Chapter II. The Holy Scriptures.
Chapter III. Sin.
Chapter IV. Salvation.
Chapter V. The Way From Sin To Perfect Salvation.
Chapter VI. Fruits And The Two Works.
Chapter VII. The Church Of God.
Chapter VIII. The Ordinances Of The New Testament.
Chapter IX. Divine Healing.
Chapter X. The Soul.
Chapter XI. Spiritual Culture.
Chapter XII. The Course Of The World.
Chapter XIII. The Domestic Relation.
Chapter XIV. Evil Habits And Injurious Indulgences.
Chapter XV. The Trinity.
Chapter XVI. Miscellaneous Subjects.
Part II. The Noonday.
Chapter I. The Date Of The Beginning Of Noonday.
Chapter II. Scriptural Predictions Of An Apostasy.
Chapter III. False Teachings Of The Apostasy.
Part III. The Evening.
Chapter I. The Apostasy In Two Days.
Chapter II. The Time Of The Evening.
Footnotes
PREFACE.
Our task is finished. It has not been a disagreeable, unpleasant one, but
joyous. Many times our soul was blessed and lifted up as the Spirit set
before our mind the wondrous beauty of Christianity. In our soul we
experience a deep sense of gratitude to God for his aid and guidance in
this work. Many were the prayers we offered unto him for the aid of the
Holy Spirit in the prosecution of this work. He has heard and answered our
prayer, and we are satisfied. Praises be unto God! We lay no claims to
literary ability; we have not studied to display such talent in this
volume. We have only endeavored to give simple, plain truth respecting a
holy life. We have endeavored to lift up true Christianity to its proper
plane and to remove as far as possible, the clouds of error that have long
obscured its beautiful, pellucid light. How far we have succeeded we leave
to the reader.
This work would not be much of a production for some minds, but for ours
it is quite an achievement. It is much more original than we at first
intended it to be: however, we have selected from the _Gospel Trumpet_ the
following subjects: “Woman’s Freedom,” “Eating of Meat,” and “The Sin
Against the Holy Ghost,” which were written by Geo. L. Cole, Russel
Austin, and A. L. Byers, respectively. All other selections are, we
believe, properly acknowledged where they appear.
Seventy-six pages of the original manuscript were lost in the mail. This,
at first, presented itself as a discouragement, but we at once remembered
that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord,
consequently we concluded that the Lord wanted some truth brought out that
was not contained in the first writings; so we set to our task of
reproducing the lost pages with a will, and God has crowned our efforts
with a much greater satisfaction to ourselves. We now feel we have done
what we could, and as this manuscript leaves our hand it shall be with a
prayer that God will make it a rich blessing to many hearts.
Should this book be the means of lifting up some weary, despondent soul,
or succeed in turning some sinner from the error of his way, or helping
some deceived one out of his deception, or inspiring some fallen one to a
truer, nobler life, I shall be many, many times repaid for my labor, and
shall indeed give God the glory. If some one detects an error in this work
do not be hasty in condemning me, but write me, thus giving me opportunity
of explaining the supposed error, or of humbly confessing my fault. With
deep affection in my soul, I pray the God of heaven to bless every reader
of this book, and kindly ask all who pray to pray that I may do all the
good I can in this world and gain an eternity in the blissful fields of
heaven. Yours in Christian love,
Chas. E. Orr, Federalsburg, Md.
INTRODUCTION.
In Jesus’ name we are here to unveil before the reader the picture of a
beautiful virgin, whom we shall call Christianity. Never was there a
character seen upon the earth half so beautiful as she. In her loveliness
she has won the heart of many. The proud and noble have been brought down
to worship at her feet. The lowly have been lifted up to admire her
gracious charms. Peasants have invited her into their humble homes, where
she reigned as a queen of light and peace. Gloom and darkness is driven
away by her sweet angelic smile. She has lifted the despondent out of the
vortex of despair, and by her animating presence encouraged them to bright
hopes and a happy life. The bitter lot of the poor she has sweetened, and
the burden and care of riches takes wings and flies away at her approach.
She has been brought into the presence of kings and almost won their
hearts. Men have sacrificed the world to gain her love. She is a ray of
heavenly light in this dark world.
The words of finite man are inadequate to describe the true character of
Christianity. In our description we shall exalt her only by the words
contained in the book sent down from heaven. That alone is worthy to
eulogize her name. When the reader has followed our delineation to the
close, and inspected every feature of this virtuous queen, we trust the
decision of his heart will be yet deeper than his who said, “Almost thou
persuadest me to be a Christian.”
Christianity should be full of interest to all mankind. She not only cools
the heated brow, cheers the drooping heart, and strews life’s pathway with
flowers of peace, but she deals with man’s eternal destiny. She will
smooth the rough places all along his journey of life, and when he has
come down to the end, it is she that will bear him across the valley and
welcome him to the home prepared for his eternal inhabitancy.
Since the day of her nativity she has had a bitter obstinate foe, Satan,
and wicked men have combined to bespoil her white robes and mar her fair
form. They have struggled long and hard to bring her low. They have
endeavored to extinguish her radiant light and defame her true character.
We have only to take a stroll through the halls of denominationalism to
learn how far they have succeeded. To many pews and pulpits our virgin has
no excellence or beauty. In the pulpit orator’s exposition of her she is
not exalted one whit above the coarse, vulgar world. Satan has succeeded
in veiling her fair form and true virtues from the hearts of many. In the
opinions of many she is reduced to a mere nothing. Angels weep to see her
fair robes trailed in the dust. Those who pretend to love her have brought
her to shame. The low, degrading opinions entertained regarding her
throughout the realms of sectarianism grieves the souls of her true
admirers. They have brought her down from her pure, high throne and
mingled her with the lives of ordinary sinful men. They have stripped her
of her clean, white garments and covered her with a cloak of many colors.
They have robbed her of her virtues and have stained her fair name until
to-day all that is seen of Christianity in the aristocratic circles of
Christendom is a maiden weeping over her stained vesture, lost virginity
and reproached name. Thank God, such is true only in appearance. True
Christianity is seen by her few devoted followers to-day the same pure,
spotless virgin, the same queen of peace and light, as when she crowned
the brow of the lowly Nazarene and his immediate followers. She has lost
none of her virtuous charms. She is true. She reigns a lovely queen,
glorious in power, pure in principle, “Clear as the sun, fair as the moon,
and terrible as an army with banners.”
Satan has robed a harlot and named her Christianity and succeeded in
imposing her upon many in the world. They are fondling with her. She
indulges them in sensuality, while encouraging them to hope in a peaceful
immortality. The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her.
They are reveling, feasting and banqueting with her, crazed by her
seductive charms. She has neither purity, peace, nor power. Her robes are
denied by sin. She scoffs at pure Christianity and calls her
old-fashioned. This strange young woman is using every device to allure
souls into her wanton chamber. She is most subtle of heart. She
“flattereth with her words. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black
and dark night, she walketh in the streets, and lieth wait at every
corner, that she might catch and kiss him who is void of understanding.”
With a beguiling, impudent face she says to him: “I have peace offerings
with me; I have decked my bed with tapestry, with carved works, with fine
linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace
ourselves with love.”
Such is the gay, fast, frivolous Christianity of the popular present day
religions of our honored land. The generality of denominational membership
(we speak in love) desire a Christianity that will go with them to the
halls of pleasure; that will dine with them at the banquets; that will
smile on them as they walk in the ways of sin and worldliness, calming
their fears with her flattering words and peace offerings. Primitive
Christianity, they consider, was good enough for primitive days, but she
would be a horrid enough old maid in these days of progress. In this fast
driving age the Christianity that crowned the life of the holy apostles is
altogether too antiquated. She drew men from the world, she crucified
their lust, she taught them to practise self-denial and keep their body in
subjection; she brought them in humility at her feet; she led them in the
paths of virtue and honor; she upbraided them for sin, and told them of
the vengeance and wrath of God against every evil.
The world to-day, in general, is saying, “Away with such an old-time
Christianity; she has no charms for us. She is too common and plain, too
grave and sober. We will not walk with her; give us the gay and dashing
young harlot that we may walk with her amid the pleasures of the world,
and with her gratify our lusts. She never chides us for sin, nor troubles
us about the anger of God nor the torments of hell. She invites us into
her bosom and gives us a sweet opiate draught of ‘stolen waters and the
bread of secrecies,’ and bids us take our ‘fill of love.’ ”
Dear reader, “go not after her.” “Let not thine heart decline to her ways,
go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many
strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going
down to the chambers of death.”
The mission of this volume is to exalt true Christianity to her proper
plane and reveal her true character by relating to the reader the
teachings of Christ—her beloved consort—and the experience and teachings
of his inspired followers, and thus tear off the sacrilegious robes of the
harlot of false religions and expose her shame to the gaze of every honest
soul.
Christianity is not a mere profession, but a principle. Every being is
possessed with a principle. Satan has a principle, which might properly be
termed devilanity; Christ has a principle which is termed Christianity.
When this Christ principle is instilled into man’s soul by the Spirit of
God he becomes a Christian. He possesses the Christ-life, nature, or
principle. Now Christ was the truth. Then the Christ nature or principle
is according to the truth, whether it be in Christ or man. We have only
then to lift up the whole truth, which by the wisdom and grace of God we
shall do in this work, which will reveal true Christianity and expose
every imposition. Christ is the vine; Christians are the branches. The
vine and the branches are of the same nature. The branches retain life by
abiding in the vine. They who abide in Christ walk (or live) even as
Christ walked (or lived); that is, the vine and the branches bear the same
kind of fruit. This is the philosophy of true Christianity. Anything
bearing fruit in nature contrary to the truth or Christ principle is not
Christianity, but is devilanity. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the
lusts of your father will ye do;” or sinful fruit ye will bear.
Christian Power.
Christianity—stately queen,
Virgin—loveliest ever seen,
Fairest art thou upon the earth,
And of a higher, nobler birth.
When king Agrippa heard thy name,
And how abroad was spread thy fame,
And saw thee lovely as thou art,
Thou almost won his heathen heart.
When in the midnight’s gloomy hour,
The Romish jailer saw thy power,
When thund’ring tones his ear did greet,
He trembling worshiped at thy feet.
When kneeling down beside the dead,
In sacred, solemn tones, thou said,
“Dorcas, in Jesus’ name arise,”
And opened were the woman’s eyes.
When man our days in death had lain,
Thou gavest him back his life again.
When woman did her sin deplore,
Thou whispered, “Go, and sin no more.”
When wicked Simon saw thy power
He strove to win thee with a dower;
Within his sinful heart he thought
Thy power with money could be bought;
Thou spurned his offer and made bold,
To bid him perish with his gold.
They lied to thee and lost their life,
Both Ananias and his wife.
Such was thy power in days of yore,
And such ’twill be forevermore.
Christian Purity.
Fairest art thou among the fair,
Thy graces none but thee can wear;
In trailing robes of snowy white,
Thou art on earth a gleam of light;
Thy cheeks are comely as the rose,
Thy neck as white as winter snows;
Thy lips are like a scarlet thread,
Thy locks like silver on thy head.
To him who with thee is in love,
Thou’rt meek and gentle as the dove;
Virgin, so pure and bold and free,
No spot is found at all in thee.
Such was thy purity of yore
And such ’twill be forevermore.
The Gospel Day Seen In Prophecy.
Upon reading the account of man’s creation in the first chapters of
Genesis we conclude that he enjoyed perfect peace and happiness. From the
beautiful description given there of the garden of Eden—man’s abode—we
understand that God was interested in his felicity. In the nature of
created things he could retain this happiness only by obedience to the
Creator’s laws. By a subtle foe he was induced to transgress those laws
and thus became acquainted with sin and sorrow. After the transgression he
hid himself among the trees of the garden from the presence of the Lord
because a fear rested upon his conscious being.
Man in sweet felicity was made,
But sorrowed when God he disobeyed.
The man was turned out upon the world to earn his support by labor. The
ground was cursed for his sake. It brought forth thorns and thistles, and
in sorrow he must eat of it all the days of his life. Cherubims and a
flaming sword prevented his return to the tree of life, which stood in the
midst of the garden. The apostle John in his revelations beheld this sad
scene. He saw the book of life—tree of life—to be sealed with seven seals,
and he saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to
open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor
in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to
look thereon,” and he wept much. Rev. 5:1-4. How sad the scene! Man was
created in holiness and happiness. He dwelt in the garden of Eden and had
access to the tree of life, the very source of peace. But sin entered his
heart. He was driven away to be in sorrow all his days. No man in heaven
nor earth could secure his return. God saw his wretchedness and that his
“wickedness was great in the earth” and “it grieved him at his heart.”
Gen. 6:5, 6. Sin swayed its scepter over the heart of man and he groaned
beneath its tyrannical power, but God’s mercy was not “clean gone
forever.” They cried unto the Lord because of the oppressors and he
promised to send them a “Savior, and a great one,” to deliver them. Isa.
19:20. Man was encaged in the prison-house of sin, but God promised to
send a deliverer “to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of
the prison to them that are bound.” Isa. 61:1.
The beloved apostle John, in the vision before mentioned, wept because no
man was found worthy to open the book; but one of the elders said unto
him, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,
hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”
Praise God! John in his vision saw the man fall from his pure and happy
state into sin and the book of life becoming sealed. He also saw that no
man in heaven nor earth was able to restore him to his original place and
holiness, and it caused him to weep. But in his vision there appeared one
who prevailed to open the book and “redeem us unto God out of every
kindred and tongue and people and nation.”
In the prophetic days of ancient Israel men who walked with God and
trusted in his promises were permitted a visionary look down through the
centuries to behold the dawning of a day glorious in the effulgency of its
light and the greatness of its power. Even in those dim, remote days the
wondrous glory of a day when the “Prince of Peace” should come was
foreseen by the prophets, who break forth in beautiful strains of music,
expressing their joy and admiration. Isaiah in speaking of that expected
day says, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord
is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his
glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light,
and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Isa. 60:1-3.
It is a day of wonderful light. When the prophet speaks of the Gentiles
coming to the light the reader begins to understand the time of the
dawning. He further says, “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land,
wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls
Salvation, and thy gates Praise. The sun shall be no more thy light by
day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the
Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy
sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the
Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall
be ended.” Isa. 60:18-20.
The prophet by a long stretch of faith passed through the gates of Praise
to within the walls of Salvation and beheld a light above the brightness
of the sun and the softness of the moon. We quote these texts, and the
following, to impress the reader’s mind and heart with the greatness of
the light and the wonders of that coming day as seen in expectation by
those ancient holy men. After a while we will come to the dawning, then
the noontide, then the evening of this great day and we will find the
glory and the wonders to be as the prophets foresaw and described.
What can the holy seer mean by saying, “Violence shall no more be heard in
thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders”? We have only to
turn to the eleventh chapter, where we have this clearly explained. Let us
read: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a
Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest
upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel
and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall
make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not
judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of
his ears; but with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with
equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the
rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the
wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and
faithfulness the girdle of his reigns. The wolf also shall dwell with the
lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the
young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down
together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child
shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand
on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy
mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the
waters cover the sea. And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse,
which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles
seek: and his rest shall be glorious.”
Who does not know who is referred to by the words “the Root of Jesse,”
whom the Gentiles shall seek, “and his rest shall be glorious”? We hear of
one saying in the New Testament, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are
heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” “Violence shall no more be heard
in thy land.” “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb” in the day when the
Gentiles shall seek rest in the Root of Jesse. This prophecy will never
have a literal fulfilment, as some erroneously teach. It only exalts the
salvation of the Branch of Jesse to deliver men from the wolf and lion
disposition. It is the peacefulness of Christianity. In the day the
prophet is speaking of there shall be peace on the earth. Man can find
deliverance from sin and obtain a peaceful rest—not being disturbed by
evil and ill dispositions.
Isaiah in again beholding this glorious rest-day discovers a way which is
called the way of holiness. He says, “The unclean shall not pass over
it;... no lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon,
it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: and the
ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and
everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and
sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isa. 35:8-10. Any one can understand
that a literal beast is not meant here when he speaks of a lion, but that
wicked, unclean men can not walk in the way of holiness—only the redeemed
can walk there.
Earlier in this chapter he speaks of the eyes of the blind being opened,
and the ears of the deaf being unstopped, and the lame being made to leap
as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb being made to sing. We have only to
read the New Testament to learn of the fulfilment of this prophecy. In
that day men of unclean, ravenous, and lion-like natures shall find
deliverance and be made gentle, lowly and humble—“The wolf and the lamb
shall dwell together.” What a wonder and expectation must have filled the
hearts of those devout men in those days of darkness and gloom, as they
looked forward to that time when the blind should see, the deaf hear, and
the lame walk; when there should be no more violence nor destruction nor
wasting, but there should be songs of everlasting joy, and sorrow and
sighing would flee away.
“In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; we have a
strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.” Isa.
26:1. In that day salvation’s walls shall surround the people of God. In
the time of this prophet it was stone walls that surrounded their city,
but he looked forward to a time when the walls of salvation would surround
the city of God. Salvation means deliverance. In that day the people of
God should find a deliverance or cleansing from sin. It is the gospel day
when Christ should offer a sacrifice for the whole world. The people cried
unto God because of their oppressors, and he sent them a Savior, and a
strong one, to deliver them. Isa. 19:20.
Were we to turn to the first chapter of the gospel by Luke we would there
learn who this deliverer was. There we read: “Blessed be the Lord God of
Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people, and hath raised up a
horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; as he spake by
the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that
hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his
holy covenant; the oath which he sware to our father Abraham, that he
would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before
him all the days of our life.”
By reading the whole of this chapter you will learn that this horn of
salvation, this deliverer, was the child Christ Jesus. This deliverer was
to appear in that day. The most simple will at once understand that the
day foreseen and foretold by the holy seers was the Christian
dispensation, or the day of “grace and truth.”
The prophet again exclaims: “And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I
will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned
away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust,
and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he
also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of
the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord.”
Isa. 12:1-4. “In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and
glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for
them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that
is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called
holy.” Isa. 4:2, 3.
The prophet Joel in contemplation of that day of great blessings says:
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down
new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah
shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of
the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim.” Joel 3:18.
Zechariah in beholding this fountain exclaims: “In that day there shall be
a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” Zech. 13:1.
Wonderful Fountain of cleansing,
The prophet did foresee,
Deep Fountain of peace and glory
Opened to all shall be.
The prophet again in beholding the glory and purity of that day says: “In
that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE
LORD.” Zech. 14:20.
The prophet did foretell a day,
Through which extends a holy way,
Where walk the ransomed of the Lord,
Made pure in heart, through Jesus’ blood.
Another man of God is permitted to look down through the darkness and see
the glory of this day of cleansing. “But who may abide the day of his
coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s
fire, and like fullers’ soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier
of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold
and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in
righteousness.” Mal. 3:2, 3. In that day there shall be a fountain of
cleansing, or a fire of refining, when hearts shall be made pure as gold
and silver is refined and made pure. It is the day in which Isaiah says,
“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.
The day foretold by this holy train of Old Testament prophets was spoken
of as a day of “peace and rest”; a day of “praise and salvation”; a day of
“refining”; a day when a “cleansing fountain shall be opened”; a day when
“scarlet stains shall be made white as snow”; a day when “the lame man
shall leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing,” and the deaf
ears shall hear, and blind eyes be made to see; a day when the ransomed of
the Lord shall return and come unto Zion with songs and everlasting joy
upon their heads; a day when “the desert shall blossom as the rose”; a day
when the wolf and the lamb shall dwell together; a day when the “Branch of
the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious.” Praise God!
That day seen so far away by those righteous men awakened songs of praise
in their hearts. They were not speaking of the eternal day in the glory
world; neither of a supposed millennial age, but of this present glorious
dispensation of grace and salvation. It requires only two texts to clearly
prove this. The first is Isa. 49:8: “Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable
time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee.” The
second is found in 2 Cor. 6:2. Paul here quotes this promise the Lord
made, and then says, “Behold now is the accepted time; behold, now is the
day of salvation.” Again in Rom. 13:12 the apostle speaks of his having
arrived at that day. He says, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand,
let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the
armor of light.” How beautiful! The Christian’s armor in the “day of
salvation” is one of light, the darkness is flown away. The Old Testament
writer said that in that day God would send a Savior. In the New Testament
it is recorded that “unto you is born this day in the city of David a
Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” The Savior God had promised was the
Christ, and the day was now come.
All hail the glad gospel day,
Peace and good will to men;
The darkness has flown away,
And grace has conquered sin.
By many a prophetic Old Testament text that day of wonderful light and
glory was spoken of as a day when God’s salvation should appear. In the
second chapter of Luke it is recorded that there lived in Jerusalem a just
and devout man, who knowing those prophetic sayings concerning that great
day of consolation, waited for its dawning. It was revealed unto him by
the Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen the
Lord’s Christ. He came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Lord, now
lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine
eyes have seen thy salvation.” Simeon, as he looked upon this young child,
saw the salvation the ancient prophets saw only by faith. The day of which
they prophesied the Holy Spirit witnessed to his heart he should live to
see, and he saw it. It was the dawning of the day of Christian power and
purity, in which we shall find came to pass all the prophetic wonders of
salvation. You need not look forward to some marvelous coming age in which
to find a fulfilment of these prophecies, but “to-day if ye will hear his
voice, harden not your hearts.” “How shall we escape if we neglect so
great salvation?”
For convenience and clearness we have thought best to divide this work
into three parts. Part first to consist of the revealing of Christianity
as seen in the life and teaching of Christ and the teaching and lives of
his followers during the first few centuries of this Christian era, which
is termed the morning of the gospel day. Part second will consist of the
apostolic prophecies with possibly a few Old Testament prophecies
concerning an apostasy during the middle centuries, or, the noontide of
the gospel day; also showing that these prophecies find an exact
fulfilment in the customs and doings of the popular religious
denominations of this present time. Part third will consist of the
prophecies relating to the restoration of the glorious truths of
Christianity, or a return of God’s people to the apostolic plane of
Christian faith and power and teaching in the evening of this day of
salvation. With this introduction we feel confident the reader understands
the plan of this work and will readily comprehend its teachings. “Consider
what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding,” is my prayer.
PART I. THE MORNING.
Or,
Christianity In The First Centuries Of This Gospel Age As Revealed In The
Life And Teaching Of Christ And The Apostles.
In this division of this work we desire to set forth in a clear,
comprehensive manner the true character and principles of Christianity as
seen in the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is our only source
of knowledge respecting the true nature of a Christian life. Man may
presume, but the Scriptural declarations are in verity. The New Testament
sets forth in such clearness the nature of a Christian heart and the
conduct that naturally issues from such a heart that none need be deceived
as to their spiritual standing. Christianity is in absolute and perfect
accord with the Holy Scriptures. This is a fact that all must concede. No
matter what may be the philosophy and theory of man, Christianity is just
what the Bible plainly declares it to be. A life that is out of harmony
with the sacred truth can not be a Christian life. For this reason we
desire to set forth the principal teachings of the New Testament
respecting practical Christianity.
Chapter I. Christianity A Light.
Throughout the Scriptures Christianity is spoken of as a light. The
Christian era is referred to as a day. A day is when the light shineth. In
speaking of the beautiful dawning of the Star of Christianity the prophet
says: “And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the
brightness of thy rising.” “Arise, shine; for thy light is come.” “The sun
shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon
give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting
light, and thy God thy glory.” Isa. 60. It is not meant to say here that
Christians have no need of the light of the sun or the moon, but to teach
that the light of the sun and the brightness of the moon is not to be
compared to the transcendent light of Christianity. Whose heart has not
been touched with a feeling of admiration as they beheld the bright
dawning of the round, red sun, or the beautiful rising of a full moon?
These are not to be compared with the “brightness of the rising” of the
gospel day. “To them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is
sprung up.” Mat. 4:16. “Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the
dayspring [sun rising—margin] from on high hath visited us, to give light
to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet
into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78, 79.
Jesus says of himself, “I am the root and the offspring of David, and the
bright and morning star.” Rev. 22:16. Christ speaking to the church at
Thyatira, says to those that overcome and keep his works unto the end,
that he will give them the morning star. Rev. 2:28. He will give them the
true light and glory of Christianity, or his own light and nature. All
will do well to take heed to do his works “until the day dawn and the day
star arise in their hearts.”
In the natural world there is a literal solar system consisting of the
sun, moon and planets. The sun is the center around which all the planets
revolve, and from which they receive their light. The moon borrows its
light from the sun. When some object interposes between the moon and the
sun the moon is left in darkness. In the spiritual world there is a
spiritual solar system consisting of sun, moon and stars. As in the
literal system, the moon and stars revolve around the Sun and borrow their
light therefrom.
The Spiritual Sun Or Light.
It is not difficult to glean from the Scriptures the knowledge of the true
center of this spiritual solar system, or the true source of light. The
last writer of the Old Testament Scriptures, in his last chapter says:
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with
healing in his wings.” All understand this text to refer to the Lord
Jesus. His visitation to this world, through the mercy of God, is termed,
“The sun-rising.” Luke 1:78, margin. Christ is the Sun and true source of
light of the gospel day. The church of God collectively is the moon of
this spiritual solar system, and its individual members are the stars. In
the Savior’s prophecy as recorded in Mark 13:24, 25, the term “sun” is a
metaphor, signifying Christ; the “moon,” the church, as a whole; the
“stars,” Christians, or especially the ministry.
This darkening of the sun and moon and the falling of the stars we will
clearly explain in part second of this work. The church of God receives
its light from Jesus. He is “the light of the world.” In the language of
Isa. 60:1 the church is addressed: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come.”
Christ is her light. The church shines by the light of Christ, as the moon
shines by the light of the sun. “Out of Zion [the church of God], the
perfection of beauty, God hath shined.” The church as a whole is a
brilliant reflector to reflect the light of Christ to this universe. Every
Christian is a bright spot in this luminous reflector. Amen. “Let your
light so shine.”
A few years ago, one beautiful Sunday summer evening, as we were on our
way to an appointed meeting, we observed the moon rising in the splendor
of its fulness. It shed its soft, peaceful rays over the earth in marked
beauty. After a short time we became aware of a gathering darkness. On
looking up we saw a dark object gathering over the moon. Slowly, but
surely the dark object crept on until all was darkened. Not one ray of
light fell from the moon. The sun had ceased to shine upon her. We
understood that the world had come in between the sun and the moon and
obstructed the sun’s rays. The same is true of the spiritual moon, the
church. In the first few centuries of this Christian day it shone with the
light and glory of God, but the time came when the “moon [church] ceased
to give her light,” and all because, as we will learn, the world came
between it and the Sun (Christ).
Christian Power And Purity.
Christianity is a light in this world because of the greatness of its
power and the excellence of its purity. John, who is denominated the
forerunner of Jesus, or the heralding star of Christianity, said that “he
was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was
the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John
1:8, 9. Of whom speaketh the prophet then? The Son of God will answer this
question in these words: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John
8:12. Jesus was the light of the world because of his power and purity.
All power was given unto him in heaven and in earth. Mat. 28:18.
He was holy, harmless and undefiled. Heb. 7:26. The Lord Jesus lived a
pure and holy life. “He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”
He had power to open the blind eyes, to unstop the deaf ears, to loose the
dumb tongue, to make the lame man leap as a hart, and to heal all manner
of diseases, and to raise the dead. There is no sin in heaven; there is no
sickness there. He brought the light of heaven to this world in displaying
his power over sin and disease. Glory to his name!
We wish to impress this fact upon the reader’s mind that he was a light
because of his purity and power, and because he was the “Truth.” And now
if you will but believe it, that is the true light of Christianity. The
Lord Jesus was only a visitant. His stay on earth was transient. He came
from heaven, and heaven soon again received him. Referring to his
departure he said to his disciples: “Yet a little while is the light with
you. Walk while ye have the light; ... while ye have light, believe in the
light, that ye may be the children of light.” John 12:35, 36.
Again he says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the
world.” John 9:5. We learn the sad story of his crucifixion, then the glad
news of his resurrection, and then his ascension in a cloud to the glory,
from whence he came. Is the light of Christianity gone from the world? Is
this world left again in darkness? No; thank God! Jesus now says to his
devoted followers: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill can not be hid.” Mat. 5:14. It is the “city of Zion, the perfection
of beauty,” out of which God doth shine. “The glory of God is risen upon
her.” Jesus told them to believe in the light while they had the light,
that they might be the children of light. Paul, in exhorting Christians to
a holy life, said: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of
God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among
whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Phil. 2:15. “For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”
Eph. 5:8. “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day:
we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thes. 5:5.
This is the spiritual moon reflecting the light of the Sun. It is “God
that shineth in thee.” They are “light in the Lord,” and they are
commanded to “let their light shine, that God might be glorified.” This is
beautiful. Oh, what a privilege
To be a vessel transparent,
Clear as the crystal sea,
Letting the glorious light of heaven
Brilliantly shine through thee.
Beloved saints, take heed that there be not one spot in thee to obstruct
the light of God. “Let it shine.” Submissively place thyself in the
crucible and there be polished and refined and purged and cleansed until
thou art “purer than snow, and whiter than milk, and more ruddy than
rubies.”
How can the Lord now, since his ascension, shine through his church? The
Scriptures make this very plain. Jesus told his own that he would not long
be with them, but said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of
truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither
knoweth him: but ye know him for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:16-18.
In verse twenty-six he tells us the Comforter is the Holy Ghost. In the
second chapter of Acts we have the account of the Holy Spirit’s coming. If
you will again look over the quotation from John 14:16-18 you will notice
he uses “Comforter” and “I” interchangeably. He will give you another
Comforter. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The
Holy Spirit’s coming on Pentecost was Christ in another personage. Christ
in the Spirit has now come to dwell in the midst of his people, and to be
a light in them. Jesus was here in the body on a mission of mercy. He
tasted death for every man. He comes again in the Spirit to “reprove the
world of righteousness, of sin, and of judgment.” In Heb. 10:5 Jesus says,
“A body hast thou prepared me.” A body in which to offer a sacrifice for
the sins of the world. He now has a body in which he dwells in the Spirit.
Christians are “a holy temple in the Lord, in whom they are builded
together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.” Thus God inhabits
his people, “dwells in them, and walks in them.” The church of God is now
the body of Christ. He is the “head over all things to the church, which
is his body.” Eph. 1:22, 23; see also Col. 1:18.
In speaking of saints in 1 Cor. 12:27 the apostle says, “Now ye are the
body of Christ and members in particular.” He was the light of the world
in his incarnation, and now the church, his body, is the light of the
world. Incarnate he was a light because of his purity and power, and he
lives the same pure life and manifests the same marvelous power in his
body, the church, as when here in his personal ministry. He healed the
sick, cast out devils, opened blinded eyes, unstopped deaf ears, and
raised the dead. After the Holy Spirit’s coming he performs the same
wondrous works in his body, the church. Through the apostle Peter he
healed a lame man, restored to life a dead woman, etc. He is “the very
same Jesus.” When he was here in the flesh he could be seen and his
marvelous works witnessed by the natural eye. The Holy Spirit is
imperceptible to the natural eye, and therefore can only reveal himself to
the world as he works in the midst of his people. It is thus that
Christians reflect the light of Christ.
In the sixteenth of Mark the Lord commanded his disciples to go “into all
the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And
these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out
devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents;
and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had
spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right
hand of God.” Ver. 15-19.
In verse nineteen it is said the Lord was received up into heaven and sat
on the right hand of God. In verse twenty it is said, “They [the
disciples] went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word with signs following.” The Lord worked with them;
then he must have returned. He did in the manner we have told you. He
returned to be a light in the midst of his people by confirming the truth
wherever it is lifted up. He did do it, and he now does it. God bears
witness to his truth, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Heb. 2:4. For Christianity to be a light
there must be the performance of signs and wonders and divers miracles.
Such is true Christianity, and such is her light, a queen swaying her
scepter over the works of Satan, setting at liberty the captives, breaking
the bands of Satan asunder, healing the diseased, and scattering peace and
bright hopes in the hearts of men. Glory to God forevermore!
The Beauties Of Christian Character.
Not only does the Lord dwell in the midst of his people to perform deeds
and signs of wonder, but he dwells in them in all the beauty of his
holiness. In their hearts he rules a “King of peace” and purity. Those in
whom he dwells “walk even as he walked,” and “as he is, so are they in
this world.”
A certain writer speaks thus of the beauties of Christian character: “Live
as we may, age dims the luster of the eye, and pales the flush of the
cheek, while infirmity mars the human form divine. But while this is true,
dim as the eye is, pallid and sunken as may be the face of beauty, frail
and feeble that once strong, erect and symmetrical form, the immortal
soul, just fledging its wings for heaven, may look out through those faded
windows, as beautiful as a dewdrop on a summer’s morning, as melting as
the tears that glisten in affection’s eye, by growing kindly, by
cultivating sympathy with all mankind, by cherishing forbearance toward
the follies and fribbles of our race, and feeding day by day on that love
of God and man which lifts us from the brute and makes us akin to angels.”
Christian character is the same whether it be in Christians or in Christ.
The character of the Savior is also the character of those in whom he
dwells. Their nature is the same, and their outward life is the same. This
is what is meant when it is said: “We should walk even as he walked.” For
the clear proof of these few assertions we will arrange in parallel
columns a few texts of Scripture describing the character of Jesus and a
few describing the character of Christians, and we will find that not
anything more is said of the Savior with respect to a holy life than is
said of his devoted followers.
Character Of Christ. Character Of Christians.
Lovely.
“His mouth is most sweet: yea, he “Behold, thou art fair, my love;
is altogether lovely.” S. of Sol. behold, thou art fair; ... thou art
5:16. all fair, my love; there is no spot
in thee.” S. of Sol. 4:1, 7.
Lowly.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn “Better it is to be of a humble
of me; for I am meek and lowly in spirit with the lowly, than to
heart.” Mat. 11:29. divide the spoil with the proud.”
Prov. 16:19.
Obedient.
“For as by one man’s disobedience “Wherefore gird up the loins of
many were made sinners, so by the your mind, be sober, and hope to
obedience of one shall many be made the end for the grace that is to be
righteous.” Rom. 5:19. brought unto you at the revelation
of Jesus Christ; as obedient
children.” 1 Pet 1:13, 14.
Compassionate.
“But when he saw the multitudes, he “Finally, be ye all of one mind,
was moved with compassion on them, having compassion one of another,
because they fainted and were love as brethren, be pitiful, be
scattered abroad as sheep having no courteous.” 1 Pet. 3:8.
shepherd.” Mat. 9:36.
Faithfulness.
“Faithful is he that calleth you, “And the things that thou hast
who also will do it.” 1 Thes. 5:24. heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful
men, who shall be able to teach
others also.” 2 Tim. 2:2.
Forbearance.
“Whom God hath set forth to be a “Forbearing one another, and
propitiation through faith in his forgiving one another.” Col. 3:13.
blood, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of
God.” Rom. 3:25.
Meekness.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn “But let it be the hidden man of
of me; for I am meek and lowly in the heart, in that which is not
heart.” Mat. 11:29. corruptible, even the ornament of a
meek and quiet spirit, which is in
the sight of God of great price.” 1
Pet. 3:4.
Long-Suffering.
“And account that the “With all lowliness and meekness,
long-suffering of our Lord is with long-suffering, forbearing one
salvation.” 2 Pet. 3:15. another in love.” Eph. 4:2.
Humbleness.
“And being found in fashion as a “Likewise, ye younger, submit
man, he humbled himself, and became yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all
obedient unto death, even the death of you be subject one to another,
of the cross.” Phil 2:8. and be clothed with humility: for
God resisteth the proud, and giveth
grace to the humble.” 1 Pet. 5:5.
Spotlessness.
“But with the precious blood of “Pure religion and undefiled before
Christ, as of a lamb without God and the Father is this, To
blemish and without spot.” 1 Pet. visit the fatherless and widows in
1:19. their affliction, and to keep
himself unspotted from the world.”
Jas. 1:27.
Mercifulness.
“The Lord is merciful and gracious, “Blessed are the merciful: for they
slow to anger, and plenteous in shall obtain mercy.” Mat. 5:7.
mercy.” Psa. 103:8.
Harmlessness.
“For such an high priest became us, “That ye may be blameless and
who is holy, harmless, undefiled, harmless, the sons of God, without
separate from sinners, and made rebuke, in the midst of a crooked
higher than the heavens.” Heb. and perverse nation, among whom ye
7:26. shine as lights in the world.”
Phil. 2:15.
Guilelessness.
“Who did no sin, neither was guile “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him,
found in his mouth.” 1 Pet. 2:22. and saith of him, Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no
guile!” John 1:47.
Sinlessness.
“For we have not an high priest “Whosoever is born of God doth not
which can not be touched with the commit sin; for his seed remaineth
feeling of our infirmities; but was in him: and he can not sin, because
in all points tempted like as we he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9.
are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15.
Thus we could go on to a much greater length, showing by the Scriptures
that the character of a Christian, or his nature or life is the same as
the life or character of Christ. Christianity is Christ in us. The life of
a true Christian is one of great beauty. It is a light in this world. It
is far above the ways of sin and worldliness. It is the Christ-life in
man. The self-life of man has ceased, is crucified; nevertheless he lives,
yet not he, but it is Christ that liveth in him. The Christian life is
inspiring, ennobling, clothed in humility. It points the way to Christ and
heaven. It is a brilliant ornament, which in the sight of God is of great
price. God places great value upon a Christian life. It is worth more than
ten thousand worlds. Is it not a shame that it is trifled with as it is?
Thousands are taking the name of Christian, when it is impossible to
distinguish them from the world; they emit not one ray of light.
Esthetics is the science of the beautiful, and treats of the feelings
produced through the senses by objects of beauty. The most vile and
dishonest admire honesty in others; thus gentleness, kindness, meekness,
produce pleasant feelings and are called beautiful. God is the source of
meekness, gentleness, and love. He is the source of the beautiful.
Christianity is God in man, exhibiting his beauty. “Lord, let thy beauty
be upon us.” The dewdrop sparkles like a diamond as the sun’s rays fall
upon it. The life of man sparkles with an unsurpassed beauty as the rays
of light and salvation fall upon it from the throne. As we behold the
beauty of God assimilated into the life of man and thus revealed we think
what a pity that all in the world are not Christians.
Christian, oh, may thy tribe increase,
Thy light and glory ne’er decrease;
Shine on and magnify the Word,
And point the world to Christ and God.