, invests with power and au­thority. “They speak as one having au­thority, and not as the scribes.” “They speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all au­thority.” Such are the truly authorized ministers of Christ. “They need no letters of commendation” to or from any one. Or license from any conference. For He makes them able ministers, of the Hew Testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. All power of appointment, or or­dination, belongs to Christ, through the Holy Ghost. The word ordain means to Appoint, or to decree, or invest with power or authority.

“As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Acts 13: and 2

And I said who art thou Lord? And He said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise stand upon thy feet: for I have ap­peared unto thee for this purpose to make

thee a minister, and a witness both of these tilings which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee.’ Acts 26: 15, 16.

And when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them they sent them away. Acts 13: 3.

It is true the Bible teaches ordination by the laying on of hands: which is simply a ratification or confirmation of the divine or­dination. “For we are laborers together with God; ye are God’s husbandry ye are God’s building. 1 Cor. 3: 9.

The course of study required. “What saith the word. Study to show thyself ap­proved unto God; a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 2:15. And He said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Mark, 16: 15.

“Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season: reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuf- fering and doctrine.” — II. Tim. 4.

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. — Titus 1: 9.

“If thou put the brethren in rememberance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” — I. Tim. 4: 6.

This is the course of study required, to be a qualified and competent, minister of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise God! for deliverance from all the fogs of babylon, and their dark age super­stitions, creeds, and traditions; recieved from the traditon of the eccleasiastical dra­gon, of priestcraft, and popery. Hallelujah! Jesus makes us free, and we will preach the word in spite of men and Devils. Amen.

Joseph.

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Grape Gleaning in Sodom.

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“Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far coun­try: Is not thy Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities ?

The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.

For the hurt of the daugdter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered ?” — Jer. 8:19-22

The nineteenth verse describes the deso­lation and apostasy of babylon, in the midst of which the “daughter of my people (i. e. such as still have spiritual life,) cry out for deliverance. For thus saith the Lord. “The daughter of Zion hath long dwelt with the daughter of babylon.” “In a far country,” far from the Jerusalem of God’s truth and salvation. They have “provoked God to an­ger with their graven images,” — their sectarian inventions. “And their strange vanities.” How babylon is contiually tax­ing their ingenuity to get up new vanities. Strange sensations in their damnable ca­rousals; such as to allure the silly, and gather money by fraud, and sin. In the midst of this existing corruption and idol­atry, the prophet breaks out and says, “The Harvert is past, the summer is end­ed, and we are not saved. The Spirit of the Lord was upon me, while sitting alone in the woods at a camp meeting. He showed me the application of verses 19, 21, 22, to the present day abominations. Then I was burdened to understand the 20. I said O my Lord and my God, is it true that the Gentile harvest is past? I sat a moment with my eyes closed in deep meditation and prayer to God for light. Glory to God! His Word was verified into my soul. “If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God, who giveth liberally.” Clearly the Spirit whispered to my soul these ..rds, “There is yet gleaning left in her.” And then it passed in my mind how the fathers, after the grain was hauled into the ..n, and the harvest was really past, put ..boy upon a horse rake, and have him rake ..er the stubble. And it came to my mind .. at the great har­vest of the Gentile wo.. is past, and the summer is ended, and no ..e are raking the stubble to gather up a f.. more souls. O what a task we heve to per.. ..n, in the vineyard of the Lord. What t.. ..ng on hearts of stone. What awful bl.. ..ness posses the minds of the people. O … Lord! though the summer of the Gen.. mercy is past, give us patience to toil ant glean on, ever in the dark Autumnal storms.

“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people re­covered?”

This language portrays the diseased, sick and dying state of all the sects; des­titute of Christ, the great physician, as they are at the present day.

Since the Lord, by the Spirit, showed us that we are just now gleaning over the stubble of a past harvest, the Lord has shawn me the same thing in His Word.

“And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

Yet Gleaning Grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an Olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, f..an or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof saith the Lord God of Israel. In that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the works of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the grows or the images.

In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation.

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy sal­vation, and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shall set it with strange slips. ” — Isa. 17:4, 6-10.

Surely the professed Isael of the present day sects is become very thin, and lean. The strong cities, — large sects — are as forsaken and desolate boughs, without fruit. They have forsaken the God of salvation, the only Rock of strength, and instead of trusting Him they have set every kind of “strange slips,” — sensual, devilish scheme to prosper by. Though bab­ylon has thus fallen into the depth of sin, “yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it.” But there are very few comparitively who will ever see the light, and bo “saved out of their dwelling places wherein they have sinned.” “Two or three berries in the top of ihe uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruit fill branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.” And this gleaning, we are told will he ‘‘as the shaking of the olive tree.” Yea it is the very time that “God has arisen to shake terribly the earth.” Bless God! for the remnant that is gathered out. “In that day, a man shall look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.” That is, they get their eyes off of the work of men’s hands turn away from dragon powers, and sect machinery, anti stay on God as their only help, and respect His promises for full salvation and keeping power.

“The city of confusion is broken; every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

There is a crying for wine in the streets: all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.

In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking olive tree, and as the Gleaning Grapes when the vintage is done. They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea.

Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles the sea.

From the uttermost parts of the esrth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously,” — Isa 24. 10—16.

Here again is rite grape gleaning. The word glean means the gathering of sectarian fruit or grain, after the main crop has been taken up. The great “net has been cast into the sea, and has gath­ered of all kind,” but now the Master is gleaning out the good for Himself, and will cast the bad away.

“The city of confusion is broken down,” namely “babylon is fallen.” “In the city is left desolation.” Now “When thus it shall be in the midst of the land.” that is when the “city of confusion – babylon — shall be left desolate,” even as if is at this time, then there shall be a great shaking as of an olive tree, in which God gathers oat His remnant, “takes the precious from the vile.” This deliver­ance of God’s children from inter-associa­tion with the daghter of Babylon, or “city of confusion,” is every where described as a shaking time, “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” — Jer. 33., Danel 9 : 25; 12:1. Here are God’s orders to the escaped rem­nant, “Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel.” Praise the Lord! their shouts of victory, and songs of praise, fall like a noisome, grievous sore, upon all that worship the beast, his image, and that re­ceive his mark in their forehead. There­fore thus saith babylon, “From the uttermost parts of the earth have we heard ..ngs, even glory unto the righteous. But ..d, my leanness, my leanness, woe unto the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have ..lt very treacherously.” The devil and ..e prophets, have spoken lies, and prop.. .. ied deceits; have daubed with untemper.. ..rtar, and “cried peace when there was i.. ..ce.” And now the world of formal si.. “drink on the wine of her fornica..” wake up to

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their awful doom, “fear and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.” — Verse 17.

In Rev. 14:8, it is announced that “Babylon is fallen is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornica­tion.” In Jer. 51:25, she is described as a “destroying nation, saith the Lord, which destroyeth all the earth.” These scriptures mean that the baneful influence of the sect apostacy and confusion has so neutralized, blinded, hardened, sensualized, and fatally corrupted all men on the face of the earth, that but very few will ever be awakened and de­livered out of her giddy throng. There­fore says the Lord, “As it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah,” and “As it was in the day of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of Christ.”

Now if we look at those times, we see that “all flesh had corrupted their way,” and there were none that did seek after God, no one being converted from the, evil of their way to the true God. No wonder therefore that in the midst of present day sectarian abominations, the prophet cries out, “The harvest is past the summer is ended.” But what is the cause of this almost cessation of genuine Gentile conversions to God? We see clearly enough from Luke 21:30. Rom. 9:27-29. 11:22-25, that when the Jews begin to go back to Jerusalem, and begin to have their eyes open to see Christ, their real Savior, that the “fullness of the Gen­tiles” shall have coma in. To the intelli­gent reader, it is known that, that time has come. But that does not answer the question, why the Gentile world seems to be falling into the very blindness that has rested upon the Jews for the past eigh­teen hundred years. Alas for the Gen­tile world! But has God arbitrarily shut the door of His kingdom in the face of Gentile sinners? Not at all. “Why then” we ask again “is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered,” and why so few aliens returning home to God. God, by the mouth of the prophet, tells us just why it is.

“For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant plates of the wildernes are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right . For prophet and priest are profane; yea, inmy house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord. Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness; they shall be driven on, and fail therein, for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, siath the Lord. And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

I have seen slso in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies; they strengthen also the hands of evil doers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.” — Jer. xxiii, 10-14.

“In my house I have found their wick­edness,” namely “thou that are called the house of Israel,” the professed nominal Church. “Slippery ways in the darkness.” “Therefore night shall be unto you that ye shall not have a vision.” — Micah 3:6. O what a picture of the present day sect zeal ignorance. While busily working for the upbuilding of their sect, and hop­ing for prosperity, they have entirely forgotten God, and fallen into darkness, and mists, and they shall be driven on and fail therein.” Woe unto the pro­phets, “they strengthen the hands of evil doers that none doth return from his wickedness.” Ah, here is the an­swer to our question. God has not with­drawn His offers of mercy, but the horri­ble and damnable works of the babylon priests, and their drunken victims, have, destroyed all confidence in the things of religion and salvation, so that the foun­dation of conscience has given way, hard­ness and blindness of heart has ensued, as the enevitable fruits of these horrible social evils, and “none return from their wickedness,” and then, as if alluding to the same thing that Christ spake of, i.e., that at His return He should find the world as in the days of Sodom and Go­morrah, the prophet adds, “they are all of them unto, me as Sodom, and the in habitants thereof as Gomorrah.” Surely “he that runneth may read” and under­stand these scriptures. The prophet here describes the very days we live in, then compares them to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, which Christ said were to be repeated in the age just prior to His second advent. And then charges all this darkness, and impenitence, and general perdition of souls, upon the false prophets of our day. Who all of them commit adutery by their conformity to the world; spiritual adultery, which in God’s sight is a “horrible thing.” Let us read still more af this chapter of present truth.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concern­ing the prophets, Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall, for from the prophets of .Jerusalem is profaneness. gone forth into all the land.

Thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Harken not un­to the prophets that prophesy unto you. They make you vain, they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

They say still unto them that despise me, the Lord hath said, ye shall have peace, and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath preceived and heard His word? who hath marked His word, and heard it?

Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind. It shall fall griev­ously upon the head of the wicked one.

The anger of the Lord shall not return, until He have executed, and till He have performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days ye aball consider it perfectly.

I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

But if they had stood in my consul, and had caused my beople to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.” — Verses 15—22.

The prophets make you vain. What are the sects but a hot bed of pride and vanity, a place to see the latest styles, as exhibited by the preacher, his wife, and the leading members, and followed by the silly throng. God is feeding these pro­phets with wormwood, and making them drink the water of gall, by letting fall the hail and sledge hammer of His Word up on their heads, even a “whirlwind’ of His wrath. And this sodom state and God’s whirlwind of burning jealousy, is declared to be “in the latter days.” — Ver. 20.           Are we not living in those days? Do not all the spiritual know it? Thank God! we are “not in darkness that that day should overtake us as a thief.” In verses 21, 22, we have a rule by which God’s ministers, and the devil’s preachers may be measured and distinguished from each other, just as accurately as a carpen­ter can take a square and measure a pile of boards, and tell just how many are even twelve feet long. Christ says that “he that God hath sent speaketh the words of God.” And the prophet says that they that cause the people to hear God’s Word turn them from their way. Therefore prophets that do not turn the people from their pride, and worldliness and all other sin, are not sent of God. They make the people vain, and have turned the earth into a sodom of horrible drunkenness, So that none of them return from their wickedness. How pertinent the words of Christ spoken to the Jews nearly ninteen hundred years ago. How fully pertinent to the gentiles now. “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Escape for your life, flee quickly to Jesus. For the harvest is past and the gleaning is nearly finished.

Daniel.

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Sandy Lake Camp Meeting.

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Glory be to the God of salvation power! These words seem best fitted to begin our report of this heavenly convocation. Braise the Lord oh my soul! We were met by conveyances at Stonesboro, and the very instant we entered the prcious grove of the saint’s encampment, we felt the very presence of God. Indeed it was wonderful to our soul. We were engaged in conversation as we drove in, and were not thinking of, or expecting such a glo­rious manifestation of God until we were suddenly filled with the consciousness of His holy presence, impressing heart and lips in praises to His holy name. As we reached the place of Jacob’s tent, and met the dear ones, our heart was filled to overflowing with the burning love of God, and the joy of fellowship with the saints. Glory to God in the highest! What a meetimg; what shouts ascended into the ears of God. We had been unwell some days in the City, and feeling half sick on the train, but as soon as we breath­ed the God-pervaded atmosphere of that beautiful pine grove, all our infirmities fled away, and we could shout the praises of God in a sound body. How hallowed and sweet the recollection of God’s blesings upon that ground one year ago! How dear to our heart the precious chambersin brother and sister Carmichael’s tent, where we often spent, much of the brief interval between the three daily services, in near­ly all of which the Lord used us to read and teach His holy Word to the dear saints. Bless God! In that precious re­treat, He daily filled our soul, and recu­perated the wasted energies of our body and mind, so that we could stand and feed the Lord’s sheep. Praise God! we found the same little sanctum prepared for us again. Thank God! there were plenty to share the work of the Gospel ministry this year.

The blessed Holy Spirit, wrought in the hearts of the people, from the first ser­vice to the close of the meeting. On Tuesday Sept. 3d we went to the stream a mile from the camp, and immersed 14 of the dear happy saints of God. It was a glorious and wonderful time. The Spir­it of the Living God was poured out in mighty power. Some went down into the water shouting the high praises of God, and nearly all leaped and shouted as they came forth from the symbolic grave. What glory shone in the faces of those blood washed ones. The place was one of beautiful scenery. On either side the stream, stood the dense and lofty pine. And as this bloodwashed company faced the stream, with their eyes lifted toward God, and their faces all lit up with heaven’s glow, and sang the sweet songs of redemption, we were reminded of Bunyan’s company of pilgrims, that stood in white robes, awaiting their invi­tation to cross to the celestial paradise.

When sister Clayton, from Pittsburg, arose out of the water, she stood motion­less, with her eyes turned upward; when the heavens came down to her view. She saw into the glory of paradise. Her soul was filled with the heaven of peace. Mother Frost, who had been a Wesleyan Methodist member for, I believe over forty years, and who had experienced peace, and pardon during the meeting, when we were starting away from the stream, concluded to obey the Lord Jesus Christ, and was buried with Him in bap­tism. The Lord bless her soul.

Do we astonish you when we say that while sinners were melted to tears, by the power of God daring the baptism, and said, “this is the right why, this is the right way,” an appostate, and hypocrite preaher by the name of Wm. Moore, stood back and spake against “this way” of the Lord. Woe unto such “empty clouds,” wandering stars, wells without water.” Another apostate Free Methodist preach­er by the name of Spear, from Franklin, came to the meeting with his heart full of sect idolatry, and hypocrisy, undertook to withstand the “two edged sword,” was thrust through with the same, proved guilty of lying by several witnesses; and having thus received the sop, went immediately out of the camp and departed. As it is written, “Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.” — Isa. 13:15. We mention these names becaue it is our duty, to warn all saints against them, and for the destruc­tion of their own flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Je­sus. Our prayer to God shall be for their recovery to God and salvation.

On Tuesday night, we all gathered in­to Bro. and Sister Farrah’s house and obeyed the sacred commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, to “wash one another’s feet, and the communion of the Lord’s supper. O the hallowed and heart melt­ing presence of the Lord! Glory to His name! The next day the closing was appointed for 2 P. M. Two souls were sanctified. The nest morning our beloved companions in the Gospel of God, and in the “kingdom and patience of Jesus,” Bro. and sister Fisher, took their departure, to return home, by way of Cleve­land and cross the Lake to Detroit. Bro. Fisher was quite sick when we readi­ed the grove, and after having been strengthened several times to preach the Word, he was finally, and instantaneously, healed, by faith and the laying on of hands. The next evening the healing power was mightily upon him and four of the dear saints wore healed of various diseases and old complaints. In the ear­ly part of the meeting Bro. and sister Frost’s little girl was healed of a very bad case of catarrh. The morning Bro. and sister Fisher left, the Lord woke us up between three and four o’clock in the morning, and lead us forth into the woods to commune with Him. Our mind was led to ask for a more perfect faith. Praise God He gave it. Early we walked to Bro. Farrah’s house, where we found sister Clayton very sick with sick head ache. In the name of the Lord we laid hands on her head, and she was imme­diately healed by faith in Jesus. Several others of the saints were healed that day. Bro. Hiram Carmichael who had been deaf in one ear, received his hear­ing in the same. Prase the Lord.

One evening Bro. and sister Fisher and ourself, went home with Bro. and sister Frost. Sister Owen lives a close neighbor to them. Her daughter had two days be­fore been taken sick. That night she was taken very bad, she suffered extremely. Mr. Owen wished to go for the doctor, but Lula begged her pa to send for us. Though he had been extremely preju­diced against us by some ungodly secta­rian neighbors, he could not refuse the wish of his suffering child. He gave his consent, and at 2 o’clock, we were called up and went to the house in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Lula had been praying the Lord to forgive her sins, and seems to have found pardon: but she was an awful sufferer. Bro. F. and our­self lay hands upon her, and in less than a minute her awful suffering ceased, and she rested until morning. Her body gradually recovered strength, and two days later she was out to the meeting. Praise the Lord O my soul! The power of God since then so softened the heart of brother Owen that he has turned to serve the Lord: his heart is so changed that he not only loves God, but us also. May God bless the dear brother and ful­ly save him for Christ’s sake.

There Were 13 healed by faith of the Son of God, and about 25 fuly saved; some of whom were both converted and sanctified wholly. Praise God for all the glorious things He has done for the dear saints at this meeting. O praise the Lord for the wonderful bond of love that binds our hearts together in the Son of God. Blind sectarians ask us, “What have you got to bind you together.” We reply by asking them, “What have you got to part us assunder?” O bless God for the balm in this union. We never know the strength of the divnie bonds of love, until all the sect bonds of the devil are cast away, and we are led to suffer together for the Gospel of God and the name of Jesus. O happy bond of perfect love, which hinds all the pure in heart to God, and to each other!

Friday morning the saints from Pitts­burg, and ourself hid farewell to the dear saints, some of whom accompanied us to Stonesboro where we all took train, they for their Sodom City home, and we for Greenville Pa. where the Lord had arranged for a grove meeting for us.

May the boundless goodness and grace of God fill and keep all those beloved ones in Pa. Bros. G. T. and Wm. Clayton, and brother Alfred Swartz of Allegbeney, have given themselves wholly to the work of the Lord. O what a meeting there will be in glory when all the dear ones shall gather home. O praise God!

Daniel.

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The Battle at Greenville Pa.

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At the Sandy Lake C. M. A true saint from this place, invited us here, to preach the Kingdom of God. The Spirit led, and God’s providence permitted us to do so. A grove was seated in the country. We went up on Friday, that evening spake the Word of God to a large audience on the streets of Greenville, had two faithful wit­nesses to help sing and testify the Gospel of the grace of God. There was excellent attention, and many seemed effected by the truth. One poor drunken man made disturbance, hut the people took him away, and made him be silent: all seemed intent on hearing the Word of God. Sat­urday P.M. and evening services in the grove. Sabbath A.M. we spake about two hours and a quarter: in the afternoon put in about three hours and twenty minutes, reading, and preaching the awfull Word of God. There were many who did not give attention, as it was in the days of Noah. But a good many heard us clear through, and were solemnly impressed; no one came to the altar, nevertheless we found a great many serious persons after meeting. We appointed a meeting for Monday P. M. at which time we expected several to consecrate and he saved, but the rain prevented a meeting. We praise Goff for having sent us here. We are confi­dent that much good was done. One brother who had been wonderfully con­verted and blessed, actually made an appointment at a school house and talked to the people by the Holy Spirit. People were moved, and asked the man to speak again. But he consulted his M. E. Priest, who told him, it would never do in the world for him to attempt to speak, and ex­hort without license, and if he did so he would be brought up and tried. The poor man was sacred down, and was on hack ground; but his eyes being opened to the dragon, he promised us to rededicate him­self to God, and go straight forward in Gods will: may God bless and help him, to render to her double. Such is the per­nicious work of the devil, under the mask of what he calls, “our Church.” We hope, in the providence of God to return to Greenville again. A sister told us that we would receive persecution for pay. Well praise God we were well remuner­ated in that kind of curency, for Christs sake. Bless the Lord it has brought the “leap and rejoice,” with “the Spirit of Glo­ry and of God,” in our soul. After the grove meeting, we spake again upon the streets of Greenville, to a very large crowd of attentive hearers.

WONDERFUL DELIVERANCE.

FROM THE HANDS OF A HUMAN
BEAST, WHO SOUGHT TO
beat us to death.

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Glory to that God who is able to deliver us, from the hands of all our enemies.

“Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.” Isa. 5:11, 22. The mingling of different kinds of strong drink, is pernicious, but no mixture is so bastifying, as the mixture of had whisky, and the wine of the wrath of the fornication of babylon.

After preaching in a grove three miles from Greenville Pa, Saturday night Sept. 6, we walked a mile and a half fo find rest for the night. The mother and two of the family are fully saved. But the husband, is intemperate, and desperately wicked, He does not often stop with the family, as the little home belongs to one of the sons, who, with his brothers, afford pro­tection to their mother, against his abuse. The wretched man had been drinking liquor through the day, and was also well filled with the wine of babylon’s wrath, received from his sectarian neighbours, who hate any child of God, that “lives Godly in Christ Jesus,” out side of her pales. He seems to have come liquored up on purpose for a row. After entering the house, the frenzied man assaulted us with shocking oaths, and threats. He was desparate. Just in that state of intoxication in which he had more than his usual strength, and maddened beyond all reason. He soon struck me with all force in the forhead! but through God his blow was not more than a ball of cotton. We praised the Lord. And feeling a deep concern for the wicked man’s soul, we dropped upon our knees in the middle of the room, raised our hands and began to pray for him. But this enraged satan more than ever. He seized a large rocking chair, and slamed it down on us with all vengence, but through the Lord Jesus Christ, our upli­fted hands turned it off with ease. The storms of oaths and slamming of furniture was terrific, It looked as though there would not be a whole piece left in the room. The infuriated man grabbed acommon wood bottom chair by the hack, and struck down twice or three times at my head, which was safely shielded dy the hand of the Lord. Glory to God in the highest! our soul was filled with great peace in the midst of the storm; we had not the slight­est fear of suffering harm. The kind wife, and a daughter that was gloriously sancti­fied at Sandy Lake C. M. tried to protect ns, when the latter received a heavy blow on the shoulder from the chair, the legs having been threshed of by previous blows, making it all the better to maid with, seeing that they were in danger of being hurt in our protection, we arose and began to retreat. The savage monster followed us out of the yard, and some rods on the road, with awfull curses, and open threats that he would kill us. Glory to the God of our salvation! there was not a hair of our head hurt, not a scratch or mark upon our body; The next morning we felt our right wrist, was slightly sprain­ed. by sloping the terrible blows, but it soon disappeared. The man soon left, shortly after which his large son came, whose delay furnished the intoxicated man his opportunity for an onslaught. Praise God! the Lord led me to do just as I have: preached what a holy man should do, when thus assaulted, commit our life to God, fear no evil, and let Him be glori­fied in our death or deliverance, as He shall choose. Fearing the man might re­turn that night, and our presence excite to deeds of violence, upon the family. One of the hoys and ns, went to the barn to sleep, but we spent the night in thanksgiv­ing to God for his sweet deliverance. Sur­ly it is safe to trust God always.

Daniel.

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Correspondence.

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Waukon Iowa, Aug. 15th ‘84.

Dear Brethren: — I have been thinking of writing a letter for the Trumpet. The last one before this, I thought was so good, that I felt like giving in my testimony for it. Now as I have just received Aug 1st, and its contents are such rich food for my soul. I must say I love the Trumpet, I can hardly let it alone until it is read through. Praise the Lord tor good wholesome food, that we can relish and grow thereby, and thrive. Amen! Halleluiah! Glory to God! I am not very rich in this world’s goods, but I will do what I can, to help on the work of the Lord, I know the Lord wants ns to use all our means for Him, and all I have is consecrated to Him to be used to His glory. I be­lieve in adorning myself as the holy women of old adorned themselves. “Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of plating the hair, and of wearing of gold, or putting on of appearel: but let it be the bidden man of the heart, in that which is not crruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the ho­ly women also, who trusted in God, adorned them­selves being in subjection unto their own husbands.” Now dear Bro. Warner, I sympathize with you, in your trial, but we have this blessed assurance when all our friends forsake us the Lord will take us up. Blessed be His holy name. It rejoices my heart to read so many sympathizing testimonies.

Your sister in Jesus. 

C. A. Barham.

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St. Johns Mich., Aug. 7th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — I am well and saved and washed in the alcleansing blood, and treading the heavenly road happy as the day is long. I have no bad complaints to bring. Halleluiah! I am so glad that I am one that is taking the narrow way with you, and all the dear saints in light. I am dispised and rejected and forsaken of men but elected of God and precious. Halleluiah to God and His dear Son and my Redeemer. Well I wish I could help the Lord’s paper and His saints, at Williamston, but He has called me in another di­rection, and I cannot use money to push God’s cause, but I can use my voice and my strength to talk of His wonderful love and salvation. Pray for me that my tallent in this direction may grow ex­ceedingly. If you want to send me some of your tracts, I will sell as many as I can.

Yours, saved and kept.

Edwin B. Lyon.

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Baldwin Douglas Co. Kan. July 23.

Dear Brethren: — I desire to inform you of the great benefit I have derived from read­ing your “Bible proofs.” It helped me more than any thing else I read on the subject of sanctification, to understand what the doctrine meant, and to con­vince my judgement that it was taught in the bible, and so presented the subject that by divine grace, I was enabled to lay hold by faith upon the promise that the blood of Jesus His Son cleanseth me from all sin. I am grateful to God for the help derived from your work, and as I have means and oppor­tunity, I love to lend and distribute it, where I think it will help others to a knowledge of this much neglected doctrine. Respectfully.

Mrs. M. A. Ives.

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Beardstown Ill., Aug. 24. 1884.

Dear Brethren: — Enclosed is 50 cts. toward the Trumpet. Hope it may not fail to give a certain sound. May you ever lean on the strong arm of the ever living God, and be hid away in the cleft of the Rock, Christ Jesus. Shun not to declare the whole council of God. Have faitn in God and push the battle. Your Bro. in the faith.

R. D. Whitaker.

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Salisbury Mo., Aug. 12th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — I have just dropped you a few lines on a card, but I feel God wants me to say a little more on this line. Bro., I see that I like your views on the Church, question. How I would subscribe for your paper but I am on the wing for God nearly all the time and have no loca­tion. So if you will send me papers I will circu­late them and get as many subscribers as possible in my meetings. We (my brother J. B. Creighton and I) will hold a Tabernacle meeting in this City at present. Bro., I pray God to open the eyes of the Highway, and all the rest of the Compromising pa­pers in the land. Bro., may God be with you in your great trial. Yours, saved.

D. M. Creighton.

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South Haven Mich., Aug. 25th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — Grace and peace be multiplied unto you. I praise God for a perfect salvation. Glory to God. The meeting of the saints was one of success: there was perfect unity, victory over the devil. Those that have gone through the fire and stand the test, have come out bright, and are firm and praising God: while those that are backsliding are finding fault. God will have a tried people, and will try each one by the square and plane. Those that will not be squared, and hear the rule of God’s Word, must be cut off. Those that will not bear fruit after they have been dug around and watered, must be cut off, because they are standing where some fruit-bearing tree ought to be standing. Then let the separating process go on, until the dross is all taken out. When we sort out apples for the winter, we will not lay up one that has the least spot of rotten on it. God is sorting out His people and every one that has a spot of deception on them, cannot be laid up for heaven, but will be thrown out with the rotten ones. Tobacco is one of the spots. Sectarianism is an­other: Pride is another: Jealoussy is another. Six things the Lord hates, and the seventh is an abomination. Turn to Prov. 6:16-20. I have a few names for the Trumpet, expect more names soon.

From your Bro. saved and sanctified.

S. Michaels.

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McBrides Mich. June 1.

Dear Brethren: — We are living for the Lord. We enjoy ourselves very well, in our new home, more especially because we know our names are written in heaven. O how necessary it is to search the scriptures. Many here claim they do not believe in sanctification, How can such claim to believe the bible at all, whoa this great truth is so plainly taught. I believe that when men are true and honest in heart, and willing to know the truth, they will be lead right into holiness of heart; and then they will “walk by the same rule,’’ mind the same things and be “followers together of God.” “He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one.” “As He is so are we in this world.” I am sanctified and washed in the blood of the Lamb; and am not afraid to tell it. The Bible says “Perfect love casteth out fear.” we are very thankful for the Trum­pet, and we will help to support it. Your Brother.         

Zadok Howe.

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Petoskey Mich. May 19th 1884.

Dear Brethren: — This morning finds me resting by faith; victorious over the powers of evil, through the boundless grace of God. For several weeks past I have been wholly absorbed in the study of God’s word. All other reading matter, ex­cept such as expound the Word, seem utterly insig­nificant I am asking the Lord constantly to impart unto me the knowledge of His holy will. I am living by faith, have claimed what I ask for, and ex­pert that the desire of my heart shall be realized. I Walked one mile to the M. E. meeting house yesterday, without any fatigue, which was in strange con­trast with what my physical condition for years past. O I do praise God for so wonderfully healing me. I heard quite a good, sermon, which I think came from the heart, but it was far from God’s order in the fullness of Gospel privileges. The rustle of silks and sattins, the show of feathers, flowers, and jewelry, solemnly impressed my mind with a peo­ple that are clinging to a hope of heaven without a foundation. In the class meeting however, some gave evidence of a sincere life. God gave me great liberty in speaking, and urging all to make a com­plete consecration to God, receive the grace of heart purity, and baptism of the Holy Ghost power.

There has been fwo cases of healing since I wrote to you. A very feeble lady came from Detroit three months ago, to try the climate. Her friends thought she would not live long. Three weeks ago she was led to claim healing by faith. She arose, dressed, and walked to church and back. Grew stronger cotinually, and in a few days returned to Detroit. Another daughter of an M. E. lady was healed, after an illness of several months. Her mother was so effected when she took my hand yes­terday that she could not speak.

My experience was published in the Petoskey news papers, and has been the topic of much talk. I think it has given, many new aspirations toward life of faith. There is a young lady in Petoskey who has been sick ten years, she has been referred to my case, and I am requested to present her case to the Lord. I hope to visit her. Others have been convicted of sin and are seeking the Lord. I think there is a harvest for you to gather for the Lord here. People are enquiring if you will not come and hold a meeting here.          Your Sister saved.

Josephine Courtney.

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Lee Aug. 29th 1884.

Dear Brethren: — I once more come to you saved and sanctified, washed and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. All glory to His name. I must tell you brother Fisher and brother Warner, God has been so good to me He has blessed me abundantly. He has called my son that was at the camp meeting. The day he was fourteen years old he started to serve the Lord. He is now saved and sanctified. O glory be to God for His mighty power! I am still praying for my oldest son. I have faith the Lord will save him, that we may be an unbroken family. We wore all at the Bangor Camp Ground to meeting the 16-17 of Aug. We had a glorious meeting. The Lord was with us in power. Bro. Michaels was here in Lee the last, of July and held meeting Saturday evening and Sunday, and Bro. Speck baptized six more that desired to fulfill the commandments of our Lord and Mas­ter. I do praise God every day and every hour, that I am dead to this world, so eternally dead, that I do not care what is said aganst me. It makes no difference to me at all. I am all given up to Jesus. I am His and He is mine. Glory be to God! it is enough for me to know that I am all the Lord’s, ready and willing to go when He calls. Praise the holy name of Jesus. Please find enclosd one Dollar for the Trumpet. I would not be with­out my Trumpet. I like it better than I ever did the Ledgers. Enclosed 85 cts. for Hymns.

I remain your Sister in Christ. Saved by the blood,

Cornelia Hildebrandt,

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Geneva Center Mich., Aug 26th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — May God bless you abundantly always, is the prayer of your brother and. sister in Christ. We are saved and sanctified in spite of all the adversary can say or do. Praise God O my soul, for His keeping power. We had a meeting at Sheldon school house last Lord’s day, and five were baptized. O praise God He was with us in power and might. Halleluiah to His name. Many hardened sinners said it was the most solemn place they were over at, to a Baptizing. O glory to His name for the power he bestows on us. God only knows what wonderful trials I have passed through, since last I saw your face: but praise God they worked for a more exceeding glory. O dear brethren pray for me for all hell is waged against my soul, but I know I shall come off more than conqueror, for He has promised me He would not allow me to be tempted more than I am able to bear. Praise God O my soul, for that promise stands firm, and God is with us in power. Enclosed find $0 50 for the Trumpet. After people thresh, we will see what they can do for the Trumpet. May Gob bless you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places is the prayer of all the saints here at this place. Amen!     Your Bro. in Christ, saved, srnctified and cleansed in the Blood.

W. B. Grover.

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Bellfontain O., Sept, 1st ’84.

Dear Brethren: — May the Lord pre­serve you, Spirit, soul, and body blameless until the coming of the Lord Jesus. O it is my heart’s desire that Israel may be saved. My cry is, here am I, send me. O praise the Lord. I am saved from sects. I am accepting the truth as it is in Jesus. I am standing slone, Christ is my satisfying portion. O my prayer is that the Lord may provide a way for me to get to the assembly meeting. I am very poor and have not the means to come. I do long to meet with the saints in Michigan. Pray that the Lord may open a way for me to get there, I want ro be healed. My faith is strong, I believe in Jesus. I want the dear saits is to pray for my companion: he is unsaved I want you to pray that he may be saved, the prayers of the righteous availeth much. I like your paper. I cadorse every bit of it, it is indeed one of God’s flying rolls.

By faith in Christ. I walk with God.

Aliee Moors.

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Industry Ill., Aug. 13th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — God bless you and all of God’s children. I got hold of the Trumpet, and it did my soul good to read it. Enclosed find 25 cts for the Trumpet three mouths. I am working for God part of my time, pray for me that God way bless my work where ever I go. God holds me straight in the one body, in Christ, and keeps me holy, Bro. Warner, I would like to have you come to Industry and hold a meeting. We have got a good hall, well scatd down stairs, for meeting here. Let me know if you can come and hold meeting for us. Go! bless you and keep you is my prayer.

W. D. Janey.

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Sedalia Mo.. Aug. 26th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — I greatly desire just such a papers us you publish. I saw one copy that some one sent to a gentleman of this communi­ty. I am so anxious for spiritual food, of the right kind, that I thought I would write and obtain one copy if possible. My husband and I both have ac­cepted the truth. I want your paper, and will feel very grateful for it. I will do all I can to get sub­scribers and circulate it.

From one that hungers and thirsts for truth.

Mrs. V. W. Haggard.

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Three Rivers Mich., Aug. 27th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — I praise God for a full and complete salvation, that keeps me sweetly saved all the time. O glory to God and the Lamb forever! “It we walk in the light as he is in the light, wehave fellowship one with another; and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Glory to God for His salvation just now. “He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in Him: and hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.’’ Amen. Enclosed one dollar tor the Trumpet, and fitly cents for tracts entitled “Christ is the Body, the Church.” May God bless you all.

Leroy Burden.

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Herbst Grant Co. Ind.’ Aug. 28th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — Grace be unto you, and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ the first and the last, the wodnerful Sav­ior, to whom be glory, dominion ana power, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen. Dear Brethren in love, and in patience, I feel impressed by the Holy Spirit, to write to you again in the name of Jesus of Nazereth, concerning the “common salva­tion,” which was taught by the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Apostles first. And they received severe per­secutions’ and even buffered death for the sake of the pure Gospel. And we find that in these last day’s men “will not endure sound doctrine,” but will have teachers that will turn out the true worshipers of God, and give their voice against them. But blessed be the name of the Lord, we are worthy to be separated for His sake. Halleluiah to the Lamb of God, that says our reward is great. I am gaining ground. Halleluiah. Bro. William Bragg, and I have quite a glorious time together, in the work of the Lord, and in the midst of the sects, creeds, and isms of men. And glory to God we have the promise that five can and will chase a hundred, and “an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight.” Lev. 20. Bro. Will, and I do stand free from all sects of men. And Sister Bragg is almost persuad­ed to leave the Mthodist sect. We are praying for her, and want you to pray for her, that she may be delivered from the mark of the beast. She has ob­tained sanctification, but she does not enjoy herself as she did. O Lord Jesus save her. Amen.

We have been trying and are still trying to hold up the true doctrine, and commands of Christ. But with one accord (by their actions) they say NO, NO. We wont have this man Christ to rule over us, nor such strait doctrine. We can’t swallow it. More­over they say by their mouth, “who then can be saved” by your doctrine, for one day while I was teaching that men and women should become dead to the lusts of the flesh, and become clean from la­sciviousness, and be “harmless as doves,” and be come as little children,” (At this time and place there was a Methodist classleader) who rolled laughed, mocked and spake many grievous works against “the Holy ones of Israel.” And he went and told all that I had taught, so that I was pre­sented worse and worse. But Glory to God in the highest, I want to be like Caleb and Joshua. We are able to go and possess that good land of promise. O brethren let us praise God with one accord, with a pure heart, and keep ourselves unspotted from the world, the flesh and the devil. The Lord has pow­er to presrve us from all evil and keep us whiter than snow. We have been trying to get houses to hold meetings in, and they nearly all say no, by word or action. But thanks be to God we can have meeting in our own houses, just as long as the Lord lets us stay in them, for we have dedicated all that we have to the Lord. But we are worthy to worship God in caves and in dens etc. Praise the Lord for­evermore, Amen, Satan is terrible mad at the Gos­pel news, that is bearing down his babylon sects.

O I do pray that God may stir up the true saints, that are able to pay on the expenses or sending the Trumpet over the land, but one thing I do know by experience, that the world and the sect mem­bers hate us. And if they could, thy most of them would starve us. I can see how they shy around me more than common, and work against me, and when I have a loss they seem to rejoice. But blessed be the name of Jesus, when I go to the saints, then I am welcome, if but a log house and but little to eat. O dear beloved, I have heard and read of the troubles that you have had to endure. O don’t give up, held fast to the form of sound doctrine, and don’t give satan nor sect any hold on you. Use sound speech that connot be condemned. Keep yourselves pure and in the love of God, and always keep one verse in your minds. Phil. 3, 8. And ‘count all things but loss for the excellency of Christ Jesus our Lord, and court them but dung, that I may win Chrst,” for without Jesus we cam do nothing. Amen.

Isaac Key.

Salem Iowa, Aug. 31st ’84.

Dear Brethren: — I am just home from Madisonville and Hannibal Mo. Found the saints enjoying and ready to receive light. The Lord is my Everlasting light, hence my Sun stands still. I have come to where time is no more but an eternal now in the grandure of the Lord. — Isa. 60:20. Rev. 10:6. Truly the mystery of God will soon be finished. Missouri is a white field, ready for the harvest. Affliction in my family keeps me at home at present. Pray for us. Hope if it be in God’s order you or Bro. Fisher, or both may come here this fall or winter.

W. W. Roberts.

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Grand Junction. Aug 4th ’84.

Dear Brethren: — With the Lord to lead me I write you. Wo are well, and glory to God, I am saved and sanctsfied. Oh praise God for a salvation that makes us free in Christ! I hope these few lines, will find you proclaiming the truth of Jesus. Oh we had such a glorious meet­ing here, although the devil got awfully stired up; he spread himself like a green bay tree. I praise God for complete vic­tory, over the flesh and the devil, I thank God, for Brother Speck, telling me of my faults. Braise God for victory in my soul this morning! and for a complete salvation, that saves me from all sin. Glory to His name! My husband is still striving to do good, he is not fully given up yet but I do believe he with. Oh praise God! My home is so much happier, than it was; I cant thank the Lord enough, for what he has done for my family. The rest of the little ones, are doing well. With Gods grace helping me, I will hold on to the end. Having on the whole armor of God, I can fight any wav through. Glory to His name forever.

Mary Griffin.

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Victory At Last.

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BY MRS. B.M.ISHAM.

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When Jesus sent the Apostles out into the world, on their first mission; He aptly compared them to sheep among wolves. He said smite the Shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered,” and warned them that they should he ‘‘hated of all” and in the world find tribulation. He as­sured them that no one who loved sin would love them-that men in general would be lovers of pleasure more than lov­ers of God, and therefore would be their bitter, and unrelenting opponents. He gave them due notice of the fact, that the tenderest of human ties would be perverted, and their bitterest enemies would be found in their own household, even among their relatives and dearest friends. The Saviour, loving and true, hid not from them the darkest part of the picture. “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” We are all familiar with this. We know that not one dark shade did the Saviour omit, not one single thing did He misrep­resent: yet He promised them the victory. Bless the Lord. All things should work together for good, and out of thevery depth of tribulation should be opened a highway to heaven. Living they should be success­ful laborers, and dying triumphant mar­tyrs. Peace within was His legacy-an eternal weight of glory, His promise to the faithful. The world is no more friendly to day to the ancient gospel of Jesus Christ than it was in the days of the apos­tles. Hand is still joined in hand; heart still communes with heart, to work, and to plot against the holy child Jesus. Anti­christs are still in the world. Sins that will damn the soul, are sugar coated under the name of innocent amusements. The world, and the so called church have join­ed hands. His authority and law have be­come obsolete. And it seems as if, a huge tidal wave from below, would sweep away the walls of Zion, and inundate the garden of the Lord. But will they succeed? Will the Gospel fail? The Church be defeated? and sin win the battle? Never. Jesus has said, “Upon this Bock, I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” My brother, my sister, hear that and rejoice. Thank God for it. If hell is against us, Christ is for us, and just so certain will the righteous cause pre­vail. Let the battle then go on. It is for Christ and the gospel, we are fighting: not for human opinions, not to build some contemptible house; but to build the temple of the Lord most High. Gird on the arm­or, ye old soldiers of the cross. Draw the sword again and show how victories were won in days of yore. Let your aged lips sound out the battle cry, and God will give you the satisfaction of seeing’ ye have not lived in vain. Forward brother and sister: Jesus beckons on. We cannot fail if we do his work, preach his Gosple and live for him. Jesus can do without us, but we cannot do without Him He must and will reign. Let us go on with the work. Let men laugh, rage, oppose or curse, the saints need not fear them. There is victory at last, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The Lord Omnipotent Reigneth Amen.

Wheatfield. Mich.

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FASHION.

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PRESIDENT FINNEY.

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When people join the Church, they pro­fess to give up the spirit that gives rise to the fashions. They profess to renounce the pomp and vanities of the world, to repent of their pride, to follow the meek and lowly Savior, to live for God. And now, what do they do? You often see profess­ors of religion go to the extreme of the fashion. Nothing will satisfy them that is not in the hight of fashion. A Christian female dress-maker who is concientiously opposed to the following of fashions, cannot get her bread. She cannot get employment even among professing Christian ladies, unless she follows the fashions in all their countless changes. God knows it is so, and they must give up their business if their concience will not permit them to follow the changes of fashion.

This conformity is a broad and complete approval of the spirit of the world.

What is it that lies at the bottom of all this shifting scenery? What is the cause that produces all this gaudy show, and dash and display? It is the love of ap­plause. And when Christians follow the changes of fashion, they pronounce all this innocent. All this waste of money, and time and thought, all this feeding and cherishing of vanity and the love of applause, is not of God, but of the world.

Nay, further, another reason is that fol­lowing the fashions of the world, professing Christians show that they do in fact love the world.

They show it by their conduct, just as the ungodly show it by the same conduct. As they act alike, they give evidence that they are actuated by one principle, the love of fashion.

When Christian professors do this, they show most clearly that they love the praise of men.

It is evident that they love admiration and flattery, just as sinners do. Is not this inconsistent with Christian principle, to go right into the very things that are set up by the pride and fashion and lust of the ungodly?

Conforming to the world in fashion, you show that you do not hold yourself ac­countable to God for the manner in which you lay out money.

You practically disown your stewardship of the money that is in your possession. By laying out money to gratify your own vanity and lust, you take off the keen edge of that truth which ought to cut that sinner in two, who is living to himself. It is practically denying that the earth is the Lord’s with the cattle on a thousand hills, and all to be employed for His glory.

How suppose a person loved God and the souls of men, and the kingdom of Christ, does he need an express prohibition from God to prevent him from spending his money and his life in following, the fashion? No, indeed, he will rather need a positive injunction to take what is needful for his own comfort and the support of his own life. Take the ease of Timothy. Did he need a prohibition to prevent him from indulging in the use of wine? So far from it, he was cautious that it required an express injunction from God to make him drink a little as a medicine. Although he was sick, he would not drink it till had the word of God for it; he saw the evils of it so clearly. Now show me a man or a woman, I care not what their professions are, that follows the fashions of the world, and I will show you what spirit they are of.

If professing Christians would show their contempt for these things, and not pretend to follow them or regard them, how it would shame the world, and convince the world that they are living for another object, — for God and for eternity! How irresistible it would be! What an overwhelming testimony in favor of Bible religion!

What thunders it would pour into the ears of the world, to wake them up to follow after God.

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