N o te th e Corrected Form of Bequest, Inside Back Cover.
VOL. IV
MARCH, 1913
NO. 3
AUD ITORIUM BUILDING Cor. Fifth an d Olive Sts.
T em porary Location of thé Bible Institute of Los Angeles.
Published Once a Month by SII ip llibh? Snaiitut* of £¡00 Attgrlra LOS ANGELES, CAL.
FIFTY CENTS A YEAR
MOTTO: “I the Lord do keep it. I will water it every moment lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.”—Is. 27:3 THE KING’S BUSINESS R. A. TORREY, Editor J. H. SAMMIS, T. C. HORTON, J. H. HUNTER, Associate Editors Entered as Second-Class matter November 17, 1910,.at the postoffice at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Organ of The Bible Institute of Los Angeles [Ine.] Auditorium Building, Cor. Fifth and Olive, Los Angeles, California.
DIRECTORS.
Lyman Stewart, President;
Rev. A, B. Prichard, Vice-President.
J. M. Irvine, Secretary-Treasurer.
T. C. Horton, Superintendent, -
R. A. Torrey, Dean Giles Kellogg. S. I. Merrill. Robert Watchorn.
W. E. Blackstone. II. A. Getz. E. A. K. Hackett.
DOCTRINAL STATEMENT. We hold to the Historic Faith of-the Church as expressed in the Common Creed of Evangelical Christendom and including: The Trinity of the Godhead. The Deity of the Christ. Thé Maintenance of Good Works. The Second Coming of Christ. The Immortality of the Soul. The Resurrection of the Body.
The Personality of the Holy Ghost, The Supernatural and Plenary au thority of the Holy Scriptures. The Unity in Diversity of the Church, which is the Body and Bride of Christ, The. Substitutionary Atonement. The Necessity of the New Birth.
The Life Everlasting of Believers. The Endless Punishment of the Im penitent. . The Reality and Personality of Satan.
OUR WORK .
(4) Spanish Mission. Meetings every night. (5) Shop Work. Regular services in shops and factories. (6) Jewish Evangelism. Personal work among the Hebrews. (7) Bible Women! House-to-house and neighborhood classes. (8) . Oil Fields. A mission to men on the oil fields. (9) Books and Tracts. Sale and dis tribution of selected books and tracts.
PurnOSe The Institute trains, free of r u l " s c cost, accredited men and women, in the knowledge and use of the Bible. Departments cept Saturdays and Sundays. (2) Extension work. Classes and con ferences held in neighboring cities and towns. (3) Evangelistic. Meetings conducted by our evangelists.
The K ing’s Business Voi. 4 MARCH, 1913 No. 3 Table of Contents. E d ito r ia ls : Christian U n ion—Christ is R isen—Soul S av in g .. 103 A N ew T estam en t Mystery. C. I. Scofield ................................. 105 “Lovest T h o u M e ? ” J. H. S amm is................................................... 109 P rayer and Revival. J. Goforth, H onan, C h ina . . . - .................. 110 G reat Revivals an d G reat Evangelists. John H. H u n te r . . . . 115 O u r Inheritance. S. H . K e llo g g ........................................................ 118 E aster Hymn, s e le c te d ............................................... 119 Not Unclothed, bu t C lothed U pon. Silas H e n n ......................... 120 Studies in th e G ospel A c co rd ing to John. R. A. T o rrey . . . . 121 International S unday School Lessons. J. H . S............................... 129 T h e H e a rt of th e Lesson. T. C. H o rto n .......................................... 137 T h e T h e a te r vs. th e Church. A . C. D ix o n ...................................... 140 Questions an d Answers. R. A. T orrey ........................................ 141 Fo r th e W o rk e r’s L i b r a r y ..................................................................... 143 A t H om e an d A b ro ad ......................................................................... 145 H in ts and H e lp s . . . .............................................................................. 147 T h e Bible In s titu te .................................................................................. 150 SUBSCRIPTION RATES . . . FIFTY CENTS A YEAR Published by The Bible Institute of Los Angeles Auditorium Building, Cor. Fifth & Olive Sts.
DO C TO R T O R R E Y SAYS Every Christian Should Own These B E S T BOOKS Known as the Montrose Library No. 1— HOW TO BRING MEN TO CHR IST (121 pages), ¡by Dr. R. A. Torrey. A book regarded for years as a standard work on dealing with, individuals of all classes No. 2—T H E D IV IN E U N IT Y OF TH E SCRIPTURES (304 pages), by Dr. Adolph Saphir. It is a great religious classic. No 3— CHR IST AND TH E SCRIPTURES (142 pages), by Dr. Adolph Saphir. A companion work to Dr. Saphir’s “The Divine Unity of the Scriptures.” No. 4—T H E H IDDEN LIFE (291 pages), by Dr. Adolph Saphir. One of the most helpful books in English litp r s tiir p No. 5—T H E WONDERS OF PROPHECY (231 pages), by John Urquhart. A val uable introduction to the study of pro phecy. No. 6—T H E LORD FROM HEAVEN (134 pages), by Sir Robert Anderson, K. C. B., LL. D. A great contribution to current discussions on the Diety of Jesus Christ.
No. 7— TH E GOSPEL AND ITS M IN IS TR Y
(183 pages), by Sir Robert Anderson, K. C. B., LL. D. This is a standard work on the fundamental truths of Christ ianity. No. 8—A DOUBTER’S DOUBTS ABOUT SCIENCE AND RELIGION (144 pages), by Sir Robert Anderson, K. C. B., LL. D. This book discusses the divine origin of the Bible, evolution, and kindred themes. No. 9— TH E GROWING CHURCH (130 pages), by Rev. Cleland B. Mc Afee, D.D. A study of the Epistle to the Ephesians by a most gifted minister in the Presbyterian Church. No. 10—TH E H IGHER CR ITIC ISM AND T H E NEW THEOLOGY (250 pages), Edited by Dr. R. A. Tor rey. A book containing contributions from most gifted, scholarly, and evan gelical men in England and America. No. 11—“SATAN”
(163 pages), by Lewis S. Chafer. This is the most thorough biblical study on Satan with which we are acquainted. T H E Y ARE T H E VERY CHO ICEST O F ALL CHR ISTIAN L ITERA TURE This Set of 11 Books paper bound now only costs you : If ordered by mail include 32c extra for postage Address all orders to $ 1.25 T H E BIBLE IN S T IT U T E BOOK ROOM AUD ITOR IUM BU ILD ING Cor. 5th and Olive Sts., LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Send and get a set of these BEST BOOKS and when you know how good they are if you think you can sell them to others, write us for Agents’ Terms. Agents Wanted
The King’s Business
Voi. 4
MARCH, 1913
No. 3
Christian Union. ' I ' H E R E is increasing ta lk on every h a n d of th e ne ed of C h ristian union. ■*" T h e re is c ertain ly g re a t n eed o f such union. In m any p laces th e re a re th re e o r fou r struggling churches, ■ each try in g to su p p o rt a m in ister b u t failing to d o so satisfactorily, w h ere one church w ou ld m eet, an d b e tte r m eet, all th e necessities of th e comm unity. O ften tim es th e se churches differ from one a n o th e r in no essential particu lar, b u t only in m ino r m a t ters o f o rgan ization an d discipline o r form . O ne church w ou ld fa r b e tte r m e e t th e necessities of th e comm un ity th a n th e th re e o r four. But while th e re is a crying n e ed fo r C h ristian union, w e shou ld m ak e sure th a t it is in d e ed Christian union. Som e a re so c a rried aw ay w ith th e th o u g h t o f union th a t th ey are w illing to com b ine w ith an y one an d to sacrifice fu n d a m en tal tru th s o f th e Gospel. A n y un ion th a t d em a n d s th e sacrifice o f e s sential tru th is n o t C hristian un ion a n d c an on ly result in d isaster. Christ is Risen. p 'E W realize: F irst, on w h a t a firm fo u n d a tio n th e resu rrection o f our L o rd rests; Second, w h a t g re a t histo rical a n d legal authorities, whose specialty is th e a tte sta tio n o f evidence, h av e certified th e v a lid ity of th e te s tim ony to th a t co rn e rsto n e o f o u r faith ; T h ird , how this sup rem e m iracle tak e s p re c ed en ce of an d gu a ran te e s all o th e r C h ristian doctrines. It is folly to w aste learning, time, an d la b o r on C h ristian ev idence if th is m iracle n ev e r o c cu rred ; it is equally needless to d e fe n d o th e r d isp u ted su p e rn a t u ral ev en ts of th e biblical re co rd if this first fact is established, as it is, as b ey o n d re a son ab le d oub t. O u r chief au th o rity on in tern a tio n a l law an d in te rn a tio n a l relations, H on . J o h n W . Fo ster, h as sa id : “ I con sid er th a t th e ev idence of C h rist’s resu rrection is as cred ib le as th a t of an y o th e r fact in th e h isto ry o f th e last eigh teen cen tu ries.” H o n .. F red e rick R en e C oud e rt, w ho se rv ed as counsel fo r th e U n ited S tates b e fo re th e In te rn a tio n a l Behring Sea Comm ission, an d on th e V e n e zuelan B ou n d a ry Comm ission, an d as p re sid en t of th e New Y o rk B ar A s sociation, said : “ I h av e n o t stud ied th e testim ony of th e evangelists on th e su b je c t of th e R esu rrection as I w o u ld th e p ro o fs in d isp u ted w ill cases. T ho se, how ever, w ho th ink th a t th ey ough t to m ak e a b rie f on th e su b je c t b e fo re a rriv ing a t a decision m ay stu d y G re en le a f on th e conclusive ness o f th e evidence. H is au th o rity on th e law of ev idence is o f th e h igh est.” A n o th e r em in en t ju rist, of th e Sup rem e C o u rt, said : “ I h av e n o t ex am in ed th e ev idence fo r ou r L o rd ’s resu rrection from a law yer’s s ta n d p o in t; G re en le a f has d o n e so, a n d his opinion is satisfacto ry to me. Now w ho is G re en le a f? H e w as p ro fe sso r o f law a t H a rv a rd , au th o r of “A T re a tise on th e L aw o f E v id en c e ,” which re n d e re d in to th irte en d ifferen t langu&ges be c am e a te x t b o o k in th e law schools o f th e w o rld .
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THE KING’S BUSINESS S im on G re en le a f p re p a re d a b rie f,” viz., “A n E xam ination of th e T e sti m o n y o f th e F o u r Evangelists b y th e Rules o f E vidence as T h e y A re A d m in istered in th e C ou rts o f Justice. T h is volum e, as larg e as th e av e rag e vo lum es o f a law library, is still an au tho rity . In it Dr. G re en le a f a rraign s Jesu s o f N a z a re th on th e ch arg e o f blasphem y , an d acquits him on th e law s o f ev idence as now “adm in iste red .” No unin sp ired testim ony to H is rising again as L o rd o f all can b e superio r to this. D r- A rn o ld , th e fam ous H e a d M aster o f Rugby, used on occasion to say. to his pup ils: It h as b e e n m y business fo r m any years" to exam ine critically th e testim ony o f m en to th e ev en ts of hum an histo ry an d to v e rify it ac co rd ing to th e comm on c riteria o f evidence. I h av e m any tim es g on e over, as carefu lly as I w ou ld th e testim ony of w itnesses on th e m o st im p o rta n t cases in law , th e ev id en c e fo r th e resu rrection o f Jesus Christ, n o t fo r th e sake o f convincing others, b u t fo r m y satisfaction ; a n d I k now o f no ev en t th a t is estab lished on b e tte r te stim o n y .” W h en w e a d d to th e comm on historical ev idence th e fact o f p ro p h e cy ; o f th e m o ra l c h a ra c te r o f th e facts, a ccom p any ing doctrines, an d of th e w itnesses, this stup en d o u s a n d red em p tiv e ev en t stan d s a lon e in th e am o u n t an d quality o f ev idence v ind ic a tin g it. Soul Saving C A V E D m en shou ld seek to save m en ; b eliev ers unbelievers an d fellow - believers. M en m ay b e d iv id ed in to two classes, a C ain class; an d an A n d rew an d Philip class; tho se w ho re p u d ia te responsibility, say ing : “Am I m y b ro th e r s k e e p e r? ” a n d th o se who, sensible o f it, say : “W e h av e found H im o f w hom Moses in th e law, a n d th e p ro p h e ts d id w rite, Jesus of N azareth . ’ W e c an n o t exp e c t m en w ith no ca re to sav e th e ir own souls to b e co n c e rn ed fo r th e souls o f others, b u t w e h a v e a righ t to exp e c t such a s p ro fe ss to h av e b e e n sav ed to b e solicitous to sav.e others. W e p ro fess to b elieve th a t im p en iten t m en are lo st; th a t th e ir ruin is u n u tte r ab ly d re a d fu l an d th a t, unless th e y rep en t, it is fo rev e r irre triev ab le. W e a re in d a ily c o n ta c t w ith th em in business, in society, in o u r v e ry homes, a n d p e rh a p s n e v e r in tim a te to th em th e ir perilous po sition o r show co n c ern fo r them . T h is indifference is an ob stacle in th e w ay o f unbelievers, an d in p ro p o rtio n to ou r incon sisten t profession. T h e m o re lou d ly w e sing, “T h row ou t th e life line!” th e less a la rm ed th ey a re likely to be. T h e y h a v e seen th e life-saving crew a t p ra c tic e an d th e h o lid ay a ttitu d e o f th e spectato rs, an d ju d g e th a t if th e re w ere real d anger, a b a rk going to pieces in th e offing, a n d hum an lives actually in m o rta l peril, th e re w ou ld b e a differen t co un ten an ce on th e pro fessional rescuers an d m o re a la rm an d e ag e r h e lp fulness in th e sym p a th e tic th rong . Tw o m en w ere re a re d on ad jo in in g farm s, one in godly, th e o th e r in un g o d ly influences. O ne be c am e a C h ristian an d a deacon , th e o th e r an infidel. T h e la tte r w as fa ta lly h u rt in a n acciden t. W h en th e d o c to r asked, “Shall I send fo r th e m in iste r? ” h e said, “N o .” “Shall I sen d for yo u r friend, th e D e a c o n ? ” “N o !” he cried. “T ell him I d ie d cursing him. W e h av e lived side b y side all ou r lives a n d h e n ev e r con c e rn ed him self ab o u t m y soul.” T o C ain it w as said, “T h e voice o f th y b ro th e r’s b lo o d crieth u n to Me from th e g ro u n d .”
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A New Testament Mystery* C. I. SCOFIELD
m ans. W e a re m em b e rs o f H is body . W e w ere G entiles, a n d Jew ish believers w e re Jew s, b u t in H im th e re is n e ith e r Jew n o r Gentile, b o n d n o r free, b u t w e all a re one in C hrist Jesus. It is a new creation, old th ing s a re p assed away, all th ing s a re b e com e new , a n d th e new b irth is re ck o n ed w ith, an d th e old differences a n d distinction s fall away. C losely co n n e c ted w ith this m y s te ry o f th e C hu rch as th e b o d y a n d B ride o f Christ, is th e g re a t m ystery disclosed in th e fifteen th c h a p te r of F irst Corinthians, th e 15 th verse, "B eho ld , I show you a m ystery. W e shall n o t all sleep, b u t w e shall all b e ch ang ed , in a m om en t, in th e tw inkling o f an eye, a t th e last trum p, fo r th e trum p e t shall sou n d a n d th e d e a d shall b e raised, incorruptible, a n d w e shall b e changed . F o r this co rru p tib le m u st p u t on incorruption, a n d this m o rta l m u st p u t on imm o r tality, so w hen this c o rru p tib le shall h av e p u t on inco rrup tion , an d this m o rta l shall h av e p u t on im m o rta l ity, th e n shall b e b ro u g h t to pass th e saying th a t is w ritten , d e a th is sw allow ed up in v ic to ry .” N ot m erely w h en th e d e a d rise, th e rig h t eous d e ad , b u t w h en th e m y stery is accom plished, "w e shall n o t all d ie ,” th a t is th e m ystery, th e do c trin e of resu rrection w as no m ystery. A t d if fe ren t tim es ou r L o rd h a d d e c la red g re a t th ing s concern ing th e re su rrec tion, an d it b re a th e s th ro u g h th e O ld T e stam en t expectation , striking an occasional no te a t first b u t ev e r ris ing a n d swelling until it tak e s a p a rt o f th e O ld T e stam en t rev e la tion as well as o f th e New, a n d th e L o rd Jesu s m a d e it a v e ry p rom in en t th ing in H is teaching, n o t on ly a s co n c e rn ing H is own resurrection, buF a s con-
"1X7”E con tinue th e g en eral them e, ’ * "T h e M ysteries o f th e New T e stam e n t.” W e h av e a lre a d y seen how these re la te to a certain p e rio d o f hum an history, nam ely, from th e tim e o f th e re je c tio n of Jesu s C h rist b y th e Jew ish p eo p le on in to our tim e, a n d un til H is com ing again to this earth . L a st night w e w ere look ing a t th e M ystery of th e C hu rch as th e B ride o f C h rist in a c co rd an ce w ith th e Eve type, ju st as Eve w as n o t a n in d e p e n d e n t c re atio n b u t w as c re a ted o u t of an d from A d am , ju st so th e Church, th e B ride o f Christ, is tak en from H is w o u n d e d side a s it w ere, an d as A d am said, "T h is is now b o n e o f m y b o n e an d flesh o f m y flesh," so it is said o f C h rist an d th e C hurch in Ephesians 5, an d th a t is ca lled th e g re a t m ystery, so th a t th e Church, which is H is body , is also H is B ride which H e is to p re sen t to H im self w ithou t spot, o r blem ish, o r w rinkle, o r an y such thing, ab so lu te ly p e r fect. A n o th e r S c rip tu re which I d id n o t re ad last nigh t sp eak s o f th a t as “ th e tim e o f H is exceed ing jo y .” I now ta k e up a n o th e r o f th e New T e stam e n t m ysteries, nam ely, th e M ystery o f th e C hu rch as th e B ody of Christ, m ad e of Jew a n d G entile, ind e ed , a b o d y in which these d is tinction s d isap p e a r, so th a t th ey a re sp o k en o f in th e p a s t tense. You a n d I, m o st o f us, w ere G entiles, b u t in th e D ivine th ink ing w e a re no t G entiles now , an d n e ith e r a re we Israelites. T h a t is one o f th e false glosses of th eo logy u p o n a m istaken passage in th e n in th c h a p te r o f R o-
•Delivered a t the Bible In stitu te W inter Conference, Jan. 24. Stenographic report, u reY issd by the author.
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cerning th e resu rrection o f all who shou ld believe on H im . A m y stery is a D ivine se c re t to ld out, so th e A p o stle says, '"Behold, I show you a m ystery— w e shall n o t all sleep, b u t w e shall all b e ch a n g e d .” T h a t is ou r su b je c t ton igh t. It connects itself v e ry closely w ith th e m y stery of th e b o d y o f which w e are th e living m em bers, a n d w ith th e m y stery o f th e B ride. F o r w h en th e b o d y is com p lete, this th ird m ystery, th e m y stery o f th e ch ang e w ithou t seeing d e a th , will b e accom plished o r fulfilled. A n d th e n th e B ride g ro om w ill h a v e H is B ride. F irst o f all, distinguish w ith m e b e tw e en th is m ystery, now first re v e a led , th a t w e shall n o t all sleep, w e Christians, b u t w e shall all b e changed . I w a n t you to distinguish th a t from th e prom ise in th e O ld T e s tam e n t an d th e New o f th e glorious a n d visible a p p e a rin g o f th e L o rd w hen H e re tu rn s again to this earth . T h a t w as no m ystery, th e O ld T e s tam e n t has th e tw o a d v e n ts clearly d ifferen tiated , th e fou r G ospels h av e th e tw o ad v e n ts clearly d ifferen ti a ted . In H is g re a t O liv e t discourse, o u r L o rd spoke, as H e h a d before, o f H is re tu rn in g lo ry to th e earth , a n d o f th e even ts th a t w ould p re c ed e a n d a c com p an y H is re tu rn to th e e a rth a n d all th e saints w ith H im . H e re is som eth ing th e n th a t is d if feren t, an d I w an t to say fo r m y self, w h e th e r I c a rry you w ith m e ju st a t th e p re se n t o r not, th a t n e ith e r a re w e to con sid e r th is m y stery in th e fifteenth o f F irst C o rin th ian s as a p h a se o r p a rt o f th e glorious a p p e a rin g o f th e L o rd , n o r a s co n c e rn ing th e re tu rn o f th e L o rd in g lo ry to this ea rth . W e a re given signs, th e re a re ce rta in ev en ts co n n e c ted w ith a n d p re c ed in g th e glorious ap p e a rin g o f th e L o rd . This m ystery, th e com ing o f th e L o rd fo r H is saints, is n o t co n n e c ted w ith an y sign; it is sign less, timeless, u n re la ted . A g re a t
m any peop le, w ith in th e la st th re e o r fou r years, h av e g o t in to a g o o d d e a l o f d ark n e ss a b o u t th e blessed h o p e o f th e church, becau se th ey h av e b e e n to ld th a t th e L o rd could n o t re tu rn an d set up H is k ingdom until certain th ing s h a d ta k e n place, an d w ithou t going in to th a t question a t all, I re p e a t th a t I w a n t us to see ton igh t, fo r w e easily m ay, even w ithin th e lim it o f tim e set m e to night, th a t this is a new th ing n o t co nn e c ted a s a ph ase o f th e glorious ap p e a rin g of th e L o rd again up o n th e e a rth to ju d g e th e nation s a n d se t up H is k ingdom . T h e first em e rg ence o f this tru th , this m y stery o f th e fifteen th o f F irst C o rinthians, you m ay find in th e fo u rte en th o f J o h n— w e a re v e ry fo n d o f q u o ting it, b e cause it is full o f com fo rt— “L e t no t y o u r h e a rt b e tro u b le d ; y e b elieve in G od , believe also in Me. In My F a th e r s house a re m an y m ansions. If it w ere n o t so, I w o u ld h a v e to ld you. I go to p re p a re a p lace fo r you (o b se rv e H e is in th e u p p e r ch am b e r w ith H is disciples. T h is is n o t a n a d d ress to Israel th e nation , th e m ixed m u ltitu d e com po sing th e Church, a n d th e k ingdom , b u t in th e seclu sion o f th e u p p e r ch am b e r a fte r th e su p p e r in th a t g re a t u p p e r ch am b e r discourse o f ou r L o rd ’s ) , a n d if I go an d p re p a re a p lace fo r you, I w ill com e ag ain an d receive you un to Myself, th a t w here I am th e re y e m ay b e a lso .” T h e A p o stle tak in g up, a s it w ere, this m ere hint, tells us th a t it concern s one o f th e m y s teries, “ I show you a m ystery. W e shall n o t all sleep. O u r L o rd h a d n o t said th a t. T h is is an ad d itio n a l revelation . In th e first o f his w rit ten epistles, F irst The'ssalonians, first chronologically, h e tak e s up th e d e tail o f this m ystery, “w e shall n o t all sleep, b u t w e shall all b e ch a n g e d .” “ If I go a n d p re p a re a p lace fo r you, I will com e again a n d receive you u n to Myself, th a t w h ere I am , th e re
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w o u ld n o t h av e you to b e ig n o ra n t) concern ing th em which a re asleep th a t y e so rrow n o t ev en as o th ers which h av e no h o p e .” H e re is a g re a t w o rd , th e w o rd *H o p e , co n n e c ted w ith this th ird m ystery. It is a hope, once to ld ou t it con stitu tes th e b lessed h o p e of th e church, b u t go on. “F o r if w e believe th a t Jesus d ied an d ro se again, even so also th em which sleep in Jesu s w ill G o d b rin g w ith H im . F o r this w e say u n to you b y th e W o rd o f th e L o rd (th a t is a P au line p h ra se fo r im p o r ta n t an d special re v e la tio n ) th a t w e w hich a re alive a n d rem ain u n to th e com ing of th e L o rd shall n o t go b e fo re th em th a t a re asleep, fo r th e L o rd H im self shall d esc en d from h e av en w ith a shout, w ith th e voice o f th e a rch ang e l a n d w ith th e trum p o f G od , a n d th e d e a d in C hrist shall rise first (n o t a g en eral re su rre c tion ) th e d e a d in C hrist (N ow I am often ask ed if I b e liev e th a t th e sleeping saints o f p a st d isp en sation s will rise th en . F o r m yself I an sw er ve ry confidently, I d o believe it, fo r th ey are all one in Christ. “A b ra h am ,” said Christ, “ saw My d a y an d was g la d .” T h a t is n o t to say th a t I b e lieve A b ra h am is in th e C hu rch ; it is a v e ry d iffe ren t p ro p o sitio n .) shall rise first— “T h e n w e which a re alive a n d rem ain shall b e caugh t up to g e th e r w ith th em in th e cloud s (o r in c loud s) to m e e t th e L o rd in th e a ir.” T h e L o rd do e s n o t com e to th e ea rth . T h e re is a c e rta in m a g a zine in this co u n try which seem s to exist fo r th e sake of charg ing tho se w ho h o ld this h o p e w ith believing in “ th e secret ra p tu re o f th e sain ts.” I n ev e r knew an y one w ho be liev ed in th e secret ra p tu re o f th e saints. S uppo se th e L o rd cam e in th e air now , a n d th a t th e shou t a n d th e vo ice of th e archangel, a n d th e trum p o f G o d raised th e sleeping saints an d ch ang ed us w ho a re liv ing, w o u ld it b e a se c re t th in g in
y e m ay b e also .” In F irst T hessa- lon ian s 4, th e Sp irit of G od , b y th e sam e A po stle , fo r it is P au l’s c a ll ing, a n d to P au l is en tru sted th e ex p la n a tio n o r th e rev e la tio n ra th e r, of th e g re a t New T e stam e n t m ysteries, h e tak e s up th e d e ta il o f it. T h a t is th e w ay tru th com es in Scrip tu re— first th e b la d e , th en th e ear, a fte r th a t th e full co rn in th e e a r; an d th e tru e w ay to stu d y a n y p a rticu la r su b je c t in th e B ible is to find ou t th e p lace w h ere it first em erges in th e re co rd a n d follow it th ro u g h as re v e la tio n a fte r rev e la tio n is given, to d e tail an d am p lify th e tru th . T a k e fo r in stance th e line o f prom ise co n c e rn ing th e com ing of a D ivine m an , th e G od -M an . Yovl know y o u h a d to beg in aw ay b a c k in Genesis. T h e seed of th e w om an shall bru ise th e se rp en t’s h e a d .” A v e ry general prom ise. Y ou know how th a t is tak en up a n d a line of iden tification an d am plification follows. W e com e to th e A b rah am ic co v en an t— th en it is n a rrow ed dow n, “ In th e e a n d th y seed shall all th e n a tion s o f th e e a rth b e b le ssed .” T h e n Ishm ael is ex clu d ed a n d Isaac is p o in te d out. F in a lly it com es d ow n in th e line to K ing D av id . A ll tru th is like th a t. W e shall n o t all sleep, b u t w e shall all b e ch ang ed has its beg inn ing in th e fo u rte en th o f Jo h n . In th e fou rth c h a p te r of F irst T h essalon ian s th e rev e la tio n is m a d e as to its fo rm com plete. I w ou ld b eg in w ith th e th irte e n th verse, “ I w o u ld n o t h av e you to b e igno ran t, b re th re n (th e re a re seven in stances o f th a t p h ra se in th e w ritings o f Paul. Tw ice th e fo rm is, “ I w ou ld h av e you to kn ow .” If you will find th ese places you will see th a t th ey concern p re cisely th e sub jects on which th e C hu rch o f G o d is th e least en ligh t ened. W e n e ed an en ligh tenm en t — it w ou ld b e a g o o d th ing in a c o n ference som e tim e to tak e up these things in tro d u c ed b y th e ph rase, “ I
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Los A ngeles fo r us to go u p th ro u g h th e ro o f y o n d e r? It is v e ry painful, a n d a little irritating , to continually h av e to d e n y these m en o f straw set up to kno ck us dow n. 1 b e liev e it will b e a n ev en t th a t w ill sh ak e so ciety to its d ep th s. I b e liev e it w ill b e th e m o st trem en d o u s e v e n t th a t ev e r cam e on this ea rth . It is secret in th e sense th a t th e L o rd does n o t a p p e a r in g lo ry on th e earth , w e m e e t th e L o rd aw ay from th e ea rth , th e expression is “ in th e a ir,” a n d any one w ho know s th e G re ek know s th a t in th e G reek, it is, a s w e m ight say in English, w e shall m e e t th e L o rd in space. T h e C hurch is th e h e av en ly b o d y . W e a re n o t v e ry h e av en ly in o u r actions, I am a fraid , b u t w e a re p a rta k e rs of th e h eav en ly calling, o u r “in h e ritan c e in c o rru p t ible an d u n d e ñ le d is rese rv ed in h e av en fo r us w ho a re k e p t b y th e p ow e r o f G o d re a d y to b e rev e a led a t th e last tim e .” W e a re “pilgrim s a n d stran g e rs,” P e te r says, “in this w o rld .” D r. B rookes u sed to say: “T h e difference b e tw e en a pilgrim an d a tram p is, a tram p is n o t going anyw here in particu lar, a n d th e p il grim is going tow a rd som e holy sh rine.” A n d w e a re going tow a rd th a t m eeting w ith th e L o rd in th e air, th a t is th e en d o f th e p ilgrim p a thw ay o f th e C hu rch o f Jesus Christ. Som e d a y H is shou t will sound, an d th e voice of th e archangel an d th e trum p of G o d w ill w ak e th e sleeping saints th a t will rise first an d th en b e ch ang ed in a m om en t, in th e tw inkling o f a n eye (if w e a re living th e n ), a n d w ithou t seeing d e a th will to g e th e r w ith th em b e cau g h t u p in th e cloud s to m e e t th e L o rd in th e air, aw ay from th e e a rth and , so says th e A po stle, “Shall y e ev e r b e w ith th e L o rd .” I n e ed n o t p o in t ou t to you who a re stu d en ts o f Scripture, th a t this form s w h a t is called in th e New T e s
tam e n t “T h e B lessed H o p e ” o f th e Church. O f course, th e New T e sta m en t S crip tu res also rev e a l th e fact th a t m any m ay die. It w as d istin c t ly said o f P eter, th a t w h en h e was old h e shou ld stre tch fo rth his h an d s an d th ey w ou ld le ad him “W h e re th o u w o u ld st n o t.” T h is H e sp ak e signifying b y w h a t d e a th he should die. T h e an sw er is h e re in F irst Thes- alon ian s th e first ch ap ter. “F o r th ey them selves show o f us w h a t m an n e r o f en tering in w e h a d u n to you, a n d how y e tu rn e d to G o d (th a t is ou r conv ersion ) from ido ls to serve th e living an d th e tru e G o d (a n d th a t is th e business o f th e C h ristian ) an d w ait fo r “d e a th ? ” No, " to w ait fo r H is S on from heaven , w hom H e raised from th e d e ad , ev en Jesus, which d e liv e red us from th e w ra th to come. ’ Conversion, service, waiting. See fo r a m om en t how it is in T itu s w h ere w e h av e th e th re e p a rts o f a ripe C h ristian experience b ro u g h t tog e th e r, T itu s 2 :1 1 , “F o r th e g race o f G o d th a t b rin g e th sa l v a tio n h a th a p p e a re d to all m e n .” (R em em b e r th a t g race b ring s sa lv a tion w ith it. G ra c e d o e s n o t hang salv ation up in th e skies to b e a t ta in ed th ro u g h d e a th ; g race b ring s salvation. W h en th e g o o d S am a ri tan cam e to th e m an dow n on th e Je richo ro ad , h e m in istered to him w h ere he w as a n d as h e was, an d th en to o k c a re o f h im .) T h e g race o f G o d b ring s salvation. (T h a n k G o d fo r th a t) . It is a p re sen t a n d imm ed ia te salvation . T h e g race o f G o d th a t b rin g e th salv ation h a th a p - . p e a re d to all m en, teach ing us th a t deny ing ungod liness a n d w o rld ly lusts, w e shou ld live soberly, righteously, an d g o d ly in this p re s e n t w o rld— g race b rings salvation, a n d th e n g race (n o t law ) teach es th e sav ed one how to live soberly, righteously an d go d ly in this p re s en t age, “L ook ing fo r th a t blessed
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a lre a d y la sted lo n g e r th a n an y d is p en sa tion th a t p re c e d e d it, w e m ay con fid en tly say th a t th e com ing o f th e L o rd d raw e th nigh. Oh, g ran t th a t H e m ay find us ab id in g in H im , so th a t w e m ay n o t b e ash am ed b e fo re him a t H is com ing, b u t h av e confidence. T h e L o rd g ra n t to find us bu sy in H is service a n d living soberly, righteously an d go d ly in this p re sen t w o rld . F riend , you h av e tu rn e d to G o d— th a t w as yo u r conversion— you a re try in g to serve H im in this p re sen t age. A re you look ing fo r th a t b lessed h o p e a n d th e glorious a p p e a rin g o f th e g re a t G o d an d ou r S av iou r Jesus C h rist? T h a t is y o u r privilege, while w e w ait an d while w e serve a n d while we live th e re is th e u pw a rd look, th e g lad expectation , “ P e rh ap s to d a y .” T h e re is no th ing rev e a led in S crip tu re to p re v e n t us b e fo re w e b re a k up this evening from h e a rin g th e shou t of th e de sc end ing Lord.
hope, an d th e glorious ap p e a rin g of th e g re a t G o d an d ou r S av iou r Jesus C h rist.” T h e A p o stle P au l said, ‘„‘T h e L o rd is a t h a n d .” O ne o f th e questions th a t I h a v e from som e one in th e aud ience th a t I shall try to answ er tom o rrow is to this effect: “ If th e A p o stle Pau l b eliev ed th a t Jesu s was com ing b a ck fo r him in his lifetime, was h e n o t m ista k e n ? ” T h e answ er to this is, th a t n o t one line of P au l’s w ritings asserts th a t H e w as com ing b a c k in P au l’s lifetime. A s to th e tim e of H is com ing P au l w as ju st as much a t sea as you an d I are, b u t w h a t was rev e a led th ro u g h P au l was th a t it w as th e n ex t th ing in th e p ro p h etic o rd e r: “T h e L o rd is a t h a n d ,” an d this has b e en th e ev e r living h o p e o f ev e ry g en e ra tio n o f C h ris tians w ho h av e b e e n in stru cted in th e W o rd ev e r since. O f course, it follows th a t as this d ispen sation has
“ Lovest Thou Me ?” J. H. SAMMIS
D ear love of Jesus, dost th o u dwell In h e a rts th a t n e v er b u rn to tell O f th y life-giving flame? T h a t all m ight seek, receive a n d know T h e life, a n d peace, a n d g race th a t flow T h ro u g h faith in Jesus* nam e. O r do th ey know , w ho gold deny, A n d w orld-like live, eat, d rin k a n d die, H ow C h rist th e ir M aster gave H is heaven, H is all, H is life, a n d sp ak e: ’T is sw eeter fa r to give th a n take, T o lose, th a t we m ay save**?
A nd can he p ray , “ T h y kingdom com #,’’ W hose h a n d is slack, w hose lips a re dum b, W ho n e’e r so u g h t Galilee H is th ro n e-a sc en d in g L ord to m eet A n d k n eeling a t H is b eau teo u s feet Said, “ H e re am 1, send m e? ’* No; he w ho loves, a n d p ray s, a n d know s H is love in loving overflow s W ith g race to m en a b ro a d ; O f one blood bo rn , by one redeem ed; A like fo r guilt an d g race esteem ed, C ondem ned, y e t loved of God.
Am I th y serv an t? M aster show O r shall I send? O r m ay I go? H ow long! O L ord, how long! A th o u san d y ears, a th o u sa n d m ore A re gone, a n d scarce beyond o u r shore Is sung red em p tio n ’s song.
I THE KING’S BUSINESS Prayer and Revival* The Place of Prayer in the Wonderful Blessing that Fell in Mighty Power in China J. GOFORTH, HONAN, CHINA
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' I ' H E rep o rts of rev ival in W ales cau sed us g re a t search ing of he a rt, an d w e w ere led to p ra y m o re intensely fo r China. W e believe th a t m any m issionaries in C h ina w ere m o v ed in 1905 to m o re believing p ra y e r th a n ev e r be fo re . A t T sang Chou, N o rth China, in th e closing w eeks o f 1905 , a rev ival sta rted , which g re a tly stim u lated p ray er. I saw a m a rk e d m o v em en t o f G o d ’s H o ly Spirit am o n g th e h e a th e n in F eb ru a ry , 1906. A g a in in N ov em b e r a n d D e c em b e r o f th a t y e a r u n usual p ow e r w as seen in all out-sta- tions. D u ring Ju n e o f 1907, I v is ited Korea. O n th e w ay hom e I re p o rte d w h a t I h a d seen in K orea, a t M ukden, M anchuria, a n d ag ain a t Pei T ai H o , China. A t th e latter- p lace Mr. W a lte r B. S lo an a n d R ev. F. S. W e b ste r w ere h o ld ing a K es w ick conference. M any o f th e m is sionaries w e re th e n led to resolve th a t th ey w ould p ra y daily until G o d v isited C h ina in rev ival pow er. In A ugu st of 1907 I w as a sk ed by th e m issionaries a t th e Chi Kung Sh an h e a lth re so rt to go an d tell th em a b o u t th e rev ival in K orea. 1 gave th e sto ry o f K o re a th a t S und ay nigh t an d closed w ith th e b e n ed ic tion, b u t to m y surprise th e p eo p le d id n o t stir. F o r several m inutes th e re was ab so lu te stillness; then cam e sighs a n d sobs, follow ed b y p eo p le g e tting up b e fo re all an d m ak ing up differences. A fte rw a rd s four w o n d e rfu l d ay s o f p ra y e r and con ference follow ed, an d w e ag reed th a t w e w ou ld re tu rn to ou r fields from th a t m oun ta in top , a n d p ray until revival cam e to China. D uring th e rem aining m o n th s o f 1907 we ♦Reprinted from the Life of Faith.
to o k p a rt in several con ferences in H o n an , a n d p ra y e r fo r rev ival was d e ep en ed . The Spirit’s Power in Manchuria. G o ing to L iao Y ang, M anchuria, in F eb ru a ry , 1908, w e saw m igh tier signs o f th e H o ly S p irit’s p ow e r d u r ing th e six day s th a t th e m ission la st ed th a n w e h a d e v e r b e fo re seen. W h en th e m ission w as over, Mr. D ouglas Said: “ I am h um b led to th e dust. My w e ak faith n ev e r led m e to exp e c t this. T h e se d ay s th e rev ival in S co tlan d in 1859 has b e en re p e a te d am o n g m y Chinese p e o p le ." T h e n h e show ed m e a le tte r from D r. Moffat, o f P in g Yang, K orea, which re a d as follow s: W h en y o u r special m eetings a re b e ing h e ld in L iao Y ang, ou r peop le h e re will b e p ray in g fo r you. Our chu rch in this city h as a b o u t four th o u san d believers, a n d th e ir p ray e rs a re m ighty, an d w ill p rev a il.” W e saw w o n d e rfu l signs o f th e H o ly Sp irit’s p resen ce an d p ow e r during tho se six d ay s a t L iao Y ang, b u t it w as exp la in ed b y th e fa c t th a t 4 ,0 0 0 K o rean s cou ld p rev a il w ith G od . A fte r L iao Y ang, w e w en t to M uk den. It w as , v e ry d isap p o in tin g to find th a t no p re p a ra tio n h a d b e en m ade, e ith er b y o rgan ized p ra y e r m eetings o r b y calling rep re sen ta tiv e le ad e rs in from co u n try churches. T h e re was no in d ic a tion o f p ow e r in e ith er o f th e church services th a t first S u n d ay ; n e tih e r h a d th e Irish P re s b y te rian church u n ited th a t S und ay w ith th e Scottish. T h a t even ing I w en t hom e alm o st h e a rt-b ro k e n to th ink th a t I h a d left m y u rg en t w o rk in H o n a n to h elp th e church in M uk den, a n d y e t th e y d id n o t seem to
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b a c k th e eld ers a n d d eacon s an d b ro th e rs an d sisters w ho once were w ith u s!” H e go t no fu rther, fo r th e w ho le cong regation , w ith dozen s w eeping, sta rte d to p ra y fo r th e b ack -sliders, a n d G o d h e a rd th a t p ray e r, an d alm o st ev e ry one cam e b a c k to th e Saviour. A t one o f th e Irish P re sby te rian station s th e m issionaries sa id : “You n eed n o t exp e c t an y unusual m o v e m en t am o n g ou r Christians. W e are N o rth Ireland h a rd -h e a d e d P re sb y terians, an d on r p eo p le a re like us. T h e y c an ’t w eep, a n d w on ’t p ra y u n less you ask th em to .” But in a few d ay s G o d so a b u n d a n tly p o u red out th e spirit of p ra y e r up o n th em th a t no one could g e t a s ta rt unless he sta rte d b e fo re th e o th e r one h a d said “A m e n .” A n d I saw th a t a u d ience w eep ing for" one aw ful hou r ov e r th e ir sin, an d th en th e y b ecam e m igh ty intercessors. A Dead Church Revived. T h e re w as one church in M an churia so m uch in sin th a t I w as to ld it could n o t b e revived. I w as fold this in o th e r m ission centers, w here G o d h a d com e w ith pow er, a n d m y one rep ly w as: “Y ou now know G o d ’s p ow e r; p ra y fo r th em .” T h e n finally one S a tu rd a y 1 a rriv ed a t th a t hopeless m ission c en te r an d th ey h ad w on d e rfu l things to tell me. A ra il w ay co n tra c to r in th a t m o rn ing ’s p ra y e r m eeting confessed to having ch e a ted th e ra ilro ad com p an y ou t o f $200 , an d p rom ised to m ak e re sti tution. T h e re w as a B ible w om an also w ho w as b ro k e n -h e a rted ov e r hav ing d en ied h e r L o rd in th e Boxer year, a n d she to ld h e r L o rd if H e ev e r gave h e r ’a n o th e r o p p o rtu n ity she w ou ld glorify H im w ith h e r life. O n S u n d ay m orning, w hen I en te red th a t church fo r th e first time, b e fo re ever I o p en ed m y lips, I saw th a t w ho le cong reg ation b ro k e n dow n be-
h av e an y desire to help them selves. A s soon as I g o t to m y room , I fell on m y knees in agon ized p ray er. Soon G o d seem ed to reb u k e m e by saying: “D o you n o t u n d e rsta n d th a t I am th e A lm igh ty ? T ho u g h My p eo p le h av e no t p re p a re d for My com ing, My sovereign g race is sufficient, an d I can d o My w o rk .” When the Fire Fell. I h a d no m o re anx iety as to th e issue. N ex t m o rn ing I saw one of th e eld e rs w ith his face on th e spot w h e re I h a d k n e lt th e nigh t before, an d h e cried a h e a rt-b ro k e n cry : “ 1 will p a y it all b a c k ; Lo rd , forgive m e .” It seem s this e ld e r h a d be en tre a su re r of som e church funds a t th e tim e o f th e Boxer uprising. T h e Boxers cam e an d b u rn t th e bu ilding a n d th e church books. T h e eld er th o u g h t th a t since all p ro o f h a d be en d e s tro y e d ,'it w ou ld b e quite safe to lie, an d say th e m oney h a d n o t come into his possession. H e d e c la red to th e m issionaries th a t h e never, h ad th e m oney, an d all th e tim e he was using it in his own business. Said he, “ 1 h ad no tro u b le o v e r th a t sto len m oney until y e ste rd ay , a n d th e n G o d search ed m e as by fire a t b o th services, a n d I co u ld n ’t sleep last night. I will p a y it all b a c k .” T ho u g h w e h a d seen no signs, G o d h a d b e en w o rk ing in th e h e a rts of th e people, an d H is p ow e r b ecam e m o re m ighty w ith each succeeding service until on th e fou rth d a y th e w hole aud ience of 700 o r 8 0 0 y ie ld ed, an d b ro k e b e fo re G od , as m en w ill a t ju d gm en t. T h ey th en h a st en ed to g e t rid o f all sin. I h e a rd th em p ray a fte r th ey g o t righ t w ith G od . T h e ir p a sto r sto o d u p in tears a n d said : “W e c an ’t m an ag e a church unless we h av e rulers to g o v ern it, an d w h en m en b re a k these rules, w e m ust discipline; b u t oh! if som e w ay could b e found to b ring
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fo re G od . T h u s d id G o d bless a church said to b e to o sinful to b e rev iv ed w h en G o d ’s p eo p le go t right w ith H im in o th e r places, an d p ra y e d in faith fo r it. C e rta in ly also G o d will use us w h en w e a re righ t w ith H im , p ray in g in th e Spirit. W h en I w en t to Shansi, in th e a u tum n o f 190 8 , I found th a t th e re h a d b e en m uch p ra y e r fo r revival. A t one city th e la d y m issionary in ch arg e of th a t statio n said th e y h a d p ra y e d d ry fo r revival. She w as a G e rm an la d y a n d meajnt th a t th ey h a d exh au sted all p leas a n d p rom ises fo r revival. “ If G o d do e s no t g ra n t rev ival now ,” said she, “ I d o n ’t k now w h a t w e w ill d o .” T h e re w e re eight o r ten m issionary graves ou tside th e sou th g a te o f th e city ; th ey h a d b e e n k illed b y Boxers in 1900 , b u t th e b lo o d o f th e m a rty rs h a d n o t b e com e th e seed o f th e C hurch becau se o f sin am o n g th e m em bers. T h e m ission w e cam e to h o ld w as im p o rtan t, on acco u n t of rep re sen ta tiv e s from th re e p rov inces an d tw en ty -on e m ission sta tion s b e ing p resen t. But w e cou ld only sp a re fou r d ay s fo r it. W e felt th e tim e to b e to o short, b u t w e m et, an d ask ed G o d to d o a quick work. T h e first a d d re ss w as given on a T h u rsd a y m orning, an d it w as clear th a t th e H o ly Spirit w as w o rk ing d e e p conviction. W h en lib e rty was given to p ra y one a fte r a n o th e r while confessing to G o d in p ra y e r b ro k e dow n, an d th en th e p en t-u p feelings o f th e w ho le aud ien c e b ro k e loose, an d th ey w ept. Four Wonderful Days. T h e y w ere fo u r w on d e rfu l day s o f th e S p irit’s m igh ty pow er. T h e peop le, a fte r b ein g in th e m eetings som etim es several hours, on b eing dism issed w ould go to th e ir room s, shut th e d o o rs an d fall on th e ir knees in p rayer. If you p assed th ro u g h
th e com p o u n d a t night, ev en late, you m ight h e a r th e se Chinese e a r nestly p le ad in g w ith G o d in th e ir room s o r in co rn ers of th e y a rd . A fte r m y m ission h a d e n d ed th e te a ch e r of th e boy s’ school g o t u p every m o rn ing an ho u r b e fo re d a y light to p ra y fo r th e boys, th en th ey all w ould m e e t for prayers. A t th e en d of ab o u t a m o n th ’s tim e th e H o ly Spirit one m o rn ing a t p ray e rs so m ightily conv icted th e boy s th a t th ey fo rg o t all a b o u t th e ir b re ak fa st, a n d w e p t an d confessed an d p ray ed until a fte r th e no o n hour. T h e a s sistant tea ch e rs o f th e girls’ school, a s soon as it h a d op en ed , k e p t on telling th e girls how w o n d e rfu lly G o d h a d v is ite d ' th em d u ring tho se fou r n ev e r-to -b e -fo rg o tten days. T h e girls th e n a sk ed fo r a d a y of p ray e r, so th a t they, too, m igh t seek th e H o ly Spirit. T h e la d y p rincipal sa id : “W e w ill p ra y a b o u t it a d ay o r tw o a n d d e c id e .” N ex t m o rn ing th e girls m e t fo r p rayers, b u t so m ightily d id th e H o ly S p irit w o rk w ith th em th a t th ey w ere b ro k e n b e fore G o d until h a lf p a s t twelve. F o r a long tim e m uch ind iv idual a n d u n ited p ra y e r h a d a sc en d ed fo r ou r hom e station, C hang -T e -fu H o nan. W e then , in N ovem ber, 1908, h eld a m ission lasting te n days, w ith th re e public m eetings each day. By th e th ird nigh t th e Chinese te a ch e r o f th e girls’ school, a B .A ., h a d go t righ t w ith G o d b y a hum b ling c o n fession, an d th e la d y p rincipal in te a rs h a d y ie ld ed all to G od . N ext m o rn ing she w as le ad in g h e r seven ty - five girls in p ray e r, w h en a v e ry tem p est o f confession, p ra y e r a n d w e e p ing sw ep t o v e r them . T h e fou rth nigh t th e floodgates w ere lifted, an d billow s o f p ra y e r an d confession ro lled ov e r th e aud ience in th e ten t. W h en we cam e ou t from o u r m is sionary p ra y e r m eeting on th e fifth even ing w e h e a rd th e seventy-five school girls e a rn e stly p ray in g all a t
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T h e b a ck slid e r excused him self b y saying he h a d a lam e leg a n d could n o t w a lk ; b u t th e p re a c h e r p rom p tly offered to ca rry him th e ten m iles o n his back . W ith th a t all excuse v an ish ed a n d th e b ack slid e r cam e a n d w as conv icted . Som e w ho h a d no in ten tio n o f com ing to th e m e e t ings w e re p ra y e d fo r a n d co u ld n ’t rest, an d cam e an d w ere b ro k en . So pow erfu l w as th e p resence of G o d in th e te n t th a t fresh b a n d s b ro u g h t in w ere alm o st in stan tly conv icted . E ven h e a th e n said th e p ow e r of G o d w as so g re a t in th e te n t th a t as soon as th ey go t inside th e re w as m igh ty pressu re u p o n th em to go up to th e p la tfo rm a n d confess all sin. I w en t ou t an d sta rte d th a t m o rn ing m eeting on th e te n th d a y righ t a fte r th e Chinese h a d th e ir b re a k fast. It w as h a lf p a st one b e fo re w e closed, y e t 1 h a d no tim e to give an y add ress, fo r dozen s of h e a rt b ro k e n m en a n d w om en, boys an d -girls, p re ssed to th e p la tfo rm to co n fess th e ir sin. In this G o d ’s w o n d e r ful p ow e r w as seen, fo r I d id n o t urge an y o n e to g e t up an d confess; bu t, a cco rd ing to m y usual m e thod , a fte r each a d d re ss I to ld th e p eo p le th a t th ey m igh t p ray. Confession and Restoration. T h e p ra y e r spirit b e c am e so in tensified a n d G o d seem ed so w on- d rou sly near, th a t it d id n o t seem possible fo r th e p eo p le to p ra y one b y one. G re a t w aves o f p rayer, in which all seem ed to join, an d m any w eeping, w ou ld sweep ov e r th e a u d ience ag ain a n d again. T h is a lte r n a te d w ith b u rsts of trium ph an t, v ic to riou s song, as if inspired. Som e of th e m o st hopeless, w h e th e r a t th e m eeting o r in th e ir d ista n t homes, w ere p ra y e d for, an d in m o st cases in a few h ou rs o r a few .day s they w e re seen in agony b ro k en in th e a s sem bly. T hese p ro o fs o f G o d ’s
th e sam e time. U p to th a t tim e th e m o re th a n sev en ty school boy s h a d n o t y ielded , a n d th e girls w ere p ra y ing fo r them . L a te r w e le a rn t th a t while th e girls w ere praying, th e boys, b o th up stairs an d dow n , were b ro k e n w ith agon ized conviction a n d w ep t an d .p ra y e d fo r a b o u t two hours. T h e friend s no ticed th a t fo r a coup le o f d ay s th e a fte rn o o n m e e t ings w e re n o t ac com p an ied b y th e sam e m igh ty m an ifestation s of pow e r as d u rin g th e fo renoon . It occu rred to th em th a t it w as a call fo r m o re p ra y e r; th erefo re, a lthough all th e tim e was a b o u t fully occupied, y e t th ey m an ag ed to in sert a p ra y e r m eeting b e fo re th e a fte rn o o n se rv ice, a n d from th a t on th e a fte rn o o n services seem ed th e m o re pow erful. T h e realized p ow e r o f G o d w en t on intensifying until th e te n th m orning, w hen th e Chinese le ad e rs sen t in to ask m e to sta rt th e m eeting right a fte r b re ak fa st, giving as a reason th a t m an y in th e ir room s w ere w e e p ing h e a rt-b ro k e n ov e r th e ir sin. T h e y said som e h a d b e en w eeping since m idn igh t an d co u ld n ’t wait. Through to Triumphant Victory. M any h a d go t th ro u g h to trium p h a n t v ic to ry b e fo re th e te n th day, b u t these w eep ing ones w e re fresh relays of C hristians th a t h a d com e in. It so h a p p e n e d th a t as soon as anyon e go t righ t w ith G o d an d re a l ized w h a t th e gift o f th e H o ly Spirit m ean t, h e comm en ced to p ra y fo r lov ed ones a t hom e, an d th ey could n o t p ra y long in th e Sp irit w ithou t acting. Som e be c am e so b u rd e n e d fo r o th e rs th a t th ey co u ld n ’t sleep an d w ou ld sta rt off in th e nigh t an d go ten o r tw en ty m iles a n d alm o st com pel th em to come. O n e o f th e p re a ch e rs w en t ou t ten m iles to w here a m an h a d b a ck slid d en an d gon* o v e r to th e R om a n Catholics.
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g lo ry if th e y a re n o t— th e C hurch of R om e cou ld m ak e no headw ay, an d C h rist ou r L o rd w ou ld b e e x a lte d to th e en d s o f th e ea rth . A s soon as th e H o ly Sp irit cam e am ong us w ith g re a t p ow e r th e con v e rts ex c la im ed : “N o fu rth e r n e ed o f d e b a te w ith R om an ists as to which is th e tru e Church. T h e Spirit o f G o d is w ith u s; th a t settles th e q u e stion .” W h a t is th e use o f b o a stin g a b o u t th e trad itio n s o f th e e ld e rs a n d our church genealogies a n d our sp len d id p ed ig re e w h en w e h a v e n ’t g o t th e m an ifest p ow e r o f th e H o ly O n e in ou r m id st? G od , w h en H e cam e in th e flesh, found th e church a fru it less fig tree, an d w h en it w ou ld no t re p e n t H e cursed it. T o d a y G o d ’s m igh ty trum p e t-c a ll to H is Church is th a t she re p e n t a n d g lorify h e r a sc en d ed L o rd in th e w o rld b y liv ing in th e p ow e r o f th e E ternal Spirit. A t ev e ry p lace I v isited in China I found if G o d ’s p e o p le hum b led them selves, go t rid of sin, an d p ra y e d in one accord, w ith a d u e app re c ia tio n o f th e im p o rtan c e of th e gift o f G o d th e H o ly Spirit, they w ere alw ays ab le to exclaim , “H e h a th d o n e exceed ing a b u n d a n tly a b o v e w h a t w e ask ed o r th o u g h t.”
p ow e r m ightily stren g th en ed faith until w e felt assured th a t G o d w ould g ra n t an y requ e st offered in th e spirit. T h e re w as n o t a te a c h e r or servan t, o r anyon e else a ro u n d us in th e com p o u n d left u nm o v ed d u r ing tho se days. O ne o f ou r o ld e st ou t-station s h a d caused us g re a t h e a rt-b re ak in g a few m on th s b e fo re b y going b o d ily over to th e R om anists. It w as because w e w ou ld n o t in te rfe re fo r th em in a case in th e Chinese courts. It was som eth ing w e cou ld n o t tou ch an d b e tru e to G od , b u t th e p rie st a t once in te rfe red an d go t th e church in th a t town. A s soon as th e S p irit was p o u red ou t u p o n us ou r p re a ch e rs sen t off a cou rier a t m idn igh t, urging th e le ad e rs o f th a t church to come. A n e ld e r a n d a d e a co n cam e, an d w ere convicted, a n d in te a rs co n fessed. A fte r th e m ission w as o v e r a m issionary led a b a n d of p re a ch e rs b a ck to th a t tow n w ith tho se co n victed leaders. T h e H o ly G ho st conv icted w ith resistless pow er. In th re e d ay s 103 h a d confessed, m any of th em w rith ing in agony on th e ground , an d all h a d com e b a c k from Rom e. If all P ro te sta n ts w ere filled w ith th e Sp irit as G o d in tend s——an d they sin an d d e fra u d C h rist of H is
The Foundation Fact of Christianity. "T h e re su rrection o f C hrist is th e fo u n d a tio n -fa c t on which th e C h ristian c reed rests, in a believing soul. If an y o f th e A po stles h a d b e e n ask ed how it w as th a t th ey knew th a t Jesu s w as th e p rom ised Messiah, th e E te rn a l Son o f G od , th e S av iou r o f th e W o rld , b y W ho se te a ch ing an d ex am p le m en w ere to b e en ligh t ened, b y W ho se B lood m en w e re to b e red e em ed , to W h om all th e ch ild ren of m en w ere b o u n d to p a y th e hom ag e o f th e ir o b e d i ence an d th e ir love th e an sw er w ou ld h a v e been, becau se th e L o rd Jesus ro se from th e d e a d .”— C anon L iddon .
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