1 September 1881, Volume 4, Number 17.
The Gospel Trumpet.
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A SEMI-MONTHLY JOURNAL.
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Edited and Published in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by
D. S. Warner & J. C. Fisher.
Office — 525 West Vermont Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
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Terms, 75cts per year in advance.
For a less period at proportionate rates.
Single copies five cents.
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Object – The glory of God in the Salvation of men from all sin, and the union of all saints upon the Bible.
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Remittances for fractions of $1 may be sent in three-cent postage stamps; $1 and upwards by P. O. Money Order or Registered Letters.
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Agents allowed 10 cents commission on each subscriber, in clubs of five and upwards. Sample copies to agents for canvassing sent free.
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Entered at the post-office as second class matter.
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[For the Gospel Trumpet.
Come to Jesus.
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BY CHAS. WENTWORTH.
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Fellow sinner come to Jesus,
Come and you shall live;
From your sin he now will free you,
And all his love he’ll give.
Jesus died on Calv’ry’s mountain,
O, the wondrous love;
He has purchased your redemption,
And a crown above.
How he loves a world of sinners,
So he stoops so low,
He would raise you in his image,
Wash you white as snow.
He will grant you full salvation,
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… walk and ..wen in you;
Sanctify and make you holy,
Keep you ever true.
He will all you with his glory,
And his peace bestow;
Sate you with the fruits of Beulah,
Heaven here below.
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FAITH.
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A Sermon Preached by the Rev. Geo. Muller, of Bristol, England, in the Thirteenth St. Presbyterian Church, New York.
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Text. — “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” — Hebrews xi. 1, 2.
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The subject of our meditation this evening is, What is faith — how it may be increased? and the growth of faith, which I will endeavor to illustrate by some, of the experiences, which, by the grace of God, I have realized in the exercise of belief in His promises, as revealed in His word.
First: What is faith? In the simplest manner in which I am able to express it I answer — faith is the assurance that the thing which God has said in His word is true, and that God will act according to what He has said in His word. This assurance, this reliance on God’s word, this confidence is faith.
No impressions are to be taken in connection with faith. Impressions have neither one thing or the other to do with faith. Faith has to do with the word of God. It is, not impression, strong or weak, which will make any difference. We have to do with the written word. We have to rely on the written word and not on ourselves or our impressions.
Probabilities are not to be taken into account. Many people are willing to believe regarding those things that seem to them probable. The province of faith begins where probabilities cease and sight and sense fail. A great many of God’s children are cast down and lament their want of faith. They write to me and say they have no impressions; no feeling; they see no probability that the thing they wish will come to pass. Appearances are not to be taken into account. Impressions and feelings and probabilities are not to be taken into account. The question is — if God has spoken it in His word. * * Again, it is necessary that we seek to acquaint ourselves with God as He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures. We must not content ourselves with the notions that people have about God, but we must diligently seek to know what He has disclosed regarding Himself. For I say, and I say it deliberately, that the notions which the world has about God and His character are not the truth. And we must not take the notions which the church and many professing Christians have of God; for I say again deliberately that the notions which the
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church of Christ has about God are not the truth, and we do not want to gather our views from what the church says about God, or what christian men say about Him; but we want to come to the very fountain, the revelation the Lord has made of Himself in His written word. * * *
When I first begun allowing God to deal with me, relying on Him, taking Him at His word, and set out fifty-one years ago simply relying on Him for myself, family, taxes, traveling expenses and every other need, I rested on the simple promises. I found in the sixth chapter of Matthew a passage, “I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Therefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?’’ No man could by care and forethought array a lily. Put a flower under a microscope and you will say it has been attired by no other than the living God. “Therefore take no thought saying, What shall we eat? or Wh.. shall we drink? or Whe.. withal shall we be clothed?… or after all these things do the Gentiles seek;) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and these things shall be added unto you. Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
I believed the Word. I rested on it and practised it. I “took God at His word.” A stranger, a foreigner in England, I knew seven languages and might have used them perhaps as a means of remunerative employment, but I had consecrated myself to labor for the Lord. I put my reliance in the God who has promised, and He has acted according to His word. I’ve lacked nothing — nothing. I have had my trials, my difficulties, and my empty purse, but my receipts have aggregated tens of thousands of dollars, while the work has gone on these fifty-one years. Then with regard to my pastoral work for the pa.. fifty-one years I have had great difficulties, great trials and ..plexities. There will
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always trials. But God has sustained me under them, and delivered me out of them, and the work has gone on.
Now, this is not, as ..ome have said, because I am a man of great mental power or endowed with energy and perseverence — these are hot the reasons. It is because I have confided in God; because I have sought God, and He has cared for the institution which, under His direction, has one hundred and seventeen, schools, with masters and mistresses, and other departments of which I have told you before. The difficulties in such an undertaking have been gigantic, but I read that they that put their trust in the Lord shall not be ashamed. Nearly twenty years ago a beloved brother from America, came to see me, and he expected to see me an old man helpless and decrepit, bowed down with burdens, and he wondered I did not look old. “How is this?” he said, “that yon keep so young under such a load as you are carrying?”
“My dear brother,” I said, “I have always rolled the burden on the Lord. I. do not carry one hundreth part of it. The burden comes to me, and I roll it back on Him.” I do not carry the bur den. And now, in my seventy- sixth year, I have physical strength and mental vigor for work as great as when I was a young man in the University, studying and preparing Latin orations. I am just as vigorous as at that time.
How comes this? Because in the last half century off labor. I’ve been able, with the simplicity of a little child, to rely on God. I have had my trials, but I have laid hold on God, and so it has come that I have been sustained.
It is not only permission, but positive command that He gives us to cast the burden upon Him. Oh, let us do it, my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee.” Day by day I do it. This morning again sixty matters in connection with the church, of which I am a pastor, I brought before the Lord, and thus it is day by day, and year by year; ten years, twenty years, thirty years, forty years. And now my beloved brothers and sisters, come with your burdens, the burdens of your business, your profession, your trials and difficulties, and you will find help.
Many persons suppose it is only about money that I trust the Lord in prayer. I do bring this money question before the Lord, but it is only one out of many things that I speak to God about, and I find He helps. Often I have perplexity in finding persons of ability and fitness for the various posts that I have to have supplied. Sometimes weeks and months pass and day by day, day by day, I bring the matter before the Lord, and invariably He helps. It is so about the conversion of persons — prayer, sooner or later, is turned
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helps. It is so about the needs of our work in sending our tracts and books, and missionary efforts. After awhile God helps. We’re never left. We’re, never confounded. * * *
Now, my beloved brothers and sisters, begin in a little way. At first I was able to trust the Lord for ten dollars, then for a hundred dollars, then for a thousand dollars, then for a hundred thousand dollars, and now, with the greatest ease, I could trust Him for millions of dollars if there was occasion. But, first, I should quietly, carefully, deliberately, examine and see whether what I was trusting for was something in accordance with His promises in His written word. If I found it was, the amount of the difficulties would be no hindrance to my trust. Fifty-one years, and God has never failed me! Trust Him for yourselves and find how true to His word He is.
May God’s richest, choicest blessings rest upon yon now, and upon all who do not feel encouraged to put their whole trust in Christ hereafter. Then will peace, sunshine, and happiness begin with the beginning of the exercise of the grace of faith, which is always found united with love.
— Highway of Holiness.
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Belonging to the Church.
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[From the Christian.]
“What church do you belong to?” is the question often asked; and if persons. have not enrolled themselves under some sectarian banner, badge, or standard, people say, “Well, I would belong to somebody.” But what a confession does this imply. A servant of Christ belongs to somebody! he belongs to his Master, the Lord, who has bought him with his own blood, and who claims exclusive ownership in that which he has purchased with so great a price.
And do people believe that a man who only belongs to the Lord Jesus, belongs to nobody? And is it true that Christians will exclude from their sympathies and fellowship men whose only fault is that they belong to their Saviour, and to no one else? There is no church which has any right of ownership in the people of God.
The fellowship of the saints is a precious privilege; and yet church fellowship may be purchased with too great a price. If a man be required to profess faith in things not written in the word of God, or to fellowship and endorse things which God has forbidden; if, in order to have fellowship with saints, he.be compelled also to have fellowship with sinners and their evil deeds; if the church is largely run by worldly men on worldly principles, and in disregard of divine precepts; if some of those who retain its fellowship do so stifling their
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naught and publicly condemning men and principles which they privately approve and secretly embrace; then it becomes a question whether such a price paid for fellowship does not leave the purchaser far poorer than he was before.
The friendship of the world is enmity with God, even if it he the world baptized and enrolled on the church books as in good and regular standing.
When the golden calf got into the camp of Israel the Tabernacle of God went out. “And Moses, took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the Tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.“ Ex. xxxiii. 7. The Tabernacle was without the camp, but the true worshipers could find it. “And Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tabernacled.“ God’s presence did not dwell in a polluted camp; and without that presence what had Israel more than others? Moses said, “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.‘ Ex. xxxiii. 15,16.
Separation from sin and sinners, in church or out, is as needing now as ever. In his life our Master was “holy, harmless, unoclaed, separate from sinners,” and in the days of his flesh he, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, “suffered without the gate.” Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” Heb. xiii.. 23, 14.
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The Gospel Trumpet.
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A SEMI-MONTHLY HOLINESS JOURNAL.
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And one moved by the Spirit of God to help, on this work of the Lord, by donations or otherwise, your liberalities will be received as from God, and used to His glory.
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EDITORIAL.
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Wanted. — A holy printer to go with the salvation ear. Some one who can do the work on the Trumpet, and whose heart is in the cause of holiness — at least is religious. Let me hear of such.
D. S. W.
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“It is an awful thing to have no religion at all”
True, but it is far more ‘awful,’ more damning to the soul, more baneful to society, more incorrigible and impious in the sight of God, to be a vile hypocrite, “fair without, but within full of dead men’s bones.”
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Money Credits.
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Since last issue not otherwise acknowledged.
J B Windbigler, subrcription, |
$1.00 |
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Abraham Cummins, |
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75 |
Mrs E Williams, |
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1.00 |
W. Cooper, |
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1.00 |
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At the Camargo camp meeting a preacher said that holiness and denominations had nothing at all to do with each other — that neither affected the other in any way whatever. To this the preachers all said amen, and yet those same preachers and the Bible both declare that they do affect each other: The Bible teaches that all divisions, whether for Paul or Peter, Wesley, Luther, or any one else, are carnal, and that holiness
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that ..rifyeth and they … … sanctified aro all of one.” Holiness, according to the Bible destroys denominations and unites into one. But those preachers say that unless yon belong to a sect or denomination we will, not fellowship you. So yon see that the above statement is not true. Holiness does have something to do with denominations according to the Bible, and it does have the opposite to do with them according to the different associations. The former condemns them, the latter set a bounty upon them. I wonder if there is. anything in all God’s kingdom that sectism is not out of harmony with.
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Prescription.
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Should there be any “lovers of self” in the country who think of starting a holiness paper for their own glory, and know not just how to compound it, the following may assist you. Having analized one of those wise productions we find it composed of the following ingredients: —
20 Parts finely minced chaff.
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Soap foam. |
3 |
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Watered milk. |
4 |
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Effervescence of flattery. |
9 |
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untempered Babylon mortar. |
15 |
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say-and-do-not. |
2 |
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vaporized holiness. |
6 |
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spiritual whitewash. |
10 |
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Rev. puffs. |
6 |
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expanded air. |
6 |
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sugar and molasses. |
10 |
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sinopiate. |
10 |
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sectanodync. |
The above, with a few columns of advertisements, is supposed to be just what the people want, and will take well. Of course in running such a paper you do not want to enquire for the will of God, for then would there be a great change in the plan, if not a positive veto of the project.
THE SALVATION CAR.
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The Tabernacle of the Lord Moving South.
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The Gospel Trumpet Flying Through the Land.
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“Behold I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth: shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself — they shall show forth my praise.” Isaiah 43:19-21.
Yes, the Lord is going to “form” a hand who will go forth to water the parched places of the wilderness, to show forth the praises of the Lord. For some time we have been receiving calls to come South and preach the gospel of God. These calls seemed to weigh upon our mind, and as we felt no release from publishing the Trumpet we wished in our heart to go abroad sowing the seed and continue the paper also. The thought of taking an office right, along occurred to our mind, but we could see no practical plan to do so. At the Camargo camp meeting we met a dear consecrated soul to whom the Spirit said “Invite that brother to move his office to your place.” He did so, tendered an office free of rent, and said he had dedicated forty acres of land to spread holiness. Was led to buy a tabernacle, and possibly the
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… and have some … publish holiness by the press. We parted and left it all with the Lord. When we met at Terre Haute last week, Bro. Pelton asked this question: “Would you be willing to go South with a Tabernacle and spend the whole winter, if the Lord so directs?” We unhesitatingly answered yes. The coincidence of this question and our own. calls, and moving Southward, seemed to strike our mind at once as being of the Lord. A little further conversation and prayer seemed to clear up every doubt. My soul said “we’ll go.” To my surprise Bro. Belton then presented the same idea that had occurred to our mind — i.e., that of taking a printing press along and publish our bills, tracts, and possibly a paper as we go. His mind had also conceived the plan by which it could be done, namely, by erecting a car for our use, a part partitioned off for an office, and the rest for the band and equipments.
In the name of the Lord we believe this is all of God, and we expect He will carry it out. Steps have already been taken to procure the Tabernacle and a few good tents for the campaign.
The band, we expect will consist of about four sisters and six brethren, whom the Spirit shall select, a few of the number seem already designated. These things were talked and prayed over Saturday, Aug. 21st. On Sabbath morning by daylight we went out in the camp to enquire alone of the Lord, and there the order came, sell your home and prepare for this campaign, which we felt impressed would continue to the end of our warfare for Christ. We are blessed with strong home feelings, and after ten years iteneracy we cherished the happy ideal of a pleasant home, with fruit, garden, etc., from which to go forth in our evangelistic labors, but O, how clearly the test came, “are you willing to abandon all these for Christ’s sake and the gospel.” Glory to God as we turned it over a new baptism of glory flooded our soul, and has rested upon us ever since.
THE PAPER
will continued the Lord’s hands, and our agency as heretofore. Should we not be provided with a “Salvation Car” we shall not be able to take the office, in which case it is possible we shall move to. Ashland, Cass county, Ill., a small, but thriving town, with two good railroads, where many advantages will be secured, of which we will not now speak.
BUT THE CAR
is what is needed, not only for the sake of the office, but to enhance the comfort of the company — to enable us to carry provision, that the Lord may give us, and to travel with a great deal less expense. Let it also be remembered that once on the track for Jesus, we shall continue to go on winter and summer, whithersoever the Lord will. Our dear Bro. Pelton has offered to invest his whole 40 acres of good Illinois land in Tabernacles for the Lord, which will enable him to fit out three or four companies. How who will honor God by saying “I will furnish the means for this car.” O, ye rich, how hardly shall ye enter the kingdom of heaven if ye will not give your hudreds to speed this last, midnight cry; this final hedge and highway search for souls
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O, in .. name of name of the crucified and risen saviour we ask you, will you “lay up your treasures on earth?” thereby to be “pierced through with many sorrows.” Will yon leave it all to feed the worldliness of your own children, while the whole world is trembling under the near approach of an awful doom, and the long suffering of God is drawn out a little longer to enable you to direct your thousands, that will soon be burned up, to help save some poor souls from hell, before the door of imercy is forever closed. Who will make hasle to sell, if need be, the best land he has to send out this first salivation car, for the glory of God? Speak out quickly lest God pass you by and another take your crown.
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SPECIAL NOTICES.
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The annual meeting of the Churches of God in Northern Indiana will meet at Beaverdam, Kosciusko county, Ind., Oct. 1.
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The annual meeting of the Churches of God in Michigan will meet at Carson City, Montcalm county, Mich., Oct. 15.
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A general meeting of the Churches of God in Indiana, Michigan, Kansas and Missouri and all everywhere who see and ask for the old paths, will convene at Beaverdam, Kosciusko county, Ind., Oct. 4th.
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An anti-Sectarian Holiness Convention is called at Carson City, Montcalm county, Mich., October 13th, to continue two days. Everybody concerned in the promotion of thorough unmixed holiness is invited.
Strange Logic.
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“A body of Christians who unite together to antagonize all sects, is the most sectly of all sects.”
Is that so? Then a body of men who unite together to antagonize all intemperance, who neither taste nor touch intoxicating liquors, but rather reprove those who sell and drink it, are the most intemperate; the worst drunkards of all drunkards. The logic is just as sound in one case as the other. It is simply the statement of a falsehood.
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Terre Haute Camp Meeting.
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This was another precious feast of tabernacles. We did not get there until Friday forenoon. That was a blessed day of God’s power. About thirty souls, saved that day 135 during the whole meeting. We met a few who had been healed in answer to prayer last- year, and thank God they have proved that Christ’s cure is permanent. Praise the Lord! We talked with a sister who has an insane daughter, and she sent a request to the camp meeting last year that prayers be made to God for her. At the very hour that was devoted to prayers for the sick, this poor soul said to her mother and friends: “Why I feel so calm and peaceful. I feel that some one is praying for me.” This she said without the least knowledge that the request had been sent to the camp. Glory to Jesus. But the best of all we met not less than 50 or 60 souls there who were washed whiter than snow at the last year’s camp meeting.
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Glory to God! It done our soul good to hear them testify that they had been “kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation” from all sin every second and moment in the 365 days of the past year. O, bless the Lord for His goodness and mercy, and His great salvation.
But this is not all — we talked with some of the dear little ones from different points of the surrounding country, who testify that the one or two souls who carried the “spirit of burning” home with them had set fire to dead societies, and that where before the “land was desolate, the altars forsaken, and the prayer-meeting died out, now quite large congretions assemble in the prayer-meeting; souls are being frequently saved, and the name of God glorified. Because the gospel of holiness is more designed to “gather out of the kingdom everything that offendeth,” than to “gather in of all kinds” — more apt to get a little pure gold, through which God can save souls all the year round, than to heap up a large pile of chaff — worldly backsliding converts. Therefore some think we do not accomplish as much as when we were in the wilderness, reporting those big short lived revivals. But glory to Jesus! we are fully persuaded that, attributing no more fruits to my labors at Terre Haute camp meeting last year than to others present, God accomplished more solid and permanent work through my labors of ten days there, than He did in my best year’s work in the wilderness. O, how our heart is knit to the beloved saints at Terre Haute and surroundings. What blessed fellowship we have. Saturday p. m., we had an interesting-service in the public square of the city.
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Heathen Idolatry Exposed.
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A new book — “Revised Oddfellowship” — illustrated, published by Ezra A. Cook, 13 Wabash Ave. Chicago, Ill. 280 pages. Cloth, $1; paper, 50 cents. It is a complete history, description, and illustration of the whole system of Odd-fellowship; its grips, secrets and symbols, including the Rebekah degree. Contains 117 footnotes from the writings of standard Oddfellows. And proves positively by their own authors that the institution is a false idolatrous religion. The following extract will both speak for the book and enlighten our readers: –
“The deluge of secret orders, Odd-fellowship among them, are the modern forms of these old idolatries, which sunk the lost nations, from Egypt down. The proof of this it abundant.
In Grosh, p. 91, the highest Odd-fellow authority, we read: —
“Among all the Mysteries of the Ancients, those celebrated at the city of Eleusis, hence called the Eleusinian Mysteries, are best known. These were copied from the Egyptian, and bore a correspondence to all similar institutions, and hence an account of one is, in the main, an account of all the others.”
On the preceding page (90), Grosh explicitly shows these heathen worships to have been counterfeits of Bible religion, thus: “What regeneration by the word of truth is in religion, initiation is in Odd-fellowship. In this, as in many other particulars, our insti..
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.. has instinctively, as it were copied after nearly all secret associations of a religions and moral character. In Egypt, the most ancient among the ancient kingdoms, an institution of this kind existed from the earliest period.” Again (p. 72): “ ‘From the earliest ages to the present day, there have been similar associations founded upon the same general principles, with similar rites and ceremonies.’ ” Again, same page: “These rites and ceremonies were originally of a religions character, COPIED * * FROM A DIVINE INSTITUTION.” (!)
If the object of this fundamental authority in Odd-fellowship (Grosh) had been to declare the secret worships to be counterfeits of the religion of the Bible he could not have spoken more clearly. And if so, every ceremony and prayer in Odd-fellowship is worship paid to devils.
But he is more explicit still. Thus (p. 91): “ ‘It was a leading characteristic of all the ancient rites, that they began in sorrow and gloom, but ended in light and joy; they were all calculated to remind men of their weakness, their ignorance, their helplessness, and their sinfulness of character; * * and the rising of the just to life eternal and immortal.”(!) If this language does not describe a counterfeit repentance, soul-sorrow for sin, leading to “the joys of salvation,” then it is impossible for words to describe such counterfeit.
The learned Scotch Presbyterian Macknight in his “Preface to the Ephesians,” collects from Bishop Warburton and old Roman and Greek writers the same account of these old mysteries given by the Odd-fellow Grosh. The
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following are extracts from Mack-night: —
“Each of the heathen gods, beside the worship paid to him in public, had a secret worship to which none were admitted but those who were prepared by previous ceremonies;” that is, each pagan shrine or temple was a lodge. These worships were paid, in Egypt, to Isis and Osiris; in Crete, to Jupiter; in Asia, to Mithras; in Samothrace, to the Mother of the gods; in Boeotia, to Bacchus; in Cyprus, to Venus; in Athens, to Ceres and Proserpine; and in other places to an incredible number. “For,” as Zozimus tells us, “These most holy rites were so extensive as to take in the whole race of mankind.”
“Another old writer, Proclus, describing these mysteries gives, as will be seen in this volume, an exact description of the rites of Odd-fellowship. Thus: — “In the most holy mysteries there is a terror diffused into the minds of the initiated.” And, “In the lesser mysteries matters were so contrived that the person to be initiated, at his entrance, was filled with inexpressible horror.” And, “It seems, darkness was dispelled by the sudden flashing of light,” etc.
Thus the Freemason is horrified by being led, stripped and blindfolded, by a rope about his neck, till knocked down as Hiram Abiff. The Odd-fellow is led blindfolded in chains, the hoodwink is dropped, and he confronted with a grinning human skeleton. The same terrorism is practiced by ..her scenic methods in the Mor..n Endowment House, and the … effects are produced in a … way in every little temper-
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… lodge, by the night-mystery …mock solemn lectures and ob…ations.
Thus says Odd-fellow Grosh: “All the ancient rites began in sorrow and gloom, but ended in light and joy.” This is the devil’s caricature of salvation by Christ- through repentance and faith: leading through sorrow for sin to “joy in the Holy Ghost.” Indeed, this is that “Divine institution” which Grosh says Odd-fellowship was “copied from” (p. 92). And in its nature and effects it resembles salvation as whoredom resembles marriage — one leading to hell, the other to heaven. Hence idolatry is branded as soul-adultery throughout the Bible. Christ is the bridegroom in the Scriptures, the devil in the lodge. Christians, in worship, are sanctified by the Holy Ghost; lodge-men are mesmerized by demons.
Both systems lead through sorrow to joy — Christ’s to “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter i. 8); the lodge’s to the joy of a frolic.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
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Macomb, Ills., Aug. 16. — I have frequently heard of your paper, but have not seen one. You will please send me a copy. If you have separated from the sects and are in communion with God and His Son, and have your name recorded in heaven, have no confidence in the flesh, are of the brethren spoken of St. John xx. 17; if you break bread on the Lord’s day and are looking for the personal return of Sesus, I will be a subscriber.
R. J. Thornburg.
A Response.
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Bro. Warner: — You may put me down for one of the twenty who will furnish the price of two subscribers each month ($1.50) according to your proposal. I am not rich, but I will do that much, and I think I will be able to help you some toward a press. My prayer is that God will strengthen thy heart. I want to do all in my power to spread Bible holiness. But denominationalism is not compatible with Scriptural holiness. Your brother in Christ.
Selma, Ill.
S. B. Smith.
God will reward you, brother, who will be the next?
— [Ed.
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Free in Christ Jesus.
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BY LOU NENIGER.
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I am anxious to see the truth spread. I am free in Christ Jesus. I do not belong to any denomination. I have been free about three years. O, I do praise the Lord that I ever let Him lead me, but I tell you I have had strong persecution, but the Lord is my shield, of whom shall I be afraid. If the Lord be for us it is more than all that are against us. Let us not be afraid of the light, but let us walk in the light as He is in the light, that the blood of Jesus Christ His Son may cleanse us from all sin. Amen.
Selma, Ill.
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Still the Fire Burns in Michigan.
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Bro. Warner: — Gleams of heavenly light fills my soul tills
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morning, and all the fulness of Christ is mine, and His power rests upon me. Yes praise God for a living Christ within. O, the fulness of His love! and the wonderful display of His mighty power which we have witnessed and felt. Yea, it pleased God to bring us among the brethren of Emerson and Lafayette, in Gratiot Co., where there was a wonderful outpouring of His Spirit upon us, four souls were sanctified wholly to God. The fire of the altar continues to burn with the brethren there, and souls are being saved, even in the weekly prayer-meetings. Yes glory to God! Jesus can draw all men unto Him. We also gathered at the river on Sabbath morning and two brothers and one sister was baptized in obedience to His example. Yes, that’s the way their leader trod — they love and keep His ways. There will be a communion meeting held with the beloved at Lafayette on Sunday eve Sept., 4th. May all God’s little ones be in attendance and follow the example and teachings of our blessed Master. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” The blood of Jesus saves me now. Amen.
Jos. C. Fisher.
Carson City, Mich.
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From E. B. Bell, Syracuse, Ind. Bro. Warner: — At the Mennonite camp meeting, I was met with the declaration that you opposed all church organizations. I told thom that you only ignored human organizations, but they continued to withstand me to the face. I find no statements in the Trumpet that encourage their charge. The church, is a divine organization, we read of elders, deacons and some times bishops, and where there are officers there must be organization. Some of your friends wish if possible, a plainer statement of your views on this matter.
Wy wife’s health is better, and we are working for the Master. I am saved just now through the Lamb.
Note. — The above request doubtless, comes from good motives, but the caviling parties, we fear are not in the way to be benefitted. Christ had no answer for such as sought not after truth. People have been educated in the opinion that human organizations are the church, therefore to oppose these corporations they think is to oppose all organization. It is an awful fact that sect teaching ignores and conceals God’s church, and sets up the human in the minds of the people, thus robbing God of His glory.
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From Evangelist J. H. Allen, at Browning camp meeting Mo.: We are having a blessed victory here. Thirteen souls saved yesterday. Glory to God! for salvation and a fixed determination to be loyal to His word. I am your brother in pare love.
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Marena, Kan., Aug. 19. — The dear Lord still saves me. God bless you. I do wish I could meet you once more. We do not forget you, I pray for you every night. Glory to God! I hope to meet you some time. Pray for us. Your brother
J. K. P. Ferell.
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Larwill, Ind.: Bro. Warner: — Your book was received: like very
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much, also others that have seen it. Midst my afflictions I do praise the Lord for His continual salvation and peace. O, how I do realize this morning that I ams a little child resting in the arms of Jesus.
Ann E. Clark.
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From Bro. J. H. Welsh, evangelist: I am here (Latrobe, Pa.,) attending a camp meeting. God is here in His peculiar power, and souls are being saved, glory to His name! I expect to come back west next Monday. Will locate at Grown Point, Ind., and take a tabernacle to work with the rest of the season. Your brother under the blood of Jesus.
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Westfield, Ang. 8. — Bro. Warner, my wife is taking the Gospel Trumpet, and I see in it how much you are in need of money. I cheerfully send you $1.50 hoping that you may have success in your work for the Lord. We are trusting in the promises. Pray for us that we may live humble and faithful. Yours in Christ.
W. G. Stout.
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Experience.
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BY A. C. M’curdy.
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I was reared by Christian parents; was taught Methodism from infancy. At the age of fifteen I was converted — am now in my 42d year. Ever since I gave my heart to Jesus I endeavored to live a Christian life, like most people having my ups and downs, my happy seasons and my dark ones. Some times serving the Lord, and at other times serving sin. After twenty years of that kind of life, the doctrine of holiness was preached to me, but I rejected it for one year, at which time I again had the privilege of attending a holiness meeting. The first night I attended I received light; was personally concerned about the matter. The next morning in our family worship I took my case to God — felt at a loss to know just where I stood. I asked the Lord to give me the evidence of acceptance in a justified relation. Thank God He answered my prayer and gave me the clear witness of the Spirit to my acceptance as a child of God.
The following evening I went to the meeting with a resolution to accept all the light I could get. Thank God when the invitation was given I went at once to the altar to seek a clean heart. And by laying all upon the altar of God, I believed for and received a work done in me that I never had received before — the “old man” or inbred sin was then destroyed. Glory to God! I was washed whiter than snow — a glorious second work. That was six years ago. Thank God for full salvation. When I received this grace I was advised to try now and get the church saved.
I went on testifying to what the Lord had done for me, but to my great surprise, instead of them receiving sanctification they persecuted me for professing it. But I kept on, trusting in God.
About three years it seemed that God pressed me to go out as a teacher of the way of life, but being unclaimed and without the means of providing for my family I supposed I excused myself, but the hand of God still rested upon
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me, and last Fall the call came louder than ever to go into the work, and with it a call came to abandon the church off my parents. Having been raised to believe in sects and especially the M. E. I did not know what I should do or where I should go; but I was determined to follow the Spirit’s leading, so I went to the little prayer-meeting — always cold and dead — and told them that I was done on that line. I consulted no person but God, and was astonished to see by the wonderful unfoldings of the Spirit of God and the word, that sectism is all wrong and not of God. To-day I rejoice in my soul that I am a free man in Christ and advocate the church that Jesus bought and built, which is no sect but includes all the saints. O, how my eyes were blinded by the sect creed that I could scarcely see God’s church. O, how I love the true church of God. I have no faith in sectarian holiness. Since this deliverance from human sects I have gone forth upon the walls of Zion proclaiming the gospel of Christ, teaching one church, one faith, one Lord, and one baptism, and the Lord is with me in power.
Rome City, Ind.
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Sanctified thus through the Truth.
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BY J. W. CURRY.
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It does seem that blindness in part has happened unto Israel. In one prayer Christ prayed five times that all who believed in Him should be one. To this end He prayed the Father to “sanctify them through the truth!”
Some tell us that we are one in spirit. Paul says there is but “one body and one Spirit.” So if we are one in Spirit why so many bodies? Oneness of Spirit and oneness of body go together.
The Apostle Paul says where there is division there is still carnality. “I of Paul and I of Apollas, and I of Cephas, are ye not carnal?” Still we hear people professing holiness contend that there must be divisions. Then there must be carnality which is the root of divisions. Some admit that sects are wrong, but that the time has not come to abolish the evil. What! after 1880 years have elapsed since Christ offered the prayer, the time has not yet come for us to be sanctified through the truth which makes us one, as Christ and the Father are one?
O, what awful confusion in this great Babylon of our day! The editor of the Christian Harvester does not believe in sects, and is looking and praying for the time to come when sects shall be destroyed by holiness. And yet he tries to prevent it from taking place. He asks the Trumpet certain questions that by answering them he could let the people know his position, and then he refuses to publish his answers in full that his readers might know the truth and judge for themselves but instead of giving his words he puts a different shade on the whole thing.
He seems to have questioned the Trumpet after the plan the Pharisees did Christ, to catch something out of Ms mouth whereby to condemn him, but not succeeding he takes the responsibility to publish Mm in a light, directly opposite to the position on which he defines himself. He
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publishes him as a sectarian without offering a shadow of proof. Alas! such holiness needs to be sanctified through the truth. May God make men honest.
He tells us that getting the kernel, we are less particular about the shell.” Yet he insists that every child of God should be locked up in some sectarian shell.
The Lord of truth has put it upon record at the beginning of the gospel dispensation that “there should be no schisms in the body.” I Cor. xii. 25. That settles the question for all time. It does not say there may be just now, but alter awhile there should be none, but simply there “should be no schisms.” — i. e.,. at no time; but the Harvester asks the privilege to differ with the Lord, or he must think the Lord has changed His mind, for he tells ns the time has not come to have Christ’s prayer answered, and sects destroyed. If God allows sects at present, why did He not change the Bible awhile? for it reads “no schisms” all the time, and we don’t know any better than to follow it just as it is.
“Forever O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”
How I bless God for belonging to the church whose record is kept in heaven, and that the white Stone is given to me with the new name that no man knoweth save him receiving it. This is the straight way, and the fellowship is with all who walk in the light. May God sanctify everybody through the truth that we may be one.
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— Holiness of heart and life is the great central idea of the Bible.
4 page
[For the Gospel Trumpet.
Worship Sod in Spirit and Truth.
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BY C. A. OBENSHAIN.
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Dear Bro. Warner: —
In my ministry, as an evangelist, traveling hither and thither, at various points the Gospel Trumpet has met my observation, and so many good things, and so much of truth have appeared in its columns that I feel to greet you in the name of the Lord and say God bless you in the great work of spreading gospel truth. The conversation occurring between. Jesus and the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well, is opportune, and needs to be repeated. “The woman saith unto him, ‘Sir, I perceive thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.’ Jesus saith unto her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
How much of temple worship is characteristic of the times? and how great the alarm, to-day, when pure spiritual worship is pleaded for? One would think that “great Diana of the Ephesians” had been despoiled again, or that another prophecy had been uttered by the blaster Himself, for the raising of Jerusalem’s great cathedral.
Will the gospel’s message never
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go forth again. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand?” That kingdom that consisteth not “in word” only, not “in meat and drink,” that “cometh not by observation” but consisteth “in power” and in “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.”
Has the record been forgotten that “the law and the prophets were until John; since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” Surely the New Covenant is forgotten, about which it has been long written “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts, and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people; and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
It seems the workmen have been so long occupied in building up denominationalism, and aggrandizing it, and strengthening middle walls of partition, that to return to the simplicity and spirituality of gospel times will provoke as bitter a war as that between Judeaism and Apostolic teaching.
The Lord strengthen your hands for the part he would have you perform in this great conflict.
There is couched a great truth in the statement, “and ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” His kingdom must merit our attention and effort, His service our earnest labor and toil, our tears and prayers, not the compassing sea and land for a sect proselyte. Wood, hay and stubble must perish in the flames. O, that we might labor for the meat that perisheth not. My heart is pained, wherever I go, at the bondage God’s people are in. They stand aghast at the thought of ecclasiastical stricture, at the fear of Sanhedrinic tribunals, conference resolutions, clerical criticisms, &c., &c.
The idea of deep submission to God, and obedience to the Holy Ghost, and walking alone in the Scriptural way, and a life consecrated to build up the Redeemer’s kingdom, and a pleasant satisfaction with a name and place in the Church of God, how little we give to this.
God bless you in this great work. Light is shining, to-day, God is speaking. The inhabitants, of walled cities are already alarmed. “Jericho was straitly shut up.” All God’s people need to do is to regularly compass the city, blow their trumpets, and shout the victory. As Jesus said, “Every plant which my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” What is of man must go to the wall, that will alone remain which is of God. Many hearts through this section of the country are rejoicing in a membership in the church of the Firstborn, and in knowing that their names are written in heaven. God bless you.
Mi. Sterling, Ill.
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Results of Holiness.
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The following is from the testimony of Wm. C. Rankin, a saint 89 years of age, published in the Banner of Holiness: —
“Till then I believed as other Christians believed, in the teachings of the Holy Spirit. I had all on the altar, as I supposed. But up to this time I had failed to consecrate myself to read the Bible to know what the Bible said, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I then consecrated myself thus, for the reading of the Bible, to be guided by the Holy Spirit. I would pray God that the Holy Spirit might guide me into all truth, as taught in the Bible. Then I was all on God’s altar, wholly consecrated to God.
“This took place in the Summer of 1830. Now, for results: The first result was, that if a man felt it his duty to preach the gospel, he had his right from God to do so without going to get the right from any ecclesiastical body whatever. Next, from being a rigid sectarian I became a thorough anti-sectarian, believing that sectarianism was all the work of men, and not of God. I did not advance the idea of breaking up the church to get rid of sectarianism; but I was anxious for the different churches to fellowship one another as if they were all one denomination. From my youth I wept over the low state of practical godliness in the Presbyterian church; and of course, I did not believe it was any better in any other churches. I have been preaching for forty years that all protestantism needs to be converted and re-baptized, as were the disciples in the day of pentecost. I am now living alone in this world, and. I trust I am walking with God.”
Holiness, Love and Oneness.
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BY SAMUEL B. SMITH.
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I am glad to see the stand you have taken in the Trumpet on denominationalism. I have been looking to this holiness movement, and praying that it might unite God’s people, and wipe out the sin and disgrace of sects from the Church of God, which so greatly defeats all her efforts to do good.
I looked to the Jacksonville Convention, as the time when my fond desires would in some measure be realized, but instead there was an endorsement of the whole sect system. The demand of a good standing in one of the “damnable sects” as a condition to equal privileges among the holiness people, is an arbitrary proscription, a condition of fellowship not at all authorized in the Bible.
I deeply regret that professed holiness people show so much sectarian spirit. I attended a holiness convention recently where an able and good minister in the full enjoyment of holiness was treated as coldly by the minister in charge of the meeting, as if he were a heathen man and a sinner. Can this be Bible holiness? No, verily. Holiness and love or unity must go together. Christ prayed for both in the same prayer and it must be a visible oneness or there would be nothing convincing in it. The Saviour prayed that they “may be one that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another.” … compelled to
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think very little of sect holiness. The Bible says “By their fruits ye shall know them.” But they are known now by the party or creed they subscribe to, and not simply by their Christian character. Often Christ is rejected in the person of His true saints, “for in as much as ye have done it unto one of those my brethren, ye have done it to me.” People had better be careful how they make laws to separate those whom the Lord hath joined together. I believe in Bible holiness, but the genuine is being largely counterfeited by Satan.
Be assured brother, that you have taken the right position in the Trumpet, and may heaven bless and strengthen you to give the loud and clear sound. Though you may be in the minority so far as numbers are concerned, remember the God of Daniel is with you. There are quite a number here praying for you, and they will show their love not in word only, hut in deed and in truth. Dear brother, there is no one on earth I love as I do the pioneers of reform, that are not afraid to stand alone for the truth. God bless you. Don’t compromise the truth. I am located in the will of God, and trusting Jesus for full salvation.
Selma, Ill.
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There is not on earth such a genuinely democratic institution as Christianity. It abhors caste. It demands of all men an equality, of rights. Its broad statement, is that “God hath made of one blood, all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth.” — Acts xvii. 24.
The popular religion of this country proscribes the poor because they are poor. It treats them as paupers. It loses sight of the brotherhood of the race.
2. In principle. Our youth are educated to prefer what seems to be expedient to what is right. When obedience to some of the commands of God is urged, it is on merely human grounds, instead of being because God commands. The tendency is to make well appearing hypocrites and pass them off for Christians. Baptized politeness is current for Christianity. The conscience is not developed. We are in danger of becoming a nation without a conscience. The domain of conscience is constantly lessening. The great inquiry is fast becoming,—not what; is right —but what will be for my person al worldly advantage.
— B. T. Roberts.
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[For the Gospel Trumpet.
Holiness Softening.
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BY W. J. HARMON.
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In view of some changes that have taken place within the last few years, and more especially within the last two, we feel led to consider a few things in connection with the holiness movement with which our heart is closely allied. Suppose we stop here and take our soundings. As individuals, first, have we all on the altar? Are we sanctified by faith? Have we failed or refused to walk in the light as He is in the light — (no darkness)? Have we the same unction, and anointing that we ever had, and more of it? Have we the same love for holiness meetings, and is the fellowship of the truly sanctified as demand more so, than at first? Are we as zealous and are we doing
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more for holiness than ever? Are we doing the devil more harm, and dees he hate ns worse? Does our preaching, praying, testifying, singing and praising, stir the carnal mind more than ever? Have we got so wise and judicious in our work of spreading holiness that the devil and carnal powers let us alone? yea are in fellowship with us; let us take head lest such wiseness distroy the soul. If God’s word is true, (and we dare believe it,) it is an alarming thing to be “at ease in Zion.” Now then let us turn from the private to the public, and from the personal to the collective, and ask what has given some of our holiness papers such softness within the last two years? And what has given our strong, and radical holiness evangelists such favor, simpathy, and encouragement from ecclesiastics, whe two years ago so bitterly opposed them. Have the Ills, central Ills, M. E. Conferences and other opposing powers been sanctified in the past two years? or is it true that our God-fearing, hold-hearted holiness evangelists were fanatical as they charged them; how is it, what do you think about it? Who among holiness people believe that those heaven-sent messengers who took the cross, went through the fire and storms of persecution for two decades, and who brought to us the blessed light of holiness were fanatics — not one.
And who can tell why we don’t hear of any more trouble? “Has the offence of the cross ceased?” Is it true that the devil is dead, or that the carnal mind is now subject to the law of God and in favor of holiness? and that the days of persecution are about past, or do we only have Satan to fight just a few years and then he will let us alone, and he at peace with us? We write these simple things in the fear of God, and who will in the fear of God answer them? Your brother in the bonds of perfect love — sanctified wholly.
Jefferson, Iowa.
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Walking With God.
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Go to God as Enoch went, believing that He is, and that He is accessible, and seek to, get the same just and realizing knowledge of Him that Enoch got. He is revealed to you more amply, perhaps, than He was to Enoch. Believe, believe that He is not far off but nigh. — Believe that He is not hostile, but propitious. — Believe that He is all that Jesus was, and believing this, walk with Him. Admit Him into your house, that He may hallow it. Admit Him into your hourly occupations, that He may elevate and expedite them. Admit Him into your happy moments, that He may enchant them; that His presence may tranquilize and transform them. Let His recolected presence be the brightness of every landscape, the zest of pleasure, the energy of every undertaking, the refuge from every danger, the solace in every sorrow, the asylum of your hidden life, the constant Sabbath of your soul. Learn with all reverence for His greatness, but with equal reliance on His goodness — learn to make the Eye that never slumbers the companion of your nigl.. and mornings, and the Eye th.. never wearies, the confida..
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your estacy, your woe. Lean … have not one for God and another for the world; but let your life … Divinely devoted and Divine … quickened. Let every footstep be a walk with God.
— Dr. Hamilton in Words of Faith.
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Our Duty.
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A. F. Mann.
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Do we do our duty, if we turn a cold shoulder to our brother or sister when they are passing through the deep waters of affliction and sorrow? No let us bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Let us do good to all men. Be not afraid to tell people what the Lord has done for your soul.
Recently the question was asked in Sabbath-school, what was most needed to qualify us to labor for Christ. No one answered; so I observed that, it was a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost, sent down from heaven with the living fire of God. May God give it to us in wonderful torrents. Amen.
Saved in Christ.
Findlay, Ohio.
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