7 January 1892, Volume 12, Number 2.
THE CHURCH OF GOD.
The church of God, his children are,
Christ bought them with his blood,
And Heaven’s glory they may share,
For they belong to God.
On earth below, in heaven above,
His church is all the same,
Bound with bands of tender love,
It bears his holy name.
No schisms mar their blissful peace,
But all, with one accord,
In notes of joy that never cease,
Sing praises to the Lord.
Within its wall, O Savior dear,
Keep me for evermore,
Guard me from every doubt and fear,
Till doubts and fears are o’er.
And when in triumph we shall stand,
Around our Father’s throne,
With harps of gold within our hand,
The church thy name shall own.
Clint Atkins.
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The Ordinance of Baptism.
IT is not necessary that we should often devote time and space in setting forth the New Testament ordinances; because men destitute of the Spirit of God are not proper participants of them, while having the Spirit they are thereby led to follow Christ in all these things. This accounts for the seldom appearance of articles on this portion of truth. Nevertheless we, being under commission of Christ to teach the people to observe all things that he commanded, there are reasonable times when we must teach and enjoin these positive commands of Christ. Therefore, in the name of Jesus we will give our readers some instruction on the duty and act of baptism.
It is an ordinance of the New Testament. Hence John’s preaching, and administration of baptism is called the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. — Mark 1:1-5.
It is from heaven. The question ..hat Christ asked the Jews, whether ..e baptism of John was from heaven, ..r of men — Matt. 21:25, proves ..learly that it was from heaven. For ..o suppose that Christ would confess … from men, would ignore John’s ..inistry, and justify the Jews in rejecting his baptism, instead of rebuk..g them for so doing. But they felt ..s question was a rebuke.
“The pharisees and lawyers re..ved the counsel of God against ..mselves, being not baptized of ….” — Luke 7:30. Baptism, there..e, is part of the counsel of God. ..d all who disobey it, reject the ..nsel of God to-day.
When Christ was baptized of John … said, “Thus it becometh us to … fill all righteousness.” — Matt. 3:15. ..en it is a New Testament princi.. of righteousness.
..n this article we will not take up ace to refute the anti-ordinance ..ctrine, which has been done in the ..st. But we wish to consider at ..esent what this ordinance of Christ …. However we wish to say this much, … we stand by the word of God, … hold all who follow the example … he Jews that Christ put to silence, ..ty of “rejecting the counsel of God … inst themselves,” of refusing a … of the gospel of Jesus Christ God’s …, and of non-submission to the ..v covenant law of righteousness, ..ome do it ignorantly, they none the ..s do it. We will simply yet add ..t Christ set us the example to be ..ptized by receiving the ordinance ..u..self, by baptizing believers, through his disciples. — Jno. 3:22; 4: … And He, the great head of the ..rch, the “Commander and Leader ..f the people,” enjoined it in his last ..ommission to be administered to the ..end of the world. — Matt. 28:19, 20; Mark 16:16. The apostles practiced it to the end of their lives as the inspired records show. And their immediate successors, and the church of God generally continued its practice down through the centuries to the present, as all ecclesiastical history shows.
But the question is, what are the essential elements of the sacred rite? What constitutes its scriptural observance? And who are the scriptural subjects? We will let the word answer. “Men and women” received the right. — Acts 8:12. What kind of men and women? Ans. — Such as repented of their sins, believed in the Lord, and gave fruits of their repentance. — Matt. 3:8; Acts 8:36; 18:8. Therefore
if we leave the subject of baptism just where the word does, and God forbid that we should add to or take from it, we find that men and women who had heard, and received the gospel, and gave evidence of having been changed in heart by the grace of God, are the only scriptural candidates for the ordinance of baptism.
What is the object of the institution? Answer. — By its performance the child of God professes his faith in Christ as the crucified and resurrected Savior. He also symbolizes the washing away of his sins, and testifies that he is dead to sin, and is raised up with Christ to walk in newness of life. — Acts 22:16; Rom.6:4-8; Col. 2:12, 13; 3:1—3; 1 Peter 3:21.
The old superstitions that “baptism is the door into the church,” a “seal,” “a mark whereby a Christian may be distinguished from others,” and many inventions of dark Romanism, are without any support in the Bible.
But now the question is, what is the real act enjoined by the law of baptism? The whole for the action is contained in the word employed; namely, baptize, baptizing, baptism, etc. These are but one word in different grammatical forms, just as any simple English word assumes different forms; as run, running, runner. The same idea, – to run – is in all these words. So in the different forms of the word to baptize. And had that word been translated into English in our common version, every child old enough to read would know just what that ordinance means. As James McKnight, a Scotch Presbyterian translator says in the preface to his translation, — page 27, “That their translation, – the common version — is partial, speaking the language of, and giving authority to one sect. But this, perhaps, was owing to the restraint they were laid under by those who employed them.” He speaks of 14 rules under which King James put his translators, and quotes the third one as follows: “The third was, the old ecclesiastical words to be kept, as the word church, not to be translated congregation,” etc. Again speaking of defects in that translation, McKnight says, “The translators following the vulgate Latin, have adopted many of the original words, without translating them; such as MAMMON, ANATHEMA, &c. by which they have rendered their version unintelligible to a mere English reader.” Remember that this is one of Scotland’s most profound scholars and Presbyterian ministers that is criticising King James’s translation, and not ourself. He says they follow the Latin, in leaving some words untranslated, and therefore unintelligible to the English reader. Now we will let another of Scotland’s first scholars in the Greek language, also a Presbyterian translator, and “Principal of Marischal College, and one of the ministers of Aberdeen,” inform us that baptism is one of those ecclesiastical words King James forbade translated. I quote from George Campbell. Dissertation in the first volume of his translation, pages 264, and 265. “In several modern languages we have, in what regards Jewish and Christian rites, generally followed the usages of the old Latin version. Some words they have transfered from the original into their language; others they have translated. But it would not always be easy to find their reason for making this difference. Thus the word PERITOME they (the Latin) have translated CIRCUMCISIO, which exactly corresponds in etymology: but the word BAPTISMA they have retained, changing only the letters from Greek to Roman. Yet the latter was just as susceptible of a literal version into Latin as the former. IMMERSION answers as exactly in the one case as CIRCUMCISIO in the other.” “Hence we — the English translators, having followed the example of the Latin, as both MacKnight and Campbell have told us — say circumcision — English — and not PERITOMY — Greek; — and we do not say immersion, but baptism.” That is, because the Latins did not translate BAPTISM into plain Latin — IMMERGO, we do not translate the word into plain English, immersion, but leave it nearly the same as Greek, — baptism. But let us hear Campbell a little farther; he says, “Yet, when the language furnishes us with material for a version so exact and analogical, such a version conveys the sense more perspicuously than a foreign name. For this reason I should think the word immersion (which, though of Latin origin, is an English noun, regularly formed from the verb to immerse) a better English name than baptism, were we now at liberty to make a choice.”
This is very plain talk for scholars of the first rank in the Presbyterian denomination. He declares IMMERSIO — Latin, and immersion, — English, exact translation of the meaning of the Greek word baptism, and says he would prefer to so render it, but says he does not feel at liberty to do so because the word baptize has passed into such general use, not having been rendered into plain English — immersion — at the beginning.
We have said that all the law for the action of baptism is contained in the word baptize. Accordingly,” Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John.” “Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.” “And he baptized him.” “Baptizing them in the name of the Father,” etc. You see that baptism is not the name of a rite which is described in other language, but the whole action of the institution is contained right in the word baptize as the above and all other texts show. The act performed upon the eunuch by Philip was simply this, “he baptized him.” What Christ demands respecting that ordinance is expressed in the participial Verb, “BAPTIZING them.” The whole record of this ordinance bears upon the face of it the fact that it employed the use of word that was well known, and of common use. Hence at the very introduction of the ordinance John simply commanded the people to “repent and be baptized,” and no explanation of what the word baptized meant was given, because all understood its use, and specific meaning. Had the word meant most everything, and nothing in particular, as advocates of sprinkling have tried to maintain, some explanation would have been necessary to inform the people what sense of the word should be carried out. But the word was definite, and meant a single thing, and every body knew what it was, as is dearly seen in the writings of Josephus and all literature of that age. Josephus lived in the time of Christ and the apostles. Though a Jew he wrote in Greek. He also lived in Galilee, and would use words in the same sense the apostles did. He talks just as the Bible does. Describing a Jewish ceremony he says, “They put into spring water a little of these ashes, with hyssop . . . . . and having dipped [In Greek BAPTISANTES] some of these ashes, they sprinkled them with it.” Ant., Book 4, chap. 4, par. 6. Here what Josephus calls putting into the water he calls baptizing. Of Jonah he says, “At last . . . . . . when the ship was just going to be BAPTIZASTHAI — they, cast him into the sea.” — Ant. 9, 10, 2. “Many of the most eminent of the Jews swam away from the city [Cestius] as from a ship when it was going to — BAPTIZOMENES.” — sink under. Jewish wars 2, 20, and 1.
Numerous other instances have been collected from Josephus’ work. But we will not stop to cite others, nor give from other Greek writers. These are sufficient to show that the word baptize, a word in common use and understood by all as meaning to immerse, to put under, to sink under.
Though no explanation was needed to accompany the command to be baptized, the incidental circumstances associated with the ordinance clearly show that it simply meant immersion, just as the word had always been used before, and therefore, even with the word untranslated into our language, the common version leaves no doubt as to what our duty is in the minds of all who are willing to follow its examples and teaching. First, it teaches us to go to the place where there is water.
And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came and were baptized. — Jno. 3:23.
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. — Matt. 3:13.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch said, See, here is water: what doth hinder me to he baptized? — Acts 8:36.
And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. — Acts 16:33.
Let the humble soul who wishes to be right with the New Testament, do just as these examples teach him, and not presume to send for a bowl of water for baptismal use, for which we have no example in the word.
But what is the next step? This: persons went down into the water in order to obey this command of Christ, and were actually baptized in the water.
And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. — Matt. 3:6.
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. — Matt. 3:16.
And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. — Acts 8:38.
But it is urged that they were baptized “with water,” hence only sprinkled, or water poured on them; but the preposition “with” in Matt. 3:11; Jno. 1 and Acts 1 is in the Greek EN, which is everywhere translated in, in the same chapters. In Matt 3, EN occurs eight times and is translated “in every time except verse 11, where they changed to “with.” The very people to whom John said, “I indeed baptize you with [EN] water,” it is recorded in verse 6 that they “were baptized of him in Jordan.” Why did the translators render the same word “in” in verse 6, and “with” in verse 11 ? Because a wrong translation would not make sense in verse 6, and they were compelled to render it correctly, “in Jordan.” The Emphatic Diaglott reads, “ And were immersed of him in the river Jordan.” Ver. 6. “I indeed immerse you in water.” “He will immerse you in Holy Spirit and in fire.” Verse 11. This looks sensible.
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A Visit To Grand Junction.
Grand Junction, Mich., Dec. 31, 1892.
Dear Children of God: Through the kindness of the Lord Jesus I have enjoyed the privilege of a few days’ visit with the Trumpet family. On the way stopped and held meeting a few days in the Proctor school-house, where Bro. and Sister Pike, formerly from Deshler, O., reside. Found them saved. There was deep conviction on the people, and excellent order. Many were hungry for the word, and a glorious revival could be promoted there by a more prolonged effort. Next I called with Bro. and Sister Bollinger in Kalamazoo, where I expect to meet with the church on my return.
I had a joyful meeting with the dear saints at the Trumpet office. Found Bro’s Warner and Byrum and all the large family in the Spirit of the Lord. It is a heaven below to be with them. Truly the precious fruits of the Spirit are manifest here. I have known Bro. Warner for the last seventeen years, and have known something of the trials and sufferings he has passed through for Christ’s sake. What a wonder of divine grace that his frail body has endured! Bui thank God! his health seems rather improving.
I have also been acquainted with his wife from her youth; and nothing has ever been more surprising to me than the steps she has taken. It may not be generally known that she got a bill through the court at U. Sandusky, Ohio. The grounds upon which she filed her complaint betrays a dreadful absence of conscience and the fear of God. Stating that she had “been a faithful wife to him ever since married,” and that “he had been willfully absent from her for over three years.” When the facts are, she had willfully abandoned him over six years before. During which time, he twice visited her, and wrote many letters kindly urging her to return, and that without exacting any conditions. And she was so far from being a faithful wife that she did not even answer his letters.
Bro. W. did not feel led to appear against her, but faithfully admonished her for her soul’s sake not to put on record in the county court and the high court of heaven statements she knew to be so directly opposite to the truth. And, worse yet, the woman has recently shown her disregard for the counsel of the Bible by marrying another man. We insisted that these few words of explanation be published to cut off all occasion for unreasonable men to speak against the cause of Christ, and against his servant.
I was joyfully surprised to see how the Lord had prospered the publishing work. They are blest with a nice large office building, quite well filled with printing and stereotype outfit. Also Bro. Byrum was wonderfully favored in the providence of God in purchasing a very pleasant and roomy residence for the family. But the best of all is, the entire happy family are saved in the Lord, and everything moves off in sweet harmony.
I thank God for this visit. I am saved and sanctified and kept by the power of God. Jesus has taken me out of all sects, and all sectism out of me. I ask the dear children of God to pray for me. I start home Jan. 1st. Your brother,
E. J. Hill.
Page 2
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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The Ordinances of the New Testament
A new Tract, by Wm. G. Schell.
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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. We make no charge for our work of making the tracts. Always state just how many you wish sent
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HOLINESS BIBLE SUBJECTS.
By H. C. W.
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ANTHEMS FROM THE THRONE.
FORTH EDITION.
This book contains 148 songs. 90 with music. About all new When sung in the Spirit of God- these songs will be found glorious. They hymn the precious present truth, and the gospel standard of salvation.
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CALLS FOR MEETINGS.
“O how we do need some one here to preach the gospel!” Randle Sturgis. Gaines Station, Mich.
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A company of saints are wanted to hold a meeting at Elyria. O. It is believed that there are many honest souls who would walk in the light.
Address — Lucy Willeman,
31 W. 3d St., Elyria, O.
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“I am still praying God to send some saved person here to preach the truth.”
Delphia Hunter.
Sargent, Mo.
“I am longing for the pure gospel truth.”
Madison Jordan.
Gurnutt. Lawrence Co., Ky.
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“I hope God will send some of his ministers to this place to preach the gospel.”
Alice Slater.
Cuba. Crawford Co., Mo.
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A holy minister is desired at Altona, Ind.
Jennie Mosher.
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EDITORIAL NOTES.
Bro. Achor writes from Meriden, Kan.. Dec. 14: I praise God this morning for salvation from sin and all the works of the devil, with victory in my soul.
The meeting at Reamsville, Smith Co., Kan., was a grand victory for God. The gospel was a new thing there, but many accepted the doctrine. God’s mighty power was wonderfully manifest in preaching the word. One Advent was justified and sanctified by a second divine grace, and openly in their own house declared her freedom from the sect. Others intend to come out of sectism. There is a grand little church here, out straight for God, in the body of Christ. We had a good ordinance meeting.
Yours in the secret of His presence.
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Bro s A. J. Kilpatrick and B. E. Warren and Sister N. M. Warren write from Antwerp, Ohio, Dec. 1: Meeting continued here most two weeks in the “Church of the Living God’s” meeting-house. It was a glorious victory. A few backsliders, and some discouraged souls, came to the Lord and were saved and blessed. Also one old man, a sinner, was saved. Brothers Rothermel and Darr, and their wives were present and used of the Lord. Four were baptized. God seems to richly bless the saints for their faithfulness in erecting this good house of worship.
Bro s Wm. Miller and E. J. Hill write from Deshler. O., Dec. 21: The fire burns with intense heat. One justified, and one sanctified. Bro. Miller was taken very sick, but Jesus, the mighty Physician healed him. Sister Miller came and the Lord is using her. The meeting is grand, people much stirred. Last evening had a precious ordinance meeting. Twelve took part; all had the real happiness Jesus promised. One soul was made clear this morning.
Dec. 22d. The Lord came down in power. Another gave her heart to God, and was gloriously saved. We leave Brother Hill to go to Mich., Brother Miller to Auburn, Ind., but the meeting will go on.
LATER.
Dec. 23d. Dear saints of the living God: Our ministers are gone, but the work goes on. One brother sanctified last night. O glory to Jesus!
Your saved and sanctified sister in Christ,
Mary J. Boston.
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Sister Beatrice Sapp, writes from Brunson, S. C.: “I began to get people to fast and pray with me, that they might receive salvation. I soon found four earnest souls. We all continued lasting and praying. On
the third night three were sanctified. The meeting continued fifteen days, and there were 25 sanctified, 10 converted, and 15 buried with Christ in baptism. I am saved, and kept by the mighty power of God, free from sin and Babylon.”
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NEW TRACT.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
on
THE CHURCH.
Objections, and questions contained in four letters, call out scriptural answers in this tract to a great many points respecting the one true church and its distinction from all sects. It meets the very objections that people under sectarian education, are daily stumbling over; such as, “Let the wheat and tares grow together.” “If you come out of the sects you necessarily form another,” etc. It dispells much fog of error, and repulses the objections to God’s one church on every side. It will do much good. It will contain 32 pages. Price, one cent per tract, few or many. Let all the dear lovers of truth send orders, and drop a good sermon in many hearts. Amen.
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NEW TRACTS
Now being published; one by Bro. Kilpatrick, small, but mighty through God. Contains scriptural answers to the most common excuses sinners have for not giving their hearts to the Lord. It should be scattered by the million. To cover some of the expenses we set the price at 10 cents per 50 tracts.
Bro. and Sister Walters from St. Louis, Mich., are laboring for the Lord near Weston, Ohio. They expect to spend the winter laboring in Wood, Sandusky and Ottawa Co’s, Ohio. The Lord give them a good harvest of souls. Amen.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Waterloo, Ind.
After a long time of pain and much prayer, the Lord God has showed me where I have been deceived of the devil. I ask all saints to forgive all mistakes and pray for me.
D. J. Cross.
We are thankful to receive the above, and we will heartily pray for the brother. But, dear brother, go to the bottom. Stop not with the confession of mistakes; do your duty toward the ones you have wronged, and seek the Lord with all your heart. Spare not self. O get clear at all cost. Amen.
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Bro. J. A. Caldwell, writes from Wilsey, Kan., Dec. 20.: To all the true saints of God, greeting: We are out in the name of Jesus, on the Bible line, sanctified through the word, ready to labor for the salvation of souls. If there are any of the dear ones who desire our help, if they will help us to get there, we will come in the name of Jesus. Amen. Many doors open. Address the brother as above.
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THE RIVER CAMPAIGN.
God is opening a way through the great rivers for his glorious gospel Amen! Amen!! Bro. Clayton writes us, “I received a letter from Wheeling, W. Va., regarding a boat 18 by 97 feet, well built. The cabin is 18 by 80 feet, and the part to be used for the congregation can be widened. It is nicely finished inside and out, and cost about $1400.00, but can be bought for about $500.00. I do not like to look after the matter as I have plenty to do, but some one must attend to it, for I believe it is of the Lord.”
Amen! Who will put $500.00 to preaching the gospel from the rivers to the ends of the earth?
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ORDER.
We wish brethren to write news from the field definitely as such. Many write a good personal letter and mix in some good news of meetings, and we do not know whether they will send a regular report or not. So we are at loss whether to pick out the news part or not. Please write news or testimonies, or anything to be published, on a separate sheet from letters, etc. Send news of all the Lord’s good work.
Praise the Lord!
He is blessing our souls and prospering us in our forward march. Our trip to Chicago was truly prospered. We have purchased a speedy and very fine press, also a new engine, boiler, and paper cutter, and have traded in our old ones. Our new press will print a third faster, and take in a form twice as large. That will greatly speed on the work. And we bought at a price very reasonable. So that we got fully as good a press as we had hoped to get, with the power and a paper cutter, for about what we had expected to pay without the cutter, which, however was much needed. In about two weeks the machinery will be on hand, and we hope to pay it all cash, by which we will save over $50.00 of the Lord’s money. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Let all the saints pray much for us.
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NEWS FROM THE FIELD.
Flag Springs, Mo., Dec. 1891.
Dear Trumpet Readers: Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied to you all. Our last report was from Davis City, Iowa. We commenced a meeting at that place; had some precious seasons with the Lord, who was there to save sinners and sanctify believers. Bro. W. Edie, from Hayesville came there and helped us in the meeting, for which we are thankful, and give God all the glory. There were ten consecrations. The Lord willing we hope to go back there in the spring.
Yours in him,
J. L. June.
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Allegan, Mich., Dec. 7, 1891.
Dear Brethren and Sisters: May joy and peace be unto you for evermore. I am praising God for a full and a complete salvation which saves from all sin. I feel more determined to go through for Jesus than ever before. When I look around and see the world as it lies in wickedness, it prompts me, and should every other child of God, to stand more true to God. May God help us to see that at the present time, we are under greater obligation to God than we have ever been before. We came to this place some few days ago, for a short visit with our folks, during which time we had the privilege of meeting with the saints on Lord’s day at the Marble school-house. We had a precious meeting; one dear soul raised hands for prayers, but did not yield to the Spirit’s call. We are now ready to go anywhere the good Lord may open the way.
Your saved brother,
Wm. E. Warren.
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Denver, Col., Dec. 18, 1891.
To ALL THE SAINTS OF THE LIVING God, Greeting: On my way to Cal. I stopped at Denver; had a good meeting. The Lord sent Bro. Swinburn with me to Visalia, Cal., where the Lord helped us to preach the gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Lord used Bro. Swinburn very much. Closed meeting there Dec. 9, and returned to Denver. We had the victory every time we met at Visalia. God is using Bro. and Sister Bently there to his glory. The Lord has raised up his own church in that place. He has led dear Bro. Hudson out of the M. E. sect. God sanctified him and the anointing destroyed the sect yoke off his neck. I believe God will use him to spread the true gospel in that part of the country. We give God all the glory for the blessed work that was done. The people were very kind to us, and freely helped us by their means. If the Lord will we will go to the Pacific coast and live one year.
We are now in Denver, ready to begin meetings. Pray for us, and for the cause of Christ here in Denver.
Your brother in the bonds of the gospel,
James Willis.
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Concordia, Kan., Dec. 28, 1891.
Dear Saints: I thought I would write a few lines to the Trumpet. I can say that I am still rejo.. in the Savior’s love. God has … Christ’s sake pardoned my sins a.. washed me in his blood. Praise … holy name! I came here Nov. 14 … began meeting in the name of Je.. I have had meeting every night, … closed the 26th of Dec. One dear … was gloriously saved and sancti.. Praise the Lord! The city is sti.. because of the truth, and Babylo.. howling for pain. Her plagues are coming thick and fast. Babylon is fallen, fallen to rise no more. There has been much false doctrine preached here, but the blessed truth of God uncovers it all. Praise his holy name! There are a few souls here that are standing for Jesus. Pray for me, that I may ever be found faithful. Your humble brother saved in Jesus,
Chas. Bowers.
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West Liberty, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1892.
We are glad to report victory for the Lord Jesus, prosperity and triumph in our own souls, through grace divine, over all the powers of sin and the devil. Bro. A. J. Kilpatrick, and ourselves went to Willshire. Ohio where we commenced meeting. Dec. 16. Bro. K. remained with us over Sabbath after which he went to assist Bro. J. N. Howard in a revival meeting in Southern Ind. Bro. G. Greely from Wis., also joined us at Willshire, and has been with us ever since. Has been a good helper in the wor.. and is rapidly advancing on the straight line for God, having just recently come out of Babylon. During the meeting at Willshire, a number of backsliders were reclaimed and much good was effected in the way of establishing and teaching the church the importance of progressing and developing in the essential elements of holiness. Thursday, 24th of December, we went over to Bro’s Cook’s and Young’s neighborhood and commenced meeting. It continued until the 29th with perfect victory and success. During this time the Lo.. did powerfully work conviction on the people. On Sabbath the congregation was so wrought upon, that many wep.. but still they resisted, hardened the … hearts and thus stifled convictio.. Some however, of this company … get saved; quite a number yield … during the meeting. Bro. Reyno.. who had formerly been saved, a.. previous to this, had been a class-lea.. and pillar in the Quaker sect, … saved again, and now we trust … will make him a “pillar in His people.” May God grant that he, … others there, may “go on to pe..tion” and reach the grace wh.. they can stand against the wiles … the devil. We would, however, l.. remained longer but the Lord g.. us all to know he was through for … present. Very bad roads was a g.. drawback to the meetings, notwithstanding we had good congregati.. We anticipate a glorious time in … salvation of souls during the serv.. of meetings to be held in the sa.. new meeting house near West ..erty, Ohio. We are here to ..mence the battle. We desire … your prayers in our behalf, at … time. We expect Bro. Wm. … Sister Schell and Sister Frankie ..ler, from Pa. about the 15th of … month to re-enforce us in the v… Many open doors are offered us, … calls from various directions d..ing to come and sound the g.. trumpet, and show them the … ward moving of the Lord in this e..ening time. Some were glorious healed by the power of God i.. last meeting. To him be all the prais.. Brethren, let us be “running to a.. fro,” for the Lord has much … ..complish. The time is to be … short in righteousness. God offe.. to furnish the whole equipage.
Pray for us. Your saved brother … and sister in the Master’s vineyard,
B. E. & N. M. Warren.
Payne, Ohio.
Page 3
TESTIMONIES.
Thy Testimonium are Wonderful.” — Psa. 119:129.
Continental, Ohio.
Dear Saints: To the glory of God and the encouragement of the afflicted, I will give a little of my experience in the power of God to heal. A few years since I was holding a series of gospel meetings in Deshler, O., where there were a number of souls saved, and some healed. About the close of the meeting I felt a burning and stinging sensation in one of my feet, in the instep and ankle, but did not pay much attention to it until meeting closed, when I started for home on foot, a distance of seven miles. I then lived at Shawtown, O. I started early in the morning, and as I went the pain increased, until I began to think it impossible to reach home. But by the help of God I got home, and I found it to be the Black Erysipelas. During the day the pain and swelling increased, and by nine oclock it appeared that any further expansion was impossible. The pain was intense. But all the time my trust was in the Lord, and after bowing with my family, returning thanks to God for his kindness in supplying the wants of my family in my absence, and for saving and healing during the meeting, we began to ask God to heal my foot. The family retired for the night, save two little girls aged eleven and thirteen, and they were about to retire when I was impressed to ask them to lay hands on me and anoint me. I asked them if they had faith enough to do so. They both said they had. They knelt by my side and in faith asked God to stop the pain and heal me; and all at once the pain stopped. When we had given honor to God we retired for the night. I soon fell into deep sleep, and pleasant dreams of heavenly blessedness. All glory be to his holy name forever! I have seen nearly all kinds of afflictions healed by the Lord.
Dearty beloved put your trust in God, and may the afflicted ascribe all praise to him is my prayer.
Yours, saved in Christ,
A. M. Dick.
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Roann, Ind.
Dear Saints of God: As we have never added our testimony to the many that have been redeemed and washed in the precious blood of Jesus, we can truly testify that eight months ago God, for Christ’s sake, spoke peace to our souls, Afterward we presented our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto him, and the altar sanctified the gift. Praise his name! We do realize that the way grows brighter further on. Oh the sweet peace, the contentment and the pleasure! God is truly a present Savior and a gracious deliverer. He so blessedly keeps us, and enables us to live above the low things of this world, and allows nothing to disturb the quiet of that calm river of peace that flows deep and wide in our souls. Bless his name forever! May the Lord abundantly bless all the dear saints and keep them where he can use them to his name’s honor and glory, is our prayer. When we read the testimonies in the Trumpet we feel such sweet fellowship, and know truly that we are all one in Christ Jesus. Pray for us.
Your sister and brother, justified, sanctified, and kept by the mighty power of God,
M. A. & Benj. Helvey.
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New Hampshire, O.
Dear Trumpet Readers: As I have never written my testimony to the saints of God, I feel this afternoon that it would be to the glory of God to tell what he has done for me. When Bro. Schell first came to my house he found me an awful sinner in the sight of God, although processing to be saved. When he began to preach the word of God I soon saw what a horrible wretch I was. Then the devil tried to keep me from being honest, so God let me go into awful darkness, and I suffered untold agony. I could not sleep at night; my health began to fail, and it seemed as though the devil had me bound so that I could not extricate myself. I finally by the direction of God’s saints, presented myself before the Lord, a dead sinner, and confessed my sins to the Lord. Then by faith I looked to the Lord, and believed, and all the horrible darkness disappeared, and instead thereof came joy and peace. Oh, bless the Lord forever and ever for salvation from all sin! Then I presented my body a living sacrifice, and he did sanctify my nature, and made me pure within. Then I could say, Behold the Lord is my salvation. Bless the Lord, all ye saints of his, who forgiveth all our iniquities and healeth all our diseases.
Your brother, justified and santified wholly,
Isaac Carpenter.
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Timberville, Ohio.
Dear Trumpet Readers: I feel led of the Lord to write my testimony. I am saved just now from all my sin. I am so glad that I have accepted this salvation. Bless the Lord, oh my soul! I do praise him; for he has done so much for me. I do intend to live for God while he lets me stay here on his footstool. He is my physician and has raised me up when I have been nigh unto death. I was sick last winter with Pneumonia and also with an abscess on my lungs. People said I had the consumption. God did so wonderfully heal me. Glory to his holy name! He can heal all manner of diseases, I love to read the Trumpet; it is food to my soul. My husband has had poor health for quite a while; we ask all the saints to pray God to heal him if it is His blessed will. I do praise God for a full and a complete salvation that saves us from all the ways and forms of this world.
Your sister saved by the blood of Jesus,
Mary E. Hunt.
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Beech Springs, Miss.
Dear Saints: I feel it would be to the glory of God to write my testimony. I am praising God this morning for full and free salvation. I know he saves and sanctifies me wholly. Bless his name! I am free from all sects, and snuff and coffee also; and I am walking in the light as I receive it. I am so thankful to God to know I am one of his little ones. Pray for your sister, that I may ever be true to the Lord.
Mollie J. Strickland.
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Dear Saints: I believe that it would be to the glory of God to write my testimony. I am saved and sanctified and have peace which the world cannot give neither can it take away. Glory to God! I praise God for a full salvation that saves from all sin. I am so glad that I ever learned the true way of holiness and accepted it by faith. I intend by the grace of God to serve him all the days of my life. I ask the dear saints to pray for me, and for the healing of my face. I have a cancer or tumor on my forehead. It is getting worse.
Ann Darby.
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Woodburn, Ore.
To all the dear saints and pilgrims, greeting; We give our testimony on the Lord’s side. We can say that we live and the life that we now live we live by faith in the Son of God. We are surrounded by formalism and sectism and all manner of wickedness, yet in the midst of all these evils God saves, keeps and blesses us. Praise his holy name! We want to see people raised up here for the Lord. It seems that we are sheep in the midst of wolves. It seems as if our place is the front of the battle-field to hold up the banner of holiness and sanctification as a second work of grace, in this beautiful evening light. We are here holding up Jesus as a complete Savior from all sin. And I see there is more work to be done than we are able to do, and now we must call for help. We pray our heavenly Father to send some one with His flaiming sword to Oregon. We have written to Bro. George and Sister Mary Cole to come, and they are willing to come at any time that our Heavenly Father says so. Dear saints will you not aid in this great work, and sacrifice something to the dear Redeemer’s cause to aid them in coming. May God bless all the dear saints scattered over the earth. Especially them at Mahaska, Kansas, where we first held up the banner of holiness. Oh may God prosper them wonderfully and keep them faithful. Praise the Lord for his goodness to the children of men; Praise ye the Lord! Your brother and sister saved under the blood, bearing the cross. Pray for us much.
J. C. & P. A. Green.
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White Oaks, New Mexico.
Dear Brethren: I wish also to give my testimony on the Lord’s side. I will try to tell you of the wonderful works he has done for a worm of the dust. Praise his holy name! I first got down for repentance at a Y. M. C. A. meeting. I felt very well, but I did not give lip some of my old habits which were sinking me fast to the grave without hope of redemption. Therefore I was not even in a justified state before God; so I kept repenting and sinning for over a year. In the meantime I gave my name to the M. E. sect on probation. Things went on this way until this last winter and spring. I went to their socials and parties, and had a big time and lots of fun as they called it. But in time I found that in so doing I would feel a leanness in my soul; also in time of temptation I had not that sustaining grace to carry me through. And another thing, I could not see that there was any difference between the social gatherings and the world. I went to God and sought the truth as it is in him. But time passed and I became very wretched. At last as I was working in a grocery store in Coldwater, Mich., a young man came to me and said that one of the saints wanted me to come over to his home. I dropped my business at once and went with the young man. Praise God for that happy night! When we had conversed a while I became very much attached to his explanations although I did not agree with him in some things, all because of my carnality which is enmity against God. I went to hear the word preached. Oh! such preaching I never heard. Glory to God! A few days passed and I went to the mercy seat for a second benefit. I expected some great eruption but was disappointed, and therefore disbelieved, grieving the Holy Spirit to my shame. Then the devil got me in his hands again for two or three days. At length I saw what I had done. Oh, what sadness! what sorrow! I repented; then came chastisement, bitter and sore. I went back; confessed my mistake and sin, and afterwards got down for santification. I felt a change and now I stand a living monument of God’s wonderful love and grace. Thank God and the Lamb forever. Excuse so long a letter; but the devil is put to flight by testimony. Here I am in the midst of a perverse town of sin. Pray for an unworthy servant of the most high God. Amen.
Chalmers C. Schrontz.
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Merrill, Mich.
Dear Brethren in Christ: To night, I am glad to tell you, still finds me rejoicing in this wonderful way of salvation. Blessed be the name of Jesus for his great love wherewith he has loved us and died that we might live. O, I do praise him so much for ever calling after me, and giving me no rest till I did turn and seek mercy in a crucified Savior. If the children of God will all prove faithful, what a joyful time it will be when we all get home in heaven where sickness and pain never come. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. My prayer is daily that God may help his people to live holy and upright before this wicked world, that we may be of some use in drawing our neighbors and friends to God by our daily walk. It has been six years since I gave God my heart. O, how good God is to them who love and obey him! O, the joy no tongue can tell! It is like many flowing streams. Blessed be God forever. I praise God so much that the time has come for the Trumpet to be a weekly. God bless and keep all his anointed ones.
Your brother in the love of Chirst,
Edward Ehl.
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Odox, Ind.
Dear Saints of the Most High: I feel that it would be to God’s glory to write my testimony. I do bless God for the peace that I have in my soul, and that I am fully resigned to his holy will and am determined to serve him while I have life in my body. Oh I can not praise him enough for what he has done for my poor soul and body! He has healed me of a very severe spell of Typhoid fever of which I was down about three weeks. I never took one drop of medicine. I took the Lord for my physician and he raised me up. I feel that this sickness was for my good and to the glory of God; for the people seem to be greatly astonished that I should get up from such a spell of sickness, having never taken any medicine. I give God all the praise that I am getting stronger and down deeper in his blessed will.
Your brother, saved by the blood of Jesus,
Joseph Hannan.
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Bunker Hill, Ill.
Dear Saints: I feel that it is to the glory of God that I send in my testimony. I trust the Lord for all things. I have taken him for my physician. I was very sick last spring. I had the chills and once I was cold for three hours and could not get warm. Some said, Send for the doctor. I prayed to the Lord to heal me if it was his will, and I looked to the Lord and was healed. My wife was sick with something like Paralysis, and we prayed and I anointed her with oil.
In less than an hour she was healed and she went on to her work rejoicing, when she had not expected to do anything that day. I take God at his word. It can be done now just as well as in olden times if we only have faith to believe. Pray that our faith may be made strong.
Yours in the Lord.
David and Maria Comer.
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Beech Springs. Miss.
Dear Saints: I feel led of the Master to write my testimony. Praise the Lord! I know that I am saved and sanctified, and I know that he will direct me in the way that I should go. Pray for me and mine.
Your sister in Christ,
L. A. Graves.
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Dear Saints of God: I feel it my duty to testify through the Trumpet of the might saving power of God to me by the Holy Spirit. Oh! I know that God is well pleased with the Trumpet being published weekly, and for that reason I will, for the glory of God double my subscription for the first year believing that if every saint of God would even do this much, if not more, and send it immediate, that the indebtedness would be paid and the heavy burden relieved from the dear Trumpet family. O praise the Lord! Let all of God’s dear saints lift up their voices; with their voices together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye; for the Lord has brought again Zion. Is. 52:8. Oh!
I feel so happy to-night to know that the yoke is destroyed because of the anointing. Is. 10:27. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. — Is. 12:3. Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. He will beautify the meek with salvation.
Your sanctified brother,
Ananias Harman.
Deport, Tex.
Dear Gospel Trumpet: I will give my experience if allowed space. I was converted at the age of twelve, and lived an up and down life for several years; sometimes full of God’s love, and sometimes not. Doubts and fears would come, and it seemed when I would do good, evil was presented: felt within my heart I was not complete in Him, who is able to save to the uttermost. — Heb. 7:25. I was in bondage. I would go to to prayer meeting, but have a disposition to shrink from duty. Pride would spring up in my heart; anger would, too, at nothing. I did not feel fit to serve God at all. “Broken vows and disappointments thickly sprinkled all the way.” I went on this way for six years. When Bro. L. L. Pickette came to us and began to preach about sanctification as a second work of grace, he struck lots of opposition, but I saw there was a higher life, and sought the blessing. At a grove meeting one evening the Lord sent the refining fire through my soul. Glory to God! how little I felt! A child at the feet of Jesus, dipped in an ocean of love, perfect love. I would wake up at night so full I would clap my hands. My whole being seemed to be enraptured in the glory of God. I did not confess that as a second blessing, though I lived so near to Jesus that I was all the time talking religion. The people told me I was going crazy. I thought I might be going too far, so I began to cool down and I got mad and lost the blessing after three months’ sweet communion with Jesus. I got back in the world again; I went back in March, 1890. I got pardon of sins and then again began to seek the more perfect way. Matt. 5:48; 1 Pet 1:15, 16; Heb. 12:14. I consecrated every thing but giving up tobacco. I was a dear lover of the weed. I have used a plug a day, and snuff in proportion. I beat the worms. I began to think, Lord, can I he delivered from this? I finally threw my tobacco away; reckoned myself dead to sin and alive with Christ. I was nailed to the cross without feeling any change; God’s word for it. I prayed nearly all night, and at the family altar next morning just as I was getting up from my knees, the dear Lord came in again; took possession of his temple, and tendered my will unto his again. I told the Lord I was going to tell it if it took my head off. I would go to heaven without a head if he said so. I have never touched any tobacco or snuff since and never expect to. I am saved. All who read this, pray for me.
T. H. Coppedge.
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Milton, Mo.
Dear Saints of the Living God: I feel that it would be to the glory of God to add my testimony to the Trumpet. I feel to-night that I am doing the will of the blessed Lord. Praise his holy name forever! for what he has done for me. I have not been in this way very long, but the way grows brighter before me. I have many trials and temptations, but praise God’s holy name! he is sufficient for all things; there is nothing impossible with him. I am saved from all sin. Dear brethren and sisters, pray for me that I may ever be faithful and at the post of duty.
I remain your sister, saved and sanctified wholly,
G. E. Van Gundy.
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OBITUARY.
Merrill, Mich.
Died, Dec. 1, daughter of Milo Sutton; aged 9 years. She left a bright evidence of a home in glory, saying she could see millions of angels all dressed in white, and that she could see her Ma amongst them, who died two years ago. She called all that were in the house to her bedside, shook hands with them, kissed them and bade them good bye, and then fell asleep in Jesus. Her father being a sinner, has since given his heart to God.
Edward Ehl.
Page 4
THE EVENING LIGHT.
Bro. W. will you give through the Trumpet an explanation of the evening light, and oblige many here.
Your sister,
M. Lane.
We are happy to do so, but will have to be somewhat brief.
When Christ came into the world, “the people that walked in darkness saw a great light.” — Isa. 9:2, and Matt. 4:16. For the Lord gave him for, “a light to the Gentiles, and the glory of his people Israel.” — Luke 2:32. “I am the Light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.” — John 8:12. Christ is to the church what the sun is to this planet. Hence we read, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings: and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” – Mal. 4:2. Christ is identical with his word. Hence it is written, “The entrance of thy word giveth light.”
But the purer and brighter the light is the more striking is the contrast when it is eclipsed. Just so, the light of Christianity being so glorious, any corruption manifested in its confessors, would turn it into corresponding darkness. “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness. — Matt. 6:23. And such a dreadful night was predicted, and came to pass in the midst of the glorious Gospel day.
“For the stars of heaven and the constellation thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” — Isa. 12:10.
The stars represent God’s ministers, see Dan. 12:3. The moon his church. The sun, as we have seen, represented Jesus Christ. When the stars — the ministers — ceased to be light in the Lord, apostatized and became proud and arrogant, the sun — Christ and his word — was darkened, and the moon — the church — could not give her light.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day. Behold the days come saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.” — Amos 8:9, 11, 12.
The day here spoken of is the present dispensation. At the beginning it was a clear day. The glorious church shone out in pure holy splendor everywhere lighting up this dark world, “for the Lamb was the light therof.” — Rev. 21:23. And “out of Zion the perfection of beauty God hath shined.” — Psa. 50:2. But the sun went down at noon, and the earth was left in darkness, yea, passed through a long night, in the midst of the most glorious day. Now this eclipse of the sun, or its sinking out of sight is clearly explained in verses 11, 12. It was a gospel famine in all the land. The “word of the Lord” was taken from the people; by the decrees of Romanism they were not permitted to read it, and the ungodly priests even babbled in a language unknown to the congregation. And this famine continues even in Protestantism in a modified form, because their empty-hearted full-headed ministers give the people college-frosted chaff, with but few grains of wheat.
The sun went down. What then? Of course night would soon ensue. And so it is described in prohecy.
“Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth and cry, Peace: and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.” — Micah 3:5-6.
This needs no comment. A corrupt, covetous, greedy, hireling priesthood is seen in both Romanism, and Protestantism, and spiritual darkness reigns. A picture, with the historic shades of the middle age, would show up the night of Rome. But this we will set forth in our book on prophecy and revelation. We will simply remark that Romanism at its worst, will in some respects vie with the darkest shades of heathenism.
Now we ask, When was the sun darkened? Answer. — Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. — Matt. 24:29. “The tribulation of those days” means a certain long persecution. It is very definite in Mark 13:24. But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light. After “that tribulation,” confines the tribulation spoken of to one certain tribulation. The Emphatic Diaglott, renders it, “But in those days after that affliction the sun will be obscured,” etc. O how Christ was obscured by the rubbish of human tradition, and superstitious mummeries! Now history is very uniform in locating the time when that tribulation ended, which was soon followed by the sun being darkened. But we cannot give quotations here, as we shall in our book. We will simply say, that after the accession of Gallienus. in A. D. 260, to the Roman empire, there was a long respite from persecution, which was followed by a rapid development of the apostasy, which was the sinking of the sun into the night of Romanism about A. D. 270.
“What followed the long night of 1260 years? Answer. — And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.” — Zech. 14:6, 7.
Here we merge out of night, into a dark and cloudy day. So dark, indeed that it cannot be called day, neither yet night, but a mixture of both together. “It shall be one day which shall be known to the Lord,” that is, a distinct, and separate period of time, from the night which preceded it, a second form of the apostasy, corresponding with the second beast in Rev. 13. This half day and night condition is Protestantism. This we prove by the word. Romanism was a united abomination, while Protestantism is a scattered, divided, and subdivided confusion. Now turn to Eze. 34:11, 12, and read as follows: “For thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered: so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” The whole chapter is a rebuke from the Lord upon the false shepherds, who “feed themselves, but feed not the sheep.” And under their selfish rule the sheep of God’s pasture became scattered; namely into, a multiplicity of sects. And the time they were thus scattered, is declared to have been “a cloudy and a dark day.” That is the “one day which shall be known to the Lord as neither day, nor night.” Is not this plain enough that the time of mixed darkness and light is the divided time of Protestantism? Other scriptures show this cloudy and mixed state, but our space is too limited to use them here, and the one is clear proof enough. As Philip Schaff, one of America’s most learned divines, said before the general Christian Alliance, some years ago, “Protestantism is but a mixture of Roman Catholic error, and Bible truth.” As Romanism is night and the Bible light, it would be a mixture of both, out a representation of neither. “Not day, nor night.” But, following this mixture, praise God! “it shall come to pass, that AT EVENING TIME IT SHALL BE LIGHT.” This is the pure church restored again, after the long night of Rome, and the cloudy day of sectism. It was a “clear day,” pure church, in the morning, and must be again before Christ comes to receive his bride. This is promised in the scriptures. For, “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall spring forth speedily.” — Isa. 58:8. God’s church must, and is already appearing on earth again, in this evening of time, pure, holy, and united, as in the morning of the dispensation day, and blessed with all the precious graces and gifts she then enjoyed. For the evening light shall be “as the morning.” And this is going to spring forth speedily, which we find takes place in gathering the remnant. Read Isa 60:20, 22. “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.” “Thy people also shall be all righteous, and thy sun shall no more go down.” This latter promise does not apply to the primitive church for their sun did go down. But the holiness and light of the evening remnant shall never again wane. Praise God! In our book we shall prove by scripture and history, that the 1260 years of Romanism extended from A. D. 270, to 1536 when the first Protestant sect was organized at Augsburg, Germany, and the cloudy day of sectism extends to the evening light in 1880. But we will not here take up the matter of time.
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An experience in Babylon.
Dear Saints of the Living God: Today finds me sweetly resting in Jesus. I feel it would be to the glory of God to tell you a little of the experience I had when the Lord led me out of Babylon. I was a member of the M. E. sect when I first heard the doctrine of holiness preached; not by an M. E. preacher however, for they were too spiritually dead and worldly for that; but by a F. M. minister. I gladly moved up my consecration and the Lord sanctified my soul, and filled me with the Holy Ghost; but by drinking of that which they had fouled with their feet and eating that which they had trodden down with their feet [perverted], Eze. 34; 19, I soon grieved the Spirit away, but I lived as near right as I knew how under the confused teaching of Babylon. The F. M. preacher told us that we would backslide if we did not leave the dead formal sect, and join his sect; so we joined the younger daughter of the great whore. I soon found that I was only deeper in the coils of the devil than before, for they come as an angel of light, deceiving the very elect if it were possible with their shoddy holiness, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. So it ran on for about six months, when, one evening I was all alone in the house, reading and searching for truth. I was made to see what was lacking, and looked up to God by faith, as never before, and the Lord baptized me anew with the Holy Ghost, and, praise God, there has not been a day from that time until this, but that I have received the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. I then decided to take the word of God as the man of my counsel, regardless of man’s opinions; for God says, “Cursed is he that maketh flesh his arm,” and, “If my words abide in you and ye abide in me ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” So I studied the word very closely, by the aid of the Spirit of truth, and I soon began to see that Free Methodist teaching, for all their profession of holiness, was far from the truth as it is in Jesus, and they were so clannish, I plainly saw that they worshiped the creature called Free Methodism more than they did the God of heaven. The Spirit also began to convict me for baptism; for I was convinced that the sprinkling I had received in Methodism was not according to New Testament teaching. So I applied two different times; but in vain, although the river flowed right beside the camp ground where they were holding meeting. The preachers approved and preached against baptism, also immersion. I witnessed so much ungodliness in both priest and people, professing holiness, that I began to entertain many doubts whether I had yet found the true church, that should be without spot or blemish, or any such thing but should be without blame before Him in love. The Lord began to show me the sin of sectism and all its deceivableness of unrighteousness. And before that camp meeting closed I began to think I should have to separate myself from that sect. The Spirit of truth was also convincing me that we should observe the ordinances of feet-washing, and I had several controversies with class-leader and preachers during the next few months that followed, over the ordinances of the New Testament, and the impropriety of organizing sects, selling the gospel for a price; but only to be ridiculed, and told that I was getting side-tracked. But I took it to the Lord in earnest prayer, and I just told the Lord that I wanted to know the truth of the matter, whether was right or wrong, and I asked the Lord to show me in some way or other, that I might know his will. At that time I was taking the FREE METHODIST, the organ of that sect, and in it the question was asked by some honest soul seeking light, if we ought not to keep that ordinance, and the editor answered, No, that that command was not to be interpreted literally. In substance he acknowledged it to be a command but we should not obey it. Then it was that I asked the Lord to show me the truth of the matter, and the blessed Lord gave me a vision in the night, when deep sleep was upon me, — see Job 33:15, 16, — and sealed my instruction. I dreamed that I was delivery-man in the employ of the F. M. publishing Co. of Chicago, to deliver their paper through the city, and as I was going down the street with my arms full of papers, I thought I met my blessed Jesus coming toward me. He hailed me and said, “Let me see your papers.” I handed them to him and he said, “Every plant that my Father hath not planted shall be rooted up.” “In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrine, the commandments of men,” “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” “Behold I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” After quoting these passages to me, he said, “Go and clothe yourself, and come back.” Then I realized that I was in a nude condition. But this of course was to show me that while following after the doctrines and commandments of men, that I was walking naked, spiritually speaking, destitute of the white raiment which is righteousness of saints. Well, when I returned clothed, the Lord handed me the papers and said, “You can go now and distribute your papers,” and as I went, I looked on the papers, and behold, in my absence he had performed a miracle on them, and changed the reading matter to New Testament scripture throughout. This showed me conclusively that we are not to preach John Wesley, or the opinions of men, but preach the word as laid down in God’s book. Yes, halelujah to God who giveth us the victory over the beast, his mark, his image, and the number of his name! Soon after this the Lord showed me what the beast was, and called me out of the sect, and said to me, Help to spread my gospel. Oh, how wonderfully the Lord led and filled my soul with glory. The F. M’s turned on me persecutions, insult, and slander. I had no one to go to for comfort or instruction but to the Lord, and his blessed word. But out of all my trials the Lord delivers me, and if I lack wisdom I just go to God who giveth to all men liberally.
My former pastor said to me … time, “If I lack understanding) I go and pump the chairman, and he pumps the bishop, and the bishop pumps Adam Clark, and they preach John Wesley more than they do Christ.” May the Lord pity the poor deluded people that are led by those blind guides. “Woe unto them that join house to house, and lay field to field. Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitants. Woe unto them that justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him. Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be rottenness, and their blessings shall go up as dust; because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the holy one of Israel. Therefore my people are gone into captivity because they have noknowledge; and their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself and opened her mouth without measure and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth shall descend into it.” — Isa. 5:24, 13, 14.
O, dear ones in Christ, may we all be found when the Bridegroom comes with the wedding garment on, without spot or blemish.
Your free brother saved, sanctified, and kept by the power of God,
A. M. Brown.
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TESTIMONIES.
Thy Testimonies are Wonderful.” — Psa. 119:129.
Breedsville, Mich.
Dear Saints: I do praise God for salvation that saves me from all sin and sanctifies my soul. I do thank God that he ever gave me an honest heart and a willing mind to accept the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. I do praise God for the sweet peace and freedom which we have in Christ, and for the full assurance we have that we are his children; for “the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” — Rom. 8:16. Dear ones, pray for me that I may be kept low at his feet.
Your sister saved in Christ,
Caroline Johnson.
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Larue, O.
We want to say to all the readers of the Gospel Trumpet that Ave are saved and sanctified. Praise the Lord for this wonderful salvation we find in Jesus! It is more precious to us every day; we find the promises that are given in God’s word are sure. We are thankful to God for letting us see this evening light that shines so clear. We are living where the greater part of the people are blinded by the god of this world. Pride and popularity, and a dead formal religion have gotten a great number of the people deceived. They seem to be contented in their condition: having ears, they hear not and eyes, they see not the awful doom that is before them. We are praying God to open their eyes that they may see and hear the truth, and be saved; and we believe that those that are honest will. Now, brethren, all be patient until the coming of our Lord; be willing to suffer wrongs; stand fi.. for the truth; put on the whole armo.. and as ye have received Christ, so … walk ye in him. May the God of al.. grace be ever with you.
Your brother and sister in Christ,
Matthew & Tille Kerr.
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Andersontown, Md.
Dear Saints: I feel led to write my testimony. This afternoon finds m saved and sanctified wholly. Glory to Jesus for such a sweet peace withi.. that the world cannot give nor take away. Oh! I cannot praise the Lor.. enough for the joy I have in doi.. his will. I am determined to live fo.. Jesus and do his righteous will whi.. I live here, let my days be few or many. Pray for me that I may live fo.. him who died for me. Your siste.. saved through the blood of the Lamb.