7 April 1892, Volume 12, Number 15.
WAITING.
Father, we wait thy will,
Submissive at thy feet;
Waiting for thy power to thrill
Each heart with rapture sweet.
O God now help thine own,
We look; to draw thee nigh.
Our faith dings to the throne,
“Thy will be done” we cry.
Yea, Lord, increase our faith;
Let each one be agreed
To wrestle with the Lord,
Till he supplies our need.
We will pay the perfect price,
E’er we the altar leave;
May each soul in thy presence
With mighty faith believe.
’Tis done, O mighty Savior,
We feel thy wondrous grace;
Ail glory to our Physician,
To him be honor, praise.
F. Husted.
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Instantly Healed.
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Wife and I are witnesses to the healing power of Jesus Christ in this day and age of the world, instantaneous healing too. Last winter our boy, five years old was taken with the Pneumonia fever, in its worst stage. His pulse was so high that I thought it was almost impossible for him to live. He was in this condition three days. I was afraid some of the neighbors would come in and see the boy’s condition, and the temptation came to me to go for a doctor, but something seemed to hold me back and say, “Have faith in the Lord and you can give the money the doctor would charge to God’s cause.” But strange that during all those three day’s I felt no special burden for special prayer for our boy; but the third night, I was almost persuaded to go for a doctor, and told my wife that I would go for a doctor, but she said, “No, we don’t need one; we have one here.” She said, “Let us pray,” and we both prayed, the burden being on us, with power. I felt relieved, so did wife, yet I could see no change for the better in our boy. The next morning we again laid hold on God by faith, being burdened for our boy, and during that day one of our neighbors came in and remarked that Louie (that’s our boy’s name) was very sick. That night we again took him to the Lord, also the next day in the morning before breakfast; after we got through praying I said to him, Louie, Jesus can make you well; he said, Yes. We ate breakfast and shortly thereafter our boy said, “I am sick no more,” and praise the Lord, he got right out of bed that moment, and was entirely well and is so to this day. In a short time that same neighbor came again, and was not a little surprised to see him out on the floor, at play. He said he expected to see a very sick boy. I give God all the glory. He did it because he glorified himself in it. It gave us more faith to believe in the divine healing power of God. In all our prayers for our boy we said, Thy will, not ours, dear Lord: and I thank God that it was his will to restore our boy, without one drop of medicine. But some may say, It just happened so; he would have got well anyhow. I buried two of my children. I had two doctors, the best our country afforded. I know they were no nearer death than this one, until they were on the very threshold of death. Why did it not happen for them to recover, with all that man could do with medicine. Had I enjoyed full salvation then as I did last winter and do yet. I might have trusted the two first ones to God, instead of man.
Your brother and sister in Christ,
P. H. & J. G. Neff.
Elkdale, Mo.
Rise and Progress of The Church of God.
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Dan. 2:34. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Ver. 44. — And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Matt. 16:18. — “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
It is our desire, in this article, to give a Biblical trace of The Church of God; and to show the difference between the Church and sect Babylon.
As Christ is the head of the church, and the church is his body, we will in order to get the origin of the church, refer to some of the prophecies of Christ and and the church in the Old Testament.
First let us read Genesis 3:15. — “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it [Christ] shall bruise thy head, and thou [serpent] shalt bruise his heal. Jesus is the seed of the woman. Isa. 7:14. — “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Matt. 1:21. — “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.” Read also Luke 1:26-35.
He was of the seed of Abraham. Gen. 12:3. — “And in thee [Abram] shall all families of the earth be blessed.” 18:18. Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him. 22:18. — “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” These promises and prophecies were about 2000 years before Christ, yet all of God’s dealings with the children of Abraham were symbolical, that is, to show and typify the church of God. Their bondage in Egypt; deliverance by Moses; crossing the Red sea; pillar of cloud and of fire; the manna; journeyings in the wilderness; breaking of the tables of stone; delivering of the law on Mt.Sinai; the tabernacle; coming to Kadesh; crossing over Jordan; victory in battle; destruction of the Canaanites; their judges; their kings; their captivity in Babylon: return from captivity; Ezra’s commission from Artaxerxes to Jerusalem; Nehemiah’s commission to rebuild Jerusalem; building of the walls; opposition of Sanballat, and many other things, typify or foreshadow the church of God. We cannot say that the church of God existed before Christ: but the types long existed before the antitype. Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Future tense, I will build. Therefore Christ built the church after he spoke this language. Ecclesia is the Greek for church, from ek (out of), and kaleo (to call), hence it signifies, the called out. Christ is the foundation. When Jesus said, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build my church;” he did not mean chat he would build upon Peter. The old popish idea that the foundation is Peter is utterly without foundation. Jesus meant that upon himself he would build his church. Jesus is the rock. “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.” Christ is the foundation on which the Church is built. “Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Paul says, “Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Eph. 2:20-22. The foundation of the apostles and prophets, is that foundation which they laid by their preaching and doctrine; namely, Christ, whom they held forth as the only foundation, the only Savior and head of the church.
So we see that Christ built his church upon himself. “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The gates of hell have long ago prevailed against the so-called churches of to day. See the pride and popularity. Conformed to the world; holding Satanic carousals in their houses to induce the young people to join them. All ensnared by Satan’s webs and are being dragged right down to hell. Have not the gates of hell prevailed against them? No organization of men is the church founded by Christ, because the gates of hell have prevailed against all of them. The church that Jesus founded is God’s family in heaven and earth, whose names are written in heaven.
Let us now notice in Daniel, second chapter, in reference to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image. Ver. 34. — “Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and break them to pieces.” The four parts of this image represent four kingdoms, which kingdoms are also represented by the four beasts found in the seventh chapter. The head of gold represents the Babylonian kingdom; the breast of silver, the Medo Persian; the belly of brass, the Grecian; and the legs of iron, the Roman. The fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron; which was true of the Roman kingdom. In 7:7, it is described as being dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly;
and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it had ten horns. Now that this image’s feet being part of iron and part of clay, signifies that in the last part of this kingdom, that is, the Roman, it should become weakened or divided, and at this time the stone was cut out without hands, which was Christ and his church. Ver. 44. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it thall stand forever. Christ came in the last part of the Roman kingdom and set up his kingdom. “Then were the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”
We see by the above scriptures that Christ is the foundation stone and that the church is a building, a divine superstructure, a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. And it is evident that the superstructure and the foundation are homogeneous. Heb. 2:11. — “For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one.” Hence nothing but holy men and women, having the same nature as the Spirit of Christ can enter into the superstructure. The only thing attainable that is in harmony with God is holiness. So nothing but holiness can possibly be built upon Christ, the foundation.
If you should ask some professors of to day’ if they are saved or in the church of God they will say, “O yes, I am a Methodist, U. B., Baptist, Presbyterian,” etc. Away with the idea that any of these old dead ecclesiasticisms constitute the superstructure! Jesus left his church pure and it is pure yet to day, free from all of these outside elements. Well, say’s one, does it not take all denominations to constitute this structure? Does not the parable of the mustard teach us that the denominations are the mustard stalk? and each denomination a branch of that stalk? Let us test this matter and see if this will work out all right. We will suppose that we have growing in our garden a mustard stalk, and from this stalk protrudes four branches, one on the north, and south, and east, and west. Now let us examine these branches, and see of what they are composed. We find them composed of fibers, leaves, bloom and ripe seed. We examine the fruit on the north branch, and compare it with the fruit on the south branch and find it just the same, and so on around we them find all alike. The mustard seed on the south branch just like the seed on the north branch: it is all mustard; it is all alike; there is no difference. Now let us try it in another way. We will call the branch on the north side the M. E’s or Methodists, the south branch Baptists, east branch Quakers, and the west branch Campbellites. We now have the mustard stalk as interpreted by some. Now let us examine some of the fruit of each branch.
1st. The fruit of the north branch; justification, six months’ probation, sanctification, a second work or a work done in justification, three modes of baptism or none at all, infant baptism, worldly conformity, riotous living, social luxuries, such as balls, theatres, worldly socials, fairs, festivals, concerts, etc.
2d. South branch; new birth, but don’t say much about sanctfication, baptism by immersion only, infant baptism rejected, the different subdivisions of Baptists are very different in their faiths and teachings which our space will not allow to mention.
3d. East branch, or Quakers teach new birth, sanctification, claim to have spiritual life, but reject all of the ordinances. 1 John 2:4. — “He that saith, I know him and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Also John 14:15, 21-23.
4th. West branch, or Campbellite; all baptism, no justification only through the water, no sanctification, no Spirit, have a form of godliness, but denying the power. Now you can see that these will not all grow up together on one mustard stalk. They do not all bear the same kind of fruit, they have different faiths, different baptisms, different bodies, different spirits. Paul says, “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” — Eph. 4:4, 5. Jesus says, “I am the vine, and ye are the tranches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch.” — John 15:5, 6. Here we see that a man is a branch, and not the sect as some suppose.
There is nothing in the word of God to prove that the different sect denominations are any part of the church of God; but there are a great many scriptures to prove that they are not. I have heard these questions asked by sectarians and opposers to the truth; namely, “If the different churches are not right, why is it that people didn’t find it out sooner?” “Have not just as smart people lived in the sects as the saints are?” Are the saints any smarter than other people? We do not propose to answer all of these questions: but we will by the help of God give some reasons why these things were not revealed sooner.
In order to do this, it will be necessary to commence at the time of Christ and the apostles, and trace the church down to the present time, making it in three periods of time; namely, morning light, apostasy, and evening light. (See cut at the head of this article.)
Isa. 21:11, 12. — “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night.”
1 st. Morning light. This period has reference to the apostolic purity of the church, or when the word was preached and practiced in its purity and not obscured by the theories of men. In this time the church had great power and glory. God wonderfully manifested himself among them. But this time was but a little while. Isa. 63:18. — “The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.” Prophetically, sanctuary signifies the church of God. Eze. 23:38. — “Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.” The period of the morning light lasted about 270 years. The church retained its primitive purity until about the middle of the third century. About the year 270 the apostasy began to be seriously manifested in one Nepos, a bishop
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ANTHEMS FROM THE THRONE.
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Send in your orders for Anthems from the Throne a and start the songs of praise anew.
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DIVINE HEALING
-OF-
SOUL AND BODY.
A NEW BOOK,
-BY-
E. E. BYRUM.
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This book tells how God heals the sick and the conditions upon which they are restored; giving wonderful testimonies of His miraculous power in these last days.
It is divided into three parts. The first part consists of nine chapters on the
DIVINE HEALING of the SOUL.
| The Darkness of Sin. | Faith. |
| The Way Out. | Conversion. |
| The Sinner’s Call. | Consecration. |
| Conviction. | Sanctification. |
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The Two Works of Grace. |
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Part II consists of 26 chapters on
DIVINE HEALING or the BODY.
| The Doctrine of Healing. | The Gifts of Healing. |
| Is the Day of Healing Past? | Who are the Elder? |
| The Use of Divine Healing. | What kind of Oil to use. |
| Old Testament Witnesses. | |
| Anointing and Consecration. | |
| New Testament Witnesses. | Can I be Healed? |
| The Apostasy. | Sick for the Glory of God. |
| The Evening Light. | The use of Medicine |
| The Promise of His Power. | |
| Means which God Blesses | |
| The Prayer of Faith. | Hindrances to Healing |
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Walking out upon His Promises. |
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| Resisting Temptation. | Casting out Devils |
| Resisting the Truth. | Christian Science. |
| Sending Anointed Handkerchiefs. | Spiritualism. |
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Witnesses Since the Apostles. |
|
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Part III gives the testimonies of the
WITNESSES of TODAY.
These testimonies are truly wonderful, and no one can read them without being benefited, and strengthened in faith, and will know better how to defeat the adversary of the soul. By reading this book, the sick and afflicted will be made to realize that God has made provision for the healing of the body, and see the plan set forth in the word of God, and the conditions upon which any one may be restored to health. The one who is lost in sin will be made to realize that there is hope in Christ, and the way from sin unto full salvation, and from sickness unto health, is very clearly marked out as set forth in the sacred word.
The subjects on doctrinal teaching are made very plain and pointed, and it is hoped that many souls may thereby be constrained to take God as their physician for soul and body. There are many persons to day who have for months or years been lying upon their beds, suffering untold misery, not knowing that it is the will of God to heal them, many of whom ought to be out working for the Lord.
The book will make a splendid present for some friend, and will be ready, the Lord willing, about the 15th or 20th of April. Order at once. It will contain 248 large pages. Good plain print, neatly bound in cloth, — $.75. Half morocco, marbled edge, — $1.10. Send two-cent stamps for terms to agents.
Address Gospel Trumpet Pub. Co.
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LIST OF MONEY LETTERS RECIEVED SINCE LAST ISSUE. NOT OTHERWSE RECEIPTED.
Alfred S. Myers, David Daniel, Jno. Harn, Mrs. J. C. Kirk, J. W. Newkirk, Mary McCormick, Chas. Orr, Mary Lentz.
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REQUESTS FOR PRAYER.
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Pray for Sister Minnie Howard, Guy’s Mills, Pa. that she may be healed of deafness, and other afflictions.
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Bro. and Sister Geo. Colbree. of Hessel, Mich. desire the prayers of the saints in their behalf, also that her mother who has been blind for seven years may have her eyesight restored if God will. They have set April 25th at noon, as a time of special prayer. Do not forget the time.
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I ask the prayers of all the saints, April the 15th, at twelve o’clock for my afflicted daughter. She is sixteen years old and has never spoken plain, and she has been having fits for five years: her mind is leaving her. I have faith in prayer.
L. J. Green.
Pickens Station, Miss.
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China, La.
Dear Saints: My sister wrote to you a short time ago asking the prayers of the saints for me. I had the Grippe which affected my heart (Sister lives in Iowa), and I would like to say through your kind paper that I have not been troubled with my heart but once since; the Lord has answered prayers a great many times. I don’t dare to deny his power. I would like to ask the prayers of the saints for my Sister Josie. She is very sick with “Grippe” and other troubles, but I believe that the Lord is able to cure her wholly, if it be his will.
Yours for the right,
Miss Fannie Gardner.
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CALLS FOR MEETINGS.
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A meeting is wanted at Harrisonville, Cass Co.. Mo.
Address Bro. S. M. Stout.
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Bro. J. C. Green of Woodburn, Oregon desires some of God’s ministers to come to that place.
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Bro. A. C. Drumm, Montague, Muskegon Co., Mich., very much desires some of God’s true ministers to come to his place and preach the gospel.
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An earnest call comes from Danville, Knox Co.. O. for some one to come and preach the gospel in its purity. Address Sister A. E. Taylor.
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If some of God’s true ministers can go to Wilton Junction, Muscatine Co., Iowa, they will find souls hungry for the truth and a welcome at the home of Bro. Newton Ayers.
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EDITORIAL NOTES.
Remember the requests for prayer.
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Prepare to come to camp meeting this summer.
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Send in your order for the book on Divine Healing. It will strengthen your faith to read it.
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The annual June camp meeting will be held near Grand Junction this year, instead of at Bangor, as heretofore. We are expecting a large attendance, and a glorious time. Every body invited.
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We have many good testimonies on hand, and for want of space have had to keep some for several weeks. We are glad to hear from all the dear ones, and will publish the testimonies as fast as we can.
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Dearly Beloved: The Lord is with us in the valley of affliction. We are not able to walk yet, but think the the Lord will soon be through with us here, and let us go forth again. If we go West, and we hope to do so not many days hence, we trust it is Father’s will we should visit the saints at Kenesaw, either as we go out or return. Brethren, keep on praying for your humble servant. Amen.
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Bro. M. M. Stover writes: “I am about to purchase a tabernacle, to the glory of God; I expect to use it in South Neb. and Kan. and wherever the Lord wills. And I want some man full of the Holy Ghost, to work with me, or a man and his wife.”
Address at Table Rock, Neb.
Yours in Jesus,
M. M. Stover.
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Bro. W. M. Wilson, of Norwood, Mo. writes that they desire a grove or camp meeting at that place, and desires the brethren west, and north, to make arrangements for their meetings, and have it published in the Trumpet, so the time for the Norwood meeting can be set, and the same company of workers attend the different meetings.
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A NEW PLANET AND BAD ONE.
We are informed direct from Augusta, Ga., that a new sect has arisen there calling itself the “Planet Church.” Their creed is that when they die they go to another planet, live some time, die again and make another ascent, and so keep on till they get to heaven. The party writing us asks if we ever heard of them. Yes, the Savior spake of that and many like sects when he said, If any man climb up any other way, the same is as a thief and robber. This is hard on the new planet.
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Romans, Seven.
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WE are requested to give a thorough exposition of Romans 7:14-25. There is a good deal of difficulty in harmonizing this language of the apostle, with his teaching and testimony elsewhere. In the mists and fogs of sectarian bodies, the language under consideration, is commonly construed as describing the apostle’s best attainment in divine grace; and they seeing the picture in the light of a sinner, thereby justify themselves in, living in sin. But this God-dishonoring doctrine we need not here refute for the benefit of our readers; they know better.
From the fact that the apostle, in the fore part of chapter 7, treats somewhat on the law, some may have inferred that the latter part portrays a man only under the law, and not under grace. But, beloved, remember that his allusions to, the law were only incidental, and that perfect purity is the real theme, and he finally turned the whole lesson upon the brethren at Rome. “And if Christ be in you, the body, that is the body of death, that occasioned the wretchedness of the seventh chapter, is dead because of — with respect to – sin.” — Macknight. But the spirit is life because of — “with respect to — righteousness.” 8:10. Then follows the eleventh verse, and finally the thirteenth verse, commented on in the above extract, all applied to the brethren at Rome, and referring to the very conflict between the flesh, and the Spirit, described in the seventh chapter. And since the Romans were not legalists, but gospel converts, we surely must conclude that the picture drawn, was that of converts, and not legalists. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law.” — Gal. 2:16. Pardon, or justification, would have been needed had the lesson been intended for men under the law, but this was not the case. The “body of sin,” “body of death,” was the thing to be disposed of. and not sins and guilt. The very thing the converted Ephesians had to put off and the destruction of which the apostle urged upon the Romans in chapter 6: Yer.6 and 11 — “Knowing this that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed.” “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin.” All taken together it seems very clear that the picture was drawn for the special benefit of the Roman brethren. “The body of sin” to be destroyed — in 6:6, is the same as “the body of this death” to be delivered from in 7:24. And as the Romans were urged to have this crucifixion take place, and they were already justified in Christ? therefore the condition described is that of men in justification, but under keen consciousness of the old nature, and longing for his crucifixion. We all understand that the death of the old man is the consummation of our present salvation, and since the apostle carries his picture forward to this climax, he must have meant it for men in the primary grace of justification; for only such can reach the crucifixion of the old man. Conybear and Howson, very wisely remark in a note upon this subject, as follows:
The best commentary on the whole passage (7. 7 to 8. 13) is to be found in the condensed expression of the same truths contained in Gal. v. 16—18. “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the desire of the flesh; for the desire of the flesh fights against the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit fights against the flesh; and this variance between the flesh and the Spirit would hinder you from doing that which your will perfers; but if you be led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
This inward conflict, being the same thing that is more extensively described in Rom. 7 is also followed by the same remedy, Gal. 5:24. — “And they that are Christ’s — wholly consecrated, a living sacrifice — have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. This proves that the flesh does not mean the physical, else its crucifixion would have been a literal physical death.
Again, since the New Testament! standard of the justified and regenerated state is that of a life without committing sin, and the confession of Rom. 7:14—25 is supposed to be that of a life of sinning, the two are thought incompatible. We admit that the language of Paul is very strong, but after all does it not bear upon its face the great hindrance and burden caused by “sin that dwelleth in me” rather than sinful actions? “For that which I do, I allow not, and that which I would, that do I not,” does not necessarily imply actual sinning, but an inward consciousness that the life does not move on the highest plane of perfection. As Paul said to the Galatians, because of this old nature, the flesh, warring against the Spirit,” Ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Ye cannot grasp and use the gifts, and the degree of power, etc. set forth in the word. “Carnal, sold under sin,” sounds very bad: but it can be refered to that evil carnal nature under which we were all sold by our federal head Adam, and which every true child of God, hungering for heart purity, feels and deplores. Judging by but own experience, and the outcries of many hundreds we have witnessed in the throes of crucifixion, we know very well that all came to a point where they feel and abhor this carnality, and cry out against it, just as in the above case.
“For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.” Here we see again that the evil spoken of is confined to the flesh, the inbred evil nature, and not to a mountain of sins committed.
This verse also positively proves that the state with which it stands associated, is not that of the apostle’s experience at the time of writing, A. D. 60. Because he says in the epistle to the Galatians in A. D. 58, “They that are Christ’s, have crucified the flesh.” and he says that is his own experience. “I am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” — Gal. 2:19, 20.
But if he was dead to, and free from sin at the time of writing to the Romans, why did he here say he was carnal, had “sin dwelling in him?” etc. Turn to Rom. 6:19, and you have his reason. He says, “I speak after the manner of men, because of the infirmity of your flesh.” Instead of telling the Roman brethren direct, that such was yet their condition, which would have perhaps offended them, having yet the “flesh,” that irritable old nature, he comes down from the plane of his own experience and “speaks to them after the manner of men,” or as person in their own experience. In this way he draws a picture in which they could not fail to see their own state, and yet avoid giving offeno… But in the next chapter he returns again, and speaks from the standpoint of his own personal experience; his positively testifies that has already has gained the deliverance of which h.. enquires. “For — saith he — the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus had made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8:2. In fact deliverance is already implied in these words: “… wretched man that I [that is, the … that was crucified. Gal. 2:19, 20] and who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Does not this thanksgiving imply that he had really found deliverance? Thus it is rendered by Macknight: “I thank God wh.. delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord.” That is present deliverance I will yet add the rendering by Wakefield, as follows: “I thank God that
I am delivered through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
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It was perhaps not only because, by personating himself in the present tense, the apostle Paul avoided offence, but there seems to have been somewhat of a habit, then existing, to speak of past things in the form of the present. Long after that bad man Saul had become the holy apostle Paul, and his life blameless before God and man, he thus writes: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” — 1 Tim. 1:15. Now we have the record of his life and it is holy and pure, and not that of a sinner, nor, in fact, that described in Rom. 7. Therefore, so far as this lesson had any reference to Paul himself, it must be applied to the past, just as his words to Timothy must in fact, and in truth, denote his past character, or what he had been.
But the last words of the chapter, is supposed still to leave the apostle on record as a sinner. “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
This, we would observe is an epitome, or condensed recapitulation of the whole lesson on the dual state. But it were impossible to be in that condition, and that of Rom. 8:2 at the same time. Also it is not possible that he should be “serving the law of sin,” and at the same time be free from sin,” 6:22. Surely no inspired apostle would be so inconsistent as to lift the standard of perfection, freedom from sin, to his converts, and at the same time confess that he is not thus free himself. The law of God, in the mind of a new born child of God, serves the Lord, but the flesh, until it is crucified and destroyed, if permitted to act at all, serves the law of sin. These opposite bents are simply here acknowledged. That which is from God, is inclined to serve Him, and that which is of the devil, is only prone to serve him. But the clearly justified keeps this foe in subjection, and the wholly sanctified has it utterly destroyed. Amen.
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NEWS FROM THE FIELD.
Woodburn, Oregon.
Dear Saints of God: I feel impressed to ask some one of the dear saints of God to come to our place, for I feel that we are starving for the true bread of life. The sects are truly doing all they can to build up in members, but are destitute of real salvation. Our means are limited and we have to look after the needy; but we are glad that God has blessed us so we can give fifteen dollars to any of God’s true ministers that will come to our place. Cannot Bro. Wickersham come? I think that some of God’s children ought to help us on this line; if they will, I at some future time will assist in return. We must stand firm for God or go into outer darkness. If any of God’s faithful ones can come by us sending fifteen dollars please write us at Woodburn, Ore. Woodburn is between Portland and Salem.
Your brother saved,
J. C. Green.
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Chanute, Kan., March 18, 1892.
Dear Saints: We have been laboring with Bro. G. R. Achor at Neosho Falls. I am praising God that I am free and enjoying this evening light. This is the gleaning time, and truly the end is not far off. Just think of a town of three thousand inhabitants and not an open door for gospel meetings. Jesus says, “He that heareth you, heareth me, and he that despiseth you despiseth me, and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me.” “We are of God; he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.” — 1 Jno. 4:6. Truly the people are in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity. O praise the Lord for the victory over all the opposing powers!
We have been in this place about two weeks; had a ten days’ meeting, which was owned of the Lord. We had meeting in Sister Heller’s house; had plenty of room for a nice little congregation. About thirty came out and heard the truth. We were assisted by Lodema Kaser and Barbara Kenagy, while Bro. and Sister Cole had gone to Mo. Our meeting closed with an ordinance meeting in which only a few partook; but we realized it was owned of the Lord. Pray much for the people at this place. We feel that much good has been done in removing prejudice. Your sister in Christ,
Lena Shoffner.
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Grand Junction, Mich., Apr. 5, 1892.
Dear Saints of the Lord: God bless you all for his name’s sake. The meeting at Hoppertown closed last night with victory on the Lord’s side. The mighty power of God was manifested during all the meeting. Some backsliders got back to the Lord. The Lord most wonderfully blessed us in preaching his Word. Bro. Daugherty, Bro. Roe, Sister Fink, and Sister Fry were with us, whom the Lord used much. The singing was glorious; attention and attendance good, and many souls were convicted. Many would sit in their seats and weep. Some fought against the truth. God forgive them. There were ten consecrations during the meeting. One man got saved and sanctified who had been a tobacco user for fifty-two years. The Lord bless the work done there and may it result in much good in the future. God bless the kind people, also the workers that helped in the meeting. Any one wishing our help, please address us at Grand Junction, Mich,
Yours in him,
W. J. Henry & J. W. Daugherty.
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Albany, Ill., Mar. 28, 1892.
To all the Dear Saints, Greeting: May the grace of our God abide with you forever. Amen. Dear ones, we are glad to report to you once more, and say we are again active in the work of our Redeemer, after a siege of illness which affected our lungs, and placed us almost at death’s door. But the hand of our God has again raised us up to perfect health, and put the gospel in our hands to go forth and cry aloud the everlasting truth to poor perishing souls. Since our restoration to health we have been visiting, the churches in these parts. The Lord willing we expect to commemorate the death and suffering of our Lord, by an ordinance meeting at the house of Father and Mother Byers, on Saturday evening, April 16, 1892. And we expect a general coming together of the churches of Albany, Cottonwood, Fair Haven, Clinton, Cedar Creek. At Cedar Creek the Lord willing, we will meet at 10 A. M. on the Lord’s day, the 17th, for Bible reading and children’s meeting, and after a few moments of intermission the word will be preached in its purity. After the close of this feast of tabernacles, we are ready to march wherever the Lord leads. Address us at Union Grove, Ill. Pray for us.
Your humble brother and sister,
J. A. & A. J. Dillon.
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Teegarden, Ind., March 28, 1892.
Dear Saints: May God bless you all with peace and joy in believing.
I am so glad to day that I am saved from all sin, filled with the fullness of God, being led by the Holy Ghost into all truth. Praise God! The work of God is still going on here in this place, at the Shilo school-house. Last Friday night there were two dear souls saved, and last night another lady held up her hand for the prayers of the saints; and still there are others under conviction. May God help them to yield soon. We had been very much afflicted in body for a few days, and last night was feeling very bad, but God gave us strength to go through with the subject that he had given us. Then at the close of the meeting we called for the little ones to lay hands on us and pray, and God wonderfully healed me. Oh! come and let us praise the Lord together for his wonderful goodness to the children of men. Praise his dear name! To him be all the glory. If any of the brethren should be passing through these parts, we should be very glad to have them stop with us; we have meeting every Friday night at the Shilo school-house and can have the house over Lords day any time. I am your humble saved brother, sanctified wholly to do God’s will in all things. Pray for me.
Samuel P. Strang.
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Bolivar, Mo., March 31, 1892.
To the Dear Saints, Greeting: I am glad to testify that I am saved to day in Jesus’ blood. The very God of peace does sanctify me wholly just now. I am abundantly satisfied with God’s dealings with me. While I have not reported through the Trumpet for some time, yet I have been in active service in the field constantly since about the 20th of last June, except a few days in March. Bro. Houghton and I were together until the 1st of March, spending the summer, fall and winter in Indian Territory, Oklahoma and Kansas. During this campaign quite a goodly number of souls were saved. Some were converted others sanctified wholly. Some escaped from the delusions of sectism, and from the influence of false teachers who are roaming the world at large, poisoning the minds of many people. But out of all the confusions of sin the dear Lord is gathering a pure remnant; praise his holy name! I am glad that I live in the time of the evening light, and from the depths of my heart I praise God for deliverance from the confusion of the“beast” religion. The vials of God’s wrath are being poured upon the seat of the “beast” and his kingdom is full of darkness; and yet sad to say, a few who were perhaps once out in this evening light, at least professed to be free, have so far lost the light of God out of their souls that they can find food within the folds of Babylon, though not one ray of spiritual light emanates from her dark corners. No soul can sit at meat in the idol’s temple without causing some one to eat of those things which are offered in sacrifice to idols. Jesus says, Ye are the light of the world; the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. When saints lose the salt of divine grace out of their hearts, they are not fit to sing the songs of Zion, because we are told to sing with the Spirit, and with the understanding; and how shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange and? Nor yet are they fit to pray or testify. We might make a noise, but it would only be like sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Truly we are living in perilous times. The enemy has so many snares and delusions to deceive precious souls. Well did Christ say, “Watch and pray.” Walk in the light as he is in the light. Ah my Lord! how few are willing to pay the whole price! How few are willing to die to every carnal lust, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes! Yet God positively says that not every one that sayeth, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. And this is the will of God even your sanctification. God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord. All that have gotten victory over the beast and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand upon the sea of glass, having the harps of God. O hallelujah! If we stop to parley with the enemy he will soon have us within his grasp. He that is begotten of God keepeth himself and that wicked one toucheth him not. Bro. Bolds and I have been publishing salvation to the town of Bolivar, Mo. Yet it has been mainly a seed-sowing time. Two dear ones followed the example and command of Jesus in the ordinance of baptism. G that they will be eternally true to their covenant, and follow Jesus whithersoever he leads, even though it should be to prison or death! Every saint needs to be on the move for God. Life is short and there is no time to lose. Countless millions are sinking into hell. God does not call all to leave their homes and go into evangelistic work, but every member has a place in the body to fill. The same life of activity is required of all, every one shall give an account of himself to God. Peter says, Make your calling and election sure. Our hearts are kept pure by perfect obedience. Our life is given to the service of God till death shall call us home. Gladly we have left a to follow Jesus. Our prayer to God is that he will keep us in perfect humility, and strong in body till our work is done. From here we go to Schofield, Mo., the Lord willing. Pray for me.
J. F. Lundy.
Reeds, Mo.
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TESTIMONIES.
Thy Testimonies are Wonderful.
Psa. 119:129.
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West Liberty, O.
Dear Saints: I feel led of the Lore to give in my testimony. I am saved and kept by the power of God from all sin; both justified and sanctified, made white and tried. Glory to God! In the ark of God I’m sweetly resting.
I am kept by power divine. I know that Jesus is leading me in the straight and narrow way. If we but prove faithful we shall gain that home in heaven. I desire an interest in your prayers.
Your saved sister in Christ,
Effie B. Smith.
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Wheeler, Mich.
Dear Trumpet Readers: I feel like testifying to God’s goodness. I can say this morning that I am saved by grace. About two months ago the Lord had mercy on me, and for Christ’s sake, forgave my sins. I am made to rejoice with the joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. I have been wonderfully blessed and kept by the power of God. My soul is praising the Lord.
Your brother in the Lord,
Charles Jonson.
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714 E. Osborn St., South Bend, Ind.
Dear Saints of God: I can testify of the goodness of God this evening to me. I know his precious blood cleanses me from all sin, and saves me just now. Glory to his name! Oh it is so good to serve God in this way, which is the way of holiness! I have been walking in this way since last Aug. and I am not tired yet, nor do I ever think of getting tired of serving the Lord. I do love to keep the commandments of God and obey him in all things, as God says in John 14:15, If ye love me, keep my commandments. I tell you I do love the Lord with my whole heart. It gives me so much joy and comfort to do as the Lord bids. Glory to his name! Now I will say the Lord is a physician to the body as well as well as the soul. In Dec. last I was taken with the LaGrippe. I had to do something at once and so I obeyed James 5, called for the elders, had hands laid on me and got the victory. I only suffered three hours. Oh praise the Lord who healeth all our diseases! Pray for us.
Your brother and sister, saved and sanctified,
Chas. & C. Schleehauf.
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Duquoin, Kan.
Dear Saints of God: I will for the first time write a testimony to the Trumpet, and for the glory of God, who sent his dear Son into this world to die that we might live. Praise the Lord! I was saved one year ago last November, and thought I was sanctified, but went into the U. B. sect, which was altogether against God’s holy word, and of course went into darkness, although I tried to believe I was all right. I soon met some of the saints of God, and began to get the light on the true church. I had heard the straight word preached at Stafford by Bro’s Speck, Kilpatrick, and Willis. I loved to go to the meetings, but did not yield to the Spirit that called after my soul then, but after I came to this place I wished to hear them preach. I met with Bro. and Sister Houghton of Harper. They began to show me the true way. I was so confused in Babylon. When I was baptized I could realize I was free to worship God aright. Praise his dear name! I wish for some of the ministers to come here to preach. I am the Lord’s and his alone. I am saved through Jesus’ blood. Pray for me.
Your sister in the love of God,
Sarah B. Brown.
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North Manchester, Ind.
Dear Saints of God: I feel like telling what the dear Lord is doing for me. He convicted me of my sins some six years ago, and I repented with a godly sorrow, and he forgave all my actual transgressions. And then I presented my body a living sacrifice about four years ago, and the dear Lord sanctified me soul and body by a second work of grace. Glory be to his name forever! For he keeps me day by day. He has healed me of bodily afflictions many times, and I do just give him all the glory from the very depths of my soul. It fills our souls with joy to read the dear old Trumpet and hear from the brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We are surrounded by sectism in its worst form, but God is able to keep us unspotted, pure and holy; hallelujah to the Lamb of God! Some of God’s little ones from Bracken and Huntington came to our house yesterday, Lord’s day, and oh, what a glorious meeting we had! God was with us in his Spirit’s power. He gave us showers of his rich blessings. Glory to his name! Will you all pray for me, that I may stay low at the Master’s feet.
Your sister, saved and all on the altar,
Jane Irwin.
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OBITUARIES.
Teegarden, Ind.
Little Ray Aldrich, infant son of William and Rebecca Aldrich died March 20, 1892; aged 4 months and 7 days. This is the sixth little babe these dear parents have been called to give up, all dying in their infancy; six little treasures laid up in heaven. May the dear Lord comfort the hearts of these bereaved parents, and save them that they may meet the little ones gone before.
Samuel P. Strang.
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Teegarden, Ind.
John F. Johnson, eldest son of J. D. Johnson and wife, departed this life March 23, 1892. Aged 20 years, 3 months and 2 days. He leaves father, mother, brothers, and sister and many friends to mourn his loss. May God bless them in their bereavement and prepare them all to meet in heaven.
Samuel P. Strang.
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Brother Fred M. Goff departed this life March 10, at Joliet, Ill.; aged 27 years, 4 months and a few days. Consumption and doubtless a broken heart were the causes of his death. The last few years of this dear one’s life, were years of peculiar sadness and sorrow, and call for tears of sympathy from all who can feel for another’s afflictions. Disappointment in one of man’s most sacred desires led him behind the prison walls, but the pitying and loving eye of the dear heavenly Father was watching him, and wonderfully manifested His power to deliver the imprisoned soul from the prison of sin, even while the body was in bondage. Many prayers were offered in his behalf, which were answered about a year ago, by him finding rest to his weary soul. From that time forth his letters to his mother were of loving admonitions which we pray may be heeded, and that his sad, yet glorious end may be a warning to all his unsaved friends and relatives. The funeral sermon was preached by Bro. J. A. Dillon, near Union Grove, Ill., from Psa. 89:48.
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HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
Experience.
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Someone has truly said, “We can pass through life but once.” Dear readers, has it ever occurred to you that you are perhaps making a life (an emanation of your own) to be miserable at a date, corresponding to one generation in the future, say twenty years hence. The laws of nature are inexorable, unchangeable; and every offence, every sin against your body, whether it be a known or an unknown transgression, is a draft upon nature’s bank that is always honored, always paid, except our heavenly Physician interposes in our behalf and takes away the effects of disobedience. Notice Ex. 34:7. keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.” Now we see how wonderfully true the foregoing is. What misery, what woe, want, and suffering we find in the world to-day, because God is fulfilling his word! We sow the seeds of disease, and we, our children, and our children’s children reap the dire results, fruits of mis-spent hours, days and nights of total disregard for those natural laws that govern these bodies of ours. “The laws of nature are the thoughts of God,” says some one, and God has written them in our flesh; we must obey or suffer. Then it is necessary for us to study and see what the will of God is. God is the lawgiver of nature and he will be obeyed.
Health is the greatest of temporal blessings, and the possessor of it can be stronger, wiser, and more useful than one who is unhealthy. This is self evident. O how liberally God has provided us with members to work his will; organs of sense with which to communicate with and enjoy all the temporal and spiritual feasts of good things he has prepared for us! God gives each creature, man and beast, appetites, and the means of gratifying them .The beast follows its God-given instinct never eating unwholesome food nor overloading its stomach; in short, as God intended it to cat, so it eats. Man, created a little lower than the angels, gifted with reason, a knowledge of what is good and what is evil, seeing and learning by experience, knowing that “the wages of sin is death,” wanders on, eating and drinking himself to an early grave. You parents awake to the fact that your children are depending on your experience for their wisdom. Take the dear little ones on your knee and tell them what you have learned that they may learn to husband their strength for a time of need, “and every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.”
Brethren, the Lord give you understanding, while you consider what we say. Temperance in all things; wisdom in all things. Water is a good thing; Shall we pour it into our stomachs at all times under every circumstance? No, because that would be intemperance. Air, another good thing; should we open a window in winter time and sit where it can blow directly upon, us? No. Should we shut up the house and trust to the occasional opening and shutting of a door to supply us with air? No. Fresh air we need all the time. Bear in mind that warm air is not necessarily fresh or pure. One can be just as impure as the other, and will do just as much damage to life and health. As a teacher, we have seen many good children, i.e. children who from lack of spirit, energy, push and vitality, were really good children in our eyes, never were known to be hasty, or do any thing rash; very good, don’t you think so? Well, observation disclosed the fact that those children were “air starved.” Yes, did not have enough fresh air to make them alive; they would stay in at recess (if not expressly forbidden) to play or study because they were afraid of taking cold. Fresh air prevents colds. Open your windows; put a board lengthwise under the sash and you provide a current of air without a draft. We have also seen small children who were thought to be prodigies of goodness, quiet, and peaceable; an investigation in about five cases out of six shows a lack of fresh air, and its attendant evils, stupidity, lassitude and indifference. Study the little ones you meet, your own and others and see why they are so quiet and peaceable. If the lack be pure air, clothe them warmly and let God’s free, fresh, invigorating, soul-inspiring, pure air work the miracle whose end is health. God will destroy those who defile his temple. O live temperate in all things! Notice carefully the meal just eaten, how it was eaten, what it consisted of, time taken, drinks used, the effects upon your strength, your sleep, your endurance. Let part of each day be spent in profitable study of some law of health. See by your own experience and the experience of others; obey the precepts you thus laydown for yourself, and your days will be long in the land the Lord God giveth you. Amen.
F. Husted.
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in Egypt who brought in his schism and taught the church that there would be a certain millennium of sensual luxury on the earth, endeavoring to establish his theory by the Revelation of John. He caused a division in the church. Another great and awful heresy that existed at that time was brought about by one Paul of Samosata who then was acting as bishop at Antioch. According to Eusebius this man exalted himself and magnified himself above every god, and spake against the God of gods: as Paul in 2 Thess. 2:4 declares him, “Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God, sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God.
You will find an account of this heresy in Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical History, book 7, chap. 30; also you will find a quotation of the same in my book, Holiness Bible Subjects, page 355.
We have given this reference to sacred history to show that the mystery of iniquity had fully commenced to work in the year A. D. 270: “The glory and happiness of the church appeared to diminish from this time.” “Shortly after this time an awful persecution arose against the church in which the congregations and church buildings were destroyed and thousands suffered martydom and great cruelties.” After this cruel persecution soon subsided, the church again appeared to assure her beauty and glory. But instead of coming forth as the morning, she ripened into papal darkness. Her sun went down at noon: the Word and the Spirit began to clothe themselves with sackcloth. We do not assume to say that Catholicism was organized, or really existed at that time. But we do say that the germ existed at that time, and had commenced to grow. Papal rule and authority was manifested in the bishop at Antioch at that time. And at the great conference of all the bishops, in the year 325, we believe it was their design to ascertain who should be leading bishop or the greatest. And the result of the meeting was to organize closer under the rules and regulations of men instead of the free apostolic plan. So step by step the bishops of the apostolic church gradually transformed into wicked Catholicism.
The Apostasy is divided into two parts.
1st. Catholicism. 2d. Protestantism.
We will first notice the trace of the church through Catholicism, or dark day. This was a dark day indeed; spiritual blindness. They lost sight of the body of Christ. The daily sacrifice was taken away, that is, the daily praises of God ceased. Let us read some prophecy and scriptures that undoubtedly refer to the day of Catholicism. Amos 8:9, 10. — “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: and I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation: and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and-baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.”
Christ says, Mark 13:24, — But in those days, after that tribulation, [destruction of Jerusalem and scattering of the Jews] the sun shall be darkened, [that is, Christ shall become obscure] and the moon shall not give her light; [the word shall cease to be taught and understood; delusion and blindness will ensue]and the stars of heaven shall fall and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken” [God’s children are cast down]. As it is said by Daniel the prophet, Dan. 8:10, 11, — And it [Catholicism] waxed great, even to the host of heaven: [Host of heaven here has reference to God’s children upon earth.] and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. [Brought down under papal power and rule.] Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, [Jesus Christ] and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.” [God’s church was polluted, brought down, and caused to go into Catholicism.] In the next verse he says, “And it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered.” Paul calls it the man of sin, that is, popish or man power. 2 Thess. 2:3.
The Revelator describes it as a beast rising out of the sea. Rev. 13:1-10. As space will not allow us to quote in full these scriptures we will comment briefly upon them. “The name of blasphemy;” giving to manmade power and man-organized institutions, the name of Christ. To say the papal church is the church of God is blasphemy. To say that the pope takes the place of all Christian princes, as the vicar of Jesus Christ here upon earth, or that he is vicegerent of God, is blasphemy.
Ver. 7, — And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him overall kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Papacy was a terror to all nations; princes, kings and rulers were subject to the pope. The war was terrible indeed that he made with the saints, and it is true where it says that he overcame them, as we will see in disgust, when we read the history of the inquisition. It has been computed that fifty millions of Protestants have at different times been the victims of the persecutions of the Papists, and put to death for their religious opinions. Daniel says that, “He shall speak against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws.” Catholicism did not reach its darkest shade until about the year 606, when pope Boniface Ill., by flattering Phocas, the emperor of Constantinople, one of the worst of tyrants, received the title of Universal Bishop. From this time he was raised above all others, and his supremacy established by imperial authority: it was now also that the most profound ignorance, debauchery, and superstition reigned. It was now he thought to change times and laws. From this time the popes exerted all their power in promoting the idolatrous worship of images, saints, reliques, and angels. What was considered the church was truly deplorable; all the clergy were given up to the most flagrant and abominable acts of licentiousness. Places of worship resembled the temples of heathen more than that of Christians; nothing could exceed the avarice, pride, and vanity of all the bishops, presbyters, and deacons.
This sad state of affairs continued until the year 1530 when light began to glimmer. The saints of God were under this power for time and times and the dividing of time (three years and a half). Dan. 7:25, which is the same as forty and two months in Rev. 13:5. Counting thirty days for a month we have twelve hundred and sixty days; which prophetically means 1260 years. Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:6.
The two witnesses, Word and Spirit prophesy 1260 days in darkness. Rev. 11:1-4. That is, the Word and the Spirit were a witness to the saints or church of God for 1260 years through dark Catholicism. Read also Rev. 12:1-6. Here the church goes into a wilderness where she remains 1260 days. This is a prophecy of the same thing as the above. This is utter darkness; as was foretold by the prophet, Mic. 3:5-7, — “Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision: and it shall be dark unto you that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.” This darkness reigned over the church from the year 270 to 1530. This is proved by comparing history with prophecy. Prophecy declares that this darkness [Catholicism] continued 1260 years. History declares that Papal supremacy ceased in the year 1530. Counting back 1260 years we have 270.
Let us next notice the trace of the church into Protestantism, or sect making; which is the cloudy day. At the close of the 1260 years of Catholicism, the reformation brought about through the preaching of Martin Luther, brought the church out of Catholicism. They openly renounced the papal supremacy. Therefore her power diminished, and light sprang up, a flash as it were from heaven. God’s people, the church came out of Catholicism. But instead of staying out clear and free from the works of men they thought it would be better on the account of the persecution that then arose against them, — it would be better to organize in order for protection. So fulfilling Rev. 12:13, 14. — “And when the dragon [devil] saw that he was cast into the earth, he persecuted the woman [church] which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, [among the rocks and mountains Jer. 16:16.] into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” Also Rev. 11:7-9. Here we have again times, and months and days to represent a period of time; which period is the duration of the flourish of Protestantism, or sect making.
Now if we know the date of a man’s birth and the date of his death, we can soon tell how long he lived by a little calculation. By history we know that Protestantism or sect making commenced about the year 1530. We also know that in 1880 the cry was heard, Babylon is fallen, and the voice said, Come out of her my people.
The corruptness of the denominations are exposed and they cease anymore to be a cloke or a hiding place. Therefore she is fallen, and her fall commenced about the year 1880, which makes the period three centuries and a half, 350 years. Time from 1530 to 1880. During this time the Word and Spirit were dead among the different denominations. Oh what a thought! Yet nevertheless it is all true. They became a dead letter. Not saying that no one had the word of God, or that no one had salvation. God undoubtedly had a people in Babylon during all this time, and were brought up to all the light they had. But sectism as a whole destroyed the word of God, and also the Holy Spirit. One may ask, “How did they do this?” We will answer by simply saying they killed the word by making creeds and disciplines, the works of men’s hands to rule and govern them instead of the word of God. “O well,” says one, “our discipline corresponds with the word of God.” It does not. If it did, it would be the whole word, and creeds of different denominations would be Exactly alike. Here is the secret of sect making it is to have a creed to suit a certain party, which has a faith different from some other party. One creed or rule of faith leaves out one part of the word, and another creed leaves out another part, and another, another part, and so on around, omitting, supplying and changing until the whole word is destroyed. And the spirit was killed by denying its power, Speaking of it as a thing of the past and not of the present; yet continuing to preach and profess it. Read Rev. 11th chap. Ver. 11, — “And after three days and a half the spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.”
Now comes in the EVENING LIGHT.
At the closing up of sectism the evening light breaks forth. Zech. 14. 6, 7, — “And it shall come to pass in that day, [day of sect making] that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day, which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass that AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT.” The church comes out of the wilderness. Cant. 8:5. — “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?” The manner of bringing in the evening light is by the preaching of the angels, or messengers, God’s ministers. 1st angel preaches, Rev. 14:6, 7. 2d angel preaches, Rev. 14:8. 3d angel preaches, Rev. 14:8, 10, 11. 4th angel preaches; 1st voice, Rev. 18:1-3. 2d voice, Rev. 18:4. “Thus step by step the CHURCH was brought back into the gospel purity and unity.”
Sectism, — “The beast is cast into the lake of fire.” — Rev. 19:20.
Your saved brother,
H. C. Wickersham.
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TESTIMONIES.
Thy Testimonies are Wonderful.
Psa. 119:129.
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Table Rock, Neb.
Dear Saints: May our God keep you filled with his fulness in these perilous times. I do praise God for full and complete salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise his name! For about twenty-three years before I heard holiness preached I was a Baptist. I received the second work of grace in my soul and I have been able to praise the Lord ever since. The Lord has wonderfully healed me several times. Praise his name for his loving kindness to me!
Your brother saved and sanctified, and kept by the power of God,
J. W. Gregory.
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Everest, Kan.
Dear Ones of the Trumpet: I can truly say with one of old that the Lord is my shepherd, and he leads me by day and by night. I am praising the Lord daily, not only for his saving power, but also for his keeping power. I know that I am his, and he is mine, and that he watches over me by day and by night. I love the Trumpet. It encourages and cheers one to read the testimonies it contains. It is also very encouraging to see that others gain the victory, fighting the same battles that I have to fight. I praise God that he has cured me of the tobacco habit, after using it over forty years; and that he has put a new song in my mouth, even praises to our God. Wife was healed by divine power, for which we cannot praise and glorify God enough. May God keep you all by his mighty power, is the sincere prayer of your saved brother,
S. H. Fisher.
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Colo. Springs, Colo.
Dear Saints: I thank God for the victory I have in my soul and also for the glorious light, and truth, which I receive through reading the Trumpet. O how I do love the true way! It fills my heart with glory to God! I realize more and more every day that Babylon is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird. But I do thank and praise the Lord that I have heard his angel’s call, and escaped the sure destruction that is written on the wall.
Your sister, justified, and wholly sanctified,