Gospel Trumpet – 15 March 1894

15 March 1894, Volume 14, Number 11.

Teach Me the Way I Should Co.

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Lead me, O Lord, by thy mercy unfailing,
Ever thy love and thy Spirit unveiling;
Keep me within
Ever spotless from sin,
And teach me the way I should go.

Not by the mountains of streams and of flowers,
Not by the valley of wealth’s shady bowers;
Only with Thee
My spirit would be;
Oh teach me the way I should go.

Peace in my bosom so sweetly abiding,
Grace I receive while in Christ I’m confiding;
Down in the deep,
My Redeemer, oh keep,
And teach me the way I should go.

Down in the depths of humility lead me,
Ever with truth and with righteousness feed me,
Lord keep me thine By thy mercy divine,
And teach me the way I should go.

Clarence Dewey.

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A BLESSING IN TEMPTATION.

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BLESSED is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. — James 1:12. We find the blessing here is in enduring. Christ was our example in all things. He was tempted forty days and forty nights. He continued to resist the devil; he was tempted on all points like as we, yet without sin; and he suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. — 1 Pet. 2:21, 22. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. — Heb. 7:26. Christ being our example in all things, to follow Jesus, we may expect to suffer. We read in Isa. 53, He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. For he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. And now consider him; see what humility and what holy resignation he had, to do his Father’s will. Even in the garden He said, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Again, how beautiful! Wherefore Jesus also, 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. — Heb. 13:12. Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For Jesus who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, is set down at the right hand of God. For consider him that endureth such contradictions of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. — Heb. 12. How precious the word of God! truly it is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path; and amidst the deepest trials we find it shining.

Paul knew something about these temptations; but he tells us that he counted all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering. — Phil. 3. We find again, when he was suffering with a thorn in the flesh and sought deliverance, the Lord answered him, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. And in writing to the brethren at Corinth he speaks so beautifully, so encouragingly. Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies, and the God of all comfort; who camforteth us in all our tribulation. Why does God comfort us in all our tribulation? That we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves have been comforted of God. And now he tells them how he was comforted. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead. But God heard the prayer of the church and of Paul and delivered them.

Daniel tells us, many shall be purified, made white and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly. And through them doing wickedly, we shall be tried; for Satan may through them cause the sea billows to roll high, thinking to submerge our souls. It may appear through the tempest that our souls will sink; but remember to trust in the Lord, who hath said, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Praise God forever! When the enemy would come in like a flood, the Spirit will lift up a standard against him. The standard is God’s promises in his word. When you turn to the right or left, ye shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.

We will now give you some of the precious promises that God gave us when we had need of comfort. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. — Isa 43:2. He has not said we shall not pass through these things, but has said he will be with us. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. — Isa. 41:10. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. — Psa. 55:22. They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. — Psa. 125:1, 2. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavillion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. — Psa. 27:1, 3, 5, 6. But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. — Isa. 40:31.

The naturalist tells us that when the eagle sees an approaching storm he spreads his huge wings and soars above it all. Let us with our wings of faith soar above all the storms, or take our place in the clefted rock, and there continue in much prayer and supplication, that we may be counted worthy to escape all storms. We may be tempted during the storm beyond measure, but we should count it joy beyond measure. We are not to think it strange concerning the fiery trials as though something strange had happened. This is the way the Lord has of keeping his church pure, by letting us walk through the fire, and if there is any dross to be consumed, we shall feel the refining. This is the way that God has of enlarging our capacity of enduring, and preparing us to be more useful in the future, just what we have been praying for. And if we should find ourselves in one of the lockups, we must remember that prayer and faith is the key which will unlock the prison doors, and the promise is, Resist the devil and be will flee. If he does not go immediately, then resist him steadfastly in the faith.

The word of God tells us to comfort his people, to speak comforting words. So we have the Bible which contains his promises with which to comfort his people. Because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation, there shall no evil befall thee. — Psa. 91:9, 10. Oh the Lord help us, as his children, to walk so humble and true that we may realize at all times the Lord is our everlasting portion. Amen. Your sister, hid away with Jesus,

Lena L. Shoffner.

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HUMBLE, SERIOUS THOUGHTS OF J. WESLEY.

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THE following words are put on record in Wesley’s introduction to his New Testament with notes. —

“My own conscience acquits me of having designedly misrepresented any single passage of Scripture, or of having written one line with a purpose of inflaming the hearts ol Christians against each other. God forbid that I should make the words of the most gentle and benevolent Jesus, a vehicle to convey such poison. Would to God that all the party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot; and that we might all agree to sit down together, as humble, loving disciples, at the feet of our common Master to hear his word, to imbibe his Spirit, and to transcribe his life in our own.”

These solemn reflections were penned in the advanced and mature years of the reformer. For in speaking of the undertaking of setting forth these helps to the study of the scriptures, he says, “I determined to delay it as long as possible, that (if it should please God) I might finish my work and my life together.” “My day is far spent, and even in a natural way, the shadows of the evening come on apace. And I am the rather induced to do what little I can in this way, because I can do nothing else. * * * But blessed be God, I can still read, and write and think. Oh that it may be to his glory!”

Here then we have the thoughts of the founder of Methodism when already the shades of declining life were cast over his way and wrought the most, profound reverence for the word of God.

No doubt he thought to confer a benefit upon the cause of Christ when he and his co-laborers organized their new “unscriptural form” or method, and christened it with the unscriptural “party name” of “Methodist Episcopal Church,” which helped to “divide the Christian world.” But now he begins to take a more sober view of the matter. He sees himself the founder of another sect, he reads, “There should be no schisms in the body.” But the new Methodism is on their hands, what can he now do? But little more than put on record the devout, “would to God that all the party names,” etc. “which have divided the Christian world, were forgot.” That is viritually a wish that his own organization were swept out of existance, and such a sweet delightful unity had obtained among all believers in Christ Jesus, in which Christ is so pre-eminently all and in all, that his, with all other party names should be dead and out of memory. Instead of organizing new sects, and formulating new creeds, and voting into the mouths of the people sect names, of which the devil was the author, and which rival .the name given by the mouth of the Lord. Wesley, in his old days, sees a better way. It is this, “That we might all agree to sit down together, as humble, loving disciples, at the feet of our common Master, to hear his word, to imbibe his spirit, and to transcribe his life in our own.”

What a wise and noble conclusion! Had all sect founders done this, become not only devout hearers, but doers of the word, no sect daughters of confusion would ever have been born, and no party names and creeds would ever have been brought forth to divide the Christian world, create infidels, confuse sinners, and as Bishop Foster admits, send millions of souls to hell.

But one apology can be offered in favor of even the best of the Protestant sects; but one thing shields their founders from condemnation in the sight of God, and secures to them the honor of a saint, instead of the disgraceful name of a vile heretic. That one thing was the gross darkness and ignorance of the age in which they arose. Had the church of God continued to be manifest on earth, in all its divine holiness and unity, until the days of the Wesleys, and had they struck out from her in all her primitive glory, and organized just what they did, and compiled the very creed they did impose upon their numerous followers with all its confused and contradictory doctrines and abominable ritualism, all heaven and earth would have branded them as notorious heretics. But because they came from the direction of a still darker sect than their own and hoisted their party name, their memory is cherished as faithful men of God, as reformers and spiritual benefactors. And we would not detract one iota from the honor that attaches to their names. They did the best they knew. They were not responsible for the gross darkness that preceded them, and which cast the mantle of charity over their confused creed and unscriptural organization. But while the darkness of the times may excuse them, it does not change the real character of their organism when judged by the word of God. Nor will the darkness of one hundred and fifty years ago justify any man’s love of darkness now, since the evening of time has come, in which God has said it “shall be light, and since the prediction of Daniel is actually being fulfilled: “Many are running to and fro,” and “knowledge is increasing.”

If even the father of Methodism over a hundred years ago became sick of all party names and divisive creeds, and wished them forgotten, and the word of God only obeyed, what but an idolatrous worshiping of the creature more than the Creator can lead men now to glory in these soul-destroying relics of the dark age. Again we say, that darkness and ignorance is the only apology for the schismatic creeds and organisms of men; and since the evening is light, love of darkness must account for men abiding in, and clamoring for the products of past darkness. Yea men love darkness because their deeds are evil. Not wishing to live holy they are at home in the sects where holiness is rejected and sin is justified or apologised for.

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THY TESTIMONIES ARE WONDERFUL.

Psa. 119:129.

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Louisiana, Mo.

Dear Saints: I praise the Lord for real peace in my soul, saved through the precious blood of Christ. I thank the Lord that I am free from sectism and that my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life. I am his and he is mine. Your sister saved and sanctified,

Mrs. M. Genz.

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Slate, Kan.

Dear Saints of God: I am saved and kept by the power of God. Oh how sweet it is to trust him and to know that we are saved in him. Praise his holy name! I belonged to the M. E. sect for thirteen years, but had no such peace in my soul as I enjoy since I was saved in this blessed evening light. We have glorious meetings and the Lord blesses greatly. Your brother in Christ,

A. E. Drotts.

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Ashland, O.

Dear Saints: I wish to testify through the TRUMPET that the Lord has saved me from all my sins. He first justified me and then I presented my body a living sacrifice to him and he sanctified me wholly, and he is keeping me each day from all sin. Glory to his name! In answer to our call a few weeks ago, the Lord sent Bro. W. H. Miller and Bro. Franklin Rosenberry here to preach his word; he also sent Brother and Sister Smith, of Burbank Ohio, and Bro. Guise of New Washington, O., to help in the work, and a work has been done here that we believe will stand for eternity. The Lord has established a little band of saints here now. Mother requests me to write that she was sanctified and healed of heart disease by divine power during this meeting. To God be all the glory. If the Lord wills, we will hold a series of meetings here in the spring, beginning about the first of April. Who will come and help us then? Yours in Christ,

Alfred Lockhart.

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THE GOSPEL TRUMPET.

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A WEEKLY HOLINESS JOURNAL.

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

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PUBLISHED AT GRAND JUNCTION, MICH.

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D. S. WARNER, – Editor.

E. E. BYBUM, – Office Editor.

E. E. BYBUM and S. MICHELS, – Publishers.

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TERMS, $1.00 Per Year In Advance.

Free to the poor.

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* THE * SHINNING * LIGHT. *

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An interesting paper for children. Illustrated. It should be in every family where there are children. Only twenty-five cents a year. Address,

THE SHINING LIGHT,
Grand Junction, Mich.

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TRACTS AND BOOKS.

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Babylon is Fallen. What Church Should I Join? Sects. The Master’s Call. A Wonderful Deliverance. Second Work of Grace. Price 10 cents per dozen.

Small tracts of various kinds for free distribution, at 10 cents per hundred.

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Marriage and Divorce. A tract of 32 pages, giving the Inspired word of God on the subject. Price 5 cents.

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The Great Tobacco Sin. It contains 30 pages, with a neat cover. We will send these tracts to any one sending us postage at the rate of one cent for three tracts. Always state just how many you wish sent.

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Must We Sin? A conversation, giving Bible proofs that we must live free from sin, containing 48 pages. Single copy 2 cts. Per dozen. 20 cts. Per hundred. $1.50.

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Question and Answers on the Church. A tract containing four letters with many questions concerning the church, and the difference between the true church and sectism. Price, 10 cents per dozen.

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The Sabbath Tract. This tract contains 65 pages giving the word of God on the subject of the Sabbath. It overthrows Saturday keeping and proves that the first day of the week is the proper day to keep. Price 10 cts.

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“No-Sectism.” A tract bearing the above title, written by A. Sims, has been reviewed by D. S. Warner, showing the difference between sectism and the Church of the Living God. It exposes the false theories set forth by Sims. This tract contains 52 pages. For free distribution, 15 cts. per dozen: $1.00 per hundred.

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The Church of God. A tract containing 32 pages, proving what is the Church and what is not the Church of God. Price, single copy 10 cents. Per dozen 80 cents.

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What is the Soul? By D. S Warner. Or 100 scriptures proving that man possesses a spiritual and immortal element called the Soul, the Spirit, and the Inner Man, which goes to God at the death of the body. The same also proved by the early Church History. Price single copy 10 cents. Per dozen 80 cents.

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The Bible Readings. Bible readings or references on about 100subjects. Price 75 cts. each.

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Anthems from the Throne. This hook contains 148 songs. 90 with music. About all new. When sung in the spirit of God these songs will be found glorious. Manilla cover 25 cts. Cloth 40 cts. Per dozen $2.40 & $3.60.

MASONIC SALVATION. By Fred Hasted. Thin little volume treats the subject of Free Masonry from a Bible standpoint. The writer having been a Master Mason, boldly brings the hidden and mysterious things before the public in a clear light. Price, paper cover 15 cts. Cloth. 35 cts.

BIBLICAL TRACE OF THE CHURCH. By W. G. Schell. Tracing the church in prophecy from her birth to the end of time. Containing a brief history of more than 400 Protestant denominations. The author aims to show the difference between the true church and sectism, giving historical and scriptural proofs. Paper cover, 35 cts. Cloth. 75 cts. Address the Author at Anlo, Ohio. or this office.

ECHOES FROM GLORY By B. E. Warren and D. S. Warner. A second and thorough corrected editon of this new song book has just been issued. Containing 232 beautiful spiritual songs, of which the largest portion are new and fresh inspirations from heaven, both words and music. Many beautiful and touching invitation and exhortation hymns for revival meetings. It sings nearly all the doctrine of the Bible; especially the glorious themes of present truth. With primary instruction in music. Simple and concise — A practical self instructor for beginners in vocal music. Neatly bound in pasteboard, price reduced to 40 cts. Per dozen $4.00. all prepaid Address. B. E. Warren, Springfield. Ohio D. S. Warner. Sixth st., (Floating Bethel). Pittsburg, Pa. or this office.

DIVINE HEALING OF SOUL AND BODY. By E. E. Byrum. Part I teaches the way of salvation, and how to get saved. Part II gives Bible teaching on the healing of the body. Part III consists of testimonies from those who have been healed in these last days. 248 pages. Paper cover. 25 cts. Cloth, 75 cts.

THE BOY’S COMPANION. By E. E. Byrum. This is a neat little volume with interesting chapters to the boys, concerning the Secret Vice and other bad habits and their effects. Every boy needs advice and warning in time, and too often parents fail to give the needed advice until too late. The book is illustrated with suitable pictures which are aimed to leave a vivid impression upon the young minds and turn thorn from the downward road to a pure life. It als0 contains testimonies and experiences from those who are inmates of the states prison. Boys of every age should have one of these books to read. Price, paper cover 25 cts. Cloth binding 40 cts.

The Secret Vice.

A small illustrated tract of 16 pages with neat cover. It gives a timely warning to the boys against the evils of Self Abuse, a habit which is prevalent throughout the land. The tract is attractive, interesting, and points out certain evils against which boys of every age need to have warning in time. Price, doz. 10 cts. 100, 40 cts. 1000, $3.00.

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LIST OF MONEY LETTER NOT OTHERWISE RECEIPTED

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Jno. E. Roberts, W. A. Davison, Wm. Ffegle, J. B. Hooker, J. H. Frick, Caroline Sowers, Mrs. L. M. Hoyt, Laura Roper, James Willis. Geo. W. Baily, James O. Watkins, S. B. Butler, C. E. Reeves. C. W. Moon.

Requests for Prayer.

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Pray for the healing of Mrs. E. Hill, Winfield, Kan., who is a great sufferer from complicated diseases.

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Prayer is requested March 18, at 11 A. M. for C. Bailey and his mother of Louisiana, that they may be delivered from the appetite of tobacco.

H. H. Parker.

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Mrs. E. T. Griffin of Ohio asks the prayers of the saints in the behalf of a man who is greatly afflicted, that he may know Christ as his Savior, sanctifier and healer.

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Pray for Daniel Marshe who is dreadfully afflicted with neuralgia of the head and eyes, and is almost blind, suffering untold misery. Prayer for him March 20.

R. H. Steward.

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Denton, Texas.

Dear Brethren: I have read your book, “Divine Healing of Soul and Body,” with much interest; and can say that I have been greatly benefited. I never knew, until I read your book, that divine healing was being practiced in these latter days, but I believed that it could be done. Now I must say that I want you to pray for me that I may be healed soul and body, and that my sins may be all forgiven, and that I may have my name written in the Lamb’s book of life, that all my life, soul and body may be wholly sanctified to God. I have been a member of the M. E. Church South for about fifteen years, but I desire to be born into the church of God and be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Pray for me, dear brothers.

James Warner Ferguson.

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Calls for Meeting.

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I pray God to send some one here who will bring full and free salvation.

Joseph Kobler.

Peoria. Ill.

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I have been praying for over a year that God would send some of his fire-baptized messengers here to lead the people from darkness into the light. Dear ones, help me to pray that God may send some one. Your brother in Christ,

D. P. Kimmel.

Bladen, Neb.

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I truly hope and insist on some of God’s true ministers coining here to hold a meeting, as we are in great need of such. I am very much afflicted and desire your prayers for soul and body. My husband has a brother who has been afflicted with palsy and fits for many years. Pray for his healing. Your sister in Christ,

Mrs. I. F. Tromel.

Bazett, Nevana Co., Texas.

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A CALL FOR THE GOSPEL.

Castroville, Monterey Co., Cal.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: May the Lord bless you spiritually and keep you saved. This morning finds us saved in Jesus and trusting him. Oh it seems I cannot say enough to express my joy, for truly it cannot be expressed, for the dear Lord has given us our dear boy. Only three days ago he was under such conviction that I felt God wanted me to ask the prayers of the brothers and sisters for him. So I wrote and now before they could even get the letter he is saved. Praise the Lord! Oh how sweet to do his will! But dear brothers and sisters, we are all alone here, and I do feel this morning that the dear Lord wants me to ask you that are called of God and sent as teachers of God’s pure truths, oh won’t some of you come to this place? Long but in vain have I been looking through the Trumpets to find some one or more of the holy ministers of God coming to California, but it does seem like this coast is slighted, and it does need the Lord so much. Now dear ones, why I have hesitated so long in asking you, is, we are poor, but thank the Lord, he is teaching me to trust him more. The majority of the people are Catholics. I believe there are twelve saloons in this place, and one Union Church, as they call it. Now at the present they are having a protracted meeting, and I believe the Lord is with the lady who is preaching. She is a traveling minister and seems to be doing good. She is still in the sect, but preaches against them too, as being in the way, but don’t seem to know what to do about it. Oh how my heart ached last night to hear one of the leaders in the sect say, “I do wish we could be and do more like the Salvation Army, but it seems like we can’t do that in the church.” Oh Lord pity and send some one soon who can teach them the way to be free in Jesus. Several arose for prayers but they do not seem to try to get them saved, just leaving them to pray for themselves mostly. These are the first sect meetings I have attended for a long while, but I believe the Lord will reward anyone who comes here in his name. Any one coming we will do all we can, the Lord helping us. If dear Bro. Henry is in Kansas, could not he come, or who ever the Lord sends. There ought to be two or three that could sing. Brethren pray for the one that is sent to be filled with the truth. Saved by the blessed Cord,

E. T. and Olive A. Edwards.

As Mamma has written before me I need give no explanation. I can say that the Lord has saved me. Oh! it is so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word. I want you all to pray for me that I may hold out faithful.

Herschel E. Edwards.

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Brother M. M. Stover writes Mar. 7. “We expect to close meeting at Colby, Kan., about Saturday night, and go to Thurford, about twelve miles distant, and begin meeting Sunday night if the Lord wills.”

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Sister S. M. Johnson, West Plains, Mo. writes that they desire a camp meeting in Howell Co„ Mo. about seven miles from West Plains, about the middle of July. A number of persons have lately been saved at their prayer meetings and they desire Brother Bolds and Co., or some one to come there at once if possible and hold a series of meetings, and baptize some who have been lately saved.

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MEETINGS.

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The Grand Junction camp meeting will be held about June 12-25. All lovers of the truth invited. It is well to begin in time to make preparation to attend the summer camp and grove meetings.

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St. Louis, Mich.

To all the Saints of God in Gratiot and Adjoining Counties: Time is moving along, and all that were permitted to attend the last year’s camp meeting know we were well paid for the labor we done for the Lord. Now as there is still much to do, to make things in good shape for this summer’s meeting, if we begin early it will not come on us all at one time. Now there is fencing to be done that we could not do last year. There is fencing to be bought and post poles to be got; and the forty rods of fence between Brother Walters and the camp ground we want to build as soon as the frost is out of the ground, and more ditching and leveling to be done. As the pavilion was not large enough last year, we want to make it sixteen feet longer. Now this will all take labor and means, and those living so far away that cannot help labor, you can send in your mite and help the work of the Lord along. Those who can bring good poles to put on top of fence, have them sixteen feet, and as much longer as will fit on posts eight feet apart. As this is to be a general camp ground for these parts as long as the children of God want it, let us make the work good and substantial, for that is the kind the Lord wants. Those who want to build good lumber tents between now and camp meeting can see or write to Brother Eli Wagner who lives three miles east and one-half mile south of St. Louis, for he has the plot of ground. Those who send in means to be used for the ground, send to John Harn, St. Louis, Mich. Now brethren, let us see what we can do for the Lord to glorify his cause in this part of his vineyard, and in bringing souls to Christ, and may God bless you all.

John Harn.

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A TESTIMONY.

13 Joliffe St., Liverpool, Eng.

Dear Trumpet Readers: After passing through a severe trial which seemed would almost take my life and destroy my faith, I read an article on “Be Faithful” on the first side of TRUMPET of Feb. 8. Oh it brought such comfort to my soul, and this morning as I read it through again, felt led of God to write a few lines in his name. Truly dear ones, God has been very patient with me, for I have been so slow to learn. Although one of the first who heard the evening light in this place and with joy accepted it, have not yet got fully established and where God wants me, and as Father has shown me the hindering cause, ask your prayers that God will help me by his assisting grace to go through, and when he is putting me through the fire, I may not flinch; and although the heavens seem as brass and I cannot hear his voice, still to trust him. Truly it means much to be really dead, and when the Holy Ghost sits as a refiner to burn up all the dross, truly the ordeal is painful. Oh if we could only remember who sits at the crucible watching the process, instead of crying as I have done for the Lord to let up, we would say, Turn on the beat, Lord, until you see your image reflected. Seeing little things in my life by the light of the Holy Spirit, which wanted pruning, I have been crying mightily to the Lord to take away every thing unlike himself, and that anything might come to prove me and sink me down deeper and deeper into himself. So of course the Lord heard me and went to answering my prayer, and as the answer was in the Lord’s own way and not mine, and because with my limited understanding and ignorance, I could not just see God’s ways, and forgetting that faith is the evidence of things not seen, I began to think some strange thing had happened me. Then of course the accuser came around and told me it was no use trying, I would never make it, and had just lost my salvation. But as I knew he was a liar from the beginning and knew I had not willfully sinned against God in any way, began to cry to God, and he has just given me a little blessing, like a spoiled child, arid so have missed the real lesson of faith and strength and growth he wanted to teach. Now this has happened in my case several times, but as the trials have all been different, have never made the real progress God intends I should, and after having left my heart open in fasting and prayer, this is what God has shown me together with other things over which he wants me to be more than conqueror; for truly as one of the dear ones has said, when we get over in the land of Canaan there are still many cities to be taken; and although I have put my foot on little ground as yet, which I can really claim in the name of Jesus, yet I feel it has been really gained through much fighting and many tears, and have promised God this morning to be more brave in the future; so expect the fire to be seven times hotter, and do ask your prayers, dear ones, especially of the Trumpet family, that the form of the fourth may be seen and that I may not only keep saved myself, but be the humble instrument in his hands of leading many more precious souls into this glorious evening light.

We are praising God that although it has seemed all the powers of the pit have been doing their very utmost to overthrow the work here, God has raised up a little church which the gates of hell cannot prevail against; and although few in number when the sifting time came, yet he has a holy remnant who will not bow the knee to Baal. Some weeks ago some one in America took the trouble to send me two copies of the “Stumbling Stone.” When just glancing at them and finding they were speaking all manner of evil falsely against the dear saints of God whom I love so dearly. I committed the papers to the stove. Was sorry afterward not to have kept the editor’s address, as I would like to have told him there were quite enough stones of stumbling in England, without America sending any over the water. But I am thankful to God that he has sent from America some holy men and women of God who are obeying the Word, and casting up the highway and gathering out the stones, and lifting up a standard for the people, and that God counted me worthy to be one to see the standard which has been faithfully lifted up in the name of Jesus. So would like to render good for evil, should the sender read this, and save him any further postage; and I pray God if there are any among them in the reach of mercy, that they may see the error of their ways ere it be forever too late.

Trusting too, that this may be read by some dear one who may feel discouraged at their slow progress, and with myself determine by God’s assisting grace, to hold out faithful unto the end, I remain your humble sister in Jesus, saved, made white and being tried,

Katie Croasdell.

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News from the Field.

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A WARNING.

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Eubanks, Ky., March 5, 1894.

A good work had begun near this place under the labors of Bro’s Cloe and Cannon, and continued until (it is said) the church numbered about thirty members, and all testified to sanctification and seemed to think that they were all right, but failed to settle down in the word of God, or make advancement in the experience of the truth; and they began to drop off one by one, until about one-third had disappeared. Then Satan came and divided the honest ones into two sects, the one for one preacher and the other for the other preacher. As the apostle said, “puffed up for one against the other,” and each one seemed to think he was right and the other wrong, etc. One could not fellowship the other, or even treat him neighborly; held separate meetings with an earnest sect zeal, but would not attend each other’s meetings, etc. I agreed by the help of God to preach them the truth to all alike, and not to take sides, only with the Lord and his truth; so they agreed to attend the meetings, and soon began to make their honest confessions and clear up things generally, and God blessed them as fast as they moved on the line of his word, for he is always true to his word. We then had consecration for justification and the greater part testified that they knew that they were clear that far. I then raised the standard to sanctification and called for witnesses if any one knew positively that they have now the Bible experience of sanctification. Not one could testify to the experience, but after consecration for sanctification, a number testified then to the experience and after another such consecration more testified to the same. But it will take some settling down yet to get them solid in the truth. Some of them had an awful time in getting loose from the devil, and Satan got so mad he tried to turn them against me before they got loose from him, and especially the two preachers who seemed to have the hardest time. Bro. Cannon consecrated down into the truth and got a better experience than ever before. Bro. Cloe testifies that he feels like he has got back in line again, and wants the prayers of all God’s people that his faith be increased, and more settled down in God and his word. Sister Cloe also requests the earnest prayers of the saints that she may get a deeper experience. Don’t forget them, dear ones, for their trials are such that they really need your prayers of faith. Let all who profess to be saints take warning from the above, and keep inside of God’s word and on the forward move for God. For truly it is a race, and the devil will overtake all the stragglers and those who will not lay aside every weight, or who hold to any of the devil’s property. Remember your saved brother in the faith,

J. Cole.

Tidioute, Pa., March 10, 1894.

Dear Brethren and Trumpet Readers: May the peace of God rest upon all in the name of Jesus Christ. We are truly happy to day to report to all that we are still fully saved in Jesus. Our short stay at West Liberty, O. proved a blessing to the church. We were pleased to see souls made free in Christ. We were also glad to hear Bro. J. N. Howard speak the Word with power. Tuesday the 6th, we left for La Rue, O. where we held three meetings and baptized two souls. We also had ordinance meeting and altar services. About six or eight at the altar. I must say to the glory of God, I never enjoyed a meeting in so short a time as at that place. The dear saints at that place are all one, and the result is, power with God. I think about fifteen took part in the ordinance. We intend to hold a tabernacle meeting there some time this summer. May the Lord bless and reward them for their kindness to us while with them. Bro. Warren and I left Thursday eve for this place and arrived all safe the next day. We will begin meeting in the Myrtle meeting house to night. Brethren, please pray for us that God may save the people of this place from all sin, and establish them in the faith of Christ. We remain your brothers all sold out to Jesus. Address B. E. Warren at Springfield, O., and me at Burkett, Ind.

S. L. Speck.

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Pittsburg, Pa., March 8, 1894.

Dear Saints, Greeting: We still have perfect victory in our soul, and the hand of the Lord is upon us for good, and he is truly favoring Zion in these cities. But oh how few of the three hundred and forty thousand people will receive the truth! We are kept busy all the day instructing souls in the blessed evening light. About every day souls are saved. The sect holiness are having a rally, saying, “Great is Diana of Methodism.” Their coming together only proves how empty they are. About 10000 tracts have been placed in the homes of these cities, which will be carried through the mails all over the world. No one is too weak to do something. You can carry tracts and thus be feet to the gospel. You can buy postage stamps to carry the truth to hungry souls. The Lord bless all the Trumpet readers.

G. T. and Lizzie Clayton.

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Pitkin, Ark.

Dear Saints: I am praising God for his keeping power, praising him for victory over Satan and all his ways, for salvation that saves from sin. In the last four weeks I have seen many dear souls saved from sin. We have just closed a meeting near this place. When we reached this place we found the enemy in great power. We began in the name of Jesus to give the people the straight truth, and a number accepted the truth and measured up to the Bible standard. Praise God! Nine dear souls were buried with Christ in baptism. Others will follow soon. We are glad to say that we left the saints at Mt. Sinai in in a prosperous condition. May God bless them and keep them true. Do pray much for the saints at Mt. Sinai, and may God bless the elder and deacon at that place and help them to be ensamples for the flock. Pray for us. Your brother and sister in the war,

Dan Murphey and Wife.

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Edinboro, Pa., March 7, 1894.

Dear Saints of God: We can report victory in our souls in the name of Jesus. Praise his holy name forever! We began meeting in the Glitton school house two miles from Edinboro about two weeks ago. During the first week of the meeting I became afflicted in body with a large carbuncle in my lip, so that I was unable for a few days to get to the meeting. But the meetings were well attended and were kept up by my husband and the little ones from Mc Lallen’s Corners. The dear Lord soon raised me up, and at present am going right along in the meeting. Four souls have been saved, and conviction is resting heavily on many others. We believe a good work will be done in this place. We have a full house night after night, with much interest among the people. We would ask the prayers of all God’s children to remember the work here. Unto God be all praise and glory for what has been done, and for healing us and giving us continual victory in our souls. Yours, sanctified and kept,

E. J. and W. G. Billig.

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Hemphill, La., Feb. 24, 1894.

Dear Readers of the Trumpet: I am glad to report victory in my soul over all the powers of the enemy. We left Mississippi Jan. 15 for Louisiana. We landed here in the name of the Lord, and met dear Bro. B. H. Weems. He had been holding forth the Word of life for some time. We had a glorious season. The Lord is with us in the power of the Holy Spirit in convicting and converting souls. This is a new field of work. The people are poor in this world’s goods, but are willing to take Jesus as their Savior. There are three Baptist preachers seeking the Lord. Pray for them that they may get clear in their souls. Also pray much for me, as I am alone with Jesus. I expect to stay here one month more if the Lord wills, and then go to Hammond, Covington, La., and from there to Clark Co., Miss, if the Lord wills. If any one wants me to stop at Stix and Wildwood, Miss., please write me at Hemphill, La., as that will be on the way, and please give me a way bill, as I am not acquainted with that country about Wildwood or Stix. I wish to correspond with Bro. J. Cole, at Hemphill, La. Dear ones, pray much for the work in the south. Yours in perfect love.

R. H. Owens.

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Howlsville, Va., March 7, 1894.

Dear Saints of God: Since my last report I have crossed the Shenandoah river; preached on Lord’s day, Feb. 25, in the M. E. meeting house. On the week following, arrangements were made for an oyster supper. Babylon truly is fallen, is fallen. I was asked by one of the interested parties if I would attend the supper. I replied, God forbid that I ever should be caught at an arrangment like that, as such work belongs to that other fellow and not to God. While their carousal was going on, I visited from place to place, talking this great Bible salvation that does save men and women from their sins in this life. I find the people very sociable and clever but void of Bible salvation. On yesterday evening, in the name of Jesus I preached to a good-sized congregation at the Howlsville M. E. meeting house. Had very good order and very good attention. Will carry on the meeting as long as an interest is manifested. From here will go to Hopeville school house, if the Lord wills. Now dear saints of God, I do sincerely and earnestly ask your prayers in my behalf that God will help me to so preach his word in wisdom and humility that the dear people of this country may be fully saved in Jesus, and the name of God glorified. I am here alone with Jesus, and oh how sweet to follow him in the narrow way! I am still sweetly saved in Jesus, with a real victory in my soul.

Now dear saints, I will in Jesus’ name exhort you all to be faithful. Live straight for God; let your conversation, your conduct, your dress, be as it becometh the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; for we are in the last days. Jesus says, Be ye also ready. The signs speak his coming near. And you that read the GOSPEL TRUMPET that are not ready, get ready by complying with the requirements Of God’s word, and then obey the Word and stay ready, that that day may not overtake you as a thief in the night. Your humble brother saved in Jesus,

Franklin Rosenbery.

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626 Maple Ave., Los Angeles, Cal., March 2, 1894.

Dear Saints of the Living God: We are well and full of joy in the God of our salvation. Returned from San Diego, Feb. 22. Our visit to that city was owned and blest of God Many of the dear saints, we trust, were enabled to sink deeper into the grace of God. Some were healed of their infirmities. The Holy Spirit witnessed to the blessed word as it was ministered to the people. The field in that city and surrounding country is ripe for the gospel. The church is in a good working condition and all are looking for a glorious harvest this coming year. The same may be said of the church in Los Angeles. The brethren are sending for three tabernacle tents; two for this city and surrounding country, and one for the San Diego field. The Lord has the sanctified workers for the field, but many more are needed to labor in this great harvest. The permanent and central place of worship in this city will be the St. Nicholas hotel, No. 313 North Broadway St. The proprietors of this house, Bro. and Sister Royer, have come out into this blessed evening light, and have kindly donated the use of a large and convenient hall in their house for worship. This is truly a great blessing to the church. May God reward these dear ones for their sacrifice of love. The elders, Bro’s Hatch, Frasier and Foster, and Sister Zumwalt will have charge of the tents and will take them to any part of the city or elsewhere that God may open the way. Wife and I will probably spend part of the summer in the San Diego field, but will be ready to fly to the uttermost parts of the earth at God’s command. We are all looking for a glorious ingathering of souls. May God grant it, and may the flames of this holy fire spread in Oregon and Washington, where it has already been kindled, until this coast is all ablaze for God. New fields are opening. Oh! where are the reapers? We ask the prayers of the saints. Your sanctified brother and sister, separated and set for the defense of the gospel,

J. W. and J. Byers.

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Kunkle, O., March 16, 1894.

Dear Readers of the Trumpet: I praise the Lord this morning for full salvation. The meeting near Ottokee lasted over three weeks. There had been five souls saved before our last report, and there were about fifteen more consecrations before the meeting closed. We held meetings about two weeks in a meeting house and the rest of the time in private houses. Truly the time is here that false professors will not endure sound doctrine. The first house we had the promise of was closed before we got there, so the Campbellites let us have their house which was near there, but they closed it against us and we had meeting a day and night at a brother’s who lived on his father-in-law’s farm, but the owner of the farm objected to having meeting there, so we went about three miles to Bro. Stutzman’s and held a week’s meeting. The Lord has done a good work in that place. To Him be all the glory. May God bless his church at that place and help them to strive together for the faith of the gospel. We came from that place to Fayette. Sister Hibbard had got permission to have meeting in the Christian Union House. We held meeting there over two weeks with good result. The people came out to hear the Word, a large congregation most every night, and some of them accepted the truth and consecrated to the Lord. There were about twelve saved in all; most all of them live in Fayette. Praise the Lord! Two sisters have been standing out clear from sectism at that place. There are about twelve now that can meet together in the name of Jesus. May the Lord keep them firm and true to him. Pray for them. I left there yesterday and came here. Bro. and Sister Worden went home on business, and Sister Metter went with them; so I am alone at present. I expect to begin meeting a few miles from here soon. Pray for me. My address is Payne, O. Let me hear from you, Bro. R. L. Berry. Yours in the one body,

Edward Ellis.

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Greenwood. S. C., Mar. 8, 1894.

To all the Dear Saints Scattered Abroad, Greeting: May the God of all grace be with you all, and keep you from evil. Amen. We are happy to report victory in Jesus’ name. Since we last wrote, we have enjoyed some very precious seasons in the presence of the Lord. Praise his name forever! Feb. 16, we went to Bro. Wilson’s near Iola, held meeting over Lord’s day, with good interest. No one got saved, but we are sure chat the good seed fell on some good ground, which we believe will spring up, and bring forth fruit in the near future. Having other calls we could only stay a very short time; we then went to Bro. Charles Kay’s near Piercetown, held meeting nearly a week with good result. Some of the people took an interest, and the congregations were good considering the unfavorable weather. Six presented themselves at the mercy seat, and some of them received an experience. On Saturday night and Sunday quite a snow fell, which closed the meeting. We then came to Bro. Wellborne’s near Anderson, where we held the first meeting in that part. We were made to rejoice, and were greatly encouraged at the coming of dear Brer’s Campbell, and Kilpatrick. Meeting only continued a few days; two were reclaimed and two sanctified. On Sunday seventeen dear saints were buried with Christ in baptism; nearly all came up shouting the praises of God. Others desired to be baptized, but were not ready. In the evening we met and enjoyed a very precious season in the presence of the Lord in showing forth the humility of Christ by washing one another’s feet, and commemorating his death and suffering, by breaking bread and supping wine. This was indeed a very solemn scene long to be remembered on account of God’s holy presence. Praise his dear name forevermore! Meeting closed at night, and Tuesday we came to Williamston, where we had been before; had meeting two nights, the people came out better than before One brother made a holy consecration to God, and was sanctified. We visited Pelzer again, and found a few that seem to be on the forward move for God. May God bless all the dear saints in that part, and reward them for their kindness in administering to our wants. We came to this place to day where we expect to stay over the Lord’s day, after which we go to St. Clair, E. Tennessee. Please remember us in your prayers that we be used to the glory of God, and souls be saved. Yours in the faith of the Gospel,

Thos. Carter and A.J. Kilpatrick.

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West Liberty, O., Mar. 8, 1894.

Dearly Beloved Brethren: Monday, Feb. 26, I came to this place, leaving the saints at New Pittsburg, Ind., joyful in glory. Began meeting in the saints’ house of worship at Five Points Tuesday night, and the Lord was with us in power from the beginning. When I got here I found the devil had been doing his utmost to destroy the work of God here by having a poor deceived woman who is full of a lying, tattling, false accusing spirit, to sow the seed of discord among the brethren. The fruitfulness of the camp meeting here last summer was hindered by her ungodly lies against God’s ministers whom he had sent to labor in the meeting. And by lying and devil surmisings and false vision against our dear beloved Bro’s Warren, Schell and Speck, had influenced several of the dear unsuspecting ones to reject and go against the above brethren. Oh dear ones, be careful how you believe an accusation against your brethren. It may prove a snare to your soul. And for the good of others in different localities, I will say I have had the privilege of proving that all the bad reports that the ungodly lying spirit in that woman started on those dear brethren, which reached your locality and caused some of you to be a little suspicious of them, are false reports; and may God help you all to remember that God has said, “Know them which labor, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake, and be at peace among yourselves.” — 1 Thess. 5:12, 13. “Believe in the Lord, so shalt thou be established; believe hte prophets, [ministers) so shalt thou prosper.” Praise God! I felt it was his will for one of those brethren to be here, and we were asking him to send them, and were much comforted by the coming of dear Bro. Speck, and by the coming of Bro. Warren the next day, which was very unexpected to us, as I thought he was in Pennsylvania, but Father knew his own business. Thank God for the privilege of meeting those dear brethren. They took their leave from us Monday to go to Larue, O., to attend to some baptizing, then go on to Pennsylvania. Meeting closed last night with victory on the Lord’s side, and quite a goodly number of souls were saved and most all made their escape from the influence of the anti-christ spirit by which they had been deceived, and a few sinners were converted. And I learned that God had showed the poor deceived woman her condition and she is anxious to get saved. Amen. I go to Sidney, O., and then home. Pray for me. Your free brother on the gospel altar,

J. N. Howard.

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Grant’s Pass, Ore., Feb. 28, 1894.

Dear Brethren: I am glad to report victory for king Jesus, who sits upon the throne of his holiness, which is set up in my heart. Hallelujah! For the kingdom of God is within us. Praise his holy name! I can say I have been steady in the work of the Lord since my last report. I came to this place Dec. 12 and commenced meeting in the Jones Creek school house about three miles and a half northeast of town, in the name of Jesus. We continued two weeks with good results. Had large congregations and good interest. Only a few consecrations, but there has been seed sown. Then we went to town and held a week’s meetings in the court house, but had small attendance. The sects all commenced when they heard I was going to preach. There were four of their revivals going on. I closed and came back on Jones Creek and held a few meetings. Then I took the train for Myrtle Point, Ore. Went to Roseburg, then took the “buckboard” with the mail carrier and rode out eighteen miles to the foot of the mountains, and then I had to foot it across the Coast Range Mts., over forty-five miles, to Myrtle Point. The roads were so muddy and bad that a team could not travel. I waded mud half way to my knees the best I could do, and had a load to pack besides. It was an awful trip, but praise God, his grace was sufficient for me. He gave me strength. We must endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Tim. 2:3. It brought to my mind, the children of Israel, who traveled until their feet were sore. I arrived there on the 26th of Jan., and commenced meeting on the 28th and continued three weeks with large congregations, good order and interest. There are a great many that are in favor with the truth; some under conviction but would not yield. It made quite a stir among the people and they are searching the word. Praise the Lord! From there we came back over the mountains to Cammas Valley and held three meetings. The people are hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and to hear the pure word of God. There are many open doors for us, and the people have treated us very kindly. It seems as though the Lord has used me more to sow the good seed in new fields. There is a great field to work here along the coast. May God send some one here to reap the harvest. For the field is ripe ready to harvest. I expect to stay here a couple of weeks, then go south to Woodland, Cal. Any one desiring meetings between here and Woodland, can write to me at this place. Pray for me and the work in the west. Your brother, saved and kept, all consecrated to the will of God, willing to suffer for Jesus,

Michael Stover, Jr.

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OBITUARIES.

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Feb. 26, 1894.

Born to Amos and Martha L. Austin, of Covert, Mich., Dec. 11, 1893, little Erwin Eugene Austin. Died, Feb. 13, 1894. May God bless the dear parents, and may they soon prepare to meet their little one in glory. Services by W. H. Merritt.

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Dodge, Ky.

Brother William Miller departed this life Feb. 27, 1894. He said while on his bed of affliction, that his trust was in God. May those who mourn the loss of their father and husband, seek God for comfort. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Rosecran Baber.

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Sister Ida M. wife of Brother E. A. Guthrie, was born in Greenbush, Mich., May, 1858, and died in La Fayette, Mich., Feb. 16, 1894. Aged thirty-five years, nine months and three days. She leaves a husband and nine little children and many friends to mourn her loss, but what is their loss is her gain. May God bless the dear husband, and keep him walking in the light of God, and my prayer to God is that the children may seek God early in life, so that they can meet mother in heaven. Funeral services by the writer,

C. E. Reeves.

Dear companion, how we miss thee,
One who was so kind and true;
We must wait a little longer,
Then we’ll go and be with you.

We will let her rest so sweetly;
All the storms of life are o’er;
She is singing with the angels,
Over on the other shore.

M. J. Reeves.

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WHAT IS GOD’S CHURCH, AND WHO ARE MEMBERS?

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But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city or the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. — Heb. 18:22-31.

The apostle here addresses those who are come unto the church of the firstborn. They were born of God, born from heaven, hence they were written or enrolled in heaven. Are you born of God? If so, your name is written in heaven on God’s church roll, in the Lamb’s book of life. You are now a member of the church of the firstborn. You did not join it; it is not joinable. You were born into it. You were never a member of the church of the firstborn until you were born through faith in Jesus’ blood. That and nothing else made you a member. You were then a member in particular, as much so as Paul or Peter, John or any body else. You were enrolled in the same book by the same recorder. My name was placed on the family record, but not before I was born; so God has written my name in his family church roll, but not before I was spiritually born. Sinners’ names are not written among the names of saints, in the book of life.

You are come to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. It is the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. You have eaten the flesh of the Son of man and drunk his blood and you have life. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. — Jno. 6:54. You are a living stone, you have a place in the spiritual house, the holy temple. You say, Yes, byt I joined the church since. Since what? Since you were born into it? You are mistaken; you may have joined something, but it was not God’s church. God never told you to join anything but himself. Now you are unequally joined or yoked with unbelievers (sinners), and God says, Come out from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing. The unclean thing is the yoke that is yoking you up with sinners. The yoke that Christ holds out is easy and will not yoke you up with sinners. You are trying to pull one way and the sinners the other, and you wonder why the yoke galls. Jesus’ blood never bought such a yoke, and God’s spirit never put it on you. The devil furnished the unequal yoke, the unclean thing, the preacher held it up and you put your head into it and now you wonder why it doesn’t work better. This unclean thing has not only yoked you up with sinners, but has separated you from God’s children, who only wear the easy yoke of Christ. It was the tradition received from your fathers that prompted you to wear the unclean yoke. Now you call it, your church (sect), the church of God. We learn in 1 Peter 1:18, 19 that the precious blood of Jesus will redeem you from the vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers. And in Isa. 10:27, that the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. My Bible tells about the church of God which he (Christ) purchased with his own blood. — Acts 20:28. Are you a member of this church? Were you purchased with Christ’s blood? Every member of this church he hath purchased or acquired with his own blood. So you have come to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. — Eph. 2:12, 13. Christ’s blood speaketh better things than that of Abel. The voice of Abel’s blood cried unto God from the ground, which kindled the wrath of God so the curse of God rested upon the offending party; while Christ’s blood appeases God’s wrath and delivers the guilty from the curse of the law. Through the shedding of Abel’s blood, Cain was made fugitive and a vagabond in the earth, and his punishment was greater than he could bear, and Cain went out from the presence of the Lord. But through the shedding of Christ’s blood, strangers, foreigners and vagabonds are brought nigh, even reconciled to God. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God. — Eph. 2:19. The household of God is identical with the house of God, which is the church of the living God. — 1 Tim. 3:15. Named after the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. — Eph. 3:14, 15. All the saved in this world and in heaven are included in the terms, whole family, household of God, house of God, which the apostle says is the church of the living God, and which has the same name in earth as in heaven. Every body knows that being born of God constitutes a person a member of God’s family, and God’s family and God’s house are identical; then to be a member of God’s family is to be a member of God’s house, which is the church, hence is a church member. The conclusion is, every person that is born of God is a church member, and every church member is born of God. This is true of the church of God, but not of any sect. And Christ is head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular, but now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body. There is one body, and God hath tempered the body together that there should be no schism (or division) in the body.

Dear reader, if you are a sectarian, and if you are going to be honest, you will have to quit the business, or else persuade Christ to revise the New Testament. In the latter you will not succeed, so I exhort you to try the former, — quit the business, laboring in the interest of your sect. Get salvation, leave your sect, preach and teach the unity of Christ. Then you can say, we are laborers together with the Lord. The church of the firstborn mentioned in our text is the church of God, and is built, organized, etc. by Jesus Christ, who said, I will build my church. He built it upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, himself being the chief corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord, in whom we also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. When Jesus does the building, he builds together; when men do it, sects are built. There are about six hundred and sixty-six now, and no two built together, — queer looking house, is it not? Where is its corner stone? Had the sects all built together, there would only have been one sect, and that would have been one too many, for the New Testament says, no schisms. Peter says of Jesus, This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders [sect builders], which is become the corner. Jesus is the chief corner stone of his church, and is not found near the corner of any sect on earth. God sent him to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past. — Rom. 3:25. And without shedding of blood is no remission. — Heb. 9:22. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. — Col. 1:14. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood. — Rev. 1:5. Much more then being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him, for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. — Rom. 5:9, 10. In these scriptures it is clearly shown that we have propitiation, reconciliation, remission of past sins, forgiveness of sins, washing away of sins; we are born again, regenerated, have membership in the church of God, our names written in heaven; we are translated into Christ’s kingdom, justified, etc., all by the blood of Christ. Now we read, justified freely by his grace, — 3:24, justified by faith, — Rom. 5:1, justified by his blood, — Rom. 5:9, it is God that justifieth, — Rom. 8:33. The problem is easily solved. The shedding of Christ’s blood obtained pardon for the sinner that repents. It brings life to the soul and knowledge of sins forgiven at the moment faith accepts or receives Jesus as the Christ. Hence we say the blood is applied, but not the literal blood of Christ; but we speak of what is obtained, justification or pardon. And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Jno. 5:20. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

My dear reader, I have shown you what the church is. It is the Church of God or the Church of the Firstborn. One brother who wants to claim the “Christian Church” and nickname God’s church, said that the church of the firstborn has been resurrected and gone up to heaven. But I will prove by the word of God that it is here on earth to day as well as in heaven. Eph. 3:14, 15 — For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Notice the whole family both in heaven and in earth. So we see by the Word that part of the family is here in earth. Now my brother, you see that the name Christian is not the name of God’s church. To be a Christian will do very well; I mean to bear the name Christian is all right when used where it belongs. But it is not the name that God gave his church. A Christian at heart is a member of the church of the firstborn, God’s church. The name Christian church is not in God’s holy Bible, and it originated from that old Campbellite daughter, and all other Christian churches are offshoots from it. Now let us be honest with God and use the name God gives his church, which is his own name, and not rob God by nicknaming his church to ease the guilty conscience and calm the fears of hell in the ungodly people of this world. Amen. Your brother in Christ,

W. H. Morris.

Augusta, Ga.

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THY TESTIMONIES ARE WONDERFUL.

Psa. 119:129.

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Coy, Mo.

Dear Saints of God: I take the opportunity to write my testimony for the first time. The Lord has cleansed me from all filthiness of the flesh and has purified my heart and made it whiter than the driven snow. He is teaching me to obey him in all things. I am going to please him. He is my great physician; he heals me and comforts me in all things.

T. C. Kinslow.

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Almira, Wash.

Dear Saints of God: I praise God that I know that I am saved and sanctified by the second work of grace, and cut loose from all sectism and the things of this world. Pray for the people of this place that the bondage of Satan may be broken and the kingdom of Christ be established. It the Lord be for us who can be against us? I am trusting daily in his promises. Pray for my husband who is afflicted, that he may saved, sanctified, and restored to health. Your sister in Christ,

Almira Davis.

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Floyd’s Knobs, Ind.

Dear Trumpet Readers: This is my first testimony. I have been saved almost a year. I am the Lord’s child and ready to do whatsoever he would have me do. I have all on the altar with a real go through in my soul. Have taken God for my physician. He is my strength and refuge. In him do I trust. Glory to his holy name for the change he has wrought in our home! Oh dear saints, let’s ever praise God for what he has done for us. We are all saved, excepting my two younger brothers. Pray for them. Your humble sister saved in Jesus,

Clara Luther.

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Mountain Grove, Mo.

Dear Trumpet Read res: I thought I would send in my testimony for the first time. I am praising God for a complete and free salvation and that he gave me a willing heart to serve him. I do praise God for his mighty healing power. The dear Lord healed me the 10th of Dec. of lung trouble, for which I do give him all the praise. Glory to Jesus for a faith to take him at his word! Pray that I may ever stand true to Jesus. I do praise God for the narrow way and for this high way of holiness. From your brother sanctified,

Sherman Smith.

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Cadott, Wis.

Dear Trumpet Readers: I feel led to write my testimony. God has healed me from the effects of a severe fall. I fell and broke two of my ribs. I was alone when I fell and did not know what to do, only to look to my heavenly Father for help. Praise his holy name! It happened in the morning. I was in severe pain, and I prayed to God to stop the pain, so he did. Praise his holy name! In the evening my husband and I went to meeting, and after meeting we obeyed Jas. 5:14, 15, and I was healed. I am living by the power of God, saved and sanctified through the blood of Jesus. I am so glad the dear saints of God ever came to Cadott.

I am your sister, saved,

Mrs. Loina Greeley.

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Shoals, Ind.

Dear Saints: May God bless you all. I am saved and kept by his power. I have been praying for God to send some of his children here to preach the truth. There are some honest souls here. Two years ago there were some of God’s children here. They gave me some GOSPEL TRUMPETS to read. I love to read them, and wish I could take them, but my husband does not allow me to. Pray much for him, that God may save him. I have been praying for him, and he has been under conviction two or three times. I think often if I could be with God’s children in their meetings, how happy I would be; but God is with me here, and some day we can all meet in heaven. Pray for me.

Katie Stils.

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Houston, Mo.

Dear Readers of the Gospel Trumpet: I am rejoicing in the Savior’s love. I know all is bright and clear and peaceful in my heart. I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and have access by faith into the grace wherein I stand and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. I have long ago found out that the will of God was the reverse of sectism. Dear readers, you are not aware of the evil of sectism in Houston, how secretism and sectism rule and reign and the daughters of Babylon show forth their prejudice and rejoice in carnality, and are waxing worse and worse. But I believe there are a few that will separate themselves from these daughters, if we had some of God’s Holy Ghost servants to fight aginst sift and sectism. I am living near Houston, keeping books on the Houston lumber yard. Am here every day except Sunday, and would be glad to have the saints stop, that we may rejoice together. I was led by three different sects until I starved. My hungry soul was famishing for the bread that comes down from heaven, and when I heard the Word preached in all its purity and humility I said, Amen, give me that bread. I received it by consecration and faith. That is the only way to obtain this salvation that saves and keeps. Praise the Lord! Dead readers, pray for your brother at Houston. I realize that God blesses me when I mingle my prayers with those requests for prayer. Your brother saved and sanctified,

E. M. Allen.

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South Haven, Mich.

Dear Readers of the Trumpet: I praise the dear Lord for salvation. I am glad I can tell you that my trust is in the Lord, and oh how much I do see the need of watching and praying. Paul says to Timothy, 2 Tim. 4:5, — But watch thou in all things. Christ says in Mark 13:37, What I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch. If the devil overcomes us in any way, it is because we have laid down our watch and have ceased to pray. If we have our hearts lifted to God in prayer all of the time, and also watching on every side, we will stand in spite of the devil. One way the devil deceives a good many is in little things. He makes them think it no harm to do this little thing or that, and of course they lose the grace of God out of their souls and then wonder what is the trouble. Solomon says the little foxes spoil the vines. It is the little things that the devil would deceive us in, as well as larger ones. We must watch and pray. Christ said in Mark 14 38, — Watch ye, and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. Let us every one examine our hearts and see that we have the establishing grace in our souls and oil in our vessels, and ready when the Bridegroom comes. God bless all of his dear saints. Your sister under the blood,

Lucy Cobb.

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Culbertson, Neb.

Dear Ones in Christ: I feel led of the Lord this morning to write my testimony. I was converted when quite young, and joined the U. B. sect. For a time my peace was unmarred. I lived in close communion with God, walking in all the light I had, but not having been taught that we could live without sin, Satan crept in unawares and in a short time had me where most of the so-called Christians of to day are, professing but not possessing. But praise the Lord, about three years ago he permitted me to hear this blessed evening light preached, and I was rebellious at first, Satan trying to make me think the saints were not right because they preached against sectism. But God who is rich in mercy toward us kept calling me by the wooings of his Spirit, until I was made to see my lost condition, and to call mightily upon him for deliverance. Praise his holy name! When I was willing to forsake sin and return to him, deliverance soon came. And I can say with an understanding heart, that I am sweetly saved in Jesus and a possessor of that peace that passeth all understanding. The dear Lord has not only saved my soul, but has also healed my body of serious diseases at different times. What a wonderful Savior we have, who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. Psa. 103:3. We live two and one-half miles north east of Culbertson. Should any of the saints pass through here, they will find a welcome at our home. Pray much for me. Your sister in Christ,

Mary McConnell.

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Marshall, Okla.

Dear Saints of the Living God: I have felt led to write my testimony for a long time. My testimony this morning is that I am saved and abounding in the love of Jesus. Praise his holy name! I live in the Cherokee strip. There is so much ungodliness around me that it seems hard to keep victory in my soul over the world, the flesh and the devil. There are a few saints here. I am praying for some of God’s holy ministers to come and have meetings here this summer. I feel that God will give us the victory in this new place. I was converted eleven years ago in a Baptist meeting, but never joined any sect, but lived alone with Jesus till last May when I heard the evening light preached by Bro. Geo. Cole and Co. I was baptized with my husband the fifth of June. I am so glad God took the love of the world away from me, and all worldly pride. My affections are centered above. Praise his name! I have a longing desire in my heart to save perishing souls. I do feel deep down in my soul that time will not be much longer, and we ought to do all we can for Jesus, when he has done so much for us. It is wonderful how God takes care of his children and provides for them both soul and body. I have been reading the Trumpet for some time and it is real food to my soul. I ask all the saints to pray for my husband, as he has taken up the tobacco habit. Pray that he may be brought back to Father’s house and the appetite for tobacco taken away. Also pray for me, that I may be able to stand firm for Jesus. Your saved sister, all on the altar for Jesus,

Mrs. Myrta Raybourn.