3 November 1892, Volume 12, Number 44.

Divine Providence.

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I own a providence supreme, divine,
Has ruled and overruled this life of mine;
Yea, ruled in all that Heaven’s love bestows.
O’erruled in that from ill-intending foes,
But o what mystery Vailed all Ids polley,
And made this life a solemn wonder!

To usee the mystle path my feet have trod,
And note how every step is marked of God,
How mercy hovered o’er my single blank
Till at love’s throne my haughty spirit sank,
And saw my pardon free,
Flow down from Calvary,
Unlocks my bosom’s greatful fountain.

But greater, wider, higher, O my Lord!
My humble walk with Thee unfolds thy word;
Unfolds thy plentitude of love and grace,
And helps thy hand in providence to trace,
And yet high o’er my soul,
Like ocean billows roll
Unsolved, ten thousand sacred wonders.

I bless Thee, O Thou wise and loving Guide!
That thou didst lead to full salvation’s tide,
And there my heart didst wash in crimson blood,
Restore into the image of my God.
Henceforth my soul hath been
The palace of a King;
The joyful place of royal banquet.

And I, who kingly honors never dreamed,
Am raised with him who hath my soul redeemed,
To jointly reign on love’s eternal throne,
His peace, and joy, and glory all my own.
O mystery Providence!
Why lavishly dispense
Thy gifts on one so meanly suited!

Lord Jesus, when I retrospect my life
Down through the varied scenes of mortal strife,
At every change I stand in wonder wrapt,
How Thou hast saved and used, and blessed and kept,
And by thy blood hast bought
A thing of utter naught;
And wed may all the angels marvel.

D. S. W.

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TWO WORKS OF GRACE PROVEN.

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THAT two works of grace are taught in the scriptures is evident; which we will endeavor to set forth by the help of the Lord.

This is a subject much perverted and abused by many, but nevertheless it is a doctrine of the Bible. It is not our motive to make assertions that we cannot prove by the Bible, nor do we advocate a theory that is not orthodox. But by the guidance of the the Holy Spirit we will make the subject plain for every truth- seeker. Jesus, when he was here, promised to send one that would be a teacher and guide into all truth. Now let us prove by the word of God that he made this promise, and that it reaches down to us, even to this present time. Let us read Jno. 14:15, 16. — “If ye love me, keep my commandments: and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever: even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” Now the Comforter is the Holy Spirit, as we will sec in verse 26. — “But the Comforter which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” That he will guide us, we will see in ch. 16:13. “Howbeit, when He. the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.” Jesus says, God’s word is truth. And that the Holy Spirit is for God’s children at the present time, as well as in the days of the apostles, we will see by reading Acts 2:38, 39 — “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” This reaches even down to us; and we claim the promise to day; and by faith have the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, the guide and teacher in the word of eternal truth. Therefore we need pot be confounded, nor misconstrue any of the word of God.

There are many false teachers and deceitful workers, transforming themselves into teachers of holiness; professing to be the apostles of Christ: but deny the second work of grace, ridiculing and misrepresenting those that do believe. But as Paul said, it is no wonder; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. — 2 Cor. 11:13-15. These same false teachers, we once heard preach a second work of grace, leap and shout, and praise God that they had been sanctified by a second work of grace, and that wicked men on earth, and devils in hell could not make them doubt it. But now they are going about denouncing what they once preached, as being of the devil, asking the people to forgive them for the way they preached; trying to get a few followers; deceiving the hearts of the simple. There is no doubt but what they were never sanctified, as their past lives plainly show. Poor souls! May God pity them. Because they were reproved for their sins by those that loved them, and rejected the admonition. God has given them over to hardness of heart and reprobacy of mind to believe a lie and be damned. They have afloat, a sheath drawn sheet of lies, at present: assuming to be The Sword of the Lord, which is false. The Bible teaches us that the sword of the Lord is the word of God. They are publishing upon its pages a continued article written by the editor, headed True Bible Holiness, and False Holiness Contrasted. He says in his Sept. No. “A critical examination of even passage of scripture used to prove the second work of grace, or cleansing, will show that the doctrine is without Bible foundation.” Then he proceeds to examine scriptures which he says are used as a proof of a second work, which he wrests to his own destruction, and to all that believe him. He tells us that “the pages of history even the history of the early apostolic church back to the resurrection of Christ, concerning the doctrine and worship of the early Christians, is as silent as the grave in regard to this second work of grace doctrine. The assertion is false.

The editors of this sheet do not agree as to the time of the origin of the second work theory. One of them says that Wesley was the originator and propagator of the theory and doctrine of entire sanctification, as a second work of grace. But another says that it is a Warner heresy. The one that made the last statement testified sometime ago that he had been sanctified by a second work of grace long before he had ever heard of Warner. Of course they get things mixed up as they have no one to lead them, but the devil, and he does not care how bad it is mixed, just so they believe it. It is impossible for one that is blind, to see, or one that is deaf to hear. The light that is in them is darkness. They can not therefore see what the scripture does teach. Jesus says, “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Some that have the darkness claim that when they came to the Lord, they offered themselves a living sacrifice, and were converted and wholly sanctified at the same time. And others that they were cleansed from inbred sin in regeneration, and afterwards received the Holy Ghost. These falsehoods are an abomination in the light of the whole Bible, which we will show by the help of the Lord. We refer to these things to warn every child of God, and every honest soul that may come in contact with those spirits of anti-christ. We expect by the help of the Lord to discuss, as God gives us ability, the two works of grace fully in the Bible Light.

We will now proceed to discuss the question. First let us define the TWO WORKS.

1. First work, signifies regeneration, which includes the pardon of all past sins, the removal of all guilt and condemnation, adoption into the family of God; son- ship; spiritual life, and a new moral nature, including all the Christian graces.

2. Second work, signifies sanctification, which includes the destruction of all the works of the devil; the restoration of man to the state of holiness from which he fell, by creating him anew in Christ Jesus, and restoring to him all that image and likeness of God which he lost in the fall of Adam. The Holy Ghost being the sanctifier. Rom. 15:16. We wish to make the statement before we proceed any further, that a justified life is a holy life; that is, we live without committing sin. A person who commits sin is not justified in the sight of God. Assumed teachers of holiness, who deny the second work of grace, falsely accuse us, saying, “The general opinion among the second work of grace professors, is, that holiness begins when entire sanctification takes place. I have heard those who did not claim sanctification, justifying themselves in committing sin, saying they did not claim holiness. This is an abomination in the sight of God, and the second work theory of a second cleansing to remove sin from the heart is responsible for it.” Now this is a bare falsehood in the face of holiness. There is no true teacher of holiness that teaches any such doctrine as this. To justify, means to absolve from guilt. If we sin we are guilty. If we are guilty we are not justified. Therefore to teach that we are sinners in justification is to teach a falsehood. In justification we are freed from all our past sins; all guilt and condemnation removed and we adopted into the family of God. “Well,” says the second work of grace fighter, “Where does your second cleansing come in?” Thou blind guide that perverteth and wresteth the word of God. Does not the Word teach us, 1 Jno. 1:7, that if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin?” “If we say we have no sin; we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Now John was talking to little children in Christ, young converts: as you will see in second chapter, verse one. “My little children these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.” That they were brethren, ver. 7. “Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you.” He called them children and also brethren. He did not tell them they were without sin or that they were perfected.” But he says in the 5th V. — But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. We see by the above scriptures plainly, that the apostle taught those brethren that if they walked in the light there would be a cleansing, also if they kept his Word there would be a perfecting, which corresponds with what Jesus said in Jno. 15:2. “Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” This shows us plainly that the branch is the child of God, and in Christ Jesus. It also shows us the branch, child of God, must first bear fruit, then be purged. The fruit of the Spirit, is love, joy, peace, etc. He purges the branch that it may bring forth more fruit. We are purged in regeneration, but not all, for he says that he will purge us, that we may bring forth more fruit, which signifies, we were bearing fruit before we were purged.

A sinner cannot bear good fruit Therefore the branch is not a sinner before it is purged the second time. “Well,” says the anti-second grace, “How can you say the second time?” Ans. From this fact, that it must have been purged prior to this time, because it was bearing fruit and was a branch of the true vine, and a sinner as we said before, cannot bear good fruit. Therefore he must have been purged from his actual sins, we mean the sins which he has committed. Purge signifies, to cleanse; to purify; to clear from guilt. The branch before it is grafted in, is first cleared from guilt by the washing of regeneration, afterwards purged from inbred sin, by the renewing of the Holy Ghost. — Titus 3:5. Which sin we are not accountable for until we have the knowledge of its existence in us. Hence all fruit-bearing branches, the Father purges, therefore a divine work, a second change. Could language more emphatically teach a second work of grace in cleansing from all sin than John. 15:2. “Can the sophistry of man, or the gates of hell overthrow these sayings of the Son of God?”

This scripture cannot be harmonized with the unbiblical theory that we are cleansed from all sin in regeneration. But it is in harmony with the following texts: — Eph. 4:22-24, That ye put off, * * * the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Also Rom. 7:14-25. Describing the carnal nature in man. Paul speaks of himself in the first person to show the Roman brethren that they were yet carnal. That the two natures were yet existing in them, and warring one against the other. Paul cries out in the 24th ver. “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The rudiments of death, the cause of sin, yet existed. The old man was yet alive, he was yet contending for his rights.

What must be done? Must he continue in this condition without any relief until death? No, thank God, we find him delivered. Gal. 2:20. — “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Here we see Paul free from the carnal nature. Carnal, signifies, belonging to the flesh; having the Adamic nature or roots of bitterness in the heart.

Now it is evident that carnality existed in some of the Corinthian brethren as we will see by reading 1 Cor. 3:1-4. — And I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? Paul addressed them as being sanctified. Now according to the reading they were not all sanctified. But we do not believe that they were committing willful sins. They were babes in Christ, and when Paul, Apollos and Cephas came among them to preach, some thought more of one preacher than the other, and so they said, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of Christ, and from this arose a division among them as to which one they should follow. They did not willfully get into this condition, but because of the carnal nature they were divided, and where division is, envy and strife is the fruit. For this reason Paul said, “Ye are yet carnal.” Paul did not say, Ye are of the devil; but he called them brethren. Now if they had been willful sinners, he could not have called them brethren; because, “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” Paul was a child of God, and if he knew they were the children of the devil he would not have called them brethren.

We hear Paul talking to the Hebrew brethren in the same manner: although he did not charge them with carnality, he said unto them, as he did to the Corinthian brethren, that they were babes, and were not able for strong meat. — Heb. 5. But he exhorts them, Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Paul taught these brethren, as well as the Corinthians that there was a deeper work of grace for them. He said in Chap. 4:16. — Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This epistle is full of divine life, and it teaches Two Works of Grace from begining to end. We will refer to this Epistle more fully, further on, as we treat on the degrees of grace.

What we wish to establish at present, is that the apostles did not charge these brethren at different places, as being sinners, but that they were babes, and had the old carnal nature in them which caused divisions to spring up among them, causing weakness and timidity. Then in the sixth chap. and first verse, he urges them to go on unto perfection, or in other words get sanctified, or purged from those things causing so much trouble.

Let us again read 2 Cor. 6:7. — “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also, that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” Paul taught them in this chapter, if they did not go on, that there was danger of being again entangled with the world. He therefore warns them not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; telling them also to come out from among them, and they would obtain great and precious promises. Then he says in 7:1, — Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. We cannot cleanse ourselves only by faith in the Son of God. The Holy Ghost will cleanse. Acts 15:8, 9. — And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost even as he did unto us: and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Read also 1 Thess. 4:3. — For this is the will of God, even your sanctification. What for? Ans. That ye should abstain from fornication. The Emphatic has it, under the Greek text, To abstain you from the fornication.

That the Thessalonians had been soundly converted before he had written this unto them cannot be doubted, for he calls them brethren, beloved, and further describes their religious condition thus: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” He also says, that they were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. What could be stronger evidence that they were converted and living sinless lives. Paul did not charge them with fornication, but he taught them the will of God, which was their sanctification, and that this sanctification would make a change in their whole spirit, and soul, and body, that would enable them to know how to possess their vessels, and that God is faithful to do it.

“Until indwelling sin is removed by the blood of Christ, there is much danger of the child of God being overthrown, in which case those particular vices which characterize their past life, are apt to resume their control.” This is why Paul urged these brethren on to sanctification, that they therefore might be sealed unto the day of redemption. So that “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” — Isa. 59:19. Also, that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. — Eph. 4:14.

(To be Continued.)

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Milton, Mo.

Dear Trumpet Readers: I will try to write my testimony this evening for the first time. I have been taking the Trumpet for some time, and oh how I do love to read the testimonies from all. This leaves me saved and sanctified to do God’s will. I am tempted and tried so many ways, but I praise the Lord that he is able to keep us from sin. Pray for me, that the way may be made plain to me. I am alone in our family. But I do trust Jesus for all things and he is able to keep me.

From your sister in Christ Jesus,

Loie VanGundy.

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Calvert, Miss.

Dear Saints: I feel that it would honor God this evening for me to write my testimony for the first time in my life. Praise God, I have been on this highway of holiness four years and the way grows brighter, and I expect by the grace of God to always be found faithful in all things. His word teaches us if we will be faithful over a few things he will make us ruler over many. Praise the Lord! My prayer is that God will wake up his people and let holiness abound throughout this broad and beautiful land. Let us get to work as we never have worked before. Don’t you see the fields are white to harvest? But oh, where are the laborers? Come, let’s you and I answer, Here am I, send me. We all have a place to fill, a work to do in the vineyard of the Lord. Then let us be up and be doing while we may, for we know not the hour when Jesus will come to take us away. May he not find us empty handed, but ready to hear him say, Well, done, thou good and faithful servant.

Your saved sister,

Lou Calvert.

Page 2

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EDITRIAL NOTES.

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The assembly meeting is still in progress at the camp ground near here. Souls are being saved and delivered from the powers of Satan. It will probably close about Nov. 7th.

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Blendon, Mich., Oct. 25, 1892.

A meeting is greatly desired in Blendon, Mich. Who can come and labor for souls? Another place close by hath an open door ready to hear the pure gospel preached. If any one of God’s ministers are led or the Lord to come to this place and want any particulars, address

Angus McDonald.

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THE CORRECT ORDER.

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A sister asks why the washing of the saints’ feet should be practiced before the Lord’s supper. She thinks that John 13:3, 4, show that it should be observed in the opposite order. To which we would say, first, the sister is laboring under a mistaken idea that the supper there mentioned is the Lord’s supper; it was the passover meal, as we see in the first verse. Second, the words “supper being ended,” is in most all other versions rendered, “supper having come,” in some, “during supper.” The former we think right because it agrees with the expression, “now before the east.” Before they had eaten the passover “he riseth from supper,” from the table around which they seemed to have reclined during the preparation. But by taking John 13 in connection with Matt. 26:17-30. and Mark 14:12-25. we clearly see the order of the two ordinances. In John 13, he washed their feet, explained and commanded the observance of the ordinance, and right after that he exposed Judas as the traitor, and Judas went immediately out. In Matthew and Mark, the Savior exposed the traitor, and right after that instituted the communion of the bread and the fruit of the vine. So the record of John is that washing feet came right before the exposure of Judas; and the record of Matt. and Mark is that the Lord’s supper came right after that exposure. So taking all their testimony together, we have the record of the night in this order. First he washed their feet. Second pointed out the traitor, third, gave the bread and the fruit of the vine. But we have nothing to do with Judas, so we have washing the saints’ feet first, the Lord’s supper second. And as further evidence that the bread and wine was given at the close of every thing else, observe that after that was done they remained no longer in the house. They sang a hymn and went out. Amen.

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ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

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1st. Please explain 1 Jno. 3:6. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him neither known Him.

2d. There is a Campbellite preacher here who teaches me that the scriptures need to be corrected, and tries to prove it by 2 Tim. 3:16. Please explain it. The text reads as follows: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Your sister in Christ,

Ira Kepford.

Ans. A good comment on the first text is found in the three following verses. He that doeth righteousness is righteous even as he [Christ] is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. These, with the verse in question, mean what they say, that a Christian is no sinner, yea doth not commit sin, and a sinner is no Christian. Hath not seen him neither known him — Ver. 6, means that that person has not become experimentally acquainted with Christ, as the personal Savior of his soul. He that knows Christ through regeneration — Jno. 3:3. — and entire sanctification, knows him as a perfect deliverer and preserver from sin. “Whom to know is life eternal.” Hence a person who sins, gives evidence that he has not yet acquainted himself with the Lord Jesus our Savior.

Second. It is very evident that the hearts and lives of Campbellite preachers and members are in sad need of correction, or else the scriptures must be radically corrected, for the two are very far from corresponding with each other. But the question is, which will have to submit to the change, the Bible or members of that dead, anti-holiness and antichrist sect? The position taken that the scriptures are profitable for us to correct, is an extreme abomination in the sight of God. To put such a construction on 2 Tim. 3:16, would lead to the conclusion that we should also doctor, reprove, correct, and instruct all scriptures in righteousness, for the terms, “doctrine,” “reproof,” “correction,” and instruction” all stand in the same position in the sentence. Of course any person of common sense and not utterly warped by the sentiments and sins of his sect will understand that the scriptures are profitable to us. to teach us sound doctrine, to correct us where we have been wrong, to reprove us wherein we have sinned, and to instruct us how to “live holy, righteous and godly in this present world.” That there are some slight mis-renderings in the various translations of the scripture is admitted, but a more perfect following of the original in every point, would not give license to commit a single sin, nor help any one to prove that a sinner is a Christian.

Recently in a depot, we had a conversation with one of the priests of that filthy sect, and the word of God against his unholy life made him no little nervous, and the result was he became excited and chewed his filthy quid with doubled speed, and spit terribly. The vile sinner positively, denied that we could get any thing at all from God. That salvation and religion were not given to us at all but all our own doings. If ever the devil set up men to keep saloon and sell whiskey, he surely called and commissioned all such preachers. We quoted these words, “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts.” “Internal life is the gift of God.” etc. But he persistently denied the power of God; to keep from sin, and clamored for his deceptive form, and all his ungodly sinning. O what awful blindness! May God deliver every honest soul out of that pitfall of Satan.

QUESTION.

Please explain Acts 10:44. It says the Holy Spirit fell on them which heard the Word. Did justification and sanctification both take place at the same time in their case?

Your brother.

C. J. Swartz.

Ans. Cornelius anil his household, and his friends were already in a justified relation to God before the apostle Peter came to them. Proofs, He was a devout man. Acts 10:2. Devout means pious, a person who serves God. He also feared God with all his house. — Ver. 2. And in every nation whosoever feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Ver. 35. He gave much alms, a good fruit of true righteousness. His prayers and alms were accepted before God for a memorial. — Ver. 4. He had evidently been cleansed of his sins. See Ver. 15. Cornelius was a just man. Ver. 22. He fasted. Ver. 30. Cornelius had heard the gospel before. Ver. 36-38, and only needed to be instructed in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, which he thus received.

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HOW SHALL WE VOTE?

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Dear Brethren: Do you vote? If so, what party is the right and proper party for the saints of God to adhere to, and what ticket can they consistently vote? Please answer in the next Trumpet, as we want to know before the election.

J. F. Starcher.

Granby, Mo.

When people get Bible salvation if they have been in sectism it does not take long, after they get the light, for them to get out of sectism, because full salvation takes the sectish spirit out of them, and what they have to do is to walk in the light as God gives it to them. So it is with politics. When a person gets Bible salvation it takes the political spirit out of them: and they are not slow to see the light, which will separate them from political circles.

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants right, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” Luke 18:36.

We also read in Daniel 7:27, “that the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” And he says “the saints shall possess the kingdom.”

The time is now here for the fulfillment of this scripture “Behold the the kingdom of God is within you.” To get Christ crowned within is to possess this kingdom and we need have nothing to do with building up the kingdoms of this world; leave that for the worldly people to do. “He hath made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:10. Yea he says, even in this present world we are to be pure even as He is pure. We do not look forward to some future time when Christ will come and set up a literal kingdom here on earth, in order for this scripture to be fulfilled. When the Holy spirit has an abiding place in us, there is no room for the kingdom of the devil there, and we are reigning over all the powers of the enemy. All other dominions are subject unto us through Jesus Christ our Lord. We have become a “peculiar people zealous of good works.” We are, like Christ told his disciples, “in the world, but not of the world,” and must keep ourselves “unspotted from the world.”

And now to answer the brothers questions in plain words I will say that I do not vote with any of the political parties, neither ran any true child of God consistently do so. There are a great many good people who do vote, with a good motive, thinking God holds them responsible if they do not, but they do not grow strong in the Lord by so doing, and if they properly call upon God for light upon the subject and search the word, they will be enabled to know the will of God, and will find that salvation and polities are in comparison about the same as oil and water, and to try to mix the two, one would meet with about the same success. The child of God who gets to tampering with politics, will very soon get lean in his soul insomuch that a spiritual death will speedily ensue.

But how about voting the prohibition ticket? In comparison it would be like leaving one sect, and joining another. If you could vote prohibition and nothing else it would be different, but to vote that ticket you vote for men of whom you know nothing about. Some are wicked sinners, others professing godliness but denying the power thereof. And you know not what kind of laws they will make.

But says one. “What will you do about it, will you just stay at home and let wicked men do all the voting, and the whole nation go to the devil?

That sounds a little like what the old Pharisees said about Christ. “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation” — Jno. 11:48.

The Word teaches us that in the last days wicked men shall wax worse and worse, and that the end of time is near at hand, and that God’s children will never renovate this government by their voting. To vote with a party that makes a law to license a person to sell whisky, votes to help make drunkards, and God will hold such ones responsible.

Shall we fold our arms and do nothing? No. If all who profess to know God would do what God commands, there would be a reformation brought about in a very short time. Not every one can go forth to preach, but every one can help to save souls, even if it is only living a straight life at home, and working to help send others forth. You do not have to wait until a period of four years rolls around in order for you to get a chance to do something, but you can keep yourself unspotted from the world, and work for souls every day of your life, and more drunkards will be saved and a greater reformation wrought than all your voting party tickets can bring about.

E. E. Byrum.

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NEWS FROM THE FIELD.

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National City, Cal., Oct. 26. 1892.

Dear Beloved Saints of the Most High God: Grace, mercy, and peace abound toward you ail in Christ Jesus. Beloved we are happy to address you in the name of Jesus Christ our dear Redeemer, from this far away land.

Where the Ocean moans its solemn numbers,
And the sun pours out its gold.
On the clouds which hang, while twilight lingers.
O’er the sea waves rising bold,
And the glorious king of day, descending,
Kids the vintage toilers rest,
While he cools his brow, with fever burning,
On the great Pacific breast.

Dear brother Winters who has been preaching the Word for eight years, having received the glorious evening light at Wichita. Kan., accompanied us to California. We were three days and nights making the trip, with very little stopping. We came over the Santa Fe system. We passed over much wild and mountainous scenery, but the lofty peaks called the Needles we passed at night and failed to see. Our chariot brought us over one thousand miles of desert. The awful blank was only broken by an occasional indian camp, or village, or a mining point. For perhaps a hundred miles or more, the earth was as bare as the paved streets of a city, and for many hundred miles nothing but tumble weed had ventured life upon the dry region. But it is believed that nearly all that lifeless desert would be productive if irrigated, or blessed with showers. One thing that broke the awful monotony of the long weary plains, was the fact that we were seldom out of sight of mountain ranges. In Arizona we reached a very high altitude. The morning found the ground covered with snow, and quite cold. In Eastern Cal. we traveled for hundreds of miles in the midst of a wild mountainous scenery, much of the time running on, or near, the summit, giving us a grand and awful view of the mountains for a vast distance around. Finally, fertile nooks, little houses, and orchards made their welcome appearance, which began to relieve the mind, wearied with the long scene of barren emptiness. And at San Barnardino every thing began to look as though we had returned to the land of the living. A few hours more run over almost perpetual vineyards, lemon, orange, rig orchards, etc. brought us into Los Angeles, and seeing dear brother Byers out the window, we felt like climbing over the slow moving people to reach the door. O praise God for the privilege of greeting our dear fellow laborer in the gospel of God. We found him and family well, and he and sister B. wonderfully devoted to the their calling, laboring day and night with unwearied zeal for the salvation of lost men and women, who are on the brink of everlasting ruin. Praise God! we soon saw that their labors have been owned and blessed of God. We found a precious and very zealous church in Los Angeles.

The tabernacle was pitched in the midst of the city, or rather two tabernacles connected together, to provide plenty of room for all that came out to hear the Word. But the congregations were not very large. The Lord brought in however a goodly number of those who are honest in heart, and a few more sinners were converted; others obeyed the call of God and made their escape from Babylon, and a good many souls, we believe, were sanctified wholly, and all the church was greatly strengthened, edified and equipped for the great battle. There were Brother and Sister Bently and his sister from Visalia, several from San Diego, Bro. Chisholm from National City, and a few from elsewhere; but the representation from abroad was very small. Meetings were held beginning at 10 A. M., at 2:30 P. M. and 7 P. M. on the street, and preaching at 8 P. M. in the tabernacle. In much the same way they had been holding forth the word of life to the people for over three months before the camp meeting began, and many souls had been rescued from the deep pits of sin. One poor victim of the destroyer, much given to drink, and also swiftly destroying himself with opium, was rescued just before we came. The perverted and poisoned condition of his entire system was such, and the Lord’s treatment so thorough that the young man ate and drank nothing for about thirteen days. Once during the time he took some hot water, but it did not remain in his stomach and having made him very sick he did not venture as much as hot water for several days. Neither did he have any appetite for food. A part of the time his appetite for opium raged, but knowing that hell was but a short distance ahead, if he went back to his past vices, he, by firmness and the grace of God endured to the end of the battle. He attended the meetings day and night, and even to the end of his long fast declared that he felt stronger than he did before he escaped out of the devil’s control. He is now wholly sanctified, free from all desire for tobacco, opium or whiskey. And since he has turned to God, an associate who entered with him into the broad road of intemperance has died a victim of the cursed thing. And now the poor brother, with a grateful heart, realizes that he just made his escape in time. Many other awful cases have been healed by the power of God, and are now clothed and in their right mind. Having much forgiven, they love much. Truly dear Bro. and Sister Byers have been working the richest mine of gold ever opened in Cal. Hence their toils have known no moderation. They have indeed, according to apostolic example, “given themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And, thank God, there are those in Los Angeles, who labor with their hands for the direct object of saving lost men and women, using only enough to supply nature’s wants. O that every body who professes consecration of self and all to God would show it forth by a life wholly devoted to the spread of the pure gospel of Christ, and the deliverance of the lost.

Dear Bro. Beuky lives in that city: he has preached the gospel for many years, and is full of zeal for God in his gray hair. He received the laying on of hands in ordination to the ministry, ignoring all authority given him in Babylon: he is ready to work for the Master. Also Bro. Martin Myers from Woodburn, Cal., and Bro. Davis of Los Angeles, were ordained to the sacred calling of the ministry. May God help all of them to be true to God. and devoted to the great work of winning souls for Christ.

O what is all this world besides,
Perishing souls at stake?

If ever there was a time that the saints which dwell in Jerusalem should go everywhere preaching, it is now when the end of time is upon us. There were also present as workers and ministers of the gospel of Christ, Bro’s Elliot, and Shaw, and several others confessed their call to the great work. Thus God is moving on mightily in this western world.

On Saturday forenoon. Oct. 22, we all went to a beautiful artificial lake at the skirts of the city, where Bro. Byers immersed fourteen happy children of God. The solemn burial service was sealed by the outpouring of the Spirit upon the willing and obedient. I believe some over forty have thus witnessed their faith in the resurrected Christ since the work began there.

That evening about fifty saints followed the Lord and Savior in the ordinance of washing the saints’ feet and the Lord’s supper. The Lord blessed his disciples in the act of obedience to his commands. Some dear honest souls in the anti-ordinance error renounced the same, and declared themselves one with the body of Christ. Others came out of Free Methodism, and other isms. The church is now taking steps to procure a hall, where they expect to continue meetings every night the year around.

The meeting closed on Mondays, 24, after which Bro. Winters and myself came home with Bro. and Sister Chisholm, who live here in National City, which is four miles from San Diego. Here we are enjoying a very precious rest, from the long line of eight camp meetings and one tabernacle meeting. The brother’s house is not far from the sea side.

Bro. and Sister Byers expect to follow us in a week or two, and we will open up work in SanDiego. Also Bro’s Elliot and Shaw expect to come here, and from here go on into Mexico to preach the pure gospel of Christ. We are only about twelve miles here from our national boundary.

We have seen no rain since we left the Robinson, Kan. camp meeting. At Los Angeles the days were quite warm, and the nights cool, almost to the point of frost we would suppose. Here on SanDiego bay the heat is less in the day, and the nights are pleasant, only gently cool. A delightful climate.

Above all we are delighted with the fruit of this Pacific coast. Grapes by the thousands of acres, bearing two crops in one season. And so precious that our eastern grapes are not to be compared with them. The grape harvest lasts from August to January. And these precious sweet grapes, — many of them an inch in diameter, and as much as seven pounds grow on a single bunch, — we buy at the market a 50 lb. box for 65 to 75 cents per box. Oranges, figs, and some other kinds of fruit bloom and bear nearly the whole year a round, lemons the whole year. The beautiful pomegranates also grow here. I also saw a large olive orchard. The saying that the olive tree has no sub-branches is a mistake. The tree looks like an orange or apple tree. There are other fruits grown here, of which we had never heard. Also English walnut orchards abound. We are largely living on the raisin grape, and truly it is a blessing to our body.

We expect, the Lord willing, after through here to go north, possibly as far as into Oregon. At least would love to hear from saints north. Address me at SanDiego, Cal. Let all the saints pray for your humble servant. Amen.

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Eagle, Mich., Oct. 25, 1892.

Dear Saints, Greeting: I am glad to report the work done in the name of the Lord in this place. Our two days’ meeting of Oct. 22 and 23 proved truly a refreshing from the Lord our God to our souls, and to many elsewhere. Five consecrated the first night; two- for sanctification. Some came to the altar the next day. One dear soul in this place got free, and partook of the ordinances of God’s house for the first time. Praise God forever and ever! Twenty-eight were willing to obey God and follow the example of our dear Lord and Savior in the ordinance of the Lord’s supper and feet washing. Praise God forever for his wonderful goodness and mercy to the children of men!

Your sister, saved, and clean through the word. Amen.

Julia M. Cheeseman.

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Stenger, Pa., Oct. 25, 1892.

Dear Saints: God bless you all for Jesus’ sake. Amen. We praise God that we are happy to report that according to the announcement in the Trumpet we commenced meeting at Bro. D.C. Beltz’s house, and on the 22d removed the meeting to the Laurel Run schoolhouse. Held two meetings on Lord’s day. Had good congregations and order so far as the common sinners were concerned; but the word preached and the testimonies of the saints so stirred up the baser sort of the sect, so much that they had the schoolhouse closed. They hate the light, and do not feel good to have their deeds made manifest and their crookedness exposed. Oh, hallelujah to our God that does give us the victory over the devil and all wicked men! The meeting was taken to private houses. On Monday eve had one of the most glorious meetings I ever witnessed. The praises of the saints and the shouts of new-born souls, with one wave of glory after another. Up to this time there have been six consecrations; four for pardon and two for sanctification. Conviction has taken hold on the common people. But the word says, 2 Tim, 3:13, — But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Oh, how true it is in this place! Dear saints, in your prayers do remember the people of this valley. We love them and desire that they might get Bible salvation, that saves from all sin.

Yours in the holy war,

F. Rosenberry & Co.

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New Pittsburg, Ind.. Oct. 25, 1892.

Dear Saints of God, Greeting: I am happy to report that I am fully saved in Jesus just now. The assembly meeting at Payne, O. closed the evening of the 23d, inst. with victory on the Lord’s side. Many were delivered from the powers of sin during the meeting, confessing the Lord both in justification and sanctification. About sixty or seventy saints were in attendance. Five followed the Lord in baptism. On the last Sabbath evening of the meeting about forty saints participated in a glorious observance of washing the saints’ feet, and of partaking of the Lord’s supper. Praise the Lord! The dear saints at Payne have honored the Lord in building a new house to worship in. The building is 28×45 ft. and located in the town of Payne. The house is not quite completed yet. As the church financially here is not very strong I felt led of the Lord to make an appeal to the church in general to aid the dear ones in the matter. It probably will require $200, or more to complete the house and pay all indebtedness. If any one purposeth in his heart to give let him address Bro. James Worden, Payne, Ohio. In doing this you will follow the example of the saints recorded in Rom. 15:26. — For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. Also in Acts 11:29. May God bless all the dear saints every where is my prayer. Amen.

Your saved brother,

H. C. Wickersham.

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Smith Centre, Kan., Oct. 27, 1892.

Dear Readers: As we have not written to the Trumpet for some time, I will just say it has not been by any lack of the grace of God in our souls, for the high praises of God are still flowing from our hearts. We will just say according to our request through the Trumpet and the prayers of the Saints and the will of our God, we were gloriously liberated from the cares of this world. Praise his blessed name!

So we left our home and kind friends who were unsaved, Aug. 26, 1892. Stopped at Gaskell, Kan., and enjoyed the meeting held there by dear Bro’s Haynes, Philips, and Hewitt. We truly enjoyed the fellowship of the saints at that place, and heard the praises of new-born babes in Christ ascend the throne of God. From there we went to the camp meeting at Robinson, which was truly a feast to our souls. From there we went to Hiawatha, Kan. during the tabernacle meeting there. We also praise God for the blessed privilege of spending a week with the dear ones at Forest City, Mo., and then returned to Hiawatha and met several times with the saints at Green Door. We bade the dear ones farewell and took train for this place, Oct. 24; arrived here at eight o’clock the same evening. Stayed at the hotel that night, and after some difficulty found Sister White. But our hearts were pained to find a backslidden husband and family. The dear ones that were once light in this world in pointing sinners to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, have fallen a prey to the enemy of their souls. But God is wonderfully calling after them. The father is seeking deliverance. Glory be to our God! Let all the dear ones pray for him, also his daughter and two sons. We have rented a hall and expect to open the battle against the enemy this evening. Will remain here as long as the Lord wills. Let all the saints pray for the success of the work in this place, and that we may speak the truth as it is in Christ with all boldness. We expect to remain in Western Kan. this winter, the Lord willing. Our address will be Atwood, Kan.

Your brother and sister, justified and sanctified,

J. L. & Lydia Green.

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Tampico, Ind., Oct. 27, 1892.

Dear Family of God: The Lord privileged us to visit the church at Floyd’s Knobs over last Sunday, and when we beheld their faith and charity we were much comforted. It is wonderful to behold the salvation of God, how it blends hearts and souls together into a glorious oneness. Some however have need of a more complete transformation, which God is able to give them when the sacrifice be complete. God has promised to supply all our needs. We were rejoiced on Sunday evening to hear a once Campbellite preacher proclaim his freedom from sectish captivity. He said, “I see in the front, on the left, and on the right, Babylon’s crumbling walls. I am free and from this time forward forever I am with the saints. Praise God forever! May the Lord ever keep him. Pray for us, dear ones.

Yours sweetly contented,

Chas. Orr.

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Bangor, Mich., Oct. 24, 1892.

The meeting six miles north-west of LaGrange, Ind. was a success. We commenced the meeting on Lord’s day, Oct. 2d. A number of consecrations were made before we left. Bro. Kilpatrick left on Monday, 10th. I left on Friday following. Bro. Kilpatrick went to Payne, O., and I in in company with two of the brethren went to Three Rivers, Mich., and held meeting with the church Friday eve, Saturday eve and Sunday morning and evening. Two souls were saved at this place. One of the brethren remained and continued the meeting at Bro. Fred Myers’s over Lord’s day, and reports twenty consecrations in all during the meeting, and six immersed, closing with an ordinance meeting. May the dear Lord ever bless and keep the dear ones at that place is our prayer. Amen.

A. B. Palmer, A. J. Kilpatrick.

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Decatur, Ind., Oct. 31, 1892.

Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord: God bless you all. Amen. We are happy to again report victory for our God. We began meeting at this place Oct. 18 in the name of Jesus. We found opposition to the work of God here. Those professing to be saints were divided. We began to preach the word and some got converted and some sanctified, and some went out from us because they were not of us. And some stood off to see if we were going to take sides to suit them, and thus showed that they were not right with God. But thank God, we are saved from taking sides or showing party spirits, but we just stand with God and preach the word, and those who are right with God will hear his word and be in fellowship with his work. Dear Bro. and Sister Ault who moved to this place while the meeting was going on, we believe will be used in the work here, in caring for the little flock which the Lord has raised up at this place. Bro. and Sister Gast returned home this morning. We expect to begin meeting to night about six and a half miles in the country at Bro. Young’s house. Pray for us and the success of the gospel. Our address will still be Decatur, Ind., for a while.

We remain your humble saved brother and sisters,

Otto, Lillian M. & Louie Bolds.

Page 4

HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

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UNCLEANLINESS OF DRESS.

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UNCLEANLY attire creates conditions favorable to disease. Clothing worn too long at a time becomes saturated with the excretions and exhalations of the body, and, by preventing the free transpiration from the surface of the skin, induces oppression of the physical powers and mental inactivity. This observation will be accepted by most persons as true in respect to under-clothing; it is equally true in regard to those outer garments which are often worn, unremittingly, until the linings, torn and soiled, are unfit altogether for contact with the cleaner garments beneath them. Health will not be clothed in dirty raiment. They who wear such raiment suffer from trains of minor complaints; from oppression, dullness, headache, nausea, which, though trifling in themselves, taken one by one, when put together greatly reduce that standard of perfect health by which the value of life is correctly and effectively maintained.

Richardson.

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BED VENTILATION.

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IT often happens that the desire of the energetic housekeeper to have her work done at an early hour in the morning, causes her to leave one of the most important items of neatness undone. The most effectual purifying of bed and bed-clothes can not take place, if the proper time is not allowed for the free circulation of pure air, to remove all human impurities which have collected during the hours of slumber. At least two or three hours should be allowed for the complete removal of atoms of insensible perspiration which are absorbed by the bed. Every day the airing should be done; and, occasionally, bedding constantly used should be carried into the open air, and left exposed to the sun and wind for half a day.

— Home and Health.

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Pittsburg, Pa.

To those who may have thought the “Health Column” in the Trumpet, and Bro. Warner’s efforts to establish prudent and temperate diet and habits to promote good health, unprofitable, I wish to call the attention of all such to 1 Cor. 9th chapter, from 24th verse to the end of chapter. They prepared to win the race by being temperate in all things, to make the body strong and active. In 27th verse Paul says he brings his body in subjection. That means in all things. The pedestrian is temperate to win a corruptible crown. And temperate habits promote health.

A. B. Gildersleeve.

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Regaining health is possible, though much more difficult than its preservation.

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SOWING AND REAPING.

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Washington Harbor, Wis.

This evening I will write with pen and ink what God showed me to day by his Spirit. Would make a thanksgiving day an acceptable day unto the Lord, and how food is blessed and sanctified by the Lord. That it is not in answer to a few words which may be pronounced when we sit down to a table all spread with meat and drink. And those words dictating to God what he shall or shall not do. But it began with the purpose for which God created man as an earthly being, i. e. to till the ground. Gen. 2:5. Now whatever we do we should do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving God thanks by him. And as we cannot keep his commandments and ordinances in an acceptable manner before him only as his grace lives and moves in us prompting us to action, for that alone is doing in the name of the Lord, so the man of God who is called to be a farmer needs the grace of God to enable him to discharge his duties to the glory of God, and so the blessing of God will be upon both his labor and the fruit thereof. Therefore the man of God will go to his farm under the divine guidance of the Almighty, having first cared for his team and prepared his tools in the same way. And as he is not ignorant but understanding what the will of the Lord is, his heart is filled with joy and praise. And his voice may be heard bursting forth in songs of praise to his Maker. So the blessing of the Lord is already upon him and his work. Of such shall they be who shall “be in the field,” ready to meet the Bridegroom when he comes.

Then he will “sow in hope,” yea even in “assurance” having the witness of God that the blessing of God is upon all the labor of his hands. And as he watches the growth of the grain in remembrance of the Lord, his heart is filled with gratitude am praise for every shower of “rain” and every day of “sunshine” “which come alike upon the evil and the good, upon the just and the unjust.” Then comes the blessed time of harvest when he shall gather the golden sheaves; remembering that God hath said, “In the sweat of thy face thou shall eat bread.” Then he will almost marvel at the bountiful crop with so little sweat on his face. And as his mine is stayed on the Lord, he will remember that the Lord hath said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” and “as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” For God is able and willing and has designed to provide strength for our bodies as well as to our souls. So he will still be continually “making in his heart to the Lord.”

Then to continue the fullness of the blessing of the Lord, the threshers need to be of those who go in the name of the Lord, and as farmers and threshers come together they are met in the name of the Lord. Then they can praise him together giving God all the glory.

The miller must needs be of that type which “shall be taken” while “the other shall be left.” So if these three were taken they could meet together in immortality to praise the Lord in a nobler, sweeter song than mortal tongues can sing.

Now we come to the household where there is “a chaste keeper at home,” “in subjection to her own husband,” who “loves her as he does his own flesh,” (and “no man ever yet hated his own flesh.”) And who does every part of her work “heartily as unto the Lord,” with a constant prayer to God that he will deal with her as she does with all the work of her own hands. Who when she clothes herself prays to be clothed also with his righteousness, and as she washes her hands, she cannot by the spirit of God in her detect any blood stain s upon them, but can according to the word of the Lord by the pen of the Psalmist “stand before the Lord with clean hands and a pure heart.” This must needs be, for she hears the words which were spoken to the little man on his rustic perch, who wanted to see the Lord, “This day I must abide at thy house.”

Yes the King will surely be there to sup with us to day, for he says, “Lo I stand at the door and knock: if any man will hear my voice and open the door I will come in and sup with him and he with me.” “And we will make our abode with him.” She has been permitted by the spirit of God to see him who was rich, “who became poor or her sake” that she might be rich, “without where to lay his head,” standing at the door of her heart, and heard his voice saying, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldst have asked him and he would have given thee living water.” She thirsting in her soul for just that cried, “Give me this water that I thirst not.” And he was true to his promise. And she recognized him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write. Then she received him into her own louse, (heart) “never to leave her nor forsake her.” So he and his Father are to be guests together.

And as they gather around the table they “have a clear conscience before God and man,” “having provided things honestly in the sight of all men.” And having “sought first the kingdon of God and his righteousness,” they see the food as a blessing from God and as that which he said “should be added unto them.” Then will they bow their heads and implore God’s favor and blessing upon themselves and the food? Verily nay, but will look right up and thank and praise God for the food, and for his blessing which has rested upon it and them from the first start.

Yet the natural man, which is enmity against God cannot praise him acceptably, for the natural man cannot recognize God nor his blessings. As it is written, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him, but it is revealed unto us by his Spirit.” So it is the spirit of Christ in them which said, “Father I thank thee that thou hearest me, and I know that thou hearest me always.” which will look as it were right up into the Father’s face and thank him. Such sacrifices are well pleasing unto God.

They then give the food to the multitude of those who have been helpers in the preparation of the same, and in Spirit there will be a repetition of the miracle in the wilderness. Instead of famine or lack there will be enough, and to spare, so many fragments may be taken up.

John Mallock.

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SPIRITS IN PRISON.

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TEXT. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison – 1 Pet. 3:19.

THIS scripture seems to be one refered to in his second epistle 3:15, 16, in which [his and Paul’s writings] are some things hard to be understood; which they that are unlearned and unstable, wrest [or twist] as they also do other scriptures, unto their own destruction. And in their blindness and ignorance have imagined these spirits in prison were disembodied spirits, after death inhabiting some imaginary place of confinement, which Christ visited in spirit while his body was in the grave, and preached the gospel unto them, thereby giving them a second probation, another chance of repentance after death, purgatory salvation, hell-redemption, etc., which is one of the two factors of all heretic doctrines on earth respecting salvation, which are these: “Some other time, not now;” “some other way, not Christ.” I have not time and space to show the ridiculous positions that people have taken in reference to our text, and to refute by the word, their errors, only as the facts in the case expose them; only as a Bible exegesis by the Spirit will of itself demolish error. And it is certain error cannot stand before truth. “The Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God.” “He shall take the things of God and show them unto you.”

We have learned that any interpretation of scripture that does not line with the whole system of divine truth, is not by the Spirit of God, and is a private interpretation (See 2 Pet. 1:20) ,and is to be rejected. And to theorize upon a text independent of its context is also error. Our text is connected with the verse just preceding, also with those just following it. Hence we shall begin with ver. 18. — For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh [crucified] but quickened [or resurrected] by the spirit. By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison. The antecedent of “which” is “spirit,” by this spirit that raised Christ from the dead, he went and preached unto the spirits in prison. And Christ is declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. — Rom. 1:4. But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you. – Rom. 8:11. Here it is. The spirit that raised up Christ from the de..; his spirit that dwelleth in your the indwelling Spirit. All Bible students know this the Holy Ghost, but will give the proof. 1 Cor. 3:10. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost — 1 Cor. 6:19. The deduction is this; viz., The Spirit of God is the indwelling spirit, the spirit of holiness, the Holy Ghost, that quickens our mortal bodies, that resurrected Christ, by which he went and preached unto the spirits in prison. Therefore he preached unto the spirits in prison by the Holy Ghost. We wish to prove this is his qualification, by other scriptures. But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord. — Mic. 3:8. The spirit of the Lord God is upon me: because the Lord hath anointed me to preach, etc. — Isa. 61:1. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. — Isa. 11:2. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the spirit by measure, unto him. — Jno. 3:34.

Just here we wish to impress upon the mind of every one that reads this article, that the Holy Ghost which qualified Christ for his ministry, qualified the prophets, for they spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Pet. 1:21. Also all New Testament ministers are qualified by the Holy Ghost. 1 Pet. 1:12. Preached the gospel with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. — Acts 2:4. For it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Mark 13:11. No man speaking by the spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed, and no man can say Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost. Rom. 12:3. Now we have it nailed down that it was by the Holy Ghost, that Christ went and preached unto the spirits in prison; and secondly we propose to show you the prison. Now read Isa. 42:1-7. In the first verse it says, I have put my Spirit upon him. Notice the same qualification as contained in our text. V. 4, The isles [or those inhabiting the islands; viz., the “Gentiles”] shall wait for his law. V. 6. He is given for a light of the Gentiles, to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. Then darkness is the prison, or prison house. And if darkness is the prison, all spirits in darkness constitute the spirits in prison.

Here is a spiritual house, a spiritual prison, darkness, which is the everlasting habitation of the wicked. Luke 16:9; Matt. 22:13, and 25:30; 2 Pet. 2:17; Jude 13. Therefore all that get salvation are delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of his dear Son. — Col. 1:13; Ps. 107:14. All who have not salvation are in darkness, for darkness hath blinded their eyes. Darkness covering the earth, and gross darkness the people. Millions of souls in this prison, groping their way in the darkness of Egypt, so dense you can feel it. My Lord! My Lord! Those massive walls of darkness! The rulers of the darkness of this world; yea, sect preachers; I saw them by scores, fighting the light of thy truth, keeping those poor deceived souls sitting in darkness because of filthy lucre. I heard them calling sweet bitter, and bitter sweet! putting light for darkness and darkness for light. My soul cries out unto God, Send thy messengers, that they may also preach unto the spirits in prison. That thou mayest say unto the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, shew yourselves. — Isa. 49:9. For by thy blood of the covenant, have I sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. — Zech. 9:11. This is sufficient to prove that it is the spirits of living men and women, or in other words it is living men and women in this spiritual prison that constitute the spirits in prison to which Christ preached by the Holy Ghost, and this is one of the ..hi.. ..els of his ministry: To open prison to them that are bound; to the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. — Isa ..:7. To say unto the prisoners. Go forth, to them that sit in darkness. Shew yourselves. — lsa. 49:9. Turn ye to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope. Zech. 9:12. The Lord looseth the prisoners. — Ps. 146:7. Therefore he said. I came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” This is a faithful saving, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. — 1 Tim. 1:15. “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” This text has direct reference to the personal ministry of Christ, but indirectly covers his entire ministry in all ages when directed to sin sinners, as is indicated by these words “spirits in prison.” But in many cases they would not accept deliverance, would not give heed to the faithful preaching. Paul declares they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith. Lord, who hath believed our report? Rom. 10:16. For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. — Heb. 4:3.

So the apostle gives us an example of disobedience by the antediluvians, while speaking of the spirits in prison, which sometime were disobedient. When? Listen. Was it while Christ was in the grave? No. Was it after his resurrection? No. Was it during his personal ministry? No. When was this disobedience? When once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing. “While the ark was a preparing:” that settles it. The antediluvians were an example of spirits in prison, also an example of the disobedient ones. This again proves that the “spirits in prison” are living men and women in the prison house of darkness, (dissipation, immorality. etc.) and not disembodied spirits in a superstitious purgatory. Now Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and spake as he was moved by the Holy Ghost. — 2 Pet. 1:20, 21, and 1 Pet. 1:10, 11, which we see was Christ preaching through him. For God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. — Acts 3:21. And as disobedience to his preaching could not have taken place before he preached, the disobedience being while the ark was a preparing, settles it that the preaching was before or while the ark was a preparingб and could not have been since that time. And I challenge any one to show me a single instance of the antediluvians ever hearing another sermon since the flood. But preaching to spirits in prison have been since Noah, and is going on to day. Amen.

Geo. L. Cole.

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Anthony, Kan.

Dear Trumpet Readers: I feel like adding my testimony with you. I am to day down under the blood that is so powerful to save. God is keeping me and mine. Praise his name! God is adding to his church here in our neighborhood. Oh! he is indeed a powerful and merciful God. But a short time ago when we were gathered for meeting there were but few indeed, but God in his wisdom has enabled his few to keep under the blood; and though the enemy would try in many ways to tear down the church, and scatter the sheep, yet God has kept his strong arm of protection around us. Praise his name! It was God alone that did it. Glory to his name! May God bless you all.

Your sister down under the blood.

Mary Christian.

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