In his resumption of the work in Ohio we find Brother Warner
in charge, it seems, of the Ashland circuit, with his home at
Hayesville, Ashland County. Here, as was characteristic of him
everywhere, he was wholly absorbed in spiritual labor, the salvation
of sinners and the general spiritual welfare of people everywhere
within his reach. In his diary for Dec. 21, 1875, he says:
Went out visiting and talking to the people. My soul was so happy
all day that I could hardly refrain from shouting. Oh, how sweet it
was to talk to sinners about Jesus and his love! Found in shops and
houses a number of precious souls that were serious. I admonished
them to repent. Some gave much hope of a start.
The closing moments of the year 1875 were devoted to a renewal of
consecration of himself and others.
A few minutes before twelve we all bowed down and to the service
of God consecrated ourselves and vowed fidelity. God accepted the
offering and sealed our vows to him by the gift of his Spirit.
After affectionate New Year greetings and congratulations, we went
to our homes to rest.
Into his congregation at Shenandoah an Elder L---- had come and was
poisoning the minds of the converts by teaching the Campbellite
doctrine of baptism as an essential condition to the pardon of sin.
He afterward held a public discussion with this preacher.[6]
=Feb. 19, 1876.= Drove to Shenandoah. Found Elder L---- having a
good time deluding and baptizing sinners. Found the converts greatly
strengthened by the wind of doctrine that had been assailing them.
However, a few had been corrupted by the false doctrine and were
inclined to go from the Church of God, being carried by the wind of
doctrine. With a mean, sneaking look they applied for letters. I told
them that I had not taken them into the Church of God and could not
dismiss them from it, and there was only one way to get out and that
was through sin. This they could not deny, nor could they give a
reason for their course.
About this time he gradually came into the knowledge of the truth
respecting divine healing, and we find in his accounts an occasional
reference to his praying for the sick and of their recovery.
He was sent for by his father-in-law to come to Upper Sandusky, where
sectarians were making inroads among the converts.
=April 2, 1876.= The sectarians are making a stampede this morning.
They have been after about every convert to go to their church
and now this morning they have their conclave outside and every
convert is stopped and asked to join the Methodists. An excitement
is raised and the people's minds are bewildered, and some who had
said they would stick to the Church of God are now standing back.
Before closing, an old bigot, belonging to the Methodists, took
the liberty to get up and call for all to raise their hands who
wanted to go to Methodism. Some responded. O Sectarianism! thou
abomination of the earth, thou bane of the cause of God, when will
thy corrupt and wicked walls fall to earth and cease to curse men
to hell?
=June 4, 1876.= This is the second anniversary of our marriage.
Thank God for connubial and domestic happiness. May God continue to
bless us with love, peace, and sacred union.
=July 18, 1876.= Received the sad and startling news of the death
of my dear mother. She died July 13. The days of her pilgrimage
were seventy-one years, five months, and seven days. Hers was a
life of trouble and care. But, thank God, she has gone to her
sweet rest in heaven. Oh, how sacred the memory of thy pure and
virtuous life! "patient in tribulation," constant and untiring in
thy kindness and care for all under thy roof. Oh, what love like
a mother's! What mother like my own dear, sainted mother? In all
the ordeal of life thy calm and peaceful spirit has never known a
ruffle. Thy love has never once failed. Thy sorely tried patience
never was exhausted.
Dearest mother, in childhood and youth thou wast my all. And when
maturer years had launched my bark in the midst of awful breakers,
dark clouds, and tempestuous seas of corrupt society, thy pure
life was my only star of hope. Thank God, thou shalt be honored
in heaven with the salvation of one poor, wayward son by thy holy
influence. Praise the Lord for a good and holy mother!
She was always strongly inclined to piety, the fear and reverence
of God. In October, 1870, she was fellowshiped by the Church of God
at South Bridgewater and the same day immersed by me in the St.
Joseph River. Though she was feeble and the weather cold and the
distance over three miles from home, she chose to go home before
changing clothes. She was a happy soul, and the next day seemed
quite improved in health. Now she is gone. One of the dearest
ties that bound me to earth now attracts me to heaven. I can not
lament her departure. I only grieve that I was not informed of
her affliction that I could have been there to cheer her while
approaching the river. Or, had I only been apprized of her death
that I could have seen once more the face of my own dear mother
before she was laid in the tomb! But I shall see her not again
until the heavens are no more and the Son of God shall come to call
the saints from the dust of the earth. Farewell, dear mother. We
soon shall meet again.
=July 29.= We visited the penitentiary [in Columbus]. Over 1,300
prisoners. All at work manufacturing nearly everything in use. The
extensive work was interesting, but the study of the heads and
faces of the workmen was much more so. One striking characteristic
was, almost invariably, great firmness. This being perverted
enabled them to execute their dark crimes. Conscientiousness was
low in every head. This left them without moral restraint. Some I
observed were very deficient in the social group, especially was
inhabitiveness almost entirely deficient. This gave a rambling
disposition, hence irresponsible and exposed to bad society. A
large majority exhibited a very good intellect, many even above
mediocrity. These intellectual powers, which had they been
sanctified to God would have been very useful, being perverted were
used only to devise crime.
=Oct. 1, 1876.= Eldership meeting at Findlay. I was much overcome
with emotion as I tried to speak of my meeting with the Eldership
for the first time in that house nine years ago. Never shall I
forget the solemn feelings I experienced at that time. I had not
expected a license; but how I trembled with fear and dread when
I learned that a license and a field of labor were given me! I
thought it all a mistake of the Eldership. I repaired to the stable
of Brother F----, where I poured out my heart to God in prayer.
Bless God, he heard me and comforted my agonizing heart. I then
received the assurance that he was directing my way. My soul was
unburdened and my peace flowed like a river. And now my laboring
soul and inmost heart would give thanks to God who has upheld me in
the arduous labors of the past nine years. Having begun an invalid,
supposed by many to be a consumptive, my strength has gradually
increased through God's blessings and mercies.
=30.= Gathered some chestnuts this morning. Had a season of prayer
in the woods.
=Nov. 30, 1876.= This is Thanksgiving Day. Oh, that the whole
nation would indeed thank God for his goodness and mercy! Brother
Oliver and I each made a short discourse on the occasion. P. M.,
read O. S. Fowler's Physiology, Animal and Mental. O God, forgive
me of the sin this book has convicted me of. By the grace of God,
from this day forth I will reform in quantity, etc., of food as
much as my irregular mode of life will allow. How much I can
improve the vigor of the mind and the fervor of devotion! Thank God
for this volume! Oh, that every one had it who is suffering for
want of its instruction!
=Dec. 31, 1876.= Sabbath. Arose early to go to my appointments.
Levilla ill. Mother Keller very sick with headache, unable to be
up. Was compelled to stay at home. Oh, what distress of mind I was
in this day through the fearful conflict of duty to family and duty
to the cause! How wretched I felt all day! The day was pleasant and
I know there were crowded houses to hear the gospel. How I longed
to preach to them!
=January 7, 1877.= Went to visit Mr. S----, who is suffering awful
distress. Was met by a young man who was coming after us. We went
with the hope that the poor, dying man was eager to hear of Christ
and his salvation; but oh, horror of horrors! When we approached
the house we heard the poor soul hollowing out in wild strains: "I
can't die; I can't die." I asked him if we should pray for him. He
hollowed out "No!" But I thought he was delirious and concluded to
sing and pray with him, which I did with all my heart. After prayer
I talked with the family and learned that he had said he was a lost
sinner, that he could not be saved. I asked him if we should pray.
He shook his head. I talked to him of how Christ died for sinners
and how he loved and desired to save him; but there was a hideous
look in his eyes. He looked frightful, yet he was conscious,
answered every question we could ask him. I called for oil and said
I would do as the New Testament directed. So I bowed down, anointed
his forehead, and was about to anoint his breast when he seized his
shirt and drew it together. I laid one hand on his head, the other
on his body, and began to pray. He drew his head forward and tried
to get it under the cover. He shoved my hand from under his head.
I could pray but little. He told every one present that he did not
want us to come back. He said he would die; was not prepared to
die; did not believe that Christ died for him; did not love Christ
and did not want to. He showed every appearance of being possessed
by the devil. When we kept our distance he would turn and look
at us with fiendish vengeance. When we approached he would turn
his face to the wall. Poor soul! soon he will be in eternity, I
presume, and yet raging mad against Christ and his people. I shall
never forget the horrors of this day. When we entered the first
room we met several women weeping. The old mother fainted away. He
was crying loudly in the other room.
In 1877, while on the Ashland circuit Brother Warner arranged, in
connection with ministerial duties, to take some selective studies at
Vermillion College, located at Hayesville. This was a Presbyterian
school of some note at the time, enrolling three hundred to four
hundred students. It was founded in 1845. Dr. Sanders Diefendorf
became its head in 1849. Brother Warner and his wife were invited
to occupy rooms in the building, and they did so, as they found
they could live much cheaper there than in Mansfield and would enjoy
better privileges of study. They engaged five rooms for the summer
of 1877, which cost them six dollars a month. Among Brother Warner's
studies at this place were English Analysis, Greek, German, and
studies in the New Testament. He took an active part in the literary
society.
The year 1877 was a notable one in Brother Warner's life. Already
accomplished as he was in deep spirituality and devotion, it would
seem that these graces were multiplied or intensified tenfold by an
attainment that from this year became his permanent possession. That
attainment was the experience of entire sanctification as received
definitely by faith and subsequent to regeneration. _He embraced the
cause of holiness._
He had been for some years honestly prejudiced against the doctrine;
but he heard some truth by the holiness advocates that set him to
thinking. It was doubtless largely through the influence of his
father-in-law's family that he began to be won to the doctrine.
They had become friends of the holiness cause and had received the
experience. His wife also was sanctified, and the change in her was a
test that he had no words to gainsay. A holiness band had been formed
at Upper Sandusky, where his wife's people lived.
The one minister who perhaps more than any other led him into the
experience of holiness, was C. R. Dunbar, a Baptist who was laboring
in connection with the Holiness Alliance. Brother Warner says of him,
"He is a very able man intellectually, but still more potent in faith
and gospel, Holy Ghost power." He was the musical author of the song,
now so common:
"I'll live for him who died for me,
How happy then my life shall be!
I'll live for him who died for me,
My Savior and my God."
The great holiness movement was sweeping over the country at this
time. Brother Warner was too loyal to God and to the teaching of the
Bible ever to be classed among those who should reject holiness when
brought face to face with the issue. He and his wife gave their names
to the holiness band at Upper Sandusky, and he quoted the words of
the Psalmist: "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of
them that keep thy precepts." At this time his impulsiveness led him
to claim the blessing at once, but he soon found that it could not be
picked up so readily; that for him, as well as for others, there was
a consecration to make and self to be crucified.
A little anecdote in this connection is told by a brother who heard
Brother Warner relate it of himself. He (Brother Warner) had been
attending some meetings of the holiness people and had received some
light. On returning to his charge he preached a sermon on holiness
without having obtained the experience. Two sisters who had received
the experience knew that he did not yet have it and urged that he get
it before attempting to preach it. At the altar service that followed
he got down as if to pray for others, but first prayed privately for
his own sanctification. Then audibly he began, "Lord, sanctify us,"
whereupon one of the sisters said, "Brother Warner, do not pray,
'Lord, sanctify _us_'; but say, 'Lord, sanctify _me_.'" At this he
wilted and came right out with "Lord, sanctify _me_."
We shall quote freely from his diary, as his experience at this time
is best expressed by his own words.
=April 13, 1877.= Had much talk with Brother Dunbar on
sanctification. I have always believed in a full salvation, and
agree that it is usually obtained after the justified state. This
was my experience as well as that of all advocates of holiness; but
I was inclined to attribute the deficiency of the justified state
to infantile weakness, which through outward sinful influence, was
not able to carry out the pure nature fully in practise. But he
and all sanctificationists attribute it to the remaining depravity
of nature.
=16.= Since I arose this morning my constant prayer to God has
been that he will lead me in all things. I pray God to take me
like an old sack and shake me until entirely empty, and then fill
me with the fulness of himself. O God! turn out every nook and
corner of my heart and purge me, soul, body, spirit, and mind. I
received a blessing about the time I entered the ministry that
seemed to correspond with the experience of sanctified ones; but I
have not always kept that state of perfect love, and my God knows
that I need a fresh blessing of sanctification power.... Though I
experienced sanctification ten years ago, when entering upon the
work of the ministry, yet I want and need a renewal of God's power,
that my testimony for God may be more effectual. Also, I know that
I have not always lived in this glorious liberty. I have this day
examined my heart carefully and feel assured that I accept the
whole will of God and now stand by faith upon the promise of God. I
leave myself and all my concerns in his hands. By faith I say, "I
am the Lord's, and he is mine."
Here Brother Warner quotes the poem, "Farther On." How appropriate
this was to his life at this point! How much of his activity and
accomplishment were enveloped in the "farther on"!
"A soft, sweet voice from Eden stealing,
Such as but the angels sing;
Hope's cheering song is ever thrilling,
It is better farther on.
"I hear Hope singing, sweetly singing
Softly in an undertone,
And singing as if God had taught her,
It is better farther on.
"By night and day she sings the same song,
Sings it while I sit alone;
And sings it so the heart may hear it,
It is better farther on.
"She sits upon the grave and sings it,
Sings it when the heart would groan;
And sings it when the shadows darken,
It is better farther on.
"Still farther on, oh, how much farther?
Count the milestones one by one;
No, no! no counting, only trusting--
It is better farther on."
=April 25, 1877.= I was dull today. Study was a drag. I prayed to
God that if I am pursuing these studies for his glory he should
quicken my mind. I was, as oft before, convinced that I ate too
much, which stupefied my mind; hence resolved, as oft before, to
quit gormandizing to gratify appetite. I resolved in God's name
and in his strength to do this thing. I ate but a few spoonfuls of
graham mush for supper. Felt cheered by God's presence in evening
worship.
=26.= My mind was active today. Lessons were easily learned,
spirits cheerful, recitations more successful. O Lord, keep me
in the possession of a clear, active, and retentive mind, a pure
heart, and a consecrated life, devoted to God's service.
=May 19, 1877.= Had a very interesting meeting in the Excelsior
Society. M. J. Boyd and I conducted the main discussion on the
following question: Do We Suffer More from Real Than Imaginary
Evils? I affirmed.
=27.= Sabbath. Beautiful day. Arose early and, taking a testament
with me, I took a long walk, enjoying the precious pure air, the
beauties of nature, and communion with God through his Word and
Spirit. Read and meditated upon several chapters. Precious season
in family worship. Just when we were through with breakfast the boy
raised the cry that the house was on fire. We ran to the bedroom
and found the curtains and clothing around the wall in a blaze.
Great excitement prevailed. But soon by means of a few pails of
water and by throwing some of the burning fabrics out, the fire
was extinguished with the loss only of some clothing. The fire was
started by a small child, who finding a match on the candlestick,
struck it and then dropped it on the end of the curtain that
reached to the floor.
=June 1, 1877.= Prepared and delivered a lecture before the
Excelsior Society on the Interrelation between Mind and Body, and
their Mutual Dependence.
=7.= Built steps over the fence to avoid having the gate left
open, as much of my cabbage has already been destroyed. As a
consideration, Professor agreed to give me more ground to garden.
=8.= Worked on an essay for the Society tonight, also on a
composition for the Board, to be criticized. Eve, met with the
Excelsior Society and entered upon the duties of secretary. There
being few present, all other exercises were dispensed with but
a general discussion on the subject, Is Force More Effectual in
Government than Persuasion. I took the negative. Mr. W. Diefendorf
also spoke on the negative. The vote was almost unanimous for the
negative.
=15.= A. M., recitations as usual. P. M., prepared for Society.
Rained all afternoon and evening. No Excelsior meeting. Visited the
Philo Society. Participated in general discussion on the following
question: Is the Fear of Punishment a Greater Incentive to Exertion
than the Hope of Reward? Spoke on the negative. Large majority in
our favor on the final vote.
=July 5, 1877.= Met at half-past nine in the Bethel. After a
profitable season of prayer, reading the Word, testifying, etc.,
I presented myself at the altar to seek entire sanctification.
I enjoyed that blessing ten years ago, but I had all this time
repudiated the second work and accounted for the wonderful change
that God had wrought in me at that time to my yielding to the call
to preach the blessed gospel of Jesus, after being disobedient. I
had often been disgusted, too, with the fanaticism I saw mixed with
the professors of the second work; it had steeped me with prejudice
through and through.
Though I could not deny that the experience of these people was in
perfect harmony with my own, yet I strongly opposed their views,
claiming that God does not do his work by piecemeal, but that he
makes a full and complete finish of it at once. I attributed the
second experience to the fact that after conversion we are weak
infants and not able to carry into action the pure nature that God
has given us until we grow to that degree of strength that we can
successfully cope with outer temptation, and that holy nature given
to us in regeneration reaches a degree of development in strength
that it will no more be under subjection to sin in the world around
us.
Thus, while I did not doubt the truthfulness of their testimony. I
thought I comprehended the whole matter and saw the slight mistake,
as I supposed, in the basis of their experience.
But God having let Father and Mother Keller and the whole family
into this glorious experience, with my dear companion, I began
to search the Scriptures anew to see if I might not be mistaken
myself. I carefully reviewed my conversion and recollected that I
sought and asked of God only pardon of my past sins and relief from
my past guilt. That in ten years labor, in which some seven hundred
souls came to Christ, I never knew one to seek for anything else
but pardon for actual transgression; and it is a fact that we do
not ask of God that which we have not apprehended the need of, and
God does not give until we ask for a thing.
Moreover, it is claimed that justification is not a partial but
complete work of itself, and sanctification, i. e., purification,
another. Since seeing every day the change in my dear wife I
thought I was beyond doubt of this second work. But, ah, the devil
is rallying his forces against me. Am I making a fool of myself
coming out here where I have invited and labored with sinners?
My old arguments would come up and I had powerful temptations to
settle back upon them and forever repudiate the second work. I
obtained no light.
P. M. We met at half-past two and held meeting till nearly five.
I labored at the altar. At night after Brother Burlison read a
Scripture lesson and talked for some time on holiness, we all bowed
around the altar; but I could do nothing, all was dark. I came
here fully believing in a second work of God in the soul; but now,
as I attempt to seek it, how thick the temptations of Satan come
up before me! how all my old arguments and objections gather like
rubbish, obstructing the light! Sometimes I was about to conclude
that this was all foolishness. I was ashamed to bow at the altar
and seek sanctification of "soul, body, and spirit" after I had
invited sinners to and labored with them at the same altar.
=6.= Arose early this morning and searched the Scriptures and asked
God for light. I noticed whenever I felt resigned to God and was
willing to make any sacrifice to know the truth I was strongly
impressed to seek sanctification.
This morn I was directed to 1 Pet. 5:10 and Eph. 3:14-20. Light is
becoming brighter in the Word. Thank God. Met at half-past nine.
The foundation of faith was now becoming strong in me. I arose and
read some portions of the Word and boldly declared my faith in
the second work, and that I was resting in the promises of God to
my entire sanctification. Met again, at 2:30 P. M., having spent
most of the interval in searching my heart, and truly I found that
it has not been as good as I before supposed. Oh how much self
there has been in all my past labors! God of power, kill and
cast out all of self. I reviewed my observations of the past ten
years' labor. About seven hundred souls I have observed seeking
salvation, and I can not recall any who did not definitely seek for
justification from past sins. It appears that the condemned sinner
can think of nothing else and does not possess a capacity to grasp
the idea that God is able to destroy all evil in depraved humanity.
"God, forgive my past sins and help me in the future to keep from
sin," is about as great a blessing as the mind beclouded by guilt
can conceive and ask for. With a still more deep and fervent
consecration I again sought the blessing of perfect holiness.
Glory to God, I was able to claim the blessing by faith, though
yet without the anointing of power. After meeting I spent most of
the time talking holiness to several brethren, which I felt was
pleasing to God.
Eve, Brother Burlison read 1 Corinthians 3, and talked a little;
then, an invitation being given, a good many surrounded the
altar, several of whom were seeking the blessing. Thank God, some
professed to receive the blessing. I am still standing, yea,
resting sweetly in the promise of God for entire and constant
salvation through the blood of Jesus.
=7.= Today we fasted all day. Met in the Bethel at 9 A. M. and held
meeting until after 4 P. M. without intermission. This day I was
the least conscious of a physical nature and my relations with a
corporeal world of any day in all my life. I seemed to be entirely
unconscious of passing time. Only the spirit seemed to live, stir,
feel, and take cognizance. Glory to the God of wonders! Is this
really but the foot-stool of God?
Mother Keller, Sarah, and I went to Brother L----'s for supper. She
(Mrs. L.) very soon began to pour out her bitter railing against
holiness and holy ones; but praise God, he kept our souls in
perfect peace. After my communing with God in secret for some time,
the Lord told me to go immediately to see a poor sick girl near
by. Mother accompanied me. Found her barely able to sit up, having
been suffering for nearly one year. She had exhausted in vain all
available medical aid. We spoke of the Great Physician. She said
she believed that he was able to heal her. We called for oil,
anointed her in the name of the Lord and laid hands on, and prayed
for her present restoration to health. We entreated God with all
the faith and earnestness of our inmost soul and then left her in
the hands of God, with a comfortable degree of faith that God would
raise her up again.
Eve, met at a quarter to eight. Mighty power filled the house. The
altar was filled from one side to the other. Several were seeking
sanctification. Glory to God, this night he began to give me some
of the evidences (besides my hitherto naked faith) that I had got
out of the wilderness into Canaan. Jesus, my blessed Savior, just
cut me off one bunch of the sweet grapes of this "land." Oh, glory
to God, once more I was a little child! I felt the blood of Jesus
flowing through my entire "soul, body, and spirit." Heaven on
earth! Halleluiah, it is done!
=8.= Sabbath. At five this morning a goodly number met in the
Bethel for prayers. The Spirit was with us. Returned to Brother
Bell's; ate a piece for breakfast, as we all felt that bodily wants
were simple and few while the soul was so dearly fed with the bread
of heaven. Met at half-past nine, and after many clear testimonies
were given in for Jesus Brother Dunbar preached the word of life
with great power and sweetness. Text, "For God hath not called us
unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." He read much of the First
Epistle to the Thessalonians, where this glorious second work is
brought out so clear and forcibly. My soul was never before so
wonderfully fed by the gospel in any sermon I ever heard. Oh, how
sweet and glorious the word of life came to my renovated heart!
Mother, Sarah, and I went to Brother Furman's for dinner. Returned
to the two o'clock meeting. Among many clear witnesses I testified
today to the blood that cleanses from all sin and also uncleanness
of nature. The long altar was again crowded and several found
sanctification in the blood. Some backsliders were restored. God is
wonderfully at work. All glory to his name!
At six we met again in the Bethel, after spending a long time in
the closet with God. The Spirit impressed me to talk to the people
on the commands of Jesus, and in simplicity I did so, using John
14:15 as a text. I read the word of the Lord concerning the duty
of washing the saints' feet. Then we proceeded to obey the Lord.
God wonderfully blessed me in talking, but my soul leaped for joy
as I saw the dear sanctified ones come promptly to the bench and
joyfully obey Him whom they love. God wonderfully blessed them, as
they all testified the next day. Many of them had never seen the
holy ordinance of feet-washing observed before. The Church of God
brethren had said that if these holiness people would obey these
lowly commands then they would have confidence in them. Thank God,
true holiness needs but to be tested to be proved genuine.
=10.= This morn had to miss prayer-meeting in order to take Mother
Keller and our dear Levilla to the train, as they go to Upper
Sandusky this morn. We will go by buggy at the close of meeting.
Sister Bell and Sarah went to the country today to get berries. I
wrote and prayed most of the forenoon. Then, feeling very empty and
destitute of the stirrings of the Spirit, I sought God earnestly
in secret and then started out to work for him. Visited and prayed
with two families, but still felt destitute of the Comforter. Met
at 2:30 P. M. at the house of God. Several observed that I was
being much tried. But I was eager to defeat the enemy of my soul
by testifying to the sanctifying power of the blood of Jesus. I
did so, declaring that the blood of Jesus had washed from all sin.
While I was talking, the Lord showed me that I had now entered upon
the path of perfect trust in Jesus, and that as faith was eternal
and unchangeable, I had forever abandoned the up-and-down road of
feeling. I also (in an absent-minded manner) made the remark that
I had been cheated out of the morning prayer-meeting. But quick
as thought I saw that it was wrong, for it was either complaining
of or speaking lightly of God's providence. This remark furnished
a subject of meditation through the afternoon. I see how entirely
loyal to God's providence I now was. I felt that the above remark
and all similar ones, so common and admissible in my past state,
were not only wrong, but could not be true, as I have given myself,
all I have, to God, surrendered all my ways, time, talents, means,
influence, name, reputation, and everything with which I am
connected--wife, child, friends, my destiny--all into the hands
of God. I glorify in the blessed truth that no being in the whole
universe can cheat me out of anything or do me the least harm.
Glory to God forever! How happy I am in accepting all the will and
providence of God! From the time of my testimony I realized the
glorious river of life flowing through my entire being. What a
sweet sense of perfect purity filled my mind and heart! Holiness
was written everywhere. My very body seemed sacred and pure, a
temple for the holy God. Glory to the cleansing power of the blood
of Jesus!
"Precious Jesus, thou hast saved me,
Thine and only thine I am.
Oh, the precious blood has reached me!
Glory, glory to the Lamb!
"Long my yearning heart was trying
To enjoy this perfect rest;
But I gave all trying over,
Simply trusting I was blessed.
"Glory to the blood that bought me,
Glory to its cleansing power,
Glory to the blood that keeps me,
Glory, glory evermore!
"Yes, I will stand up for Jesus;
He has sweetly saved my soul,
Cleansed me from inbred corruption,
Sanctified and made me whole.
"Oh, I can no longer doubt it,
Halleluiah, I am free!
Jesus saves me, soul and body,
And he sweetly dwells in me."