"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of Life

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ Transcriber’s Notes │ │ │ │ │ │ The cover image was provided by the transcriber and is placed │ │ in the public domain. │ │ │ │ The INDEX at the end of the book is in the form of a table of │ │ CONTENTS, and has been so labeled and moved to the front of │ │ the book following the Preface. │ │ │ │ Punctuation has been standardized. │ │ │ │ Characters in small caps have been replaced by all caps. │ │ │ │ Non-printable characteristics have been given the following │ │ transliteration: │ │ Italic text: --> _text_ │ │ │ │ This book was written in a period when many words had │ │ not become standardized in their spelling. Words may have │ │ multiple spelling variations or inconsistent hyphenation in │ │ the text. These have been left unchanged unless indicated │ │ with a Transcriber’s Note. │ │ │ │ Scripture notation was shown in multiple formats. These have │ │ been standardized into a single format. │ │ │ │ Transcriber’s Notes are used when making corrections to the │ │ text or to provide additional information for the modern │ │ reader. These notes are not identified in the text, but have │ │ been accumulated in a single section at the end of the book. │ │ │ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

“Born Of The Spirit.”

Or

Gems From The Book Of Life.

A Miraculous Conversion.

Thrilling Manifestations Of The Almighty’S Power.

_To Save the Sick, Feed the Hungry, and Clothe the Naked._

Our God Is Unchangeable.

Are The Days Of Miracles Past?

Answered By The Author,

Rev. Zenas Osborne.

With An Introduction By

Elder Moses Nathaniel Downing.

“We use great plainness of speech.”--_Paul._

“And the common people heard Him gladly.”--_Mark._

Saratoga Springs, N. Y. John Johnson & Co. 1888.

Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1888, BY REV. ZENAS OSBORNE, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

Introduction.

One of the specialties of this age is book-making. This argues demand. This demand, especially in the realm of morals and religion is based, partly on the prevalence of erroneous theories and the importance of their refutation; partly on the necessity that renewed and increased emphasis be given to the word of God; partly on the existence of what is called “advanced thought,” and partly on the fact of a great reading public. Then let the good work go on. The servants of sin and error are busy and persistent in pushing their productions to the front. Let the sons of “grace and truth” magnify their office, and “hold forth the Word of Life.” The demand for good and useful books will increase as long as error increases, as long as truth and the Church of Christ are antagonized.

Of all human interest that of the soul is paramount. The truth which leads to its possession is priceless. The vehicles of truth are various and many. Truth is the enemy and exterminator of error, and when harnessed for war it pursues and overtakes its foe, and victorious, it shines the brighter, and is the more appreciated by the contests through which its laurels are won. “The words of the wise are as goods, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies.” The preservation of their words is a sacred boon to the world.

The author of “Born of the Spirit,” or “Gems from the Book of Life,” has hit on a taking title for his book, and without doubt, the careful and thoughtful reader will find that it is fully justified by the subject matter of its pages. It is with great pleasure I introduce Mr. OSBORNE to the reader. I have known him nearly thirty years, and have been associated with him in the work of God in the Susquehanna Annual Conference of the F. M. Church over twenty years. He is known to be an able minister of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has a religious experience. He has been “born again, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The many years he has spent in the Gospel ministry and his deep Christian experience have not only enabled him to gather many “Gems from the Book of Life,” but also have qualified him to speak with no uncertain sound on the topics treated in his book.

The arrangement of the work is admirable, being in short chapters, each one complete in itself. May it have a wide sale, not only throughout the denomination of his choice, but also in thousands of homes in the “regions beyond.” And wherever it goes may it demolish error, encourage Christian faith, inspire Christian zeal, intensify Christian love; and may the author, having grown gray and nearly worn out in the service of Christ, find at the resurrection of the just not only that he is counted among that redeemed throng, but also that his “Born of the Spirit,” his “Gems from the Book of Life,” has, by the blessing of God, added a multitude to that count.

M. N. Downing.

BINGHAMTON, N. Y., April 24, 1888.

Dedication.

To the memory of her who became my companion when we first set sail on the domestic voyage of life, and who for seventeen years, by her amiability, Christian integrity, and faithfulness as a wife and mother, made home earth’s Paradise; and subsequently to her who for nearly twenty-five years has stood so heroically with me in the joys, sorrows, toils and sufferings consequent upon an itinerant’s life; and to the dear children given to us by these sacred relations, who now, as the infirmities of this uncertain life are coming upon us with sure and certain tread, manifest in the silvery locks, furrowed cheeks, bedimmed vision--all indicating that our sun is rapidly descending the western slope, so tenderly care for us in bearing the burdens of life, and lovingly provide for our comfort, is this work sacredly dedicated by

The Author.

Preface.

My reasons for writing and publishing this book are:

1--I believe that the Lord wanted me to. The burden has been on my heart for years to do this very thing.

2--I have a great desire to perpetuate the glory of God for the miraculous power displayed in saving one, who had been so great a sinner as me, and for so many years in the toil and conflict of life, leading me beside the still waters, and into green pastures; delivering me out of the hand of my enemies, and all their expectation again and again; bringing re-enforcements when it seemed that all supplies were cut off.

3--On several occasions for miraculous deliverance from drowning, when others perished, and for the preservation of life on other occasions, when nearly kicked to death by vicious horses, and badly bruised by them.

4--Living on the old battle ground, where so many battles were fought between “The Buffalo Regency” on one side, and God’s militant host on the other, and being so well acquainted with both sides, and the questions involved, which resulted in the formation of the Free Methodist Church, and in the order of Providence I was making the Rev. John E. Robie a call when the Buffalo Regency met in council, and determined upon the expulsion of all that endorsed Methodism clean and clear; and then, on the other side, I was often present at Bro. Amos Hard’s when councils of war met, and determined to stand by the “old landmarks,” however much it might cost them.

Truly, there were giants in those days. A nobler class of saints never wore a martyr’s crown than those of the old Genesee Conference. Their memory is still precious.

5--To encourage precious souls that have taken the narrow way, that have left old associations that had in days gone by been as dear to them as life, but for conscience sake and the glory of God, had forsaken all and cast their lot in with the unpretentious, whose aim and object is to do all the good possible to the souls and bodies of men, and gain the skies at last. And to persuade those who really desire to be just what God designed we should be, and want all the light and help possible to do likewise, cast their lot in with the few, if the Holy Spirit leads you in that direction. It pays richly to follow the _Pillar_ of fire, even though it may lead in peculiar ways. It is the safe way.

Every article written in this book has been, we humbly trust, the promptings of the Spirit for the salvation of souls and the building up of the Redeemer’s Kingdom.

6--It has been frequently stated that the days of miracles are past, and that we are not to expect any very great displays of God’s saving power in these days of light and culture; but these expressions are not in harmony with a thus saith the Lord and experience. My conversion was just as marvelous as St. Paul’s, and what I have passed through, and have seen of God’s power on others for more than thirty years, has been just as miraculous as the healing of the lame man at the beautiful gate, or the man that was blind, whom Jesus touched, “and lo, he saw men as trees walking.”

_That double cure_ mentioned in this volume was just as great a marvel as the expelling of the legion of devils from the men of “Gadara.”

Contents.

Chap. Title

Introduction

Dedication

Preface

1. A Translation

2. I Wanted to Swear

3. About My Tobacco

4. The Plague of Narcotics

5. A Call to the Ministry

6. A Particular Providence

7. A Peculiar People

8. The Free Methodist Church a Necessity

9. Dreams, Presentiments

10. Healing Faith

11. A Double Cure

12. Justification

13. A Direct Route

14. Rest, But Not Loiter

15. A Living Sacrifice

16. The Law And The Gospel

17. Keep The Sabbath Day Holy

18. Your Fruit Unto Holiness

19. Without Natural Affection

20. Sowing And Reaping

21. To Actual Settlers

22. The Widow’s Mite

23. Are We Drifting

24. Pap

25. Victory

26. Lock Up

27. A Success

28. They Might Be A Success

29. Fear, Or The Scare-crow Devil

30. Trust

31. Seeing Eye To Eye

32. The Edge Off

33. The Old Salt Lick

34. Be Positive

35. The Dead Line

36. Pump Logs

37. The End

38. Conclusion

I.

A Translation.

“Once I wandered in the maze of error, In the downward road; Oft my soul was filled with fear and terror When I thought of God. Jesus saw me rushing on to ruin, Offered pardoning grace; And I left the way I was pursuing, Turned and saw his face.

CHORUS-- Now I feel my sins forgiven, Through th’ atoning blood, And I have a blessed hope of heaven, Glory be to God.

I am glad I ever found the Saviour, Now I’m fully blest; There are pleasures in His pardoning favor, Joy, and peace, and rest. I’m standing on the holy mountain, Near Salvation’s pool, And the waters from the bursting fountain Cheer my thirsty soul.

I’ve left earth’s vain and fleeting pleasures, Bade them all adieu; And I’m seeking now for heavenly treasures, Lasting, pure and true. Glittering toys of time, farewell forever; To you I’ll not bow; I will leave my blessed Jesus never; He’s my portion now.

I will tell Salvation’s pleasing story, While I live below, And I’ll try to spread my Saviour’s glory, Everywhere I go. When the word is from the Master given, ‘Child, from toiling cease,’ I expect to find a home in heaven, Home of endless peace.”

When young, I was “trained up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Well do I recollect some of the first lessons taught me by my parents--such as “Our Father which art in heaven,” and “Now I lay me down to sleep,” and others of a like character. These were in the morn of life, printed upon memory’s tablet. I always believed there was a divine reality in the religion of Jesus Christ. I do not recollect a long time when the Spirit of God did not strive with me, and often powerfully; so that frequently I felt that I was the chief of sinners. I would often resolve to seek the Lord, and when the time came I would procrastinate for a more convenient season. Thus I grieved my heavenly Father for thirty-two long years.

I wonder that God spared my unprofitable life so long. My father was a lover of the truth, as it is in Christ Jesus. He had great respect for the Sabbath--hence the children were not allowed to play and frolic about on the Lord’s Day. I praise God for these early, godly impressions. Well do I recollect, when a very small child, sitting in my little chair, and singing with my father these beautiful lines, “O, how happy are they who their Saviour obey,” etc.

At the age of eight I went with my father to a quarterly meeting, held in a barn. While the saints were upon their knees in prayer, I was upon my knees calling upon the name of the Lord. I felt something going through me like lightning, producing a heavenly sweetness; also that I had suddenly been put in possession of wings, for I felt like flying. As I look back upon this scene, I have no doubt but that God’s blessing was upon me on that occasion. I was frequently under such deep conviction of sin that I could not sleep nights. These seasons of deep conviction continued with me until I was converted to God. After these seasons of conviction I became more hardened in sin. On several occasions I was brought near to death by disease, drowning, and in other ways. If being delivered from the jaws of death in a variety of ways is evidence of our election, then I am elected, for I have been thus delivered. I praise God that our election has a different foundation--even JESUS CHRIST--the Saviour of men.

At the age of twenty, I agreed with some of my associates to go forward to the mourners’ seat for prayers, as the preacher had said that the next night would close the meetings unless there should be a move among the sinners. We did not want the meetings to close, neither did we mean to get religion at that time. I loved to attend religious meetings, not because it was _right_, but to _see_ and be seen, and to enjoy the society of kindred spirits. The night arrived in which we had agreed to make a move, to prevent the meetings from being broken up. Meetings had been run for several weeks, without any apparent success, until _the_ night in which we had agreed to move. After preaching, the invitation was given to any wishing religion. One of the company went forward, and then another. I thought of my word; I had agreed to go. It was an awful moment with me. I thought that we were trifling with the Almighty. I would have given worlds, if I could, to be out of the scrape. I shook from head to foot, like Belshazzar of old. I was completely covered with sweat, so terribly was I exercised. The company had all gone; I was left. I started; had all I could do to get to the seat. God overruled this for His glory. Some twenty-five went forward that night. The meetings went on with power and profit. Many were converted to God. My condition was painful in the extreme. For several days after this I seemed to be on the boundary line between the two worlds, and about to be ushered into the everlasting burnings. Whenever I closed my eyes to sleep I seemed to be surrounded by the damned in hell. O, what a view I had of the lost! How I seemed to hear the wailings of despair, and realized that this was the doom of the wicked. After this I became more wicked than before. I was a complete adept in wickedness. I had been free from all parental restraint from the time I was about twelve years old. I mingled in all kinds of society; hence I had an excellent opportunity for learning much of the evil that exists at the present day. I learned too much.

I wonder that God did not cut me off in my sins, after grieving his spirit so long. _He is not willing that any should perish._ I had felt for several years that I should not have the strivings of the Spirit but once more, and then, if I did not yield, I should be left to myself, abandoned of God.

On the fifth of February, 1857, God met me in the road. These words came with great force to my mind: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve. _Come, decide the matter now._ If you mean to serve the devil the remainder of your life, say so right _here_. Have this matter _settled forever_. If you mean to give yourself to God, do it _now_! This is the time.”

These were awful moments to me. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” I was pressed to a decision. My immortal spirit seemed to balance between heaven and hell. Heaven, with all that is lovely, joys immortal forever at God’s right hand, seemed to be clearly presented on the one hand; and the damnation of hell on the other. _Which will you have?_ I resolved from that time, henceforth and forever, to seek after and serve God with all my redeemed powers. That evening I erected a family altar, and commenced calling upon the name of the Lord. The next morning I thanked God for keeping me and mine through the night; and when seated around the table I thanked God for the food prepared for us. This was really a great cross. I had _vowed_ to God, the residue of my life should be spent in His service. I continued to seek the Lord by doing everything I thought a Christian ought to do. I made it a specialty to get religion. I cried unto the Lord with all my heart, and the more I prayed the worse I felt. For three days and nights I was wrestling with God in prayer. I confessed my sins. I did all that I could. After continuing in this way for about three days, it occurred to me that there was no mercy for me. I had sinned away the day of grace. These were truly awful moments to me. No hope! No mercy! No salvation! Right here the spirit whispered to my aching heart, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved;” and blessed be God, right here I was enabled to believe that Jesus Christ was my Saviour. My weight of guilt was gone. Joy and peace filled my heart. Old things had passed away, and behold! _all_ things had become new. I sprang to my feet and praised God aloud! At this point in my experience, my feelings are well described in those beautiful lines of Dr. Hunter:

Sinking and panting, as for breath, I knew not help was near me, And cried, “O, save me, Lord, from death! Immortal Jesus, hear me!”

Then, quick as thought, I felt Him mine, My Saviour stood before me! I saw his brightness round me shine, And shouted, Glory! Glory!

Oh, sacred hour! Oh, hallowed spot! Where love divine first found me; Wherever falls my distant lot, My heart shall linger round thee!

And when from earth I rise to soar Up to my home in heaven, Down will I cast my eyes once more, Where first I was forgiven.

II.

I Wanted To Swear;

OR, HOW I KNEW THE DOCTRINE OF ENTIRE HOLINESS, AS TAUGHT BY JOHN WESLEY TO BE TRUE.

My conversion to God was as clear as the sun at noon-day; “Old things passed away and _all_ things became new.” As I looked out the next morning upon the fields and woods, all seemed to be praising God. My soul was completely ravished with his love. I had been “translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God’s dear Son.” I was emphatically a new creature in Christ Jesus; all the aspirations of my soul were changed. I wanted to tell everybody what the blessed Jesus had done for me; I felt like crying continually, “_Behold the Lamb!_” God helped me to tell the story of the cross, which kept the fire burning within--Glory to God! “As I came to Zion, songs and everlasting joy was upon my head,” and in my heart. For days

“Not a cloud did arise to darken my skies, Or hide one moment, my Lord from my eyes.” “And I could not believe That I ever should grieve, That I ever should suffer again.”

I thought that I never should have any more bad feelings; I expected to rejoice evermore. This state of things continued about three weeks; when at family prayer in the evening I was very much blessed. “Heaven came down my soul to greet, and glory crowned the mercy seat.” I was praising God with a heart overflowing with love, when suddenly my _jaws closed_; I wanted to continue praising God, but could not; my jaws were set together like a steel trap; _they would not open_. I thought it would be some relief if my wife or sister would pray. I tried to turn around to see why they did not, but could not; I was immovably fixed on my knees. I began to wonder _what was the matter_. The devil told me it was a _paralytic_ stroke. I said, “Yes, I guess it is;” then darkness came upon me. I did not feel quite as well after that. The next accusation was I had got a fit of _apoplexy_, to which I said, “Yes, I guess I have;” then darkness spread over me afresh. _He_ said that I was a fit subject for apoplexy, and probably I was very near my end, as they generally died with the third fit. I consented to all he said as true, and before this passed off I was feeling bad, _all through ignorance and unbelief_. I do not know how long I remained in this helpless condition, but when I came out I felt that I had been shocked with a heavy battery. While in this condition I was in full possession of every faculty of the mind, and remember distinctly all that occurred. I was a disbeliever in the power of the Holy Ghost to slay people, notwithstanding I had been accustomed to seeing such things from youth, but really believed it to be mesmerism or excitement. After I came out of this it occurred to me that perhaps what I had just experienced was the power of the Holy Ghost; and if so, I had done wrong. I went immediately to have the matter settled. I told my father that I wanted to be right, and if what I had just passed through was the effect of the Holy Ghost, let it come on me in the same way again. I felt it coming as before; and _he_ that said it was a fit of apoplexy, now said, “Look out, it will kill you.” I sprang to my feet and _cried_ to the Lord to stay his hand. It seemed to me that I could not live under the pressure, under that weight of love that God was letting down into my soul and on my body. I went to bed, but not to sleep. The accuser was after me; he told me that my duty was very plain. “Ever since God converted you, you have been continually asking Him to bless you; it has come very near killing you, and will if you continue in this way; _now_ you must ask God _not_ to bless you.” I very soon learned that these suggestions were from the devil; and that to be the Lord’s entire, to follow the Lamb whithersoever he would lead us, was to place ourselves in direct opposition to the mass of those that profess the religion of Jesus Christ. I began to realize that the religion of Jesus Christ _was peculiar_; unlike the world; and if I saved my soul, I must be peculiar. The question came with force: _Are you willing to be peculiar for God?_ My spirit seemed to be willing, but the flesh rebelled. I thought much of my good name. Now I saw, that to be a _real_ child of God, was to suffer and bear reproach. O, how I writhed in agony. What! to have my good name cast out as evil, _to be misunderstood_, considered as _filth_, rejected of men. Here was _dying_; this was _painful_, to bring all my powers to submit to the will of God. I thought, when I was converted that I had given all to him; but here was something that I did not see at that time. I had commenced a pilgrimage, and had no disposition to go back. I had left _Sodom_, and still the command was ringing in my ears, “_Escape for thy life, look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain lest thou be consumed_.” As the light was shining upon me, _and the way_, and after much wrestling in prayer, not only my will responded to the will of God, but I could say all through me--

“Lord, obediently I’ll go, Gladly leaving all below.”

After this my peace flowed like a river.

“Jesus all the day long Was my joy and my song.”

I lived in a heavenly atmosphere, far above the common walks of life. Glory to God and the Lamb forever! for a salvation that has _life_ and _peace_ and _joy in the Holy Ghost_, amen! and amen! The fire burns while I write--bless the Lord! I believed that Jesus saved me from _all_ my sins. I did not understand the nature of inbred sin. I had felt nothing but love to God and all mankind. _The roots of old depravity had not yet been disturbed, hence I did not believe they existed._ I was soon to be tested upon this point.

Soon after my conversion I had placed in my hands several works on holiness: Wesley, Wallace, Foster, and Mrs. Palmer. On examining these books I felt that I had got in the _first_ blessing all they claimed for the _second_. I was soon to learn that justification, though clear and positive, _did not remove the roots of bitterness_, the remains of the carnal mind.

About four weeks after my conversion, one cold day in March, I wanted to move a stove of the Clinton air-tight pattern from one room to another with the fire in it, just as we were using it, as it was cold, and the only stove we had up. I laid my plans, and commenced the job in earnest. I succeeded in getting the pipe in position and the stove moved, but now came the tug of war. The pipe would not go together as I expected. I had been feeling remarkably good, but suddenly my feelings underwent a tremendous change; I seemed to be all on fire; and like Mount Vesuvius, just ready to belch forth fire and lava. You ask, dear reader, what was the matter? Why, my pipe would not go together; and besides, I pinched my fingers, the smoke filled my eyes, and yet the pipe would not unite. Again and again I pinched my fingers and smoked my eyes until it seemed to me that I should _burst_ if I did not curse and swear with all my might. I set my jaws together like a steel trap, lest I should give vent to the _smoke_ that raged within. I finished my job, and away I went, to where no eye but God could see me. I fell on my face and cried for mercy. This element in my heart gave me more pain than anything I had ever met with. O, how I loathed myself. I saw clearly the nature of my _disease_. Old depravity was at the bottom of all this difficulty. The tree had been cut down, but the roots were all there.

Dear reader, these roots may not have affected you just as they did me; but if you are not _sanctified wholly_, they are there, in the heart and will, when the hot breath of Apolyon comes upon you, strive for the supremacy. This experience brought clearly to my mind, the doctrine of _sanctification_ as taught by John Wesley. I commenced in earnest the study of the Bible, to learn God’s will in this matter. I found it full of holiness. I saw that it was not only my privilege to be made holy in this life, but a _positive_ command: “_Be ye holy, for I am holy._” My conviction for this blessing was deep, clear, pungent and abiding. O, how my soul cried out after a clean heart. I said that if the religion of Jesus Christ did not take out all sin from the heart, it was a failure.

Blessed be God! I have proved that Jesus Christ can save to the uttermost. In fifty-eight, at a camp-meeting in Bergen, N. Y., I was enabled to give myself fully to God, and to claim Jesus Christ as my full and complete Saviour. O, how I felt the blood washing and cleansing my heart, from all the remains of the carnal mind. When the blessing came I was lost to all surrounding objects; but what communion I had with the Father and with the Son, and with the Holy Ghost. Light shone all through me. I could see every part of my moral being; and O! how clean and pure; _those roots_ were gone. My soul cried out--

“’Tis done, Thou dost this moment save, With full salvation bless, Redemption in Thy blood I have, And spotless love and peace.”

III.

About My Tobacco.

For years prior to my conversion to God, I had firmly believed that “strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” The consecration to be made in order to receive the grace of God and eternal life seemed to me to include every thing: all we think, speak or do. To meet this demand, my business relations had to be given up. I had used tobacco about twelve years; but in making my consecration to God I left this out. It had never occurred to me that it was wicked to use it; in fact, I had never heard or read that it was. I had associated with the Methodists from my youth up, and knew that her preachers, class-leaders and stewards used it; and having an exalted opinion of them, had come to look upon the practice as harmless. And yet it did seem to me that preachers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ought to be clean and pure. God the Holy Ghost, let me see, the first time I used it after my conversion, that it was wrong for me to use it. As I put the filthy stuff in my mouth, the Holy Spirit said, “What do you do that for?” This came with such force that I was very much startled. I replied that I used it for the dyspepsia. The Spirit said, “You have no dyspepsia; and if you had, tobacco would not cure it; it rather creates it.”

I then tried to hunt up other reasons for using it, as the Spirit of God continued to press the question, “What do you use it for?” But all my reasons were completely upset by the clear reasoning of conscience and the Holy Ghost. I now perceived that God was trying to teach me the way of life more perfectly. He said, “You have given yourself to me, to be mine entirely.” I said, “Yea, Lord, all is thine.” “Your body is a temple for the Holy Ghost; you are to be temperate in all things; nothing must enter it that defileth; tobacco defileth it. All you possess belongs to God--your money, your time, talents--all are his, and must be used for His glory; hence you cannot spend your money for tobacco.”

A great many ways were pointed out to me in which I could glorify God in a proper use of what He had given to me, instead of an investment worse than useless. Every time that I used it after my conversion, until I wholly abandoned it, this same controversy was kept up. In reading the Bible I found it condemned the practice. I became satisfied that I had got to abandon either the one or the other--my tobacco or Jesus Christ. I could not remain justified and defile myself with it.

Now came the giving up process. I resolved to do it gradually, lest I should be made sick, for the tempter told me that would be the result. I then threw away my box, and carried what tobacco I had down cellar, determined not to use it but three times a day, and thus by a gradual process work a cure. I soon wanted a chew. Down cellar I went and took the weed; it never seemed to taste quite so good before; so self suggested the idea of putting a little in my pocket; I might want a little very much; so I put a little in my pocket; and thus I continued to do until my tobacco was all gone; and instead of carrying it in a box, or in one pocket, I had it in nearly every pocket about me. Oh, how mean I felt when I was brought to a realization of my bondage to such a filthy habit. It had wound its slimy folds about me so long that I seemed to be completely within its power.

But here I resolved to try the strength and power of grace divine. I now determined to be a free man; sink or swim, survive or perish, living or dying, I meant to have the victory over this habit. I got down before God in the dust, told him all about my weakness, and about my miserable habit, and cried, “O Lord, deliver me from this filthy, wicked, intemperate habit, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

Blessed be God, help came. I got the victory. Oh, glory to God and the Lamb forever and ever. Every band was severed; I was free, and blessed be God, I have walked at liberty ever since. I have never had the least desire to use the weed since I was delivered from my bondage to filth. Since then I can sing--

“Now I am from bondage free, Every chain is riven; Jesus makes me free indeed, Just as free as heaven.”

IV.

The Plague Of Narcotics.

A part of this article is from the pen of Dr. Talmage. He said that America had some as bad plagues as those of Egypt, and characterized narcotics as follows:

“In all ages the world has sought out some flower or herb or weed to stimulate, to alleviate, or to compose its griefs. A drink called nepenthe calmed the nerves of Greeks and Egyptians. Theben women knew how to compound it. Nepenthe passed away and next came hasheesh, manufactured from Indian hemp. Whole nations have been stimulated, narcotized, and made imbecile with the use of accursed hasheesh. Visions are conjured up gorgeous and magnificent beyond all description, but it finally drags down body, mind and soul. I knew one of the most brilliant men of this city (Philadelphia) taken captive by this drug. Friends tried in vain to save him. First body gave way, then his mind. He became a raving maniac, blaspheming God into a starless eternity.

OPIUM is the scourge of nations.”

In 1861 we used 109,000 pounds. In 1887 not far from 1,000,000 pounds. At the present--1888--we have, beyond doubt, more than 1,000,000 opium consumers. That is appalling! Don’t think that those are merely barbaric Asiatics.

SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE, after conquering the world, was conquered by opium. There are thousands, more women than men, who are being bound body, mind and soul by this terrific drug. There is a great mystery about some families. You don’t know why they don’t get along. The opium habit is stealthy, deceitful, deathful. You can cure one hundred drunkards where you can cure one opium eater.

Have you just begun to use it for the assuagement of physical distress? I beg of you stop! The pleasures at the start will not pay for the horrors at the end.

MORPHIA is a blessing from God for the relief of pain, but it was never intended to be prolonged for years.

Statistics show that there are opium eaters in this country exceeding a million. With some hydrate of chloral is taking the place of opium.

BARON LIEBIG knows that one chemist in Germany makes half a ton of hydrate of chloral a week. There are multitudes taken down with this drug. _Look out for hydrate of chloral!_ You never heard a sermon against opium, but it seems to me there ought to be ten thousand pulpits turned into a quickening flame, thundering Zion’s warning against this black narcotic.

You all know what botanists describe as NICOTIANA. You know it as the inspiring, elevating, emparadising, nerve-shattering, dyspepsia-breeding, health-destroying tobacco. I shall not be offensively personal on this subject, for you nearly all use it. You say that God made it, and it is good. Yes, it is good to kill moths, to kill ticks on sheep, to strangle all kinds of vermin, to fumigate pestiferous places. You say God created it for some particular use. Yes, so He did henbane, and nux vomica, and copperas, and belladona, and all those poisons.

You say men live to be old who use it. Yes, in the sense that the man lasted well who was pickled. Smokers are turned into smoked livers. You should advise your children to abstain from it, because the whole medical fraternity of the United States and Great Britain pronounced it the cause of wide-spread ill-health. Drs. Agnew, Hamilton, Woodward--the whole medical fraternity, Allopathic, Homeopathic, Hydropathic and Eclectic denounce it. The use of tobacco tends to drunkenness. It creates unnatural thirst. The way that leads down to a drunkard’s grave and a drunkard’s hell is strewn thick with tobacco leaves. _That man is not thoroughly converted who has not only got his heart clean, but got his mouth clean also._

BEN. FRANKLIN said he never saw a well man in the exercise of common sense who would say that tobacco did him any good.

THOMAS JEFFERSON argued against the culture of tobacco.

HORACE GREELEY said: “It is a burning stench.”

DANIEL WEBSTER said: “Let those men who smoke go to the horse shed.”

One reason why there are so many victims to the tobacco habit is because so many ministers smoke and chew. They smoke until they have bronchitis, and then the dear people must send them to Europe. I can name three eminent clergymen who died of cancer in the mouth, an evil caused by their tobacco. There has been many a clergyman whose tombstone was covered up with eulogy, who ought to have had an inscription, “Killed by too much Cavendish.” Some smoke until the room is blue, their spirits are blue, the world is blue. The American clergymen who are indulging in the habit should repent. How can a man preach repentance when he indulges in such a habit. I have known _Presbyteries and General Assemblies and General Synods_ where there was a room set apart for ministers to smoke in.

It is time we had an anti-tobacco reform in the _Presbyterian_, the _Baptist_, and the _Congregational_ churches.”

Thank God there is one church, the FREE METHODIST, that has a pure ministry. _They_ are not defiled by “_narcotics_.” None are received into the Free Methodist Church that use tobacco in any way, in the ministry or laity.

V.

A Call To The Ministry.

The Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is a system of instruction. It contemplates the instruction of the ignorant until the whole world shall be enlightened; until the knowledge of Christ shall cover the whole earth as the waters cover the sea. It makes provision for having this instruction perpetuated. God provides for every department of this stupendous work of bringing this wicked world back from her revolt to Christ and God. To this end the ministry were appointed. Under the old dispensation God appointed men to preach and teach. They were termed prophets. They spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost. Enoch was a preacher. He taught the doctrine of a general judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and a just retribution for our conduct in this life.

He taught the duty of repentance of all wrong deeds. He enforced his preaching by a godly life. “He walked with God!” “God spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness.” In these far off ages they were blessed with teachers. Abraham was a preacher of righteousness in his day. Other patriarchs said of him: “Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.” Samuel, Elijah and Elisha were of that number that taught the people.

The Christian dispensation had in its very beginning teachers appointed directly by divine authority. Take one text among many: Eph. 4:11-13. “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Again: “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

God has ordained that by a holy ministry the Gospel shall be preached, and the world brought back to Christ. Thus far the call to the ministry has been stated by way of preface. God makes choice of His own laborers for this, the grandest of all positions in this life, preaching the Gospel. We cannot take this responsibility upon ourselves, if we do we are simply hirelings, as is the case, we fear, with too many that occupy the sacred desk.

Many, I have no doubt, have been called to the pulpit by their parents. They have looked upon the ministry as an exalted and an honorable position, and have entertained an all-absorbing desire that their boy should preach the Gospel. They may have been pious and devout people, but have made a very common mistake of supposing their desire to be the voice of the Spirit calling their boy to the ministry. In order to meet the obligations of the ministry, what God requires, and what the people demand, the call to this high and holy position _must_ come from God. In these days of compromise and corruption there are too many pulpits, instead of being a light-house erected upon a dangerous coast, to warn the mariner of their imminent danger, giving an uncertain sound.

God’s ministers have all been called into the ministry. They have not taken it upon themselves. It has come to them like an awful night-mare in the still hours of the night; when about their daily cares; sleeping or waking; journeying by land or sea; among friends or foes; whether suffering from poverty or abounding in wealth; woe is me if I preach not the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This will look like a stupendous job, almost like an insurmountable task to the person truly called of God to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. At the same time they will feel, O, how poorly qualified I am for such an undertaking. And the more they look at themselves the greater the burden seems to grow. To be an embassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, chosen of Him, commissioned to treat with a rebel government, those in open rebellion to His divine majesty, is higher honor than was ever bestowed upon any other mortal. The crowned heads of this world might well envy the very smallest man or woman that wears the royal diadem that Christ puts on the brow of His servants. To me, there was always a sacredness connected with the ministry of Christ. From my earliest recollection I have looked upon the minister of God as occupying the very highest position and receiving the highest honor awarded to any of earth’s subjects; and how men thus called, can come down from so high and holy a calling to mingling in the rottenness of the day, is a profound mystery to me, and how men can consent to be put in a semi-nude state, cable-towed, hoodwinked, and then take upon themselves obligations too horrible for humanity, and by those professedly called to be a minister of Christ, to me is certainly incomprehensible.

The Master says, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” When God calls a man to preach it embraces all there is of the individual, with all possible development: mental, moral and physical; so that the man of God will improve every chance of doing good and of getting good, including hard study for the development of the mind; practicing the laws of health for the development of our being for greater efficiency in the Master’s service.

The word of the Lord is: “Study to show thyself approved unto God.” Success comes on this line of action. I believe that the minister should study and write as though the whole thing depended on this for success; and then he should pray as though everything depended on prayer; and when he gets into the pulpit he should trust alone in God the Holy Ghost as though entire success depended on help from above. On this line the stream of salvation will flow into the pulpit and into the pew, and the results will be the salvation of precious souls and the sanctifying of believers. Glory to God. Amen.

We are to glorify Him with our physical powers, as these belong to Him. Hence, we will carefully study ourselves, the laws that govern our own being, eat and drink, labor and rest so as to produce the greatest development for His glory.

The mission of the minister of Christ is of the utmost importance, because it has to do with those that must live forever with God and angels and the redeemed of earth in the world that is to come, or with those that reject Christ and everything that is good, and together are cast out into outer darkness, where the flames of their torment will ascend up for ever and ever. And then to think that a single word, or look, may change the destiny of a soul! Well might the apostle exclaim, “And who is sufficient for these things?” The Gospel must be proclaimed with great tenderness of spirit, and in deep love for the souls of those that are in their sins; love that is all aflame for the perishing. A minister should keep as near the head of the church as possible. He should pattern after the Master in simplicity, in naturalness, in literalness, in appropriateness and in holiness. As He is in the world, _so are we_, so clean and pure; morally speaking, the minister should be transparent--Christ shining out in all his ways--looking, speaking, doing the right thing at the right time and in the right manner. Speaking as one that must give an account in that day for words uttered. Looking like one that has been with Christ and learned of Him. How often a word from the man of God has been like the pouring of oil on the troubled sea. A man called to minister in holy things must remember that he is a peacemaker. In almost every place there is a marvelous chance to stir up strife. This must be avoided. “Study to show thyself approved,” says the apostle. Appropriateness is an essential element in the minister of God. A congregation of idiots could not appreciate a discourse on moral philosophy. Neither would a mass of unsaved men and women enjoy a sermon on entire holiness!

Much labor has been lost, and the work greatly retarded, because of unwise action. Words, style, or the manner in which it has been presented, has been so presented, that opposition has been aroused, and the work of soul-saving has been greatly hindered, if not entirely destroyed.

A great many have been driven from the penitents’ altar because of unkind treatment at the altar. They were sinners, to be sure, and came to the altar as such; and in their great distress of mind, before God had a chance to do much for them, some unwise person would, in commanding tones, ask them to pull off their feathers, gold, or something attached to their person. This would have been proper at the right time, but the hammer came down before the iron was hot. The results were in these cases they flew off in a tangent, mad. The blacksmith knows about how hot his iron must be to work and weld; precisely so with human hearts; they must be under the direct rays of the Holy Ghost and kept there until made tender, then it can be worked. Glory to God! Brother, don’t try to work cold iron--the iron of cold hearts. It will be in every case a failure. Keep baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire. This has been your great need in the past. As you go forth to labor in God’s vineyard, go with the baptism of power, love and the Holy Ghost. On this line, success will come.

Doubtless some are called to the ministry early in life. Samuel was called to the prophetic office when but a lad. It has been stated by a great many that labored long as embassadors of our Lord Jesus Christ, that very early in life they felt an undefinable impression resting upon them, and at times this impression would be very strong, that some time in the near future, they would have to preach the gospel.

This was the condition of your humble servant. Early in life he felt that that would be his employment in after years. Of all the innocent amusements of childhood, what he called preaching to other children, to the chairs placed in the order of a congregation, or to a field of pumpkins, (for he would often do that) was to him greater diversion than any other kind of amusement.

At the age of fifteen I was standing near State street bridge, Albany, N. Y., a couple of officers were conveying a crazy man from the cars to the steamboat, as they were going down the river to Hudson with him. The crazy man caught hold of one of the chains used to draw up a portion of the bridge to let vessels through, screaming and making a great ado. This drew the attention of the people, as many were crossing, it being car time, so that in a moment the draw part of the bridge was literally covered. It was estimated that some three hundred, besides three horses, were on this part of the bridge. I moved along on to the bridge to see what the matter was. No sooner had I reached the highest point on the bridge, than it broke off on both sides, letting this mass of humanity suddenly into the water. I was suddenly hurled into the river with the rest. I had to swim some six to ten rods before I found anything that I could cling to. I came to a small boat into which I climbed, then onto a canal boat and went back where I could see that crowd of people struggling and screaming for life. This was an awful sight. Groups of men, from one to six or more were making a desperate effort for life. Without a moment’s warning they were put in this awful condition, and now, eternity was staring them in the face. Presently the dead and dying were all around me. The thought came: “_Why was not I drowned with the rest?_” for some forty had passed suddenly into eternity. This answer came to the inquiry, “I have saved you to preach my gospel.”

After years of wandering in sin, and man’s estate had been reached, with family cares and responsibilities, I erected a family altar, sought and found the pearl of great price; and with this new experience came a strong and an abiding conviction that I must preach the Gospel. In whatever direction I would try to turn my attention, this thought would loom up above all others, “_Preach my Gospel_.” I had but little conception of the awful responsibility connected with the ministry. And yet I had some idea of the vastness of the work, and in looking at myself it did seem to me that I never could attain unto the ideality of the work as I then viewed it. I was timid, ignorant, culture limited. Can God qualify me for this exalted position? These were serious considerations. The call was as clear to me as the sun at noonday. Notwithstanding the clearness of the call by the Spirit, I was often making bargains with the Lord, as Gideon did. He would ask for a wet fleece, and the fleece would be wet. And then for a dry fleece, and the fleece would be dry.

In the beginning of my ministry I would say to the Lord something like this: O Lord, if Thou hast called me to preach Thy Word, give me a soul to-day, as evidence that I am called to preach. Asking for evidence of this character continued for several years; and I would say to the glory of God, that on these occasions souls were always saved. Though the enemy would often say: “That is no evidence, for these have been prayed for by these old saints for years. They were saved through the instrumentality of these gray-haired saints.” For the time it would trouble me quite a little, so I would continue to ask for evidences.

Every one truly called of God to preach His Gospel, understand some of the many obstacles to be overcome before he reaches the holy of holies, where, under a clear sky, with his eye on the Judgment, and the condition of the lost before him, he can proclaim the everlasting Gospel to perishing humanity, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. One of the greatest barriers to my entering upon the ministry, was my dear companion. While she was a dear, good woman, she could not bear the idea of her husband becoming a preacher; and would on all occasions when she thought the subject was going to be introduced, talk discouragement, and say to her husband, “I think that you would make a good class-leader but not a preacher.” I was marvelously attached to my wife, because of her intrinsic merits; hence, her views of his duty to his family, to God and His church were very great obstacles to surmount.

The time came when, according to my vows, I must leave all and follow Christ, or lose my religion. What could be done! A field was opened, my services were wanted. Wife refuses to go; with light around the cross but a heavy burden on my soul, I took my leave of the dear home; yea, the dearest spot on earth, for there had nothing but love dwelt in that family circle. Parents and children were passionately devoted to each other.

I found myself very much at home in the work of the ministry. After an absence of six weeks I returned home, hoping that my wife had changed her mind, and would accompany me to my field of labor. In this I was disappointed. She was just as unwilling to go then as at the first. I returned to my circuit with a heavy heart. I felt that I was in God’s order, so I asked the Lord to let my dear companion see it as in the light of eternity. After the elapse of another six weeks I returned for the same purpose, and with the same results as above stated.

I succeeded in getting her at this second visit home, to go with Brother and Sister Roberts to a camp-meeting which was coming off at Ackron, N. Y., and I returned to my circuit. Eternity alone can tell the soul burden and mental conflict during these days.

The camp-meeting had not been running many days before a fearful cyclone made its appearance. The sky put on her fearful robes of thunder and lightning, with other sounds of a dismal character. Darkness spread over the encampment. Nature was in strange commotion. Alarm and terror was manifested by nearly all that were at that encampment. As the storm came nearer and nearer, with the awful roar of destruction, suddenly an appearance, like an elephant’s trunk, dropped down from the clouds above and swung around the circle of tents, throwing down seventy-five good-sized trees. Wife and a Baptist sister were washing dishes in the Buffalo tent. They were giving each other their experience. Said the Baptist sister: “If I should die this moment, I’m saved.” No sooner had she said that than a tree nearly two feet in diameter was blown down from the inside of the circle of tents, going directly over the Buffalo tent, crushing it down, and with it the Baptist sister. All that saved the dear wife from the same fate was our little two-year old girl, hearing the noise of the storm, went to the tent door to see what the matter was, the mother going in great haste after her, escaped having the tree fall upon her. It was a narrow escape. There was only a step at that time between her soul and death. The Baptist sister was killed instantly. She had no sooner declared that she was ready to die, than she was ushered into eternity! How important it is to always be ready.

This awful scene caused many to turn pale with alarm for their future condition. Eternity seemed so near. Every one on the ground felt the importance of being saved, having a clean heart. They did not need much urging to commence the work in right good earnest. Among the many that were made wise by this awful storm and were at the altar seeking, in the very depths of humility, the blessing of perfect love, was my dear wife. She, with others, did not seek in vain. She found the blessing. She went down on the line of confession, and was mightily resurrected to a state of heart purity, by a living faith in the Almighty power of Christ to save. It was stated to me by those that were present, that the whole camp-ground shook when she struck the Rock! _Glory to God!_

At this time I was at a camp-meeting in another part of the state helping Bro. William Cooley. Hearing of the great blessing that my wife had received, I concluded that it would not be necessary for me to take another long trip, to go home to see if I could not persuade her to come with me, but that she would immediately pack up and move on to the big circuit with me, which, thank God, she did. But O, how changed! I had emphatically a new wife. I had always thought her the best woman on earth; now I knew that she was. We then saw eye to eye in the great work to which God had called us. And O, how precious the communion we had with each other and the Lord, during her brief stay on earth after this occurrence. In less than two years she peacefully passed away to be forever with the Lord.

I relate this circumstance to show what things we have to overcome sometimes, in order to enter the ministry. And then, how strangely God manages to bring us where our eyes may be opened to see just what he wants us to see. It is well expressed by the poet:

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform, He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm.”

More than a quarter of a century has passed into eternity since most of the events narrated occurred; and in looking over the past, and the way in which God led us into the ministry, the trials, conflicts, victories, and the many times in which He has marvelously delivered us out of the hands of all our enemies, and brought to our aid reinforcements, and just the help needed, and just at the right time, our heart goes out in wonder, love and praise.

The promise of the Lord to me was: “For as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” O, how comforting that Scripture has been to me. When on hard fields of labor, and when it seemed as though very little if anything, accomplished, the above word of the Lord would come to my heart with such an assurance, and in such sweetness that I have been made to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord to me.

We are often placed in a position, allowing the world to judge, would call it a tremendous defeat. But in obeying the voice of God there is no defeat. We may not always see just what we have done, the good accomplished. Perhaps it is best we should not. Spiritual pride might find way into our heart and destroy us.

The command is, “Go forward.” We are not to stop to analyze results, in order to get at exact accomplishments, but move on, laboring with all our might, and leaving results with God. In that day, and under the light of judgment fires, it will appear in all the grandeur of eternal blessedness. “Your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” What precious opportunities God has given us of laying up our treasures on high. Look out in what direction you may, the fields are white already to harvest. Golden opportunities for doing good, and getting good, are constantly placed within our reach, and to be like our divine Lord and Master, who went about doing good, so must we, looking mainly for our reward in that day when He shall come to make up His jewels. O how blessed to hear in that day, “Well done!” Notwithstanding the glittering crown that often seems so nigh to the Christian soldier, he feels as expressed in the following lines:

“Let me stay; I fain would labor In the vineyard of the Lord; For the fields are ready whitening, Jesus says so in His word. Let me thrust the Spirit’s cycle, In the fields already white; Let me blow the Gospel trumpet; Let me do with all my might.

Let me stay and wear the armor That my Father doth supply; Let me cheer the broken hearted, Help the pilgrim on his way. Let me point the poor and needy To a boundless store of grace, To a mansion in the heavens, Where the weary are at rest.

Let me stay and warn poor sinners Of the danger they are in, While by Christ they’re unprotected, Foes without and fears within; Let me tell how Jesus loved them When he died upon the tree, When he cried in grief and anguish, ‘Why hast Thou forsaken me?’

Let me stay a little longer, Gathering for the garner great, Golden sheaves, oh, precious jewels, Stars in Jesus’ crown complete. Let me finish all my labor, Then my armor I’ll lay down, And with Jesus Christ, my Saviour, Ever wear a starry crown.

Then I’ll range the fields of heaven, And with angels ever sing: Hallelujah! glory! glory! Hallelujah to my King! Then with white-robed seraphs worship Round the Father’s great white throne; Always crying, Thou art worthy! Oh my God, and Thou alone.”

I apprehend that the richest spot in heaven will be given to those that have lived the nearest to Christ while on earth; that have been instrumental in turning many from darkness to light; that have been one with Him in the great work of human redemption; that have borne the cross, labored incessantly to bring souls to Christ and build up His kingdom on earth. It may have been in poverty, amidst great suffering, of physical ailments, in persecution; but the joy to such on earth exceeds that of all others; and in the world to come, “They shall shine as the brightness of the firmament forever and ever.”

VI.

A Particular Providence.

How cheering to the heart of a good man to believe that God, the Infinite, loves, and tenderly cares for all the creatures which He hath made, and that He daily provides for, and feeds, and clothes the teeming millions of earth. How vast the conception that the Almighty this morning provided food for and fed, one billion, and five hundred million of human beings; and beside the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the air, and the cattle upon a thousand hills; and that this care commenced when the morning stars sang together for joy, and will continue through time, and to all eternity. He that created us is able to provide for all our needs, and to perpetuate our existence. It would be folly indeed, to suppose our Heavenly Father capable of creating us, but not able to sustain us. He that paints the lilies with rainbow tints, and covers the earth with its carpet of green, can supply all our need in this world, and in the world to come. Wherever in nature a real want is manifest, near by may always be found the supply. “My God shall supply all your need.” To doubt His ability or willingness to do this, would be sinful. The smallest speck in creation is not lost to sight, nor removed from His tenderest care. “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” “And if He so clothe and beautifies the grass of the field which to-day is, and to-morrow is cut down and cast into the oven, shall He not much rather clothe you, oh, ye of little faith.”

He sends rain and sunshine, stormy wind and hoar frost, heat and cold, the changing seasons, causing earth to bring forth her increase for the sustenance of man and beast. Away back in by-gone ages, doubtless, the creator of this vast universe provided, or made ample provision for this earth and all its dependencies. I seriously doubt if a mistake was made or any need that might arise in any member of the human family, but that was thoroughly considered and all needful supplies provided for. “Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?” Why then so much suffering, famine, pestilence, war, murder, and the great amount of evil arising from intemperance? These are all the results of sin, not the penalty for sin, but the legitimate fruit of sin; and God has provided a complete remedy for all the ills which flesh is suffering because of sin. Wherefore, He is able to save us to the uttermost, and to present us faultless before His presence, with exceeding joy. Suffering and need may be employed at times as a corrective agency, and in all these things we should learn wisdom and abandon all wrong doing and learn to do well. We read of some that were always learning, and never coming to the knowledge. Perhaps nearly all Christian men and women would endorse in a general way, God’s providential care over His children, but doubt His special providences. Nevertheless, He does hear and answer prayer for special blessings.

When Peter was in prison prayer was offered for him, which God heard and answered, sending an angel to unlock prison doors, calling Peter’s attention to the fact that deliverance had come; and in obeying the command, his chains fell off, and those massive doors, seemingly of their own accord, swung back, and he following his guide, was a free man, walking at liberty. When Israel had been scourged for three years and six months by a severe drouth, Elijah petitioned the Lord for help, special help! Rain, was the all-absorbing need at that time, and blessed be the Lord Almighty that hears and answers prayer, rain came in great abundance. Every answer to prayer, whether it be for soul or body, is a special gift or blessing from our God. But in every case, there must be on our part, a _special need_, and faith must be normal, believing, trusting, without any reserve whatever. If you have the reserve of a big farm, or bank stock, or cash in abundance at your command, it will greatly hinder your faith! hence, those in the ministry blessed with such means, never reach such depths of richness of experience, as those that are compelled by force of circumstances to trust alone in God. Ministers that have means to fall back on if things do not move to suit them, generally in a pinch, fall back _on means_! God has nowhere in His Word promised to supply all we want, but all we need. If a man is not sick, he does not feel much on the subject of being healed. If he is well clothed and housed he does not feel the need of clothes and shelter. If he is well supplied with food, or can at _will_, put his hand on the greenbacks, he does not have a very big feeling of need.

This class of characters never become spiritually educated up to the supreme summit of implicit trust in _Jehovah_. In order to prove the great Fatherhood of God, there must be on our part a consecration that is not only in word but in deed, and in truth, embracing all we have, all we are, all we ever expect to be, and a divine consciousness of the complete transfer made of all to Christ, and His Spirit with our spirit bearing witness to this holy transaction; then the heart will sing:

“Forever here my rest shall be, Close to Thy bleeding side; This all my hope, and all my plea, For me the Saviour died.”

For nearly thirty years the author of this, has been like the birds of the air, trusting entirely in the Lord, for soul and body; and often blessings have come that were needed, when it seemed as though a miracle must be wrought in order to supply the demand.

When I came into the Susquehanna Conference, there were just four circuits: Rose and Clyde, Nelson and Fenner, Binghamton and Union and New York City. It was emphatically a missionary field. I left what seemed to be a good paying business, to preach the Gospel in this new conference. Although our work was largely among the poor, yet God marvelously cared for us, in providing for our souls and bodies. Blessings came at times when greatly needed, as direct from God as the manna that fell in the wilderness to satisfy God’s ancient people.

The last year that my now sainted companion was on earth, we were far away from markets. Her desire for food was very fluctuating. Occasionally she would want some kind of food that seemed impossible to obtain; but whenever she expressed a desire for any kind of food, it came. One morning I asked her what she could eat if we had it. She replied, “I could eat a brook trout, if I had it.” My son, Lester, then about fourteen years old, was attending school in the place where we then lived. At recess he went back a little way from the school house, where was running a little brook, the outlet of springs: He saw therein a remarkably fine trout. By some means it was out of the main channel and could not make its escape. My son saw the situation, and remembering what his _sick_ mother had said in the morning, marked the spot, and as soon as school closed he took the fish up to his mother. As soon as she saw it she recognized the hand of the Lord, and with a heart full of love and gratitude, and eyes sparkling with tears, we unitedly joined in thanking God for the supply so much needed. On another occasion during her sickness, when asked what she would like to eat if we had it, she replied: “I could eat some lamb, if I had it.” It was in the month of March, and it did not seem as though such a thing could be had short of New York City. A farmer living some three miles away, had five lambs that were born in December or January. They were very nice and highly prized by their owner. The day my companion expressed a wish for lamb, the owner was moving them from one stall in his barn to another; one accidentally broke its leg; so the farmer was compelled to kill and dress it. While at this work and feeling very bad, he said a voice, as plain as human voice, and a good deal more impressive, said: “Take part of this lamb to Sister Osborne,” which he did. Praise God!

The next circuit that we occupied was Seneca Falls, Auburn, Owasco, Niles and Canandaigua. I felt that God wanted me to live at Seneca Falls. My chairman thought that I had better settle at some other point, as the Seneca Falls pilgrims were very poor and discouraged. We went to Seneca Falls on Thursday, met the pilgrims at Sister McKee’s. I think there were less than a dozen poor, discouraged ones. They received us with not a little indifference, and were sure that a house could not be found anywhere in the place. They said that others had been there looking for houses, but could find none. However, they were going to _leave it all_ with the Lord. In this they were like a great many that I have met with, awful willing to let the good Lord do it all. They really believe that Jesus paid it all, consequently, let Him do it all.

This did not disturb my convictions that God wanted me to live there, and that He had a house for me at that place. I prayed much that night, and as Friday morning dawned upon us I felt all through my being that in such a part of the town there was an _empty house_, and that I could hire it. I knew but little of the place, but after prayers I started off in the direction of the _empty house_, according to my conviction. I came to that part of the town indicated by my feelings. I met a lad and said to him, “Where is that house where the family moved out a few days ago?” Said he, “Right around the corner.” I moved on a few rods when I met another boy and made the same inquiry of him. He replied, “That house across there.” It was really a neat house owned by a merchant’s wife, they occupying the wing part. All the upright part, consisting of seven neat rooms, she wanted to rent until spring. Inside of ten minutes I made a bargain for the house, paid one month’s rent, and the next week we moved in and remained there for two years. We had the house for six dollars per month, when a great many others wanted it and would have paid ten or twelve dollars per month.

I want to say a little more about this affair, as it was so clear a case of the Lord’s doings; as clear as when Peter was led out of prison by the angel of God. I thought so then. I think so now, after the lapse of nearly twenty-five years, and look back to that event with the profoundest feelings of love and veneration for the special leadings of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus at that time, and all the way since. A gracious revival commenced from the very beginning of our ministry at that place. As we commenced house-keeping right away, I appointed a meeting for holiness at our house. In my notice of the meeting I excluded all that did not want something special of the Lord. The meeting was good and lasted until after ten o’clock. We had quite a struggle for a lady that came there expressly for her soul’s salvation. She finally came through with a tremendous shout, and this she continued for some time. I had a sort of feeling that these shouts greatly disturbed my landlady in the other part of the house. Immediately after breakfast the next morning she sent for me to come in, she wanted to see me. As soon as I entered she looked me square in the face and stated in very emphatic language that I must procure another house immediately. Said she, “I did not let you have my house for public meetings. I cannot and will not have such confusion in my house. It was perfectly ridiculous--such a noise--such a pow-wow--husband and I did not sleep a wink all night, you must move right out.” I looked her steadily in the face and said nothing until she had spent her force, and then made my statement. I knew my rights and purposed to stick to them. I said, “True, Mrs. Ingmire, you did not rent me your house for public meetings; it was not of that class--it was a select meeting. I stated from the pulpit that none need come except those that wanted something from the Lord. It was a meeting for holiness. You know the Methodists believe in that. (She was a Methodist.) We believe in being good--like our Master, who went about doing good to the souls and bodies of men.” I then referred to that poor widow that God converted last night; what a hard time she had, caring for five little children, working late at night and early in the morning with but little to eat and poorly clad and without the comforts of salvation. I saw that she was deeply interested in my talk, and that I had the inside track. At this point I said, “Let us pray,” at the same time dropping on my knees, I commenced praying for God to bless the work at Seneca Falls, and especially my landlady. She knelt while I prayed. The good Lord heard and answered prayer. When I came to the Amen, she responded, Amen. We arose. She said with tears rolling down her face, “God bless you, Brother Osborne, I believe the Lord sent you here; I think you will do good here; just the man needed.” I assured her that God sent me there, and that I meant to do good, and bade her good morning. No more was said about our leaving the house, but they made much effort to keep us there; and when the first year was up, they circulated a petition for our being returned the second year. We remained there two years and God gave us a continuous revival. For weeks souls were saved in every meeting at Seneca Falls, and at every point on this circuit we had a revival.

“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.”

The people that we were laboring with and for, were very poor, so that we were compelled to pray the Lord’s prayer daily: and blessed be the name of the Lord, He fed and clothed us. It would be impossible to tell the many peculiar ways that God had in supplying our needs. On one occasion my entire suit of wearing apparel had become badly worn and looked decidedly seedy. My coat was so feeble that it would not hold together under the arms, though wife had darned it much, and every time that I would raise my hand, when preaching, there would be an exhibition of cotton, which somewhat annoyed me. I prayed over the matter. I believed that God would supply my need. I said, “Lord, thy servant ought to be in a presentable shape.” It did not seem to me that in a country like ours, where there was such an abundance on every side, that God wanted me to go dressed so poorly. After much care, and thought and prayer, I called at the Post Office and received two letters. I did not open them until I reached home. My first letter contained a fifty dollar post office order. It seemed as if I could not believe my own senses. Tears of gratitude so filled my eyes that I could hardly read for the time being, while the Spirit said, “This means an entire suit of clothes.” Of course this sent afresh the doxology coursing, vibrating and thoroughly permeating all of our redeemed powers. O, how precious it is to live where God feeds and clothes the body and satisfies our immortal nature with Himself. Well might the poet sing--

“O for such love let rocks and hills Their lasting silence break.”

Every law governing this vast universe, with all its intelligencies, are under the direct control of our Heavenly Father. Nothing is lost to His sight. “If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Hell, behold Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.”

Every effect has its own legitimate cause. It is not necessary that we should understand perfectly the law governing cause and effect in order to have implicit trust and confidence in God. Things about us may have a strange and a very forbidding appearance, yet we are to get good out of all the events of life. “All things work together for good to them that love God.” This will keep the soul cheerful and make life a pleasant pilgrimage. Having this constantly before our minds, that God directs or permits all of life’s operations; and all for His glory, and the eternal well being of His dear children. Glory to God and the Lamb forever! “Heaven and earth would sooner pass away, than one jot, or one tittle, of His law, should fail.”

We believe God; the uncreated, that was, from everlasting, to everlasting; that was, away back in the eternal solitudes of nature. With this profound mystery before us, and mysteries all along the way, we have the revealed will of God before us, which makes the way so plain, that, “The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

How numerous the cases where God’s special providences have been made manifest in delivering, in the time of great danger; in sustaining in the time of drouth and famine; when wasted and worn by disease. Truly, our God, is a present help, in time of need.”

In the fall of 1871 we were sent by our conference, and we believe by the Lord, to Philadelphia, Pa. We had felt, through the summer preceding, that we ought to go there in the fall. We arrived at our destination, and at Bro. Overing’s about 6 o’clock P. M. As we sat down to tea, soon after our arrival, Sister Overing said to me, “Bro. Osborne, did you know that the small pox was very thick in this part of the city?” I said, “No!” I then asked, “How long has it been at work here?” She said, “About three months.” Immediately my appetite for food left me, as suddenly as the unwelcome news approached me. I arose from the table without tasting of any food--powerfully tempted. The enemy said to me, “You see now what a fool you have made of yourself. You have brought your family here to die of the small pox.” I thought for a few moments that I should sink. I found my way into the parlor and then into a bed-room. I fell on my knees and cried unto the Lord. I told the Lord that I came there in good faith, and I could not bear to have my family all destroyed by the small pox. While on my knees the Lord telephoned me in these words, “No plague shall come nigh thy dwelling.” I recognized the communication as coming from my Heavenly Father, and immediately replied in these words: “Yea, Lord, be it unto Thy servant according to Thy word.” The burden rolled off and I felt as secure all the year from that moment, as though pestilence and death were not in the city. It spread until every part of the city was scourged with small pox. Hundreds died every week with it, and thousands during the year. Wife and I visited those that were sick. Almost every day I was in a small pox procession; and all through the year I felt perfectly secure from all of its destroying power.

Thus was God’s special providence made manifest in this fearfully alarming time of pestilence and death. Some two hundred thousand left the city in fearful alarm and dismay. At another appointment where our people were very poor and very much scattered, a rich man was saved and joined the feeble band. He agreed that if conference would let me stay with the poorest part of the circuit the second year, he would support the work, if it cost a thousand dollars, and beside, he would build a church for the pilgrims. This, doubtless he would have done, had he lived. He died soon after conference, having paid but one hundred dollars, leaving us to trust alone in God for our support. The house that we occupied was sold so that we were compelled to find another. There was just one house to be rented in the place for six months, the balance of the conference year, and this was owned by a hard-fisted landlord, and he wanted his rent monthly in advance. What could I do? I had nowhere to look for help, but to God alone. I must have a house, and get out of the one I then occupied, or be turned into the street. What a dilemma! How it would look to have a Free Methodist preacher, with wife and children, as good as ever graced the earth, turned into the street, because _why_? I seemed to be forced to bargain for the house, and agree to pay monthly in advance. The price was eight dollars per month. These were days of sore trial and anxious care. Much time we spent on our knees with strong crying and tears before God for the salvation of souls, food and shelter. Three days before we were to make our first payment, just the amount came, and we secured the house. Money came so that we were able to pay our rent always on time, and with two exceptions, it came three days before time. This has not always been the case, when we have trusted in boards, official or otherwise. But when we have been shut up alone with God, we have fed on the good of the land--the finest of wheat, with honey out of the Rock.

A few years later on, we were shut up for trust, to a large official board. They managed the parsonage, or hired one, and were responsible for the rent, and we supposed that everything was moving along grandly--when one morning I was called out by an officer of the law, and then he read a paper stating that three months rent was due, and unless it was paid immediately, I was to be thrown into the street, kit and cargo. This hard-hearted landlord said to me when the bargain was made for the house, “the garden is good for nothing.” It was a large one, but it had not been worked in ten years; it had grown up to weeds and thistles, year after year, so I need not expect anything from that source.” I thought, how bad it would look to have the preacher’s back yard covered with weeds and thistles. I made up my mind that I would not let the weeds grow. I would have it plowed and worked--if no more. After it was plowed, I was impressed to plant it, which I did. I spent quite a little time in working my garden. The Lord wonderfully blessed it, so that it was the best in the place. I worked it with hoe and axe. This I had to do right after it had rained. I made up my mind that my field could be made fruitful if well worked, with God’s blessing. I have often heard it said that such places were so hard, that nothing could be done. They meant Spiritually. All such expressions indicate a small amount of faith. They seem to forget that “_all things are possible with God_,” “_and to him that believeth_.”

Our work has been largely of the faith mission character, and wherever the ministry and laity have gone forth in that spirit, victory has crowned their labors. Much has been said and written about India and Africa’s faith missions, but too little about home faith missions. Is faith needed in those darkened lands for the salvation of the heathen? much more is mighty faith needed for the cultured heathen of America. “_O, breath of Heaven, come on us, that these dry bones may live._” I am satisfied that too many of us, have too little faith in the Almighty. We do not seem to take into our minds the fact, that, all power in Heaven, and earth belongs to Him, and He that spake world’s from nought, could, if necessary, create unnumbered worlds for the accomplishing of His designs in saving the human family.

Remember, O, remember precious soul, that with every felt need, your loving, Heavenly Father has the blessing in readiness, waiting for your contending faith to claim it!

“Though troubles assail, and dangers affright, Though friends should all fail, and foes all unite, Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide, The promise assures us, ‘_The Lord will provide_.’

The birds, without barn or storehouse, are fed; From them let us learn to trust for our bread; His saints what is fitting shall ne’er be denied, So long as ’tis written, ‘_The Lord will provide_.’

When Satan appears to stop up our path, And fills us with fears, _we triumph by faith_; He cannot take from us, (though oft he has tried.) The heart-cheering promise, ‘_The Lord will provide_.’

He tells us we’re weak--our hope is in vain; The good that we seek we ne’er shall obtain: But when such suggestions our graces have tried, This answers all questions, ‘_The Lord will provide_.’

No strength of our own, nor goodness we claim: Our trust is all thrown in Jesus’ name; In this our strong tower for safety we hide; The Lord is our power, ‘_The Lord will provide_.’

When life sinks apace, and death is in view, The Word of His grace shall comfort us through: Not fearing or doubting with Christ on our side, We expect to die shouting, ‘_THE LORD DOES PROVIDE_!’”

VII.

A Peculiar People.

The elect, the Chosen of God, those who are ordained unto life eternal, are God’s peculiar people; they were in the past, they are now, and will be for all time to come. Hear the declaration of Holy Writ:

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice, indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a _peculiar people_, or treasure, unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine.--Ex. 19:5. For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a _peculiar people_ unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.--Deut. 14:2.” Then in 26th chapter and 18th verse the same thought is expressed: “And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His _peculiar people_, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldst keep all His commandments.” The Psalmist caught the inspiration and gave thought and expression in like manner: “For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His _peculiar people_.”

Under the blazing light of the new dispensation, with a heart and tongue all on fire with love divine, and vision turned upon the redeemed of God, he declares what God would have us understand more perfectly that, “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a _peculiar people_; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”

The condition rendering God’s people peculiar is of a twofold character--internal and external, and both internal and external are likewise of a twofold character, the positive and negative.

A person may be very peculiar, and yet be far away from God. There is much that is odd, very odd, yea, very peculiar, connected with some very good people which is no part of Christianity. A few years ago I had the pleasure of attending a Sabbath School Convention of the M. E. Church at Black River, N. Y. A part of the program was a discussion of this proposition:

“Shall we teach the peculiarities of Methodism in our Sabbath Schools?”

There was much said, but nothing that had any special bearing on the subject. Rev. Mr. D---- said that he had a right to speak on the subject, as he was a Methodist, of Methodists parents; two of his sisters married Methodist preachers; and beside he had two brothers that were Methodist preachers, and his father’s house was a home for Methodist preachers. He related many pleasant things that occurred among the preachers, and many peculiar things. He said there was one Bro. Lovice that was often at his home, a holy man. He really enjoyed holiness. At the table one day, mother, at the close of the meal, took the platter containing a custard pie, passed around the table and gave to each a piece. When she came to Brother Lovice, she said, “My dear brother, will you have a piece of pie?” He replied, “Yes, ma’am,” holding out both hands, and received his pie in that peculiar way. This he related, and then said, “I believe in the peculiarities of Methodism.” There are too many, I fear, who entertain similar views of the qualities that go to make up what constitute a _peculiar people_.

It is not eccentricity--though people lay much stress on that. It is not in being careless or indifferent, to any of the claims that God, or our neighbor has upon us; nor indifference in regard to our personal appearance. The dress question is one of great importance. God requires us to _adorn_ our bodies in _modest_ apparel. Now, to meet the conditions, some things are necessary: First--The color and quality of goods purchased. Secondly--The style or manner in which they are made. It is not for the glory of God to have your clothes cut and made so that all who see you would never mistrust your clothes were made for you, but for some person of a much larger make-up. There are some people who are real saints, but in their manner of dress, they have no respect for the “_terms_” _modest or adorn_. I maintain that the saints are the best-looking people the world has got, and they ought to dress the best. Thank God, some do! The material should be becoming, age, and condition in life, embraced in a thus saith the Lord. In the next place, garments should be made to fit. We should dress ourselves with care and neatness--not slovenly, or in a careless and untidy manner. Many seem to have no respect for the fitness of things, especially for how their clothes fit. We should be in a presentable condition: “_adorned in modest apparel_.” Many have lost measurably their influence for good by their untidy, and utter disrespect of God’s requirements in the matter of adornments.

A real saint, has the outside, and the inside of real salvation, which renders them _God’s peculiar people_; inside, and outside, righteousness. It consists first, in having our sins taken from us--removed as far as the east is from the west, so that it has no more dominion over us, having our inner being washed and set free from all the remains of the carnal mind. This is preceded by a real death to carnality--a death which too few experience, but necessary in order to prove the heights and depths of love divine.

It is to be so dead to sin and self, that we shall be just like clay in the hands of the potter, fashioned by Him as he wills and we lovingly submit and say, “Thy will be done, O, Lord! my God, and my Redeemer.”

To be a peculiar people, means _death_ to the tricks and wiles of the devil--so that in presenting his claims with all his Satanic art, there is no response within, but a repelling power springs up immediately. He will tempt you to disbelieve in Jesus Christ, that is, don’t expect Him to save you so thoroughly as some claim. He will persuade you if possible to tone down a little; but with this death, and this resurrection power, you are more than a match for him.

He will follow you all the way down to death. Everywhere he will present his claims, and with the least possible chance, he will overcome you.

We are not above our Master. The world, with all its grandeur, will make its demands. As Christ was tempted to bow the knee, so will it be with us. The flesh will clamor for indulgencies, but the child of God that is dead indeed to sin and alive to Him, will overcome by the word of their testimony and the blood of the Lamb. The internal evidence that you are one of that family, _a peculiar people_, is grandly pronounced in the following manner:

The first noticeable manifestation after you have made clean your escape from the land of bondage and destruction, will be a _state of peace_ that will thrill your entire being. This will appear strange, after the awful conflict that you so recently passed through. Coming into a state of reconciliation--everything about you will seem to be in a lovely mood. As you move on in the divine life, this state of joy and gladness will increase, so that your _peace_ will flow as a river; and as you continue faithful in the grace already given, you will soon have what the Psalmist called “_Great peace_.” “_Great peace have they which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them._” That is, if you are sanctified wholly, made perfect in love, you have a peace that will not stumble over anything that may occur; the ungodly things that are on all sides will not turn you out of the direct way to Heaven. Everlasting joy belongs to this people; it comes natural to them, as rays of light from the sun, or as rain from the clouds. The command is, “Rejoice evermore.” This would be impossible without a pure heart and a holy life. “The redeemed come to Zion, with songs and with everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

While the saints all have joy, they do not all have the same degree of joy; neither will they in the world to come. St. Paul says that “one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection.” Holy joy is like a musical scale, with its added lines. Every note of praise has its positive, comparative and superlative development. The first note of holy joy that will be discovered in us will be in singing the songs of Zion. The redeemed come with songs; and yet there may be the joy, not only of the justified believer, but of the wholly sanctified. Glory to God. While this may be true, not all that sing the songs of Zion are blessed with this holy, triumphant joy. Only the redeemed have it.

The second degree of joy, in the natural scale, will be found in the hearty amen; especially if it be born of the Spirit. A great many amens were never born of the Spirit; they are counterfeits. How blessed are the sanctified amens. How rich the service that is well interspersed with them. The amen corners in our churches are of inestimable value; as much so as the Urim and Thummim in the Mosaic dispensation. It clearly revealed the presence of the Most High; so do the spirit-inspired amens. How encouraging the unctious amens to the saints. How it lifts the preacher while proclaiming the everlasting gospel. Oh, that God would baptize the church with more sanctified, Holy Ghost amens.

The note of praise running still higher in the scale of holy joy will be, “Praise the Lord.” How little we hear of this, to what we ought to hear. But as we advance in the divine life, the praises of God will increase in our hearts, and upon our lips, and we shall feel like saying: “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.”

The next higher note of joy will be “Glory.” This will spring up so natural if you occupy just the right spot on the scale of experience. You cannot pump it up, if the well is dry. There must be living water in the well. Jesus said, “The water that I give you shall be in you a well of water springing up unto everlasting life.”

As you ascend the mount of holiness, the next higher note struck will be “_Hallelujah!_” This note is sweeter than honey and the honey comb. In order to understand music on this key, you must live in the promised land. Thus far in the scale of everlasting joy we have language to express in a very faint degree the heaven that reigns within. But there comes a condition in our onward flight when all the language employed by mortal beings fail to express the joy that floods the soul. St. Paul, master of the Greek language, which is said to be very expressive, could not give it in that, so, doubtless, he gave it in the language employed by angels. “For,” says the Apostle, “Believing, ye rejoice with joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.” That must be a little of the bliss that we shall know when we surround the throne; bliss without alloy; joy unspeakable and full of glory. “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” God grant that the reader and the writer may have a great deal of this joy, regardless of the outer manifestation.

But in this condition of salvation, there will be outer manifestations; outer developments. Life is not an even spun thread. Rivers are not all the way through, the same, width and depth. The earth is not a dead level--a vast prairie--not all hill--not all valley, but a variety. The beauty of creation, is this endless variety. Who could bear to gaze forever on a vast plain, or mountain scenery? I believe that Heaven will be made up of change. It will take all of eternity to develop God’s creative power. It is true, there will be some general features that will abide; it is so with Christian life; but outwardly there will be new developments, new manifestations.

“Good works,” will be the most marked, demonstration. This people are “zealous of good works.” The work of beneficence occupies a large place with all that truly belong to Jesus. In this they will be like Him, who went about doing good to the souls and bodies of men; feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and so far as we have the power, helping in every legitimate way:

“The voice of charity is kind, She thinketh nothing wrong-- To every fault she seemeth blind; Nor vaunteth with her tongue. ’Tis not to pause when at the door-- A shivering brother stands: To ask the cause, what made him poor! Or why he help demands.”

Christian men and women are stewards for God. Their income, after economically providing for their own needs, goes for God’s cause. How this cause would move, if all that profess to be disciples of Christ, were thus actuated. The secret of living where the great Shechinah will shine full-orbed upon your soul; where, not a cloud will arise to intervene for a moment, to darken the soul’s vision, comes when you are under, and daily bearing the cross. What blessed opportunities are presented daily, for denying self, and making glad hearts which have long been in the deepest sorrow, and affliction. How we may cheer the broken-hearted, if we will, and help the pilgrim on his way.

The very best investments come on this line. But woe to him that is greedy of gain, that is constantly seeking to lay up treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. “Whatsoever a man soweth, that, shall he also reap,” is the fiat of fate; the unchangeable law of Him that made and controls all things on earth, and in Heaven.

This people will have another class of manifestations, peculiar and marvelous. When the Holy Ghost comes on an individual, as it will, when a complete surrender has been made, there will be at times, visible evidences of that fact. This manifestation will not be the same with every individual, neither will it be always the same with the same person. The Spirit’s operations are differently presented; some will fall--others will laugh--some will cry--run--jump--shake as with the ague--shout--praise God--sing--and in various peculiar ways, God the Holy Ghost will manifest Himself. This has been the condition of things in the church of God from the beginning down to the present time when the church has been alive in Him, earnestly seeking to do His will. But when a church is dead--plucked up by the root--cold, frozen, stiff, formal, backslidden, why, then they have things “_decently, and in order_.” There are lots of churches in these days that, a legally constituted amen, would give them all a severe run of fever!

I suppose that if David, the King of Israel, should come to worship with you as he worshiped before the ark, dancing with all his might, you would have him stop, or put him out. I have no doubt but that you would set as umpire and cry out fanaticism, wild-fire.

_Jesus_, on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, was followed by the crowd; the children that were there worshiped Him, crying out Hosannah to Jesus, the King of Israel! The old Pharisees then acted just as they have ever since when God blesses His children, requesting them to stop their noise. Jesus gently reproved them in the statement made. Said He: “If these should hold their _peace_, the stones would cry out.” How this truth has been verified again and again. When one people stop praising God in the way the Spirit directs and operates, then another is raised up to take their place, thus it has ever been. The Free Methodist church was raised up to take the place made vacant by others, to offer the tribute of praise in its various moods and tenses to the Lord Almighty. Beware how you put your hands on the Ark! Death comes on that line. “_Quench not the Spirit._” Alas! the fumes of the dead killed in that way cover the land like a malaria, and the odor in many of our churches is stifling. O, for a breeze of salvation’s life and power on all the churches.

But to return. The man healed at the beautiful gate by Jesus Christ through Peter, went off leaping, and walking, and praising God. It must have looked very strange to those who saw it. A man, lame from his birth, performing in such a _peculiar manner_. Why did he not after the healing power came on him, walk off quietly? Why excite curiosity? Doubtless it was for God’s glory. If he had gone to his home in a quiet manner, but few would have taken notice of the circumstance; whereas leaping, and walking, and praising God, drew the attention of the people and of those who never had known him, to the marvelous fact, that a miracle had taken place on this man, and while their curiosity was in lively exercise, Jesus Christ was preached unto them as the Physician for soul and body. He wants the glory for what He does for our souls and bodies.

The day of Pentecost was a sample day of what we might have every day, during this dispensation, if the church wanted it and would put herself in the same condition to receive it, and doubtless with as peculiar, and marked demonstrations. On that occasion, it sat upon each like a tongue of fire, and they all began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. It has been said that some seventeen different languages were spoken on that occasion. What other outer demonstrations there were on that occasion we are not informed; but it is quite evident from what followed, there were some, for Peter’s denial of the charge of drunkenness would indicate the fact that they did take place. “These are not drunken as ye supposed.”

In every genuine revival the church has had from the very beginning up to the present time, powerful manifestations of God’s presence in a way calculated to arouse the most hardened and wretched sinner to a realization of their awful danger while in their sins, causing them to cry out from the very depths of despair, God be merciful to me a sinner. We often hear persons pray for the influences of the Spirit. Under certain conditions that would be right, but what we always need, is the mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, just as it came on the sample day, and if I read the scriptures aright, the promise is that God will pour out of His Spirit in this dispensation, upon all flesh, not sprinkle us with an influence but saturate and fill us. For He says, “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, _but be filled with the Spirit_.”

_Methodism_, in the days of Wesley, Whitfield, Asbury and Peter Cartwright, was marked by very peculiar outer demonstrations. Falling, like the dead slain in battle, was a very common feature. At a camp-meeting held in about the year 1803 in Kentucky, five hundred at one time fell under the power of the Holy Ghost. “Somewhere between 1800 and 1801, in the upper part of Kentucky, at a memorable place called Cane Ridge, there was appointed a sacramental meeting by some of the Presbyterian ministers, at which meeting seemingly unexpected by ministers or people, the mighty power of God was displayed in a very extraordinary manner, many were moved to tears, and bitter and loud crying for mercy. The meeting was protracted for weeks. Ministers of almost all denominations flocked in from far and near. The meeting was kept up both night and day. Thousands heard of the mighty work, and came on foot, on horseback, in carriages and wagons. It was supposed that there were in attendance at times during the meeting from twelve to twenty-five thousand people. Hundreds fell prostrate under the mighty power of God, as men slain in battle. Stands were erected in the woods from which preachers of different churches proclaimed repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, and it was supposed by eye and ear witnesses, that between one and two thousand souls were happily and powerfully converted to God during the meeting. It was not unusual for one, two, three, and four to seven preachers to be addressing the listening thousands at the same time from the different stands erected for that purpose. _The Heavenly fire spread in almost every direction. It was said, by truthful witnesses, that at times more than one thousand persons broke out into loud shouting all at once, and the shouts could be heard for miles around._” The Methodist preachers that were at this meeting possessed some of the John Wesley ability to utilize whatever might aid in advancing the Redeemer’s Kingdom, saw in the meeting just described a glorious opportunity, which they immediately embraced, and out of which evolved the notorious camp-meeting referred to in another place as a child of Methodism. Bishop Simpson said in a sermon that he preached to a large congregation of class-leaders at Philadelphia, Pa., from these words, “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire,” “that the Methodists owed their success to this baptism; and what made them peculiar was the fire.” This was a double blessing, producing intensity of life and action, with visible manifestations of God’s presence and power often manifested in peculiar ways. I remember well for more than fifty years, how the Lord graciously poured out His Spirit on our beloved Zion. The times of refreshing, cries for mercy, the songs of praise, the amens and the glorious Hallelujahs that I heard half a century ago, come welling up in my soul as though it were yesterday. I attended a quarterly meeting at Albion, N. Y., in the old brick M. E. Church, L. Stiles pastor, in 1857. This was one of the original meetings gotten up by Rev. B. T. Roberts, and Rev. L. Stiles. It was a four day meeting. I had never been away from home before to attend a meeting of this character. I had a good deal of anxiety to know what kind of people I should see at that meeting. An old class-leader that lived near me was on his way to that meeting with me. Said I, ‘Brother, what kind of folks will attend the quarterly meeting?’ Said he, ‘The very _cream_ of the church.’ As we came near the church we could hear the saints as they met each other coming in from the regions round about, greeting one another with ‘Praise the Lord, I am so glad to see you, how does your soul prosper, well? glory to God.’ Then would ring out Spirit-born amens. This was before the meeting had commenced. I was captured by these greetings. This meeting commenced at 9 o’clock A. M., with a prayer meeting, first was five minutes of secret prayer. In about two minutes an old gray-haired pilgrim got blessed, sprang up and commenced shouting glory, Hallelujah, with what I thought, unearthly power. He jumped to his feet and I to mine. He continued to shout, and I gazed with wonder, and shook from head to foot as though everything around me was moving heavenward. Very soon I got on my knees again and asked the Lord to steady my nerves, for I felt that I must have something, for the element around me was perfectly awful and solemn. I had been on my knees but a short time before a Bro. in the back part of the church sprang to his feet and with such lung power as it seemed to me at that time I had never heard before shouted with all his might--‘_Hallelujah_’--and this he repeated until the house was full of glory, and of God. This was a Pentecostal meeting. Here the saints received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, fitting them up for the awful ordeal of expulsion from their own home, consecrated by the dearest ties of nature and grace; made dear by every recollection of bygone days. Here in the beginning of our Christian life, were _Spiritual fathers_ and _mothers_, who cared for us with great tenderness and solicitude. Now, to be thrust out from our dear old home, simply because we loved her and were trying to maintain her rights, was cruel indeed. But God had a purpose in this, as much as He had in the selling of Joseph into Egypt. Benjamin must be cast out to man the LIFE-BOAT, to rescue the perishing. Nearly thirty years has come and gone with trials, conflicts, persecutions, broadside after broadside from the _old craft_, and other crafts, yet, the Captain has maintained his place at the mast-head, holding high the insignia that brought us to the front, ‘HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD.’” May his life and health be preserved for years to come to maintain the same work that he has so tenaciously held to in the past, amen. While others have been raised up to help in bearing aloft the banner of heart purity, noble men and women, our brother has not become puffed up by great prosperity, but maintains the simplicity of the gospel as in other days.

Rev. Amos Hard lived in the town of Murry, N. Y., five miles from Albion and four from Holly, I lived neighbour to him. Perhaps there was not another man in Genesee Conference that did so much to stir up war as Bro. Hard. As a Sister remarked on the old Bergen camp ground, “Bro. Hard is all heads and points.” His relation to his church was supernumerary. This relation he occupied for twenty-five years, so that he was at liberty to go and come when he pleased. It was expected that when the Free church was organized, he would come right in, but he did not. If he had been expelled, as others were for doing some of the same work that he did, doubtless, he would have come in. There was just one thing that prevented his expulsion, and that was, his two sons that were in Genesee College. His character was arrested several times, and the only thing that saved his head from the axe, was his superior sons. It was argued like this, “You expel Brother Hard, and we lose two of the smartest students we have in the college,” and the last time that our Brother was put through the crucible, it was added, “and the Free Methodists will get them.” This statement I had from Sister Hard. His home was a rendezvous for those engaged in making war on church idols.

_Much harm_ has been done to the cause of Christ by not properly estimating religious demonstrations. Some have laid too much stress upon them. While blessed in the past, they had peculiar manifestations, and then come to this conclusion, that, when blessed of God, they would always have the same outer demonstrations; and if they did not have the same, readily concluded that they were not right with God, when at the same time they had not knowingly grieved the Spirit in any way. The next step with them has been to cast away their confidence in Christ, quit doing duty and of course, they were soon far away from the Lord. We should always hold fast the profession of our faith, if we have not committed sin, regardless of everything else. If we have done wrong, hasten to make it right. The cause of Christ has suffered great damage and in many places it has been completely smothered by those that sit in judgment and condemn every phase of experience that does not meet their preconceived notions of just how a person should act when blessed of God; condemning what may seem peculiar and strange because they do not understand it, is not wise. The Holy Spirit has been grieved, yea, _blasphemed_ in too many cases in that way. Charges and conferences have been greatly checked, and in some cases dried up by the root, by harshly condemning _the Spirit’s operations_. I have no doubt but that they honestly sought to remedy what they supposed was a serious difficulty--greatly hindering the work of the Lord. Their efforts were not blessed of God, and worked ruin, because they resorted to wrong measures. I believe that the devil has power to imitate the Spirit, especially in demonstrations. But suppose that he has? We need be a little cautious how we give him credit. John Wesley and others at Fetterlane fell into the same difficulty which grieved the Spirit and brought deadness to the work at that place, and leanness into their souls. They sought unto the Lord to know the difficulty and God let light upon them, just as He would do by you if you are guilty of a like offense.

Wesley and others made the following confession: “We acknowledged our having grieved Him by our divisions; one saying, I am of Paul, another, I am of Apollos; by our leaning again to our own works and trusting in them, instead of Christ, by our resting in those little beginnings of sanctification, which it had pleased Him to work in our souls, and, above all, _by blaspheming His work among us, imputing it to nature, to the force of imagination and animal spirits, or even to the delusion of the devil. In that hour, we found God with us as at the first. Some fell prostrate upon the ground. Others burst out, as with one consent, into loud praise and thanksgiving. And many openly testified there had been no such day as this since January the first preceding._” (_Wesley Journal, Volume 3, page 140._)

After confessing their faults, one to another, the blessing of the Lord came as on former occasions. Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, is not the above remedy what we _need_ among us, as a people? especially in some places. Wherever it has been tried, it proved gloriously successful. In fact, it is the only remedy for the like difficulties. A good square confession is always health to the soul, it works like a charm. If you have grieved the Holy Spirit, try it.

During more than fifty years I have witnessed a great many powerful revivals, and from what I have seen I come to this conclusion, that it is impossible to have a revival of God’s salvation where the real burden of the Lord will rest on Zion, so she will feel a little as Christ felt when in the Garden, when such conviction will come on sinners that they will see themselves and their real danger, leading them to cry for life, without manifesting much that will be decidedly _peculiar_. But to stop and spend, or waste time in trying to regulate the Holy Ghost, is exceedingly foolish. You might as well try to regulate chain-lightning as it came from the clouds. When there is much fire in the furnace clinkers are formed, but you don’t spend your time working at clinkers, it’s the fire you want. A great many have tried to manage the train to suit their views of things, but the result has been in too many cases, a fearful smashup. Others through their blinded zeal have got on the train just in time to be side-tracked or ushered suddenly into eternity. How many have come into the Free Methodist church apparently with a desire to run this train according to their schedule time, but were soon side-tracked, or ceased to be.

God Almighty’s train must be managed according to the _old time-table_. Jobbers--compromisers--and all that love and make a lie, off from the track at once. But few brakemen are needed on this train, but a premium is offered for first-class firemen. Beloveds, up with the brakes, and let the train move on, and don’t become alarmed if she gets under big headway.

In 1863 Brother and Sister Cooley and the writer held a camp-meeting at Blood’s Corners, N. Y. After the Sabbath we were helped by Brother and Sister Roberts. Brother James Matthews and others came in from a meeting that had just closed at Akron. It was a very hard place to run a meeting from the fact that in that section of country nearly all professed to be Christians, when it was plain to be seen that in most cases they were in a backslidden state if they had ever been converted, which was doubted. Crowds came on the ground and openly and in other ways opposed the work that we were called to do, that was to spread “scriptural holiness.” On one occasion when Brother Cooley was exhorting a large crowd on this subject, a local preacher belonging to some church, jumped up and commanded Brother Cooley to stop at once, “they did not want to hear such stuff.” Brother Cooley paid no attention to this but continued to exhort. Then the fellow turned on Brother C., and cried out with all his might for the Holy Ghost to knock our brother down. This he repeated, declaring they would not hear such talk. This was a hard fought battle field but victory came on this wise. On Tuesday night about twelve o’clock it was thought by a number of real saints that came on the ground from New York City, and from Illinois, and by those that had been there from the beginning that God could and would give the victory if we should make a more thorough effort. Accordingly twenty or more (and they were members of eight denominations) went into Brother Roberts’ tent and engaged in earnest prayer to this end.

Our praying was characterized by intense earnestness, all that were in that meeting felt that way. Some took a very humble position, especially Brother Belden of N. Y. He was a Presbyterian minister. He confessed he had compromised, but would do so no more. He would preach a whole gospel the remainder of his life, if compelled by so doing to beg from door to door. It seemed to take us until four o’clock in the morning to reach the spot where faith sprang up claiming the Holy Ghost and the fire. At this point it came on all in that tent. It made no difference because we belonged to different organizations, all fell as slain in battle, except one. At this meeting our dear Brother Roberts fell under the power of God several times. He approached the person that did not fall to lay his hands on their head, but when his hands came within one foot of them he fell the quickest of any person that I ever saw fall. This was one of the most glorious meetings that I ever knew anything about. After this salvation flowed in upon us like a mighty river, souls were saved, believers were sanctified wholly, and the Free Methodists struck an abiding place at that time, and from this point it has gone out to bless others in regions beyond. In those days we made it a point to have the victory on all occasions. If at first we did not succeed we would try again, let the drill go down until we struck the living stream. There is no such thing as failure with those whose faith and trust is in God. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

_Free Methodism_ is a child of Providence, born in due time. She is a spontaneous production of the Holy Ghost, and all legitimate children are made so by the same power. It cannot be learned from any other source. A great many come in with us from other churches, but when our machinery gets under full headway, they become alarmed at what they see and hear and then try to adjust things to their primary knowledge of the science. In trying to do this as preachers, they have gotten themselves and the societies over which they were placed into serious difficulty. Not having a natural induction into the science of Free Methodism, they did the best they knew, but when they should have raised the valve and let on more steam, down went the brakes, and when faith should have been encouraged, personal grievances were introduced. Now to illustrate--You may have carried a watch for many years and know much about the object of a watch, but if you were to go into a watch maker’s establishment to make watches, you would have to commence at the very foundation in order to know how to make a watch. It is precisely so in this science. To work understandingly and in harmony with it, one must be born into it, BORN OF THE SPIRIT. Our machinery is the very best ever devised, providing that it is well worked. It must be worked in order that its beauty and symmetry may be seen and appreciated. But if it is allowed to go on the dry dock, it presents a forlorn appearance. It is only when under sail with a stiff breeze, that her grand proportions are visible.

VIII.

The Free Methodist Church A Necessity.

Completeness in all the works of God are everywhere manifest. Harmony prevails in the vast system of worlds above, and all around us. By the aid of the telescope, we view with delight the increasing magnitude of those heavenly bodies, from the asteroid, up to that mysterious orb that gives life and light to the vegetable and animal kingdoms, and the worlds that move in space. The chain is complete. Every link is in its proper place. This is correct in both kingdoms. You may trace with profound interest the smallest insect that crawls upon the leaf to the giant mastodon that roams the forest. This law prevails likewise in the kingdom of grace. As one star differeth from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection. And when we stand upon the sea of glass mingled with fire, and gaze upon that innumerable company that have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, the law of necessity, and development will be manifest. Heaven would be very incomplete if this were not true. If there were none but arch-angels and matured saints; if the children of all grades, those just blooming into life were not there; if men and women with the feeblest intellect redeemed to God by the blood of the Lamb were not there, then indeed, the chain would be broken, and Heaven would be incomplete. What joy comes to the Christian parents, when compelled to lay their dear child, that had already given them so much real pleasure, away in the cold silent grave, to feel that we shall meet again, and be forever with the Lord.

We now come to a different consideration, that is, the Christian church or churches. This is of a twofold character, internal and external. It may have an existence where it does not appear externally; and what often has an external appearance as the church of Christ, may have no relation to Him. Nevertheless, it does possess the invisible and the visible organization. The invisible or spiritual church of Christ, is one, in Heaven, and on earth. The visible organization is manifold. She might well be compared to a family with many members, all striving to do the will of the parent. All have not the same office. Every branch of the Christian church have their mission, and will be required to do just what they are fitted for by nature, culture, and by grace. Where much has been given, much will be required. Responsibility measures up to the above rule.

The whole family of churches evolved one after another from the old Catholic church: and all, seem to have a mission in the world’s drama. Just what that mission is, I am not able to define. Perhaps some are to operate as parasites on others. The mission of the church of Christ was to seek and save the lost and perishing. The Wesleyan Methodist church declares in her book of discipline that they were raised up to spread scriptural holiness over these lands; and while she was true to her mission, nothing could stand before her. Where ever she unfurled the banner of the cross, rebellion ceased, and Jesus Christ was crowned Lord of all. At least multitudes were saved to God and joined the ranks of the redeemed.

The doctrines of the M. E. Church were ordained in heaven, honored of God, and blessed to the salvation of millions. Her general rules were a strong tower; mighty bulwarks, rendering her when within that fortification impregnable. For nearly a century she stood the assault and rage of earth and hell without flinching, and the glory cloud did rest upon her. But the time came when she fell; not by the mighty invading forces without altogether, but by internal foes that she had taken to her loving embrace. Her manner of life is entirely changed, or nearly so. Humility has given way to pride and ostentation. The doctrines that she once placed such stress upon, the witness of the spirit, entire holiness, a confession of sin, restitution, plainness of dress, she now largely ignores. Those internal foes that she cares for so tenderly have robbed her of her Spiritual life and power. The glory manifested during the service of preaching, prayer or class-meeting, has in many places entirely disappeared. Beside the enemies already mentioned, she had taken within her pale, members that belong to speculative Free Masonry, who are opposed to Jesus Christ and his gospel; hence, war was waged within the church by this army of Satan, against Christ and His army, the saints. This division of purpose by the two armies within the church was everywhere manifest: each party, seeking for the supremacy. While the saints held tenaciously to the ancient land-marks which our fathers set, Satan’s wing labored to introduce the new order of things.

One of the great mistakes made by this church is in receiving members that were never converted, but simply had a lukewarm desire to go to heaven when they had exhausted every round of earthly pleasure. Bishop Peck made this statement in a sermon that he preached a short time before his death, “I am persuaded that more than three-fourths of all the members in my beloved church, were never converted.” A sad confession indeed; but observation proves his statement correct. No wonder, with these elements within, our mother sought to array herself in gorgeous apparel. What a contrast between these days of pomp, and vanity, and worldly mindedness, and the days of blessed memory, when arrayed in Christ’s righteousness. No wonder that there was war in the church, when Susie and John came home from boarding school, backslidden completely from good desires, with the new order of things fresh in their minds, were ashamed of mother’s old fashioned style, determined that there should be a change in the programme. So they commenced by banging mother’s hair and putting rings in her ears and on her fingers. The bustle, put in its horrid appearance with extra yards of cloth, buttons, ribbons, all of which gave our dear old mother the appearance of a stranger. Of course, she was urged to comb her hair back as in the days of her simplicity, and decorate herself in modest apparel, without gold, or pearls, or costly array; but she was obstinate, and has been ever since.

The time was when the Methodists were a plain, clean, Godly class of people. Their churches were built plain with free seats, good enough for the rich, and none too good for the poor; and all were welcome, rich and poor. The principle that actuated them in bygone days was, the house of God should be as free as the gospel we preach, and both as free as the air we breathe; and on this line the glory of the Lord was manifest in the salvation of souls, and in the sanctification of believers.

The new order of things brought with it a new order of church edifices; seemingly just to accommodate the rich to the great neglect of the poor! Of course, in all churches where the seats are sold, a few are reserved for the poor, and for colored people. After a poor man or woman have accepted the paupers’ seat for a Sabbath or two, they get tempted over it, and stay away from church altogether; when if the seats had been free, they would have continued their attendance upon divine service, and likely been converted to God, and made a great blessing to the church, and to the world.

It is a tremendous mistake, the practice of dedicating a church to God, and then selling it out to whom? why, anybody that have a mind to buy it; and in a multitude of cases, wicked, ungodly wretches have bought the best seats in the house, giving them power over that society, so that in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred, the preacher in the pulpit of such churches, is gagged; some subjects he dare not touch, because forsooth, his bread and his butter is at stake; that because of this system, millions have been kept away from the house of God and have perished.

One of the most embarrassing things the learned clergy of to-day have to meet constantly is, what shall we do with this great estrangement of the poor from the house of God?

My answer to the above proposition is, free churches throughout the land, baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, will solve this mighty problem. This is the only solution.

_Instrumental music_ is another innovation. The music that pleases God, is that which comes from a heart, consecrated to Him, inspired by love divine, springing up like a fountain of life; the spontaneous outgoings of the spirit. We must sing in the spirit, and with the understanding also.

This part of divine service should be free to all present, not marred by the instrument, neither by the select few. In this, we should study to show ourselves approved unto God. I cannot believe that He loves ignorance in the service of song, any more than in preaching His gospel. We should aim at the greatest efficiency in all the service rendered. This was the original plan as it came to our fathers. But with the new order of things came the organ, and the distressing few, to do the most precious part of divine worship.

Preaching the gospel was the means ordained of God for the salvation of the lost, and where this is done with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven, the work is accomplished. God never ordained the reading of essays as a means to bring sinners to Christ. His prophets anciently spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and success crowned their efforts.

_Carnal Amusements_ are a great hindrance in carrying forward the work of the Lord in any church. They grieve the Spirit and cause those that indulge in them to backslide and become worthless as laborers in the cause of Christ.

_The Sabbath School_ should be the nursery of the church; and is, when the salvation of the school is the primary object. When time, talents and means are employed to that end, but if carnal amusements are held up as the object for which they aspire, then indeed, much of our labor will be in vain.

_Camp-meetings_ are an American institution and a child of Methodism. Eternity alone can tell the good accomplished by these means of grace. Thousands have been attracted to God’s leafy temple where the greatest amount of Spiritual freedom generally prevails, especially when ancient simplicity and earnestness prevails, because there is always something inviting, something grand and glorious about these God ordained gatherings. Can you imagine a place more lovely to behold, and to enjoy, than a beautiful forest dotted with Israel’s tents, and a company of those that are in earnest to get to Heaven? the songs of praise, the shouts of new-born souls, and on every side to feel that God and angels are there. Truly, such a place has a charm for all that love the good and the beautiful. But when the camp-meeting becomes a place for trade and speculation, a place for visiting, for idleness and feasting, for airing one’s opinions, for anything and everything but self-denial and earnestly seeking the baptism of the Holy Ghost on their own souls and on the souls of the unsaved, then the ancient glory departs, and as a substitute culture in style, from the tent, to the magnificent cottage, the exclamations of holy joy in the electric amen--praise the Lord--glory to God--Hallelujah--give way to jesting, to light and trifling conversation, and to engaging in those things that produce the most fun. Then, indeed, it becomes necessary that another people should be raised up to do camp-meeting work as in former days, when the glory of the Lord rested upon this branch of Zion.

In too many cases the camp-meeting of to-day is simply a huge Pic-Nic! I believe the real difficulty has been, and is, in failing to preach, experience to live, and enforce sanctification, or perfect love. This was the central _thought_ with this church, and should be with every Christian denomination. It should tower above every other consideration. It is true that the doctrine of holiness has become quite popular in some directions, but that kind that contains the cross that kills, and produces resurrection life and makes a complete separation from all carnality, is no more popular to-day, than it was in the beginning. This was the issue in the M. E. Church more than thirty years ago resulting in the foundation of the Free Methodist church. Other things came in which greatly enlarged Satan’s army, so that on almost every occasion there was war. This continued with increasing force until the powers of darkness were in the ascendancy, resulting in the expulsion of some of the best the old Genesee Conference had. This occurred in 1858. In one of Dickens’ works, I think it is, this statement is made: “The first settlers of England were what are now, the Welsh that occupy Wales. They were at war with the Scots and Picts. Before this they had been harassed for a long time by the Romans. Now the Saxon comes in and makes war upon them, and then takes possession of the country, forcing the Britons back to the mountains of Wales; so, ever since the Saxon have been masters of Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland.”

This bit of history clearly illustrates the condition of our mother church. As the Britons were driven to Wales, so Christ and His followers have been driven out by the new order of things. Perhaps a streak of salvation might be sandwiched in, in some country church; or in a classroom far away from public gaze, where if the ancient power and glory should come in, no one would be hurt. But this order of things that the ancient power and glory should have no more place in this church, was decreed by many in authority nearly thirty years since, which my ears heard, and my eyes have seen performed in the expulsion of the good and the true from that body. During this war I became acquainted and was for a time quite intimate with Rev. John Robie, then Editor of the Buffalo Advocate, the organ of what was then known as “The Regency Party.” On one occasion visiting this Brother quite a number of ministers from this conference met in his office to do what they considered very important business, and that was to strengthen each other’s hands in the horrid work already begun, in expelling every one in that conference that endorsed B. T. Roberts, Styles, and all that class that did not stand by the new order of things. This I lived to see accomplished, to the very letter, both in the ministry and with the laity. They not only expelled, but they bought up and removed all so far as they had the ability, that believed in the life and power of salvation, or “Methodism,” as she was in the early days of her espousals to Christ, when the glory cloud was everywhere manifest. This work was not confined to the Genesee Conference, of making war on those that were true to their vows to Christ and to this branch of His church, but extended to other parts. Other Conferences are guilty of proscription, past, and present. That the forces which brought Methodism into existence, that gave to the world the grandest model ever planned for the salvation of the lost, should be forced to abandon its birthplace, is strange indeed. “Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon!”

In this expulsion the best blood of the church was forced out; and by the spiritual law of gravitation they came together and formed a conglomerate, which they named, “The Free Methodist church.” It has been called “The Free Methodist life boat.”

The organization took place in perilous times. Many societies were being engulfed by formalism, and death. This life-boat was a timely aid to rescue the perishing. Thousands will thank God to all eternity for their salvation through this instrumentality. The casual observer might have entertained grave doubts in her ability to navigate the stormy sea of life, and cope with other crafts claiming to be engaged in the life saving service, but presenting sails of a decidedly different character; but no where drawing fire from the enemy, but worldly commendation. It is true, her external appearance did not, and does not, give to those that merely gaze upon the outer appearance, much to hope for.

When the Ericsson Monitor steamed up Hampton Roads, rebels laughed and our fleet were in great alarm, expecting complete destruction by the iron-clad Merrimac. She had already destroyed several ships. Now, what the rebels called the Yankee cheese box puts in her appearance just in time to save the balance of the fleet from utter destruction. The Monitor had a power out of sight that deceived those that merely saw the outside. This is true of our beloved church. When first launched, she was called a _Cheese_ box--a Dug-out--an old Scow--a Theatre, and many other names she received. Nevertheless, wherever this life-boat touched in former days she took passengers aboard, some from the hedges, lanes, by-ways, the poor, the lame, the halt, the blind, and many from other churches; and with former _equipments_, rebels are taken upon all seas for King Emanuel--even to-day.

It is an acknowledged fact, past and present, that the F. M. church has been of untold value to all other evangelical bodies, and to Christianity in particular--especially in the United States. It has caused them to consider in a new light the claims that God had upon His people, that holiness of heart and life was binding upon all. I have heard some of the most eminent for piety and usefulness in other churches say that above stated; and that they hoped the free church would continue to succeed, because of the great value she had been to them.

Her position as standard-bearer in all the moral reforms of the day, gives her a prominent position. _Our schools_, papers, periodicals, are all on that line. Other church papers have often used our editorials, but did not always give due credit.

We are under great obligation to the Almighty, for the schools that have been raised up to us; where the young may be educated in a pure atmosphere, and from these schools many are going out to bless the world with a richer experience; a life more completely consecrated, educated, mentally, morally, socially, and physically. In the moral and social rank, we claim the pre-eminence for our schools and for our literature. There was, and there is, and there will continue to be, a need, for a people to do just this kind of work; and while we continue humble and obedient, God will use us to this end. “But if we forsake Him, He will forsake us.” If we turn aside to other Gods, He will cast us forth as a branch that is withered, and we shall be like other nations.

_One of the most wide spread evils of the day_, filthy in all its make up, disgusting in the extreme to a clean, well-bred person, robbing men of their manhood, and of their mental and physical powers, is tobacco. Forty years ago it was considered ungentlemanly to smoke in the presence of ladies, but now, in almost every mode of travel, on the street, in the stores, and in nearly all public places, ladies and all are insulted by the filthy fumes of the pipe or cigar, compounded with decayed teeth, and the deadly Upas of the saloon, forming a drug that produces mental derangement, insanity, crime, pauperism, poverty and shortens the life of its victims. The use of tobacco is a bar to membership in the F. M. C. In this, she stands supremely above all other churches. She is doing a glorious work in making war on tobacco, and exposing its effects on the human system. It has been said that some of our preachers were raised up to make tobacco a specialty, as it occupied a corner in every sermon regardless of the text. Well, suppose that is true, is it not a fact that all reformers dwell on the thing that needs reforming? Perhaps this class of preachers are better acquainted with this evil in its length and breadth, and know by a blessed experience the source of deliverance from the habit, and all longing after the same. Such preaching is worth a great deal more than that from those who never knew by experience the power of the habit, and the virtue of the blood that cleanseth from all sin, and all desire for the unclean.

_Fashion brings its devotees_ into servile compliance with its most debasing demands. Those that wear this yoke, are lost, to that which makes humanity lovely, good and beautiful. A remark so commonly made, “that you might as well be out of the world as out of fashion,” is true of this class.

In adhering to this tyrant, millions of women and men have been ruined for life. Those that have labored to live so as to equal or go beyond certain others in matters of equipage, have been compelled to abandon, in order to meet fashion’s demands, the honest mode of life, and resort to fraud and speculation to obtain what their souls lusted after.

Our jails, and portions of Canada, are largely made up of that class. The pressure brought upon men to supply the wife and daughters with fashion’s demands, have driven them to the lodge, the gambling hell, the brothel--and the worst of all--the saloon! What can be more appalling than a lady martyred to fashion? from head to foot out of shape--distorted--compressed--pulled out--cut off in trying to fit the fashion plate. Alas! Alas! We are imitative beings. In this the poor ape the rich so far as they are able. If they cannot wear the glittering gems of great value, they will decorate themselves with shoddy finery. Is it not time to call a halt to this wicked, ungodly mode of life? For any man or woman to come out from this style of things, and endorse plainness in dress, and righteousness all the way through by precept and example, requires a holy heart, filled with love divine. And this manner of life pays bountifully in this present world, and will in the world to come, even life everlasting. During the past fifty years I have noticed those that the Lord blessed the most, and were the most useful in the church and world around them, were that class that conscientiously carried out in their lives the Apostolic plan already referred to.

There is much connected with fashionable attire that is supremely wicked. First, the cost of the material; secondly, precious time spent in its making; thirdly, the wearing of such is in violation of the word of the Lord. 1 Peter 3:3, 4. The only organized opposition to this mode of life is the Free Methodist church. She has stood like a beacon light for nearly thirty years, warning men and women of their imminent danger.

_Holiness unto the Lord_--is the key to the arch that spans the temple of the living God. It is that which gives symmetry to life and character, a state that we enter into when the soul has been swept and garnished by the Holy Ghost and the blood of the Lamb, which greatly enlarges our views of Christ and His powers to save, that brings perpetual sunshine to the soul, that makes earth a paradise, that causes flowers to bloom in the desert, and the water of life to spring from the flinty rock, and the heart of the needy to rejoice with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. It is food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, and comfort to the weary and heavy laden. It is full of hope; big with immortality. Over this boundless plain comes the odor of Eden, fresh from the throne of God. This holiness is a state, an experience, “where only Christ is heard to speak, where Jesus reigns alone.”

It does not reflect upon the character of others in their absence. It is long suffering, it behaveth not itself unseemly, is not provoked, is not puffed up, thinketh no evil, bears the burdens and responsibilities of life meekly, rejoiceth in the truth, believeth all that God hath said. This grace never faileth, but will shine brighter, clearer to all eternity. You may have the tongues of men and angels, and lack this experience, you are nothing but a sinner in the sight of God.

A church armed with this power is more than a match for all the powers of darkness. The first church under the gospel dispensation were poor, uneducated men and women. They tarried at Jerusalem until they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, and with this blessing upon them the powers of darkness fled in dismay. Nothing could stand before them. It was said, “ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” This was literally true. Ancient systems of idolatry which had grown gray with age, melted away like the mist at noon-day as God’s army advanced, and over every battle-field the blood-stained banner of King Emanuel was unfurled. Deserts were made to blossom as the rose, and woods, and fields, and rocks, and rills, all seemed to offer the tribute of praise and thanksgiving for the wonderful display of God’s power in the salvation of the nations round about them. This power is forever the same, and when the church meet the conditions, it comes as on the day of Pentecost, with visible manifestations of His presence and power to save, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day and forever.”

I believe that the Free Methodist church was born of the Spirit. God owns her as a legitimate child. In every place where she meets the requirements, times of refreshing, and the salvation of souls are reported. No church, in my opinion, so fully meet the conditions on which the precious promises are made. She is an important _link_ in the family of churches. May she ever reflect a certain light, live in the experience of perfect love, be true to all the vows that she has made to God, constantly making war upon the enemies works until every rebel flag shall trail in the dust, and Jesus Christ crowned Lord of all. Amen.

IX.

Dreams And Presentiments.

“Man is fearfully, and wonderfully made,” with capabilities as boundless as eternity. This is true so far as our moral and intellectual make up is concerned. We may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, while this life shall last, and forever, in the life that is to come. Progression is the law of our being. God, who made us